Time Flies...

What is going on? Today Dani was able to celebrate her 1/2 birthday (since she has a summer birthday) at Preschool with cupcakes and fruit punch! How fun for her- we LOVE their preschool and the teachers, they are soooo wonderful with the kids.

We are working on Dani's speech and she is making some progress on the ending of her words. We also are testing Dani to see if her language skills needs help. I didn't realize that speech and language were two completely different things. Wow.

Still trying to figure out what to do for Kindergarten with Melia. Cannot believe she starts this year! Cannot believe she is turning FIVE years old next month. Seems like yesterday she was a tiny baby.

Thinking about inviting Melia's friends to participate on a float in a parade that my company is participating in for her birthday? (followed by cake/ice cream) If you were 3-8 years old- would that be fun?

Need potty training advice for Dani...first a funny. Found out Dani has been tricking me. In the morning she comes in my room- saying that her diaper is clean. I tell her I am sooo proud of her. Guess what I found this morning? THREE diapers that she hid in the corner of her room! She has been taking them off in the morning and putting on a fresh one. Helllooo- that tells me she is ready to use the potty if she can CHANGE her own diaper!?

What else? Next week the girls Preschool is having a Mommy & Me Night at school- how much fun will that be!?

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!
Jaime

September and October 2005

September and October 2005 285
Originally uploaded by jcscareer1

Wow- this was from October 2005, the very first time my sister Mitzi met Melia.

Nov, 2005

Sept - Nov 18 2005 192
Originally uploaded by jcscareer1

Adoption Day in US.

Dani's Grins

Dani's Grins
Originally uploaded by jcscareer1

Dani 2006

Melia2006_0924_175314
Originally uploaded by jcscareer1

First time we met Dani...

Melia2006_0923_145649
Originally uploaded by jcscareer1

Cleaning up my old Flickr account and found some wonderful photo's...

Melia Interview

What is your favorite color? Uh- Blue, dark blue

What do you want to be when you grow up? - a Papa Ricky, a nice Papa Ricky. A nice Momma, I wanna be a Mommy. Uh- a teacher, a nice teacher. Uhh....

My favorite cartoon is Mickey Mouse and Olivia.

My favorite outfit is my Mickey Mouse shirt that I am wearing.

My favorite thing to do is play toys and play with my Handy Manny repair shop.

I am really good at doing puzzles and reading books.

I am learning how to read the words Mom, Dad, I, See, Like, Papa Ricky, Grandma Nellie, Dani, Bob, Jan, Cat, Dog and Hello Kitty.

My best friend is Amanda and Micayla. Also Nathan, ummmm....Kaley and Kiley. My favorite is Skylar, Kaley and Kiley and Ava and Dani.

My favorite thing to do with Mommy is play teacher and dance party.

My favorite thing to do with Daddy is play Sonic on XBox. He always plays video games and likes to watch football.

My favorite thing to do with Papa Ricky is to watch Lilo and Stitch.

My favorite song is the FireFly Song and Paparatzi (I don't know how to spell it), Taylor Swift- I wear short shorts, she wears t-shirts, I'm cheer captain and she's on the bleachers (she just sang it.)

I want Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, I want dat for my birthday and a Handy Manny Repair Shop Bench.Oh- and Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

My favorite food to eat is grilled cheese and meat...mmmm....chicken nuggets..mmmm...

My favorite book is 101 Dalmations.

I don't want to go on vacation this year.

I'm excited to start Kindergarten- I'll make something special for Mommy. Oh yes- um, I'll make Lemonade for you Stinky head.

My favorite Movie is Hello Kitty.

The End.

Question for ya'll Bloggers?

Hello Friends,

If you would like to donate to Trina's Fund- please click here... Very, very sad-this fund has been set up to help Trina's son Asa.

Life has been busy. I am stressing and shouldn't be (considering the post above) on where to send the kiddo's next year. Should Melia go to public school or private school for Kindergarten? Do we have the money to go private, do we have the resources to provide transportation? Tough decisions.

Should Dani stay at her current preschool- which we LOVE or find one that works better for us with transportation. Both Jason and I work full time- so I am driving them to and from for 3 hours twice per week amd it is tough. (Leave work at 11:30am, pick up from Cheri's, then take to Preschool for 12:30pm start, back to work- stay until 2:45pm and leave to pick them up again.)

Nothing is the end of the world- but I would love someone to be my decision making manager and say.. "Jaime, this is the right decision-------", wouldn't that be awesome?

Other news...

We are working on Potty training Dani- she is resistant. Thankfully she's cute. lol. Still working on her speech- I think it is getting a little better, but we need more therapy.

Melia is a nut. Her learning is incredible right now and the absorbtion rate is insane. We have fun conversations. Just wish she liked to sleep!!! She is a night owl and that just doesn't work.

Here is my question- I cannot upload anymore pictures to this blog- it's full!? Yes, don't be surprised. hee hee. (I only have 4K pix on my external hard drive.) How can I add more without deleting my memories?

Also working on the "Love Dare" with my neighbor- we are both doing it and our husbands don't know! I think I am freaking him out. :)

Have a blessed week!
Jaime

What a MERRY Christmas!

We had the most fantastic Christmas. The girls were beside themselves with excitement for what Santa "might" bring them!

It all started with a little guy named Elfdarink DeHart. (Thank you to Lisa at work for telling me about him!) The girls knew that our Elf was reporting to Santa Claus everynight while they slept and telling him if they had been naughty or nice. Boy- did that change their behavior. Melia has been an angel for over a month because she didn't want Elfdarink to tell Santa she wasn't behaving. (Melia named him Elfdarink and Dani gave him the last name of DeHart.)

All Melia wanted for Chrismas was a Hello Kitty TV (Santa loves Craigslist) and a MickeyMouse House key from Lowes. Dani wanted a Vetta Jacket and then two days before Christmas she decided that Santa wanted to bring her a Spiderman TV! Sorry!!!

Melia ended up getting a Hello Kitty TV/DVD Player, Cinderalla Video Game, Vetta Polo, Leaf Frog Tag, Handy Manny tools, Fake Wii, Princess and the Frog band set. Dani ended up getting MyTwinn Doll, Vetta Jacket, Leapfrog Tag Jr, Hanny Manny tools, Spongebob handheld game, Jesus Doll- sooo cute (she likes to sleep with the New Testament!), Music CD's, and more.

Jason and I put together a bunkbed in Melia's room yesterday- it looks like a big girl room now.
:(
We moved her toddler bed into Dani's room. Dani loves her new room- we moved furniture around.

Already have all Christmas stuff put away and house cleaned- we had to say good bye to Elfdarink DeHart until next year.

Wishing all of you a wonderful, happy, healthy and safe New Year!

Tried out my new backdrop...

Okay- so I need some photography help...

Jason bought me a stand two years ago for my Birthday and a white muslim backdrop last year, so I figured it was time to put it together and try it out...Maybe I can talk him into lights this year for Christmas! :)

Does anyone have recommendations for an economical type of photography lighting that would be used by a Mom that is addicted to taking photo's of her kids????

Melia had a fever last night- she was talking in her sleep all night and shivering... :(

This is her "deep thought" pose

Silly Sisters- think this was Mel's only smile today.

What an innocent face...

This is a "Classic" Dani attitude face- although she was being silly here.

How cute is this?

I LOVE this photo of Dani...not sure why- she looks precious. This is my new favorite- I need to try some shadows and tones.

I like her expression here too.



This past week has been sooo busy (but good)- Sunday, I met up with friends and family for a Candle lit Service for Advent, soooo lovely.


It was sooo nice- thank you Kathy for inviting me!

My Mother in law made these glasses for all of us.

Look at the lovely table decor

Then Monday night- met up with our cousins for photo's... I did not take these, but I LOVE them.

Then we got all of the GREAT GREAT Grandchildren together for a group photo for our 97 year old Grandmother.

The oldest Great Great Grandchild is 6 and the youngest is 3.

I LOVE this.

Wednesday night we got the tree out, Thursday night- we had our niece over and cranked up the Christmas music, made cookies, drank eggnog and decorated the tree. The girls did a great job helping.

Wishing everyone a great weekend.

Jaime

p.s. a friend at my work told me about the "Elf on the Shelf" at Hallmark (maybe other places)- it has changed our lives. Check it out. Melia is now wearing outfits she cannot stand because she does not want the Elf to report back to Santa that she was naughty. hee hee.

Black Friday...

Can you say "Cheesy?"

So Jason decided NOT to go to sleep Thursday night and this is what I woke up to Friday morning at 6:30am...



a 50" flat panel television. Yup- he was already playing video games.



Dani cutie pie.

Other neighbors- Kyle/Sarah jamming out to Guitar Hero. Sarah Rocks. :)

Having a wonderful time- relaxing now. Our neighbors are coming over to fry the 13 lb fish that I CAUGHT. Wow. Too bad I don't eat fish. :(

Have a great week!
The Salas'

That's right. Yup. That's my Girl...

Melia's Student of the Week... Melia's Student of the Week!!! We even made up a dance

to go with the song. :)

So proud of my angel bug. She has a poster we need to fill out, a sticker and an award!

Poor Dani- she wants to be student of the week. Maybe we'll nominate her for Potty Award of the Week.

Have a great weekend!