Not So Easy Bake

Well Mallory really wanted an Easy Bake oven and for Christmas this year she got one...WOOHOO right?!?!? WRONG! I decided to help her and set it all up...my first mistake...so many little screws. Then we made the batter...yucky tasting. While it was being cooked by a light bulb (yes a 100 watt light bulb) we made the frosting, which didn't really work out when we tried to put it into the frosting dispenser...thank goodness we had real frosting to use instead. Well after it was done and cooled off we had to get it out of the pan...basically it was a crumbly cracked little piece of super thin cake. Mallory then put some frosting flowers on it...took two bites and then threw it away. I was so glad that she really enjoyed it after the hour it took to prepare and make it. Oh well right...its what she wanted and she had fun. But why might I ask if this is a toy for kids and it implies that it is a breeze ("easy" bake) that it took an adult about an hour to assemble and create a crappy non-edible "cake"...and to think I was SOOO JEALOUS of my cousin who had one when we were little and I didn't. But I guess we realize when we are older that most things we wanted as a kid aren't really as great as we once thought they were. However, I hope she enjoyed it and will always remember us putting on our little aprons and making a cake!!

Another One Bites The Dust

Well I have finished the fourth book in the series...HALF WAY THERE! Of course it just keeps getting better and better. Cannot wait for the next one...I might not start it until tomorrow since I have been reading a lot the last few days.






Other than reading I have not been doing too much...just enjoying the holidays. I had tons of fun with my family this year. It couldn't have gone any better. On Christmas eve I went out to my Grandmother's and had tamale dinner with my mother, father, Zac, Adriana, A.T, and Tyler (his roomies). I also spent countless hours wrapping presents! But the tree looked beautiful when all was said and done...so I can't complain. Christams morning I watched all the kids open gifts...they had a blast! Then I went to Christams brunch with my mother and father at Jack in the Box...something I hope becomes a tradition. Then everyone went to Aunt Vickie's for lunch. After that Dad and I wasted some time till our movie started. We went to see the Curious Case of Benjamin Button...LOVED IT! (the best movie I have seen thus far on vacation).

Speaking of movies I have seen quite a few on my little vacation...I would go everyday if I could. I have seen Seven Pounds, Home for the Holidays, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Bedtime Stories, and in about an hour I will be at Marley and Me! Hmmm....I only have a few more left that I MUST see...hopefully some good ones come out this next weekend.

I guess I couldn't ask for a better vacation...family, food, movies, and books!!

Candy Cane Lane

Last night John and I took the kids (minus Tiny...he's not old enough) for ice cream, little presents, and Christmas lights. We wanted to get them glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces for the ride around town but Part City was closed...instead we went to Target and not only got glow in the dark stuff but a bunch of other small toys they didn't really need. Next we went to Dairy Queen where we all got ice cream cones to enjoy while looking at the lights. Ice cream cones and looking at lights on Candy Cane Lane has been a tradition for the past few years. This year it was epsecially fantastic because John's rental car was a convertible...so the three kids adorned with glow in the dark jewlry, ice cream cones, and a heavy quilt got to sit up on the back part of the seat and see all the Christmas lights...it was so much fun and COLD. Buddy was begging John to "put the roof back on" since he was freezing. After lights at Candy Cane Lane we drove around the neighborhood and saw some other decent lights. I had a ton of fun and cannot wait to do it again next year...THANK YOU SO MUCH JOHN!

More Sookie

Well I am back to my old ways...reading vampire books like they are going out of style. I just finished the third Sookie Stackhouse book and as soon as John brings me the rest I will hopefully have 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 devoured in the next few weeks. I LOVE THIS SERIES and suggest it for anyone! During this break I would also like to read the third blue blood book...but I am waiting for a certain cousin to lend me her copy since I have this thing about buying books. Let me know cousin...I want to get that book and SEE THAT BABY!

Maverick's Christmas Program

Last night was Buddy's Christmas program at school. To make it easier we farmed out all the other kids. Just Bobby, Sabra, and I went to make it much easier...plus it took two of us to get Buddy dressed...he hates pants (especially jeans). Well this year it wasn't as crowded as usual so that was nice. Maverick was in the middle of the middle so he was easy to see...it didn't have the best lighting so the pictures and video weren't the best. I guess it doesn't matter he didn't sing one word the entire time. He did do some of his own hand movements and whatnot...like unzipping his sweater and throwing it up in the air behind him (you'll notice its on in the pic and off in the video). Oh well right?!?!

Happy Birthday Adriana

Tomorrow is Adriana's 19th birthday (my brother's girlfriend). So tonight we invited her over for pizza and funfetti cupcakes (the best kind). We also got her the cutest gift ever...a littlest pet shop fish tank (I want one for Ethan) and a beautiful blue beta fish. We had a lot of fun...even with a house FULL of kids (oh the noise). Here are some pics of her with the present and the kids.




I also got some pics of me and all the kids together the other night...I love being at home with all of them!

Much To Catch Up On...

To start I FINALLY finished the Mary book. Wow it took me forever...I wouldn't recommend it. It is just way too slow and every other chapter is history about Mary sightings and what not. So now that I am done reading that I am back to my Sookie Stackhouse vampire books...woohoo....I am on number 3 of 8....much to read!






Secondly, I had my holiday party...the night before I had to fly out...probably not the best idea but it was tons of fun and I am glad I did it. Everyone came over (minus Suz and Bronwyn)and brought food and presents!! Celaschi especially made it entertaining...to be expected though. Oh and Mia got a sweater FINALLY...I search every store in the Pittsburgh area for an extra large and found 2...this was the better of them.



Next, the girls sang a duet at the church Christmas program...they were too cute in their matching dresses. I was so lucky to do their hair...Syd's was stick straight even after hot rollers...has her mom's hair. Mallory's kind of curled a little. They sang so beautifully...I was a very proud tita.



Lastly, tonight I gave the boys a bath and put them in matching PJs...they are so precious...I am so lucky to have "two boys" (as Maverick calls them). Mallory just walked in from gymnastics...so she squeezed into one of the pictures...I hear she is a natural so I cannot wait to see her.

Grad School Prom

This past Friday evening CMU/Heinz College put on an end of the semester semi-formal...a prom for graduate students if you will (oh no!). However, it was a lot of fun to get dressed up, eat a nice dinner, and dance with my friends. My two dates were Kirsten and Celaschi; I knew that if I brought them the evening was sure to be fantastic...and it was! (thanks guys!!) I will admit we were kinda the life of the party...at least when it came to the dancing. I can not wait till next year!!

After the party we all came to my house plus two others and tried to order a pizza but the pizza place was closed...at midnight on a Friday?!?!? Oh well it was getting late especially because all of us had to study for finals this week. Two papers and one final down...two more finals to go....then I am off to ARIZONA!!

Here are some pictures of the soiree...

I got 168 out of 239...apparently I have no life

This was on one of my friend's FB profiles...I was curious since I watch a lot of movies.

SUPPOSEDLY - if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list.

( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
(x) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
(x) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total: 7

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) Anchorman
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
(x) Saw
(x) Saw II
(x) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 17

(x) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(x) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 22

(x) Harry Potter 1
( ) Harry Potter 2
( ) Harry Potter 3
( ) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
(x) Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 27

(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
(x) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(x) White Chicks
(x) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
(x) Robots
Total so far: 37

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(x) Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 45

(x) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
(x) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
(x) Final Destination
(x) Final Destination 2
(x) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
(x) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber
Total so far: 54


(x) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
(x) From Hell
(x) Hellboy
(x) Secret Window
(x) I Am Sam
(x) The Whole Nine Yards
(x) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 63

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
(x) Coach Carter
(x) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
(x) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 72

(x) Bad Boys
(x) Bad Boys 2
(x) Joy Ride
(x) Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
(x) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(x) Curious George
Total so far: 84

(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
(x) A Bronx Tale
(x) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
(x) My Bosses Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 93

( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
(x) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 102

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
(x) Sky High
(x) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
(x) The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
(x) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 117

(x) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
(x) Old School
(x) The Notebook
(x) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 123

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 129

(x) Baseketball
(x) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
(x) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
(x) Mothman Prophecies
(x) American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 145

(x) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
( ) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 148

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
(x) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
( ) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
(x) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(x) Waterworld
Total so far: 152

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
(x) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 155

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 161

(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
(x) Team America: World Police
(x) Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
(x) Hannibal

Total so far: 168

Christmas Decorating

This weekend we put up the tree, lights, wreaths, and stockings! Our place is looking GREAT! I hope you enjoy the pictures...we all worked hard putting it together...Lisa and I did the wreaths all by ourselves...impressive huh?!?!

Oh and it was Preston's birthday yesterday so we all went out and had a little fun...it was much needed considering the next two weeks are going to be intense and stressful for me...YIKES.

Thanksgiving Week

For the Thanksgiving holiday I met up with John in Philly and spent some time with his family for dinner in Freehold, NJ.

After John and I flew in we went to dinner at a little pizza place outside of the Ben Franklin Science Museum and then went to the late IMAX showing of Madagascar 2. Loved it..although I think the first one was the best.

The next day we went to NJ to his sister's house and spent the entire day eating, doing puzzles, playing wii, and having tons of fun! I had missed them so much and I was glad that I was able to see them again. Oh and my entire right arm/elbow/shoulder were sore from Boom Blox.

Friday we woke up semi early and went to the Rocky steps and statue, the JFK plaza, Liberty Bell, all the old buildings around that area, and then the mall. The mall on Black Friday was a horrible mistake. I only went to two stores, H&M and VS, but I got some cute things...so worth it! We also went to see Four Christmases...it was funny. But there were so many people and they were rude!! I will never go out in public on Black Friday again...mark my words people. After the movie we went back to the hotel and relaxed...ordered steak, mashed potatoes, and asparagus...I finally ordered a Marriott Steak from room service...something my niece did at the age of 4 or 5 (I'm 22).

Saturday I flew home and it was back to reality...so sad. But I received a letter from my sissy with pictures of the kids so it made being back here a little better. I cannot wait till the next time I get to fly...it will be in a few weeks to AZ for a MONTH!!!

"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel." ~Author Unknown

I read Shay's blog and thought what a great idea...why had a post about what I am thankful for on Thanksgiving not occurred to me. After some Google searching I found the above quote and thought it was perfect.

Today is a great day to let everyone know that you are thankful for much...but why wait for today...it comes but once a year. Do our blessing only come once a year?...NO, they do not. I wish I was more thankful for all that I have. It seems that all I ever do is complain...and for as miserable as I sometimes sound I am quite happy, blessed, and thankful for it! So here is a short list of things for which I am truly thankful for...

1. My family. This of course is at the top of my list...as I have always said...when the day is over and everything is said and done the only people who matter and who will always be there for you is your family...so enjoy and love them more than anyone else.

2. The gospel. At this point in my life I struggle with a lot and I am not the best church goer...but I feel that because I grew up with the gospel I am a much stronger, caring, and understanding individual. I love Heavenly Father and am thankful for the life he has given me and the family he has surrounded me with.

3. My friends. Living far from family I have had to lean on those around me...my friends. They have helped and been there for me (when usually a family member would step up)...they are my family here and I am so so thankful.

4. My health, mind, and body. I am so blessed to have a healthy body and mind. I rely on them every second of every day. I often forget how fortunate I am to do and solve the most simple tasks in life.

Twilight.....finally!

This past Monday I was FINALLY able to see Twilight. It seemed that for reasons unknown I was NOT suppose to see this movie. At first I did not have anyone to see it with (I was not at home with my crazy, party throwing sister). Then Celaschi told me she was taking a vampire literature class (why does my program NOT have that?!?!) and would LOVE to go with me...YEAH!!! Except she had to go to her sister's wedding over the weekend and would not be back in town until Sunday evening...so there went my hopes of seeing it at midnight (of Thursday). Well Sunday rolled around and I had group work and Celaschi told me Lia wanted to join us but could not do it until Monday night...I said I could wait but it was going to have to be a later showing...I have class until 8:30. So a 9:25 showing it would have to be...but what do you know...on the way to the theater we get a FLAT TIRE...so after an hour or so wait for the AAA man we finally had a little doughnut tire and off we went to the 10:15 showing...we didn't care how bitchy we would be the next morning...WE WERE GOING TO SEE THE MOVIE!! And thank goodness I finally got there and got it out of the way...and I can honestly say I am looking forward to the second one. However, the movie was extremely corny and ridiculous at times...probably one of the not so good movies I have seen. BUT since I am absolutely in love with the books and the characters it was not so bad...and I could not not love it...despite its flaws. Oh well, the movie is never like the books or the characters you imagine.

SO SAD...the first season of True Blood is over. I am so glad Zack was able to get them for me to watch...thanks! I CANNOT wait till next season...and John's getting me the rest of the books in the series...I have much to read over Christmas break.

I am still obsessed with Vampires and probably will be forever...I cannot get enough!