December Madness!

     December is the busiest month of the year.  Somehow I get many holiday chores done before December, but the month is still overactive.  The first weekend of December we attended a birthday/Christmas bash at Maranatha's home.  She did a fantastic job incorporating the holiday season with a joint birthday for her two little sugar plums.  Jasmine turned 4 and Leighton turned 1.  Katie ran around with Jasmine all night long and I loved having adult conversations. 

The next weekend we had planned out traditional Christmas party.  The day before was Katie's first ballet recital.  Many of our family members were there to see Katie.  Poor kiddo she was terrified! She cried a lot.  Eventually she did do a little something. 

Christmas Ballet

Our annual Christmas party was the perfect cover-up for Eliud's surprise 40th birthday party!

We were able to have many of our closest family and friends there to celebrate.  I still can't believe Eliud is 40.  Fortunately he doesn't look 40.  Whatever 40 looks like....?

I love making cakes and have gotten pretty good at it.  I am much more confident that I won't screw one up anyway.  But Eliud's cake is where I met my match.  I had planned on making some sort of Star Wars themed cake design.  Well, let's just say it didn't work out.  I ended up covering the cake in chocolate candy.  YUP! The whole thing; Hershey bars, Hershey kisses, and Reese's peanut butter cups! It was not what I had planned, but it still looked cute and tasted amazing!!! I didn't hear any complaining about getting a end piece covered in Reese's.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Both of Eliud's brother were able to attend the party which was a surprise since Leilani (Eric's wife) was 40 weeks pregnant.  The brothers were goofing off as usual. 

Nothing makes my husband smile like CASH! 

Happy Birthday Eliud!

K-A-T-I-E

Well, for whatever reason blogger is not allowing me to upload any pictures and I honestly don't have time to fool around with it at the moment.  It is quite frustrating, but not the end of the world....right?  This time of year is so busy for everyone and even though I have had most of my shopping done since Decemeber 1st, I am still sooo busy.  I really don't plan on being so active, but I can't help it!  I have really not been able to blog our latest happenings because.....there are simply too many!  But I wanted to update the cute things that Katie has been doing and her new accomplishments.  SHE is the reason that I write this blog by the way.  I don't want to forget ALL that she does throughout the years. 

After she turned 3 she participated in a ballet class and last week she had her first ballet recital.  Yeah, keep those sweet thoughts of my little angel tucked in your mind, because it did not go well.  Now I have to give her credit because she did actually do it, but she spent the first 5-10 minutes crying.  My poor little baby would not stop crying.  She was terrified to have all those people staring at her.  I really didn't know what to do, but yes I did want to hide under my chair.  I do not like attention at all, so it was just great to have the ONLY crying kiddo in the group.  I tried to handle it calmly and with love towards her.  Because ultimately this was for her and not all of her family members who came to see her.  I hugged her and encouraged her and she did get up the courage to do the second dance and her little solo.  We still haven't decided if we should put her in the class this spring, but we may.  The fact is she liked ballet until the recital.  So if she just does the classes and doesn't have to do the recital that is fine with me.  Let's see if I can convince her daddy???

We have also been going to BSF.  Since going she has started talking more and more about Jesus.  She wants to pray for her boo-boo's and mine.  It is all very cute.  One night during a bad thunderstorm she told me (as we hid together under the covers) that she can pray to Jesus when she is scared.  Then she told me that Jesus lives in her heart.  Okay so what more could I ask for?  My prayer for her is that she will know the Lord at a young age.  Praise God!

Now about the title of my blog.  Last Monday (12-14-09) Katie was with a babysitter.  The girl did not know how to spell Katie's name so she asked Katie.  When I picked her up the babysitter told me that Katie is so smart.  Then she told me that Katie knows how to spell her name!  Perhaps I am just a silly mommy, but I was so excited to know that my 3 year old can spell her name!  I am so proud of her.  It seems like she does and says something new everyday.  I really hate that time has to pass so quickly. 

Katie and I have been doing a lot together like baking and reading.  Today we made cookies and she was in charge of taking the wrappers off the Hershey Kisses.  Well, after a minute or two I realized that the pretty foil wrappers were in a pile and the kissess were missing!  Smart girl, she put those in her mouth!  When it comes to her education we have been doing a lot of playing and at her age I think it is perfect.  We also talk about things a lot.  She loves (let me emphasize LOVES) to ask questions.  Even her questions end up having questions.  Yes, of course she is brilliant!  Smart people ask questions!  Anyway....I find myself wanting to know where her interests lie so I can give her things to learn about that she likes.  For example, she loves animals so I try to read nonfiction books about animals with her.  She likes to help around the house too, which I think is fabulous.

So yes, we are busy during this holiday season, but it is a good busy.  Speaking of busy...Leilani is currently being induced...like right now.  She should have her baby boy sometime tomorrow...we hope.  He is very cozy in there and does not want to come out.  We are all excited to welcome Isaac Melendez into our family!  If you are reading this you might as well pray for them.  I am sure they would appreciate your prayers!

No Time For Bloggin'

Well, my time is limited because I have a lot to accomplish today, but I keep thinking oh I need to blog that.  I just have so much going on that I don't have time to sit here and post it all.  It is a blessing to be busy and loving life, but phew I also want to share it.  I think since Katie turned 3 life has been a whirlwind of busy.  I keep thinking it will slow down or get easier, but it doesn't.  And now with the holidays here there is no sign of slowing down.  I do plan to post on all the events of past few months, but that is coming later. 

This picture was taken at Eli's first birthday.  My little (beautiful) nephew just turned one.  What a joy he has been to our family!  Leilani is due to have her little boy any day now.  So our family is growing.  Perhaps next year we will get to add to the numbers?!?! Praying for 2 little pink lines! God is faithful. 

Another amazing thing that happened over the past few months was starting BSF.  Bible Study Fellowship has had a special place in my heart for about 10 years now.  I have not been able to attend each of those years, but I just can't stay away.  I have also taken a leadership role which takes a few extra hours a week, but what a blessing it has been.  I am overjoyed to serve God in this way.  If you don't know what BSF is check it out!  You will grow so much and fall in love with your savior more everyday!

Then in addition to this I started FLYing!  The Flylady is a huge blessing for me and other women who are trying to maintain sanity in their home.  I think it has been almost a month and my home has never felt so beautiful.  Well, it's not beautiful at the moment.  I took everything out of one "scary" room and I am organizing it.  I am giving myself today to do it.  Hmmmm, we'll see.  I just can't stand the clutter anymore!  I have been to Goodwill about 6 times in the past few months.  Being able to maintain the routine Flylady has established is so refreshing.  I always had a cleaning plan, but couldn't keep it up for more than a few months and then I would end up in the same pattern spending 8 hours cleaning the whole house in one day.  Well with a 3 year old I never have 8 hours to do anything!  I can get an hour here or there, but that is it.  Flylady gives you a daily chore and you are supposed to spend 15 minutes a day along with adding simple routines to your day so that eventually your house starts cleaning itself.  What?  My house can clean itself?  Sign me up!!!! My dear husband even made mention on Thanksgiving that he was thankful for the Flylady.  After 9 years of marriage my husband finally has the woman of his dreams!  It makes me happier too!  Flylady helps in all areas of a woman's life.  She even set up a plan to have your hoilday shopping and wrapping done by December 1st.  Well, I have 90% of my Christmas shopping done and wrapped sitting under the Christmas tree.  I really want to enjoy this holiday season and not let it slip away.  By January I hope to gain some beautiful memories instead of 5 extra pounds! 

There are so many fun things coming up.  Oh I have so much blogging to do.  Let me go organize the scary clutter that is currently taunting me.  I'll be back!

By the way, I have privatized this blog and only 100 people can read it.  If you received an invitation than you are one of the few who are allowed to read my blog posts.  I am hoping to prevent having all of my information available online. 

Krista