Merry Christmas everybody!

WOW! I can't believe it's December already! Christmas is in less than 2 weeks and it finally got snowy! I am having a pretty good season so far. I'm almost over my cold, I think I'm done with shopping, I found Facebook (thanks to my kids) and have reconnected with some old friends and so far my cousin Karla!
I haven't decorated a whole lot this year, mainly because I am taking care of Ryker, and it's a lot easier to not have temptation all over the place.
I think I am going to introduce him to clay very soon. Very good motor skills and creativity come from clay. Maybe I'll make some, so if he eats it, I won't have to worry about chemicals and being made in china and full of lead or something like that.
We are done with the Christmas programs (I hope) for the kids, we have our ward Christmas breakfast coming up on Saturday. Ed and I are helping with that. Should be fun. We missed last year since we went to California.
I'm adding a picture of our Christmas tree. I love it! I love the old fashioned tree with all of the ornaments the kids get every year. It's always a highlight to see what they are getting! And they love putting them on! I finally got smart last year and twistied the lights to the tree so that I don't have to spend 1-2 hours putting the lights on the tree. Went up sooo much quicker this year!

Poor Abby and Sarah don't remember having real trees, but I don't want the hazard of a dead tree in the house that could cause a fire. We had 3 die in one year, and that was the year that I got a fakey on clearance after the holidays. Great investment!
Ryker gets excited every time he comes to the house and I have the lights on. Dan calls it sfinkter pucker excitement and I have to agree! It's such a joy! Kids are so great! I'm so lucky to have 5 great kids! They really are good people! What a blessing in my life to have a husband that REALLY likes me, as well as loves me and kids that are awesome! For some reason they seem to think that I'm OK too and we all get along! Don't get me wrong, we do have our moments. Who doesn't, but luckily nobody holds a grudge and we move on.

Have I mentioned yet that I've lost 30 pounds? Hmmm, I haven't huh. Well I have and I feel pretty darn great!
My neighbor introduced me to HCG and I am down 30 POUNDS! I have to wait until January to start again, but I am stoked! I can't wait to get back on it! I have maintained 3 1/2 weeks so far and I have to wait another 2 1/2 before I can go on it again, but it's fabulous! My cold put me in a bit of a tailspin, but I'm coming out of it and getting back on track. I'm really trying to eat better so that I'll be around and be a grandma. I'm going to try to add some pictures now, so I'll say ciao for now!

Last day of June already?

I can't believe how fast this year has gone! It's already half done! I feel like I have been so busy, yet I don't feel like I have accomplished very much. (nobody else ever feels that way, do they?)

But I got to go to New York city with my daughter Kelsey and her school orchestra class. It was fantabulous! I had blisters on the bottom of my feet, because I swear, we hit the ground and just went and went and went! What a great place!

New York from Jersy side

We went to Ground Zero and met a man (Tony) who worked on the original Twin Towers and is currently working on what is going on there now. He was very sweet and definately had roots in Italy (my favorite country outside of the U.S.)

This is Tony, he was gracious to take his hat off for the picture. Sweet, sweet man.

Then we went to the Statue of Liberty, (my camera didn't have any batteries at the time, so you will have to wait until Kelsey adds some pics to her blog) what a fun experience that was! From there, the Empire State building, from there we got to the hotel, changed, found a place to grab a bite to eat on the street (pretty good chicken kabobs) and then we went to see Mary Poppins the musical.

This is the New Amsterdam Theatre where we saw

Mary Poppins. In fact, from this play, I learned that there is a whole lot more to the story than what Walt Disney gave us, so I am currently reading the real story and loving it!

It was so much fun, but a lot of us were starting to fall asleep during the first act. During intermission, we got a second wind and did so much better.

Next day, we got up running again and went as far and as fast as we could to see everything. We walked down Broadway to Central Park, went to the Temple, back to Central Park, found a great place for gyro's on the street, went to the NBC studios, Rockefeller center, then Kelsey had to go to a master class, luckily for me, Christine Mickelsen, the teacher and my second cousin brought her daughter Angela and we hit the fashion district and she was able to buy a cute dress that she got to wear that night to The Phantom of the Opera. After the Phantom - Christine, Angela, Kelsey and I went accross the street to Johns Pizzeria and had a very tastey dinner, then walking back, we bought a print of Central Park for Kelsey and fell into bed.

Next morning pack up, get the kids to Juliard for their last master class and again, Angela and I went off for some fun.

Central park, shopping and New York CHEESE CAKE! Nummy! I didn't realize that there was such a difference. Now I am ruined for cheese cake anywhere else. (which is good for my tummy line)

It was fun to get some things to bring home for the family. Then after the master class, it was find something to eat and get on the bus for the air port, so Kelsey and I found a very cute restaraunt down from the Temple and Lincoln center. Then is was back on the bus, down through Lincoln tunnel, into New Jersey and to the airport.

What a fun time I had with Kelsey. She was supposed to be with a different chaperone, but it worked out better for us to skip off and bond alone.

This is Brenna's bear that she tucked in Kelsey's luggage to be her represenative and Kelsey is wearing the hat I bought her off of a street vendor. (Not to mention the New York t-shirt from the air port)


And since that trip, Ed turned 48 and Brenna and Kelsey turned 16! They still don't have their learners permits to drive, but, when they are ready, they'll let me know.

My icing wasn't the best in the west, but it tasted great!

And here are a few pictures of my Ryker! What a little buddy he is! There just isn't anything more joyfull than a baby! I can't believe he is walking now! Goodness he was determined!

Watching the rain

Laughing at the camera

I think we are watching Dragon Tails here.

Have I mentioned that I adore this kidlet?

Just a quick note

My Brenna and Kelsey are wanting blogs. I've already got Brenna started with hers. You can click her link on my page. Her's is 'Oh blogger!' and I will put Kelseys up when I have hers started.
All is good in my world! Hope it is in yours too!

Okay, I have Kelsey's too. Her's is Aany Waayy...

You'll have to check them out. They are linked to my blog there on the right!

Start spreading the news.....

Kelsey and I went to NEW YORK CITY! last week! I can't believe that I have now been to New York! We went with the high school orchestra. They had the opportunity to take some master classes with Juliard and another prestigious school.

I'll post some pictures later, but I just need to get blogging a little

Pictures

Here is Riley and April #1
Riley and April #2
And this shot didn't turn out the best, but it is Father and son on the day that Rykers adoption became final. Them laughing together was priceless!

AHHH! I'm the parent of a 17 year old!

I haven't been on for awhile, been busy, busy, busy! My sweet sixteener has now turned 17! It was a lot of fun too! I actually got one over on him and we had a surprise party!
It started with a delicious dinner at the China Chef and then driving around for a "Car wash" (really, I was waiting for the word that it was safe to come home) Got the car wash and then......SURPRISE!
We watched 'Big Trouble in Little China' because it was Chinese new year. I forgot that the language was questionable. But boy is it funny! We watched in our "Soon to be" family movie room. Right now it's still cement and 2X4's. We made do with a king sized sheet and odds and ends chairs and blankets. But I think everyone had a good time.
Later that week, Riley went to the Sweet Hearts dance. He and his date, April, looked so nice. Riley in all black with a pink tie, matching the pink of April's dress.(I'll post a picture after I've downloaded them) They had a great time. Turned out the music at the dance was not to their liking and there was a stake dance accross the street, so they finished up over there.
Ed has been working so hard to get things done in the basement. We are ready for the inspector then we can insulate and have the sheet rock peoples come! I am sooooo excited!
It's going to be nice to have a place where the kids can bring their friends. 'Coarse, they are going to have to help keep it nice. (at least tidy)
It'll be fun to pick out the paint and carpet for it. I'm hoping that we can have it done by the middle of March at least.
Well, I have to go finish the laundry, we have Lyndon and Meagan coming to stay tonight and I want them to have clean blankets. So I'll say ciao for now!