Our family began a tradition of decorating cookies on Christmas Eve. We normally do this at Nana and Papa John's house and the kids love it because they know Papa John's very favorite thing in this world besides Tacos and UCLA is cookies! SO we were a bit sad this year as it was the first year we did them with out them. The kids did a great job and they had a lot of fun. They really ended up getting into it. Every that is besides Gabriel..he helped get frosting onto one and i helped him shake sprinkles on it and off he went as he shoved it into his mouth and then he was done. These are the sweet memories as a parent that you Thank God for! I know that it is a treasured moment that I will never forget and pray one day when they grow up and have kids of their own they will remember these traditions and pass them down to their kids and create new traditions. I can hear them now...."when I was your age..." hahahahahaa

Logan and Cyrenity came over and helped decorate cookies...this was their first time doing this and they had a lot of fun...All the kids really enjoyed it :)
These are their masterpieces! Yummy!!!!

Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas from the Barrera's

Blessings from Virginia

Merry Christmas from Virginia! We love and miss you all!!!! Be blessed today and always as you rejoice in the birth of our Lord and Savior!

Christmas Time at Yankee Candle

Gabriel bakes with mom

The night before Thanksgiving mom decided to stay home and keep Gabe while we went to church. So they baked banana and pumpkin bread. He thought it was very cool that she let him help and stir.

All ready to go in the oven. Do you see the smile on Gabe's face?? I think he had fun!

Pictures of Mom visiting VA!

Ferry Ride

When anyone visits the kids have a plan of what they want to show them and take them...so when mom was here, they were very excited to take and show her all the places they have been calling and telling her about.Their most favorite thing to do is ride the ferry. It is really cool and free...so PRAISE GOD! Mom thought it was cool too....we had to laugh at her though...we parked on the ferry..got out went up top deck and looked out over the water and at the birds and then got back in the van and made it to the other side which is Surry Virginia...and started the van up and I said buckle up kids...and mom says where are you going? I said we have to get off and make a U-turn and get back on and go back home..... She thought we just stayed on the ferry and it made a turn or something and took us back!!!! Hahahahahaha...Californians!!!! Just kidding...it did make me laugh though...I often wonder since then...what she thought the 20 cars behind us were going to do??? Fun Times :)

Jamestown Ferry

Destinee's Family Bday Dinner

Destinee's 13th birthday

Thansgiving 2008

Family from North Carolina Visit

It has been many years since I have seen my Aunt Addie and family. I think the last time I saw them was at their wedding anniversary renewal and Destinee was only like 2 years old. So they drove down or up from N.C. this past month and visited for the day.It was nice cause mom was here from California and we all got to hang out.Aunt Addie made the most delicious chocolate chocolate chip cake! I think every night for the next week John and my mom (after the kids went to bed...hahahahaha) would pour a hot cup of coffee and sit down with their cake and coffee and were in heaven!

It was lots of fun seeing them and having them meet the whole family. The kids really enjoyed seeing them and are looking forward to our trip to North Carolina to their house!

The Lewis Family Visits

Reunited and it feels so good...LOL

After many months of sitting in the shop for repairs...John has been reunited with his beloved Cavalier! It makes me laugh...but he was like a kid in a toy store the day my grandma helped rescue it out of the shop. He spent hours out checking it out and then the next week was like a holiday for him!

In all seriousness...it is nice once again to have 2 cars! It is terrible to have to manage to busy people schedules with only one available car!

Nathaniel's Colonial Tea

Colonial Tea at Nathaniel's School

My mom and I were able to go to Nathaniel's school last week for a Colonial Tea...they have been learning about Colonial times. It was really cute the costumes they made and the little dance and the poems they recited. Then they were served hot tea (brought from England by one of the little girls grandmas) with sugar cubes and milk, as well as, scones and pumpkin muffins. Nathaniel loved the tea..he must have asked for 4 cups! All the kids had fun and my mom and I enjoyed ourselves! Nathaniel looked adorable..poor little man is so tiny and John's dress shirt was so big for him even tucked in and rolled up....although I must say he was the cutest Colonial guy there ;)

Miles of Smiles :)

In the month of November (sorry I have been busy and now trying to go back and see what was good to blog about) The Virginia Living Museum hosted "The Miles of Smiles" event for Special Needs children's and their sibling and caretakers. We all got to go for free...we had never been so it was a neat experience for us all. The kids really enjoyed it...and their favorite part was that they gave each kid a gift back and in the gift bags were Webkins. My kids don't have any and they were so excited!!! I didn't even know what they were or why they were so happy to get them...I have since been educated :) It was a fun evening for us all...Gabriel's favorite part was the "Squeaker" (that's what he calls squirrels) in a cage ( funny since we have a million in our own yard) and the special needs kids and young adults who performed karate show! He said Hi Ya! for many days afterwards :)

Virginia Living Museum