My little lamb....

Mary had a Little Lamb....by Jacob Gaspar

Today was the first day of the recorder in music class!  Of course- I forgot to get his so I had to run out this morning and get one and drop it off at school for him.  I was a little nervous about it because the only one I could find was  from Walmart and it was only $1 so I thought it HAD to be the wrong one!  But low and behold....it seemed to work just fine and was the same one the other kids on the block had too so Jacob was happy!  All I can say is that it is better than drums, right?

Beautiful!

Beautiful sunset and a handsome young boy!  Feeling very blessed....

Lunch with Grandma

Ever since we moved out to Gilbert in our first home 15 years ago, my mom and I have met for lunch once a week.  It started out because I lived so far away and never saw her any more and it was a nice break for both of us to get away from work and have lunch with someone other than work people.  But once I had kids...it became the time for her to see her grandkids.  Each one sharing that special lunch with Grandma while the other kids were usually in school.  We are now down to our last baby...Jordan.  The waiter knows exactly what we order (it is the same every time) and he always gives JoJo a high five and will play with him every chance he gets (on a slow day of course).  Sometimes we leave a mess, sometimes we spill, sometimes a child or two is under the table and sometimes we visit the bathroom just because they have a cool trash can.  But all the time it is nice to be with Grandma and share our special lunch date!  Once the boys start school, they realize how special this time was.  Jordan doesn't realize it now but in a year or two, when he is stuck at school eating in the cafeteria, he'll miss the days of 'lunch with Grandma'!

BROWNIES

Every night, shortly after dinner, JoJo is ready for dessert!  Almost always asking for a brownie.  And if we don't have any brownies or cookies....he goes straight to the pantry and pulls out a box of brownies and takes them to Randy and says, "Pwease Daddy!"  And without hesitation, Daddy comes to the rescue!

Resolutions Dinner

Today we had a Resolutions Dinner!  (Mainly because we forgot to drink the apple cider last night and Jon worked so hard on decorating the champagne glasses that I needed an excuse to use them!)  So before we ate our dinner we talked about what we were thankful for over the past year and what we were going to do better this next year.  The older boys said stuff like "I'm going to do better in school and try to be a better brother" and stuff like that.  Didn't focus too much on what they were thankful for but I was happy that they were participating!  

Then, last but not least, JoJo began his toast!  He sort of took us all by surprise because we didn't think he was paying attention but this is what he said......

 My 3 boys!

 Toasting with mom

 Jonathan age 11

 Jacob age 9 

 Jordan age 4

Silly faces (their favorite picture pose!)

More Fish!

Today I took Jake to get fish for the aquarium he got for his birthday.  What an ordeal!  So many fish to choose from but the look on his face when we made the purchase was priceless!  He was so proud and excited and full of little boy love!  He, of course, has taste like his mother....EXPENSIVE!  $45 later we came home with 6 fish.  I couldn't tell you the name of any of them but one had whiskers, two are neon and 3 are kind of goldfish-like but are silver rather than gold.  None-the-less I have one happy little boy!  (hard to see the fish in this picture but they are there swimming around the top!)

New Year's Party 2011

Happy New Year!  Our New Year's party was small but great to start the year off with friends!  The boys helped me decorate with glasses, hats and confetti and even did a craft of making noise makers!  They had a blast!

We even had fireworks and sparklers for the kids!  This is the first year they are legal so we just bought a few to try 'em out and it was quite a success!

Jacob, Jordan, Tanner, Mason and Jonathan

 The Gaspars!

The six of us had a great time with great food and some yummy margaritas and beer!  Nothing out of the ordinary but it was nice to be all together to ring in the new year!

1-1-11

Happy 2011!  Time for some resolutions and one of them is to blog and photograph each day.  Quite a challenge for me but I think it will be a good one if I can keep it up!

Other resolutions include eating more healthy, exercising each day, being more patient with my kids, giving each of my jobs 110%, giving my Randy a hug and kiss each morning and night!  I want to take more time for my family and friends....recognize birthdays, send cards, texts and emails.  And I'd like to do some sort of volunteering.  Not sure where or what to do yet but I would like to make a difference in some way.

More than anything I want to laugh this year.  I want to stop stressing about money, health and work and just enjoy the moments I've been given.  With the loss of Judy this past year I am constantly reminded of how precious life is and that I cannot take it for granted.  Something that is hard to remember each day as there are dishes in the sink and garbage to be taken out and piles of laundry to be done but I know that it is important to make fun the my priority and chores and work my secondary job!

No matter what happens this year...I'm looking forward to the many adventures ahead!  And excited to watch my boys grow, learn and laugh!

Here's to a HAPPY new year!!!