And He's OFF!!

Jake was 10 months on Monday and the last few weeks he has been trying to walk. He had taken up to 15 steps I mentioned before and some considered that walking! I didn't because he wasn't doing it THAT often. Now he is walking more and more and he is getting pretty fast. He is doing so well at it! I think I would consider him walking now!

Christmas Time

Finally it feels like Christmas in our household. I don't know why but I feel so behind this year on the decorations. Actually I do know why...all my friends decorated and had their trees up right after Thanksgiving! (Most of who have FAKE trees) Agh, you guys how do you have fake trees?? I just don't get it! Tonight we got our tree decorated!
James helping Mommy put the lights on

James putting on his first ornament

Jake just noticing the tree and wouldn't leave it alone. We are going to have to watch him! No ornaments in reach of Jake!

Brianna putting her ONE ornament on the tree.

She was too much of a teenager this year to help decorate!

Craig and James enjoying hot chocolate while I finished decorating the tree. James' first cup of hot cocco, as he was calling it and he loved it!

Our tree

And we have another stocking added to the mantle this year!!! Baby Jake!

Now all we need is some presents under the tree! Don't think those will go out until the day before, I don't want to have to re-wrap everything!

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree!!

Today we went to get our Christmas tree. Last year James was terrified when we got to the tree lot. He had to be held the whole time and couldn't wait to leave. This year we were on our way there and he says, " Mommy I so excited!" Awe, how he has grown up. He walked right in and started touching and smelling the trees! He seemed to like the "snow" ones.

Brianna & Jake

Daddy & James looking for a tree

We found one right away and brought it home. Tomorrow we are decorating so there will be more to come!

Craig's B-day Surprise

Craig's Birthday is coming up on Wednesday so we went out on Saturday for his B-day. He had no idea what we were doing. I love planning surprises but I was a little nervous with this one. I decided to take him to a flight simulator. I don't know of anyone who has done this but I saw an ad in a magazine and thought it would be fun since he is into video games and it was something different. I didn't really want to do it and thought he would have more fun with his buddies who are also into video games so I called two of his friends and asked them if they wanted to join him. They both jumped on the idea! So we went out to grab a little bite to eat before since our "take-off" was at 7:30. We pulled up to the place and it was perfect because Mike and Thorin were already there. Craig sees where we were and is excited...good I made a good choice. Then we open the door and he sees Mike and Thorin so he is totally surprised! Yeah! We check in and then they suit up!

Mike, Thorin, & Craig

Then they go into a 10 minute briefing on how to operate their planes.

The control room

These are the screens where you can view all the people flying. This is where I watched from!

All ready to dogfight!
Craig

Thorin

Mike

Here is a picture of the their screen

I did good! It was a hit, they had a great time!

Girls Night Out!

Wednesday night was my annual holiday girls night. We have been doing this for I don't know how many years. It is so good to visit and get out for a nice dinner around the holidays. We used to go to each others houses and do a gift exchange but now it is just all about getting out of the house and leaving the husbands and kids behind! So we went to this little restaurant in downtown Brea. I do have to say the company was much better than the food! I don't think any of us will be going back there! HA! Then we went over to Starbucks for a night cap (times have changed) and we were there until they kicked us out. Who knew Starbucks closed at 10:00??? None of us did! We had a great night but missed two of our friends who weren't able to make it. :( Hope to see Jules and Courtney soon!

Thanksgiving Weekend!

Gosh I haven't blogged in a while. I know I am a little late! We have been pretty busy. I won't make it long and boring! Our Thanksgiving weekend started out making cookies. James helped Mommy decorate cookies for Thanksgiving day.


Thanksgiving Day we went over to my Aunt's house and had a wonderful meal. I didn't take any pictures except of Jake and Michael!

See James outside...Jake is copying him!

Saturday we went to a family party for our new cousin Ayden. The boys had a ton of fun on the playset, bounce house, and all the other activities!



Then we made cookies again for Brianna and Alex's B-day dinner at Nonni's since we had leftover cookie dough.

The girls and their cake

Jake had his first meatball at Nonni's house and LOVED it! Who doesn't right?Ate the whole thing!

Jake is also SO close to walking. He has taken up to 15 steps!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIANNA!!!

Today is Brianna's Birthday and she is 15 years old!!! 15 seems like such a big number to me. One more year and she will have her license! I seriously don't know where the time went. It feels like just yesterday that I was in labor for TWO days with her. She is becoming such a beautiful young lady, inside and out!

Happy Birthday Brianna!
I love you!