Sleepover

Christmas night we swapped some kids around. Rylan slept at the Red Rock Hotel with his cousin Jacob and We took Kaelyn and Greyson. Petes mom bought Pete the Kinect fro Christmas so we came home and played that for a while before bed. All the kids slept great (Well, I guess Kaelyn didnt :) but she didnt make a peep so I didnt have a clue). In the morning we met up with Petes Family for Some Red Rock Buffet! This is the kids first sleep over at our house I just realized.

Christmas with The Almanzas

We headed to Petes mom at about 9am. We thought wed want to relax more and not rush but this wasnt even rushed. I had made the cinnamon rolls the day before so All I had to do was throw them in the oven and bake the bisquits for bisquits and gravy. Crystal brought down Tamales. Breakfast was yummy and then we opened presents. We all got great stuff but there were a few really great ones I want to mention to look back on. Crystal (Petes Sister) made books online and bought from costo. They have lots of family photos including Papa and little notes about how he always made sure he was at the kids special events in life. He really was!! Also Petes mom made all the kids pillowd with their/Papas pictures on them.
But what made it even more special was that she used Papas work shirts as the pillow cases. The side is buttoned with his buttons in case we need to take off to wash. Jaiden especially loved this. He hugged it right away and I know it means so much to him. Rylan was a little young and remembers his Papa but not like Jai. He still will stop and cry over him here and there and now he is completely enjoying sleeping with his pillow.




The kids played outside lots and had a great day with their cousins!

Christmas Morning

I think I was more excited than my kids. :) I LOVE watching the kids be so excited in the morning. Its soo much fun the night before being sneaky. Heres what Santa Brought.

Jaiden as usual was up at the butt crack of dawn but we made him watch cartoons unitll Brother and Sister were awake. He waited about and hour and then decided it was time to wake them up himself :) Although he wont tell you that, haha. He was very patient though so I ll give him lots of credit for that.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was my kind of day!! I had a great Christmas Eve. Our day started at 5:30a, all you parents out there may be shoked but dont forget, Im a working mom and were used to getting up early. This got me moving early and I was able to make cinnamon rolls from scratch and a Italian Casserole and clean up the kitchen all by 7:30a while half the world was still asleep :) I then got some Laundry done and we planned our day.
We met up with My sis/bro in Law and their kids at my moms for some Quad fun. Kadence loved it just as much as the boys, which Im not surprised by. I took of on a ride before they got there while Sheree watched my kids. I guess Im a boring mom most the time and figured I better have fun when I dont have my kids.. OOPSS! BAD idea. I tried to do donuts far to fast and almost rolls the quad on top of myself. Luckily I knew it and bailed before It actaully rolled. I have a FAT bruise on my butt to show for it.


Once the family got their Jacob got to ride on the new mini 4 wheeler but I died soon after. I wanted Jacob to have fun and new he could drive Big Black (the beast which is huge but easy to drive and too big to roll or be too crazy) After him riding with me I convinced him to try it out. By the end of riding he was super confindent and I think had a lot of Fun. I think everyone did.



It was off home for naps and then back to my parents for Christmas Eve with my family. We had a TON on YUMMY Italian food this year and played games. We were exhausted by the end of the night.

Softball in the Rain!

Friday night was softball. During the day it was rainy and cold and to be honest.. I REALLY was hoping Amber would say it cancelled. But NO .. I got a text saying we were still on and for 8 and 9 pm. Oh heck. Going to be freezing! I knew if I bailed be have to forfeit so I sucked it up. Amber later said our 8pm opponets cancelled their game but we were still on for 9pm. Pete came to watch and my mom watched the kids. We bundled up and had a TON of fun. It misted down the whole time and was cold but Im sooo glad I went. It was FUN!! We only have a few more weeks and im bummed. I like softball so far but I like even more that I get to see my girlfriends weekly which is un heard of these days.

Big Sanders Christmas Party

Saturday we had my Dads Family Christmas Party.



We started off by stuffing our faces :) hehe
Then onto family gifts to each other



Then the kids gifts , Thanks Grandma and Lois for the kids piggy banks.. they LOVE them! They are already filled from money they had in cups :) Just Perfect

Then we played White Elephant.

And me and the sisters played some Just Dance.. always fun!!

Jaiden is 6 years Old!!

Do I really have a 6 yr old. I feel so old! Here he is on his big day, ready for school.

Jaiden had a Party for his BIrhtday in California already so we kept the day small and simple and he LOVED it all.

We had doughnuts for breakfast

Pete brought his Santa cake to Kindergarden to share with the class.

After school, all 5 of us went to his Parent/Teacher conference. Were I got to hear LOTS of great things about him. Hes doing great, in the upper part of class. Very mature and a great helper. He LOVES kindergarden and Ms. Stoft.


Then we were off to Chucky Cheese. I caught something and was feeling awful. I felt bad for him on his birthday and even mentioning to him if we could go another day got him in tears. So we went and I sat at the table wanting to die but the rest the family had a blast. It was worth it to see him happy.






Then we headed home to open presents.


Jaiden you are such an amazing little boy, I cant say how much you mean to me. You made me a mommy 6 years ago and I cant thank him enough. I am so grateful to have you in my life. I LOVE watching you grow, as much as I dont want it, because you amaze me! I love seeing the little person you are becoming. Happy Birthday Baby boy! I love you!


Some favorites of Jaiden @ 6:

Candy - Swedish Fish
Food- Beef Top Ramen
Desserts- Pazookie
Thing to Do- Ride his bike, hes trying new tricks already too or play in the snow :) haha, this one made me laugh because we do like once a year.
Song- I am a child of god, and Dynamite by Taio Cruz
Toys- Star Wars Legos

Yes!! Work Party!

Friday we dropped the kids off at my mother in laws and headed to Petes Work party. It was a formal party and I wasnt sure what to wear. I ended up finding a fun formal dress at Ross for $11 and got my nails done and just comletely loved getting dressed up (This should be something we do more often Im thinking). Pete also got a suit (hes been depating buying one for a while). It was fun to dress up but I totally forgot to get a picture of the both of us full outfits :(
I met alot of employees that i can finally put a name to a face. I had fun with a few of the girls and even got the courage to get up and dance with them and the end of the night as most the people had left. It was alot of fun and Im glad we went.

Heres a funny story about the night.

Pete had bought a new tie also, which happened to match my dress which was not planned. Note: Pete HATES matching me, he thinks it looks like were trying to hard or just plain dumb.. I disagree, SO I was excited. Anyways, Pete has of course over the years or churhc/weddings, ect worn many ties, BUT .. My dad lived next door and he never bothered learning. Just had my dad tie it and then he'd slip it off for next time. Well since we no longer live next to my dad that wasnt going to happen. He thought his Mom knew but it ended up none of us did. So I tell him to have one of his friends there tie it. NO, he is not having it. So Im like, were going to figure it out. I google it and its has step by step pictures. After about 8 failed attempts I decided to check utube (I dont utube ever) It worked. Video of step by step , a little fast so I havd to watch 2 or 3 times but I mnaged and can proudly say I can now tie a mans neck tie. :) Thanks u tube for saving my husband style for the night, haha!!

Ginderbread HOuses!!

Sunday I had my family over to make some Gingerbread houses. I provided to houses and frosting and asked everyone to bring candy. We had TONS of candy!!! We all had fun making them and stuffing ouir faces with way too much candy. The houses turned out real cute too.

Jaidens 1st house!! Yes, he made 2 and wants to make another tonight :)











Rylans 2nd house was a TENT! :) Too cute right!! Love my little outdoor men.

The finished products