Volunteering and Holiday Parties!

We had the awesome opportunity to volunteer for the Toys for Tots event this weekend.  Michael has done this for the past few years and the kids and I have never been able to attend.  We will definitely be putting it in on our calendar in the future!   It was an amazing opportunity for all of us.  Kids had the chance to practice some Spanish and were surprised at what they actually knew and could understand.  Not too many Spanish speaking volunteers, so E- and M- did that line for 2 days!  In a nutshell, volunteers take parents through the warehouse (an old Albertson's) one at a time and help them pick out 2 toys per child.  Toys are divided into age categories and everyone gets what I'd call a grab bag (usually games, stuffed animals, books, crafts) on the way out.  Most are very appreciative and conversational as they go through and I cannot tell you the joy it brings when a mom tells you what her children have requested for Christmas and you find it for them:)  

Here's a glimpse of what it looks like.  I gotta say, it was tiring!  Lots of standing.  We did 4 hours Friday and 3 on Saturday - and it was freezing (no heat).  Bonus  (aside from the internal gratification) - cute Marines, t-shirts, and food!  I really recommend it!  

After the 3 hours on Saturday, we headed over to the TKD studio.  M- got to assist with the testing and performed a demo with the senior black belts.  

This is NOT him in the air - but you can tell by his face that he might like to do this some day:)

He held a lot of boards after breaking his with the butterfly kick!

Of course there had to be a party after testing and as M- usually can't stay as long as he wants, I told him he could this time ... we got home at 9:00 pm!  And, I have to say, the party didn't really begin until nearly everyone left!  The Master is hilarious!  As most left (and a few stayed), he brought in the ice, the beer, and the soju!  Out came the griddle to the center of the table and he began making what I googled and learned is a traditional Korean meal - samjyeopsal  (it's pork belly) with lettuce, rice, garlic, jalepeno peppers and ssamjang dipping sauce.  Too much fun!  And, just so you know, when the Master pours you soju - you drink it!  I got away with pouring out 2 cups - one is all I could handle!  

The kids have had quite the lead up to Christmas!  E- with library party, craft party, youth group party, and venturing party.  M- with scout lock-in party (coming up) and TKD party.  Both are heading out to Hobbit opening night with friends this week.  They wear me out and I am not even partying:)  One more week of school and a break for all of us! 

Cheers - go try some soju:)

Merry December!

I decided to do a bloggy Christmas letter this year.  One to save the nearly 50 cents per stamp and two as those of you reading the blog pretty much know what's up with our family anyway.  I plan on sending out 'real' cards next year (every other may be the new way to go).

In a nutshell - it's been a good year.  Not only did we get more settled in our home, but we also got my parents settled in their new home (about 5 minutes away).  It has been super nice to have Mom and Dad near by.  I am trying to get used to asking them for help when I need it;)

The kids are awesome and as they become more independent each month, I am trying to keep it together.

E- is 16 and driving (definitely one of the hardest parenting milestones for me).  As I type she is at her library Christmas party and I will pray until she is home safely.  Ever busy, she has some super sweet friends, activities (Boy Scout Venturing Crew, Hapkido, Teen Zine, Library group, book club, and guitar), and a very active brain (Aristotle's Rhetoric is her favorite and she has even said she 'kind of' likes physics)!  She took the PSAT this year for practice and did pretty great considering I told her not to even study!  She has her sights set on attending Thomas Aquinas College (in California) in 2.5 years.  We will be visiting in the Spring.  Feel free to send money now!

M- is model 13 year old.  Everywhere he goes, people love him.  He is polite, conversive, sweet, and quite handsome.  Girls young and old adore him and the boys all follow him.  Like his dad he is a natural leader.  He got his black belt in taekwondo this year and is now helping with some instruction at the younger classes and performing with some of the older black belts.  His next goal is to get his Eagle Scout - which I am certain he will achieve in the next couple of years.  He and his Dad will get to spend 2 weeks this summer at Philmont - the premier scout camp for anyone into Boy Scouts!   When he is not at TKD, scouts, or teen group, he is building things on Minecraft.  He is still thinking he'd like to be a navy seal, but if that doesn't work out he'd be happy as an architect or engineer.

Hubby is hanging in there.  Trying to escape his hectic work environment, he has taken to building an Expedition trailer.  And although finances and time constraints will likely delay this project until the kids are both in college, the time he gets to play with it relaxes him.  He has been invaluable in helping with projects for my parents to get them settled and of course working on keeping our house in order.

I am good.  Still love the Southwest.  I spend most of the days schooling and driving kids to activities while trying to keep the house semi-clean and feed everyone a healthy meal.  I have figured out the best spots to walk while the kids are doing classes and love to get a little time on my elliptical with the "Pioneer Woman" or in my awesome kitchen to bake up a tasty treat when time allows!

We are all looking forward to spending the Christmas holidays with the entire family (a first for all of us since Michael and I got married!).  My sister is already here (from Wisconsin) and my brother, sis-in-law, and niece arrive from Nashville on the 21st.  I have lots of fun games, activities, and of course food planned for the visit:)  

Wishing all you readers a very Merry Christmas!  I would LOVE to hear from you via comments, email, or phone.  I know a lot of you check up on me and that is awesome, but I'd love to know about your families too:)

Leaving you with my 2 favorite kiddos!

Happy Holiday Season!

Ann

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas - Minus the Snow!

It's December 1st and we are all decorated for the Christmas season!  Mom and I drove out to pick up our trees that hubby picked out for us while working at the Valles Caldera National Preserve.  They were having a fundraiser over the weekend and we decided to support rather than trek through the forest to chop down our own this year.  I haven't been out this way before and let me tell you it was worth the hour and half drive.  Gorgeous country!  We even saw 1 elk on the drive back home - this didn't compare to the hundreds that Michael got to see whilst working, but it is always exciting to see an elk.  

Valles Caldera

The tree never looks as big on the car as it does once it gets put up in the house....  This is a big one!  almost reaches our 15 feet high ceiling!

I got a little hooked on Pinterest this year.  Check out what I made to decorate our front porch!

Tomato cage trees!  I was pretty proud of myself.  End result = a pretty front entrance:)

And here's another idea for the chandelier.

It's so festive in here, I just want to sing Christmas carols all day:)

Enjoy the season!