Christmas

The kids could not wait for Christmas morning...Santa was a little more on a budget this year. We were a little nervous about that, well I wasn't but Jeff was a little stressed. The kids were so cute every time they opened a present they would say just what I wanted how did Santa know? After we opened all of our presents we went to Jeff's parents for a delicious breakfast and Christmas bingo, yes, Bingo it's crazy but it the funnest game ever on Christmas... It's a family tradition only the adults get to play and you have to be a Almond to play. We all bring gifts and Jeff's parents hide money in the present and when we win we get to draw a number and we have played all the games we take turns opening our presents. Right after that we headed to my parents for dinner and to Celebrate Alexx birthday she is a Christmas baby. This year we decided to make a Colombian feast my mom makes the best soup and I made payeya and my sister made empanadas. Oh yeah, It was good!!! and I think it's good for the kids to remember that they are part Colombian. We had dinner and opened more presents and hung out for a while and then we headed home exhausted. It was a long two days but we loved every minute.

Christmas Eve

We went to Jeff's parents on Christmas Eve. The whole family meets up and we have appetizers then dinner. I think, I love the food more than the presents...Ronnie Jeff's dad always does a little story from the scriptures, he is so cute and just like me cries with every story. This year he called all the kids and wanted them to share a Christmas story from when they were kids, Jeff shared when he was little they did the 12 days of Christmas to a family that they knew and he talked about how excited he was to run up to their door and leave the present without them seeing him. and what a great experience it was for him to give without receiving. The story I could remember was our first Christmas here in the United States, we were in our apartment opening presents, that year we didn't have much but we didn't seem to care we were so grateful to be living here. My mom had always wanted a strand of pearls but of course with 3 little kids there was never any money left for her pearls. That year my dad had bought my mom her beloved pearls, all us kids knew that he had bought them for her and we couldn't wait for her to open her package and when she opened the box and saw her pearls, she was so surprise and so happy!!! I remember I was more happy for her and seeing that she finally got her pearls. It taught me that sometimes seeing the people that we truly love happy is even better than our own happiness. I think the pearls were a little symbolic that we were here for a new start and that together we could accomplish anything.

Halle is growing up!!!

My sweet little Halle is so cute. I was getting her ready for her pre-school Christmas party and she picked out her clothes and we were doing her hair, I asked her how she wanted me to do it, she said I want pony and braids, I said okay and did her pony tails I braided one side and went to do the other side and she said, oh no Mom, I just want one braid and one pony tail. I explained that usually you need them to match and she said but I don't want them to. I thought it was cute and let her go to school with her crazy hair-do. After school we ran a few errands ran into some friends at Target and they all pointed out her one braid, when I explained that we did it that on purpose, they all seemend a little surprised that I would let her out of the house like that. It's so cute to see her little personality grow and I love the fact that even though I tried to have her change her mind, she didn't and thought her hair looked great!!

Count our Blessings

I know, I know thanksgiving was last week but with how crazy my week was this is my first chance to write.

I had to speak in Sacrament the Sunday before thanksgiving and that took all my free time. Public speaking is not my favorite thing to do but I couldn't say no. My topic was Gratitude and I decided I would touch lightly on my dad and his accident and how much he has grown in these couple of months. I couldn't tell you how much he has changed for the better. My dad is wonderful and has always been a great person but the only thing he was missing was the gospel in his life. He started taking the missionary discussions about a month and half ago and last Sunday he got baptized. It was such a wonderful day and we were so grateful to be there with him. The spirit that was in that room was so strong. It was pretty amazing!
Jeff got to confirm him that night. He gave him the best blessing.

Disneyland or Bust

We survived the Happiest place on earth. Every 2 years when our kids turn four we take them to Disneyland, It was Halle's turn to come. Shes was so excited!!! Let see, where do I begin? Our first mishap, we missed our flight from Salt Lake, because Jeff likes to wait to last second (of course I am blaming him) We got to the airport 24 min before our flight was to take off and they would not let us check our bags in. They don't let you fly stand by anymore so, we had to pay 250.00 more to fly a half hour later. We almost missed our second flight because we were not paying attention and thought our flight was at 9:55 a.m. and It was really at 9:30. when we got to the gate, they were boarding and I said maybe we should board and Jeff said why would we want to sit in the plane for 40 min, I agreed with him, we then took the kids to the bathroom, then I listen to Jeff makes friends with a complete stranger, discussing BYU football. When we hear the flight attendant say last call for ALMOND, we got up and ran to the gate to find out we were late and the they had locked the door to get on the plane. We were the last people to board, little emberassing to say the least.

Finally 2 hours later we had made it there. We went with our good friends Coopers and Johnston's. They were already there waiting for us.

Our first day there we got the dream passes we were so excited!!! It's a fast pass for 10 or 12 rides.We went trick or treating at the park it was really fun, we got way too much candy!!!

Halle and Olivia got to meet their favorite Disney Princess Ariel.

Cade got to do the Jedi training and he really got into character.

(check out his face)

Cade got lost a total of 9 times. We actually accidentally left him at Universal Studios. I thought he was with Jeff, Jeff thought he was with me and that is how you loose your kid at a amusement park. Poor Cade..by 4th day he knew not wonder and stayed right by our sides.

Our last day we went to the Beach and of course that was the kid's favorite thing and it was the one thing that was free.

We had a wonderful time and I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm looking forward to our next visit to the happiest place on earth. It's been so fun to go on vacation with our family and friends.

Super busy weekend!!!!

We have had the busiest weekend!!! Friday Olivia danced at the scarecrow festival. She was awesome!!!quite the little dancer she's become. It was fun to see her shake it and groove it...After her dancing we hung out with My sister's Hus, Alex and all the kids and the rest of Utah that was there too. Everything we tried to go on was about a hour wait, so imagine trying to stay in line with 7 little kids, not fun! But after some crying and kicking and screaming from just Addison we had a wonderful time.

HALLE FRIEND PARTY

On Saturday we had a little party for our little angel, Halle she got to invite 3 friends and we took them to lunch Halle's favorite Chick Filet! Then we were off to Jungle Jim's, they got ride the rides and they had a great time, It's so fun to see Halle grow into a little girl, she is the sweetest thing. She loves to whisper in our ear, I love mom and dad so much!!! Goes to bed with a smile on her face and wakes up with a smile, truly what more could we ask for. I hope that she will always be this happy and it makes being a mom so easy and fun!! Life is so simple when you are 4, just play and eat and sleep. I need to be more like her.

FAMILY PARTY

On Sunday we had our family party, yes another one!! Mom and dad are very tired to say the least. It's fun to be able to get together with family and celebrate birthdays. We are so blessed to have such wonderful extended family. Halle was excited to get more presents...

Jeff''s Birthday

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!!!

It is Jeff's 38th birthday, wow....You don't look a day older than 30... for sure Babe. I feel so lucky and blessed to have him as my better half. We truly have the best time together. Here are 38 reason why I love you so much!!!

1. Never gets mad at me

2. Family is very important

3. treats his mom like a queen

4. looks up to his dad

5. He is the best dad

6. no one plays monster like him with the kids

7. If I want to buy something for myself, he says go buy it, you deserve it, hon!

8.When he feels like cleaning, he is the best cleaner

9. I love the fact the he is SO passionate about his football

10. Loves to take me out on fun dates

11. Very loyal husband and friend

12. Gets emotional during war movies or sport related events

13. He is so sweet to my mom and dad, treats them like his own

14. Loves to relish in his High School Glory days

15.Trying to learn Spanish

16.Loves music and can bust a move if he needs to

17.Makes me feel like the hottest girl in town, sometimes I'm like dude quit staring.

18.Showers everyday, to some people that is not important

19. Lets me buy all of his clothes and he seems to really like them

20. Just thought of this one. On my birthday last year he decorated the whole down stairs with streamers and balloons. Just because he loves me...

21.Will really try everything once, within reason

22. Loves to buy fun things for the house

23. He is the nicest boss

24. Very smart and level headed (except his spurts of road rage)

25. He mows the lawn better than any neighbor!

26. Can laugh at himself

27. Really thinks we eat the same amount of food and he is the only that gains weight

28.Sees the silver lining in all situations

29. Treats everyone with kindness and respect

30. His perfect day would be football, lots of coke and pizza, I could manage that.

31. Very driven ambitious person, always looking to learn new things

32. If I cook something disgusting, he lies and says its great

33. I backed the van into a concrete boulder and dented the bumper we just repaired a few weeks before and he just asked if I was okay and said It's just a car It doesn't matter.

34. He upgraded my ring after our 10 year anniversary, I lost it 2 weeks after he gave it to me, I called him at work crying like a babbling idiot and he said it's just a ring, hon.

35.loves to play games with the kids

36. loves his cookies on Sunday

37. he makes this crazy life so wonderful

38. I'm so grateful and blessed to have you in my life and can't wait for the journey that is yet to come. I know that whatever life throws at us we will be fine.

kids are off track

The kids are off track...

The kids are off track and I'm trying to make it fun for everyone. Last week I let the kids invite some friends over for lunch. Olivia invited Karlee, they both hated the lunch I had made so I had to make them something different, picky, picky girls. They got a creative made up a play and preformed it for me ( Karlee is very good at the German accent) Olivia just laughed when it was her turn to speak. Cade had Maxton come over, they got a long so well, they watched a movie and played video games, I know boys and video games it's a shocker!!! Halle had Natalie come over and they played and watched the little Mermaid, that is Halle favorite movie right now, we watch once a day, I love to hear sing Ahhhh, Ahhh. You know the song. And cute Addison just followed all of them around. She was a little sick, had a tummy ache, so If any of kids caught her flu, sorry.... I love having the kids home all day and get to hang out with them and see them enjoy just being kids. That is what makes me smile.

On another note, seriously can football season just be over.... holly crap, my sweet sweet husband is playing on 3 football leagues and is so competitive that I was watching dancing with the stars and he changed the channel and thought I would not mind so he could see how he was doing in his league. He won both games so now he is feeling like the man!!! just silly If you ask me.

Cade just turned 7!!!!

Cade just turned 7!!!!

Our little Cade just turned 7 years old! I can't even believe it... Seems like time goes by so fast and I don't feel like I'm old enough to have a 9 year and now a 7. I still feel like I'm 25 so that would make me 14 when Olivia was born... hmm Anyway back to Cade, we had a Magic Party. We hired a magician. The kids loved him, he was very funny and very entertaining to the adults too. It's great to have family so close and share these wonderful times with us.
Cade is the funniest little kid. He is one of those kids that will say anything that is on his mind

(so if he offends you, I'm so so sorry in advance). Very sweet to his sisters, loves to play, loves his books and is a very good artist, he likes to make comic books. Poor kid has 3 sisters that yell, fight, punch and scream at him and he usually never fights back. I love him for that. I'm so lucky to have such a sweet little boy he makes everything so fun and is such a joy to have around.