T'was the NIGHT BEFORE Christmas...

I attempted to prewrap gifts and put them under the beautifully decorated trees...

The tree(s) and pre-wrapped gifts LOST!

Why???



Well... because they were up against Monkey #4 and his Bessie. He'd take the presents and her the tree and together they'd ATTACK.

So of course, the trees and pre-wrapped gifts LOST.

By gift # 6 and tree re-decorate # 100 ... I gave up. Who needs a gazillion non-SANTA gifts and beautifully decorated tree anyway???



The night before x-mas the kids mixed, baked and decorated sugar cookies for SANTA (as if Santa didn't already have enough sweets!)... then nestled their heads in their beds.




And in the WEE hours of morning, we woke to the excited whispers and glees of delight as our children discovered, "Santa came! Santa came!". We barely got a minutes rest when these little guys woke. No longer able to contain their excitement Mr. J gave them the 'go ahead' and off they went down the stairs.



And in less then 20 mins. a whole night of preparation was completely unwrapped.
The kids were covered in chocolate, wrapping paper, gleaming smiles and laughter.

Later for lunch the Elders joined us for a very non-traditional meal of CRAB w/ garlic butter and lemon, Homemade clam chowder, warm-from-the-oven rolls and yummy deserts. LOVE LOVE LOVED it!

This year was simple for us. Besides the Elder time, we spent the ENTIRE Christmas, just the SIX of us. And although the night before I was missing the noise, family, cousins, and more YUM food, it was admittedly one of the BEST Christmas's we've had so far... I love my little FAM!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Hideous Sweater/ Christmas Par-tay!

We got together last minute to throw a HIDEOUS sweater Christmas Party. It's was quite hilarious seeing what some couples came up with. Searching out one of these was actually more challenging then I'd thought, because a grip of people were scouting the Thrift Store for a Hideous Sweater as well... apparently invited to the same kinda PAR-TAY! Sifting through all the hideousness stirred up an IDEA for next year... HIDEOUS FORMAL NEW YEARS PARTAY! LOL!

We traded white elephant gifts, and I became the PROUD owner of TRIPLE the FUNNNNN RICHARD SIMMONS VHS EXERCISE TAPES! (YAY! Des and I are gonna be on those FIRST thing Mond Morn!). We ate YUMMY appetizers, desserts, played games, sipped delish cider and creamy chocolaty hot cocoa. Enjoyed a quick AFTER PARTY mix with the guys. Created our very own dance floor. Thanks UB40/ Adeaze/ Gregory Isaac/ Fob Jam Mix + Jared.

We had GREAT FUN, watching each other act a fool.... desperate to WIN the contest and the night!!!

And GUESS who WON?????

Riverside "Winter WONDERland"!

I know it's late... but since I'm up anyway editing MY FAMILY pics I figured I might as well get this on. My kids have been attending this charter school going on their second year and I am SO GRATEFUL! After feeling completely frustrated with their previous school, then pulling them out to homeschool (which was a complete flop, might I add) we found this 'diamond-in-the- rough' charter school administrated primarily by members of the Victorville/Applevalley LDS Stake. Phenomenal individuals determined to improve education for our children, MY children. So I was thrilled when they got into the school.

Last year about this time they held their first WINTER WONDERLAND in the tiny gymnasium. The audience was spilling out into the playground straining to hear the performances. This year they moved it outdoors to the large ampitheatre so EVERYONE could enjoy. It was WONDERFUL. The kids performed traditional, sweet and even witty numbers, keeping the audience entertained and wanting more. There was a Santa, a snow making machine, a miniature display of Jeruselem (I believe), students playing christmas songs on the piano, brightly lit revolving trees filled with ornaments made by our children.

I LOVED it!

KUDOS to RSPA! Excellent Job!

All that BUZZ!

My hub just returned from his 'boys only' trip to watch Fahu play.




Can I just tell you how JEALOUS I am about their little getaway. A bunch of guys, no wives or screaming kiddos, for an ENTIRE weekend. Trouble, I'm SURE! So after hearing a play by play of his expedition I am determined to have a WEEKEND out... one of these days (SO typical of us Mom's, huh!). Anywho... I had a busy weekend anyway... shooting and editing. I am SO ecstatic about this weekend's shoot.



check it out here!

Puke...

I've been dealing with sick, crying, aching, fevering, coughing babies ALL DAY LONG. My little man has been sick all weekend, Miss Em came home from preschool fevering 101.7 then I get a call from RSPA that my Missy Lu is ALSO fevering 102! So after spooning them some yummy chic soup til they refused, filling them with Vit C, Motrin and a little of dad's concoction they're sound asleep. It's ONLY 9:30! Usually the stragglers are driving me nuts (Moe and the Hub) but even they are knocked out!

"HOORAY FOR MOMMY TIME!!!"

Now time to BLOG! LOL!

I'm still here... (tap! tap!)

('Unga girls enjoying a quick pic. Washington Street- San Mateo, CA)

When I said I was starting up a biz I didn't realize HOW BUSY I'd be. I'm LOVING it, but have been CRAZY BUSY- shooting, uploading, editing, shooting, uploading, editing....

My little Moe is down with a little cold/ cough. Totally stinks for him, but FORCES me to buckle down and FINALLY FINISH up my posts on both sites. I've got a grip load for your enjoyment. Thanks to all the families that have allowed me to capture images for holiday greetings and more. Somehow I'll need to fit my own little fam into the mix BEFORE the holidays are over. lol.

I've also signed myself up for a photo class this winter-- HOORAY! After getting the OK from the big boss (sike!) it's a GO and I can't wait to LEARN, LEARN, LEARN! Wish me luck!

Anyways- just letting you know that I KNOW I need to get on it! Great images coming your way!


PS- Thanks to Sarah from saving my blog from it's blah (black) existence!

Remembering Veterans and "NO MORE SHIRT!"

We had such a lovely holiday yesterday.

We lounged in bed until about 7:30am (a MAJOR luxury! hahaha). Mr. J kindly made some yummy omelets which the children devoured, leaving me to scrap the edges and scrounge for some last bits of cheesy po-ta-toe. Oh well! At least I got a well deserved BREAK from making BREAKFAST. Thanks Hun!

Usually on holiday's my hubby excitedly informs me of the 'games' the Cucamonga Ward is hosting down the hill in the hopes that I'll be SO EXCITED to drive down and watch him, chase the kids around the cultural hall, and hold small time convo with the other ladies cheering their men in church ball. Is it just me or am I the ONLY one who thinks cheerleading is HIGHLY over-rated???? I'm COOL to just kick it! I know, B-O-R-I-N-G... but seriously unless I AM playing, it's no fun... and you REALLY don't wanna see me play! hahaha!!

Luckily there were no games down the hill (silent HOORAY!). So Mr. J suggested we pick up lunch and take the kids to the park. Our little monkeys were SO excited and got ready. We picked up our trusted pizza pie and some drinks and headed to a park across town. The kids brought their balls and were eager to get some playtime on the field. So when we arrived the two oldest and Mr. J headed to the field. All I could hear were squeals of delight as the kids proudly defeated their father in making goals or touch downs. I settled the two youngest in the toddler swing chairs, gave them a big push then sat in my chair to start my hundredth beginner beanie. After a few minutes my little Moe cries to get down and play on the other playground 'Funnies' (what he calls the slides/ forts/ bridges/ poles...etc). So I pull him out and place him on the sand to play. Meanwhile my Miss Em seems content to pump herself on the swing.

Ahhh...Perfect, I think.

I'm enjoying the warm, sunny NOVEMBER day. Counting my blessings while knitting away when all of a sudden....

"WWWWwwAAAAAAaaaaAAAAAaaaahhhhh!!!!" I hear my little Moe let out this blood-curdling scream.

Immediately I SCREAMED for Mr. J then RAN to grab my baby. For a second I thought he hit his head or fell from the playground. I'm freaking out because I have NEVER heard him scream like this before when suddenly I notice, A HONKIN' HUMONGO RED ANT on his shirt... and then another one... and another... and another. Then there are a dozen crawling up his back and into his hoodie. I frantically pull EVERYTHING off, shaking his hair, his shirt, yanking his diaper off his bum and dust/wiping EVERY crevice and fold, all the while SCREAMING for Jared to run up the hill to rescue us. Once I got Moe visibly clean of all the NASTY, MEAN red ants, I grabbed a blanket to wrap around him to keep him warm and tried to apply some ice cubes to the bites I could see welting up beneath his skin. Red and raised. I wanted to cry for him because he was in that 'FAKAOFA/I-just-want-my-mommy/if-it-didn't-hurt-this-bad-I'd-suck-my-thumb' CRY.

Mr. J finally makes it up the hill to inspect the bites. Confident that Moe is not allergic he gives him a macho rub on the head and says "You're alright dude!". So typical. I try to rub more ice to provide a little more relief then na'a him. His crying begins to subside. I was so sad for my little man. I slowly take the banket off and put on a fresh, new pair of pants and socks and then I try to slip on a new shirt over his head.... and the SCREAMING starts again with an added "No Mommy...NO! No More Shirt!!!!". I tried to assure him that his shirt was clean and there would be no more owees. Yeah, he didn't believe me AT ALL!

that was YESTERDAY...

Well guess who's running around SHIRTLESS, deathly scared of another attack of KILLER ANTS if I slip a shirt over his head. Yeah, Mr. Moe. Poor guy! So if by chance you see this little man shirtless you now know why.

Other than that, we had a LOVELY holiday!