A Christmas Story

Jamie and Jake have never seen this movie! I could not believe it when they told me! This is just only the best Christmas movie ever made! So tonight we all watched it so they can see why Ralphie wears a pink bunny suit and has a lamp shaped like a leg in his house. The best Christmas movie ever!!!!!!

Attack of the GIANT HAMBURGER!!!!!

Tonight for dinner Jamie tried something new. Instead of making cheeseburgers, he made just one giant cheeseburger! It was huge! We told the kids we will just pass it around the table and everyone can just take one bite until it is all gone! They were all for that, but in the end we cut it into pieces. Yummy!!!!!!

Mr. & Mrs. Armstrong

Mr. and Mrs.

Wedding “I Do's” are done and that great grin of newlyweds is in place. Happiness is all around as I watched Summer and Jamie tie the knot this weekend. The kids all seem really happy and it is nice to see that in their faces. I am posting some pictures for Summer and Jamie as I don't think they actually had a camera there. I don't have any really great ones, so I can't wait to see what their friend Amy will have from her camera. She was the official photographer, so I have high hopes for her pictures. Here are a couple of shots just to celebrate the event - more to come I hope.

Emmy

Emmy is so cute I just want to keep her. Unfortunately her dad watched me like a hawk at tonights Harmon party and I could not get out the door with her! I just can't help myself - I love the babies! Emmy your daddy really loves you, but don't think I won't try again Kevin! You have to go to work sometime! LOL!

Lemon Pie Makes Me CRY!

So Jamie and I are sitting in bed Sunday morning talking and I thought to myself that it was mom's birthday that day. So for some reason right away my thoughts go straight from mom's birthday to lemon meringue pie. Kind of odd right? Well not really for anyone in my family. This pie is associated with my mother's birthday because it is her favorite kind of pie and Nana always made her this pie for her birthday. I started to cry as my thoughts were flooded with Nana memories and just could not stop! I really miss my Nana. I am sad that she is not here to come to my wedding and this just brought on more and more tears! So many good memories! Lemon Pie Makes Me Cry!

We're Getting Married...Saturday!

Yes, it's really true...we can't wait till spring so November 29th it is and we couldn't be happier. Hope to see you all there! Oh ya...I will let you know the time and place just as soon as we figure it all out!!!!

I'm an Esme?

According to the Twilighters anonymous website anyway. November 21st is coming soon.

You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great
importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be
sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and
appreciate the kind way you always handle things.


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Hello? Anybody home?

Maybe we can work out a trade. Sunday dinner once in a while for a post once in a while. Deal? I'm only doing this for your own good you know. You'll thank me someday. This hurts me more than it hurts you.

Gosh, I'm forgetting the mother's logic idioms. What were some of those other mom sayings? Anyway, post already.

Jordyn loves Gecko Grill!

She really loves the mini chimis and is always begging to go there. So we took Granny and went there for lunch today. Jordyn of course, got her favorite! We had fun and were full to the brim with our yummy lunches and of course all the chips and salsa we could stuff down! Thanks for going with us Granny!

EyeQ

Here is just a little preview of the girls with the new glasses they picked out today at the eye doctor. I think they look so cute!

Sunday BBQ

Summer playing with her phone and unaware I'm sneaking a pic of Jamie, Gotcha.


I took some pics of the fun BBQ this past sunday and so am posting them. I had these of Summer and even one of Jamie (although he was trying hard to escape the camera). Everyone had so much fun. Of course I'm in Mom Heaven whenever our kids and grandkids are gathered anywhere we are. It truly did look like a small elementary school out in Richard and Stacie's back yard. Tetherball, swingset, trampoline, whiffle ball, kid rhino and BBQ grill. Kids of all ages from 12 down to 7 weeks. It just doesn't get any better. Thanks to all for making the time to come, sorry for the few who had to miss out, we missed you, and thanks again to Richard and Stacie for the hospitality. As the wheather cools down, I hope we will have more outside BBQ's to enjoy. Thanks to Jamie and Summer for the yummy green chile appetizers - really good. Grumpy and I had too much fun. 

Summer figuring out her new phone - glad it's her and not me. The phones are usually smarter than me.

Happy Birthday Taylor!

I can't believe I am old enough to have a 12 year old son! WOW! I think by summertime he will be taller than me! If the size of his feet are any indicator about how tall he will be, then he is going to be a very tall young man with really big feet!!!!!

Taylor was always such a happy baby - never cried and very content so long as he had his pacifiers! Yes - that is multiple with an "s". One was not good enough. Most of the time he had one in his mouth and another in his little hand.

Here are just 12 of the reasons why we love Taylor:

1. He is a very caring brother to all his siblings! (Most of the time - they all have their moments!)

2. He is so smart! He doesn't really have to try hard - he is just naturally smart.

3. He is handsome! And I am not just saying that because he is my son! It's true!

4. He always helps out when we ask him to and sometimes without even being asked.

5. He loves his family and truly enjoys getting together for family things especially around the holidays.

6. He is very artistic and draws really well. I think this is a talent he should persue in life.

7. He loves music and has a huge interest in taking guitar lessons. We'll have to see what we can do about that!

8. He is great with kids and always does such a great job babysitting. I know little Chance loves it when he gets to have Taylor for a babysitter!

9. He loves all things electronic. Even at the age of 10 months he figured out how to use the dual deck VCR. I was really impressed! He loves listening to all his favorite songs on his iPod and of course is really wanting a cell phone...we'll have to give that one some more thought!!!!

10. He has a really great sense of humor and loves to joke around.

11. He is always making sure that Mom is taken care of and has the help she needs - what a sweetie!

12. He has a passion for flying and airplanes and wants to be an Airforce pilot just like his Grumpy and Papa Kanaga. I love to see him be so interested in something that is not a computer or a video game!!!! There is is hope yet - and I know he can do anything he sets his mind to.

Happy 12th Birthday Taylor! We all love you very much and are very blessed to have you in our lives.

A Weekend with Faith & Chance

We had Faith and Chance come stay for the weekend and it was so cute how little chance kept saying how Jamie is his best friend and he wants to keep having sleepovers and his mom can just come visit him! He is so funny! I bet Tawna would love the break though!

Anyhow, Chance was up really late Friday night because he did not want to miss out on anything the big kids were doing. The picture of him and Jamie was taken Saturday evening when we could not get him to wake up to eat dinner after he had fallen asleep on Jamie while watching a movie. He was so dead tired! What a cutie! He kept us on our toes all weekend long!

The Boys!

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Happy Birthday Jordyn!

Jordyn is 11! I can't believe it! She is growing up to be such a beautiful, sweet young lady. It has all gone by so fast. Probably because her older brother, Taylor, was always all over her when she was a baby - she could not get away from him - literally! He loved to try to feed her (ok, it was more of a force feeding!) and play toys with her too. The two of them were like having twins. Jordyn was and is so sweet and such a joy to have. I feel very blessed to be her mom.

The "DISH" on Jordyn:

1. She is in 6th grade and attends Aprende Middle School - after all, elementary is for babies!

2. She is very creative and loves to keep busy with little projects.

3. She is always so helpful. No matter what the task, Joey is usually willing to dig right in and help out!

4. She is very sensitive and caring. I remember one time a couple years back she came home crying because some girl at school would not leave Taylor alone and was causing him a lot of grief. So Jordyn came home crying because she felt bad for Taylor! Now that is a loving sister!

5. Joey is an animal lover. To her dismay, her mother is not! Life can be very frustrating! OMG!

6. She is an excellent student. Always does her homework and tries her best! Her teachers all love her!

7. She likes to try new things like cooking something or baking. She even likes to help Granny out when she is canning!

8. Jordyn is very patient. Most of the time she waits quietly for her turn - I know it is tough being a middle child, but she is the most patient out of the rest of them - hands down!

9. She loves her chorus class and loves to sing. She is very excited for their first concert that is coming up in November. I will keep you all posted.

10. Jordyn is always responsible! We know we can count on her to do the right thing and we have a lot of trust in her.

11. Jordyn loves children! She is always glad to see her cousins and play or babysit them. I know she will make an excellent mother some day!

Happy 11th Birthday Jordyn! We love you so much!

Save The Date!

We finally set a date for our wedding. And the date is... May 2, 2009. Hope to see everyone there!

TJ - In his element!

Tawna sent me these pics of Taylor riding his dirt bike at the track. He and Nathan love to go ride as much as possible. I know he is getting extremely anxious for dune season to get underway! Thanks for the pics Tawna - and thanks for taking him Nathan!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE - PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!

I don't know where the time goes. I could swear that my last post was not forever ago - but July 28th was in fact forever ago! I have been getting grief from my family for not having posted anything in such a long time! I just don't know where all the time goes. Anyhow, all is well with us and no, we don't have an official wedding date yet, however we are shooting for March...stay posted for more on that.

My new job has taken some getting use to and has had some rough spots, but I think I have finally gotten the hang of being a Para Educator (a.k.a. teachers assistant) in an autistic classroom. I have been stepped on, pinched, pushed around a lot, pulled all over, sneezed on (a lot!), clobbered by a couple of deskes thrown by a third grader and injured badly on the job in less than a months time! OK OK - I am a woosy girl, or as my nephew would say, "a sissy la la"! And to think we only have 6 kids in our class. Yikes! Things are getting better now and I am so ready for our two weeks of fall break! Thank goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE SHOES...

THE BACKPACK...

THE RYLEE!

School Days! Rylee is a 3rd Grader!!

Rylee started the 3rd Grade today at a brand new school in Chandler. She was so excited last night that she could not get to sleep! I think she was finally out cold sometime after 11:00pm. Not exactly a good bed-time for a school night. We will have to do better tonight! There is still a lot of work to be done at the school, but Rylee is already off to a great start making friends and throwing herself in to her class work. She is such a good little student. She knows her teacher from her old school last year so it is nice to have a familiar face. It also helps that mom works there and sees her around the campus all day long! She was very stylish with her High School Musical back pack and of course High School Musical everything else: water bottle, folder, and lunch box. Of course there were a few glitches in her first day - like some of the little bugs from all the construction...YUCK! I had a hard time with that too! The little boys in her class thought it was great fun to tease the girls with these bugs...the girls did not think it was so fun at all! Oh well. They won't be there forever - WE HOPE! Good luck Rylee!

CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Co-Pay for 3:30am visit to the

Emergency Room: $100.00.

Stool Softener: $6.99.

Having a physician confirm that your daughter is full of crap: PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!

LOL! Rylee will probably not think this is very funny, but maybe someday! I took Rylee to the ER early this morning because her stomache would not stop hurting. According to her, this was the worst pain she has ever felt in her life! So after 3 nights of NO SLEEP - I decided enough is enough already! This insanity has to stop. So to the ER we went, luckily it was completely empty. After taking x-rays and running a few other minor tests, the doctor came in and showed me an x-ray of Rylee and just exactlt how full of crap she is! Lovely - I know! So now she gets to drink some wonderful liquid that will clean her out - we hope! I have to get some sleep!!!! For the love...it has to work! Of course, as soon as we get home she gets to fall asleep! Mom however, get to go to work! Gotta love that!!! We are just glad to learn that it was nothing too serious and she's just full of it after all! Feel better Rylee - We love you!

The Prodigle Son Returns!

As many of you know, Taylor has been spending the summer with his Papa Talerico and his Uncle Willie out in Peoria. We have missed him so much! I can't believe I went over a month without him...that's the longest I have ever gone without seeing one of my children! A big sacrifice on my part, but I am glad he has had the chance to hang out with Willie and get to spend lots of time with him - these boys gotta stick together! Welcome home Taylor! We love you!

Dog Gonnit!!!!!!!!!

I recently battled head to snout with Jordyn when over the course of the kids' last visit with their father, Jordyn fell in love with a puppy! This is not the first time she has begged for a dog - and heaven knows it will not be the last! Mommy does not do pets! This is a plain and simple fact of life known to all my children. I was up in Flagstaff over the 4th of July with Jamie and the boys for JT's baseball tournament when the fun started. I received a text message with a picture attched and the subject line read, "Jordyn wants a puppy" and it was all down hill from there! The text messages continued - Mommy isn't this the cutest dog you have ever seen? Can we keep him? I promise I will take care of him! And of course the phone calls started as well - always a determined and hopeful Joey on the other end asking ever so sweetly for this puppy, vowing solemnly that I will not have to do anything - she will take care of it always and forever; followed by the disappointment and anger at my constant denials of her infinite requests! Like any other child she continued to ask over and over again in hopes she would get a different answer. Apparently she has yet to accept the fact that her mother is much more stubborn than she is! I finally had to shut my phone off and ignore the calls. I guess you can't blame a girl for trying! She gets an "A" for effort. As for her father - he is just going to get it!!!! He knew what he was starting! LOL! Just wait till he gets back in to the country!!!!!!!!!!

Tag! You're It!!

I was tagged by Stacie to list 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 obsessions, and 3 surprising facts about myself. So, here goes!


My 3 joys - (1) The love of my life, Jamie! I am so glad I finally found him!!!!! (2) Our 5 children that always keep life interesting! (3) Spending time with my family and friends.
My 3 fears - (1) Animals, insects, & some humans!!! LOL! (2) Losing the people I love. (3) Public speaking!
My 3 goals - (1) Keep in touch better with family and friends. Where does all the time go??? (2) Complete a scrapbook of my family that I get to keep! (3) See as much of the world as I can.
My 3 obsessions - (1) Jamie. I can never get enough of him! (2) Getting better on the piano. I guess it's not like riding a bike! If you don't use it - you lose it! (3) Obsessing about all the different things I can do in the house to make it fun and homey for all of us!
3 random facts about me - (1) I am a terrible driver and quickly lose it when annoying people get in my way and do stupid things on the road!!!!!! Uuuuggghhhh! This is not good for someone who has high bloodpressure! (2) I dip my french fries in my chocolate frosty! I don't care what anyone says - it's really yummy! (3) I am stubborn! When I want something there is nothing that will make me change my mind! I don't like to be told what I can and can't do! What can I say - I am a rebel!


OK! So now I get to tag 5 people to answer all these questions. So, I pick: Diana Hearn, Rebecca Barlow, Stephanie Hatch, Sheri Morrison, and Bob Harmon. Have fun!

OK, OK!! Everything you wanted to know about Jamie...

I know it has taken me a very long time to get you all a picture of Jamie.  So here he is for all to see.  And since I am so nice, here are some stats...

Name: James Floyd Armstrong

Birthday: April 5, 1963 - California

Height: 5 ft, 11 inches

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Blue

Occupation: Master Mechanic; Manager, Salem Boys Auto

Kids: 2 boys; JT (17) & Jake (13)

Siblings: 3 sisters

Pets: 2 dogs; 1 turtle

Religion: Christian

Our story...

We met on a single parent dating web site.  I sent him a flirt and he flirted back and then a few e-mails back and forth and then texting and finally our first date!  It was May 3rd and love at first sight for both of us!  We were both extremely tired of the games people play on these dating web sites and ready to call it quits! But luckily for both of us we both decided to stick it out and be good sports and try to meet that special someone!  Who knew we actually would!  My life has been changed forever since I met and fell in love with Jamie and I could not be happier!  The kids all love him too and he is so good with them and so patient.  He has his boys every other week from Monday to Monday and we like to hang out and spend time with them and get to know them.  Jake has been very good with the girls and he and Taylor have a lot in common (Taylor has been in Peoria staying with his papa and Uncle Willie since May 22nd).  JT is not home as much - he stays very busy with base ball, his job, the gym and his friends.  We have great kids and we love spending time with all of them!  Jamie works hard and has long hours from 7am to 6pm Monday through Friday and he never complains.  He is very thoughtful and always helping in whatever way he can.  He is generous to all of us with his time, love, patience, and his home (We are always there and he wouldn't have it any other way!).  We are very blessed to have him in our lives.  

I hope this answers most of the questions everyone has had for me about him.  I have been getting a new question lately from everyone... and believe me, when he and I set a date, you all will be the first to know!  After we tell our five children of course!  LOL!

Lunch with the Girls

I'm sure everyone in Mesa knows by now that the Mattas Restaurant on Main Street has closed it's doors. There are rumors that they will open at a new location at some future date, but for now the clientele has re-routed to the Mattas Mexican Grill on Higley and Brown. So when the craving for mexican food from “Granny's restaurant” as Rylee used to call it hits, we go to the Mattas on Higley for a fix. When Granny worked at Hogue Printing we would go to lunch at the Main Street location a lot. Hence the reason for calling it “Granny's” restaurant. When we arrived and placed our order, we sat at one of two real booths and lo and behold, Rylee had a grumpy face about something. I told her I could see a smile hiding back there, and she hid her face so no one could see her big smile. Jordyn is wearing one of the many things she got from Rachael and Kamber.  She absolutely loves this brown krinkle skirt with the pretty sparkles on it. She has had so much fun going through the bags of clothing and shoes and jewelry and purses. She is in fashion heaven. Thanks girls for thinking of us. Lunch was great and we'll look forward to a new Mattas sometime in the future. Just can't ever get enough chips and salsa. And we can never forget the after dinner chocolate/peppermint. Gotta love it.