More Pictures of the Hair Cut!

Note the little diamond stud in that cute little ear lobe!!

Look at me...I'm so cute!!

Melissa working hard to get the perfect cut!

Kali's Big Day!

This here is the before picture.

Kali got her first hair cut today. As you can see she had quite the lopsided mullet going. So we headed into see our girl Melissa. One sucker later and she was all even and the curls were cuter than ever...now I had no intention of piercing her ears today, but somehow by the time we left her ears were pierced and she was voted the bravest girl they have ever seen!!

Here is the after picture.

Christmas Quiz

Here is fun little quiz to get you in the holiday spirit!! I challenge all you bloggers that read my blog to post the questions on your blog with your answers!! Have Fun!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? - Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? -Santa Mom wraps all the presents.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? -White
4. Do you hang mistletoe? - no, don't need an excuse to kiss my Hubby!!
5. When do you put your decorations up? - The week after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?-Mashed Potatoes, whipped with butter, cream cheese and sour cream. Yes is it very low fat!! LOL
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child- One year we spent Christmas Break in SanMarcos, Texas. We had so much fun. We flew home on christmas day...great memories.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? - I dont ever remember believeing in old Santa Claus.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?- Yes, but it all really depends on Jake and the schedule.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? - The Tree cutting is the big part for the boys. We spend the whole morning trying to find the perfect tree and then I kick them outside as I try to figure out the stinking lights.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? -Normally I dread it not a big snow fan...but the last four days the boys have been home and it's been really fun!!
12. Can you ice skate?- Yes, but I'm no Nancy Kerrigan
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?-I don't really have an all time favorite gift, but I do really like the Pannini Maker my mom got us girls last year. I love me a hot pannini sandwich.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? -Christmas is a reminder that Christ loved me so much that he sent his son.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? - My mom's chocolate pie with Mint whip cream. An old favorite with a new twist.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?-Growing up it was sleeping under the christmas tree on christmas eve with my 3 sisters. Always with our new PJ's on.
17. What tops your tree? - A bow
18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? - I love finding the the perfect gift for people and then watching them open it. But I would be lying if I didn't say I love getting he perfect gift too!!
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?-New Shoes. I dont know who sings it but it's a sweet song about a little boy buying a new pair of shoes for his mom who is dying and how he wants her to have these beautiful shoes to meet Jesus.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?- Yuck give me a stick of gum any day!!

Are you ready for some Football?!?!

Go Seahawks!! Shane and I went to Monday Night Football last night and watch our beloved Seahawks take down Brett Favre and His Packers!! Wow what a game!! It didn't start out that great. The snow started falling, giving the Packers an edge and they took full advantage of it scoring within the first 2 mins!! But we held on and Kick after Kick stayed in the game. When the offence finally got going there was no stopping us!!

It was a packed house and there were a ton of Packer fans. Lots and Lots of Cheese Heads!!

I had to get a picture of Favre's Butt!! Hee Hee!! Actually Donald Driver #80 is on my Fantasy Football team so I thought it would be cool to get a picture of him!!

This was Hasselbecks First game back after being out for about 4 weeks, he started a little rocky with 3 interceptions...but came through when it counted!!

I thought this was a great picture and I know that my boys are going to love it...Branch, Jackson, Alexander and Hasselbeck all in the same huddle!! SO COOL!!

The Seahawks put on a great show!!

Truly one of America's greatest Traditions!!

Thankful for Thanksgiving!!

Kali so very interested in the conversation!

Uncle Dean and Aunt Linda

Grandpa and Erik reading a quick book!

Grandma and Kali relaxing!

May look like a mess...we call it Thanksgiving!

I have a wonderful family!! I know that a lot of people may say that...but I really mean it. Thanksgiving day was filled with love and lots and lots of food. We decided that we would be the place this year for anyone on both sides to come and celebrate with us. We thought we would have maybe 10-20 people but to our surprise and delight we had about 40 people over. I am blessed with a family that not only came with their assigned food item but they went above and beyond. We had more than enough food to go around. The conversation was across the board but what do you expect....did I say that I have a wonderful family!! I want to finish this little entry with my Thanksgiving list...I hope that you all had a wonderful day...a day that you were able to reflect on all that you are thankful for!!

I am Thankful for:

1. My wonderful husband and the patience he has for a moody little thing like me!
2. My beautiful children- Truman, Jake, Taiji, & Kali
3. The promise of knowing that Abbey is celebrating thanksgiving with our maker and knowing that someday I will celebrate with her!!
4. My Family, the one I was born into and also the one I married into!!
5. My relationship with God...although not perfect, always a work in progress!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

Another VanDalen Adventure!

The gang!

Ray Allen Shoots the Three!

When we got our tickets we thought that we were 14 rows from the court...we were actually 14 rows from the top!!

Mountian Dew...Just what 5 little boys need!!

This adventure involves our great friends the Ohligschlagers. After depositing the little people (the youngest two) to their respective grandparents, we picked up the boys from school. Our 3 and their 2. We hit the road for the Seattle Sonics Basketball game. The ride was great and the hotel was nice. We were able to get there early enough to relax and hang out. The hotel provided a shuttle to and from the game so no parking worries. The game was fun, however the sonics weren't able to get anything going and ended up losing to the Utah Jazz. Here are just a few pics of our adventures!!

Girls Night Out!

Need I say more!!

This is one of the fun little things we girls do...go through each others purses when they aren't looking!! Seriously Fisher...do you really need that many breath fresheners!?!

About once a month a group of us girls get together to celebrate that months birthdays...of course it's just another excuse to get together and hang out. We always have a fun...sometimes too much fun. Here is just a sampling of pics from the night!!

Sister like Sister!!

Here are my girls!! As you can see they have very similar personalities!! Now I think that I caught Kali before she could do as much damage as Abbey had done...but I instantly thought of this picture of Abbey and knew I had to show you all...little turkey's...both of them!!

Kali's New Hat

I want to send a big thank you out to Aunt Sandra and Cousin Ruth for one of the cutest hats I have ever seen!! Aunt Sandra commissioned it and Ruth made it happen. I think Little Kali could be walking advertisement for ya!! Thanks again...we will get a lot of use out of it!!

Bowling Boys!!

Truman's Strike!!

No comment needed!!

It's always an adventure when we hit the bowling alley!! These boys love to bowl, in fact Jake has developed a new technique...it's called bowl dancing!!!! Very cute. The minute the ball has left his hands its full dance. Taiji tosses the ball and backs up as fast as he can...and Truman reminds me of me...alot of effort and intensity and then full of excuses when it goes wrong. Anyways, it was fun hanging out with the boys!!

Road Trip VanDalen Style!!

Here we go!!

Kali did great...she just needed Elmo on the video and Elmo in her lap!!

Kali kicking back on the King size bed!!

Just hanging out with Marge. She loves to spoil us rotten. Jake asked if he could have his birthday in Ellensburg and come to Marges.

Bunch of Studs!!

Wrestle mania...Taiji-Jake style.

We are the masters of the quick road trip. Shane has a client, a widower, that lives in Ellensburg. She has developed a relationship with Shane and the Family...especially Kali. So we loaded up the car on Friday night and headed for the hills...literally!! We had Jake and Taiji in the back seat, Isaac (Trumans buddy), Kali, and Truman in the middle and Shane in I up front. I set up the video screens, loaded up on Halloween candy and we were off! The Kids did great and we were there in no time. The boys swam and Kali just did some running around. The next day was more swimming with Shane and Kali heading out to make the sale. We had a lot of fun and it's always nice to see Marge. We were home by 6:30 on Saturday....kinda like we never left, except for the fact that we all got our fill of Elmo videos. Here are some cute pictures of the monkey's on vacation.

Mom's Madness ROCKS!!!

MY MOM'S TEAM IS SO COOOL!! JUST LIKE ME!!

Oh Yeah...Oh Yeah!! Mom's Madness ( for some of you new blog readers, mom's madness is my fantasy football team. I am in a league with my 3 boys, shane and friend Duece) is in First place...what did you say...Oh yeah...First place baby!!! Wow...do I live with a bunch of competitive boys or what!! I lost my very first game and haven't lost one since. I have watched sports center religiously and kept up to date on all the stats and now I am sitting by myself on the top of the leader board!! Now of course my cockiness will probably lead to a spanking this week...but I don't care!! It's fun now!!