Time flies when family is visiting

My aunt from New York was here for the week and boy did we cram a lot in! It's always crazy at thanksgiving! So much fun! Thanksgiving was nice. We had two dinners on Thanksgiving. My hub's parents came over during the day. I lucked out and didn't have to cook any of it. After eating lots there we headed over to my parents house for another meal. Can I tell you what a great cook my Mom is! Wow! Homemade skillet creamed corn, pineapple casserole (my favorite), stuffing with apples and cranberries, mashed potatoes, the list goes on and on. Here are some pictures of the overeating...

Gigi and Brendan

Friday my Mom, Charsie and I got up nice and early and headed out to the stores. This year we went to one store and then went to breakfast. After breakfast we headed back to shop and it was so nice. Not one line! How did we avoid all the lines? We got some really good deals. Can't wait to get them wrapped!
That night we all went to the Mission Inn for the festival of lights. It's a historic hotel in the next city and every year the ;lights are unbelievable. There are so many lights and they have animated people singing carols. Wow is the only word I can think of. we had never been to the lighting and we defin. want to go back next year. The had the streets blocked off and there was an ice skating rink, food stands, and all the stores had a window display contest. Lots of the stores surrounding the hotel are antique stores so of course their displays were fabulous. My camera batteries died before the show started so I was not able to get pictures of the firework show but I got lots of pictures of the window displays we saw before it was dark.

I think we are going to go back again so we can really enjoy the lights when they aren't thousands of people there.

Ms. K went back to school yesterday. Mr. B missed her so much he was crying while we were running errands. "When can we go pick up sissy?" "Is it time to get sissy yet?" That's what I heard the entire time she as at school yesterday. When we picked her up he was SO excited. He was walking next to her with his arms around her waist.

I know I have been a bad blogger this month. The whole tearing stuff in my foot and being on crutches messed everything up this month. I have to say it was an experience to teach a three hour scrapbook class on crutches. Not something I want to try again anytime soon.

Gotta run, Mr. B is pulling pictures out and spreading them everywhere!

My funny boy

He makes me laugh every day. Yesterday this conversation came about during the day...

Brendan had hit Ms. K in the head with his baseball bat (not to worry, not wood or aluminum).

Me: Brendan, you need to go apologize to your sister for hitting her with your bat. How sad, now it's in timeout.

Brendan: (crying) okay

he runs down the hallway with his two year old run that's still sort of a waddle and his arms a pumping to get him along (love that run!)

(overheard when he gets to his room to apologize)

Brendan: Okay, hold on I have to get my tears out of the way (wiping his eyes)

How can I be mad when he says cute, funny things like that?! Good thing I was out of sight because I was laughing!

Later on in the day Ms. K and I were in my room and I hear him coming down the hallways ( because he has to bring an armload of toys with him everywhere). This is what we hear...

Brendan: Here comes the man!

Glad he feels the need to announce himself. Not just "here comes Brendan" but "here comes the man". guess we won't have to worry about confidence right!

Plans have changed

now that I have to wear this dumb cast (soft) on my foot. It's really hindering our vacation plans. We did manage to go to the American Girl store as planned. It was really fun! We went with Mom, Julie and the Peters. The girls had a great time and I think they would have taken everything in the store home if we let them. The Grove was getting it's Christmas decorations up so it was starting to look very festive! Here are some pictures for the day...

The dolls were set up in displays with their accessories according to the books. Very cute!

The kids wanted to ride the double decker bus so the Kennedy rode while Mom stayed with Brendan and I because he was asleep and I couldn't get on it. Here they are getting off...

The stores had so many cute projects that I want to make. I took pictures of the ones I am going to duplicate! Can't wait to get to work. It's going to have to wait till I am done teaching my classes this month. I have one mini album class left this Friday. It should be fun.

Happy Birthday to me!

Well, actually it was yesterday. Had a really nice day thanks to my hubby and my mom. The family met at Mom and Dad's and we watched football. Mr. B and I wore our Chiefs jerseys even though they lost. My hubby knew I had been saving up for a camera and so that's what I got, a new camera. So excited! My mom made a fabulous birthday dinner (as she does every year!) but the best thing of all was my cake! Mom made my favorite, German Chocolate with homemade chocolate frosting. When I say amazing it does not even do it justice. WOW! So we ended our nice day and came home and put the kiddos to bed. Then the day went downhill. Literally. I fell down the stairs. We went to the ER because it was really swollen and bruised. Luckily it's not broken but I am still in a soft cast because we don't know if there are torn ligaments or anything like that yet. I am on pain killers right now so lots of sleeping occurred today. So besides the whole ER visit I had a great birthday!

Halloween Pics

okay the throwing up is done and now he is destroying everything in the house. since he is feeling better I can post our Halloween Pics! Here's my little lion and my medieval princess...

We had a fun night. We went to trick-o-treat at Grammy and Grandpa's and Gigi and Papa's. Then we went to our friend's house (Angie and Ric). Angie and I took the kids trick-or-treating while the guys passed out candy and handled dinner. So fun! Love having goods friends for a great night! While we were out with the kids, Amanda (Ms. K's best friend) told one of the houses, "they can't have that cause it's chocolate!" The lady felt bad and tried to tell her it was all she had and Amanda kept telling her Mr. B and Ms. K couldn't have it. So funny! She's always looking out for the kids and informs everyone they can't have milk or cheese or chocolate. What a good friend!

Sorry, I guess I was on a blog vacation

I didn't realize how behind I was! Happy Halloween (late!). I've got lots to catch up on! So sit back, relax and get ready for a long post. Scott and Brendan had a great time in New England. They got to see lots of family and Scott had a great time at the Red Sox/Indians game. The kids were so funny, David Ortiz (Boston player) has a nickname. He is called "Big Poppy". Brendan thought it was Big Poopy and the name stuck, so throughout the playoffs they would yell "Go Big Poopy!". When we were watching the World Series the other night, Carrie Underwood was going to sing the Star Spangled Banner. Kennedy stood in front of the TV with her hand over her heart the whole song. SO cute! Scott started to talk and she turned to him and said "SHHHHH". Love my patriotic daughter.

Last Wednesday (10/24/07) we had Ms. K's parent conference at school. We were so proud of her. She had a great report card. Her teacher said if she left the classroom, Ms. K could run it by herself. That's my girl! She also received an award(10/25/07) called the Lifeskills Award. it's for students that use respect, responsibility, patience, etc. everyday. Here she is getting her award and at her fall party at school..

Now she is off track and it's time to play. Monday (10/29/07) we went to Disneyland with Mom and met up with some friends of ours. We had a great time and Disney did a great job decorating for fall. Everything looked beautiful. Here's some shots from the day...

Sorry this post jumps around a lot. I have so much to cover an Mr. B has the flu today so I ave been typing this post for over 2 hours now. I keep running back and forth from the table to the couch because he's throwing up. I feel so bad because when you are little like he is it is hard to understand why you can't have a drink whenever you want. He just had his first sip of pedialyte so hopefully it stays down! I am going to post again today to show Halloween...

Hoping for rain...

the home front is not looking good. We are lucky in the fact that the fires are not on us. They are surrounding us but not on us. Southern California has so many people, sometimes it feels like we are packed like sardines, but it seems like everyone knows at least one person who has been evacuated or is fighting the fire. The devastation is so sad. I feel lucky that we are only getting the ash covering from the nasty fires. Please add the fire victims to your prayer lists. sorry for the short post.

Hooray!!!

My boys are on an airplane coming home!! Can't wait to see them and gives lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles! Happy fall day even though everything in So. Cali is burning! Maybe this picture will get me back in the fall mood instead of the smoke filled days we have been having...

miss my boys already!

They left for the weekend. A last minute trip to the east coast. My father-in-law called last night and wanted to go to the Redsox/Indians game so off they went. I am having a hard time with my little boy going on an airplane without me but it's gonna happen sooner or later right. So since I am missing my boys already here's some pictures from earlier in the week. We were at my parents house as the sun was going down and we were playing outside...

Brendan and his funny faces. He poses himself and then makes these crazy faces. He makes me laugh.

Ms. K had quite the busy social schedule this weekend. Soccer, 2 birthday parties, the usual drill. One more week and she is on vacation. Gotta love year round school. School for three months, off for one. It will be fun. My mom is off at the same time because they are on the same track and that allows for lots of fun activities. Ms. K keeps telling me "I've already planned Gigi's vacation." I think we are going to the American Girl store and the Johnny Cash exhibit (because my children are obsessed with Johnny Cash, their favorite songs are Jackson and Boy Named Sue) and who knows what else we'll end up doing.

All right, I am off to bed, my girl and I are having a slumber party!

No Self Analyzing Today

I promise! Actually today is something that is more important than analyzing my inner issues that i have passed on to my daughter. Here it is...





I read about this on Ali Edwards blog and I had to spread the word. Check out the website, http://blogactionday.org/. Basically for one day blogger's are going to talk about the same issue. Today it is the environment. Something that impacts all of us. A great topic to discuss.

Recycling. A big deal at our house. Anyone and everyone can do this and the impact is so great! I highly recommend having two trash cans in the kitchen. I know this sounds like a lot an some may say "I don't have enough room" but they don't have to be huge ones. Dedicate one for recycling and one for everything else. You will be surprised how quickly the recycling can will fill up. There are so many things that can be recycled; junk mail, kids school papers, jars (spaghetti sauce, etc.) , plastic bottles (syrup, ketchup, etc.), cereal boxes.
At our house we are very proud to have a full recycling can on trash day and only two bags in the regular trash can.

There are SO many things we can do to make a difference. Please check out the website. The have an entire section with resources about making a difference. Take the time, it could change your life!