CHRISTMAS WEEK EVENTS

Yup that is right. Ben surprised us with the news of an earlier departure from Iraq, and Lathan and I waited anxiously for news of WHEN he would actually get a flight. Finally on Wednesday I heard news of the WHEN. He touched down at 8pm Christmas Eve and was greeted with 2 welcoming and joyous smiles. Hip Hip Hurray!!! So I and Lathan were blessed with the BEST Gift of all, Papa is home, and we have been spending the past few days catching up together as a family.

Christmas Pics 2009

My Little Love

These pictures I love, and am very thankful to a friend that became my friend almost instantly. She is the young wife to one of Ben's Best Friends who's name is Michael Paine. If you ever have free time to read go to www.painesbythesea.blogspot.com, she is a very good writer like one I know, hmm hmmm, Keri. On top of being a superb writer she takes amazing photos that catch life in a small 4x6 rectangle. I wanted to share these pics of my beautiful son to you all. He is my little love, my bundle of joy.

Self Esteem Issues CURED!!!

If you have ever had self esteem issues about your appearances etc, I have an instant cure to just make you feel like the most beautiful person and have such a hilarious fun laugh to entail the whole ordeal. If you have a mac you may know what I mean. Ben and I have played with this feature many of times and I remember one occasion with my dad that I will never forget. So I may have some features that I wish were more beautiful, but after playing with the ibooth feature on my mac computer I thought instantly that things could be worse, far worse, and I was grateful for the features I have. Check these out, they are just to roll over for.

Two and a Half Month-But Done!!!

I wanted to share with everyone that visits my blog what I have been busily trying to complete before Christmas. I bought this 2 years ago for Lathan when he was about 4 months old. Well good intentions finally were finished Today!!! Hip Hip Hurray. I love working with my hands and fingers and found this project to be soothing and time consuming. It took about 2 and a half months on and off, but well worth the time and effort. My great grandmother Longauger made me and all my siblings a stocking just like this style long ago, so I wanted to share in the joy and tradition with my son. I hope he has this for a very long time and beyond my years and will see it always and remember me.

Changing Seasons

Chilly Iced Red Nose Tips,
10 Finger Gripped Hot Cocoa Mugs,
Frost Kissed Grass Blades,
Fallen Bright Hued Leaves,
A Lonely Unvisited Frozen Birdbath,
Winter Jackets and Sweaters Unburied and Donned,
Toasty Oversized Slippers,

And One Little Man saying, "It's Burrzies Outside Momma!"


Oh the Joys of The Changing Seasons
In Weather and In My Book of Life.

Scarecrow

Lathan dressed as a little Scarecrow and off we went to a Fall Festival here in Los Lunas. He at first was a bit timid to play all the games but once he realized that the prizes were candy he quickly caught on and opened up more eager to play. We also did a cake walk and won the most delicious pumpkin chocolate chip spice cakes with real whipped topping, Yummmmm! We had a great time and I am glad he was excited to be dressed up. If you know Lathan at all he is much like Poppa and at first was like, "why are you putting this silly costume on me and painting my face, not excited at all about the Big Idea about people dressing up and looking all silly." That is until he saw himself in the mirror and thought it was just so much fun to have a painted face. He was a great sport after all and we had so much fun.

Portland Recap

September 15th...Ben and I and Lathan boarded a flight bound to Portland Oregon with a two goals in mind. 1) Catch up with each other without the distractions of home, 2) Find land that we can build on and spend the rest of our lives there without the thought of moving again. Most of you who read this know that we are somewhat Modern day Nomads, moving from one location to the next and each time widdling down our possessions after being disgusted each time of the amount of "stuff" we have. Well quite frankly I am sick of it, I hate moving and if I have to do it again, where ever it may be, that is it. I am buying my burial lot there and that is it, no more. Of course there are more prayers in my heart, like having a husband that has a normal job living under the same roof as me and all my 12 kids. It is hard not having a man around, and even harder to face the fact of how vulnerable I feel when he is gone. And now that I have Lathan to think of before me, forget it, I have never felt weaker and more vulnerable in my life.

So anywho, I got a bit sidetracked. About Oregon. We totally had a blast and visited every place possible in the span of a week that we had to do so. We saw the beautiful Rose Gardens, the Japanese Gardens, At least a handful of waterfalls along a strip of road that reminded me of the forests in The Lord of Rings, Gorges, Rivers, The Bonneville Dam, The Beautiful Seaside where the booming of waves against the rocks sent chills up my back thinking of our awesome Creator and his work, whale watching, coffee shops, Corn Mazes and fresh berry stands, and oh yeah the best and most awesome news of a new baby growing inside. So much to see and do, so much beauty, I absolutely had a blast. I loved seeing the innocents of a first time experience with Lathan. Many first timers. He just stood infront of the ocean in the sand staring and in awe.

So in the midst of trying to enjoy all these beautiful things we too looked for land. We didn't look long or try very hard, we were having too much fun elsewhere. Which gives us an excuse to go back and do just that. Find a home, a place to call Home, where we can live as a family together. Our growing family. Thanks for listening and reading. Til next time.

Balloons over NM

Toward the end of Ben's month visit, we were happy to have both grandparents here to visit us. These pics are of the NM balloon Fiesta held every year in October. This was an early morning for us all getting up at 5:30am to be there for the mass assention at sunrise.

Let Me Explain this Pic

Okay, look at the faces of all 3 kiddos, and then see if you can conclude the language that the faces and bodies suggest. This was in Denver at the 2009 family reunion. Lathan has just met these little ones and is attempting to show them something very COOL! He has discovered a big bug that he wants to show these girls. What do you think? Has he succeeded in making friends? Can you tell a BIG difference in girls than boys? Lathan looks for bugs, grasshoppers, rabbits, lizards. The girls want to play with a pink ball, have their own sand buckets, swing and giggle. This was a fun experience with having 3 little princesses around my little prince. Infact, the bug show and tell was of no interest to the girls, in fact, Lana said, "Eewwwwww!, and slowly got off the sand box lid and walked to the swing set."

LEAVE THEM NO CHOICE BUT TO MUNCH!!!

I have come to the conclusion that in order to get Lathan to eat the green things and his veggies, is give him no choice to avoid them. If that is all he gets, he will eat it. Oh, and one small bonus to insure it is eaten...coat it all with melted cheese. The veggie mystery has been solved. Enjoy the pic, he sure enjoyed his very own plate of broccoli and carrots.

Dirt+Seed=a wonderful Rainbow of colors

To all those that suggested to Ben that his wife loves FLOWERS, thank you!!! I do love flowers, but not just flowers, but growing them from seed as well. I wanted to thank Taylor, my secret and most favorite elf, for the many many beautiful and very much alive bulbs. I love love loved your thoughtful gift and will have many beautiful bulbs to love and enjoy for years to come! I have posted another of Ben's beautiful flower buys. It is the center hanging basket with all the colorful gems! My little balcony here in nasty Tucson is growing more and more beautiful, and I have to admit, they also seem to drown out the nastiness so that it is not all that bad. If I can only exterminate the avid smokers here that live below, around, and adjacent to us. Any suggestions???