Mom and Daughter Movie

Riley, feeling much better today, and myself went to the movies together. We saw Disneys new princess movie, The Princess and the Frog. It was so good. We both loved all the characters and the music. I'm sure we'll own this movie when it comes out on DVD.
This was the first time I took Riley to a movie w/o any other kids. We stopped by Target to pick up some medicine and a special treat for Liam. He stayed home with Dad because he's still sick, poor guy. He hasn't eaten for 2 days now..he's drinking liquids, but he's still thrown up today and had a fever earlier

Christmas Vacation

Christmas eve-eve everyone was fine and seemed healthy. I went to the church dinner with my kids, my nieces and nephews (minus 2) my Siblings and Mom.
William stayed home sleeping(he had to work). It was a twice as much potluck so we brought a pumpkin pie and made potatoes.
When we got home Riley complained about not feeling good. And when she woke up Christmas eve dayin the morning she had a fever and started throwing up.

We had plans to drive to Sacramento for our holiday with Williams parents. He called them and told them we'd have to change our plans to Saturday maybe...
Riley was sick all day. I had hoped it was just a 24 hour flu...
We decided to let each kid open a present christmas eve.
Riley opened a baby doll. I asked her if she liked it and she said "it seems that I dont like it because I'm sick.. but I like it"
We gave Liam a set of Bakugan. When he made his list this year..all he could talk about was these Bakugans. He was very happy with his present. He played for a while then put out the cookies for Santa and went to bed.
Christmas morning she woke up and still had a fever. After some childrens Motrin she felt better and enjoyed her presents.
Liam was really happy with his presents..William bought him an electric race car track set. Riley asked santa for an ice cream maker and an easy bake oven.. Liam got a scooter. Both of my kids are spoiled again - of course.
We were to get together with my family at my older Sisters house for lunch and a few more presents. William was still recovering from his sinus infection so he volunteered to stay home with Ri.
My family has stopped giving presents to everyone. It's too much with 10 kids in the family and more than 10 adults. We drew names and exchanged movies. We had asked for the new Harry Potter movie! Riley was really upset that she was missing this. We brought her present home for her to open but she was still upset.
By Christmas night her flu was mostly gone -- but it turned into a cold. She was congested. Saturday we woke up and she was still congested and we cancelled again with Williams parents. Liam spent all day playing his new ds game. We watched our new Harry Potter movie. Riley was seeming better by evening. Sunday her nose was still stuffy but she is up and playing and looking better. William and I went to a matinee, Shirlock Holmes, I enjoyed alot!
It was the best movie I've been to in a long time.
Sunday night... Liam says he's starting to not feel good.
Today: Monday.. He woke up and threw up... so now it's starting again.

Our Tree

This is the prettiest tree! It makes the house so Christmas-y.

I've also been crafting: I made a dozen(or so) tags. I found some patterns and used some colored cardstock and gluestick. ...this one is on Williams present from me:
It looks small in the picture but the present is the size of a DVD(it's an xbox game)

Family Cookie Exchange

Monday, December 21, 2009

We had our 3rd annual cookie exchange tonight. I had the day off -- so I made cookies with my little helpers. Liam helped with the pinwheel cookies...Riley helped with the gingersnaps. Both kids helped with the Santa Cookies. The chocolate cookies!!!are so good! They are extra chocolate-chocolate-y! I had William try one and agreed.. HE IS the chocolate judge.

I brought Riley with me this year..since it a 'ladies' party. I told Liam that he could come...but he declined. It turned out that 2 of my nephews came with their mom. And my other sister had her two girls there also.
We played scategories...in which MY mom answered "F#ck" for the question: Starts w/ 'f' , What don't you ever want to hear? We all(my sisters) died laughing..I looked at her paper and she actually wrote out the whole word. She was indignant about the whole thing...like, "hello, I have heard the word before"
-hilarious.
We also played apples-to-apples. We sampled everyones cookies before the exchange. Everyone made really yummy cookies. I extremely enjoyed the 7layer bars and the pumpkin roll-things. I took about 5 dozen. Which means I brought home about 5 dozen...

It's the most wonderful time of the year

ding, dong, ding, dong...
it IS the most wonderful time of the year. We got our christmas tree up and decorated...it smells so good in the house! We had a whole day of cleaning, decorating...William put lights on the outside of the house.


Me, Mom and Ri spent a whole day making tiny angel ornaments to sell at the yearly church bazar. I spent another evening finishing them up. They are super cute. You can see how Riley made hers unique...instead of angel she wanted a ballerina with a heart. I also made some fabric origami ornaments...I'll have to see if I have a picture of one to show.


The kids bought little presents for everyone at the bazzar. The wrapped up their presents on their own..Riley didn't want me to see anything she bought. It's all a surprise!

I am so looking forward to this whole month. The best part...I'm on vacation Christmas week!!!!