Who dat!

I pledge allegiance to da Saints and da great city of New Orleans, and to da Super Bowl, for which we'll win, one city, below sea level, under God, with Mardi Gras and king cakes for all.

Happy Birthday....

....to me,

Happy Birthday to me,

Happy Birthday to me-eeee,

Happy Birthday to me!

Yes, I'm getting all grown up. After 28 years I have a husband of 7 1/2 years, a six year old, a three year old, wish I could say I had a college degree (does an Associates count???), a house, and a minivan (wahoo!) to show for it. I feel very lucky and blessed indeed.

Caiden told me I didn't look any bigger. I guess I should take that as a compliment. I've been trying not to pack on the pounds! Not an easy thing with all the Christmas candy lying around the house. I did run/walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes today and thought I was going to DIE! I'm not sure I'll ever be a fan of that machine. Although, I would sure welcome a few inches in height, but let's get real, I haven't grown in 16 years. My dream of being 5'8 is one I let go of a long time ago.... Anyway, I think I got off track. My sweet husband is going to take me to dinner and movie. It's been a long time since we've done BOTH a dinner and a movie in one night. I hope we're up for it, ha!

A recent conversation with Paige....

....went like this:

Paige: (thoughtful) "Mom?"

Me: "Yes?"

Paige: "Um....I'm....I'm just....I'm....I'm just real happy.....and I just....really like you."

Me: (heart melts)

For the record, I'm real happy too and I really, really, really, really LOVE my little Paigey.

Leah's baptism....and a Happy New Year!

A few days after Christmas, me and the kids drove over to Montana to be at their cousin, Leah's, baptism. I am glad they invited us to this special event....

I love how Paige has moved on from the silly-face pose to the pinching-her-own-cheek pose now in every picture....

We drove home on New Years Eve and had planned to hang out with friends that night, but Caiden decided to throw up all the way home. (That was real fun). I'm not sure if it was car sickness (which he has gotten on occasion) or what Paige had. Either way, no one really wanted to hang out with us with a possibly sick child. Understandably so. However, they were adament that they wanted to stay up till midnight to scream "Happy New Year" but after a long drive (with the wonderful aroma of throw up) and 2 fighting children, I was D.O.N.E. So at 8 pm I convinced the kids that it was midnight and they stood on the front porch and screamed "Happy New Year" to the neighborhood and then I put them to bed and enjoyed a quiet evening with my husband. Yes, that may have been cruel, but it may be the last time I can take advantage of them not knowing how to tell time AND it is better that we ring in the new year without me strangling my 2 children, right? I think so too.

Christmas 2009

Another Merry Christmas for the Gubler family....We spent this year at home with Casey's family and had a merry ole' time. Christmas Eve was spent with Grandma and Grandpa Gubler at their home where we read several Christmas stories. I always let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve and so it is the only time I think I've ever heard them ask to leave. Once home, they opened their one present and what a tease that was. "Just one more, can't we open just one more? Pleeeeease??????" Then off to bed as we read the Christmas story from the bible. Caiden could not contain his excitement! I told him he couldn't wake us up till it was light outside, but the next morning it was so cloudy that it never appeared to be light. Casey and I woke up at 7 am and wondered where in the heck they were. Poor kids were just laying in bed awake waiting and waiting for the sun to rise! Caiden knew instantly from the shape of the box the double sided Star Wars light saber and ripped it open. "This is just what I wanted!!!!" Then Paige opens her first present, holds up the box and says "this is just what I wanted!!!!" I had to explain to her that the present was inside the box, not the box itself. Too cute...
One of her favorites was the princess costumes....

....and for Caiden his Millenium Falcon....

I totally thought I got a picture with the kids by the Christmas tree, but I was getting annoyed with Jasper constantly wanting to climb the tree that I took it down in a hurry before I realized I had forgot. Argh!

Ok, I know the standard treat for Rudolph is carrots, but I blew it and forgot to buy some, so we figured maybe they'd like some celery sticks. It's kinda the same thing, right?

And this is how we spent the day after Christmas....Paige repeatedly throwing up all morning long. I'm not sure if it was the flu or the amount pure junk she ate on Christmas day. All in all, I am grateful for how blessed we are in our lives and for the wonderful Christmas we had with each other!