Train, Train, Train

Today we took the kids to lunch at Burgertown USA. It is down the street from where Dan works and he has been before but it was our first time. They have cars, airplanes and trains all over the restaraunt, including a train track connected to the ceiling with 2 trains riding along. Danny was in heaven. Everytime the train would go by he would scream "Train, Train". No matter how many times the train went by he never lost his enthusiasm. Everyone in the restaraunt was smiling at him. He never did eat, he was having too much fun.

Presents

I love presents. I love getting presents. I love giving presents. I love watching other people receive presents. The gift exchanges have already begun and I love to watch my friends expressions as they open their gifts, especially when you know they will love what you have gotten for them. I have been blessed already this year with wonderful gifts and wonderful friends. The best gift of all though is my beautiful family. I am so lucky.

Madison's last day of school was yesterday. She will not be returning to school here before we move. Santa came to visit her class today. 

Insanity is setting in

Well it is a week until Christmas and 6 days before our company arrives. I am feeling insane trying to finish getting ready. Today I wrapped at least 100 presents, at least that is what it felt like. I went shopping for dress shoes with the kids -Madison wants to buy every pair in the store and Danny wants to wreck everything in the store and refused to let me try them on him. Did I mention how much fun shopping with kids can be? We hit Target for the essentials (laundry detergent, et al) and Madison decided she wanted to do her shopping. She said Mom I am going to buy your present so don't look and proceeded to put MY present in our cart (is it my present if I pay for it?) She is quite a character-her dad said she learned how to shop from me! By the time we made it to the grocery store, Danny had pulled out a large chunk of Madison's hair and I had no patience left, plus I was trying to figure out where on earth I was going to put all the groceries since I had filled up the back of my Cherokee with my Target run. Maybe next time I should rent a U-Haul. My checklist is getting smaller though. I still have 4 7x7 albums to finish before Friday and I have only started one (it is almost done). I have lots of cleaning to do still too. I think by Friday the insanity should be nice and set in...

Madison's School Christmas Program

Tonight Madison sang in her Kindergarten's Christmas Program. It was her singing debut. It was adorable. We were so proud. She sang Mele Kelekimaka, Jingle Bells, Christmas Cookies and Warm Hearts, Feliz Navidad and the crowd favorite The Reindeer Pokey (the hokey pokey song except they said the Reindeer Pokey). During the Reindeer Pokey everyone was shaking their little reindeer bottoms when they said to shake it all about.

Madison's School Program

Madison and Mrs Landeros-her Kindergarten Teacher 

Our transfer is official

We recieved our paperwork finally and our transfer to Belvidere Illinois is official. Dan has to report for work on Jan. 30, 2006. We are excited, nervous, scared, and overwhelmed. We have a lot to do which will encompass the next few weeks. I am looking forward to a new life!

A couple of real witches. Madison and Donnann Halloween 2005 

Danny catching rain drops on his tongue. The pure joy he found in the falling rain was amazing!! 

Danny is Buzz Lightyear 

Cased from TerriG for Phantomfayes Train Swap 

Donnann, Danny and Madison at the Beach in Dana Point CA Nov 2005 

Annual Physical

Had my annual physical today, boy was that fun. I hate having them but I am too scared not to get it done either. I did have a nice dr, she was very gentle. I hate it when they tell you to just relax your legs, like that is so easy with what they are doing. I also got my flu shot. I am trying to make sure we get everything done before we move. I ordered tons of prescription refills and made the kids dentist appointments. There is a still alot to do.

Harry Potter

I finally got to see the new movie today. Madison and I went to an afternoon matinee. It was really good but nowhere near as good as the book. I am ready to drag out the box with the books in it and start reading them again. Noah is the one who got me hooked on HP. I had just had Madison and he gave me the first book to read. I sat and read them while I nursed Madison. I can't wait for the 7th book to come out, boy do I wish she would write faster.

Beach

Today we went to the Beach in Dana Point to take photos for our family Christmas card. It was a lot of fun to watch the kids playing in the sand. How nice is it to go the beach in late Nov and only have to wear a light jacket. It was gorgeous out. Madison wanted to build sand castles and Danny wanted to wreck sandcastles. He learned to say "Cool" today and he used that to describe the beach. I think the photos will be gorgeous. We went to a rocky area with the huge surf crashing behind us. We took the photos as the sun was beginning to go down and the tide was rising. We all got caught in a big wave and came home with wet socks and shoes. This will probably be our last holiday in California. It is scary and exciting. I will miss the great weather in Nov.

First Post

The first time is the scariest isn't it? I plan to use this site to help me with future journaling in my scrapbooks. I am a crazed scrapaholic. I am behind in my albums though. I thought that if I write down what I am thinking that it will help me later.
There are a ton of things I want to remember. Like how I picked Madison up from school yesterday and she was wearing a turkey hat that she made in school. It was so cute to watch 20 kids walk out of her class all wearing turkey hats. They looked so cute.
I also want to remember how cute it is to hear Danny talk. He talks really well for a 2 year old. I love to hear him say "Hot Balloon" in the car when he is watching Baby Einstein (for Hot Air Balloon). I love how he calls socks "Hocks". He has a little trouble with S's. I like how he calls Spiderman -"Man" instead of saying the whole word. Yesterday when I changed his diaper , he had a slight rash and I put cream on his bottom, he told me "Good Job Momma, Good Job" -how cute is that? He is just so cute and smart.

We went to Aunt Chris's today for Thanksgiving. It was crazy and chaotic, with over 20 people there. In attendance: Nancy and Paul Christel, Ronnie Cervantes and his girlfriend, Joey and Chris, Joe Cervantes and Sherry, Willy, Mike and a girl, Dave, Aunt Chris and Uncle Mike, Jason and Jen, Jen's parents, Oma and Opa and of course all 4 of us. We had more than enough food with everyones favorites: Turkey, ham, Potato balls, deviled eggs (which Madison tried for the first time and really liked), my homemade bread (Danny loved that) and a million veggies. There were tons of pies and I brought LBJ delight (the price of admission for me -I am always required to bring this and my homemade bread).
Tommorrow I will get up early and do my traditional Black Friday shopping. I will be at Target at the crack of dawn. I am looking forward to it though, I enjoy the craziness and the great deals.

Yesterday was my last day babysitting for Teri and the girls. I am sad. It has become part of us. We have been babysitting the girls for 7 months. It is part of our routine and the kids are like brother and sisters. It is going to be a big adjustment. Danny is Sammy's husband (according to Sammy). She is sweet, smart and sassy. Bailey is autistic and can be sweet as can be and super silly. She can also be difficult, it is so unfair. It has been good for all of them to be together, they love each other very much. Danny says both their names very well. He loves to tease the girls by taking their toys-it always gets their attention. Madison and Sammy are like peas in a pod. They are so much alike. They love to play dress up and Sammy is always the Princess while Madison is the Queen. Madison used to be content with being the Princess until she realized the Queen was even higher.

Well enough rambling for today.