Reading. Machine.

Our little BugBug is a reading machine! She's doing so well. It is SO cool to hear her sounding out words and figuring out what they are. She is a very smart little girl and we are proud of her.
Each day her teacher sends home books and a journal. After she reads the books, she writes what they were about in the journal. I let her sound out the words and write them as she hears them. I will correct her, if needed, when she is finished.
I love watching her grow.
I love watching all of our kids grow.
LOVE.IT.!!

Here is our newest video. :)

BUNCO! I did it!

I finally succumbed to Bunco. I had never, ever played it until last night. And, I played. I was Sooooo not good, but I did it.

 Before the Bunco madness began, I had to leave my littles. Last night Bug was having a particularly hard time with me leaving and this was our conversation:
 Bug: But, where are you going Mumma?
 Me: I'm going with Heidi to play a game at a friend's house.
 Bug: But, I want to go wif yew.
  Me: Sorry, Bugga, this is just a mommy game, but I'll be home in a couple of hours.
 Bug: But!But! You can't leave your baybeee alone.  *smirk*
 Me: Bwahahahaha

Please note that I did not leave her ALONE at all. She was with her Daddy and all of her siblings.
That one, oooooh that one.

I picked up Heidi and after a depressing run to Hart's, NO Fountain DRINKS! Come on Mike! That's insane! and a close call with a red light you're supposed to stop at those?, we finally made it!
 The only person we knew was Jennie at this shindig, and I was a bit nervous it wouldn't be the cat's meow, as it were. I asked Heidi, "What if it isn't fun?!" Heidi replies, "We'll make our OWN fun!"
And we did. We DO.

I didn't win. I was a pretty lousy player, actually. Heidi was the lowest score-er and I was the next! Bwahahaha
But, it was fun!
I hope the other gals can put up with us and will allow us to keep coming.
Thanks Jennie!!
It's good to get a Mommy night out once in a while.
What do you do for Mommy Night's Out?

Hungry, Hungry Kiddos!!

Yesterday was fast Sunday. We leave it up to our kids to decide if they want to fast, but the littles generally choose not to fast. Which, is okay, because they are only 5 and 7.  We are of the opinion that if it's forced, then it is no longer a sacrifice. And, in the end, the kids will just resent it and not learn anything from it. 

   Yesterday was a little bit different. On Saturday, I received several emails and "facebooks" that there would be a ward fast for a dear sweet lady who is in ICU and isn't doing so well. Each of our kids know her and love her dearly, as do we. She and I were visiting teaching companions for a couple of years and she's our neighbor, too. Gabby and Bug love to play at her house with her grandkiddies. She is dear to me and is very motherly to both Cary and I.

   At any rate there were complications from a surgery that she had recently and things took a turn for the worse. 

On Saturday night, right before our Scripture reading, we told the kids what was going on and encouraged them to start their fast with us for our dear friend. They were on board, even Gabs and Bugs. 

We usually have something delicious after our scriptures, but this night we didn't and we might have heard a couple of murmurs about it. Cary gently reminded them of the reason and they quieted.

And so began our fast. I should preface this by saying our church time is 11am-2pm now. Everything was going as smoothly as it can go for a family of 7, all getting ready at the same time. 

I hear a knock on the door about 10:15am, and it's Bug. 

"Mumma, I don't want to fast anymore. I want breakfast!"  I call her into our room to have a cuddle and I ask her if she knows why we are having a special fast for our friend. She replies that she doesn't know. 

As I begin telling her why this fast is so special, I am overcome with the Spirit. I realized more clearly why we were fasting and what it meant. It was such a special moment, one that I do not want to forget. As I finished, I asked her if she wanted to continue to fast or if she wanted to eat some breakfast. She decided that she wanted to continue with her fast. 

I.was.so.proud.of.her. 

and let me tell you, primary classes for little ones is like a candy extravaganza sometimes. She saved all of her treats for after dinner, as did all of the kids.

6pm! 

Dinner is ready!

We made it!

We celebrated by having a huge yummy dinner and more treats than we should have. We were able to talk about our little sacrifice and how important it is. I hope that it will help strengthen our kids' testimonies. 

I also hope that special family feels our love and prayers for them each day. We love you guys. 

Happy, Happy Birthday Cuauhtli Dear!

I can't believe he's already 11 years old. Time has gone so quickly! When I first met him, he had just turned 8 years old and had long, shaggy hair. He was a sweetheart then, and now. Albeit a frustrating sweetheart at times. :)

Today we celebrated his 11th birthday. What a day! 

One of my favorite things to do is to decorate the house while the birthday person is at school. So far I've been lucky enough that all of them are in school on their actual birth day. 

 

We had presents, 

plastic bubbles, 

and poppers. Ooooh how we love the poppers here at the Nicholas house. 

 

We had Cheesecake! I let the kids choose their birthday dinner and dessert. Cuauhtli didn't want a cake this year, so he chose homemade cheesecake and pecan pie. He wanted them together, but Cary promptly convinced him that would be quite disgusting. Cary wrote the "Happy Birthday" and the ":)" and Cuauhtli wrote his name. Fabulousness!

This year I wanted to do something a little different, so we led them on a treasure hunt. Cary and I wrote clues out and put them around the house, yard, and cars. Each of the kids were responsible for a clue and piece to the puzzle. They had to work together to figure out the puzzles and to find their loot.

Cuauhtli got the rest of his pressies and the rest of the kidlets got some yummies. They had *so* much fun. All the girls were begging to do "Treasures" for their birthdays! I'm glad that it was a hit! Cuauhtli came up to me after it had settled down a bit and gave me big lovies. He thanked me for making his birthday so fun. That so made all the headaches worthwhile.

I'm grateful for a fun, happy night and some amazing little people. 

Happy Birthday Cuauhtli. I love you much much, my son.

sadly, this is the least goofy pic of us that I could find. :)

A little of this, a lot of that

I was introduced to a new (to me) little blog this week.
The Dating Divas are all about strengthening marriages through one date at a time. They have such fun ideas on how to make your night out (or in) sparkle with your hubs.  I love their crafts, so fun and even *I* can do them. :)

This week they are hosting a WEEK, yes I said a WEEK, of Giveaways. All things that can help us out in the creativity department.

With 5 kidlets, it's sometimes hard to find a night out for just me and Cary. I'm committed to having some sort of date night with him though, I think marriages need that. I love being around him and he can always make me laugh. Although sometimes it is out of sheer exasperation. ;)  And, I can use all the help I can get spicing it up.

Head over and check out the giveaways at The Dating Divas, and see what you might find to tickle your fancy. Or his.

:)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we have a few traditions. I love Christmas Eve, perhaps as much as Christmas Day itself!

We always try to go sledding, if there is any snow around. This year there wasn't, so we hung out and played games together all day. Cary was on vacation and we had no worries. It was fantastic!

We have homemade frito chili pies for dinner, we open one pressie (pajamabamas), and we watch a Christmas movie. We have added a little bit to that in the past couple of years.

Now we have the kids' siblings over for Arroz con Leche and do a fun present exchange with them. We draw names in October or November and they try to keep it secret as to whom they have. key word, try. :) 

I seriously have some of the most beautiful kids. Ever.


Photos of our Christmas Pajamabamas!

I just love all the special time we are able to have with our whanau. That's what makes it all so special.

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!

It was truly one of the best Christmas Days Ever. Hubs surprised me with his thoughtfulness, not only for me but for the kidlets as well.  I usually handle all the gift buying and wrapping, but this year he snuck some surprises in on me. I didn't even know about them  until Christmas morning. Our kids had a great time, even if I did make them wait to open presents until 9am.
For some reason, brainfart, I didn't charge my camera the night before. I KNOW! ridiculous. So, my camera died about 10 minutes into the whole unwrapping extravaganza. So. Bummed.

I think everyone got what they wanted. My poor 12 year old was dying for an xbox game, which I thought I bought. When he opened it, however, it was for the PLAYSTATION. I was determined to right this horrific wrong insert eye roll here.video games are not my fave and order the right game. I hopped online right then and bought the game from Amazon. It arrived on the 28th. He was thrilled. He opened it.
I BOUGHT THE WRONG ONE AGAIN.
Yes, apparently, I have about 2 brain cells left. So, we are taking him to Game Stop and letting him choose two games this week.

After a morning of playing and eating and playing and eating, we went to Mummindad's for more eating and more playing. It was a bit different this year, but I am so grateful for my whanau. I love them dearly and each of them hold a special place in my heart and the heart of my children.

However. We play "lucky dip". This year Mum decided to throw in some boobie prizes. Guess who got them? That's right. My Bug and Cuauhtli. Look at these beauties.

Bug's gnome. She nuzzles him daily. She thinks he is magnificent.

Cuauhtli's Piggie

So, we will be finding new homes for these loverlies. I'm hoping to be able to incorporate the pig with the Gnome. I think it will be beautiful, no?

I hope you all were blessed with your heart desires.
   We were.
Merry Christmas :)