Super fun Grinchmas Dinner

Posted over on my cooking blog. Hoping to blog today why we had the celebration. 

http://luvincookin.blogspot.com/2013/12/grinchmas-dinner-celebration.html?m=1

Reindeer Donuts

Yup, that is what Jingle Buddy made last night and brought the kids.
Delayna was very excited, they very rarely get donuts let alone reindeer ones!

Jingle Buddy, day 3

He was playing in the Jungle this morning.  Seems as though he likes Grammy's plant.  He was found just hanging out watching everyone.

Jingle Buddy, day 3

This morning Delayna woke up looking all over for JB.  She finally found him in the kitchen by the coffee pot, in a cup, eating marshmallows and full of sugar.
Honestly, we weren't sure what he was doing.  So after a phone call to our Papa, he answered our question.  Looks as though JB thought he would help Papa make this coffee this morning and got caught off guard by Papa getting up so early.  Papa thanked him for trying to help and released him of his duties.  JB just stuck around watching Papa and eating marshmallows.

Jingle Buddy, day 2

Well JB thought it would be funny to draw on our family photos.  Not sure where he got his pranks from but I sure hope he straightens up!  He is making enough trouble for all four kids.  They all think it's hilarious, so I guess it's ok...as long as I don't have a huge mess to clean up!

Guess Who Is Back!?!?!

Jingle Buddy!!!! I don't even know if I blogged about our little friend last year or not, but I'll try to stay up on it. I know I said that about the 30 Days Of Thankfulness...I suck, what can I say?

So on to Jingle Buddy.  He is our little elf that comes and visits during the month of December (he arrived a little early this year) and likes to hide and or get into mischief.  ***If you've never heard of this you can read more at elfontheshelf.com

Well, I took Ant & Adi to school this morning and came home to on VERY happy little girl screaming and jumping up and down shouting, "Mama, Jingle Buddy's back, Jingle Buddy's back!"  She was seriously SO LOUD and SO excited she woke Dominic up.  He came out and she was yelling at him wanting him to see what Jingle Buddy was doing.  Once he got his eyes pried open from his sleep crust he got the BIGGEST grin as he looked around my hip and saw some friends playing with our candy canes.



He wanted me to read the book right away but we needed to start getting ready for school and jazzercise.  I went to the back of the house to start laying out clothes and get myself together.  I came out of my room and heard...QUIETNESS!  I was wondering why it was so quiet, because if you know Delayna, she is NEVER quiet!  As I walked toward the front of the house I heard Dominic talking.  I turned the corner and found this:


Seriously, isn't that enough to melt your heart!?!?!  He not only was reading the Elf on the Shelf book to Delayna, but he went and got Oliver (his teddy) to read with them...AWWWWWWWWWWW

We got ready and all morning Dominic was giving me, "Mama, wouldn't it be funny if..." scenarios.  He has all kinds of ideas for Jingle Buddy. But we will see what this little fella is up to this year.  I will promise to try to blog daily!  I have learned that these are the precious memories I need to be journaling!

Christmas Blessings

WOW, what a difference a year can make! This time last year, Jose & I were struggling, stressed, not knowing what we were going to do for anything. The Lord came through and blessed us tremendously! I praise Him & give him ALL the glory! This year, God spoke to Jose & I both, separately and we were able to bless a family in our church that wasn't able to provide Christmas for their family. And still have a great Christmas for ours...What an AWESOME God I serve!
This year, we were more focused on the "needs" of our children and what we bought to be more "useful" rather than just "another toy/game". Also, God spoke to my heart and told me to bless a special somebody in my life...my Honey! I saved up and was able to make a couple of Ben Franklin's since resigning with Pampered Chef. So I teamed up with my compadres and had Noe help me buy my Honey a GUITAR! Jose has had a yearning to learn the guitar and start playing. This is something I believe God placed in his heart, I don't know why, my husband can't keep a beat to save his life, but OK, if it's God's will & doing, I'm all in!
So Christmas morning, we all opened our gifts. After we were all done, Jose went to go get more coffee & we stopped him. I pointed to the note on the tree that just had a few things written to him & explained to him that he was going to go on a hunt. WAIT, let me back up...I wrapped up his new picks & guitar strap (he has a guitar my grandpa gave him, so I made it look as though I bought stuff for that guitar). Well, the hunt began, to each of the kids' rooms. Everyone wrote something positive to him on the note & sent him to the next destination, ending in my mom's room, behind her door, where he found his case (I told him he had to open the case to find his "strings"). Inside the case was more than "just strings", it was his guitar with a note that I slipped inside, pouring my heart out to him of what God has instructed me to do. Well, needless to say, there were LOTS of tears!
He got to enjoy his guitar for a while, the kids their stuff and we prepared to head off to my Grandpa & Grandma Roof's house to have dinner. Here's some pics from our day...

Jose & I

Ooooh La La


My Cute Grandpa


My GORGEOUS Cousin Lourdes & Bryan


My cute Grandma with her Pippy


Aunt Vonnie playing ball with the kids


Grandpa & Alli


Bryan & I


Mexican Train with Lourdes, Ant, Alli, Adrian, Adi & Jose


What it's all for!



Family tradition of getting the olives onto ALL 10 fingers!


Then to eat them off...



The Little Sisters


My babies & I


Little & my crazy socks


My pretty little girl


Look at Miss Santa Baby


The littles


Time for Wii


The journey for his gift begins...




Tears of joy


Isn't she purty!!!


Checking it out

The smile says it all


And those are just the pics Honey, you just wait ;-)



Opening her first Christmas present

Christmas Eve At The Herrera's

This year I got to do Christmas Eve at my house. Honestly, I think I may make it that I have it at my house every year! I LOVE that I can make dinner, everyone come over, have a great time, clean up, do our traditions and then Christmas Day be devoted to just being a family & not worrying about any hustle or bustle.
I have some pics posted, of course.
All out of order, but se la vie...I will walk ya through them...

This would be Santa & the Reindeer's treats, after they visited

And Before


My beautiful children before bed


Delayna "helping" mama clean up


Dominic putting stuff out for Santa & crew


The night wouldn't be complete without my goofy brother


Jess & Mark


Jessica & Delayna


Cuzin Sarah & Delayna


Game of good 'ol Mexican Train Dominoes


Tracking Santa


The Wallace's & Thompson's


Dinner (from left to right) Gail, James, Ben, Mom, Star, Dad


Jessica, Gail, James & Ben


Mom, Star, Dad, Jose


Delayna riding Dominic's bike (NO, she NEVER stops!)


Yaaaa, she's a big girl!


Woah hoa hoa, what do we have here? That would be your's truly with a torch...glazing my ham.


Check me out!


ooooooh, my yummy dipped pretzels & marshmallows, I think I had 1...LOL

That's All Folks!