Ready or not ... it's here!!

Alliyah's 8th birthday that is!  I'm never ready for the kids to be another year older, but Alliyah's birthday this year was harder then usual.  She had her first all friend's party!  It hit me as we were driving her & her friends to John's Inc. Pizza ... all the girls were sitting in the back singing, giggling, & screaming!  I realized just how old she was getting!  It's so amazing how fast time flies!  Although it's hard watching her grow so quickly, I am so excited to see what her future holds! 

She had 9 girls to help celebrate her birthday.  All the girls met at our house & then we drove to John's Inc. Pizza & then back home for a slumber party!

Arriving @ our destination

We had some starving girlies on our hands ... off to eat!

 Then it was off to ride some rides & play games

& back home for a little more celebrating

 Being silly while her friends sing happy birthday to her

Her party was the Saturday before her birthday.  The day of her birthday we had family over for cake & ice cream!  Lucky lil girlie!!

Happy Birthday Justin

Our Christmas baby is a whole three years old now!  Waaahhhh!  I know I say this 4 times a year, but seriously THREE already?!  He's so freakin' cute & at one of best stages!  He's learning so much everyday, he comes up with the funniest things, and he's just plain adorable!  If you ask him his name he says, 'Brother Zaragoza"!  lOl!  No clue where that came from, but it sure cracks us up every time he tells us.  

The weekend before his birthday @ Auntie Jen's house

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Blowing out his candles

On his actual birthday

Not sure who taught this kid how to blow out candles ...

But I sure love that lil face

& his birthday present from Mommy & Daddy.  To say he LOVED it would be understatement.  He pee'd his pants twice [which never happens] because he wouldn't stop playing it!  Haha!

We'll be having a birthday celebration next month!  Stay tuned!

Crafty

I made a few ornaments for the kiddos and a few others this year.  They are super easy [so the kiddos helped] & they are pretty cute!

Alliyah & Dae-Dae each made an ornament for their teacher!  They were super excited to deliver their gifts ... a small token of our appreciation for their teachers!

The before:

 & after [Damon's teacher]

 Allie's teacher

I finished Kailee's first [since we were shipping it], & originally took pictures because I had a bad dream that when I shipped it to her, it all fell apart ... I'm sure this has something to do with the tragic loss of a couple of Christmas gifts that were broken at the hands of Delta on her flight home [thankfully they are replacing them]!  Now maybe I can get them for mental anguish!  haha 

Hard to believe Christmas will be upon us next week!!  I'm super excited!

Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

It could always be worse ...

Today, I'm at the point of mental exhaustion ... thinking I need to settle my brain for a long winter's nap! ;)  When I was on the phone with the receptionist to schedule Damon's MRI appointment, she rattled off a list of standard medical questions, which reminded me that it could always be worse!  I was thankfully able to answer 'no' to cancer, heart problems, brain surgery [to name a few]! And although I'm a wee bit nervous for what the coming weeks have in store for our lil guy, we know he'll be okay and eventually there will be an 'end' to this chapter in his/our lives!

He'll have a MRI & an EEG done on 12/21.  I know this is going to be a lot for him and hoping it goes as smooth as possible.  He has to be put under for the MRI, I'm most nervous about that!  But, of course, Daddy will be there to help out!

There is an 85% chance that with these tests they will finally be able to give us answers ... hey I'll take those odds any day!!  So keeps us/him in your thoughts & prayers!!

XoXo

Happy NewGivingXmas Day

Let the celebrations begin ...

Kailee got in last Sunday & since we won't have the opportunity to see her for Christmas or New Years ... we celebrated New Year's, Turkey Day, & Christmas this week [our every other year tradition]!

Wrestling around ... there is a Daddy & a Dae-Dae in there somewhere

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 Tay & Kai ... & what else are lil sisters for

 Besties

 Daddy getting Kailee back

 Pretty much they are the cutest ... LOVE them!

 Fast forward to Wednesday ... or New Year's Eve:

Just what every New Year's celebration needs ~ junk food!

 Marshmallow pops

 A few of us didn't make it til midnight!

 Justin fell asleep too [but he was in his bed].  

I may have dozed off too, but made the midnight celebration!

 It was fa-reezing outside

 She got silly stringed

 Now Thursday ... Turkey Day:

Our neighbor brought over these scrumptious cupcakes! 

Mmmmm

Sisters

 Somebody didn't want to take pictures, but Kailee had the perfect solution ...

Finally ... the whole clan!

Friday = Christmas:

Complete with Christmas plates.  We had the quite the dinner ~

Lobster, Crab, Shrimp,Steak, Scalloped Potatoes, Rice, Calamari, Wonton Shrimp thingys, Rolls
 ... Deslish

& after dinner was present time!  The other kids each got a 

new movie to open [I was really close to breaking down & giving them a 'real' present, but soon enough]

  They were pretty excited to watch Kailee open presents though .. hence posing w/her presents!  :]