Is everyone's family dinner like this?

Vita Mix

For our date night Peter and I stopped at Sam's to check out rings (I'm getting my first real diamond ring soon), and while we were there, some guy was doing a Vita Mix presentation. Peter and I were amazed at how delicious the foods were. We even had vegetable strawberry ice cream. Then, after learning that it cam grind wheat, make peanut/nut butters, we were sold.

So we went home that night and checked out the prices on the internet and discovered that this was a good deal we were getting. Not cheap, but totally worth it, so we went the next morning and bought one. To test out our new product we tried t copy the ice cream demo. We had Joey add the half and half, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, strawberries and ice. And the boys loved it! The first night it had a mild tomato aftertaste when it was a little slushy, but we freezed the left overs in Popsicle molds and when it was totally frozen you couldn't even tell. It was amazing! My boys were gobbling up veggies right before my eyes :)

Happy customer

I had to get a close up of this eye wound that Joey got. We made a hop scotch outside and when Joey got to the last square he kept right on jumping and rammed his head into the grill. I thought he had a serious concision, but was glad to see nothing else seemed wrong. Until 30 seconds later when blood started coming from the corner of his eye. I thought it was coming from some serious head injury and pouring out his eye. I had a momentary panic attack...planning how I was going to get to the hospital...when I lifted up his eye lid and discovered it was just a small cut. Jeeze, these kids will sure give you a heart attack!

So to help his wound, Joey used his own home remidy of applying lots of lotion daily to help it feel better. His scabage (as he calls it) went away quickly with his doctoring.

Creative Boy

Joseph has been learning and growing so much lately. It's been fun to teach him and do things with him. Sometimes he takes his creativity to whole new venues when I'm not even looking.

The other day I was in the bathroom getting ready and Joey walked in and said, "Mom, I made some hand prints!" My immediate response was, "Where did you make hand prints?" He then led me to my closet door where he had made some pretty cute little hands all over using lotion.
I then decided I better keep him a little more occupied which would hopefully keep the house a little cleaner :) so we made some fun shapes out of marshmallows and toothpicks. We made a square, triangle, diamond, octagon, and one pretty amazing house that Joey designed and built all by himself. I have no pictures of Kimball's creations because he ate all his building materials up before anything was officially built.

Oh, those cheekies!

Joseph and Kimball have a new obsession with lotion--they love to put it on. When they put it on their cheeks they look so cute! I had to get a picture of Kimball putting some on right after his bath. He looked so cute and that little face looked like that sweet baby again that is now growing up too quickly. I just want to squeeze and kiss that little face!

Joey had to get in on the action too. How did we get such adorable little boys?!

Yoga

So this is what it looks like when I attempt to do Yoga with the boys around. My body becomes a bridge, a stepping block or something to poke, prod or hug. I was able to blow off the attack with the happy thought that it was January and I was doing Yoga outside next to my palm trees :)

Justin's Fire Truck Birthday

Our next door neighbor Justin turned three last week and the boys loved all the fun things they did. There was a spider man bounce house, food, treats, pinata, and even a real fire truck. Justin's mom, Suzanne, is a police officer and she talked to her friends at the fire station and they brought the firetruck right in front of our houses and let the boys climb inside. It was so nice.

The fun, but really loud fire truck

Stoic Joey getting his face painted. He really did want to do it :)

Kimball loved the bounce house

All the boys: Justin Cameron, Kimball and Joey

Ashley's Visit

Hiking with Ashley

We had so much fun having Ashley here. We're glad we happened to be a relatively convenient pit-stop on her cross-country adventure. Joseph LOVED having her here and followed her around. I was glad that the boys had someone else to follow to the bathroom. I was able to use the facilities in peace for a few days.
Joseph loves the silly way Ashley read his Maisey book in Spanish. Hopefully now he won't dislike Spanish so much!

Extreme makeover Home Edition

This is one of my all time favorite shows, so when I heard they we're coming to El Paso I was so excited! I missed the sign ups to volunteer so all we were able to do was stand and watch, but that was so exciting too. It was amazing to see so many people work so hard and so quickly to build a house. It was also fun too see in person the people I have seen so much on tv.

Working in the tent

It was amazing to see those guys just pull up the walls with a rope.

Paige in all her pink glory

Joey donating food for the people in Juarez that the family helps

Joey getting an autograph from Paulie

Day 4

Eduardo doing a clip for the show

The finished house with the bus in front

Rib strutting his stuff.

My friend Anna was obsessed with getting a picture of Ty, We tried to go see the house for the "Move that Buss" event, but those poor little boys were not at all hapy about standing in a tight crowd in the hot sun. We finally decided to leave and give the boys a break. Just then we saw Ty zoom by in a golf cart and go around the corner. We kept walking toward our car when Anna spotted what looked like the golf cart. We stopped there and waited, because it was right by the official trailer. 1 minute later quess who walks right out of the bathroom--TY! Anna started screaming and pleading, and Ty came over for some autographs. I was able to get Anna her priceless treasure-a pic with Ty.

The Limo, ready to go get the family.

This is why I am so happy to be in El Paso 10-Day Forecast Buffalo, NY

			High / Low (°F)	Precip. %
Tonight Jan 20		Few Snow Showers	6°	30 %
Wed Jan 21		Snow Shower	21°/18°	50 %
Thu Jan 22		AM Snow Showers	30°/24°	30 %
Fri Jan 23		Few Snow Showers	30°/12°	30 %
Sat Jan 24		Few Snow Showers	14°/6°	30 %
Sun Jan 25		Few Snow Showers	13°/8°	30 %
Mon Jan 26		Few Snow Showers	19°/14°	30 %
Tue Jan 27		Partly Cloudy	21°/17°	10 %
Wed Jan 28		Snow Shower	20°/15°	60 %
Thu Jan 29		Cloudy	25°/20°	10 %
Last Updated Jan 20 03:09 p.m. ET 10-Day Forecast El Paso, TX High / Low (°F) Precip. % Today Jan 20 Sunny 68°/36° 0 % Wed Jan 21 Sunny 71°/44° 0 % Thu Jan 22 Cloudy 71°/43° 10 % Fri Jan 23 Mostly Sunny 74°/39° 10 % Sat Jan 24 Sunny 73°/40° 0 % Sun Jan 25 Partly Cloudy 71°/43° 10 % Mon Jan 26 Partly Cloudy 72°/36° 10 % Tue Jan 27 Sunny 66°/33° 10 % Wed Jan 28 Partly Cloudy 65°/36° 0 % Thu Jan 29 Sunny 67°/35° 0 % Last Updated Jan 20 01:04 p.m. MT Our highs this week are in the 70's--YAY!!!!!!!!!!! I am so grateful everyday for this warm, beautiful sunshine. I probably just cursed myself into having to move back to Buffalo this summer. We'll find out in a week.