HAPPY 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the Picture says, New year New Life!!! I thought it was so cute!!! I hope everyone has a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas was really nice this year!! On Christmas eve we had family home evening with Melissa, Joshua and our neighbors (Marcela and Poncho) Earlier in the evening Jeff and Shelly stopped by and brought pizza!! ( thanks you guys!!) after FHE we decorated cookies for Santa!

Max had a fun time carving the turkey... that thanks goodness I didn't burn!

As you can see, our Christmas tree is bare on the bottom, since Caitlin has taken upon herself to leave it that way!!! Michael and Nicholle got new PJ's, Thanks to our neighbor Marcela.

Joshua and Melissa, had as much fun decorating the cookies as the kids did!!!

My NIECES IN ARGENTINA!!

Just in case you ever wonder, where the red head color on my kids hair comes form, here it is!! It is from my part of the family. Here is my niece Lia on a Show for her dance class.. Isn't she cute??

Here are my two nieces Lia and Lucia, with some of her class mates, little princess!!

And this is my oldest niece, her name is Elizabeth, she is the only one I met in person, she was only 1 yrs old, when I last saw her.

The True Meaning of Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . ."TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."

KODAK MOMENT

I have been so lucky to have an extraordinary neighbor, her name is Marcela and she has the cutest kids.. this is her young Venezia, her and Cailtin are best friends!!!!!!!

KNEE OPERATION!!!

Let's put it this way, after my knee operation.. I WAS NOT SMILING!!! 11 yrs ago, I fell on the snow and hurt my knee, since then I was able to take out of place my knee at will ( and even when I didn't want to) I went to see several doctors, but always something happened so I didn't get the operation. a few weeks ago one of the patients in the office I work for, recommended this Doctor.. he was great, right a way told me what it was my ACL!!! he wasn't sure about my meniscus, but he thought the were probably torn. After getting in there, he found out, it was worst than he thought. and he took my meniscus out completely and used a graft form a cadaver to replace my ACL ( mayor tendon on the knee) It has been a challenge recuperating form the operation, but is happening slowly. Grandma Aleen came to the rescue, when Dad (Max) was at the end of his rope ( being at home in charge of the house cleaning, all the cooking and the kids.. HE CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK TO WORK!!) He has done a great job!! When Nicholle found out I was going under the knife, she said" but if Mommy is getting an operation.....How is going to cook for us??????? ( It was really funny)