Visiting American Girl @ The Grove

"Susie", Meran, "Rose", Jameson & "George"

Just kickin' it with the kids


A treat after a hard day of shopping...Haagen Dazs, yum!

Jason and I took the kids (minus Sutton who stayed home with Grandma & Grandpa to take a nap) to The Grove in L.A. on Sunday after church. We mainly went to get their new dolls some new outfits. This was Jameson's first trip where he had a doll (we call it a Bitty Baby, not an American Girl Doll). He enjoyed being able to participate in the fun while at the American Girl Store. They put their money together and purchased a 4 pack of doll costumes that included, a butterfly, bumble bee, dinosaur & superhero. They dressed their doll in their new costumes on the way home and Jameson hasn't taken off little George's superhero costume yet!

Merry Christmas

Family on Christmas Day
Lauren, Alexandra & Addilyn

Papa (my grandpa-who Jameson is named after) with most of his great-grandkids


Christmas morning, with Uncle Benjamin

Christmas Eve

When we are at my mom & dad's house for Christmas this is what our celebration looks like:

Christmas Eve church service & Aunt Bertha's tamales, Mom's rice & beans~the best you've ever had! Celebrate with my dad's family.

Christmas Day-gifts, breakfast, my mom's family comes over, more gifts, eat a delicious dinner, watch the Laker game, dessert...a late night walk in attempt to walk off a few of the pieces of See's Candy I ate! (i think i have eaten a whole pound of candy over the course of our week here).

Addilyn Joy

We are getting to spend LOTS of time with our precious Addilyn Joy...and that she is! Addi is my youngest brother, Dustin, and his wife Lauren's little girl who is 9 months old. The kids love "baby Adawin" (as Jameson calls her).

Huntington Harbour Cruise of Lights

This year we did something we had never done before. We took a Harbor Cruise in Huntington Beach, where the homes and boats were decorated beautifully and festively with lots and lots of Christmas lights. It was a perfect way to enter the Christmas week!

Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

Sutton enjoyed "tasting" the frosting

Waiting patiently for the frosting

While visiting Grandma & Grandpa Lozano's house for Christmas the kids decorated cakes that Grandma had made for them...Happy Birthday Jesus Cakes...a tradition!

Jameson's Preschool Christmas Party

Sutton was there, but he was more interested in playing with the kitchen

than hanging out with us for pictures.

Jameson & Grandma Neese
Note the tie...totally his idea.
(I was surprised at the request when I was getting him ready, but secretly I was yelling "yeah!")


Guess who frosted these cookies?!?

Singing Christmas Songs for Parents & Grandparents

Waiting...after it was all over the teacher said "we'll pray and then have our special snack" . Jameson said out loud,"That's it then?"

Even tonight, when I was praising his singing, he said it was too short.

Jameson's Karate Finale

Note how happy Jameson is...
Meran & Ella waiting for their brothers

They did it!

Note how happy Ms.Bridget looks now that it is over.

Okay, I haven't felt such anxiety as I felt on Tuesday afternoon. Jameson has been taking "karate" at The Little Gym for the past 3 months or so. He LOVES it! The class has 2 teachers and about 6 students...all BOYS ages 4-6.
This past Tuesday was their last class. The parents and some grandparents were invited into the gym to watch them demonstrate what they had "learned" (although I do not believe that you have to teach a 4 yr. old boy to be physical!). The class does recite a little saying before beginning, stating that they won't use their Karate on family, friends or pets (wheh!!), but only if their life is in danger. (hey you never know, right?)

It was HILARIOUS to say the least...Jameson did great, as long as he could stay focused on the teacher and keep his hands and his softee sword to himself. If they were a movie genre, Little boys would be an action thriller, comedy and mystery all rolled into one!

Candy Eating at Grandma's..I mean, Making Gingerbread Houses

Proud of their designs

When the Neese grandchildren turn 3 years old you are granted rights to "the making of the gingerbread houses" with grandma and grandpa Neese. Linda prepares all the houses and fixins'. The 5 grandkids arrive after church with great anticipation! The afternoon probably goes something like this... decorate-eat candy-decorate-make messy-eat candy-decorate-eat a pizza dinner-and if you are jameson, probably eat some more candy!

They look forward to this annual Christmas time event. The houses turn out so cute! They look good enough to eat...

Annual Christmas Celebration with Friends

Ready for dinner!

Kayla, Sydney, Meran & Kenna

Girl Time!

Waiting Patiently for the Gift-Giving to Begin!

Tonight we got together with our good friends, the Olson and Saltzman Families, for our annual Christmas dinner and gift exchange. Our children are all around the same age, and we each have 3 kiddies, so they play wonderfully together. Except that this year, Meran, Sydney & Kayla (all 7 yrs. old) were a little annoyed at times with the younger boys, who would energetically burst thru the rooms, because they were trying to have "girl"time.

This year we met at the Saltzman's home, which fit all 15 of us nicely.

It was relaxing and festive and as usual, our time ended too quickly together.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

Christmas Tree Lane

We spent last Saturday night in Fresno with good friends, taking in lots & lots of Christmas lights!

"Ooooh" was Sutton's exclamation, all wide eyed.

We started off by gorging, I mean eating dinner, at the DogHouse Grill. Yum!

Luckily walked the Christmas Tree Lane.

It is a tree lined neighborhood with homes that have been there atleast 80 years.

The neighborhood transforms itself into "Christmas Tree Lane" for the month of December...this was its 87th year! I read that it takes them 3 months to prepare the homes with lights and decor!

We piled the kids into the wagon and strollers and off we walked!

Being opening night there were so many people (and dogs!)...music, lights, animation and even Santa was there!

I hope we make it an annual tradition. Everyone had a Merry time!

Hearts full of Gratitude

We began our Thanksgiving day a new way today. We decided to start a new tradition for a family by serving others on the day when we count our blessings...and ours are so many!

We went downtown to the local Rescue Mission to help out where ever we were needed. The kids were very excited for this new adventure! It was amazing at how many volunteers they had, so there wasn't too much for us to do (we dished up pie and separated the paper plates).

But it was a very fun way to begin our Thanksgiving day, off on the right foot.

After a brief call with "Far Away" Grandma & Grandpa (how Jameson refers to my parents) we went to Jason's parents, just down the road. It was such lovely weather the big kids spent most of the day outside playing. Delicious food, football, card games (not for me, ofcourse!)and the reading of ALL the sale adds. Happy Thanksgiving! God is good~all the time.
"Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his loves endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

Pioneer Woman

Us & "PW"

Robyn & Carolyn (the ulimate fans)

Waiting in Line


My friend, Robyn, a fan of checking blogs, favors the blog of one, Ree Drummond, a.k.a. Pioneer Woman.
So, a few of us took a one day trip to L.A. to see The Pioneer Woman. Intially, I thought we were going to see a comedian...I was unfamiliar with her blog that apparantly has thousands of followers. Well, although she is very funny, it was not a "show", but rather a signing for her newly released cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks. It is a beautiful cookbook with lots of personal photography of her family on their Oklahoma Cattle Ranch, narrated with short stories, and of course, some delicious recipes that I cannot wait to try! Even Jason said that it made him want to cook after thumbing thru this cookbook!
Our day began early, at 6:30am...Myself, Karin, Robyn, and Carolyn piled into the Tahoe and zoomed toward L.A.! We had to make it to Borders in Torrance to purchase our cookbook and obtain the "yellow" wristband that ensured us a space at the front of the book signing line-that wasn't until 5pm! We did it!
After perusing the clearance books at Borders (which, I might add, is a great selection!) we grabbed Starbucks and made our way to The Grove (my real reason for getting up so early!).
We whirl winded our way thru the shops we loved and had a quick bite at the delicious cafe-like restaurant, The Farm.
Once getting back to Borders we waited a short while to see The Pioneer Woman. She had a Q & A time, where I realized how much some of these ladies LOVE her and I am pretty sure hang on her every breathe! We were in the first "80" or so gals in the book signing line, with atleast 150 more behind us. Ree/The Pioneer Woman seems nice and very down to earth, but Karin and I never actually met her because Robyn and Carolyn were star-struck(their words, not mine) and had oh-so-much to ask/tell her! (love you girls:)...it was fun!)

Soccer Finally 09

Eric(Jason's bro), Cousin Rylee & Jason, Meran

Team huddle

Sutty takin' 'er for a spin

Award's Time

Thank you Coach Daddy & Coach Uncle Eric

Well, another soccer season under Meran's belt. Though, she is not the least bit pleased to see it done. The Lady Dragons had their final season game on Saturday morning against the Pink Diamonds. The girls played great and it was a good note to end the season on. We had our team party on Sunday afternoon at the Zwart's home, very gracious hosts indeed! I never thought I'd say this, but I LOVE SOCCER (when my kids are playing, anyway!). Jameson's turn is coming in the late winter...stay tuned...he will be playing his first team sport. T-Ball. Play Ball!

They Tickle Me...

I am going to use this blog as a journal right now...because I have started and stopped so many paper journals that I lost count. The kids have been very entertaining lately. I guess because as they grow, so do their communication skills and it is oh so fun to listen to!
Jameson has had some really good questions lately...but the one that sticks in my mind is when he asked yesterday in all seriousness and wonder,"Mommy, does chocolate milk turn into poop in your tummy?"
Sutty is learning to pray. When we hold hands at the dinner table he jabbers away in a quiet, sweet little voice with whoever is praying for our meal. We all like to peek at him doing this! It is just so cute to watch a 17 month old mimic prayer!
On the way to school, on Friday, Meran was reading the boys one of Sutton's Bible board books. Each page has a very brief (like 3-4 sentences long) Bible story.
Meran was reading the story of Moses. The picture was of Moses as a baby in a basket in the river. After reading the brief summary on Moses, Meran closed the book and said," Okay, Bubba, do you want to know why baby Moses is in this basket in the first place?"
Jameson, caught up in awe of his sister's storytelling, said "Why?"
So, Meran goes on to tell Jameson about how Pharoah wanted all Hebrew baby boys to die, etc, etc...then before hopping out of the car to run to class she said,"Jameson, ask your teacher to tell you about it during Bible time!"

Harvest Festival

We went to our Church's Harvest Festival tonight. Sutton was our little Train Conductor, Jameson was a Pioneer and Meran was a Flapper.

There was lots of friends, candy and games. On the way home we stopped by a friend's house because Meran was dying to try "real" Trick-or-Treating...since our kids have never experienced that. One house satisified them, for now anyway!