Visitors

We had some friends come in from California to visit. We had such a good time with them. On Sunday we went to the park and the day was beautiful. It was about 68 degrees. Can't beat this weather at this time of year. This is when we really enjoy living here. I can't say the same about the summertime.
Hope you all have a very Happy New Year!!! As for us we probably won't even make it til midnight. We always try but end up asleep and miss the whole thing. When I was younger it was no problem at all to stay up late, but now it's a different story. The older you get the harder it gets. Ha Ha

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Enjoy this time with your families, I know I am.
Remember the real reason for this season which the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. May he bless you now and always.

Baking Cookies

Saturday Marrissa and I decided to bake cookies from scratch. I never make cookies from scratch. I always buy the dough and pop them in the oven. So I was a little nervous on how they would turn out, but they came out great. It ended up taking all day. Which if you know me, I like to do things quick and this wasn't quick. So I was very glad when we finished, but It was fun to spend the time with Marrissa and just hang out. I can't believe how many cookies we ended up with. I gave some of the neighbors platters and we still had a ton left, so I sent some to work with Robert today.

Happy Birthday to my big bro!!!!

I hope you have a very Happy Birthday Larry!!! Love Ya
When I was little I always wanted to be as old as my brother so I could do all the things he did. Now as an adult I'm glad I'm younger because I can tease him about being older. Ha Ha

Breakfast

Saturday morning was so busy around here. Both Robert and I were doing this and that and Marrissa asks "what's for breakfast?" I told her "whatever you can find to eat, I don't have the time to cook breakfast right now." She said "OK, I'll just make us all something." I thought I was dreaming because normally she never wants to do that. She she ended up making scrambled eggs mixed with chopped up tator tots, and sausage. She did a great job. It was very yummy. I told her that she can cook one night a week and she said no way, that's a lot of work. Like it's not a lot of work when I cook all week long. I guess I just need to be happy with the occasional cooking she does and be glad she is learning to cook.

Birthday Flowers

Here is the cake Robert and Marrissa got me for my birthday. It's a butterfinger ice cream cake and it was yummy!!! Of course we still have lots left, so we will be having dessert a few nights this week. Notice there are only a few candles, didn't want to melt the cake!!! Ha Ha Here are the gorgeous flowers Robert got me. I love the purple pinkish ones. I guess the longer your married the more trained you get them. Ha Ha Just kidding. He really has become more thoughtful this year.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Here was a everyone getting ready to eat the big dinner. Rita always sets such a nice table. I always use paper plates. I guess I'm just the paper plate queen and kill alot of trees. Ha Ha. We really did have a nice dinner. Of course we ate too much!!! Here are the kids at the kid table or counter. Before you know it they won't be little anymore. Time is just going way too fast.
I was really thankful this Thanksgiving for everyone being healthy and having such great family and friends. I feel so blessed. Hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving.

Robert's family

Here are some of Robert's brothers and sisters. We were waiting to get pictures taken at JC Penny's. We were taking up most to the lobby area. It's a big family. This is his sister Patricia, her husband Jose, and thier son Matthew. Going left to right is Elysia, (Gen's daughter) Gen, and Denise.

Here is Marrissa, Deanna, Elysia, Daniel, Sarah (Daniel's girlfriend), and Robert's niece Elena.

This is Tony (Robert's mom husband), Robert's mom, Steven, Anthony, Barbara, and Gina. The only I forgot to get a picture of was David. Sorry David. :(

It was nice to see all of them. It is very rare that everyone is all together anymore.

Silly Toe Socks

Marrissa thought these socks were cool. I don't know if I would like all my toes covered like that. She says at least they will keep me warm. Kids and their styles these days.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I will be out of town a few days so no blogs for a while, like I blog everyday Ha Ha.

Christmas Shirt

Marrissa decided that Spike needed a shirt to keep him warm when we go to Albuquerque for Thanksgiving. She said he is an Arizona dog and he isn't used to the cold. I told her that is why dog's have fur to keep them warm. She doesn't believe me. So here is the new shirt. He doesn't seem to like it too much, but I guess he better get use to it because he'll be wearing it in Albuquerque. At least it was only 5 bucks. I told her if it cost more than that she was buying it. Of couse we have the blue ring in this one. He can't live without that dumb thing. I have bought so many other things and that darn ring is all he wants.

It looks like he is posing here. He is probably thinking "What are they doing to me?".

Take the time

The other morning as I was getting ready to leave for work I saw this beautiful sunrise. It reminded me that no matter how busy we are, we always need to take the time and look at the beauty the Lord has given us. I think of it as his way of saying he loves us. So I'm trying to take the time more often.

CRAZY WEATHER

We had such crazy weather today. First thing this morning it was cold.(at least cold for us 57) Then the sun came out and things warmed up. Then this afternoon it starting raining and then hailing. It cooled down again. After that the sun came back out. I guess it couldn't decide to be sunny or cloudy. We are loving this cool weather. We are so sick of the heat, so we were out enjoying this afternoon. Of course the dog was so scared. I tell you he is afraid of his own shadow.

Here's Robert. He had went for a bike ride while it was sunny and on his way back home it poured on him. At least he made it home before it hailed. I thought it was pretty funny he got stuck in a rain storm. Those things usually happen to me.

School Spirit!!!

Marrissa had a field trip to a student council training on Monday. She said they had to show school spirit. Their school colors are blue and green. So we got her some blue spray for her hair and blue and green ribbons. She painted her nails. She wanted to write on her face, of course I said no way. They didn't get their green shirts until she got to school. She had a good time. It's so neat to see her get exicited about this kind of stuff. I never did. I guess I was just an old fuddy duddy. Ha Ha

Halloween

Marrissa felt that Spike should dress up for halloween. So here he is in his pumpkin costume and it only cost 5 bucks. I wouldn't have spent anymore than that on a dog costume. Marrissa was a geisha girl, which after we bought the costume, Robert tells me I think geisha girls are prostitutes. Great now I'm dressing my daughter as a prostitute. I don't know if he is right or not, but we all ready had the costume which cost way toooooo much, so Marrissa decided she would tell people she was a chinese girl it sounded better.
I really thought she would tell me she didn't want to go trick or treating this year since she is 12, but no she said I'll never be too old to trick or treat. Go figure!!!

We decided not to carve a real pumpkin this year, instead we got one of the plastic ones and Marrissa carved it. She did a great job. Now we will have one for next year.

I almost forgot

This car must have been the smallest car I've ever seen. The license plate said "Dwarf". It even made Robert look like a big man standing next to it. Ha Ha.

Cars

Yesterday we went to a car show. Robert just loves looking at the oldies, I don't mind either. He really liked the T-bird and the Shevelle. He is always talking about getting an old car and fixing it up, then we would have a Sunday cruiser. Hopefully one day he will be able to that.

Homework

Here is Marrissa doing homework and of course Spike wanted to be next to her. I thought it was so cute. Here she is trying to keep him away from her book. He just loves to walk all over her books and papers. I guess he thinks he is the king around here, well he is sadly mistaken, He's Not!!!
Now he is loving the belly rub she is giving him. He could lay there all day. What a spoiled dog.

A sad week

When we returned to school on Monday, after being off last week, we got the news that one of our 2nd grade girls passed away over fall break. It is so hard to understand the death of a child. They say she had the flu and had been throwing up and went to sleep and never woke up. Is that soooo scary or what!!! It was very emotional for me because she was in my kindergarten class a few years ago. I would always see her outside at lunch time and she would run to give me a hug. She will be greatly missed. This makes the 2nd death at our school in 9 months. Most schools never have to deal with death, but we have had our share. I hope there are no more. I just don't think people could bear it. Please keep their family in your prayers. The little girl's name was Celeste Munuz.
I just can't imagine lossing a child.

I forgot to add this in last post

Notice in the picture of last post that Spike has his famous blue ring with him. The one he loves to eat with. We have bought him many other toys and this is still his favorite one of all. He could care less about all the others. I sure hope we never lose it, he will be a wreck.

Spike's favorite place

Can you guess where Spike's favorite place to be is? Out of the entire house it is under my bed!!! This dog is like my shadow. He's driving me crazy. Don't get me wrong, he is a very good dog, but loves to follow me everywhere. The past couple of weeks we've been training him not to jump on people and he finally got it. So now he will come and sit next to you and expects to get patted and be told what a good boy he is. That's great right? Well if you don't pay attention to him he starts to cry, like a little baby. I thought once he learned not to jump up on you he would be good and not need so much attention, boy was I wrong. He wants attention all day. It's like having another kid in the house. I sure wish he was Marrissa's or Robert's shadow,but no he always wants me instead. Go figure!!!

All about Ducks

Today Marrissa and I were out, because we are on fall break this week, and we saw some ducks at the lake. I wasn't sure if they would be nice or try to chase us. I've heard that geese will chase you down, but I didn't know about ducks.
This duck was really cool, he had a pretty color green on his head.

They are very loud.I have never been up this close to ducks. It was really cool!!!

We got a visitor!!!

Yesterday my brother was in town on business and we got to have dinner with him. It was so nice to see him. I wish we could have seen the kids and Cheryl too. I really miss my family, so when I get to see them it's great. The food was very good. We really enjoyed ourselves. We haven't had any visitors in a long time, I guess it's just tooooooo hot for everyone, It's even way toooooo hot for me!!! Anyway it looks like we've had a few drinks by the way we're smiling, but all we drank was tea and soda. How funny. I'm so glad we got a chance to see eachother, I only wish we could have had more time. I guess you can't have everything.

Soccer

Today Marrissa has soccer pictures instead of a game. She doesn't like her new jersey. She said it looks like a boys jersey. I told her who cares what it looks like, this is no fashion show, it's soccer. Girls!!!! After her pictures she wants to go shopping to spend her birthday money. She can't keep it too long or it will burn a hole in her pocket. Ha Ha.

Happy Birthday Roo!!!

Today is Marrissa's 12th birthday. I can't believe it. Time goes way too fast. When she was born was one of the best days of my life. It changed everything for the better. I thank God everyday for her.
Let me tell you how she got the name Roo. When she was first born my mom nicknamed her Rissy, then her sister would call her Rissy Roo and the Roo just stuck. So we mostly call her Roo, but also use Rissy. We tell her Rissy is a very special name because that was the name her grandma, who loved her very much, gave her. That always reminds her how special she was to her grandma. She can't remember her grandma, but she will always know how much she cared.
She tells me today she wishes she was 13 instead of 12. I told her to just slow down. I don't know why these kids want to grow up so darn fast!!! Here is her cake we had for her on Friday night. It is an oreo ice cream cake. It was yummy!!!
These are a couple of her friends that come over on Friday and we took them to an amusement park. Of course she wanted it to be a sleepover, she likes that every year.
These were some rides they went on. Marrissa was nervous to get on the sky diver, it lifts you up way high and just drops you. After the ride she loved it. She likes all those crazy rides. I'm just getting to old to get on them, they make me feel sick.
She tells me look mom I'm driving. OMG I'm definitly not ready for that.
Well we're off to dinner at outback steak house. We always let the kids pick where they want to eat for their birthdays and she always picks the same place. Can you guess what she orders??? Cheese fries and Macaroni and cheese. Can you believe it, that is what she orders at a steak place. Only my daughter!!!