Christmas Day pictures

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I didn't manage to list all the presents we received this year, but we were very blessed! We love all the gifts & are very thankful for them & all the people that gave them to us! We really enjoyed this Christmas & are so thankful for our family!

Christmas 2008 Photos

We took some pictures yesterday after the church Christmas program while the kids were looking so cute in their dressy clothes. They are really excited for Christmas! AJ just can't keep away from the presents, he likes to tear off the bows & tags & eat them. Aaliyah knows exactly where her presents are & can hardly wait to open them. We are looking forward to Christmas very much!

Let It Snow!

When Aaliyah got up & saw the snow outside today, she wanted to go make a snowball, so I bundled her up & took her out to play for a few minutes. She tried to make a snow angel, but the snow was to hard & it didn't work. She wasn't able to get the snow to stick together for a snowball either, but that didn't stop her. She didn't want to come inside, but my face was gettin to cold, so I wasn't stayin out any longer! It was 23 degrees by our thermometer & I wasn't as bundled up as she was. I'm enjoying just looking out at the snow from my warm house instead of being in it! Here are the pictures I took of her playing in the snow.

AJ is on the move!

AJ started crawling (not just scooting) & has really taken off! He has also started pulling up to everything also. He has already gotten hurt a few times, I think I need to wrap him in bubble wrap! :) He'll be 8 months in a week, & it seems like he's been developing a lot this month! I didn't expect everything to happen all at once. I guess I kinda thought he'd get a tooth & maybe start crawling, but I didn't really expect him to get 2 teeth & start crawling & pulling up all at the same time. Aaliyah progressed differently than he is, but they are all different. I'm just being reminded that every day with a baby brings new surprises! Here is a video of him crawling, it's not great quality & I had to keep moving back cause he kept chasin me down. :) I had to post a video cause a picture just doesn't do justice to crawling. I don't think the video shows how fast he is either, but he can really move!

Also, on another note, I am finally making some progress on pottytraining Aaliyah. She has been so stubborn on this, but she is finally using her pottychair at least some of the time. I'm not sure that anyone cares about this, but it has been a struggle of ours, so I am glad to be making progress anyway.

Our pictures

We had Mandie Marquez do our family photos at the Indy Park on Saturday. These are our very first family pictures & we really like them. I think she did a great job! Thanks to Mandie for doing these!

Random pics

Just sharing a few random pictures, mostly taken last night.

Aaliyah feeding AJ her animal crackers

I'm kinda partial, but isn't he a cutie!

Ok, not sure how I captured this crazy face, but I'm posting it cuz you can see his two little teeth (gotta look close)

Ava & AJ playing at Dorian's b-day party

AJ was surrounded by girls & lovin it :)

Video Clip

I decided to try using the video setting on my digital camera, so I took some tonight after we got home. This is the first video I've posted. I took two, but I am gonna put the shorter one on here. I caught Aaliyah making AJ laugh, & I love to hear his laugh!

Christmas parade

I haven't been to the Parsons Christmas parade for several years, so I really wanted to go this year. We almost didn't because I started getting a head cold last night, but we decided to brave the cold weather & go anyway. I bundled both of the kids up in snowsuits & layers of clothing so they wouldn't freeze out in the 33 degree weather. Aaliyah really enjoyed getting candy & we got to see some people we know in the parade, so that was fun. I'm not really sure it was all worth standing outside in the freezing weather though. I took a few pictures, but I didn't get any of Liya. Some of the pics didn't turn out cuz of the lighting, so here are the few that I have. AJ fell asleep right before we left, then again during the parade. The sirens scared him & he started crying but I sat him up & then he was happy to see what was going on. He got bored with it pretty fast though & went back to sleep.

Christmas tree made from aluminum cans, it was pretty neat looking, it's leaning over cuz it had to come down to go under the underpass.

Horse-drawn wagon

Cute Gingerbread house float

John Deere tractor

Here's the Santa float at the end of the parade.

He was all tuckered out, just slept & slept.

A little bit of everything

This is a combination of everything in one post, so just bear with me.

AJ finally got his first tooth! We discovered it on Thanksgiving, & now he already has another one coming in also, so both of his bottom front teeth are growing in. I tried & tried to get a picture of them, but he just wasn't having it, so none yet. He has been really fussy, but he isn't a big drooler, so that's a blessing. When Aaliyah was teething she would soak her shirts & I'd have to change her a lot. He has been eating a lot of mum-mum crackers also, he just always wants something in his mouth. He's also started taking a sippy cup now, still won't take a bottle of milk yet though. I am just hoping he doesn't become a biter, cuz I don't know when I'll be able to wean him since he absolutely hates formula!

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday, the meal was terrific, & we love to have the family together. We didn't go to the big stores for holiday shopping but Mom & I did go to a few antique places here in town & got a few cute items. I do have a warning for anyone who shops at the Vintage Antiques place here in Parsons, be careful to check your tickets before leaving the store to see if they've overcharged you! It seems that they are in the business of double charging small amount items to supplement their business. We had a big ordeal with them, & needless to say, won't be shopping there anymore. Also if that happens to you report it to the police so that they can be stopped!

Now on a lighter note, Aaliyah will be in our church's Christmas program on Sunday morning of Dec. 21st & we have been working on her learning her poem. She does know it, but she is ornery & won't always say it correctly on purpose. So we are praying that it all goes well, & that she does decide to do it right. She is very smart, but she is only 2, so you never know what will happen! :)

I have been having the urge to scrapbook alot lately, but I can't really get all my stuff out with the kids here, so I decided to just make a few Christmas cards from some scraps & stuff I had. I like the added personal touch & it saves me from buying any this year, plus I get to have a little creative outlet. They aren't the most professional looking, but they are fun anyway.


Aaliyah coloring while I make some cards.



She likes to make stuff just like mommy!

Alex's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Alex! Today was his 25th birthday, & we had Bethany & Dorian over for grilled chicken to celebrate. He fixed his chicken the "Belizean way" & grilled it outside in the cold, brrr! It was delicious though! I didn't get many pictures but I did get a couple of him, so here he is, all 25 years. :)

Things I'm Thankful for

Here are a few of the things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving. Last week our fridge quit working with no warning whatsoever. I'm not sure what was wrong, but my dad couldn't fix it, so we had to get a new fridge. It was a stressful experience, but I am very happy with my new fridge, which has a bottom freezer that gives me the width I needed. We got it at a discount because of a couple scratches & such where it was scraped across the front, which I have covered with magnets :) . Also I have to share how thankful I am to have my happy, healthy baby boy! After having a miscarriage in Dec. 06, I worried a lot about having another baby. I am so happy that I didn't have any problems with AJ, & that I now have my precious boy to treasure! We are very blessed to have our two beautiful children, & even though sometimes I feel overwhelmed with them, I am so thankful that God has chosen me to be their mother! I am so thankful to have the love of these two sweet children!
Also, I am very thankful to have great supportive parents who have helped us out so much when we have needed it. They bought me new glasses last year when I lost mine in their pond (we tipped over dad's new canoe while trying it out for the first time), & got me new frames again last week so I wouldn't have to wear my glasses all taped together since Aaliyah broke them a while ago. So I am thankful for the new glasses that don't fall off of my face & the parents that so generously got them for me! Love you!

AJ

I can't believe how fast the time goes by when they are babies! AJ is growing up to fast! He turned 7 months old last Thursday. He still doesn't have any teeth, but he is fussy & constantly wanting to nurse, so maybe he's gonna get some in the next few days. Alex & the kids are finally over their colds for the most part, & are doing much better this week. I have been taking pictures of AJ trying to crawl, & I put together a little scrapbook of them here.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Cold season, ughh!

I have been looking forward to today because Alex & I were supposed to get a night out away from the kids, just us, so we could celebrate our anniversary. Well, so much for my hopes, because Aaliyah woke up with a cold Thursday morning & gave it to both AJ & Alex by Friday. We are supposed to be on insurance now, but I don't have any cards yet, so I don't know about taking the kids to the doctor. Aaliyah has asthma like me & has been having to take breathing treatments for the past couple days, & AJ has a runny nose & congestion. So instead of a date with my husband, I'm stuck at home taking care of a sick family & hoping I don't get sick also. On top of that, the kids haven't been sleeping at night, so I'm worn out & really want to sleep all night! I am disappointed that we aren't getting our date this weekend, but maybe we'll get a chance next weekend. It seems like forever since we have gone on a date so I probably wouldn't know what to do with myself anyway. :)
Well, on a slightly more positive note, AJ has really been trying to crawl. He looked so cute last night, rockin back & forth on his knees trying to figure out how to go. He has already been getting into everything he can reach while in his walker, & while scootin himself all over the floor on his belly. I'm not lookin forward to havin him crawlin everywhere too, but I know it's gonna happen soon! He still doesn't have any teeth through yet (thank goodness for me cuz he's a little biter!) but he likes to chew on everything right now. I took some pictures of him today & am posting them here.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

3 Years of Marriage

It's been 3 years already! I almost can't believe it. November 12, 2005 was the day that we said our vows together in a litttle church in Modesto, CA. So much has happened in those 3 years, and yet when I look back it seems like it all went by so fast. I can still picture the very first time I saw Alex, in the cafeteria of HSBC. We met & started dating in Sept. '04 during the chaotic times of hurricanes & evacuations, but it seemed to make us grow a bond that much faster. It didn't take long to know I was completely smitten :). Throughout the past 4 years that we've been together we have endured a lot of life's tests, & yet we somehow managed to come through it all together. Well anyway, I thought I'd post some more of our wedding pics, since not many people have seen them. Happy Anniversary to the love of my life, Alex Tun!

Me before the wedding

Ready to walk down the aisle

Before the vows

Saying our vows

The kiss = Mr. & Mrs. Tun!

Afterwards :)