Christmas Morning

Our morning was AWESOME! The most presents we have ever gotten at one time, maybe even all other Christmas' combined! My photos posted out of order so here they are so Brian can bet as much a part as possible!

My new necklace from daddy!
Tutu suit from Santa and the newest member of our family...

Marley Caldwell!

The one legged balerina

Look at all the loot!

Too much? Maybe, NOOOOO

My tea set from daddy in Iraq

My necklace box from Iraq

Oh my gosh Santa ate his cookies

All the stuff from Santa

All the stuff from Santa

What a great morning. The girls were in heaven poor brian called and all they could say was 2 words before they were off opening and playing. Thanks to all for making Christmas great.

Christmas Eve

We did our Christmas eve and had a great time. We were planning on being at the cabin so we were not ready for Christmas in the house. When Abbey hurt her foot it changed all plans so today we scrambled to get ready. We brought in the tree from the front porch and got all the presents out. It looks like tomorrow will bring great joy.

The girls in their new Christmas jamas getting ready to go leave reindeer food.

Got to pile it high so they can reach it.

He's got have have 3 cookies and milk

Look at all the presents. We've got to get to sleep!

As we get ready for Christmas day we think about all we have and all the gifts that our Heavenlt Father gives us. We are greatful for all we have. We miss Brian more than we can say. We pray that he feels peace and love this Christmas. Our love goes to all that is a part of our wonderful lives.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

Poor little Abers

We went to an awesome christmas party last night. Thank you to the Morris family for keeping me an honorary Morris for life! The kids had the best time being kids. Abbey got tired and decided she didn't need to walk down the steps, she needed to JUMP! So after sleeping on it when we woke she still could not stand. So a trip to the ER luckily told us it is a sprain! We have to go to a specialist next week to double check for hairlines. I however, think it's a Christmas miracle!! Although sad, it still looks cute on her!

Smiling with her "you were a big tough girl today" present. She is doing really well and the splint makes it so she is able to hobble around which is better than being carried by mom! I can only be a sherpa for so long, so I am grateful for her ability to walk. She is one tough cookie. We love her.

breakfast with santa

We had breakfast with Santa at church. It was fun. The kids had a little train ride in the parking lot to do (thanks to my friend Amy's dad). Abbey was petrified of the man in red, so Kassidy started solo. She thinks he is the greatest thing around.

Abbey finally came around. She was on there long enough to tell him she wanted a snow globe take this picture and run! She has been afraid of him her whole life and is quite the sceptic about him. She doesn't believe one man can do all we say he does and Kassidy defends Santa and his glory to the death! Funny girls.

Abbey's half birthday

Abbey's school celebrate's half birthdays for those whose birthday will be missed during the school year. So we went all out. Who said celebrating mediocrity was lame?! I am all about the little ye-haw moments. How could you deny this face? She put so much thought into her goody bags for her friends. Miss Janet has done wonders for our Abs. She is now talking to adults a little bit more (which is huge for her) She now no longer cries to go to school or nursery at church. That is SO HUGE!!! We love our little monkey. Half way to 4, holy cow!

Christmas Program

We had our first school program tonight! It was so much fun. The theme was Christmas in AZ. So all the kids dressed for the beach. It was very cute and fun.

At the end

My big sis, rudolph!

Kassidy's teacher Ms. Brennan (whom she loves)

Gingerbread trees

We got these cute trees from auntie rob. They couldn't stay together on their own so with a little hot glue we were ready to roll!

The concentration...

Weeeee

So proud of what she has done

Love her smile

They turned out so cute. It was killing the anal me to let them do it all on their own. i wanted one to look like the box! I guess I should have gotten one for me! They are proudly displayed for all to see. The "snow" might be my favorite part!

Dear Santa...

We made our list for Santa today. We have big wishes so we needed big notebook paper!

Kassidy is the sweetest thing you will ever meet. She has NO wants of the world. She finally decided on what she would ask Santa for. She decided that she wants a doll but she will let Santa and hi elves decide what she would like that they have! I love her so much.

Abs had a hard time narrowing her list! I love her drawing of Ariel. She got all the parts just right! I love the green fins.

So Abbey wants a snowglobe (we saw Santa Clause 3 and it's all about snowglobes so they are into them right now) and she wants an Ariel toy. Kass wants a globe too and her mystery doll!

I love Christmas and it is so much better with kids that love it more than me!

First hair cut

So I finally broke down and got Abbey's first hair cut. She was done crying during hair brushing. it was so straggly at the bottom that is would get in knots so i had to break my promise to Brian and get it cut.

"just a little bit right mom?"

Here we go

YIKES

All done. It looks so thick and healthy now!

I did it! Yum sucker.

Couldn't Elf myself

So i decide this was too funny not to do! I think it's even funnier that Brian ended up a girl elf!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1172019786

Enjoy!

Blogger reunion

OK- so i have gotten several people that want to do a get together. i thought what would be more appropriate that a blogger/blog stalker reunion! So all who live in AZ and all who are coming to AZ leave a comment on when you will be here or when you are available. i was thinking after christmas would be best. I was also thinking what better place can i think of than the standard oldschool hang out of old reliable applebees on gilbert and baseline for fries and milkshakes!!!!!!!!!!!! No we can do something else. that place just screams MHS!

I have deemed myself the coordinator because i have nothing to do in my pathetic life. So pass the word from blog to blog. YEAH!

Reminiscing

We were decorating the outside of the house today. we put up lights and a tree on the front porch it made me remember all the great christmas' we've had. i was doing a photo project for brian and ran across these and thought i'd walk down memory lane with you all!

This was 2 years ago in WA. We went to a man's property and cut down this huge 8 ft tree for $40!!! We had so much fun. one of my favorite memories.

This was the girls 2 years ago. Man time has flown and you can really tell when you look at photos. It's tough doing christmas without brian but the girls excitement makes we want to pull out all the stops. i will post pictures of the front of the house because it rocks! my aunt did the garland around the door today and it's fab!

Just in time for new years resolutions

so my long lost pal diane found me and i checked her blog. she had a link to this website...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21838237/?pg=2#TDY_20WorstFoods

It is the top 20 worst foods from places we go. I am in shock! If you do nothing else today but read this you will be changed forever! Click on each number to the left of the description. I will give you a sneek peek that #2 involves 200 plus grams of fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and most of us LOVE it. i know i did, but not anymore! If you are wanting something to kick-start a better eating life style read on my friends read on!!! Thanks for ruinung my eating out experience for life diane!

Happy Thanksgiving

The girls made these hats at school and i couldn't resist putting them up.

Funny to make a meal today without Brian, but it's Kasss favorite holiday!

That's our girls!!!

Found this on-line (no i was not THAT bored)

too funny not to show

New Dresses

So I realized it's been a while since I posted a note. Brian has been moving to a new place and hasn't had the chance to check the site so I have been lazy about updates. Not that I don't love all the rest of you!!!

The girls got new dresses for the holidays. Abbeys favorite part are the sparkly red shoes she's wanted for a really long time and the sparkly headband that matches the shoes. Kassidy was excited for the wedge sandals she has always wanted. I am a sucker during the holidays especially when Brian is gone!

Trying them on the minute we got home

After church

With the holidays here. These 2 are what I am so thankful for. If I didn't have these angels a 17 month deployment would be impossible. Thanks girls.

My Newest Life-saver

So I am feeling like I should share with the world my recent find. As I have told people it turns out that most use this, but me! I have seen it forever, but my cheap little self told me it didn't matter. So I bought it recently just to see. I cannot tell you how amazing it is. I am so dorky that I even did comparison tests (yes, being lonely has some bad side affects!!). It's great. I cannot say enough about it. I am declaring my love to the world about clorox 2!!! This is for those 2 people that may be left on the planet that do not use it because no one told me. I'm just looking out for you!!

I am a dork I know, but I have a thing for really clean laundry.

Another record breaker

So I've noticed that everytime we move somewhere there is always a weather related record breaker. In Washington we broke one for rain and now we are here. We have broken a couple records with heat, but todays just iced the cake for me. We set another record, I think it's the third this week! We hit 94 degrees today- this is November remember?! The record was held at 93 degrees set in 1934! Why do people live here? They say it's for the great winter, well guess what it's getting there and we are breaking records with HEAT! Brian I know what you're thinking, but it's hot to me!!!

That's all that's my rant for the day. PS- I changed the blog so all can leave comments. you no longer have to have a blogger account. (that one's for you Joelyn-love ya)

The coolest thing

My friend Linae sent me this video and it is awesome to me. Maybe because we have tons of chips in the pantry and I am too cheep to buy clips!

Just Treats please, no tricks

The girls were so excited this year to get out and trick or treat

Daphne (from Scooby-doo_

Belle. "We can only eat a little candy so we don't get sick, right mom?"

Kassidy and her friend

We had a super night of fun. We went for 1 1/2 hours of fun. The girls didn't want to stop. I think we were one of the last ones out in the neighborhood. Too much fun.

We have enought candy to last until Christmas