Answers may be coming ....

Today Nicole and I headed for Sierra Madre and met with a Pediatric GI .....

amid stories, questions and tears ... we made it thru the appointment

Yes, her stomach seems swollen and something is not right... acid prohibiters don't seem to be helping .. so next step .... a trip to the hospital !!!

Nicole will be undergoing a endoscopy ... we hope and pray for some new answers and  

a cure to her pain ....

A very apprehensive Nicole waiting to meet the doctor

Yes, that is an anatomy lesson ... as the doctor spoke he showed us and filled in all the information about Nicole's stomach, which led to a few tears ... In Nicole's head she took away that the doctor called her a fat, liar ... no honey .. not even close

It's amazing what Starbucks can cure !!!

Then we even got a smile in front of the prettiest Christmas tree

Yummmmm.....

Nicole says the best part of baking is .... licking the beater!!!

Yummm homemade chocolate chip cookies!!

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas ....

We had a great weekend ... together as a family we decorated, baked and brought Christmas to our home .....

Oh and I'm so excited ... not only is alot of my shopping done .... it's wrapped ....
Bring on December ... i'm ready to enjoy this season...

It's here!!!!

4 weeks ago we ordered Ryan a new scooter for his birthday .... as patience was starting to loose its grip ... A surprise arrived at our house a week or so early ... It has now been 24 hours and he has not taken his hands off his favorite new toy!!!



they are no help.....

yes, that is my very grown up tween and teen .. fighting in the store aisles with dog toys !!!! Gotta love them 

 .....



Black Friday!!!!

A very successful and fun "Black Friday"

for Nicole and I our day started at 5am

We shopped and bought lots at Big 5 .. not as many people there at 5 as I thought there would be...

then on to bed, bath & Beyond and Kohls ...

oh and of course ...Starbucks!!!

Home to shower and regroup .... then at 9am off to the mall

How many girls my age can say.... I enjoyed a black friday shopping with
4 generations of family
Great Gram (92) Mom, Joanie, Sheri, Nicole, Hailey, Austin and me ...

At macy's we had a little fun while Hailey & Austin sent their letter to Santa

Back to Jim and Joans for left overs, Nicole even helped with the Gravy

while Sheri and I tried to sort thru todays purchases ...



A great "Thanksgiving" ......

Another wonderful "Thanksgiving"  ....

the 4 cousins ....

Great family time, lots of laughs and good food!!!

lots of fun around the pool table

We even had a visit by the cutest pilgrim ever !!!

A Thanksgiving tradition ... as far back as I can remember after dinner the whole family sits around the
living room as my grandparents handed out a wrapped gift for everyone..
the gift is always a new Christmas ornament...
This year the tradition continued from Grandma/Great Grandma ..
we all received our 2011 ornament

Nicole loves hanging with her aunt Leigh Leigh

Great Grandma, Nicole and Ryan with their new "hangs" as she calls the ornaments

Oh and this year, a few weeks late but not forgotten ...we celebrated Ryan's birthday!!!!

Sadie Hawkins

Nicole attended her first high school dance last night.....

Sadie Hawkins 2011

In the words of Nicole "I had the best night of my life so far"

Nicole and Jesse enjoyed a fabulous night as they had the best of 2 things with the dance held at knotts berry farm .....

Not a lot of dancing but lots of rides, laughs and fun!

Las Vegas

4 days in Vegas .... Flight...
A huge suite to myself
4 days of seminars !!!
Fun (sorta of ) times !!!

a weekend of soccer and family times!!!!

Nicole and I ready !!!
Crazy fun .. here we come !!!

 we are off ... to bad mark is moving slow.. not the weekend to throw your back out..
but here we go!!!
A great whirl wind of a weekend!!!!

We all had a blast ....

packed and ready for the weekend we took off for yorba linda for a game saturday..

(tie 1-1)

then continued on to the Country Inn & Suites in Redlands...

party of 16 for dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory .. lots of laughs and fun with 5 families from our team

night time swimming with their friends ( the water is heated, but the air is in the 30's)

645am Sundaymorning off to next soccer game (it's 38 degrees.... burrrrrrr)

so cold ...... but a win 2-1

then back to hotel and off to a late breakfast

We are so blessed ... Nicole LOVES going to Ryan's soccer games, loves watching him play,

loves hanging with the friends she has made .. it sure makes soccer time .. family time

when we are all together and all having fun!!!

 back to the field for game 3 .... it's been raining for that last few hours ... it's cold, it's soaked and it is WET .... so the boys are staying bundled !!!

At a few points throughout the day ryan said  ... Mom, I can't feel my toes or my fingers ....

but just for a few moments right as game 3 is ready to start ... The sun .. made an appearance!!!!
It did something ... our boys came out and played their hearts out!!!!
Passing, talking, scoring .. wow what a game !!!!
5-1 Xplosion wins ...  (ryan scored 2 ... great game bud)

we are almost home and breakfast has long warn off ... hot beef dips sandwiches for dinner
at the Hat !!!

to end the day ... a long well deserved soak in the hot tub!!!!

It was crazy and full ...
but that is how life goes!!!

12 ... wow times flies

Happy  Birthday Ryan

12 years ago today I was blessed with a baby boy .. who we love so much.

You are amazing in so many ways and we are

so proud of all you do!!!

cowboy day!!!

Today is cowboy day at La Serna High School



Halloween

Wow .. Halloween has come and gone again...

This is the first year that little money was spent on costumes and they had to plan it themselves .. But they came up with great ideas ... they are grown and capable...

But a great night was had by all .. surrounded by family!!!!

All my favorite people gathered together as the kids had lots of laughs and candy!!!