Top 10 of 2013!

Well today marks the last day of 2013, and it has been quiet a year and for our little family it has been an outstanding one! We have been so blessed and couldn't ask for more. We are healthy, happy and it is all thanks to God that we have all this. God is good, all the time! That's not to say we haven't had hard times or sad times, but we try to look for the good in all things. As a family we sat down today and discussed our top 10 highlights of 2013. Here they are in no particular order.

 1. Speedy Cheetah is Valedictorian!
Our baby girl was named Valedictorian of her 8th grade class! She had perfect report cards each semester and was loved by her teachers.  She also won numerous awards and we are/were so proud of her. She received a special medal to wear at graduation.

 2. Squiggler won an award!
Her preschool class had a graduation/moving up ceremony. She was part of the moving up since she won't start Kindergarten until next year.  She received her first academic award for having never missed a homework assignment. We were so surprised and happy for her. She was excited too. The ceremony was great and so glad that she has a great teacher.

 3. Weegie passed her AP exams.
Weegie took AP classes her junior year and worked really hard in them. We were so happy when we got the results of her exams! She passed! We were at Disneyland when we found out since everything is sent electronically! Way to go Princess!

 4. Weegie is named Captain of her dance team.
Weegie and Squiggler were in their second dance recital for RDA and Cynthia was named Captain for both of her dance squads. Again another proud moment because she loves dance and works hard at it.

 5. Squiggler can swim!
This summer Squiggler took swimming lessons and was quickly moved to level 2. She was by far the youngest in her class, but did very well. Each Friday they had a chance to go down the huge water slide, but my baby wasn't scared! She is so daring and fearless!

 6. Squiggler is in prekindergarten!
Squiggler is going to class with Miss Irene again and has learned so much. She can count to 39, knows all her letter names and sounds, can write her first name perfectly and almost her last name. She is always asking how to write words and loves to listen to stories.

 7. Senior/Freshman
Weegie started her Senior year this Fall and Speedy is a Freshman! They go to the same school and both are having a great year! I can't believe that my oldest princess is almost at of school. I remember her nursery school days like yesterday. She was so cute in Miss Agnes' class and cried a lot! Speedy is taking some serious classes this semester and is doing awesome! Again so proud of our girls!

 8. Disneyland Annual Passes/Mouse Wait
This year instead of taking a family vacation, we bought season passes to the Happiest Place on Earth. We have gone about 8-10 times already this year! We are definitely getting our use out of these babies! We love Disney and have been able to enjoy the different seasons of the parks.  We plan to go at least 6 more times and hopefully spend the night, go to Goofy's Kitchen and experience so much more of our favorite place.

 9. Speedy got a part in the school play!
This is was an exciting event for us! Speedy went for it and she nailed it!She was the only underclassman to make the play, everyone else was an upperclassman.  She loved it and had a great role! She even got to sing in the play, which she loves to do! Many of my good friends went to go see her and to those great friends, I am so grateful!

 10. Family
My honey and I have been together 20 years.! (Married for almost 18.) He is wonderful and I couldn't have asked for a better husband! He said to write about us as one of the top ten, but it's not just about us. It's family! We have three amazing daughters, we are part of an awesome extended family on both sides. We were so happy that all of us were able to get together on my husband's side this Christmas. My honey really loves his brothers and sisters and I know it means a lot to him when they are ALL together! I was very proud that we were able to get members of my family in a book! This is actually the second book that my grandfather is in and the first for my mom and uncle.  There is another book coming out soon and I think my grandfather is in that one again and another uncle. My name is also in the book so I guess I am published! LOL!

 Honorable Mentions:
My honey said to say that he survived his class last year!
I had the best class ever in my 23 years of teaching!
Weegie learned to cook like a boss!
Speedy went to Chicago and takes voice lessons now too.
Squiggler turned 5 and says her best memory is Disneyland!
Sadness:
Losing my cousin Joe, my uncle Ruben and my friends Elena and Mirna.
Not seeing my cousin Rock Bottom.
My cousin Salena having breast cancer.
All the turmoil at my school, but I know goodness will prevail!
Disneyland closing the Court of Angels to the public. (We did get to take pictures there before it closed.)
Other Happiness:
Our nephew Isaiah joining the Navy.
Our goddaughter joining competive gymnastics.
Our great nephew Jordinson James being born. (First great great grandchild)
Our nephew Henry going away to college.

I'm sure there is so much more to add, but all this wouldn't be possible without our Faith in God! It is through Him we are able to accomplish what we do and for myself, I hope that this year I am able to serve him more. The other day I told someone, "When you see it needs to get done, then it is up to us to do it. Don't wait for others." I hope that I can live up to these words. I've been very busy this past semester, and stressed, but I need to remember that it's not up to me. It's up to God and with Him all things are possible! Happy New Year and may all that you wish for, work for and desire be granted to you!

Merry Christmas 2013

 Today is Christmas and it is a day filled with lots of love, family, Baby Jesus and a time for giving! When you have kids Christmas takes on a whole new meaning! It's more about the kids and trying to find a balance for them. Above is this years Christmas card. I really have a lot of fun making them, but this year I had to work to the 20th and then my friend, Mirna, passed away and so I almost didn't get them sent out.  I'm glad I did. I love them and they really capture our year!

 My girls in their new jammies. This has also become a tradition and it almost didn't happen again. Luckily I was able to take the older two out and find something they both liked and on sale! The little one is easy to shop for still and likes mommy's taste in clothes and outfits. My older dd would have a heart attack if she knew I posted a picture of her with no make up. I think she is just as beautiful without it, but she would not agree.

 Here is my honey with his brothers and sisters. They are in order from oldest girl to youngest girl and oldest boy to youngest boy.  I'm so glad we took time to take pictures! It was great to have everyone together this year! We always have a good time and thanks to my SIL we have a new tradition of Family Jeopardy. It is hilarious, fun and we learn a lot too!

 My honey with his baby brothers and just messing around! Everyone gets a long great and I really think we enjoy each other's company. Unfortunately we do not get together as often as we should. Family is very important and I'm glad that my girls get  to see that. We often spend more time with my family, but I don't have any brothers or sisters so it's not quiet the same.

 Here we are with the spouses and then the whole clan! I have some pretty amazing in laws and one thing is for certain....they can cook! We had prime rib, baked potatoes, brussel sprouts, creamed corn, fresh homemade bread, wine, and lots of dessert!!!

 The cousins posed for a picture too! I don't think they have taken a picture together like this in a long time! My daughters and nieces are all so beautiful and my nephew is quite the handsome young man.

Here is our family picture! So grateful for my sister in law, A, to take it for us! I love it! We are all looking and smiling! We had a great Christmas, went to church as a family yesterday, and came home to a dinner of tamales, mole, rice and beans. The little one wouldn't go to sleep until like 11:00 so she didn't wake up on Christmas until about 9:00 am.  I think my girls would say they had a good Christmas. I got a ring with three stones, representing each of my girls, and two special coins with Mickey and Minnie on them. (My honey knows me pretty well.) Thank you God for sending us your son, Jesus, to us! He is the greatest gift of all time!

Happy 5th Birthday Squiggler!

 I know I ignore my blog a lot now, and my girls are always asking me why I haven't put their latest achievements on it, but today I wanted to make sure I blogged about Squiggler's 5th birthday. 5 years ago, this little princess was born! I can't believe that 5 years have gone by!

 Festivities actually started yesterday at her preschool class. I took lunch for everyone and we passed out cupcakes and sang to her. She shares a birthday with her teacher! She was a little confused because it wasn't her real birthday. She kept saying she wasn't going to be 5 until December. LOL! I guess she doesn't know it is December!

 She received some presents from her classmates. She got a Build a Bear toy, a Princess drawing toy, a frame, a Barbie, and a memory game. We had pizza, carrots with ranch and fruit punch. (Her favorites!) Then we had cupcakes and I had Angry Bird rings and Princess rings for the students.  We then passed out goodie bags to everyone! Some may wonder why I did so much, but it's because next year she will be in Kindergarten and I can't do these fun things at school anymore.

 The bottom picture is a sneak peek from her photo shoot at JCP today.  I like going there and have gone there since she was a little less then 2 weeks old.  Today I had to run to work to do some last minute things for the sub, but when I got home she was already awake. We watched Disney Jr. for a while and then got ready to go. Her appointment was at 10 and we were the first ones there. After her session, we picked pictures and then went to get her cinnamon sticks.  Afterwards we decided to go see Frozen. It was the perfect time to go because there was only 2 other small groups there and I didn't have to worry about someone bothering her or her bothering someone else. The movie was great and she said she can't wait to buy it on DVD.

 We then went to the Disney store and to Macy's. Lastly we went to see her friend, Santa Claus at the mall. She first met this Santa when she was two weeks old and she has never been afraid of him.  She is fearless! He is such a good Santa, always trying to find out a little about each child before they sit on his lap.  She couldn't remember what she wanted so she made me tell him. LOL!

 We then went to Target so she could pick out a present. She picked a Butterfly Barbie, dress up shoes and a necklace and crown from Ariel and Belle. We then went to go pick up her sisters from school and I thought she was going to fall asleep, but she didn't.  (She was little Miss Cranky Birthday girl after that.) We came home and had her favorite meal of rice, beans and carnitas. We also had birthday cake and sang to her. She love the Family Birthday song! I love this picture because she is just beaming!

Happy Birthday Little Princess! Even though you may not remember this birthday, I will and how we spent it together! I love you so much and Thank God for blessing me with you and your sisters! Love you to the moon and back a gazillion times!