Ice Storm 2009

We've had the pleasure of being home bound for the last 2 days. Monday started turning cold mid morning and by Tuesday morning we had freezing rain. Tomas got to work from home Tuesday and Wednesday, which is nice because the roads are horrible and he works all the way in downtown Dallas. Olivia and I kept ourselves busy with art projects, baking cookies and playing basketball (using a wastebasket as the basket). Pretty much we are bored and ready to join the rest of the world. Side note: you know it's cold outside when you offer to let the dogs go outside and they hesitate and they look at you with sad eyes as if to say, please don't make me go out there.

Photography

I don't talk about Tomas often but I'm very appreciative of my husband. My partner in crime works very hard to provide for us and continues to look for ways to increase our revenue. Many of you know that he's been a photography hobbyist for some time and has slowly been trying to take it to the professional level. Recently he's updated our website with some of his work and has taken on a few jobs. He has also submitted to a local city's Parks and Recreation department a proposal to teach a digital photography class, at press time he's in negotiations with them. His most recent photos (last night) a friend and neighbor, who has a online baby boutique, asked Tomas to take some photos of a new item for her website. If I do say so myself, I think they turned out really cute, here is the link to his photos.

Preschool

Olivia has been in school since August 08 and really enjoys getting to be like a big kid and bring a back pack, seeing her friends and all the fun activities (art, cooking, parties) that she gets to do. Her latest funny thing is at the end of songs she adds, "and a Happy New Year", the circle time song at school also gets her special ending. Here are some photos that one of the teachers sent out, our themes are based on the alphabet letters and the photos are from the week of "R" and if you can't tell, she's washing and painting her rock. Also, starting in January of this year, we (all the moms) are now taking a turn teaching. My turn will be the last 2 weeks of February and the 1st week of March, wish me luck, 7 kids have to kept occupied for 3 hours, twice a week. My theme letters are "x, y and z".

Sunbeam

Olivia moved up in Primary to the class called Sunbeams. I thought I prepared her but she had a hard time with the new changes and I ended up sitting in one of those ridiculously small chairs. I'm not sure if my tush will forgive me for that for a long while! The good part, Olivia actually let me dress her up for her first day!

5 Months Old

Malaki is getting bigger and bigger and is just the cutest little guy a mother could have! He's recovering very nicely from surgery and smiles all the time. He absolutely loves the exersaucer.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

January already??? We had a great, quiet Christmas this year. We had Christmas Eve dinner with the Angeli family and watched the Funniest Commercials of 2008, came home and made sure Olivia and Malaki were asleep so Santa could come. Christmas morning was great, the kids still sleep in, Malaki woke everyone up when he woke up for his morning feeding at 7:30am and after opening our presents, the Angeli's came over for brunch and present exchange.
Brunch menu:
sticky bun french toast
sausage and mushroom breakfast casserole
OJ, apple cider, milk
Fruit salad

Spent the rest of the day being lazy and enjoying our family.

New Years Eve, the Fraziers came down to the Angeli's and we enjoyed lots of yummy food and each others company. The adults went to dinner the following night to celebrate Cheryl's birthday. We have been very blessed this year, with the arrival of Malaki, a sucessful 1st sugery for him, Olivia's continued growth and enjoyment of life and Tomas having a job when employment is hard to come by these days and I get to stay home with my angels. We can't wait to see what 2009 is going to bring to our family.