new years eve 2008

Well we have come upon the end of yet another year. More adventure,more knowledge and more wisdom. Can there really be more coming this next year??? well of course there can be.....and there will be. just wait to see.
We are off to Chinese dinner this eve and then home for yet another early to bed new years. We are such the partiers these days. HA HA
We will get in touch with relatives back east at 9pm our time,after all it will be New Years somewhere by then.

"what i want for Christmas"

When both kids were asked what they wanted Santa to bring them,
Zakary answered " i want a pretty bow for Laurel's dress" Laurel answered " i want handsome clothes for Zakary". We thought it was very interested that each,esp Zak had asked santa for something not for himself but for his sister.
Check out the two in their Handsome clothes and pretty bow on a dress.

I was cleaning house before the holiday,Zak had to go potty,so sitting on the potty, he grabbed the mop and decided he would help mop the bathroom for me. What a mans way of helping out,huh??

Christmas 2008

Well its hard to believe that all that planning,shopping and hype is now all behind us. Christmas eve we did our usual mexican food and then off to look at christmas lights to keep the kids busy before bed. It was raining and Zak part way through the light show siad "i want to go home now". Every now and then,i think maybe when it gets to be alot going on,and perhaps he is a bit tired as well, he will tell us " i want to go home" perhaps a safe place when things get crazy.
We got home,wrote a note to Santa and left a couple cookies and off to bed the little ones went. Santa and Mrs Claus got busy but for the first time in years actually were quite prepared and it didnt take too much effort.
Both kids had slept very well,of course it helps when u can put the fear of god in them and tell them that Santa doesnt come if you are not asleep or you are hopping back and forth bed to bed.
Christmas morning came as it usually does.....EARLY.
laurel started to wimper,sounded a bit like a kitten,Zak was sacked out. Laurel very excited,finally she started to hustle Zak "Zak wake up,its Christmas" he rolled around put the blanket back over his head and laurel was set loose. She found the new bikes first. She told me "mom,u and dad got new bikes for Christmas" After realizing that the bike had a license plate on the backwith HER name on it,she was conviinced it was hers.
Eventually,Zak staggered out in a sleepy stupor and a pull up. Then the day could begin.
The big kids arrived early, Christopher is the biggest kid ever,at 29 he is the first one to show up Christmas am and always has been.
The little guys could hardley contain themselvees but isaiah had been up most the night with friends celebrating a traditional El Salvadorian family Christmas,doesnt even start till about midnight. He was exhausted the whole time he was here.
Laurel and Zak each got a leap from Childrens first lap top and are really enjoying them. Zak needs to work on the mouse eye hand coordination. I have found though that when u dont pay much attention to him,he does just fine,recognizes all the letters and so on. He doesnt do as well with me sitting right there with him.
Christmas day was rather chilly and quite windy sio the bike riding had to wait till the next day,plus the helmets that big brother Chris had brought them were not the right size and had to be exchanged. Finally the kids couldnt wait any longer so we tok them to the parking lot at the end of the street where they could practice riding till the new helmets arrived.
Well, the rst is the usual Christmas stuff,alot of food and not alot of rest.
So enjoy the pics.....

Christmas at Discovery Kingdom.Dec. 20 2008

This morning it all came together and slapped me in the face that this was the last weekend before Christmas and that since i work Monday,Tuesday AND Wednesday that if the baking i talked about doing was going to get sone,i best do it today.
We had plans to go with some frineds to the old marineworld, now Discovery Kingdom here in vallejo. Stans oldest daughter,Deirdre and her new husband matt gave us tickets for their Christmas event so we wrapped up warm,and set off for a night in the Christmas outdoors. there would be an area for the kids to play in the snow,of course,piped in snow,we live in California and a parade,santa,some Christmas characters and fun,even every severeal hundred yards,a fire pit are to stop to warm your cold toes,and we did.
We all had a real blast,the kids just couldnt get enough. We were there till about the end of the eve and head home for warm jammies and bed. It was a great time and am so glad we got that gift Deirdre and matt,sorry you arent closer to do some of this stuff with us.
Enjoy the pics,and will post more as Christmas eve and day come and go.
Happy Holidays to you all

pre school Christmas party/Dec 17 2008

Ok so could Christmas time being any more busy but fun than it is?
Todsay the kids had their Pre School Christmas party and meal. Each family brought a dish to share and each child a goldend book for a gift/book exchange. Kids had a great time and dad said the fod was amazing. Its fun,there are so many different cultures in their class which means there are so many different cultural food.

christmas time 2008

"zoo Lights"/oakland Zoo Christmas

Friday Dec 12 2008
This eve we went to the Oakland zoo,where we have a membership for their Christmas "Zoo Lights: the zoo had thousands of LED energy efficient lights hung all over the zoo, animals outlined,a ligh show and the childrens ride area all lit and decorated with tim soldiers,bows and Santa as well.
katy and her boyfriend Joseph had a work Christmas party to go to so Isaiah and josephs son,Eli(3 yrs old,infact just a week or 2 younger than Zakary but 2-3 sizzes larger than Zak) joined us. We packed up the van with the 4 little monkeys and off we went. Bundled up warm,since it was dark and cold and off we went. The kids had a great time,very fun being at the zoo in the dark of night,all the lights and the magic of santa. Kids got their pics taken with santa and rode the rides in the dark with Christmas lights aglow every where.

Christmas is coming/Isiah's christmas show at school

Monday Dec 8 2008
Every year isaiah's school has a little Christmas show where the kids all participate by singing Christmas carolesin several different languages. You can imagine how that goes. This year, being isaiah is in kindergarten, things were a bit different. the kids were actually more attentive and participated. They actaully did quite well and it was fun to watch. The performance is always done at a large church near by and the decorations that the church has up are always so nice and fun to see. makes it easy for the school staff to just have to come in and do their thinjg with their kids.

"im just a little girl"

December 12 2008
Dad and the kids were at costco,spending money while mom was at work earning money. LOL buying food to hold us till Christmas,we hope? LOL LOL
Laurel is really into touching everything these days,no matter what u tell her,she loves to touch. Finally dad says in frustration "laurel,u must stop touching everything" she says in return "daddy, i am just a little girl,and little girls touch things". Dad laughed so hard he had the other shoppers wondering what they had missed.
I will be downloading some pictures from our trip to isaiah's Christmas show at school and then our trip to the oakland Zoo last eve for the "Zoo lights" and will tryo to get some posted later on. Check back.

just an update/school pics

Dec 6 2008
Well mom has been sick for the last week,starting with a NASTY sinus infection. Not bad enough?? nooooooo Then mid week i had to get the stomach flu.............yes,the stomach flu. havnt been that sick since i was a kid. And trying to keep everyone else from getting it while all u r trying to do is manage is really tough.
I am starting to feel better now....but did miss 2 days of work. UGH
The kids have gone to stay with big sister katy in napa for the night, "SISSY" ws looking forward to them for the weekend and we were looking forward to her having them as well. This was the first all nighterfor both kids away from home since we returned home with Zak 18 months ago. Zak wasnt real sure he wanted to go allllllll night... he told me he had a bad cough so he couldnt go for the night. Stan and I got a few things done around the house,christmas lights in the kids bedroom windows,they will be surprosed and love them,some decorating and Christmas cards ready to maial. We went to the movies,and out to dinner. Alone. Quite a treat.
When i checked with "sissy" all was well, zak didnt even realize we were gone and they were bathed and ready for bed. They had been to a bday party earlier in the afternoon and had no naps so hopefully it was an easy bed time and night for them all.
Since i have no pic of the weekend to post for your enjoyment,i thought id post the kids pre school pics taken just a few weeks ago. Enjoy.....