Jumping on Beds..........

Christmas Shopping

 Cam and I are hanging out today...she has a little cold so we are going to stay put today.  Right now, I am on the computer and she is sitting next to me playing with the nativity scene and Rudolph.  Our creche (sp?) is a little messy....it has spanish moss and she is "cleaning" the stable right now! I prefer the plastic little people nativity scene but I think all 3 have completely outgrown Little People :(

So, I have been busy ripping out ads from all the catalogs we received.  Want to go Christmas shopping with me? :)  Not necessarily going to buy any of this, just fun to look!

This gift is sooooo Perfect for Mikey and her kids....:)

This looks fun!  My guys are always drawing so this would be a fun twist. This too!

This would be fun for Gia and Gramps...they love movies!

Sounds like a fun family game!

I liked this one....although the one in my catalog said $19.99 and the frames are nicer.  I think this could be a great gift for adults with kids to make a family collage wall. Maybe even fill them up with photos.  Or split it up and just give out one frame per person with a picture in it!  or buy a set for our home :)

I thought this was just the cutest!! I think we are past that age over here though....but I have a little neice who is not past the age! 

I love these plates too! I think they are pretty.

This would be fun if it wasn't so expensive!  That is one expensive book!!   Next year, they will have one available with better technology and cheaper!  But definitely great for travelers!

This game is a for sure this year....I loved the game as a kid and we have never gotten around to buying it for our family.  Our hotel had games out so while we ate our "free" continental breakfast, we played games. 

I think these hats are adorable!  

I think we need to go here to do some of the Adams side of the family shopping.....looks like it would be a FUN day for the KIDS as well!!  

Well.....enough shopping for now!  

Time to go clean and let Cami have her computer time!  

Bye!

Thankful Recap

Thanksgiving was fun....gorgeous drive up the coast......
 we got up to the Pismo area around 2:30 and checked into our hotel, cleaned up...took pictures.....

   and headed over to Aunt Joan and Uncle Pat's.  The kids were THRILLED to play with their cousins again....(they had been in town and we hung out with them on Sunday and Wed.) Aunt Joan and Pat had been busy preparing the feast.  They always make a great spread.  I am always so thankful for all their hard work, they really make it special for everyone.  I cried yet again during the part when we go around the table and say why we are thankful! What can I say, I am sentimental.

Then on Friday, we headed to Hearst Castle. 
 It was decorated for Christmas. Very fancy Christmas at the castle!!  The kids loved it although by the time we made into the dinning room, they had just about enough of our tour guides story telling about the Hearst family.  Cami's favorite part was the bus ride up the mountain because they were playing music from the 20's and she thought that was hysterical.  Cara loved most of it but I think she probably loved seeing different animals on our trip....she spotted zebra before we even told her that there was zebra on the property.  After we left the castle, we drove up the road a little to see the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas.

    Charlie's favorite part was seeing the swimming pool (the Neptune pool)....they would have loved to jump in although it was a little chilly. 
  

Pics of the castle.....
 

The pool...
 

The indoor pool...Real gold in the tile work throughout....
 

Christmas decorations
 ...the living room...
 .the dinning room...
 

 We went back to Aunt Joan's on Friday night for another mini feast on Friday night.

Then on Saturday, we headed out to the Dunes for a little "adventure in the Sahara!"
 I love the Dunes, so amazing!!  Do you see how steep and tall the dunes are? see how tiny the family looks in comparison?? Amazing!
 

Overall, a great little getaway....would love to still be on a little vacation.  Tomorrow it is back to reality.  Luckily the month of December is filled with fun and before I know it, the kids will be out of school again!

Santa's Vacation Home

 Did you know that Santa has a little getaway cottage near Santa Barbara??

Yes, after the hustle and bustle of the holidays, he heads to Cali for a little R and R and maybe a little surfing!

Do you think he knows where Oprah's California house is????

I have been looking for 4 years and still don't know! :)

Back Home

 Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with full plates and stomachs!!!

We had an awesome trip up to Aunt Joan and Uncle Pat's house in Pismo Beach.  It is gorgeous up there and this time of year, they have WAY more fall color than we do so it is really special. 
  

The weather was gorgeous but yesterday (Friday) it was chilly.  

Gorgeous drive down the coast today.  
 California sure is a beautiful state!

Right now.....kids are playing, Mannie is watching the UCLA/SC game with his jug of beer that he picked up at the Firestone Brewery 
 (his tradition.....every year, I would get so mad because the brewery is 45 minutes into our trip home....the kids would be asleep and then wake up and that would be their nap for the whole drive....now, it doesn't matter, they are awake most of the drive) but anyway, I have laundry going, uploaded pictures and have done my mice poop patrol...I imagine they had a BIG OLE mouse fiesta while we were gone! :)  ....next stop, upstairs, pj's, a movie and then bed.

It was so nice to get away for a little bit.....to stay in a hotel room!!!! No cleaning, no cooking!!!! no mice!!  I LOVE VACATIONS!!!!

GO BRUINS!!

Nighty night!

Will add more pics tomorrow....hoping to decorate (minus the tree though) and finish unpacking!

Corn on the Cob Crackers

 Well, we are busy getting ready for the kids portion of Thanksgiving.  Since I am not cooking, this is my contribution.  I printed out the  "Family " word search which I am going to incorporate into a placemat.  Then the kids and I made these corn on the cob crackers or favors yesterday.  They are stuffed with little toys....those of you with kids, are your kids "into" Japanese erasers?  Well, they are big at my kids school...they trade them.  They are really cute!  So, we put some of those in there and then stickers and confetti, a piece of gum and we tried to squeeze these little soccer balls in but they wouldn't fit.  

I got the idea for corn on the cob crackers from a magazine that I saw in a doctor's office recently and I cannot remember which one....nor did I find it online....but I didn't try all that hard to find it either...after all, this is just my little old blog....I tried. I am guessing either Family Fun or Goodhousekeeping.

But all you do is take a toilet paper roll and yellow and green tissue paper. Then tie both ends.

We ran a bunch of errands today....one being COSTCO....holy mamma....crowded!!! But check out wasn't so bad. 

We also picked up the Santa Buddies DVD today! We are going to watch it on the drive to Pismo. Cute printout here if your kiddos like it.   Print out for our drive also!

The kids made their Christmas lists....I found a cute one on Martha Stewart's site.   And a cute little Christmas letter package at Target with envelopes addressed to Santa and stickers.  I am going to use the extra in the "December Daily" mini book I am working on.  I copied their letters really small and I am going to add them to the little book. 

That is it for today!  Trying to resist the urge to listen to Christmas music 24/7.  Mannie said to me the other day as we were listening to Christmas music in the car, "Didn't you do this last year and burn out the family on Christmas music around the 2nd week of December?" ....... um, yes, I did!

Oh well!

Have a good one! 

Monday, I LOVE YOU!

Monday is here!!! Hooray!! In my pj's as I wished for on Friday!!!

We made it thru the crazy hectic week!!

Now, the kids are on vacation, soccer is over and I couldn't be happier!  I can feel my inner recluse starting to emerge for winter!!

Cara's team ended their season as the UNDEFEATED CHAMPS!!!  We seriously LUCKED out with Cara's coach....we didn't know this when we found out who her coach was but her coach has been undefeated the last 3 seasons!  She is amazing and so is Cara's team.  A great season, Cara LOVED soccer!!

Charlie ended up hurting his foot on Friday night....on a plastic timer from a game he and Cara were playing...it looked really painful....and bleeding so it was a blessing in disguise because we decided to keep him out of his game since he was sort of limping around.  Our game schedule was Cami at 10....Charlie at 10:30 and Cara at 11....so it was going to be crazy trying to be everywhere anyway.

Cam....finished out her season....she was sort of a mixed emotion player.....one minute she'd be out there totally into it....the next minute she was sitting on my lap saying she wanted to go home.....no bag of candy this week......thankful to not have to go to a game next weekend!!!

Then it was party time! 

On Sunday, we had our last party and then we went to Gia's art exhibit in Long Beach.  
She has a variety of art showing and we all purchased these necklaces Gia made using wood from the cabin in Utah and her art work images and a word....I don't have a picture of mine...but I chose "Peace".....Cara chose "Love"....Cami "Home".....see picture with Miss Grumpy blurred in the background..

.. Charlie chose "Learn"... very cute and cute gallery....a great date night...dinner and an art show!  But it was family night so we did art show and Rainforest Cafe! (of course)

Today our plan is to get some groceries and work on Thanksgiving Place mats.

I am going to make Thanksgiving word searches with the names of the family members who will be at dinner.....this is for the kids.  My kids love word searches.  You can make your own here.

Mannie has been the busiest of all of us.  I feel bad for him....he doesn't get to just relax today like the rest of us do!  But if all goes well, he will have off starting on Wed. and we can hang out with his sis and family who are in town. 

Hope you are having a FUN Monday....good luck with your Thanksgiving prep!

Must go tend to Cami.....one of her "mountain lion claws" just broke....which means she hurt one of her finger nails.

Long Week

This has been a long week...I can't wait for it to end.

Mannie was away Monday and Tuesday and will be today again for work related stuff.

We have been busy with soccer stuff....the game which I am still sore over....then last night we had Cam's end of soccer party.  Although, she still has a game tomorrow.  

The biggie though was the memorial yesterday.  Gut wrenching but really a great celebration of his life. Some of his friends gave speeches and told funny stories of their college days....they had an awesome slideshow with video as well! It was really special.  And as funerals/memorials often are, it was a mini reunion for Mannie and his college baseball friends.  So wonderful to see how they all come together like that to support...like a fraternity or brotherhood....at the center of it is Uncle Gary ("Coach" but we call him uncle gramps).  I think Matt would have been really happy that so many were there to say goodbye!  I know I would have been.  Praying for the family still.

Laura....thanks again for taking care of pick ups and watching the kids....you are an awesome friend! I really appreciate you!    

I haven't been able to sleep this week.  Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back asleep.  I think that is why this week is just lasting forever!!!

Today, we don't have alot, just Charlie's school Thanksgiving celebration.  

Tomorrow, we have 3 soccer games, 1 end of soccer party and 2 birthday parties.  Sunday....1 end of soccer party and then we are headed to an art gallery in Long Beach where Gia has an art showing....then dinner with the family.  Mannie's sis and our brother in law and kids will be in town.

I know, you probably don't want to read all about my list of things to do......I know, but sometimes just writing about it helps get it out of my mind so I don't have to "think" about it so much.

We have next week off and that is what I am thankful for at this moment.  I just want to chill and hang out in pj's for the first few days.  

But you know what? As hard as this week has been....I really can't complain because I have my health and my family.....and great friends.  

So, I guess that is why I write on here....to remind me. 

But, I still am really tired. :) 

The team gave Mannie(asst. coach) and Coach Bink photobooks last night.  What a thoughtful gift.  Mannie has another from Charlie's team last year too.  I think this is the BEST gift idea.  And since I know what a pain it is to upload those photos, I can really appreciate the time it took for the family to not only take the photos but to organize and  upload them.  It is really cute too....looks like Shutterfly maybe?

Well, that is all....off to get moving on this day!  

I Played Soccer

Yesterday was Cara's parent/kid soccer scrimmage.

Mannie was away on work so I was the only parent available to participate.

I won't lie to ya.....I didn't want to do it......no interest whatsoever.

I even tried to get out of it...I told Cara I was too tired.

Then I started making this LO and I felt guilty.

So I got my lazy behind off the chair and got in my "workout" type clothes.

When I told Cara I would play....she threw her arms around me like it was Christmas morning and she just got a pony.  Totally worth my effort! She said, "Thank you Mommy!!"  See how happy she looks....

Well, her tune sure changed quickly after the parents beat the undefeated Pink Strikers!! We left practice and she was all in a huff...."Well, we are still undefeated, it doesn't count since you guys are adults!"

Today, I asked for clarification on whether she had fun and it was worth my achy body's effort......she said, yes in fact she did have fun!

I had fun....I didn't score any goals....the girls scored 2 on me when I was goalie but I will be honest, I kinda let them get by me because the parents were sort of dominating the whole game.  

Charlie was my camerman....I asked him to take pictures so I had proof that I actually did in fact play in this soccer game.....well, he took a bunch of pictures during warm ups and then got distracted with playing and all that other fun stuff kids do!!  This is all I've got.....I am waving....and a few others of stretching that I would rather not post....
 

Anyway, that is all.....I made these little 4x4 Christmas pictures for my scraproom....I have had these 3 frames that I got in the dollar section of Target....I have been meaning to do something with them and then yesterday I felt like I needed a little Christmas!!!  I had lots of fun!

I still have 1 more to do something with.

Speaking of Christmas.....Cam and Charlie are in the dinning room playing "Hanukkah" right now....they found 8 candles and have some sort of set up going on in there.  This morning at breakfast, the kids and I had a discussion on the holidays and when Cam and Charlie found out that Hanukkah lasts 8 nights with presents each night, suddenly, they were playing this game.  So cute!!!     

After soccer last night, we went and got pizza for dinner and after dinner the kids begged me to drive around and see any Christmas lights that were up.  So far, 4 houses.  

I am definitely getting more and more excited for Christmas....can't wait for all the fun stuff that comes with the holiday.  

But yes, first we have Thanksgiving next week.....bah humbug!!! As much as I dislike the holiday, I am really excited for our annual trip up to Mannie's aunt and uncles in Pismo Beach.  

Well....time to go clean the old pigsty!

Have a fun day!

Scrap Therapy

Wanted to turn my brain off for a little bit so I scrapped a Charlie LO.  I had a little delivery last week and have been waiting to use some of the new tags I ordered from these guys....saw them on Ali's site.  

We had a fairly busy day....now we are home for the night. I just want to get in my p.j.'s and put my feet  up.  I have been having trouble falling asleep at night due to things on mind so I am really tired and achy because my back is really a 90 year olds....so I am ready for night to come today.  

There is some kind of fire nearby today....over a few mountains and no wind so I think we are safe.  I am always fascinated though to see the smoke.......this is the view from Cam's room.  I saw some planes dropping the fire retardant on the fire.....hopefully they will get it under control.  I have yet to turn on the news to see what is going on.

Did you see these?  Are these not the cutest???  

Well....that is all for today.

I took this picture of Cara on Sat.....she got the MVP of the game....she was happy.  Anyway, not the best picture but I thought it was cool that the little flare(?) was on her face.

Cam was so NOT into playing on Sat. and I wasn't in the mood to deal with the whole situation so I finally whispered in her ear......"Cam, go on in and play....if you score a goal, I will buy you a big bag of candy!"

So guess what?????? Yes, within the next 5 minutes or so, she had scored a goal.....when she puts her mind to it, she really can do anything!!

So, yesterday, we had a bunch of errands to run and one of them was a trip to Powells for a big bag of candy.....heads up for locals....they have LOTS of candy (of course) for Christmas!!!! 

Hope you are having a nice day!  

Calgon take me away!!

Matt's Info.

This is the website the family has put together for Matt.

No matter how hard we try to plan out our lives or dream up how we think they should go.....things like this happen and remind me that I actually have no control (ultimately) over my life.

Mannie and I have no "death plan"(harsh term but i can't think of any other way to phrase it) so to speak.....if either of us passed....the other would be left scrambling to figure out what to do for a funeral.....where to bury....and then deal with life after.  

I guess we just don't like to think of such things as if to stir the pot.  But we need to.

I got my answer on how to help the family in lieu of food and flowers on their site.

My heart goes out to them.

Mom leaves soon.....must go get ready.

Have a good Saturday.