Closing out 2011

I was thinking I'd close up the year with my top 11 favorite happenings this year! It was a good year, as every year is. We are truly thankful to our loving Heavenly Father for all He's given us.

11. My Garden = Peace & Serenity

10. Joe learns how to run! And we say goodbye to the beloved dreds.

9. Summer at Wild Waters and any other place we can enjoy swimming!!

8. Zumba, Classic Literature and PINTEREST!!! Personal Time

7. SEA WORLD!!!!!!! Does life get any better than fun fun fun vacations?!?!?

6. Missoula Theatre- The girl's first play!

5. Sergio Flores. Nothing says happiness like listening to your 7 year old hum George Michael.

4. Fancy Party. Mafioso.I don't remember the last time I saw my folks so stunningly dressed! Joe in a tux! Crystal out... Fun times.

3. Christina learns how to ride a bike without training wheels (Maria too! with training wheels!)

It took a few tries, but now they are pros! Sidenote:They always wear helmets, of course, the one picture I get of them, they're not.

2. Maria learns how to read and her fabulous tangled birthday party!

1. Elijah aka Mingo Star is born!!!!!!! Hooray for sweet babies!

 

Best Buds/The Most Wonderful Children on Earth

This is just happiness to my heart. And it's all the time!!

There is absolutely nothing like having 2 sweet girls to be little mothers.

They are constantly doting on their brother and are such a big help.

Eli says, "I'm adorable." Yes. Yes you are.

The girls wanted me to see their picture pose... so clever!

Sweet Eli is doing a great job holding up his head! He's super man!

God has blessed us with the sweetest children ever.

Hansen's Wedding Reception

I love Maria's Sunbeam teacher! And now with the upcoming year, she was switched and will be Christina's teacher!! Maria will have Debbie, the baker! Could life be any more grand!?!?! Anyways, we went to Kathy's son's reception and it was beautiful. The had a hot chocolate table with all the trimmings and a super fun photo booth with dress up table!!

We got to sit with a bunch of Hispanics that didn't speak English, so Joe was in 7th heaven. I contributed to the conversation by saying, "El gusto es mio." What I really wanted to say though was "Tu papi es mentiroso!"

It was so cute because Elijah would get fussy and I'd go to feed him and every couple of sips, he stop, come off and then smile at me. He's such a sweet baby. Also, the girls had some boys from church to play with. They are such giggle puffs around the boys!!!

'A' Family Christmas Party

I wasn't able to get too many pictures, but we had a lovely time at the Anastassatos Family Christmas party.  It was at the guard like always, but this year we didn't have to fight any snow!! Woot Woot! Record highs! No snow! Ahhh.... it is like living in Hawaii.

The girls got to play with their cousins. I just adore all the lil' kids. Christina hit a ball into the pocket on the pool table and Diego said, "Great job Bellini. Great job." They are just cute and loving and so kind to each other.

The food was great and the company even better! I'm hoping to get a whole family picture soon. There were at least 50 of us there!

It's always Christmas with Papa and Yaya

Papa and Yaya know how much the girls looooooooooove build-a-bear. This was actually Maria's first time building a bear/bunny!! She was very excited!! The girls always beg me to take them and I usually just laugh and say ask Papa and Yaya. Well, the time arrived!!

So many choices! So much fun!!

The hot item was the turquoise high heels... very girly!!

Papa teaching Elijah all about good baseball teams... much to Joe's chagrin.

Afterwards the girls got a pretzel and we just enjoyed our time being spoiled by Papa and Yaya. Hooray for fabulous grandparents!!

** As a side note, I realize I've posted non-stop gifts from Papa and Yaya. However, that is NOT what makes them the most wonderful family on earth. It's that they are always always always there for us. They adore our children. The love us more than anything on earth. They call us. They spend time with us. They laugh and cry with us. They pray for us. We do fun things together. We doing boring things together. We talk constantly. They just are the best. It's hard to describe in words, but we are just so blessed to have the parents we do. There was NEVER a time when they weren't there for us. They are constant and true. They have taught us what love is. They have shown us what love is. And I'm just so grateful to a loving Father in Heaven who has provided a way where we can be an eternal family.**

Christmas Dinner at Papa and Yaya's

The lights were low, so I didn't get a lot of great shots. However, the memories are etched in mind forever of just plain happiness and fun.

Theo Speedo is the greatest Santa, however this year he was sick with a cold at home with Valerie. We missed him!! He is always so thoughtful and kind... the girls loved their mini-life sized dollies!

Of course, Papa and Yaya are ultimate Santas though. We are so blessed and thankful for all they do!!

Yaya Sofia was a little upset with us because we mentioned that Jesus was actually born in April. That didn't sit too well. Most people don't know that the Romans just combined pagan celebrations, and voila...the new celebration of Christ's birth. Does it really matter what day He was born? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

We were happy Aunty Tobi could make it. We feasted on steak, shrimp, appetizers and salad... and any other wonderful food you could think of!! Talk about spoiled!!

The girls played with their toys, we talked, we laughed, we enjoyed each other's company and then we all crashed!!!! It was a beautiful holiday season.

Thank goodness for the mercy of a loving Father in Heaven who would send His beloved Son to earth as a sacrifice for all mankind.

Jesus Christ.

What would we do without Him!!!!

Feliz Navidad...Christmas Morning At Home

Christmas morning after church can be summed up as wonderful chaos.

Wrapping paper flew.

Thank-you's were shouted.

Skipping and hopping from present to present was present.

Mostly I get gifts for the girls at the thrift store, however we did find a couple cool things at Costco this year that were affordable. Plus we were super spoiled by friends and family!

I found a little deer beanie baby... Maria adores it and brings it everywhere!

The girls are the best!! They wanted to give daddy something special he would love, so they wrapped up a scrapbook album I made for him a few years ago.

I found this dolphin for $2 at the thrift store and washed it 3 times. Christina adores it and takes it everywhere. Today it was dressed in one of her purple dresses and buckled in our backseat.

The girls were wonderful and wrapped up an old friend magazine for me! Plus I got a bunch of trinkets from the playroom and a pop-up paper scene that Christini made. Joe was super super super, did I mention super... thoughtful this year. He spent WAY too much on me and I felt a little awkward because all I got him were some jammers, jam on it and a croquet set for $2! He knows I love gardening so he got me a gift certificate to home depot, waterwalls for tomato plants so they don't freeze with "odd" weather we tend to get here and an MP3 player and connector for the car. It was just really thoughtful and kind. I loved it. Plus he went above and beyond with his "theme" for me and shaved a mustacio, actually looking like a gardener. As if that's not enough, he even said I could cut his hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks babe. It was way too much and way too kind.

Joe, I think, enjoyed his jammers. I wanted to get him a zebra speedo, but the question of modesty and how white is too white on one's thighs came to mind.... I just love everything about this picture. I was able to find one on ebay for a great price and the really nice seller gave me another one for free! 

And yes, he wore that to church... minus the jammers.

We had an over indulgent breakfast after presents. Breakfast sandwiches (sourdough panini with eggs, ham & cheese) sausage, bacon, and THIS french toast.... YUM! I was so excited it turned out. I didn't use any strawberries, but some blackberries we had on hand. It was very rich with syrup and whip cream... we'll definitely enjoy that one again!!

Ahhh... Christmas!!! Hooray!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

From our freaks to yours.... Merry Christmas and God bless you.