~Success~

What makes one successful? Is it being in the popular group? Is it getting straight A's? Is it winning every race or competition you enter? Is it being the lead in every play? Is it graduating from college? Is it having a career as a doctor or lawyer? Yes, all of the above, show success. But what if someone isn't in the popular group, doesn't get straight A's, doesn't win every race, etc.? Are they not successful, too?

To most, I'm probably, not considered a successful person and, I think, that's unfair. It's true that I was never a go-getter. I didn't try to excel at sports - I swam, competitively, for about 10 years, but I couldn't have cared less if I won the race or what my time was (much to my dad's chagrin). I only stuck with it for so long because I loved being w/ my friends - it never had anything to do with the comptetion or improving my times. I never tried to get good grades - I was fine with being an average student. I didn't graduate from college - I attended for about three years only because I felt it was expected of me and, also, because it's where my friends were. I chose to not have a career - my longest job was being a nanny for six years. I never planned ahead or really gave much thought to the future - I have always lived in the moment. I don't do something to accomplish greatness - I do something because it makes me happy. Why does that make me unsuccessful??

My attitude has always been - if it's not fun, why do it? If something doesn't make me happy, why bother? When I was a nanny I heard many times - "Well, you can't do this forever. You have to get a real job". Hearing that always confused me because I was happy with that job - really happy! I was doing a job I loved - isn't that success?? But in society being a nanny isn't a successful or a "real" job.

Success, in my opinion, is being happy - if you are happy with the choices you make in life then you are a success. I will make sure that my girls know they are a success no matter what they do. If working at McDonald's makes them happy - great! If being a doctor makes them happy - great! If never winning a competition is okay -great! If winning every race is what they want - great! As long as they are happy with whatever they are doing in life they will be a success. I will encourage their endeavors - big or small - and I will always be proud of them!

I love the following quote by Dale Carnegie:

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing."

~Merry Christmas~

We had a wonderful Christmas. We shared the morning w/ our girls opening gifts, having breakfast and talking. In the afternoon, the DeLaGarza side of the family came to our house. We had lots of great food (tamales - YUM!!!) and we had a great fun doing the gift exchange game, as always!

Unfortunately, Brenna is not feeling well but, hopefully, she will get better soon!!

~I Triple Dog Dare You~

We're relaxing at home watching A Christmas Story!!! We love this movie!! "You'll shoot your eye out"!!!!!!! Great movie!

~Xmas Eve~

We've had a wonderful Christmas Eve! This morning we went to Nikki and Dan's to open presents with Nic & Luc and my parents. And tonight we went to Gary and Angie's house to celebrate Christmas with the McEmery's. It was a great day!!!

~Choo Choo Johnny's~

My sister and I took the kids to Choo Choo Johnny's today. It's a neat place and the kids always enjoy going together.

~Holiday Traditions~

I love having holiday traditions! When we had Brenna I tried to come up w/ a few new ones for our family - some stuck, some didn't but I like the ones we ended up with. Every year we go to a Christmas tree farm to cut down our own tree and it's so much fun. We pick out our tree and then we go the shop to have hot chocolate or apple cider and a snack. The last couple of years my parents buy the kids a little gift in the shop and, of course, they love that! We always take a family pic before leaving the farm - this is a must!!! After the tree farm we go home to bake and decorate Xmas cookies. This year we did a couple Xmas crafts, too. It's a day I look forward to every year.

We let the girls put the ornaments on the tree every year and they alternate years putting the Xmas star on top of the tree. There are usually bare areas where they didn't put ornaments and the star is usually crooked but we don't care. It's not about having a perfectly decorated tree - it's about letting the girls enjoy themselves and that makes the tree perfect, no matter how it looks!

Xmas Eve night we bake cookies for Santa and we put them out w/ a glass of milk so he can quench his thirst. The last couple of years Brenna has left a letter for Santa and he writes her a little note back which she loves!

Right before bedtime the girls sprinkle oats on the front lawn for the reindeer because they need a snack break, too!!!

Another thing we do every year is help a family in need. We donate a few gifts to a family who are less fortunate. We usually visit the family to drop off the gifts and it's wonderful to know we are helping and making a difference for a family.

~Homeschooling~

Some of our family members and friends don't agree with (or understand) our decision to homeschool and I've never really felt the need to explain it. When I started thinking about it I shared my thoughts w/ Dave because I knew he had to be on board if it was something we were going to do so we researched it for a few weeks and decided to go for it. So, here we are over 4 years later and I couldn't be happier w/ our decision.

There are MANY reasons we made the decision to homeschool but the one that got the ball rolling was a concern about having enough time w/ my child. At the young age of five, kindergarten was nearing for Brenna and something was not sitting right with me. Already, it was time to send her off to spend her days with strangers? Really? I only get her for 5 years? And, now, for about 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, for the next 12 years, someone else will have this precious time with her? They won't even realize how lucky they are to have her! I always knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom but, too soon, after 5 short years, it seemed my time was up. I couldn't wrap my brain around it. I read somewhere (and I agree) - quantity AND quality time with your child is both important and without quantity of time there cannot be quality of time. I love being w/ my kids - most days :) - and I am so grateful for this time I have with them. I get to see (and help) my girls learn, play, explore, live! I'm not leaving all that to someone else and I am so happy about that ... and so are they!

So, for now, homeschooling is working for my girls - it's working for our family as a whole, and that's what matters the most.

~Early Xmas~

We had Xmas at Dave's parents' on Sunday - everyone had a great time!

~Adorable~

I came downstairs Sunday morning to find Brenna sitting w/ the dogs reading the Sunday cartoons - so adorable!

~Ever After~

Brenna performed in the "Ever After" play the other night. She played one of the ugly step-sisters and she did a WONDERFUL job. I am in awe of her and so proud!!! She has no fear while she is up there on stage! She has gobs of confidence and it's a joy to watch her.

~Caroling~

Our homeschool group visited a nursing home to do some caroling for the residents. The kids had a great time and the residents loved watching the kids!!

~ER Visit~

Dave spent most of the day in the emergency room. He ended up getting cellulitis from an insect bite or something. They wanted to keep him overnight but he talked the doctor out of it so he is home resting now. I had to take some pictures of him while he was there.:)

~60th Birthday~

My dad is turning 60 on Monday - wow! We had a little party for him tonight.

~Amazing Quote~

“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that child is someone today.” - Stacia Tauscher

~Acorns to Oaks~

Acorns to Oaks is the name of our homeschool group - I love the name and I love the group even more. The kids are great and so are the moms! We've done some really fun stuff the last couple months.

~Really?~

It's been almost 2 months since I last posted here?? Really???! Time flies - FLIES, I tell you! I can't keep up! I'm amazed that Xmas is next week. I'm amazed that ANOTHER year has flown by in a blink of an eye. I wish I could slow it all down. Life is moving so fast with my girls - they are getting so big.

We've had a busy but great couple months. We've done some hiking at the cabin, had my sister's baby shower, celebrated Thanksgiving, visited a Xmas tree farm to find our tree, decorated Xmas cookies, the girls' little cousin came for a visit - lots of stuff! Take a look at the pictures - enjoy!