CHRISTMAS IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY!

Most of you know that I normally get my Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving and it is even more necessary that this happens since we are going to New York in December. So, everybody needs to make their list quick!


Alvin -

Gretchen -

Chelsea -

Stephen -
Chandler -
Cooper -
Tatum -

Cody -

Chelsea -

Carter -

Cash -
Grandma -

Gift Exchange #1 -

Gift Exchange #2 -

Christmas Cards -

The check mark obviously means the task has been completed for that particular person. Do you have yours checked yet?

Halloween

It was a warm Halloween in Arizona but that made it nice for all the little people whole costumes could have made them very cold. Cooper and Chandler dressed all covered up as you can see and Tatum was Alice in Wonderland.

We headed out to the Snesko's neighborhood around 5:00 with Elmers burros to share. They all went out to gather candy and we handed out candy.


That is Cooper's pile of candy. All three bags were equally as full so they gots lots of candy and had lots of fun.
(not so good photos taken from my new iPhone because I forgot my camera)

Loosing weight slowly!

For five weeks now I have been on a rather restricted weight loss program and even though the weight is coming off very slowly I am still trudging along with 100 percent commitment. It has been very hard at times like this week I took the kids to their favorite pizza joint, Floridino's Pizza, for lunch. I love pizza and to sit and have the pizza starring at you while you eat lettuce and chicken is pure torture.



Another day we went to Starbucks for Cooper's favorite double chocolate chip frappuccino. Passing three of those to the back seat was again torture.



And than a few days later Alvin wanted some yogurt so we went to our favorite place, Yo Love Yogurt and I actually sat at the table and watched him eat his favorite of chocolate and mint with oreoes on top. I wasn't even tempted.



So, you can see I am doing pretty good - EXCEPT - the day I was on a personal food blog and she was mentioning her favorite peanut butter. Have you ever tried this?



I tried it and you must try it too!!! I went to the grocery store and bought this jar of peanut butter. I was home alone and I had my spoon and my jar and I ate the whole jar by the time the evening was over. It tastes like a peanut butter cup. So, I blew it and defnitely can not buy right now that dreamy chocolate peanut butter. Alvin and I figured out the whole jar was three days worth of calories. But I am back on track!!

The exciting thing is this peanut butter company actually have a store front in New York City called Peanut Butter and Co.. I am defnitely going to check this place out when we are in New York in December. Their menu looks so goooooooood!

GO Diamondbacks . . .

We have gone to two Diamondback games in the past two weeks. The first was the Saturday night after they had clinched the National League Division Series title and it was amazing. The crowd was 49,000 plus and a very exciting game which we won. That was the night that the lights went out at Chase Field from a storm. We sat in a very dim arena for 28 minutes. Very few left early because of the excitment.

Last night we went to the fourth game of the division series and we won thank goodness! But, we still have to go back to Milwaukee and play the one last game since the series is tied at 2 and 2. Diamondbacks will win!


We had good seats. Thanks to Alvin for splurging on my early birthday present.

My favorite player - Gerardo Parra - except he hasn't hit so well the last few games.

The crowd!

The end of the game - Diamondbacks 10, Brewers 6!

We got an invitation to attend Tatum's preK "Grandparents Day" celebration. I attended and Alvin had planned to but he had jury duty instead. Anyway, when I arrived all seven of the kids were sitting quietly in their chairs around a round table. They started their snack for the day and Tatum served me a tiny blueberry muffin and a pumpkin muffin. I could of had juice or milk to drink but had my water instead.

After snacks they sang a couple of songs and did a drawing project. Actually Tatum was the only one out of the seven that stayed within the lines when coloring. Her teacher said she was very mature. After the coloring I was asked by Miss Kristine, the teacher, if I would like to read a book to the class. Sure I could do that and the kids were very attentive to my reading a book about the different color of crayons. It was time to go home after that.

I think it was great that her school honored grandparents this day. Unfortunately I was the only grandparent there.

More diversions . . .

The funeral is now over. The two boys had a very hard time. Tatum just soaked it all in and asked so many good questions. Hopefully tomorrow will start a more normal week for them. Grandma Sherry will be missed!

A diversion . . .

Chandler, Cooper and Tatum's' "Grandma Sherry" passed away a few days ago after a long seven year battle with ovarian cancer. The kids are handling the death very well but also asking lots of questions which is to be expected. They have asked good questions and when answered explains death to them so it can be understood in their little minds.

Yesterday the kids were with me for a few hours and Tatum and I had been planning to have pedicures that day so the boys decided to join us when they learned that your feet would get a massage.




Cooper didn't especially like the pink chair he had to sit in. Sorry Cooper! He said the best part was putting his feet in the warm water. Chandler said the best part was having his feet rubbed.