Jan 08

family shot

The holidays are over and we’re back to school. Our winter-break, surprisingly, felt longer than it was. We had spent the first four days of our break with my family in NorCal (driving back on Christmas night)….four gloriously fun, relaxing, and gluttonous days that went by much too quickly. Had we stayed longer, I’m sure the remainder of our winter-break would have flown by.

The last two weeks have been filled with time with my family, my in-laws, relatives, friends, lots of food, and tons of gifts!!! Needless to say, my kiddies were spoiled with an over-abundance of clothing and toys this Christmas. Ashlyn must have told everyone in the world that she wanted a guitar, because she got 4! hahaha Summer, who rarely asks for anything, got so much stuff that she’ll never have to ask for anything ever again.

I wonder if I’m the only one who does this, but I only let my kids open up and play with some of the toys they got. The rest, I’ll store away to open up at a later date. They lack excitement, desire, and appreciation when they get to open up everything. I remember after Ashlyn opened up ALL her gifts at her 2nd birthday, she had that look of: “that’s it?…what else can I open?” :oops: So now after they unwrap all their gifts, I let them select some and put the rest away. With the amount they both get at Christmases and birthdays, my storage space is turning into one huge toy store and I’m quickly running out of room. I’m not even kidding.
I’m trying my hardest not to raise spoiled children, but the truth is…they are spoiled. Aric and I give them what we never had as children, and our parents give them what they couldn’t give us as children. *sigh*

Anyhow, Ashlyn is lovin’ her guitars, Hannah Montana Concert Stage, her MP3 player, and Jonas Brothers CD. Summer’s having a blast with her Fisher Price digital camera, Gymnastics Divas Barbies, Disney Princess Dollhouse, and Crayola Color Explosion Board. Spoiled, I tell ya!

Click here for more holiday pictures.

ashlyn and summer

As much as I love the holidays, I’m relieved it’s over. We rang in the New Year with our usual group at James and Grace’s. My poor hubby was sick (possible food poisoning from Taco Hell from lunch) that night and spent the whole evening sleeping it off on the couch. New Years Day was spent taking down our tree and decorations, cleaning up, and hanging out with my niece and her bf.

Aric and I have been watching movies lately - “I am Legend” and “No country for old men”, and “The Water Horse” with the kiddies. I love it!

The kiddies are getting back into the swing of things at school…as am I. :wink:

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Jan 01

2007 was a blessed year…full of laughter, love, growth, and amazing memories. After struggling with depression for the past few years, and the pain of my grandmother’s passing (in early 2007), I have found some healing, happiness, and peace within. I finally feel emotionally and mentally strong, healthy, and whole again. My outlook has been brighter than it has been in a long time. And if that wasn’t enough, physically, I had lost some weight and feel more energetic! *YAY!*
My husband, children, family, and friends have all contributed to getting me where I am today. *sniff* I am really lucky.

Highlights of 2007:
- my kiddies first visit to the snow
- a much needed hiatus
- Amanda & Christel’s return from Iraq
- Summer’s 3rd birthday
- Ashlyn’s Kindergarten promotion
- John & Angela’s wedding
- summer-break in NorCal
- an unforgettable Japan/Taiwan vacation with family
- Summer starts preschool
- Ashlyn starts 1st Grade
- getting a paycheck again (after all these years!)
- Cookie joins our family
- Ashlyn’s 5th birthday
- Sarah’s 30th Birthday in Napa
- 2 engagements
- 3 other weddings
- 15 births (9 boys, 6 girls)!!!
- 6 pregnancies announced (so far)

My top 10 resolutions for 2008
1. keeping in better touch with friends via phone
2. spend less/save $$$
3. exercise
4. blog more
5. blog more about Summer
6. respond to emails promptly
7. take more pictures
8. go to bed earlier
9. take my vitamins
10. nag the kiddies and hubby less (haha!)

Wishing you all the very best for a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous 2008!

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Dec 25

kiddies and santa

Let the bells ring
let the choir sing
I wanna hear the sound
Somewhere out there
there’s something we share
It’s where our love is found
So if you can’t be with me now
I know that if we sing somehow
we’ll be together
Wishing that everyday was like Christmas

-Everlife
Everyday is Christmas [from “Radio Disney Jingle Jams”]

xmas 2007
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Dec 20

Between gifts to deliver, holiday programs at school, errands, last minute shopping, wrapping gifts, kiddies, and keeping house, I have not found the time to give last weekend’s update. Now, as we approach another weekend, I decided to just post a short blurb (since I’m still short on time).

branlivia I
birthday girl & boy

Last Saturday, with a group of our close friends, we celebrated Brandon and Olivia’s 5th birthday at Legoland. With twelve adults and thirteen kids, we made the most of our time at the park and had a blast! Last time we went (2 years ago), Ashlyn and Summer only rode a few rides and mostly played in the playground area. Now they are able to ride all the rides! :mrgreen:

Branlivia II
making a wish

After the park, we headed back to Olivia’s house for dinner, cupcakes, and more fun!
Click here for more birthday pictures.

Sunday was spent at our in-laws. We had dimsum with Aric’s grandma, then took the kiddies to browse Santa Anita Mall (sheer madness over there), then dinner at Din Tai Fung in Arcadia for dinner.

All in all, it was a funfilled weekend. But I was very disappointed to have missed out on my girlfriend -Emily’s, baby shower and the annual FAB holiday dinner/gathering. But my kiddies come first and they couldn’t wait to go to Legoland. Too bad we can’t have more weekends in December. :wink:

Okay….gotta start some laundry, clean up the kitchen, pick up Ashlyn, start packing, wrap more gifts, and figure out dinner before Emily and Ann come over tonight.

1 more day till our NorCal trip
5 more days till Christmas
*bite nails*

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Dec 18

Yikes!…7 more days till Christmas!!! December has turned into a stressful month for me. Needless to say, I’ve been swamped…holiday shopping, online shopping, mailing out cards, wrapping gifts, school stuff, birthday parties, and my clingy Summer with cough/runny nose. I NEED MORE TIME! MORE TIME! MORE TIME!

I’m happy to say that I’m about 95% done with everything. Now if the UPS/FedEX/postman can get here with the last of my packages, I should be all good. *cross fingers*

I’ll post my “weekend update” later…hopefully. :neutral: