Alex' holiday pagent

What a wonderful evening that was to see Alex's class plus 2 others performing 2 Christmas songs. They sang Jingle Bell Rock and Must be Santa. There was also choreographed dance moves that were not to be missed. I have a video of it, but I cant seem to figure out how to upload it! LOL.

Gingerbread cookie time

We had so much fun decorating gingerbread men cookies. Of course the best part was eating them!

Christmas decorating!!!!!

It was time to hang our christmas lights today. All of us were so excited since it was the first time we got to actually hang lights. We've always had to just decorate the balcony, which Jose always did a very creative job! Here is Daddy and Michael hanging the lights, notice our brand new ladder, purchased just for today.

Alex and Bella enjoying the fun.

Our newest addition. I just couldnt resist this chubby little penguin.

Our creation at night! It was so lovely to see all of this. The icicle lights are especially meaningful to me. When I was a young mother living at home with my mom, we wanted icicle lights so bad, but we couldnt afford them. So, my mom and spent hours trying to drap our regular lights into icicles. We always said one day we would hang the real ones. Well so many years later I finally did. I wish my mom was here to enjoy the beauty of them with me.

Our 6th Anniversary

This is what I got for Jose. He has been wanting a hardshell gig case for so long and I got a great deal on this one. It is so awesome, it has a brown tweed and leather exterior, so retro and SO Jose. Look how cool his guitar looks in it!

This is the romantic gift he got me, a warm and decorative room heater. This house gets so cold and for a few weeks I have been shivering and freezing so he got me this wonderful gift! He even gets up early in the morning before me and turns it on so it warms up the bathroom or family room before I go in there. Now, that is true romance!

Baking for Thanksgiving

Alex and I decided to bake banana and pumpkin bread for Thanksgiving. We had a great time together. He is a great helper in the kitchen.

Last Friday the Lord was looking over me.

I was driving south on a one way street. I was in the left lane and suddenly a woman in the right lane decided to make a left. She didnt realize it was a one way street. We hit pretty hard the hood and grill has shifted to the left. The estimate right now just for visual damage is over $2k. Luckily, she had insurance, she does not have a license to drive but she had insurance, go figure!

Thank goodness, I had already dropped the kids off for the morning. I was 2 blocks from work and I had to call Jose to come up and interpret, she didnt speak english, but she admited it was her fault. I am so lucky it wasnt worse. My back and especially my knees were so sore. My chest and side of my body was horribly bruised from the seat belt. It took about 5 days to feel like I could walk upright without being so sore.

It was Saturday home project day

This is what our chairs looked like. So dirty and stained. I thought it was time to update the chairs to match our beautiful new home. After watching hours (and I mean hours and hours and hours) of home improvement shows, I thought I could tackle re-doing the chair pads. I was so thrilled to find this nice fabric on clearance, it only cost $3 per chair (we have 6 total). The hardest part was taking off the old fabric, stapling the new stuff on was a breeze.

This is the finished product, what a difference. I am so proud of the change in the chairs, it almost looks like bought a new set of chairs. The fabric is multi-brown with little square textures.

Jose's pride and joy

This is what the grass looked like when we moved in, it was brown and burnt looking. With patches that were bald. Jose wanted his lawn to be green and lush and perfect for the kids to play soccer on. Well, 4 weeks ago, some guys came by and offered to fertilize, seed and add minerals to our lawn and promised it would be lush like our neighbors. Jose had to water the grass twice a day and not mow it for 4 weeks. It was a struggle to water each morning but he did it!

This picture does not do the grass justice. It was so tall in some areas that it was up to Alex's thighs. This was taken this morning; mowing day! Jose was so excited, well we all were. In fact, Bella pulled up her chair and watched the whole process.

This is Jose's beautiful lawn after he mowed it! What a beautiful, green, lush lawn. This is a lawn to be proud of. Jose's blood, sweat and tears are in this lawn.

The kids finally allowed to play on the lawn! It was so funny, after the played, rolled and crawled all over the lawn they were green. Alex called them trolls! (Our yard ends just past the end of the bricks, the tree belongs to the neighbors.)

This is what we do when mommy stays home from work and daddy's not home

We bake cupcakes in our undies! LOL! We had a great time and the cupcakes were delicious.

Jose's latest gig

His groupies dancing!

The guys jamming, it was a great time. Two of Jose's childhood friends are in the band. The guy in the white shirt is Ramiro and the guy in the dark shirt and hat is Miguel. The dude on bass is Mondo.

As you can see they are the headliner! This night was especially monumental since this gig was at an outdoor pavillion in front of Rubio's grill and the kids could come watch their daddy. The kids had a blast and we had lot's of friends and family turn out to support Jose. It was a beautiful fall night and a good time was had by all. They were so popular they have been asked back for December 13! We cant wait!!

Not to be forgotten, Michael.

Michael seems to be left out of so many pictures, but actually he is generally the one taking them or helping with them. So this post is dedicated to all things Michael.

Michael loves football; watching, playing, talking about it. At lunch everyday for a few years now he plays in the LTFL (lunch time football league). I am sure its the best thing about school!

Michael is looking forward to graduation. We just had a meeting with his HS counsler to make sure he is on track....and he is! He has taken so many classes he has a reduced schedule for the rest of the year. I was so proud, I nearly cried. Michael will be the first male on the Kingston (just talking about my dad's direct line) to graduate from HS! Michael is also looking forward to going to college, he wants to be a history teacher.

In his spare time Michael enjoys video games, computer games, fantasy football and reading about any of those subjects.

He is a great big brother, his younger sibs keep him busy. They have a lot of fun together, Alex and Michael bond over football. Michael is sharing his love of the game with his younger brother it is so amazing to hear Michael patiently explaining the game to him and what all the players do.

I cherish this time with him as it wont be long and he will be 18, then he will graduate and at some point leave the nest. I miss him already!

We have a new baby in the family.

Her name is "Sweet, Sweet Petunia". She was named after a character from the veggie tales show. She loves to sleep with Bella, which is funny because Bella is not known for her gentleness with her when she's awake.

About 2 weeks ago, the kids and I went yard saling. Dad was not feeling well so he stayed home to take a nap. The doorbell rang and there were two little girls with a small kitten. Dad told them no thanks and then thanked his lucky stars I wasnt here with the kids because he knew we would have another family member. Well, he thanked his stars a bit too soon! Because guess what we brought home, yep, Sweet Sweet Petunia! I guess it was meant to be.

She has had a rough start with box training, she loves to go on blankets and most anywhere she sits. But this weeks she seems to have gotten it. We have had to lock the poor thing in the bathroom while were gone, so she must have taken the hint.

We have a new musician in the family!

Alex loves going into the garage with his dad and listening to him jam. He has been taking his one little drum in there for a few weeks and tries to drum along. Alex has been begging daddy all day to go into the jam room. So, daddy thought he should have a "real" drum set to play on. Our little guy has a natural rythym and has actually kept the beat as Dad plays the guitar. We had the best time this afternoon, the whole family, jamming together. Michael, Bella and I were vocals and the guys provided the awesome songs.

Halloween!

This year we spent the Monday before Halloweenwith Lyn at her Ward's Annual Trunk N Treat! All the kids dress up, play some great games and then go trick or treating in the parking lot out of the trunks of cars. Some people really go all out. Above is Lyn and Mike's trunk. They went shopping the week before to plan it out and even had dry ice to make a nice fog. Although I may be a bit predjudice, it was one of the best trunks there. The kids a got a ton of candy and it was a great, family friendly time. Thanks to Lyn for inviting us and the LDS Monrovia Ward for making us feel so welcome.

Alex wearing on of his prizes! Notice anything different?

Lyn helping Alex adjust his cape. I forgot his real cape so Lyn came through and got him a black trash bag, LOL! He was just as happy!

Bella playing one of the games. We love the Veggie Tales here so seeing Larry and Bob was a treat.

Alex posing by one of the scary scenes.

This was so cool in real life! The kids loved it.

Jose's band

Jose has been practicing hard for his new gig. Next Saturday, 11/8 he will be playing locally in the Covina area. The best part is this gig is at an open air arena, that the kids can come too! We are all looking forward to seeing Daddy in action.

Alex Turn's 5!!!!

We had Alex's 5th birthday at our new home in mid-October. It was the first party we were able to have at home. It was so wonderful, Alex got his wish and we ordered the coolest jumper. The theme this year was Sponge Bob and it was just the best!





Alex's very cool Birthday Cake!

Pinata time!!! Man, this pinata was tough, it would not break. Thanks to Nino (Alex's Tio/God Father), the kids finally got some candy. He broke the pinata and jumped on the roof to throw down the treats to the waiting kids.

Alex and Bella with my BFF Deirdre having some pre-party jumper time! Alex recieved so many wonderful gifts and the best part was the great memories we made in our new home. This was just a blessing we never thought we would enjoy.

Awww moments with Alex

The other day I said something unkind about myself (oh I dont know, maybe I called myself a big old slob). Anyway, I didnt realize Alex heard me. He said to me..."mom, dont call yourself that, I dont know what that is, but your not. You're a lovely lady". Lovely Lady, I couldnt believe it, where did he come up with that!

He is a charmer, believe me (more on that later). The next day before we left to go to school/work he told me "remember you're a lovely lady and you're my princess". Oh, you cant buy love like that!