Are they even related????

At our little school, the pre-K class read a book about the world and what makes it a better place. They are talking about generosity, love and kindness. After the story, they were asked to draw a picture about the story and what they love about the world.

Quinn loves her mom, dad and sister because they are nice and loving and this is what she loves "mostest" of all about the world. 

HC loves rainbows, Hassie Clare and her baby the most in the world because she makes it a better place, especially when she dresses in fashion (her words not mine).

Maema is 60!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, loving, boisterous, funny, generous, card shark mother in law. You are one of a kind and we love you dearly for that!!!!

 

Zoo Daze

One of the benefits to living in the south is unpredictable mild weather. So in the dead of the winter, we had a girls day out and went to the zoo. I took my 4 favorite chicas with me - Josie, Quinn, Amy and Hassie Clare. I'm only slightly surprised the zoo keepers didn't keep them!

We have seen the sea lion show so many times that we almost have their "speech" down pat.



The monkeys were in rare form. Full of energy, playfulness and attitude - kind of like my children.



 I think our days are numbered with Jojo thinking it is fun to hang out with her twin cousins. Puberty is taking over her body with a vengeance.

Hassie Clare asked me today if being a mom is harder then climbing the Eiffel Tower. Random ... I know but that is HC! I told her it is much harder but it also a lot more fun and more rewarding. Then she said, "if someone paid you with money or gum to climb the Eiffel Tower would you like that more then being a mom." I assured her there is nothing in this world that I like more then being their mother - after I asked here how much money of course. She assured me that she was never having a baby so that she could do fun things like climb the Eiffel Tower and live on boat. Quinn chimed in with, "I'm going to grow up and live with Mommy forever." This is a perfect example of their personalities. Have I mentioned lately how much dang fun I'm having being Hassie Clare and Quinn's mom? 5 year olds rock!

Just like a good wine, he gets better with age!

Good gracious I love this 41 year old man.

Happy Birthday to Jamie, Happy Birthday to you. And many more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even though he is dropping gang signs while wearing a Strawberry Shortcake hat, I find him incredible sexy. Don't judge ... he is my lobster.  

 

Strong Hagel DNA

Who would have thought! Jamie and I would have bet money that our kids would favor his side of the family in appearance. Jamie's entire family on his mom's side (Julius clan) all look alike. You could pick a Julius out of a group of people with only knowing one person in the family.

Now my side of the family is a different story. Remember that I have a younger sister, same mom and dad, that is 5'2ish and 110 pounds. Me .... I'm 6'ish and XXX pounds. None of us look a great deal alike. So who in the world would of thought my kids would look so much like my brother's kids!!!!! Not only do they favor in looks but they have similar personalities. Kind of freaky. But not as freaky as the Jack's "special" tooth! :)

Jack-A-Poo and HC

Josie Love and Quinnie Ray

Another one bites the dust

Goodbye 2011. You started off rough but ended wonderfully. You kept us happy and healthy. You kept our loved ones healthy ... except Great Big Paw Paw Ray ... he joined the angels this year but we think he was ready. Hassie Clare and Quinn crossed over from toddlerhood to kidhood.

As the clock struck 12, we were sitting at the Hagel's house playing poker and taking everyones money:) The night before we were at the casino with the Hagel's and Carroll's (plus Toan) and taking the casino's money. I wonder if this a good sign of what is to come in 2012?????
Many memories were made. Many lessons were learned. I hope that 2012 is as good to us as you have been.

The Thurman Sisters

We got side tracked while cleaning the girls room. I'm the manager, Quinn is lead vocals and HC is the entire band, backup singer and stylist. Jamie / Daddy is our groupie. As the manager, I will make sure to upgrade Quinn's microphone if more performances are requested.

Christmas morning 2011

Notice I'm fudging about my blog dates??? .... I've gotten a bit behind and I gotta squeeze all the dates in before the end of the year so they can go in the 2011 blog book. Shhhhhh......

In all honesty, I'm trying my hardest to teach my kids what I think is the true meaning of Christmas. But I get wrapped up in the whole frenzy of presents just like the best of them. I have not been able to find a happy medium. We talk a great deal about God, especially during Advent. We talk about charity, A LOT. Almost to a point where Hassie Clare (our little humanitarian) loves to give things away, to anyone, for any reason. I told everyone that we try not to buy our kids lots of gifts at Christmas so that they don't forget what Christmas is all about. I really thought I was taking a minimalist approach this year. But as I got everything out to set up, I quickly realized that I'm a big, fat liar. I've realized that I love buying my kids presents and seeing the excitement on their face when they see everything Santa left for them (note to self - wrap a present from Mom and Dad to put under the tree next year so that your kids don't ask you a thousand times "where is our present from you Mommy?"). I selfishly want them to have childhood memories of being lavished with lots of gifts from Santa. Maybe next year I'll do better and practice what I preach!

Quinnie Ray's presents from Santa.

Hassie Clare's presents from Santa.

 Here are 2 of the many .... MANY ... Christmas Carols we heard from our sweet little angels during the holiday season. :)  

The 12 Facts of Chirstmas

My head is swimming with things I'd like to blog about ... it is also swimming with an obscene amount of mucus. As I sit at my desk, pretending to work, I'm listening to my two precious little girls sing "Silent Night" in harmony while painting their fairy and unicorn canvases they got for Christmas.

fact #1 - The girls and I went to 5 Christmas parties in 16 days, saw Santa Claus 4 times, had 2 school Christmas programs and ate sweets every single day of this month.

Our kids in birth order (from left to right). :)

The girls BFF at school.

A really out of shape Santa came to our house again this year thanks to our special friends Dana! The girls decided he wasn't the real Santa but one of Santa's helpers.  

Getting ready for a Christmas book exchange.

Christmas Teddy Bear Tea

The children's table is impressive to say the least.

The first time EVER Quinn sat on Santa's lap by herself. Sure she was an emotional wreck and had nightmares ... but she did it!

The Santa at the Teddy Bear Tea was great. He was very soft spoken and talked to the girls for a long time. We decided that he was the real Santa.

fact #2 - Hassie Clare and Quinn are officially out of their toddler beds and settled into their awesome bunk beds courtesy of Maema! We purchased the toddler beds for $50 a piece, used them for 3 years and sold them for $25 a piece.

fact #3 - I will smell pretty for all of 2012 thanks to my Christmas gifts. I'm a perfume fanatic if you don't already know this about me.

fact #4 - Elfis (our Elf) turned mischievous this year.... but only on weekend nights. Hmmmm. He rolled the girls playroom. Dumped flour on the counter and made snow angels. He wrote on the bathroom mirror. He went for a ride in Barbie's convertible. Hassie Clare cried when Elfis went back to the North Pole.

fact #5 - Our first born daughter, Ruby, was a bonifide brat during Christmas time. She got into presents, and stockings and dug Hershey kisses out of the trash and consumed them wrapper and all. I'm not sure where this erratic behavior came from. She is a crabby, old, blind lady. The Christmas magic made her feisty and kind of cute. Of course I was not saying that while bathing her attempting to get the poop off her legs from all the diarrhea. TMI .... I know. I just hope we get a few more Christmas's with our fur baby!

fact #6 - I'm having some major anxiety about Jamie's one year anniversary of him almost joining the angels above. I just can't stop thinking about how different this holiday season would have been for our family had things not gone our way last New Years Day. All of the "what ifs" are making me certifiable. It is consuming my thoughts. Maybe it is a lovey, dovey feeling you get around the holidays ... I'm not sure.  And I have GOT to stop watching all the real life medical ER shows on late night TV...I don't think that is helping me any. I'm ready for New Year's Day to come and go without incident and then I'll relax a little .... maybe.

fact #7 - Mae / Maema / Mom / MIL spoils all of us rotten with love and materialistic things.

fact #8 - One of my favorite things this holiday season was spending lots of extra time with my Momma. We had a great time together watching the girls enjoy the magic of Christmas.

The only picture I have of us is me torturing her while trying to get her pretty new earrings in her ear!

fact #9 - Self portraits of Hassie Clare crack me up.

fact #10 - Quinn's OCD habits are testing every fiber of our patience. Especially when it comes to her picking out socks. It took her 68 mins yesterday and lots of tears. But good God that little girl is the sweetest thing ever!

It is obvious by her attire that it is cold outside but look at her feet. Notice anything missing? Sometimes I gotta pick my battles.

fact #11 - Having family gatherings at my house on Christmas Eve are memorable. Especially when I serve the best Bloody Mary's around!

Decorating cookies for Santa. They also made super cute ornaments and reindeer food courtesy of Josie Love.

Sprinkling reindeer food for Rudolph and all his friends.

My sweet niece on her first Christmas.

Jack-A-Poo and his sweet Momma

fact #12 - I "think" my girls understand the true meaning of Christmas.

The girls came up with the idea to get Jesus some balloons for his birthday. They decided on red balloons because they figured red and green are his favorite colors - they stated, "why else would Christmas colors be red and green Momma????"  So they sent a half dozen red balloons up to Jesus for his birthday.