2011 - the year of Barbie

Howdy ya'll!  It's been a while hasn't it?

I just downloaded our Christmas pictures this past weekend, I'm so slow this year so far.  I'm trying to take on the mantra of enjoy each and every moment and if stuff doesn't get done...oh well.  LOL! 

I'm also focusing a little more on me this year, which will include, eating healthier and exercising more (the usual) and also increasing my Barbie collection and just doing the Barbie thing more.  I think my girls enjoy it and like to tell people that i collect Barbies, so I'm unleashing my inner Barbie fetish and going for the gusto with my Barbie Collection.  LOL!  I'll have to take pictures of them all and start a Barbie blog next.  hee hee!  3 blogs to keep up with...that's a lot, huh?

Okay well enough of Barbie...for now...we are all good and working hard on the healthy side of life in our household.  Walt finally went and had his stress test done and says he feels better now that that is finished.  I think he was just very anxious about having heart problems or high blood pressure and the fact that his cholesterol was out the roof didn't help at all.  hes' on meds for that and we are changing the way we eat.  The only one suffering is Bella, she's hating the new eating lifestyle, she wants her chicken nuggets and french fries.  LOL! She'll survive though.  Juliana likes it and when its there and ready to eat, she'll eat it, but if she had to choose, she'll choose the junk food every time.  Nothing unusual there at all.

The girls are thriving at school and kicking butts and taking names and doing so well, I am so proud of them.

I guess that's it for now.  Here is the picture of my Thanksgiving Barbie I got at Thanksgiving time, one of a kind doll only available for purchase by Barbie Fan Club Members, (which I am).  WELL now you can get her on eBay...UGH!  Isn't she pretty?:

The Holidays...2010

Well it's that time of year...again. We just finished Thanksgiving this past week and now we're on to the mad rush of Christmas. Christmas music playing, Christmas trees sparkling with lights, yard decorations up and illuminating the sky, it's a magical time of year.

How did it get here so dang fast is what i want to know????

I feel overwhelmed a bit as it feels like we just did the Christmas Holidays. I'll survive and make it through and am almost finished Christmas shopping, WOOHOO, but seriously! PHEW! I am just hoping to be able to sit and relax and enjoy this season a little more than last year, think that is possible? LOL! I sure hope so, should be a good Christmas for our house.

Okay enough rambling for now, have a superb Christmas Season everyone!

My Girls

Above is a slideshow of my girls and their cheering and drill team pictures. They are such big girls now and I am so proud of them. I can't believe how fast they are growing up. Enjoy!

First day of School 2010

Well yesterday was the first day of school for our school district, and I have bittersweet feelings about it too.

Juliana is now 11 and started the 6th grade today at Clear Lake Intermediate School. Between remembering where 8 classes are, a locker combination and dealing with the 7th and 8th graders, it's going to be a challenge, but a challenge, Juliana seems up to tackling. She is also in band for the first time and going to try and play the Clarinet. That will make it fun also. Her afternoon report at the end of the day was "the lunch line was really long and I ate what I think was Chicken Fried steak, everyone said it was Chicken Fried Steak so i ate it...it was good." She also reported that they have a slushy machine and a pretzel cart. Oh it's the little things that brighten our days. LOL!

Bella is now 5 and started Kindergarten at Clear Lake Elementary School. She walked right into her classroom and waved at everyone as if to say "Hello kindergarten, I have arrived." She was thrown off at first by her name on her cubbie and name tag being Isabella, that threw her off for a minute. The teacher reassured her she would change it to Bella. She posed for the camera one last time and then we were on our way. Bella's end of day report was that she got a green for conduct and she got TWO stickers and most people only got 1. She said that getting 2 stickers meant that she got the bestest behavior ever. She was very proud of herself, as she should be.

I am very proud of our girls, I think we've done a pretty good job with them and will continue to do so. It hasn't been easy and the bumpy roads are still ahead, especially with Juliana and the onset of hormones, attitude, boys and just life kicking her in the butt, but hopefully with a little prayer, we will survive this also.

As I am very proud of them, it was a bitter sweet day for me, no more babies, they are all grown up and blossoming into 2 beautiful young ladies and it's somewhat sad for me as a mom. No more holding them in my lap and babying them like I use to. They will now start to spread their wings and pull away from the nest and start to be more independent and do more on their own insisting "I can do it, mom, I don't need help." Then I'll just be there to pick them up if/when they fall. I guess I am also moving to the next chapter of my life/job as mom.

It's going to be a transition for us all, god speed Ugalde Family! LOL!

Enjoy the slideshow below of the first day of school: