Keep it Simple

Take the Simple Things Challenge over at Enchanted Oak. For every person that posts and links up this weekend, Chris is donating two dollars to a medical clinic in Haiti.

Here is my Simple Things List:

The heater that keeps the house warm

My son's laughter in the morning

Having a chat with a friend

Seeing the sun rise after a few days of rain

Reading a good book

There are so many more simple things

that make my life so wonderful!

Thank you Chris, for your support to a wonderful cause!

2009 Year Picture Review

So last year I did a picture review by month what sybolized that month or something we did in that month. It was fun and I have made it a tradition again this year! So here is goes.

Oh, I have one problem, I lost my pictures on my memory card for December, 2008 and January, 2009 even some February. So I don't have any picture of those months to share with you. I was so upset again when I remember why I didn't have those pictures.

January, 2009 ( I will just insert a cute picture here)

Picture from December, 2008 Cody playing with Cousin's Tatum's new kitchen.

February, 2009

March, 2009

We celebrated Steve's 33rd birthday!

April, 2009

In the beginning of the month we painted Easter eggs, getting ready for the Easter Bunny.

In the end of the month, we celebrated by participated in a local Rodeo parade and going to the boy's first rodeo. They still to this day, say they want to go back!

May, 2009

Destruction Derby was the beginning of the month of May.

June, 2009
Chase and Cody turned 3 on the 5th of June! Here is a picture of there friends at thier birthday party waiting for the train to go by.

July, 2009

4th of July at a friends house with a big BBQ and lots, and lots of swimming!

August, 2009

Our annual August camping trip to the beach. Chase and Cody playing in the sand!

September, 2009

Labor day we went to the Colorado River in Arizona and played around. Cody and Chase both had a ball in the water and sun!

In the middle of September, I celebrated my birthday at the Thunderboats on Mission Bay. We camped and had a good time. The picture above, represents the majority of the kids that camped with us!

October, 2009

Halloween: Chase a Racecar driver and Cody Spiderman! They still talk about this holiday as if it were yesterday. They always ask everyone what they are going to be for Halloween...

November, 2009

Thanksgiving dinner and weekend spent in the desert having dinner and gret memories with great friends and family!

December, 2009

Christmas was our higlight in December. We wer trying to get a picture of Chase, Cody and Diesel in front of our tree, this was the best one!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2009 In Review by Words

I did this last year, I stole it from another blog and had a good time reflecting back on the year. So I knew I wanted to continue to do it year after year.



Capturing 2009 high lights and low lights.



1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?

We visited the Grand Canyon.



2. Did you keep your new year resolution, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make a new years resolution for 2009, and probably won't for 2010.



3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My Cousin, Nadine, had her first baby boy after 3 girls.



4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, not this year.



5. What counties did you visit?

None.



6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

More money, and more time with family. More traveling.



7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 5, 2009 - Chase and Cody's 3rd Birthday

September 18, 2009 - My 35th Birthday



8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Being Chase and Cody's Mom!



9. What was your biggest failure?

Gaining a bunch of weight this year.



10. Did you suffer an illness or injury?

No, we were all very healthy this year!



11. What was the best thing you bought?

I don't think we bought anything awesome this year.



12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

None.



13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

None.



14. Where did most of your money go?

Mortgage and Daycare



15. What did you really, really, really get excited about?

That I sold a few handmade items this year.



16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2009?

Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean

She's Country by Jason Aldean



17. Compared to last year are you:

happier or sadder? Happier

thinner or fatter? a little fatter

richer or poorer? poorer



18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Traveling to families houses and camping.



19. What do you wish you had done less of?

Working



20. How did you spend Christmas?

With Steve's side of the family.



21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

More and More everyday with Chase and Cody.



22. What was your favorite TV program?

Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice



23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Nah.



24. What was the best book you read?

I actually didn't do much reading this year that I can recall.



25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Listening to the boys sing different songs.



26. What did you want and get?

For the family to be healthy this year. For Chase and Cody to continue growing and learning everyday.



27. What did you want and not get?

More Money.



28. What was your favorite film of the year?

I am not a movie type person. But the boys discovered Mickey Mouse and love him!



29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 35. We were at the Thunderboats all day that Friday. Then we celebrated with cake and ice cream that night!



30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Winning the lottery.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Business like during working hours and comfy during mom hours!

32. What kept you sane?
Being organized.

33. Which celebrity/public figure do you fancy the most?
I don't really care what celebrity people do.

34. What political issue stared you the most?
Presidential Election

35. Who did you miss?
My mom and Papa.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Alissa's mom, Lori, at Chase and Cody's school

37. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2009?
Everything can change in a day.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There are so many that sums up the year!

I am Back

Yay! We got back safely yesterday. We had a great time camping and visiting the Grand Canyon. I will have some great pictures to post, of course!


I am sill having some blogging problems and can't get into some of favorite blogs. So I am missing you.

Blogging Issues...

***** I am experiencing some Blogger issues with a few blogs - it says

Internet Explorer can not open _____blog name ______:

Operation aborted!


AGH! Anyone else having problems???

**I just unploaded Internet Explorer 8 but it still seems like it is happening. Not good. What I am going to do without being able to go to my favorite blogs.

Earthquake

As I was just typing my last post, we had a 1.8 magnitude earthquake centered about an hour away from me. I don't really care for earthquakes, they scare me a lot actually, but this was a small one compared to the "big one" that the scientist say that we will be getting in the future. Chase and Cody slept right through it.

Sweet Angel

My heart is breaking to tell you this message...in the words of Brooke, mother of Sydney and Carynne.

"Sydney joined her sister at 6:45 last evening. When Carynne passed yesterday, her heart just gave up and we tried to recucitate her. We called the ambulance and she was taken to the hospital. I rode in thepolice car while Jake stayed with Sydney. When I walked into the ERthe doctors were waiting to tell me that she had passed.

Today, Sydney was struggling the entire day and we could only turn heroxygen up to a certain level without blowing up her lungs. When wegot to that point, I just held her in my arms and Jake held her hands.We had two nurses here with us and they watched the monitors as sheslowly decreased. We just held her and let her take her last breathsin our arms.

She stayed with us for about an hour before they came to pick her up.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, adivision of Flanner and Buchanan. This might sound bad, but I amthankful that they went so close together so they didn't miss each other too much. We are going have both services at the same time some time later this week."

Very sad.

Very Sad News

If you remember my post a few weeks ago about my "virtual" friend, Brooke, and her twin girls, Sydney and Carynne, battling the disease Werding-Hoffman disease. Brooke and her family lost Carynne yesterday morning early. I have been told that she died peacefully in her sleep. My thoughts are with Brooke, her family and Sydney the sister that was left behind.

We are still fundraising money for the family for funeral expenses and future medical expenses for Sydney. If you would like to donate go to my original post and there is a link. If you would like to say your condolence click here.

I'm so lucky

I have had some great support and advice from family and friends ever since being pregnant and giving birth to two very healthy twins. Early in my pregnancy, I came across a online community for Mothers of Multiples (MoMs) and they welcomed me into there world as if they knew me forever. Now, I love to give advice to the new mothers that come with questions and give support.

One of the MoM's just got the worst news of here life her 5 month old twins, Syndey and Carynne, were diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffman disease. This is a disease that has no cure and most do not live past the age of two.

In their moms words:

Both girls have been diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffman disease. It is a rare genetic disease that is untreatable. We are going in Monday to test our blood as well to see if it is something we passed down to them or if it was a mutation they experienced.

They have the most severe form. Their lungs are going to slowly give out b/c the muscles will not be able to help them breath anymore. They are both on feeding tubes, oxygen at night and monitors. They will never be able to sit up or hold their heads up b/c their muscles just can't take it. They might never talk b/c they have to choose between using their energy to breath or to do other things and they instinctively know to breath. Their brains are fine and they do so well interacting with us and each other. They love to be read to and have toys in front of them, they just can't reach them and hold on to them to play with them on their own.

J and I are going to have to decide how far we want to take this...some babies can make it longer if they're given a trach tube and have a machine breathing for them. At this point we're not sure that we want that kind of life for our sweet babies. We have a lawyer friend who is going to help us draw up living wills so we don't need to make those decisions under emotional distress. I am going to look into taking a leave of absence from work to be with them, but we're not sure if we can do that financially at this point.

The only thing I can do for this family was donated to a fund that has been set up in their honor. If you can donate also (even just a dollar) to a help this family, please go here donate. Please also keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

Sick

The cold that everyone kept talking about has now plagued our family. It started Monday with me not feeling 100%. I was able to take NyQuil, have a good night sleep and started feeling better today. Steve has been feeling bad on and off every morning waking up with a sore throat but it hasn't yet got him down.

Cody and Chase started Monday also with a very runny/snotty nose, not a good sign. Cody woke up this morning with a 101.3 fever. So we stayed home and we have been hanging out all day. His fever comes down with Tylenol and he has a cough. This is what Cody looks like when he doesn't feel well. His red cheeks and puffy eyes. Poor guy.

The Letter C

Sunny Day

Sweepin' the clouds away

On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Sesame Street?....

Cheryl at Twinfatuation posted her very good H's that was graciously bestowed upon her by Georgie. So I asked Cheryl for a easy letter and she gave me "C".

So...This episode of Sesame Street if being brought to you by the letter C and the number 10.

Here is my 10 favorite things that start with "C".

Camping - Now I am not really talking tent's and sleeping bag type camping, but more my motorhome with all the amenities that I have at home.

Cookies - Chocolate Chip are my favorite but any cookie - I can not go a day without eating some type of cookie.

Chase - My "oldest" child. My sweet, intelligent, and emotional child.

Cody - My "youngest" child. My helper, active and playful child.

Cross Stitching - Something that before kids I did a lot of.

Cooking - I don't cook because I like it - but because my family has to eat.

Chatting - Another word for talking (just doesn't start with C) .

Corgi - Diesel - the type of dog that we have.

Clothes - What can I say about clothes? Just like them.

Cows - Probably my most favorite animal besides with dogs. You know the cow commerical's that advertise California Cheese...love those cows and commerical's (another C word).

Now let me know if you want to play along and I can assign you a letter of the alphabet and you can then list your 10 favorite things that start with that letter!!

2008 Year Picture Review

January

Big Bear, CA

February

Snowed at our House

March

Easter Egg Hunts

April

Playing at Papa and Grandma's

May

Going to the Park


June

Chase and Cody's 2nd birthday party

July

Learning how to play "Ring Around the Rosie"

August

Playing in the sand in Hawaii

September

Thunderboats and playing with friends

October

Little Pirates

November

Thanksgiving in the Desert

December

A beautiful Christmas Tree

I am borrowing this idea from another blog. I think it is a great way to review our wonderful year. This is just a small look at every month what we did, it was difficult to choose just one picture to represent each month. I hope you enjoy reviewing our year as much as we enjoyed doing everything this past year.

2008 In Review by Words

To reflect upon the year, I am copying my fellow blogger in capturing 2008 highlights and low lights.


1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I left the boys for 2 nights in a row.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make a resolution last year and probably won't again.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my friend Leslie had a boy named Jack.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes

5. What countries did you visit?
None

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More time spending with family

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 5, 2008 - Chase and Cody's 2nd birthday
October 14, 2008 - My grandfathers death

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing the last 10 pounds of baby weight.

9. What was your biggest failure?
And then gaining the weight back (or most of it).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes - a abscess that ended up infected on my face

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Laptop computer

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Chase and Cody's

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
None

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and Daycare

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Chase and Cody

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Jingle Bells - Chase and Cody had to learn this song for their Christmas performance.
Also - Happy Do Do ( For happy birthday)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? marginally thinner
c) richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Camping

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Housework

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Family

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
More and More everyday with Chase and Cody

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah

24. What was the best book you read?
Debbie Macomber - The Dakota Series

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The boys learning how to "sing" Pour Some Sugar on Me"

26. What did you want and get?
Clothes

27. What did you want and not get?
Nothing

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I am not a movie person

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 34. I worked during the day and went to the thunderboat camping that night.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Comfy

32. What kept you sane?
Chase and Cody

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Don't really keep up.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election - in general.


35. Who did you miss?
My Mom.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Jen

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
That raising twins can be a challenge

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"All I wanna dooooooooooooooooo
All I wanna doooooooooooooooooo
Is Love You.

Holiday Season

It seems like the Christmas Season has taken over my blogging, computer and office time. At night when I normally have been blogging and "talking" to my friends, I have been decorating trees, baking, wrapping packages and shopping. So I am here again (at least for tonight). I do have some new pictures to post from this past weekend - so here it goes.

Oh by the way I, just spent the last hour getting updated on every one's blog. I love looking at every one's holiday traditions and family pictures. They all look so wonderful.

Broken

That would describe my camera. A camera I received from Steve for Christmas. A camera that I love and take everywhere with me. I take pictures of the boys almost everyday. I am just so lost without it.
It started acting weird a couple of weeks ago not wanted to take every picture that I wanted it to take. It works great in no flash mode but the flash won't work. Even the video part would work. So I talked to Best Buy and since we have the extended warranty on it they will repair it or replace it (if they can't repair it). But this is going to take 2 weeks. Yes 2 weeks. What I am going to do without a camera for two weeks? Did this have to happen at the holidays?

We are back home

I am hoping everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did in the desert. Thanksgiving day we had a few sprinkles of rain about the time dessert came along. Nothing to much to stop me from eating lots of good pie!

I have a bunch of pictures to post of us in the desert. Steve crashed (rolled) the jeep so I have pictures of the damage to the Jeep. He and his brother were fine. But I didn't bring my camera card with me to work so maybe I will post pictures of that tonight.

I also have our Christmas pictures that were taken with Chase and Cody's cousins that turned out wonderful. I will have to show you some of those also!

We are also going out of town again this weekend so I am getting ready for that. I have a tag or two to get too also. I haven't forgotten.