2011

Is going to be such a big year for our family.

Ashlynn turns three and hopefully so will her attitude

Holden turns eight, the big eight, that's right baptism time and so happily for him (and me) his dad is going to be the one baptising him.

and sometime this summer we will have another member in our family. I'm not going to lie even though this little one was planned and very much wanted I was scared when I realized what I was in for. Thankfully the fear has worn off and the excitement has set in, it feels right like this was always how it was suppose to be, I knew I bought the car with a third row seat for a reason and I knew I left an empty wall in Ashlynn's room for someone, I just didn't know it at the time, good thing I trust my decision making skills.

So now as our family grows so do our goals, some goals we just carry on from year to year and hope they eventually can be met, kind of like roll over minutes.

Mandi's to do list for 2011

(in no particular order)

-sew an incredible amount of diapers to save an incredible amount of money

-still learn how to play the piano

-still plant a garden

-teach my kids to clean up their toys

-get out of the house a lot more often (by myself)

-buy an awesome camera and learn how to take awesome pictures of my kids

-give birth naturally and unmedicated in a free standing birth center with a midwife

-avoid having to visit the hospital for any reason

-learn how to make the perfect textured home made beef jerky

-think of a beautiful and meaningful name for our child

-finish decorating my house

-find jeans that actually fit my kids, the kind that aren't baggy or too short or too long or leave their butt cracks, or coin slots as we like to call it, hanging out for the world to see.

-enjoy another year happily married to my love

There is always more to do, more to learn, more to experience but I find it hard to do in just one short years time, hopefully time will be my friend this year.

What the heck happend to December?

It came and passed and I barely noticed.

Here is what Christmas morning looked like this year

For Christmas this year the kids got pillow pets. I have no idea why any kind of pillows would be such a must have for every kid but they just had to have them, good thing Santa thought they were good this year.

Billy got me a really really nice nail gun set and a new compressor, what more could a girl ask for, and I'm very excited to use them. I already know what I am going to build now I just need to time and energy.

And in Billy's opinion the very best gift of all come from my very kind brother Zach, a new 9mm Smith and Wesson hand gun.

I was really looking forward to hanging stockings by the fire for the very first time in our home but apparently you should have the chimney sweeped in order to prevent a fire and I felt like it was more fun to spend $150 on presents than a chimney sweep so I guess it will just have to wait until next year, maybe.

My favorite time of year

Lombardi Ranch is the place to go just in case you guys didn't know

I was too tired to carve pumpkins this year so I had the kids color them instead they still thought it was fun.

Halloween adventures

This year my sweet hearts had their very own ideas of who they wanted to be for Halloween. Holden always changes his mind several times before the big day so we always wait until the last min to actual set it in writing but little miss Ashlynn knew the minute I asked and never changed her mind she could be no one else but Snow White. Holden's mind changed from a ninja turtle to karate Elvis to a vampire and finally to an 80's punk rock vampire as in the movie the lost boys their current favorite movie thanks to Dad.

Billy went to a concert that night that he just couldn't miss so I enlisted Sarah the great to help us trick or treat and to keep us safe she knows tae kwon do and is a kick boxer and punched a guy in the face while in the MTC (jokingly of course but everyone heard it and turned around to stare in shock and he never joked with her again about punching him in the face) Nobody messes with Sarah

No one in my house is shy of strangers when candy is involved


After about half hour of this neighborhood Ashlynn batted her eyes and made Sarah carry her, but the almighty Sarah picked her up and kept on trekking only to turn around to tell me I'm a slow poke good thing she came cause I wasn't going to carry her

The kids had a blast and so did Sarah and I and then we had fun checking the candy after the kids went to bed.

Holden's first day of 2nd grade

My Birthday Present

Yes I know it was in August.

Holden's birthday is three days before mine but it just so happened we celebrated his birthday on mine which is fine by me I really don't like making a big deal just a nice dinner with my hubby is all I need but this year Billy gave me a beautiful surprise before Holden's party. Oh he knows me so well, I need new hobbies to keep me sane and he is all the happier supporting my silliness. This year I decided to try my hand at carpentry and it turns out I'm actually pretty good so he decided to add some more pieces to my collection, it even has a laser level. I already have a skill saw but this one makes me so happy, the first thing I built was a couple of chairs for the kids table which they enjoy every day.

Next I need to get my hands on a jig saw and a nail gun and oh the possibilities. I suppose I'll need to be building a couple more chairs to match

I don't have time for this

I'd rather be taking a nap since this is the last while I'll be able to, it won't be long before Ashlynn gives up on her nap time. If stupid blogspot didn't take so long to upload pictures I would be up to date on my blog but alas I don't have time so all my updates are late.


There I'm done complaining now, stay tuned for fun adventures