I Believe.......

Christmas is here I can't believe it. Do you remember as a child it would take forever for Christmas to get here? Those 11 months seemed to drag! Now as an adult I am sitting here asking where does the time go & why is it so stressful but at the same time fun to play Santa? And who still believes in Santa? Does he really exist? And if so why do we believe so much?

An eight year old girl in 1897 questioned if Santa was real & she wrote the local newspaper & this was the editor's response:

Dear Editor--I am eight years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 W. 95th Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. I love that last part. So yes, Santa is real. It's all about faith & love & generosity that make it REAL :)

I believe! Do you??

Tis the Season.....

It's that time again when 2 of my 3 favorite holidays are coming up :) It's the time of year to reflect on the the many things we are grateful for & to eat LOTS of yummy food! I feel like there is so much I am thankful for. I don't have enough fingers or toes to count all the things that I am blessed with. At times I don't even feel worthy to possess all the blessings in my life. Okay, so here are some of the things I am grateful for:

Number 1 and for most I am grateful for my family! For 3 beautiful healthy, loving, smart children.

#2 I am grateful my husband has a job & I pray for all our friends out there that are jobless at this time that I hope this coming year things will turn around for them.

#3 I am grateful for my faith! I am grateful that we live close to the temple.

#4 I am grateful for my siblings. (yes all of them!)

#5 I am grateful for my parents & for their love & support & also for my mom's awesome ability to cook up awesome meals!!!

# 6 I am grateful for the leaves that fall outside my door & to be able to crunch & walk through them with my kids ;)

#7 I am grateful for the ability to laugh & to make others laugh.

#8 I am grateful for this country & for my freedoms.

#9 I am grateful for my body.

#10 I am grateful for warm chocolate chip cookies.

#11 I am grateful for clothes & for the talented people that design them.

#12 I am grateful for the GREAT TASTE of chocolate.

#13 I am grateful for the power of prayer.

#14 I am grateful that my husband holds & practices the priesthood.

#15 I am grateful for technology!!!

#16 I am grateful for teachers & others that have the patience to teach my crazy kids!

#17 I am grateful for the invention of toilet paper.

#18 I am grateful for make up.

#19 I am grateful for my bed.

#20 I am grateful for ice cream (anything with chocolate or carmel)

#21 I am grateful for animals.

#22 I am grateful for music.

#23 I am grateful for showers & bubble baths :)

#24 I am grateful for the ability to learn.

#25 I am grateful for money! (esp. when I have it)

#26 I am grateful for the ability to repent.

#27 I am grateful that families can be together forever!

So many other things I am grateful for but I want to keep my faithful readers & not bore them anymore...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!! Eat lots of Turkey & yummy desserts!

Spooky Mookie

Definition of a Spooky Mookie- n. something in the dark that is scary & will eat young children all up!

Spooky Mookie is what my mom used to say to Gavin & Emma when they would want to run down dark unlit streets. She would say there were spooky mookies that would get them. This stuck with Gavin for years. When the lights would go out at night to go to bed he would say "OHHHH Spooky Mookies."

In just a few days spooky mookies will be roaming the streets asking for candy, but the one place for sure I know they will be is at my neighbor's house. He decorates his house every Halloween very ghoulish & spooky & every year he adds new things. Last year he decorated his whole front year & then he decorated around his side yard & then before you thought it was done you would exit from his house but not without first getting a bloody drink (red punch) from the skull itself. My neighbor is awesome. Some of the things he does is animated. I can't even talk about it & do it justice. You would have to come & see it for yourself but I did take pictures. So, when you go out this Halloween Eve don't walk down dark allies or unlit streets cause the Spooky Mookies might get you if you don't watch out!

(These pictures were taken during the making, you should see it now!) WOW!!!

Believe It........... or Not!!!!!

I can't believe this is a real cake.

I can't believe it's October 1st already!

I can't believe that Halloween is just 30 days away!

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is near & that there are only 85 more days of Christmas shopping left!

I can't believe that today is so warm.... where's fall?

I can't believe that it took me almost an hour to choose my backdrop for this blog.

I can't believe that it's taken me forever to update my blog!

I can't believe how fast time flies!

I can't believe this is Gavin's room!

 

I can't believe how well Emma is picking up on words & how fast she is learning!

I can't believe Gavin's love for Science!

I can't believe how fast Landon is growing. (3 months old) 

 

I can't believe how corrupt our government is.. (actually this one I can believe; just shocking more than anything)

I can't believe it's almost been a month since I've seen Kristen & her cute little family! Where are you?

I can't believe I am blogging one handed! Landon will not stop crying!

I can't believe that the time of day is here again & I've got to start thinking about dinner! 

Excuses, Excuses!

I can't think of anything that is blog worthy, but figured it's time to update the blog any how with non related dumb stupid humor:

These are top 10 student excuses for missing class.

10. My mom made me give my dog away & I haven't stopped crying for 3 days.

9. While driving to school I fell asleep at the wheel. I pulled over & napped instead of coming to school.

8. My boyfriend was stabbed at a club on Saturday. He's okay, but I'm finding it hard to concentrate on school right now.

7. A drug lord burned down my house.

6. I had to visit my brother in jail.

5. My little sister locked me in the closet.

4. My bank card was cloned by the corner store up the street. They wiped out my bank account & I didn't have money for subway fare.

3. My Ritalin stopped working. You really wouldn't have wanted me to come to class.

2. I never met my father.  On Friday, I saw an obituary in the paper for my paternal grandfather's funeral. I contacted my dad through the funeral home. Since then, my father's entire extended family has been harassing me on Facebook demanding to meet me. I haven't told my mother. I'm having a nervous breakdown.

1. I pulled my back reaching into the fridge for margarine.

Okay so these were pretty lame.. Kinda wonder if they are true & also wonder if they have ever been used... 

School Time

It's that time again! Gavin & Emma started school today. I am so proud of them. They both woke up so bright & cheerful that I almost didn't recognize my own kids! I'm excited for them for they both have great teachers this year. Emma has Mrs. Karaffa for kinder & Gavin has Ms. Love for 3rd grade. 

As we pulled up to the school Gavin jumped out, (was embarrassed I took his picture & then took off to find his friends) Emma on the other hand was a bit apprehensive at first & I walked her to her class & waited with her outside with all the other dozen mommies & kids. She met 1 little girl named Gwen with fiery red hair. They are both princesses & will get along just fine! Emma said to me this morning, "Mom, I'm going to a real school, & I get to see dad every day!" 

After I turned Emma loose (well actually after she found the playground) it was all over for me. Emma was happy & adjusting fine & without further to do she told me she would see me later on & not to forget to pick her up later! Thought I would have been a bit more emotional letting her go but actually I was proud & I just can't believe how grown up she is getting!

After leaving Emma, I went to find Gavin. He was acting all cool in line with his friends. He gave me the look like mom, what are you doing here?  I gave him a high five & told him to behave & to have fun & then Landon & I were on our way.

So, you might ask what will I do with my free time from now till 11:45? Well I will post this then I will listen to the silence. I will not miss the fighting between Emma & Gavin. I will not miss the door opening & closing 50 thousand times! I will love having my tile floors downstairs clean for most of the day! I will not miss trying to find activities for the kids to do to  keep them entertained. I will ENJOY my free time with Landon! 

It's going to be a wonderful school year!!!

 

Our Summer

Wow, where do I begin? It has been a very eventful summer to say the least.... It started off when Landon entered the world the day after school got out & just got busy & fun from there. Seems to be so much to write about so I'll just start listing the highlights:

1. Gavin & Emma have been reading books from the library & by the end of the week depending on how many books they read & how many points they get they can go with my mom & get an ice cream treat.

2. We have had relatives visit this whole summer. Almost every week we have had relatives visit & stay either a few days or a few weeks.

3. We have been to the beach, well rather Andy, Gavin & Emma have been at the beach while Landon & I have been home napping.

4. Andy made Gavin a lemonade stand & Gavin managed it with Emma as his assistant & made like 9 bucks 1 day. 

5. Gavin & Emma have been swimming at auntie's pool.. Emma this summer has overcome her fear of putting her face all the way in the water... she is so proud & my sister is such a great swim teacher!!!!

6. We have had many donut runs & ice cream on top of what they get from my mom... Gavin & Emma kept the ice cream man in business but I have put an end on that!

7.  We have hosted many BBQ's & attended alot as well.

8. Andy & I went to his 20th high school reunion...It was fun to see a few people but scary too that SOME people never change... I felt like no one really grew up... but still good to see a few people & to  hang out... (you know who you are) ;)

9. Andy & Gavin were able to go to a  Padres game in July with my dad & Andy's brother. They got killer 60 dollar seats & the Pads even won that night!

10. We went to Legoland with the kids. 

11. Gavin has been to the local water park "The Wave" with his cousins.

12. Andy planted a garden in our backyard. We just need to finish it by deciding what we want to grow.

13. The kids have been chasing snakes at my moms & lizards & losing them in her house! For the record I guess I should clear up that it was a baby lizard & it was NOT my kids that let it loose in her house but we won't name whose at fault..  

14. Gavin & Andy have been at the skate park & at this last visit Andy broke his arm... I posted it on FB but ya it was crazy... his days of holding Landon or skating for that matter or over for a few weeks!

15. Our last event was this Sunday when we blessed Landon. It was nice to have family from out of town come in. It was a great day & thanks mom for all the work you did! The lunch was yummy! Thanks again mom & dad!  

That about sums up our summer & we are now gearing towards school that starts in 4 days! YAHOO! I'm excited for Gavin & Emma. It's going to be a great year! They both have awesome teachers & what could be better than having your dad teach at the same school & just a door down from you?