Wrap up of 2016

My little angel that my mom created.  I love it!

Spontaneous fun with friends in our jammies!

Game night!

Coffee date with my youngest daughter

Snow, snow and snow!

Had a white Christmas!

Christmas Eve, the girls have always loved decorating a gingerbread house.

Christmas Eve open your new jammies!

Girls in their new comfy jammies!

Christmas Eve Game Night!

Apples to Apples

Christmas morning!

Sara's Ipad, I think she is excited

Christmas dinner this year was enchiladas and tamales....I ordered the tamales.

More fun and games with Heads Up

My kidos spoiled me this year for Christmas :)

Now its time for the Lord to restore my soul for this new year.

Moments in December

Yesterday I cleaned the apartment and then I made this little arrangement for my table in front of the couch.  It makes me feel warm, cozy and festive

The other morning out my front window, sunrising on a new day.

Sun setting at the Post Office.  I went to check my mail the other evening and couldn't help but notice the sky when I walked out.

Something to my make cooking dinner in this busy household easier!  I bought myself a pressure cooker!  I've used it twice so far.  I will be planning more meals for this week.

Karlee and Angelia came for a quick visit.  Karlee brought her car on Friday to leave over the this next week to have it looked at and fixed.  Angelia decided to come Friday night too!  Friday night was fun! We all went out for Thai food, and then we got comfy on played a new game I bought called Truth Be Told.  We had so much fun!  We played for hours and decided we better go to bed around midnight.

Saturday morning we all got the morning going and went to do a little shopping at Marshals and then breakfast together before Karlee and Angelia headed back to Phoenix.  I spent the rest of the day running a few errands trying to wrap up Christmas buying and then cleaned the apartment and called it a day around 4:30 to finally get comfy and relax.  Sara and went and bought a few new movies and we watched a movie together before calling it a night.  It nice to cuddle on my bed together and watch a movie together.

Today has been a comfy lazy Sunday.....just perfect!

Sara's 14th Birthday Party

Last weekend we all were busy with Sara's 14th Birthday Party!!!

I rented out the clubhouse here in the apartment complex we live in.  Karlee helped a ton with the decorating and setting up.  Kyle was the pizza delivery guy for us.

the room is perfect for a party full of teenagers!

Apples to Apples

Silly fun time with frineds

Gift time

A fun game called "Dipsticks" its kind of like charades but I think the topics were movies.

I was so pleased with how well they all kept themselves entertained and did everything as group.  It was great!  Sara has a great group of friends.

My two awesome helpers!!

December

Its crazy how quickly we move into the beginning of a new month, always seems so fast after Thanksgiving.  It's December now, and today is one day before my youngest turns 14 years old. Time goes so fast!

Started the month off remembering Nana's birthday.  It was on the 2nd, for some reason we all had a hard time remembering it.  I guess because it came so quickly at the beginning of the month and after Thanksgiving our minds went into Christmas mode.  There were times we'd all start reminding each other "Don't forget Nana's Birthday".  Since she has been gone I think of her at times.  She loved pink roses.

Sara came and then she went again!  She left on Monday to go to Prescott to visit a friend that she used to be super close to.  She comes back home tomorrow on her birthday.  She has sent me messages saying how much she misses me and being home.  I miss her too.  But I think she is enjoying her visit.  I have a feeling after this adventure of being away from home she will stick around for a while.  She is also wanting to go back to school and not be homeschooled anymore.  I have mixed feeling about it but if she wants to go back then I will re-enroll her after the winter break.

While Karlee was here over the weekend we got our Christmas tree up.

Then on Sunday Sara, Kyle and I drove to Prescott (Karlee drove back to Phoenix) and we met up with a person selling their 1994 Chevy S-10 Blazer.  We ended up buying it and Kyle drove it back, it was funny how tired he was driving almost 2 hours lol.  That was probably the longest he had driven in one setting.  Kyle now drives this Blazer.  He likes it.  Its a little older than what he really wanted but it was well cared for and maintained so I think its perfect!

I got it registered on Monday and insured.  He has been trying to put a new stereo system in it with a huge speaker but hasn't had luck with it yet.  I think he knows what to get now and will have it up and running soon so he can jam.

Today my youngest daughter turned 14 years old!  I took her to lunch to Wildflower which is her favorite!  I enjoyed spending time with her today.  She had been in Prescott since Monday visiting a friend and she got back this morning.  I was super excited to see this smiling beautiful face!!

The weekend is around the corner and we have Sara's party to get ready for on Saturday.  The weekend will be full and fast with things to do and people to visit and hang out with.  Karlee and Angelia and the baby will be here for the weekend too.

An only child

Today I was at work and took a few moments to text my son about mid afternoon to ask where he was at and what he was up.  I thought to myself how odd it was to have only one child to look after.  I say this because its been only Kyle and I together this week.  Tomorrow is Thursday and Sara will be back from Karlee's on Saturday.  I have missed Sara but its been interesting to see how things are with just Kyle around.  Earlier this evening he said wow its kinda nice being an only child this week.  Its funny he says that because he is in his room most of the time and so is Sara when she is home, so unless we eat together or go somewhere they are not really ever together much.

What I have noticed is how Kyle talks a little more to me.  He has been very patient with me while I've been worried about him driving his car in the weather still ever since I realized how bald his tires are at this point.  On a slightly negative note, when he gets frustrated with me because I disagree or I don't understand what he is talking about he stops talking and walks away, which is much better than yelling and shouting and slamming the door. Also he looks out for me, and steps up as the man of the house.

Tonight was really sweet, he went ahead of me an unlocked the door, I turned around and went and got his left overs from dinner from the car that he forgot and then as I was walking to the door he was still standing outside waiting for me and warning me.  He told me that in front of our door it was extremely slick with ice and to be careful, saying that he almost fell.  I appreciated the concern and the warning and avoided the area.  He made sure I was in without any problems then he came in behind me and locked the door and we were in for the night with our tummies full from dinner out together.

Thanksgiving in Whittman

Arriving Wednesday evening.....perfect timing, look at that sky!

I was happy to see my oldest!

Sisters together!!!

My Aunt's Mustang.  We went out and about on Friday at 5 different Good Wills.  It was fun spending time with my Aunt Susan.

Karlee, Talia & Angelia 

late night crew!

Our trip started out a little rough, I managed to make my son mad and my daughter cry.  But I kept driving forward, took a deep breath and drove down the road.  I always look forward to going to my Uncle's, its truly a get-a-way.  We arrived around 5:30 just be getting too dark.   Karlee arrived around 7:00.  We were all together!

This Thanksgiving was a little different than what I'm used to.  It was different for so many reason but what stood out the most was how informal it all was.  I'm not saying ours are formal, but a different feel.  My Aunt did most of everything, occasionally asking for help here or there.  She said that when it was ready that people could just come and go and eat when they want and that eventually she'd put it all away.  Well what I wanted most was for all of us to eat together.  My whole thing is eating together, share what you are thankful for, pray and then eat.  I went with the flow of things.  Most of us ended up eating together at the table.  My Uncle did not eat and my cousin Shawn ate after everything was put a way.  There were lots of laughs and conversation.  It was nice.

Friday my Aunt and I got ready to go Good Willin', she loves to go shopping at the Good Will and has found great items around her home and in her closet.  Sara and Kyle went with Karlee and Angelia to their place and then they went to the mall and lunch.  I enjoyed the day with my Aunt, found two nice blankets and some throw pillows for Sara's bed.  Later I headed over to Angelia's and Karlee and I went out and enjoyed sushi together.  I do miss getting sushi with her so I was happy that we could share that moment.

Saturday we all got up and went to get coffee from Dutch Bros and bagels from Einsteins for breakfast before heading home to Flagstaff.  Kyle and I left Sara there with Karlee for the week, (advantages of homeschooling) and we got home around 2:30.  Neither one of us were ready to be at home so he went to hang out with some friends and I went to Marshals and the Mall.  I ended up with stocking stuffers for the kids.  It was so nice to lay down in my bed, I missed my bed.

It was great to get away.  I'm happy we went to my Uncle's for Thanksgiving.

Moving on to the idea of Christmas now......*sigh