Christmas Round 3

For Christmas round 3 we spent the morning at home just us. Santa visted and he even left a candy cane trail back o the kids bedroom. I guess he really does check to see if we are sleeping. We video taped all morning so I didn't get any pictures of the kids opening presents. It was great realxing morning.

Christmas Round 2

Christmas Eve night we always go to the Ferrara's house. I forgot my camera so I didn't get any pictures. It is always a lot of fun. We go whether or not Alf and Erikka are in town. Luckily ALF did come home for Christmas this year. We were able to spend a lot of time with them and their new baby Ayden. Ayden is 8 months old now and is just about the happiest baby on Earth. The Ferraras always have a seafood feast for Christmas Eve. We had deep fried shrimp, scallons, mushroom soup, homemade sausage, and a big salad. I think we all gained about 5 pounds during that dinner. And no dinner is complete at the Ferraras unless the story of the first time I meet them is told. Christmas Eve 12 years ago when I was dating ALF. Who would have thought that 12 years later we would still be spending Christmas Eve together.

Christmas Round 1

Every Christmas Eve morning we get together with my Dad and Janien. The last few years we have done a big breakfast at our house. It is really a lot of fun. We don't have people over very often so it is a lot of fun to cook yummy food and just get to hang out. Here are some pictures from our day. It is a tradition for Chet to wear the cute Santa Apron. I think it is just way to cute.
My Dad and Rebekah waiting for breakfast. I am bummed I didn't get any pictures of Janien, but she was here as well.
Chet makes homemade funnel cakes for breakfast every year. They are so yummy.
Morning star sausage for my vegetarian brother.
Cody and Ephraim just hanging out.

Daddy and Bekah Time

For Rebekah's Birthday she wanted something that she could build. I found her a dueling Rollercoaster from Kinex. It took her and daddy 6 days to put it together. (Rebekah has little free time so they had to steal a little time together everyday).

Here is the final project. They decided to display it by the Christmas tree. Afterwards Delilah wanted to build with daddy as well so they made a Ferris Wheel. Here they are all displayed.

Rebekah can be such a crack up

We are getting ready to go the the Grand Canyon next weekend and we have absolutely nothing for anybody to wear for the 15 degree weather they are having right now. So yesterday Rebekah and I were driving to cheer practice and discussing what all we need to buy for the trip. Rebekah named off the usual "I need new mittens, some snow boots, and a jacket but we should wait until after CHristmas to get my mittens because I usually get some in my stocking." I told her those were great ideas but we should probably get some water proof pants and some long underwear. Her reply "Mom I don't need any long underwear, I have this pair of Hello Kitty underwear in the back of my drawer that are just huge and I think those will be enough to keep me warm." I about died laughing. She also motioned that she could pull them up to her chest and they would keep her stomach warm. Thought I would share:)

Photos from our first competition

Rebekah was very excited that the first competition of the season fell on her 8th birthday. She was hoping that would bring her team good luck. We had to get up at 6 in the morning and drive to San Clemente to meet at a Mcdonalds to do make-up. From there we drove to the Anaheim Convention Center where they competed at a USA Competition. Her team was in the large Co-ed Open Show Level 3. For those new to cheer, like me that is a very competitive level, it is one of the harder levels because level 4s will drop down and compete.

It took three people to do Rebekah's make-up for the competition. They pretty much look like hookers when they are done. Right before they go on they done the Bright Red lipstick as well.Here is the finished look. It is very strange to see my sweet little girl looking like that. I guess I will finally learn how to do make-up:) All in all it was a great day. Rebekah's team took 2nd place, out of three teams. Overall they did very well. Rebekah was exhausted afterwards and we had a team lunch to go to. After the lunch we got in the car to drive home. Rebekah passed out not long after we hit the freeway and slept the entire way home. We have 1 month off now before we have another full weekend of competitions and exhibitions.

A

Cheer Hair and lots of curlers

In order to be an allstar cheerleader on NCE Allstar team it requires a lot of curlers and a lot of hair spray. Rebekah went through a brand new bottle of aquanet hairspray in 2 days. I could not even believe it. Here are some pictures of the Holiday Hair Party. The team gets together the night before the first competition and do there hair and then they do a secret santa gift exchange. We had a lot of fun.
Rebekah post getting her curlers done.
Rebekah loves hanging out with the big boys.
Trampoline fun. It is funny to watch great tumblers play on a trampoline. They flip without fear.

My baby girl is 8. Where does the time even go?

It is hard to believe that 8 years ago today I was impatiently awaiting the arrival of my very special little girl Rebekah Lynn. She was born on Wednesday, December 13, 2000 weighing 6 lbs. 15 oz and 21 1/2 inches long. She was a perfect baby that slept through the night and was just so easy going. I was spoiled.

Flash forward 8 years and I have a hard headed little diva who constantly keeps me on my toes and tries my patience every minute of everyday. The great thing is that I would not change one thing about her. So in her honor here are 8 reasons why I love my little 8 year old Diva.
1.) Rebekah is so caring. 99% of the time she is helping her younger siblings without being asked. When we are out she will ask us if people she sees upset are ok and if we should do anything for them.
2) She loves the Lord. She is constantly begging to go to Church since we are horrible and choose to sleep in on Sundays. She understands the true meaning of the holidays and is so strong in her faith.
3.) She is creative. She is constantly drawing, coloring, cutting, gluing some new creation for us. When she is not doing that she is writing stories or songs.
4.) She is athletic. She loves to work out and eat healthier then most kids. She runs a mile everyday before school and works out for cheer 4 days a week. I hope that carries over to adulthood.
5.) She loves to learn. She is constantly reading or asking questions. She absolutely loves school and science. We can take her anywhere and she will ask about the history of the place and she remembers everything she learns.
6.) She is a fun person to hang out with. I love taking her with me shopping when it is just the two of us. We crank up the stereo and sing. We laugh, we tell stories. It is just a great time. That is the one thing I love about her being older, she makes a great friend.
7.) She is funny and loves to laugh. She is funny without even trying. If she tries then she is not so funny. She tells funny jokes and she is just fun to be around. She is easy to get along with.
8.) I love the fact that she is hard headed and will never give in to anyone. She is strong and does not waiver.
This is for you my favorite first born daughter, I LOVE YOU NOW AND FOREVER:)

The big sleepover.

I will blog about it later but here is a little video that Chet put together from the party.