Chance's Best Buddy

Captured some cute pics of Chance and his best floor buddy!

Christmas Ornaments 2009

Every year we pick out a special ornament for each of the kiddos that best resembles them for the year. This year me and Charlie made our annual trip to the Hallmark store to pick them out. This year was easier than prior years. Kadence and Cole are both developing such personalities as well as likes and dislikes that their choices were easy.

Chance got the typical First Christmas Ornament:
We had no problem picking Cole's ornament. This year the movie "Where the Wild Things Are" came out in theaters. Although we did not see the movie Cole stopped in his tracks every time the commercial came on for the movie. Soon he was hollering around the house, "Let the wild rumpus BEGIN!". We had previously bought the book for the kids a couple of years ago, mainly because I remember being mesmerized by this book when I was young so I wanted it for my kiddos as well. Well Cole fell in love with it as well. Not only did I have to read it every night for bed time stories but also before naps and just whenever he felt like it. This went on for a solid two months. This was his favorite story so it only seemed fit that this be our pick for his ornament this year.

We narrowed our pick for Kadence down pretty quick as well. There was the gymnast kitty that would fit, a cute barbie shoe that was also pretty cute, but we ultimately decided on the Barbie horse ornament. We chose this one for two reasons really. One, she loves Barbies. It was a constant battle all year trying to convince her to pick up all of her Barbies in her room and keep them in her two cases that are full! She would often to my surprise dump the entire contents of both cases onto the floor in a huge mound of Barbies, clothes, accessories and furniture. She would be entertained for hours! The second reason we chose this ornament was because of the beautiful Palomino horse Barbie sat on. Kadence loves horses, especially Palominos. Her love for horses was even greater this year because we joined the Horses for Heroes program that allowed us to take advantage of a couple of Horseback riding lessons for her...which she loved. Hopefully we will get a few more in this year.

Christmas Traditions 2009

Every Christmas we celebrate our traditions, things that are important for us to do year after year. I want to give my kids those memories. It is important to me. I want them to be able to say, "Every Christmas we do this." Unfortunately, this Christmas got away from me. With the house in disrepair for as long as it was it seems like we were constantly playing catch up and when the holidays came knocking at our door, I found myself farther and farther behind!

I was able to get it together to give the kids their Christmas pajamas and ornaments. I usually give the kiddos this early gift the night we decorate our tree and then we all snuggle in and watch a favorite Christmas movie and spend the night in the living room basking in all of the Christmas lights. This year I didn't even get the tree up until the 19th, I couldn't because of the pending carpet install. I got our tree up but didn't get it decorated, thank goodness it was pre-lit so it at least had lights on it. The kids were so tired by the time we finished that night there was no Christmas movie and we all ended up sleeping in our own beds. I let our tradition down...never again! I'm not sure if the kids even knew the difference, but I did.

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year but unfortunately this one I just wasn't prepared for...sorry kiddos, I promise next year will be different. Mommy will get all of the decorations up, I will get the tree up early so we can snuggle under all of the lights watching all of our Christmas favorites and it will be back to traditions, the way it should be.

Our Visit with Santa

This year our babysitters hosted a holiday dinner for all of their parents and kids. They also treated us to a special visit with Santa! I am convinced that they are the best babysitters in the whole wide world. We count our lucky stars for them every single day!

"Grandma" Felipa and her kiddos...

Lisa (aka Nana, our other babysitter) with her son Paul and daughter Madison
The kiddos with Santa Claus...
The whole family sitting with the man in the red suit...
Cole getting a special treat from the jolly old fella...
Mereck and Meredith (the kids have grown up together at Grandma Felipa's and Nana's house)
Kadee's friend and the babysitter's next door neighbor Ashley with Santa...

"She is Such a Beautiful Little Girl!"...Say What!

Chance was born with the most beautiful head of hair, thick, black and just adorable. I knew it was getting to be time to cut it but I had such a hard time justifying cutting a 6-7 month old's hair. It just didn't seem right until...

While at Cowboy Christmas a lady walked up to my mother who was taking a break with Chance and she proceeded to tell my mom that, "She is such a beautiful little girl!"...Okay, it was time to get this kid a haircut!

We took him to the local Cool Cuts for Kids because we figured if anyone was going to have experience cutting a little one's hair, it would be them.

He sat in the baby chair which he loved and watched the movie on front of him on TV. He was Awesome, just sat there and let the hairdresser cut away. I sat and watched and teared up, my baby was having his first haircut. When it was all said and done, he looked so handsome! He is such a cutie pie!

Office Holiday Party 2009

We had our office, more like our group holiday party again this year at our boss's house. We all pitched in and had it catered once again by Famous Dave's BBQ...yummy! A great time was had by all especially during the white elephant gift exchange. Last year, everyone was so polite...this year...the GLOVES WERE OFF! It was hilarious, one stole from one only to have the item stolen from them. The hit of the party was the cutest puppy dog that made all kind of cute puppy dog sounds. Joe initially opened it, Clarice stole it from him and when I subtly mentioned that Chance would love it on Christmas morning I saw a slight mean streak in Clarice, never seen before that intimidated the you know what out of me and force me to steal someone else's gift. By the way, sorry Rosie and Freddy, but we love our Kahlua and Bailey's...

From Blah to Beautiful

My carpet was disgusting, literally to the point that I hesitated to let Chance crawl around on it. Eight years of our wear and tear coupled with dog and cat mishaps had taken its toll. After the leak that caused havoc, we decided we mine as well bite the bullet and get new carpet. It turned out absolutely beautiful and literally feels like you are walking on clouds. The first couple of days it was like complete bliss, the second I stepped out of bed on to this plush floor I sunk and a smile covered my face from ear to ear. Now we have no problem letting Chance crawl around, it is so comfortable that we often find ourselves right down there with him.

It's Time to Make the Cookies

Every year my mother goes all out baking sweet treats for Christmas. This year we all got in the spirit and helped her out. She came down to my house on Sunday morning with cookie dough (Peanut Butter Blossoms and Sugar Cookies) already mixed up and chilled along with her yummy butter cream icing. It was just up to me, Kadee, Julie and Dani to bake and decorate them.

Kadence and Cole pitched in more then they know...they took over the job I held for many years, unwrapping bag after bag of Hershey Kisses to place on the Peanut Butter Blossoms.This day confirmed something I have suspected. The baking gene definitely skipped a generation. I enjoy baking but don't necessarily thrive on it like my mother does. Kadence, like my mother, loves to bake and was right there through it all and never tired. She rolled all of the Peanut Butter Blossoms in the sugar before we baked them.Her and Grandma cut out the sugar cookies...We also mixed up three batches of Millionaire Bars...And then it was time to decorate, Kadence's favorite. We all got pretty creative this year and I think they all looked great when we were done.

National Finals Rodeo 2009

My mother raised us loving the rodeo. I still remember my first rodeo in Deer Lodge, MT. I don't remember how old I was but I know I was younger than five. It was at the fairgrounds, I can still see the light blue building that housed the stands. I remember watching all the boys in the mutton bustin event and then gathering in the arena to try and catch one of the many baby pigs that were oiled up so as to make it impossible to capture.

I remember my first trip to Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming and purchasing my first cowgirl hat. It was spray painted turquoise blue and had a beautiful feather front piece. I remember many a trips to the Montana State Fair in Great Falls, MT, local rodeos in Butte and making the yearly trip to the rodeos at the New Mexico State fair in Albuquerque, NM. Like I said, my mother raised us loving the rodeo.

I remember sitting in the movie theater with my mom watching Pure Country (George Strait's theatrical performance) and seeing her eyes light up during the entrance scene of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas. After the movie while we talked about what we thought about the film I remember her mentioning that she would love to go one time and take in the big event.

Well this year my mother would have her chance. My sister scored some great tickets through her work and invited my mom along with Kadence and Cole. Everyone was sooooo excited. Kadence loves the rodeo as much as my mom, mostly because of my mom so I was grateful that they would get to experience this together.

Giddy Up Cowboy!

Every December my family (mom and sis) looks forward to heading to Cowboy Christmas, a gift boutique that comes to Vegas along with the National Finals Rodeo. This place is like heaven to me...there is bling jewelery, bling clothes, bling furniture all with a western touch...my kind of style. My heart starts palpitating just thinking about it.

This year it was me, the kids, Julie and Mom making the trip. For those of you who have never shopped with me, I can be a pain in the butt at events like these. I have to stroll through every aisle before I allow myself to make a purchase. What if I buy something and then find something better or the same thing cheaper in the next aisle. This year I put myself on a budget so I really was meticulous in my purchase decisions.

We went down a couple aisles, had lunch, treated the kids to the Candy booth, then tried to take in the rest of the booths before closing. I found some really great things but only ended up purchasing one bracelet and Cowboy Hats for Cole and Kadence.

Cole was hilarious in his hat and really got into the Cowboy Spirit! When I put his hat on him, he grabbed a stick pony and headed out into the aisle screaming, "Yee Haw, Ride Em Cowboy," as he ran around in circles with one hand up in the air.

Unfortunately, we just did not have time to take a peek at everything. Oh well, guess we would have to go back next weekend, which we did...