Peanut Butter, Jelly, & What?!!!

Matthew insists on eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with CHEESE on it. Gross, huh? Megan insists on copying everything her big brother wants or does...

Happy 8th Birthday Elizabeth!

Rather than a birthday poem, I'm posting some of the lyrics to a song that so very much describes you. It's meant to be a love song but if you read the words- really read the words- anyone would swear they were talking about you! Happy 8th Birthday, Elizaberry Pie!

Can this be true?

Tell me, can this be real?

How can I put into words what I feel?

My life was complete. I thought I was whole.

Why do I feel like I'm losing control?

I never thought that love could feel like this

and you've changed my world with just one kiss.

How can it be that right here with me

there's an angel?

It's a miracle...

In all of creation

All things great and small

You are the one that surpasses them all

More precious than any diamond or pearl

They broke the mold when you came in this world

And I'm trying hard to figure out

Just how I ever did without

The warmth of your smile

The heart of a child

That's deep inside

Leaves me purified

Your love is like a river

Peaceful and deep

Your soul is like a secret

That I never could keep

When I look into your eyes

I know that it's true

God must have spent

A little more time

On you!

Arizona

We snuck in a quick trip to Arizona in January to visit some family. We took the kids to Rawhide (a lil western town)... The whole gang...

Practicing our ropin' skills...

Doin' what she does best...

We got locked up in jail...

Then we headed back home for some amazing dinner. We stayed with our cousin Mimi and her family in the most incredible single story home ever! (I want that house!) And we were spoiled beyond belief. Thank you again, Meems.

We lounged around and hung out with Brandon, who we just don't get to see that often...

Megan ran such a high fever the last day we were there, yet she still was as sweet as ever. We could all learn from her. She takes time to smell the pretty flowers...

And to help Nana blow out her birthday candle. Happy Birthday, Nana! She has a #1 candle because she's our #1 Nana...

Then, we stopped off at our Nina's house to do a little drooling...

Can you believe your eyes? It's an inconceivable sight and much better than any home feautured on HGTV. Can you believe she lives in this? She gets to wake up every morning in this home. Too pretty for words, it's better than a model home and we know how much I love, love, love model homes.

She has such an eye for things. You have probably heard me talk about her before. She's an interior designer and has amazing talent, enough to make anyone jealous. She's the same one who made me this project awhile back, remember? The door with all the pictures in it. That same door was once used in a real restaurant, I believe it was a Chili's or an Applebees. How cool is that? And now it's in my house.

I've been so lucky to get her help and advice on both the craft room and the girls' bedroom. Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm redoing the girls' room and we're also in the midst of changing the downstairs piano room to our craft/homework room. More pics of that later.

See that painting of the pear in the above picture. She painted that! As if interior design wasn't enough for her, she's an artist now too!

On the way home, we stopped in the middle of the desert to act like tourists and take silly pictures of rocks and abandoned trains. It gave the kids a much needed break, especially Megan who still was not feeling well.

Both Matthew and Ben fell asleep in similar positions, too cute!

We were embraced all around with picturesque, cloudy skies. Miles later, we got caught up in a crazy storm but made it home safely.

Ahhh, home sweet home. We stayed home for a week and then headed to Big Bear! And you won't believe the unforgettable trip we had there. I'll post about it soon. Yes, we're making the most of mama's maternity leave!

P.S.- Did you all check out our attire? That's an Arizona winter for ya'!

"Those that say you can't take it with you never saw a [Mejia] car packed for a vacation trip." ~Author Unknown

Happy Birthday Vivian!

Our cousin Vivian turned 5 last month!

Before she left to Arizona, we had pizza and cupcakes.

Have No Fear...

We're still here, just very, very, busy! Lots of pics to come. For now, feast your eyes on this yumminess...

All I Want For Christmas Is...

MY 2 FRONT TEETH!!!

This just happened yesterday. They both came out within minutes of each other. I was sooo excited because now she can sing the infamous song. If it would have happened a few days later, it would have been too late. I got the video camera out and made her sing it. She sooo didn't want to so I had to bribe her. I told her I was taking back her Christmas presents if she didn't sing. That didn't work so then I threatened to spank her. Haha! She's waiting til tonight to put it under her pillow so that the toothfairy and Santa run into each other. I can remember Christmas without my 2 front teeth. Now it's my daughter's turn. Where did the time go?

From Mommy and her Boys...

Merry Christmas

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I'm about a week or two behind in blogging. We've already gotten our tree and decorated it. After we decorated it, daddy attempted to adjust it and get it closer to the window. It fell down twice on him!!!

We have already hung the lights on the outside of the house. And our stockings are now dangling over our new fireplace mantel.

Last weekend we had our 2nd annual ornament decorating party. It was sooo much fun. Santa Claus made a guest appearance. We ate cookies, sipped hot cocoa, and roasted marshmallows in the backyard. We read a Christmas story then decorated some candy cane ornaments. Mommy chose candy cane ornaments because of their special meaning. Do you know what that is?

It's shape is like the letter “J” in Jesus’ name. It is also in the shape of the shepherds’ crook, symbolic of how Jesus, like the “Good Shepherd” watches over his children like little lambs. Some say the white of the candy cane represents the purity of Jesus. The bold red stripe represents the blood that Jesus shed.

The ornament party was on Friday. Saturday night we went to Nana and Papa's annual Christmas party where we enjoyed a taco cart (and margaritas for the adults)!!! I'll post those pics next. For now, enjoy these ones...

Too much hot cocoa for this lil one.

Leftover remnants of Halloween. We can't seem to get these letters off the house! Yesterday, Megan was playing with the burglar alarm keychain. She activated the panic button and the sheriff responded to the house! These letters spooked the nice policeman who showed up! Lol!

Christmas through the window

Each of the kids have ornaments with their names on them. The older kids have a few of them. Here they are hanging their individual ones.

Excuse the dirt under her fingernails please!

We bought Benjamin one at the Christmas store in Big Bear last year, before he was even conceived. At that time I knew we'd have one more baby but wasn't 100% sure it would be a boy. I trusted God, took my chances, and bought it anyways. So, Ben got to hang his for the very first time!

We practically had to beg Brianna to hang hers. Apparently, she's 'getting to old for this.' Help decorate the tree or hold the baby. She chose Ben! Her friend was over helping out too. I wonder if that has something to do with her lack of Xmas excitement.

I had hoped to post some pics from the ornament party in this post. However, it seems that my mommy duties await me. I can hear Ben calling for mommy upstairs and the echo of the dryer buzzer from the laundry room. Gotta go!

"Christmas is the season when you buy this year's gifts with next year's money." ~Author Unknown