Water bottles make good stepstools

I think this kids got her daddy's balancing skills.....and her mommy's love of food.

Attitude of Gratitude Award

CJ, over at Purple Diva's Diary, honored me with an award a couple of days ago! Thanks CJ! CJ is one of my newest blog friends and I just LOVE this woman! She is awesome-you have to go check out her blog. She is so sweet, so funny, witty, and just wicked cool.

The award rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Nominate your favorites and link to this post.

I choose(hard to narrow down to 10, but I have to!):

Marie

Jan-Gramtastic

Kari

Monda

Tiburon

Jan-Crazy Lady on Road 80

Melissa

Laura

Jennifer R.

Natalie

Congrats ladies! And as always, no pressure to pass along from me, but I at least want you to know I think you have fantastic blogs of gratitude!

"Snow" Day!

Today school was cancelled because of the sheet of ice that blanketed the area. Yes, in Texas, schools really close just because of ice! We're lucky:) The kids were so excited when they woke up and saw what almost looked like "snow." And even more excited when they found out school was cancelled and Joey was going into work late! Yea! They decided they wanted to play immediately. Here are the kids bundled up and ready to roll!

First things first, laundry basket sledding down our sloped backyard. Its about a 2 second run:) This has become our family tradition when it ices or snows. This was Cali's first year actually old enough to play. She would've stayed outside all day if we let her!

She loved it!

Ella's turn

At first Aubrey didn't want to, but we talked her into it and she laughed and laughed. See, Aubrey, Mom & Dad are always right! :)

Keeping warm with cuddles

Wonton the Panda and Sneaks the Racoon watched from inside. These are Aubrey & Ella's new beanie babies that their daddy brought home for them from Utah last week. He got Cali a bear, but I think the bear was napping.
Frozen jumpropes

Cali getting a taste of the glory

And one sexy man eating some ice

Skymall Gems

So, Joey was out of town last week on his "mancation." A friend of his invited him on a snowboarding trip with a few other guys to Utah and he had a blast. I was so happy he was able to go because gosh darnit, he deserved it! Poor guy hadn't snowboarded in 10 years! Hes been so busy working and going to school for us, his family. It was something he loved and was really good at as a teen. And it sounds like hes still got it goin on.... that sexy snowboarder:) I only wish I could've seen him in action! Anyways, Joey brought home a Skymall magazine from the plane just because he knew how much I would love to see these little beauties. . .and I'm sure he knew they would go on my blog:) Skymall is THE BEST. Period.

First off, we have the Neck Pro Traction Device, or as I call it the "my life is over and I'm going to hang myself" machine. This guy looks like his life hasn't been too exciting and he is just about done with it.

"Bigfoot, the Garden Yeti Sculpture" The magazine says, "...the Garden Yeti will have guests doing a double take as they admire your creative gardening style!" I think I would do a quadruple take and then wet myself.

Look very closely and I think you will know why this makes me laugh. This could be quite painful if used incorrectly.

The Doggy Don't Sign. The magazine says,"One glance at this whimsical yard sign instantly conveys your serious request to dog owners walking their pet." Oh yes, this is whimsical and serious all wrapped into one.

Thanks Joey for a magazine full of treasures! I'll be placing my order soon:)

Easy Bake Ain't So Easy

One of Aubrey's Christmas presents was an Easy Bake oven. We searched for over a week for a dang 100 watt standard bulb. Every place we went to was out! And why doesn't the oven come with the bulb? Aye. One afternoon, Joey came home a hero with one in his hand. So finally, we busted out the Easy Bake Oven. Aubrey was thrilled! We got everything ready and turned it on. The oven had to preheat for about 10-15 minutes. Then her cake had to bake for about 12 minutes. Then it had to cool in the "cooling chamber" for another 10 minutes. So, basically, it takes over half an hour to make basically one serving size of cake! It was fun to do, but a little time consuming for something so tiny to consume. After all that work, they each had like 2 bites worth:) But it was fun watching their faces and watching them enjoy the fruits of their labor.

So, here are pictures from our Easy Bake experience. I'll leave out the commentary for each picture to save you time:) They pretty much explain themselves. . .

Obama reverses Bush-Abortion Funds Policy.

Ooooh, I'm mad. I'm not surprised, but I'm mad. I don't blog very much politics-wise, but this is something that has struck a nerve with me. Obama has only been in office for 4 days and he is already doing so much damage. And most of it is behind closed doors. I can only imagine what 4 more years will bring.

Here are excerpts from an article I read this morning. My comments are italicized.

"President Barack Obama on Friday struck down the Bush administration's ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information — an inflammatory policy that has bounced in and out of law for the past quarter-century. (This makes me SICK! OUR money is going to INTERNATIONAL groups to perform abortions. This is sooo wrong.) The ban has been a political football between Democratic and Republican administrations since GOP President Ronald Reagan first adopted it in 1984. Democrat Bill Clinton ended the ban in 1993, but Republican George W. Bush re-instituted it in 2001 as one of his first acts in office."(Hmmm, seems to me this is good vs. evil over and over again, back and forth.)

"Obama issued the presidential memorandum rescinding the Bush policy without coverage by the media, late Friday afternoon. The abortion measure is a highly emotional one for many people, and the quiet signing was in contrast to the televised coverage of Obama's announcement Wednesday on ethics rules and Thursday's signing of orders on closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and banning torture in the questioning of terror suspects."(How interesting that there was no media coverage during the signing and that this wasn't televised! A wolf in sheeps clothing. . .)

I believe Obama is a snake. I can't believe people bought into his lies and his whole "I'm gonna change the world" approach. Obama became the "cool" celebrity and everyone jumped on the bandwagon of change and popularity. Everyone thinks Bush screwed things up(which in fact he didn't, read this). And since Bush was a Republican, we needed to oust the Republicans all together and throw in a Democrat(Yeah, that will fix everything!)

I sadly believe our country is headed in the wrong direction. This is the first of many morally wrong choices Obama will make. If you don't agree, have you not read about the Freedom of Choice act that he has promised to sign into law? Its even worse. Heres the gist of it-

"The Freedom of Choice Act will allow all types of abortions including partial birth abortions, also allowing babies who are born alive due to botched up late term abortions, to be set aside without any medical care or nourishment and left to die (most of these babies have no medical problems and most of the ones that do, have things like cleft palates, club feet, things that are correctable, still they are murdered in the most cruel and inhuman way. They feel everything that is happening to them. There is more mercy for dogs that are put to sleep) This Bill also will make it mandatory for doctors and nurses to perform this murderous act even if they do not want to do so. This act also allows under age teens to have an abortion, even partial birth abortions, without parental consent." There are Catholic hospitals that will actually close down if this act becomes law. Christians everywhere should be absolutely appalled by this.

I am sick. These are definitely signs of the times.

I'm done with my rant now.

Rockin on New Years Eve

Okay, so I'm posting this a tad bit late, but I wanted to post this picture of Aubrey & Ella jammin on New Years Eve. We ate pizza and treats. We stayed up late(not as late as the girls "thought" hee hee) and danced/karaoked the night away. Joey even bought some sparkling cider...oooh la la! We partied hard as always:)

Heres Aubrey saying "Peace out homedog" and Ella rockin the guitar.

When Ella plays Mario Party. . .

. . .this is what happens. . .

We were playing the "mini games" on Mario Party tonight. There is this one game where one person is on a big ball trying to roll over the other people who are running away. Any time Ella was being chased, she totally freaked out. We were laughing so hard watching her. Actually, any game where somebody is chasing her(whether its Nintendo or real life tag/chase), totally freaks her out. Sometimes she even refuses to play certain games because of how much it overcomes her! I've watched this video several times and every time it makes me laugh. Hope you enjoy it too:)

Happy Birthday Austin!

Today is my little brother Austin's, 17th birthday. Dang, thats old! That makes me feel so old. My parents had me, Tara & Mark, each about 2 years apart from each other. Then there was an 8 year gap, and then Austin & Taylor came along. So, I was 12 when Austin was born- the age where little girls are dying to babysit, hold babies, take care of babies, etc. I remember praying and praying that my mom would have a baby. So, when I found out she was pregnant with Austin, I was the happiest 12 year old in the world! I got lots of "mommy" practice with my two youngest brothers. :) Austin was such a sweet and smart little guy and still is. He has always been an awesome brother. We love you Austin and hope you have had a great birthday!

Fun at Daddy's Work

Since the kids were home from school today, I thought I'd take them all to meet Joey for lunch and visit his cubicle/home away from home. The kids love to go to the T-Mobile office and check out where their daddy works. They love to spin in his chair and play with his toys, but mostly just get to be with their Dad. Joey took these pictures with his camera phone and emailed them to me later today(he knew I would want to blog it!) Thanks Joey!

Cali doing the infamous flail

All I had to do was mentioned the word "snack" and she perked right up for a picture:) See, bribery works people!

Aubrey and Ella decided to leave messages on Joey's dry-erase board.

I decided to leave him a message of my own...(warning: PG-13 material ahead)

A little dry erase marker and magnetic letters did the trick. . .I know it made him smile, perhaps blush and then immediately take it down! :) Hee hee. I know how to keep it real.

I joined the supa fly "Y"

Last week, I decided to join the local YMCA to try and get in shape. The place is inexpensive and about 2 minutes from my house, so its perfect! One of my best friends, Melissa, joined with me and I'm so happy. We go together and it really helps to have someone to do it with. And its more fun! If I didn't have someone to go with, I would most definitely fail at it. Anyways, when we joined, we were each given one of these ever-so-classy "Y"shirts.....

So, now I'm a gangsta. That exercises.

Seriously, who designed these t-shirts? I feel like when I wear it, I should be wearing baggy blue jeans, a bandana, and throwing gang signs. :)

Go Carts, Runny Icing, and Zoo Tycoon

Here are some pictures of time spent with my family over the holidays. One of the things we did was go to Funtrackers and ride some go-carts. We love go-carts! Its something the girls really enjoy. Even my mom rode one(a first for her!)

Hi Grandpa!(the photographer)

Ella looks so teeny behind the wheel:)

All of us

Go Mama!! :)
Just a cute picture of Ella

Another adventure was trying out the Cupcake Maker the girls got for Christmas. Here are Grandma and the girls getting ready to cupcake make!

Here is what the box looked like....perfect cupcakes and smiling faces!

And here is what Ella's turned out like. Poor Ella. Hers didn't turn out quite like the picture on the box. I admit it was my fault. I added to much water to the icing. Sorry Ella!

Once she put the sprinkles on, she was happy and enjoyed it anyways!

Then Aubrey took a turn and her icing turned out much better....probably because Grandma helped her with her icing and not me! Oh, and look at Ella's face as she sees Aubrey's turning out better. She didn't like that one bit. "Hers is better than mine!"

Aubrey tasting the icing.

Sometimes I think the best memories are when things happen the way you didn't plan:) I don't think I'll ever forget that Cupcake Ooze machine. We laughed and laughed. And we will definitely still be using it. We just might use canned icing(or homemade) to put inside of it. Its still a really fun way to ice cupcakes! The kids love it.

Another thing the kids REALLY enjoyed(especially Aubrey-she didn't want to stop!) was playing Zoo Tycoon on the computer with Tara & Taylor. They loved designing their own zoo and having the animals escape and eat the zoo visitors...good times.

Cali and Austin sharing a sweet moment. Cali loves my brothers and would just climb into their laps and sit for a spell:)

Thanks Mom, Dad, Tara, Mark, Austin, Taylor and dogs, Chloe & Bowser for a fabuloso time! We miss you guys!

Texas State Aquarium

While in Corpus Christi, we visited the Texas State Aquarium with our nephews and Joey's mom. I couldn't narrow down the pictures to less than 13, so here are a LOT of pictures! Joey took them and I think he got some beautiful shots. . .which is the reason why I couldn't narrow them down!

These three pictures are my favorite. . .

A beautiful owl that we saw take flight at the "Birds of Prey" show.

We found Nemo! (And Dory!)

Aubrey was a little nervous to hold this urchin thingy, but she did it!

The kids laughed and laughed inside of this. I went inside of too and almost got stuck. That would've been funny. And embarassing. But more funny than embarassing(for other people).

Fish-eyed Aubrey! If you look closely, the fish is swimming by Aubrey's face in a way that it looks like the fishes eye is Aubrey's eye. It lined up perfectly.

Nana and kids riding the whale! Funny, it didn't take them anywhere....I demand a refund! :)

Thanks Nana, Don, & Kaikoa for coming with us. We had a great time!