Visit with Santa...

The girls and I went to the mall to do a little "pre-shopping" before Black Friday (I don't do the whole Black Friday thing...). Anyway, Krystian dragged her sisters in to see Santa. I of course forgot my camera, so I took this pic with Kayla's phone.... not the best choice, but it's still a cute pic!

So, what's on the wish lists this year?

Kayla wants clothes (of course!)

Cammy wants an iPod Nano chromatic (she must think that Santa is rich or something!)

Krystian asked for a Nintendo DS... a "white, shiney one" I think are the words she used!

As for me... I asked for a boyfriend.... Santa counter offered with a candy cane and a childrens' book... I shamefully accepted! ;)

We wish you all a fantabulous holiday... Merry Christmas!

Love the Garcia girls!

Never a dull moment...

November is always a busy month for my little family... with the kick-off to the holidays and several birthdays in the family, November tends to feel a little out of control at times!!! Cammy turned 11 a couple of weeks ago and Krystian (my baby) will turn 7 on Friday so we spent a Sunday evening with the family celebrating! For some reason smashing 17 people into my little apartment sounded like a good idea somehow!?
We ate pizza and cake, opened presents and watched the Colts/Chargers game... (happily the Colts won in the final 2 seconds of the game!)... With a family full of brothers, I had to bribe them (with football) to stay somehow! We always have great fun... family parties are never dull at my house... especially when all of the boys (my brothers) show up! Can I just say that I am so thankful to have a house full of girls... I am also VERY grateful for my step-mom, Nette and my sister-in-law, Liz and Christopher's girlfriend Mindy. Hopefully one day there will be more girls than boys in the family????? Wishful thinking I know!!!

Paper Bags and Christmas Fun...

For our Christmas service project this year we decided to make "paper bag scrapbooks" for FHE and donate them to The Festival of Trees to raise money for Primary Childrens' Medical Center...

My sweet Cammy found the idea in one of her craft books and headed up the project at home. She designed the books from cover to cover. We had a tun of fun creating and putting these books together. The girls had so much fun making these books that they've decided to make them as Christmas gifts for family and friends!

Cammy's Birthday!

My sweet little Camryn turned 11 on November 12th... every time one of my girls has a birthday I want to cry!!! My little family is growing up way too fast!

Camryn (aka Cammy) is my little sweetheart. She's so thoughtful and caring. When her and I get into little "disagreements" she ALWAYS writes me a little note saying "I'm sorry mommy... and I still love you!"

She just made me a card the other day that said:

"I like it when you say nice things to me and you also have always been there for me to make me laugh. This is just a thanks for being my mom. I love you! Love, Cammy"

Notes like this from her are a regular occurrence! I look forward to these little notes from her.

She treats all of her friends that same way too. I'm so proud to say that she's mine... ALL MINE!!! :)

I love you sweetheart and happy birthday!

Cake and Presents...

For Cammy's birthday dinner we went to Macaroni Grill (her choice). I just had to embarrass her of course by telling them that it was her birthday. They brought her some flowers, a big chunk of chocolate cake (complete with candles) and ice cream for everyone. They also sang happy birthday to her in Italian.

They made her feel like a million bucks!!!

I wish you all could have seen her face!

This is me...

The following are the words to a song by one of my favorite LDS artist, Jessie Clark~Funk. If I had to describe myself and the path my life has taken, there would be no better description. Enjoy...

The Station
I've been riding on this train so long trying to reach my destination. Holding out for the perfect place, hope I find it at the station. Restlessly I watch the hours waiting to pull in... feeling like I've wasted time on dreams lost to the wind.

I'm ready to live not only survive, I'm ready to dance like no one's watchin, climb a mountain kiss the sky, then do it all again. I'm ready to love like I've never been hurt, I'm ready to sing like no one's listenin... watch more sunsets, see the world... if not now, when?

I've told myself that it's alright to run without hesitation. Enjoy the ride and live my life, cuz now I know there is no station. No finer place where dreams come true, no better world than this. Just moments filled with joy and tears, where hopes and fears exist.

I'm ready to live not only survive, I'm ready to dance like no one's watchin, climb a mountain kiss the sky, then do it all again. I'm ready to love like I've never been hurt, I'm ready to sing like no one's listenin... watch more sunsets, see the world... if not now, when?

Halloween...

Oh I so wish I had something incredibly exciting to say about Halloween...

Actually this is the first year EVER that I haven't spent Halloween with my girls. No trick-or-treating, no making costumes, ... none of it! I'm not going to lie... not having to stand in the freezing cold, pretending to be a pack-mule as I carry everyones bags was rather relaxing! I also missed out on the mother load of Halloween candy that usually makes it way into my house with my girls... my hips are ever so grateful! :)

I do have to say though that I missed my girls. I went out with some friends to "play", but it was short lived... all I wanted to do was be at home cuddled up watching Young Frankenstein sipping a chai tea... so that's exactly what I did. Aaaahhhh ~ Good times!!!

Anyway, here are some of my favorite pics from all of the festivities... enjoy!

My baby girls... getting ready to go trick-or-treating!

Beautiful Cammy the geisha girl...
Cammy and her best friends Zarina and Alecea... 5th grade classroom party.
Krystian the "mean" witch... seriously, don't tell her she looks cute, and definately don't tell her she looks like a "nice" witch... she was very insistent on being "mean".

Honestly she's too darn cute to be mean!

Krystian getting all "wrapped up" in the mummy game. 1st grade classroom party.

My "Minnie", my beautiful 13 year old Kayla that wasn't too old to dress up!!! Happy day!!!

Fall Fun...

An afternoon spent at Thanksgiving Point...

Haunted hayrides, pumpkin patches and a corn maze shaped like David Archuleta (Cammy was so excited)... the weather was perfect for a fun little fall outing!

If Krystian could have taken home every pumpkin she would have! "Oh mom, this is the cutest little pumpkin I have ever seen... no wait... mom, this is the cutest little pumpkin I have ever seen... no wait..." (you get the picture)!

Getting lost in the corn maze... but not for long!

My sweet baby girls... Kayla is MIA... she chose to go to the mall with her friends instead... yes, I should have expected that from a teenager!!! Cammy was quite the navigator... she got us out of this thing in about 12 minutes! So worth the $15 a person! hehe...

Mom and Krystian on a haunted hayride...