Happy New Year

Welcome to 2009!!!!

May your year be filled with wonder

and curiosity.

Have somebody to hold your hand through the worst and best of times.




I hope your year is filled with love

family (That's Aunt Jenny!),



and life!




Enjoy yourselves! Don't forget to cry, to laugh (at yourselves), to love.


I hope 2009 is filled with surprises.
Keep your eyes open.



Who did you kiss for the New Year?


Happy New Year!!!!

Roscoe vs the Vacuum

As soon as I get it out, he starts barking at it. It can just be sitting there and he will bark.

Let's turn it on now.

Have a Green Christmas

We are always striving to be greener. Instead of wrapping presents, we bought second hand pillow cases. Everyone got their own sack. The kids didn't seem to notice they were missing something to unwrap. If you plan it better next year, we may get fabric and ribbons to wrap. It will look prettier and more festive.



This year Santa was green too. He bought The Lorax which was printed on recycled paper.




I read it to Desmina today before her nap. She interrupted to say, "Excuse me, mommy. When you drive in the car the gas causes smog too." I was taken aback; sometimes I forget how perspective kids can be.

Random pictures from last night and today:



Getting along

Santa came! Every year he brings a holiday themed musical figurine.

With their cousin and Oma



May your Christmas be filled with love

Presents

This year is all about home made gifts. I am not as crafty as my sister-in-law, Heather, but I hope everyone enjoys their gifts anyway. I tried to put something together that touches the hearts. I never really paid attention much to TV ads, but this year a Target commercial caught my eye.

Picture a school play filled with sweet children. It's a holiday pageant. Instead of the holiday spirit the children are touting electronic equipment, toys, and mass consumerism. I was disgusted.

I understand that this is a wonderful time of the year. I get weepy eyed listening to the radio and the giveaways that the stations do for their listeners. Every one is nicer to each other. Giving presents is much more fun than receiving then. I just wanted no part in the consumerism.

The Target commercial inspired me to live life more simply than I have been. I always do try to aim for that, but sometimes I need a little reminder. So to me it meant less trips to Target and more trips to the thrift and craft stores. I am glad I did! I wouldn't have found the awesome fire truck bed.

This year Desmina is getting old enough to get more involved during the holidays. Last night we did the potluck for Winter Solstice.




Tuyen, Moe, Heather and Jenny if you're reading this stop! Unless you want your presents from the kids to be spoiled.


























Tonight we made ornaments for Christmas presents.

Mess free!
Buy a tray, put the paints in. Put a ball in. Have the kids hold on the tray and try to get the ball to one another.

Well maybe not completely mess free. It got on their shirts, so I had them take it off.

Oh and according to Desmina, it's more fun if you sing a song about rolling the ball.

The finished products:

Happy Sun-day!

To celebrate Winter Solstice, we had a potluck with sun themed food.


After reading The Shortest Day the kids decorated sun catchers to celebrate the sun's return. They all had a wonderful time.

The flames represent the light from the sun.

I don't even think I announced that it was time for cupcakes, but kids have a sixth sense for this, you know.

Happy Winter Solstice

Today is the shortest day. Let's celebrate the return of the sun to Earth.

Yell Fire!

Bodhi to the rescue!

I love good deals! We found this beauty at our local thrift store.

Bodhi slept in it last night and the night before. He went to bed without nursing, which is a big step for us! Yay Bodhi! I am proud to say that we have done this without CIO.


Roscoe loves the bed too. Last night he snuggled with Bodhi. When Bodhi climbed in bed with us after waking up, poor Roscoe searched the house for him. He wouldn't rest until he found Bodhi. After he found him he watched over him until he was sure Bodhi was safe and laid back down.

The kids moved out

It's amazing how much fun kids can have with just a cardboard box.

Happy Thanksgiving

an art project


a turkey family

I am thankful for

candy (and ice cream).

pie

mommy, daddy and Bodhi.
(insert your awwwws)
and because we can make whatever Bodhi say whatever

my sister, my daddy and my mommy

mommy's milk.

I am thankful for family, friends and our new house.
What are you thankful for?

Color test

If you have a bit of time to spare do this test.
http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77
I scored a perfect score! It was a fun test.

Today, I am proud of America

I believe our choice will heal America. It is one step closer to bringing the world together. For when Obama was announced the next Presidents of the United States of the America, it just wasn't the democrats who celebrated. Japan, Kenya, Germany,Australia, Canada, and so many other countries in the world cheered with us.

Congratulations Obama. Congratulations America. We did it!

We did it!!!!!!

OBAMA WON!!! HE REALLY WON! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I CRIED SO MANY TEARS OF JOY TODAY!
HE WON! HE WON! HE WON!

Go out and vote

No matter who wins this day will go down in history for the United States. I am very nervous about what America decides. I am proud that we all can make our voice heard. I just wish that more people will vote.

Love is

spending time with your cousins. One thing I like about being back in Texas is that the kids can know their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I never had that growing up.
Happy Love Thursday!

Once upon a time there was a sweet lion named Bodhi. Bodhi was an active little lion and often got into sticky situations. Now he wasn't a troublesome lion, yet trouble found him.


One day Bodhi was foraging for food when he stumbled across a sleeping monkey.

Desmina, the monkey, was under a deep spell. Desmina had a voracious appetite and ate everything in sight including sleep inducing berries. One bite was all it took.

When Bodhi saw the sleeping monkey, he went to investigate. As soon as Bodhi approached Desmina he was hit by a great force. No matter how hard he tried, he could not go near the monkey.

Then he heard a booming voice. "Stay away!"
Bodhi ignored the voice and rushed at Desmina.
Woosh! Once again, Bodhi found himself on the floor.
"I said stay away! Desmina belongs to me!"
Bodhi looked around for the voice.
"Hahahah. You won't find me. And you will not rouse my Desmina!"
"Why is she sleeping?" Bodhi said bravely.
"Because I want to keep her! She is mine!" screamed the voice.
"I just wanted to play with her," Bodhi whimpered.
"Play?" The voice sounded perplexed.
"Yes, play. Don't you know what that is?" Bodhi answered.
There was a pause. Then a soft whisper, "I never played before. Is it fun?"
"Yes!" Bodhi roared excitedly. "Can I show you?"
"Well," The voice hesitated. "Okay."
"But you have to let Desmina play too. The more people the better!"

The wind blew and the leaves rustled. Desmina, the monkey woke.
"Hinkle hinkle." This was monkey talk for, "What happened?"
"I wanted to keep you as mine so I tricked you with sleeping berries."
"Hinkle hinkle."
"Sooo what is this thing called play you both keep talking about?" asked the voice.
"Let's show him!" roared Bodhi.


Bodhi and Desmina played ring a round the rosie, tag, London Bridge.
"What fun! Desmina, I'm sorry I tricked you. I just wanted to keep you."
"Hinkle. hinkle. "
"You two can go now. But will you promise to come back and play some more?"
"We will! Hinkle. Hinkle." Bodhi and Desmina said in unison.

The end