9 years

It's been 9 years this afternoon since Mark and I were married. He has stood by my side through the ups and downs of the last few years. I could not ask for a better partner, love, and best friend. On top of that he is a phenomonal father. We balance each other out so well. I am forever grateful to have found the man who can make me laugh, rub my feet, and love me as well as he does. His parents have been married for 40 years and mine would have been married for 35 this past December. I can only draw from that history as we look to the future and the next 50 years.

I love you Mark!

Merry Christmas

Santa has come and gone. Sierra is already asking when he comes back. We had a wonderful time with our families and sharing the love this Christmas. We were all thoroughly spoiled this year as always. Santa brought Sierra a stand up microphone and Andon a ride on toy he can ride/push/pull. They are in love. Sierra loves to sing and Andon loves to push so both are perfect gifts. We are still coming down from the high of presents and cookies.

Sierra and I made sugar cookies this year. Something we haven't done in a few years with mom being so sick and then last year I just wasn't up for it. She had a blast frosting. We did nearly 15 dozen cookies in 6 hours. We're rockstars!

I hope all of you had a very Merry day and wish you health and happiness in 2010.

No fear

Andon is part monkey. I'm sure of it. He just has no fear when it comes to climbing. It started with the little rocking chair, then the couch, then the big glider in his room. In the past 5 days it has been the crib, the cat scratching post and now the kitchen chairs. He has only tried climbing into the crib, but I know he is only days or weeks away from climbing out! It has to be hereditary, Michael climbed every tree or wall he came across as a kid. I saw him scale a wall just this past Thanksgiving. Lets hope Andon skips that for a few years.

Mark is going to have a heart attack any day now. I just shrug my shoulders. He's a boy and well lets face it kids get hurt. Sierra had that fractured ankle at 18 months. Andon is right on pace for that too. I just know we'll be in the ER shortly with stitches or a broken something. Oh well, at least we'll have some stories to tell.

Got it!

Mama I'm part cat too.

No way to stay mad at this face.

Yikes

I cannot believe it's been almost 2 months since my last update. Big oops!

Halloween: Sierra went dressed as a High School Musical Cheerleader. Andon went dressed as daddy and wore a sheriff's shirt. We went trick or treating with Sierra's friend Delaney and Emily. They lasted two hours and probably would have quit going. Sierra came home with 4.4 lbs of candy! I think it's almost gone finally.

On our way to school Halloween eve

Aren't they so grown up!

Our little mini DO

Mark and I escaped the first weekend of November for some alone time up in Sedona. Mark's parents were came to stay at the house with the kids. They are awesome! They were also ready to go home. Bags packed and loaded in the car when we got home. They definitely know why people have kids when they are young. Thanks dad and mom, we love you!

Thanksgiving was strange as most holidays are now. It's just not the same without mom's laughter and running late with food. We ate an hour after we had planned, so at least we are keeping up that tradition of hers. My mom was really the ultimate hostess so it's a spot that hasn't really been filled no matter how hard us 3 kids try.

Our Christmas decorations and tree went up the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Andon just hates that he can't take the ornaments off. Sierra keeps tattling on him when he does. He just laughs now. What a stinker!

Sierra is almost halfway through kindergarten. She loves it and couldn't wait to go back after Thanksgiving. It was only 4 days, so winter break and summer are going to be loooong for me. She is beginning to read. It's amazing how quickly its progressed. She just astounds us with her imagination. The stories she makes up for Mark just make him laugh.

Andon is a running/moving man. He LOVES airplanes and helicopters still so I sense a theme for Christmas presents. He also loves to climb on the couch. He got in big trouble tonight because he thought he'd try to climb up over the side to get to the fish tank. Seriously a stinker! He yells at me when I tell him stop or no then smiles. We are in deep trouble with that one.

Right now we are looking forward to Christmas and spending time with our family. Zoo lights and looking around the neighborhood at the lights is a must too. I'm going to take the plunge and make sugar cookies with Sierra. I love mom's recipe and we haven't had them in a couple of years so it's time to start our traditions again. I firmly believe mom would want it that way. Now if I could just be brave enough to make her fudge.

Sweater time

Well not really, but we're close and I can't wait. There was a definite nip in the air this morning walking to school. Andon's arms were chilly when we got home. It's about time! We have our windows and door open. I haven't heard the AC in at least 2 days. This makes me happy, but probably not SRP.

I've been waiting since August to be able to walk to and from school. Sierra loves it. She runs to school, literally. I keep having to yell at her to stop so she's not to far ahead. Quite the change from the reluctant girl we had nearly 2 months ago. Andon to is loving the walks. He gets to scope out all the planes flying over head. He LOVES them. We live so close to Falcon Field he sees at least 5 every morning. Then spends the rest of the day running to the front door when he hears another one hoping for a glance.

We've got our fall decorations up and my white pumpkins are going outside tomorrow. Yippee, it's fall!

It's official

We have a walker in the house. Andon has been walking for over a month. For a while he would walk like a bear or revert to crawling. But Mark and I have not seen him do anything but walk for the past 3 days. It's pretty awesome. He's slow at times and a little unsteady, but he gets where he wants to go.

Weddings & Waves

Back in full swing after our few days in San Diego. We went over on 9/8 for Shane (my cousin) and Liz's wedding. It was BEAUTIFUL! The trip over & back wasn't so great. Andon is not happy to be contained so it was torture for him being in the carseat that long. Sierra loved our room. It had a seperate kids "room" with bunk beds. She is lobbying for bunk beds hardcore.

The wedding day was 09-09-09 so we took the kids to Birch Aquarium that morning after a trip to the Childrens Beach in La Jolla to see the seals. Sierra and I had a good time looking at the seals and crabs while Mark sat in the car while Andon slept. She and I got SOAKED by a rogue wave. And I mean soaked. I had an extra shirt for her, but luckily we air dryed fairly quickly. Then I got a look at myself in the photo booth at the aquarium. YIKES! We went back to the hotel after lunch for naps and baths. The wedding was on Coronado & just beautiful.

Thursday we went back to Coronado to look for shells and build sandcastles. Ate lunch, walked around then headed home. I promised Sierra next time we go to SD we will plan on a day just for the beach. She will hold me to that.