Ornaments for 2009...

We hung two new ornaments this year on the memory tree in our family room: The moose labeled South Dakota, is from, um, South Dakota, and the cruise ship Juan just picked out on the Disney Cruise ship when we were in the Bahamas three weeks ago--appropriate don't ya think?

Gratitude....

A week off. With the vacation under our belts three weeks ago, we had nowhere to go but home.
And it was jsut what we needed. We still saw a great show in LA, "Mary Poppins" with some great friends, and we saw some great movies, "The Blind Side" is a tear jerker and so worth seeing! Kids loved Planet 51, and I loved New Moon. After the Pan con Pavo (turkey sandwiches done El Salvadoran style--so yummy!) we put up tons and tons of Christmas decorations, did some shopping, and then we rested. Life is good, for so many reasons, and these are some of mine (in no particular order) :

1. My sanity (which comes and goes, but the moments of clarity are divine!)
2. The health of all whom I love (especially the two who were born on 11-5-1998!).
3. Understanding that faith in a higher power is in itself empowering.
4. Reaching 44 and realizing so much of the daily stress is nonsense.
5. Working for 15 years and building a company to a point that now I can take some time off.
6. Having friends that get me, and love me anyway.
7. Having family that don't get me, and love me anyway.
8. Being able to put my thoughts into words since the age of 9--otherwise I might have not achieved my #1 above.
9. Ugg boots --I love ugg boots!
10. See's Chocolate--tell me, have you ever heard of a recipe for left over chocolate? Of course not!
11. My guy--26 years, my loyal and faithful partner in life, love, and everything, and no matter how frizzy my hair is, how bad my morning breath is, or how wrinkly my skin is, he keeps coming home every single night.
12. My ability to know who is good for me, and whom is not.
13. Good books on my nightstand.
14. Milk and cookies in the morning.
15. My blog, for whom this expression would not be able.

I have some gripes too, but in the spirit of the season, we'll leave this post at listing the gratitude!

Double Ones...

Eleven! It boggles my mind that my babies are now only a brief stint from being teenagers. Some days the years felt like decades, and others, only moments in time. Had these photos taken at my friend, Mindy's house a few months ago at one of those photographry at home parties. So easy! I RSVP'd to the evite, got the kids dressed up, and we popped in for a total of 15 minutes. Mindy got some free pix, and we a hassle free photo session. This gal is very strict about the time alottment--which turned out to be a plus for all of us! These were my favorite--they are darn cute if I do say so myself! If anyone would like the link to her website, leave me a comment, and I'll post it.

Eleven... double ones--the child part in childhood is over, done. I was so careful during the past decade to be present, and kind and a good example, because I knew they were both looking to me. I wanted to raise people that I would like to know as adults. I failed more times than I care to admit, and despite my shortcomings, they have grown into pretty great human beings. And flaws of their own? Well, now I can feel their world getting bigger, more influences, and I am having to repeat myself more often. I am not fond of selective hearing, it wares on me to know the lines of communication are getting clouded. So, it is my very conscious vow to keep those lines as stream lined as possible, and even as I aknowledge, the child is indeed more behind us than in front us, their childhood is not completely over. Doing my best to keep the child in my home, and the hood as far from our lives as possible is my fervent wish, and I think if we keep doing what we have been (exhaustion aside) we will meet our goal. My kids are inherantly easy, but life can take a turn at any moment, and even though there are times when I wish I could be done and on to grandparent time, there is a deeper desire to cherish the last leg of this very precious time. I just looked again at their pictures here---aren't they just the cutest?!

Home again...

We just got home from a week in the Bahamas--three days in Orlando, and 4 days on the Disney Cruise. 87 degress and clear skies. Celebrated our twins 11th birthday--here were are on Disney's own island, Castaway Cay--Fabulous time had by all!

The rest of Hallow's Eve...

My very cool Rock Star, and my adorable bumble bee, with our neighbor bee, Amanda--too cute!

Niko likes spiked hair (although you can't really see it in this photo), and Lauren always giggles when she see's something silly--the belly was too much! I think both costumes fit them perfectly!

Niko has never enjoyed pumpkin carving--until this year. He had a grand time diving right in with his grandfather! Lauren's witch on a broomstick drew lots of compliments from trick-or-treaters all night long. One teenage girl said she should be an artist. When I told she was thinking about it, she said, "Follow your dream!" as she ran off to gather more candy. A fun night had by all. One more year, they think, and our treating days will be behind us. So sad....