Karaoke Anyone?

I just had to post this video of Samuel and Cameron singing karaoke on Christmas day. They were singing from the High School Musical game but then they switched to a different game. I didn't get any video of their first songs. I thought that they were hilarious doing That's Amore. They had a fun time and we enjoyed their performance!! I hope you enjoy the show!

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Christmas Eve

Since we spent Thanksgiving this year with the Cortez cousins we thought it would be nice to spend Christmas Eve with the Wright cousins. So, we went to James' sister Mary's house for a great Turkey dinner and an evening of just being together and hanging out. After dinner we introduced our traditional game of a White Elephant Gift exchange. It was a little bit different than playing with the Cortez brothers but it was still fun!! We then sang Christmas Hymns, and my Brother-in-law read the Christmas story out of the Bible. We even got a lesson on the symbolism of the events surrounding the birth of Christ, by James. He never ceases to amaze me at his knowledge of the Scriptures.

Chocolate Dipping at the Wrights

Christmas Time

I saw this on a friends blog so I decided to copy her and write about my favorite things about Christmas time also. So here it goes!

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift Bags, especially if I leave wrapping to the last minute. Gift bags are faster.
2) Real tree or artificial? Artificial, I don't like the mess of real but I do miss the smell.
3) When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving, but this yr. Dec. 1st.
4) When do you take the tree down? New Years Day
5) Do you like eggnog? No!!
6) Favorite gift received as a child? I was probably 6 or 7 and I remember asking Santa for white Go-Go boots. I got them!!! Hey it was the 70's they were cool!!!!
7) Do you have a nativity scene? Several, I collect them!!
8) Hardest person to buy for? James
9) Easiest person to buy for? The kids
10) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of ever getting anything I didn't like.
11) Mail or e-mail Christmas Cards? I am not very good at sending Christmas Cards but when I do I prefer mail.
12) Favorite Christmas movie? Comedy: Elf, Classic: It's a Wonderful Life.
13) When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually November
14) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so!
15) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything, especially James' homemade dipped chocolates.
16) Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored and they must blink!!
17) Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night
18) Travel for Christmas or stay home? Stay Home, but I would love to go back to Hawaii for Christmas again. We did that 3 years ago and it was Awesome!!
19) Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer? Probably with some help.
20) Angel on the treetop or star? Angel. A few years ago I found an Angel Moroni at the church bookstore, so now he is on our tree every year.
21) Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? As a kid I remember opening one present on Christmas Eve, which was always a new pair of P.J's . Everything else was opened in the morning. So with my own children they get to open up one present on Christmas eve also, unless for some reason I didn't buy them new P.J's.
22) Most annoying thing about this time of year? The traffic, just getting to Valley Fair Mall is a nightmare, once you are there it is finding a parking space!!!
23) What I love most about Christmas? Getting together with family and friends, the music, the lights, and seeing my kids faces on Christmas Morning!!
24) Favorite Christmas Tradition? It has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember, to get together on Christmas Eve for a Great dinner, read the Christmas story out of the Bible while the little ones act out the nativity, and then have a visit from Santa, and then play a white elephant gift exchange game. In James' family he has kept up the tradition of Candy Making. He is Great at dipping Chocolates!!

Girl's Night Out!!!

Last night Shelby and I Hit the Town!! We went to see my 5yr. old niece perform in the Nutcracker. The performance was up in Livermore and presented by the Bay Area Dance Company with children from Tiffany's Dance Academy. Carmen was a mouse. Shelby really enjoyed it and now thinks that it would also be fun to take dance classes and perform on stage. She was wanting to take Tap but after last night's performance she thinks Ballet looks like fun.

We had a great time! Thanks Carmen for inviting us, You were the cutest mouse I have ever seen!

All About Shelby

This post is in honor of Shelby!! She made the Honor Roll and we are so proud of her for this accomplishment. She earned straight A's. I met with her teacher a couple of weeks ago at our Parent/Teacher Conf. and she only had good things to say about Shelby!! Shelby works very hard at her school work, and tries her best at everything. She loves writing stories and has a great imagination that shows in the stories she writes for fun.

Congratulations Shelby on making the Honor Roll!! You have worked hard and We are so proud of You!!
In 5th grade the students have the opportunity to go to Science Camp. This year Shelby had that chance. She had so much fun! Her cabin buddies were Betina and Tara. They left on Tues. Nov. 27 and returned on Friday the 30th. Shelby had so much fun. She went on hikes, learned about animals and nature, put on a skit and even held a snake!! Her favorite thing was the night hike. I don't think she was homesick at all the whole time! She was too busy having fun!

Our little girl is growing up! In just a short while she will be in the Young Women's program at church and spend a whole week away from us when she goes to Girl's Camp. We Love our Little Girl!! And we are so Thankful to have her in our Family!!!!

The Cortez Family Thanksgiving

Cindy, Marnie, Michelle, Robin, Cindy, Me, Katie and Lynn

Russ, Rod, Rob, Ryan, Dad, Ron, Rich, Wade, James(hiding) and Philip

Enjoying the Delicious food and Great conversation

Waiting for pictures

This was a great Thanksgiving! We had 45 people at our house this year. All 7 of my siblings and their families, my dad and his wife and her son, my mom and an old friend of the family. It was a little crazy and loud but it was great being together. The weather was perfect! We had tables set up outside. The cousins had a lot of fun playing across the street at the park. On Friday we had family pictures taken. That was amusing! It was fun trying to get the little ones smiling and happy all at once. I think it was nap time for most of them! I also think some of the adults could have used a nap. After pictures we had dinner(adults only) out to celebrate my Dad's 70th birthday!! I can't believe he is 70, he definitely doesn't look it!! I hope I age like him!! It was so great having everyone together!!

Samuel's High School Musical Revew 11/15/07

Look Out Broadway Here Comes Samuel....

Thursday night Samuel had a Musical Revue at his school. He performed 3 numbers. Two of them were duets. The third was a solo. I don't mean to brag, but wait, yes I do, he was awesome! He is so at ease when he performs, and has so much fun performing. I asked him once if he ever gets nervous, and he said not really. I am so proud of him! The songs he performed were: Fly Me to the Moon, from Delovely, You're Timeless to Me, from Hairspray and Mr. Cellophane, from Chicago. He and his friends were hilarious. If I ever get this video to upload you can see for yourselves why I'm so proud. So far I'm not having very much luck. If I don't get it to work tonight I will post it tomorrow when James is here to help me. Well I'm out of luck, no video tonight. Anyway, Samuel we are so proud of you!

Not Very Fond of Cats...

But, this morning when I looked out of the kitchen window and saw a mouse, I was very thankful for the neighbors cat who was lurking in my yard ready to pounce. I really really don't like mice and i am glad that it was outside and not inside but still, it was too close. Kendall thought it was funny to see the cat throw the mouse in the air. He would laugh and say "it fall down." It kept him entertained for quite some time. Shelby on the other hand, thought it was gross to see the blood from the mouse, and then to have the cat leave the mouse. She will be happy to see when she gets home that the cat did come back for it. Hopefully it will leave the remains of the mouse in someone else's yard. I don't want to have to clean that one up! Anyway, today I am a little bit more fond of cats.

Beach photos

Shelby w/Cousin Randi

ME and Shelby in Hawaii

Christmas in Hawaii

Samuel in Hawaii

James and Cameron (Hawaii)

Me and James (Hawaii)

Cameron and Shelby

Kendall and Shelby in Santa Cruz

on the beach in Maui

Kendall w/Olivia E. in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

Kona

Maui

Snorkeling on Maui

We love the beach and these are some photos from the last 9 years. As you can see we really Love Hawaii.

20 Years Ago Today...

It doesn't seem like it has been that long, but 20 yrs. ago today, I met James. It was kind of a crazy weekend. I was home from Utah, to be in my friends wedding and supposed to fly back the next day. Well, James came to the reception and when I saw him I thought I really have to meet this guy. I didn't know at the time that he and his friend came to the reception hoping to find a date for Tom(James' best-friend), so that they could double on a date that night. James already had a date lined up. But when we met he told Tom that if he(Tom) didn't ask me out quick then he was going to ask me! James ended up standing his date up and we went out that night. He drove me to the airport the next day. A few weeks later when I came home for Thanksgiving, I decided to quit my job in Utah and stay home to see how things would work out with James. They worked out Great! Tonight we are celebrating with dinner at the Shadowbrook in Santa Cruz . I have a great Husband! I am looking forward to the next 20+ years with him.

I've been Tagged!

I guess that's what i get for having a blog now.
Here are the rules for those who don't know.
A: Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves
B: At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names.


Here it goes:

#1 I am computer stupid! I know next to nothing about how to work a computer. You can tell by my blog. I am still learning the ropes. Luckily I have a husband who knows his way around the computer and helps me whenever I need it.

#2 I have a great Husband! He is the most patient person to put up with me. And while he was out of work he never seemed to lack in Faith. He always would remind me that we would be okay! He was right!

#3 I have great kids! I may be a little prejudiced, but they each have such a strong spirit whithin them. They make me laugh, and they even make me cry(the good- proud- of- your-kid-cry).

#4 I am way to sensitive! I cry at commercials. I even cry watching Disney Movies. My kids will ask "Mom are you crying?" It doesn't even have to be Disney. Spiderman III made me cry.

#5 I have too many favorite T.V. shows. The best one is 24 and that doesn't start again 'til January. Until than I have plenty of others to keep me entertained.

#6 I live for Thursday nights. Volleyball night!!! This has been my favorite sport since I can remember. I was taught how to play by my brothers. I have played at School, USVBA club, and adult city leagues including co-ed.

That was easier than I thought it would be. Now I tag: Thomalee A., Jami B., Cindy T.

Halloween

I am still trying to figure this blogging thing out. I will try to post some pictures to go along with my rambling. This year i took Kendall trick-or-treating downtown Willow Glen. We went with some good friends of ours, the Earls and Tophams. Kendall loves his friend Olivia. Shelby went trick-or-treating with her good friend Sydney. Cameron went to a party in Morgan Hill. He dressed as a Mormon Missionary. He and his friend won second place at the school costume contest. Samuel went as a Sorcerer. Although Samuel didn't go trick-or-treating this year he did dress up for school and to hang out with friends at Burger King.

Here we go...

Everyone else is doing this so why not me. I can't promise that i will be consistent but i will try my best. This is a great way to keep our friends and family posted on what's happening with our family. It seems to me that the kids our growing fast (way to fast). Samuel is a Senior and already applying to College. He has been very busy with School and having fun acting. He just finished doing Shakespeare at the High School. Now he is working on High School Musical. It is performed by the teachers and staff at Branham, and directed by the Drama class. As for Cameron, he is a Sophomore. It is hard to believe that will we have another driver in the family next year. He is just about finished with his Driver's Ed class at school. Then it is on to Driver's Training. Cameron is our Lacrosse player! But this season he had to sit on the sidelines, all games are on Sundays. Meanwhile he is trying out for Soccer at Branham. He will start Lacrosse again in January, when the games will be on Saturdays. Shelby is in 5th grade. She is finishing up her second season of Volleyball with the USYVL. Maybe i will finally get a volleyball player in my family. She is playing the flute with the school band. This is her 2nd year, and seems to enjoy it. I can't believe she will be in middle school next year. Kendall is 2, but tells people he is 4. He wants to go to school like his brothers and sister. So for now he goes with me to the gym and plays in the nursery there. Maybe in January i will enroll him in pre-school. Kendall keeps me going. He loves going to the park and thinks because we live across the street from a park it is his own personal park.
Wow this is long! i guess if anyone gets bored you could just stop reading and look at someone else's blog.
Anyway, after 9 months of unemployment James is now working. The company is Plan Ready and they are located in Morgan Hill. He is the Vice-President of Business Developement and Marketing. This company makes software to help companies and government agencies do emergency prepardeness planning and help risk management.
I have been staying busy chasing Kendall, Coaching Shelby's volleyball team, and driving kids around when Samuel or James weren't available. I also play drop-in volleyball on Thursday nights. I'm a counselor in ward young women.

There's more to come

I'll post recent information and photos soon, but I just wanted to get something up and running quickly.