It's Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas everyone!! It is just a few minutes past midnight here. Kids and Kevin are still up playing with new toys received from Kevin's family at our gift exchange tonight. We had such a good time tonight with friends and family, eating and playing. And now it is Christmas Day. The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior. A day focused on spending time with those we love, friends and family alike. We have a whole day of fun and fellowship to look forward to. But for now I will wish you a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Spelling Bee Slide Show

Spelling Bee Champion!

On November 17, 2009, Delaney was able to participate in her school spelling bee for grades 3-6. They had a list of 275 words, which she had about 9 days to study. After 17 rounds, Delaney became the first 3rd grader to win the school championship! She did such an awesome job, so poised and confident. And she was so surprised and excited to win!
Here are some of the words she had to spell: Celebration, commentary, miraculous, burdensome, theory, lobbyist, pandemic, elevator, unsentimental, curfew, eclipse, candelabra, musquitoey, pilgramage, scalpel, and oncologist. I think I missed a couple of words, but that gives you a general idea.

She is now eligible for the Sac Bee Spelling Bee, which is the stepping stone for the National Spelling Bee. So now we are studying over 1100 words, the defintions, the roots and origions, and all kinds of rules to get ready for that. It is pretty interesting.

And, on this past Tuesday, Dec 1, Delaney celebrated her 9th birtday! She just finished her first set of piano books, which she started in Mid September. She is doing a great job learning to play. And she has really stepped up with studying her quizzing, doing quite a bit of it on her own. Her grades at school are great: straight A's! We always receive glowing reports from her teachers about how helpful she is and what a great learner she is. Now if we could only get her to keep her room clean and to stop fighting with her siblings! lol Really,we are so proud of our princess, and so glad God blessed us with such an amazing oldest daughter. And I'll brag on my other kids for their b-day, but this post is just hers! lol Darilyn's post will be coming up on just a few weeks as her b-day is at the end of Dec!

'Tis the season to be jolly . . .

Fa la la la la la la la la! Christmas music is playing in the background. Christmas lights are twinkling from the tree, and garland, and snow village. Christmas smells fill the air. Yes, it is that season! I love Christams and all that it brings. I love finding presents for friends and family. I love wrapping them. I love decorating the house and making those scrumptious Christmas treats. I love the parties, the colors, the hustle and bustle. It is just a fun, joyful, exciting time of year. And it is all in celebration of the Our Lord and Savior. When I keep Him, the real 'reason for the season' in focus, all the hustle and bustle brings me feelings of love and joy and yes, even peace.

So enjoy this wonderful time of year. Get together with family and friends, drink hot chocolate and eggnog, go look at Christmas lights, turn on the Christmas Carols and decorate the house, make goodies for eating and giving, shop for presents for loved ones, Say 'Merry Christmas' to those you pass in the stores, and above all, keep Jesus close in your heart. This will be the best Christmas Ever!!

Update in a Slideshow

Enjoying the Good Life

I am currently sitting in my living room thinking about the past few months and what I should post for an update. If I could sum it all up in one short sentence, which I probably should because the long version would get incrediably loooong and boring, I would just say, "God is in heaven and all is right in the world." We have been blessed over and over again. Our jobs are going great, our health is good, our kids are perfect . . . okay, not really, but one can always hope, right? Seriously, everything has been great.

The oldest 3 took part in a kids musical production at church for Father's Day. It was about Noah and the Ark. Very cute production. The kids all had solos and each did fantastic if I do say so myself. It was Dallas's first time in a play and he had a small solo. He sang his part like a pro. And the girls sang very pretty as well. In fact, I think all the kids in the play did phenomenal under Sis. Tishauna's dedicated tutelage. It was lots of fun.

Bible Quizzing Regional Finals took place towards the end of June, which was the last tournament for our beginner quizzers. All of the kids did such a good job. Just finishing out the year at this age, and learning 184 verses, is such an accomplishment for anyone, really, but especially for our young quizzers. Our church program had a really good showing in the Beginner Division. Darilyn and her teamate and friend, Kayla, took 3rd, another 2 friends, Oriana and Raney took 2nd, and Delaney and her teamates and friends, Cali and Breighlyn, took first. Our friends from the Rialto church took 4th. Then the all tournament team was, from 5th to 1st, Kayla, Logan (Rialto), Darilyn, Oriana, and Delaney. Delaney then won a very high honor of being voted Quizzer of the Year for the Beginner Division. She was suprised and very honored to get that award as the other quizzzers and coaches all vote for who to give that award too. I must say, I was very proud of our kids this year. And by then very ready for a break!! lol

We took a trip to Tulsa in July for the National Quiz Tournament, which went great, and were able to spend some time with my mom and dad as well as see my niece Mallory, my nephew Logan, and my niece Jacy.

The kids then started school. They are in 3rd, 2nd, and kindergarten. School has been going really well for all 3. Delaney will be taking the test for the gifted and talented program on Saturday. Darilyn is doing great in all her subjects. Dallas is recognizing sight words and learning to sound out words, too. He is doing really well in the math related subjects as well. He did have some adjustments to make with paying attention and not talking, but those issues have been worked out to the teacher's satisfaction.

Denae and I began preschool together, her as a student and me as the teacher. There are 6 other children and we have class 2 days a week. We are having fun and learning a lot, although at this point I think I have had the most to learn! lol

Delaney and Darlyn began piano lessons in the middle of September. They are really enjoying the lessons and it is fun to hear them practicing. With my limited knowledge I am able to help them some, but I am enjoying the chance to 're-learn' many of the things I had forgotten. The girls also love their teacher, Janell Coskun. She is really great with them, always encouraging them with what they do and giving them the opportunity to push themselves.

Bible quizzing has resumed, at least partially. Tournaments won't begin until January. I updated our Quizzing Sidebar so check out that for the lastest news.

Well, that about sums up our last few months. Oh, except, I rejoined choir after about a nine year "break." I will post pics of the kids in a little while. Till then, God is great!!!

Happy Memorial Day

Today is a beautiful day, full of sunshine and picnics, water fights and hot dogs, friends, family, and fun. But before it all gets started, I want to say Thank you.

Thank you to those who have served our country, protecting our safety and our freedom. You have made it possible for the fun of today to even occur. Thank you and God bless you for risking your life so that my life and the life of my children could be enjoyed with liberty. And for those families whose loved ones have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms of this country, Thank you and God bless you for your sacrifice. We have not and will not forget.

Happy Birthday, Denae

My baby turns 3 today. She is getting so big and acts like it too! She told me a couple of days ago that she was already 3 (she got her b-day present from her aunt early). I told her not till Saturday and she said yes she was. I told her we didn't have to have her birthday on Saturday then if she was already 3. She thought for just a second and said, "I just kiddin'. I not 3 yet." She's not gonna miss out on getting to have a birthday!

Mommy and Daddy love you, Little Angel! You bring such joy to our lives. You love to be the center of attention and make us laugh. Most of the time! You are such a big helper when I need something. You love to cuddle and wrestle and play with babies and cars. A princess in pig tails, wearing fluffy dresses and church shoes one minute, and a country girl, running around outside barefooted with dirt on your nose the next. Can't wait to see what the next year holds, especially since Dallas goes to school, leaving you with nobody to play with but me! At least we will be doing preschool together in the fall for 2 hrs, 2 days a week at Miss Dawn's, you as a student and me as the teacher. Should be lots of fun!! Happy Birthday, Denae Alysse. So glad you are ours!

Note: I typed this on the laptop, so no pics. See two previous posts for the two different sides of Denae, the princess and the country girl.

Denae

Okay, I couldn't resist posting some more recent pics of my baby. Kids are so fun to photograph at this age. It's like they can't take a bad picture. And Denae loooves to have her picture taken. She really hams it up! Grandma and Poppa, these pics are for you! Hope you like them!

Denae showing off her pretty new dress.

Being Silly after church

Now that's a pretty smile!

And another pretty smile!

Caught her in action

So sweet!

Our borrowed pet

Hey, Denise! These pics are for you! My kids are sure enjoying taking care of your "baby" while ya'll are on vacation. These pics are from last week. It didn't take long for Denae to warm up to Bo, and Dallas has taken a real ownership of the dog. He takes his turn feeding, checking water, and basically spends all day outside playing with Bo. He makes sure Bo rests too, finding nice, cool, shady places for him to lay down and then sitting beside him, petting him. The girls play with him too, but with school, quizzing, etc they don't have as much time. The kids are really going to miss him when take him home. Now we'll have to get a dog!

Southwest Regional Tournament Results

1st place - Sac 1 (Delaney and Ranier)

3rd place - Sac 3 (Darilyn, Kayla, and Bethel)

All tournament team
Delaney - 1st, Oriana - 2nd, Darilyn - 3rd, Billy - 4th, and Kayla - 5th

This past weekend we had a Bible Quizzing tournament here in Sacramento, and boy did our beginners do a good job!! Our Sacramento Rock Church Beginner teams took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place with a competative team from Rialto taking home the 4th place trophy. Sacramento quizzers took 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th on the all tournament team. Of course, I am especially proud of my two quizzers. Delaney and Darilyn did a great job on their teams. Delaney and Ranier (Sac 1) took 1st and Darilyn, Kayla, and Bethel (Sac 3) took 3rd. Delaney was the highest scoring quizzer of the beginner tournament with a 131 point average. Four of her 6 quizzes were perfect quizzes, meaning she hit 6 questions and got all 6 right, earning 10 extra points for quizzing out (the max # of questions a beginner can get right is 6, at which point they "quiz out" earning 10 extra points and recognition for the acheivement). In each of those four quizzes Delaney hit 4 twenty pt questions and 2 thirty point questions (her Dad's game plan) and earned 150 points for her team. Darilyn was 3rd highest scorer of the tournament, with her teammate Kayla taking 5th. They are a good team, very well matched. We go into each game with the job of each girl getting 3 ten pointers, 2 twenty pointers, and 1 thirty pointer. They work their hardest to do this and come pretty close most of the time. Darilyn had a one quiz where she scored 100 points for her team. All in all they did an excellent job and we are very, very proud of them. Sorry if it seems like too much bragging, but as this blog was initially for the benefit of the Grandparents, others will just have to understand! lol

Happy Mothers Day to all you awesome moms out there! Especially to the moms in my life: Mom, I love you! Wish I could be with you today!; Katrinia, Love ya! Take some time to pamper yourself! Raising 1 kid is hard, much less 6, like you do!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
The joy,
The love,
The heartache,
The wonderment
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
Before I was a Mom ...

Happy Mothers Day!!

Easter 2009

Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday was at our house with Kevin's family and Carlos, Denise, and kids. We had more fun grilling out and then the kids enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt in the back yard.

I think the kids were pretty happy with all the 'treasures' they had found!!

Coloring Easter Eggs

On Saturday we went to Kathy's to color Easter Eggs, have a Easter Scrapbook page contest, and enjoy grilling out and homemade ice cream. We had a great time.

For those of you wondering, yes Austin is in a wheelchair. He broke the top of his femur and had to have surgery. He gets around on crutches a lot, but has a chair, too.

Quiz Results

All tournament team (Delaney-1st, Kayla-2nd, Darilyn-3rd

Delaney and Rainer - 1st place team

Darilyn and Bethel - 2nd place team