Happy New Year's

Since the new year is just a couple of days away, I wanted to list some things that I hope for in 2009:
-That my children stay healthy and happy
- my hubby and me continue to stay close and love each other more with each day
-my mom's health will get better and she can one day enjoy just being 'Meme' and not have to work the long hours she does to support everyone around her
-my dad will call more and come see his grand kids
-my brother will stay healthy and no more cancer scares
-I pray that Payton's parents take care of her and realize what a gift she really is
-my friends will prosper in wealth and stay healthy
-I pray that Sal's business will continue to grow and that all his plans he has for us as a family come true this year
-I pray that the economy will get better and that our president will follow through with all his promises
-no more war
-no more children abused
-I pray that Sal and the kids treasure me as much as I do them
-that I have the strength not to give in to any weaknesses and stay strong in my beliefs
-and most of all that God watches over everyone that I love.....

I hope 2009 holds great things for us and for all my friends and family!!!!

Visit with Meme and Payton

Mom and Payton came over to exchange gifts on Saturday night. Payton is so cute with her beautiful blue eyes...I love her dearly!!! And so does Brady and Aryn. She kept grinning at her uncle Sal..it was cute. Here are some updated pics of her:

Aryn's beauty shop

Saturday night we stayed in with the kids and had a good time. I cooked and we watched some tv and then Aryn decided she wanted to play beauty shop with me. I had gotten a new make up kit for Christmas so we got to test it out....I looked a mess after she was done but she was very proud. She made me pose with all the makeup and with my new hairstyles she had given me. She even talked her brother and daddy into playing. I took pics of Brady all fixed up but I promised not to show anyone. He had makeup on and had a headband on...hilarious!! Here are some pics of the night:

Baby Isabella

Baby Isabella made her arrival on Friday December 26th at 4:38 pm...weighing in at 7 lbs and 10 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. She is beautiful!! She has little petite features and TONS of thick black hair.

Jose (Sal's dad), Sal and Brady- carbon copies of each other..crazy!

She was supposed to go home Sunday morning but her bilirubin count was up so they kept her one more night. I am praying she gets to go home soon.

She is already showing some fiesty personality....cries when ever they mess with her, refused to get her picture taken for the internet....already a stubborn little girl!! HMMMM, sounds alot like her big cousin Aryn. :)

Welcome to the family Isabella Marie!!!!
me and sweet Bella
how cute is this....
look at her little rolls :)
awww, so precious

Aryn, Brady and Bella

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Our Christmas started out a little different. Turns out that we had a gas leak. I was out doing some last minute shopping and Sal came home, smelled gas, called the gas company and they came out to do a check. Long story short, the kids and I went to my in laws until the cost was clear. Sal stayed behind until they gave us the all clear. So it was after 9 oclock before we got to go home...so that meant that we didn't have time to make cookies for Santa or anything. Thank goodness we had made brownies the night before.

Christmas Eve

So the kids woke up really early on Christmas morning and was very happpy with their gifts!!!






Later in the morning, the whole Martinez family came over to eat and open presents. Aryn and I were both feeling kind of sickly, so we went to nap for awhile. When we woke up, the house was clean and empty. I felt bad cause we usually play board games and hang out...oh well, the day was still really good.

Aryn's caterpillar crawl

Okay, noone will think this is as funny as Sal and I. But Aryn will crawl underneath a blanket all throughout the house. One morning while getting ready for work, I see this little green blob scoot by the door and thought 'what in the world'? So here is the video just to show you how funny this little girl is! She keeps us laughing all the time. Aryn is very witty and very quick with some of the stuff she says.

Weekend wrap up...

We had a great time with all the boys on Brady's birthday. We had pizza, cookie cake and gifts and then headed over to the Grizzly game. The announcer wished him happy birthday and he was really surprised..here is the video to that!

Saturday we had another basketball game...and we lost to Christ the King...!!! Oh well, they had 12 players to our 7..so our boys were tired but maybe we can get 'em next time.

The kids both stayed all night away from home so it gave Sal and I a chance to play Santa and get all the gifts wrapped.

Sunday we had Brady's family party and played a few games of Uno...my kids love this. Here are some pics from the weekend!

Brady, Zoe (Fran's dog) & Aryn

Happy Birthday Brady!!!

Well today is Brady's 9th birthday!! It is so hard to believe that he is that old! And hard to believe that he was this little 5 lb 11 ounce baby this time 9 years ago. He was so little but oh so cute! Anyway, enough of that before I start getting all emotional.



So this morning we woke him up with kisses and tickles and then with some spankings! And he is really looking forward to his party tonight. Sal and I invited his whole basketball team over for pizza and a cookie cake and then we are taking ALL of them to a Northside game. (pray for us please!) Our friend Chad said that he would make sure they announce his name at the game and would wish him a very happy birthday. He will be so suprised! I will post some pics of the party on Monday! Hope everyone has a great weekend!



Brady- 5 years ago! look how much he has grown!

Aryn's Christmas program

Today was Aryn's singing program at school. I love going to this every year...and this will be out last time too. She will start Kindergarten next year so we won't get to do this again. :(

She was so cute...very animated. All the kids were dressed in there adorable Christmas outfits and sang to the top of their voices...it was precious!

doesn't she look sweet?

very proud parents

Quote of the Day

The other night at our Nightwing party, I got a set of three ornaments...beautiful silver angels and they all had sayings on them. I love quotes, poems or anything like that. Well, one of them I especially loved and I ran across the same saying today, so I felt like maybe I needed to share it.

"I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you. "

I love this in so many different ways...

Nightwing Party

We had our Nightwing Christmas party last night and it was fun..as always. I hadn't felt good all weekend but once I got there, I was glad I went. Court was in town this weekend but I just felt so bad all weekend that I didn't even get to see her. I spent most of the time lying down.


Anyway, at the party we did an ornament exchange...'Dirty Santa' style!! After my St Francis Old World ornament got stolen, I ended up with 3 really cool silver ornaments that had some really neat sayings on them. The party was at Amanda's..her house has become the place for the Nightwing get togethers..great house to entertain in. We ate and had some drinks and got to just talk and hang out. Good time!

me, Michelle and Tiff

Oh and I forgot to mention that IC won again this past Saturday...Brady had 4 points but the whole team did awesome!!! Go Buffs!!

Santa

Brady at El Lorito

Aryn also flashing the peace sign..funny

So the kids and I had a nite with just us. Sal had to work late so I took them to eat and then to see Santa. Brady had told me yesterday morning that he was too big to sit on Santa's lap so I didn't even have their picture taken. So we ate at their favorite restaurant ( El Lorito) and then headed to the mall. I snapped this pic with my phone while waiting to talk to Santa.

my sweet kids
What is funny is that after Aryn was thru giving her long list of 'I wants' Brady walked up and Santa put him on his lap. His eyes got really big and I just laughed. He went with it cause he is so easy going. After that ,we headed to look for teachers gifts..got em' and headed home. It was fun! This is probably the last year that Brady will believe in Santa...which makes me really, really sad!!! :(

Our tree is finally up!!!

We had another busy weekend, but it was really good. Saturday afternoon, Brady had 2 games in Mulberry...we won both!!! It was the Jamboree in which they played 2 mini games. Brady scored 11 or 12 points. He has made such a big improvement since last year...maybe cause Sal is coaching him. :) He does not like to disappoint his daddy at all!

And then Saturday night, we got the tree up and Aryn decorated hers and Brady's 'Charlie Brown' tree. It is literally decorated by them...all their decorations from school and the lights are on there all crazy. It is their tree so they get to whatever they want with it. And then Brady gave us all the gifts he had bought at their Bazaar. He gets so excited about this!! I got an oven mit :) and Sal got a frame and his sister got a new bracelet. He is so sweet!

We had our work Christmas party last night at Shogun and that was alot of fun. I had to go by myself because Sal had a coaches meeting at the school..which was fine. But it would have been better with him there! :(

So here are a few pics:

Brady is #35

our tree

Aryn and Brady's tree

Aren't they cute little Santa's helpers?

Thanksgiving and Friends!

What a great holiday and weekend. Thanksgiving Day was a typical, traditional dinner..turkey, ham, dressing and gravy and yummy desserts! We did a late lunch with my inlaws and then my mom came over with Payton later that night. I got some really good pics of her and my kiddos! That little girl is precious and so funny!

Brady, Payton, & Aryn

Friday morning I got up and was out the door at 4am! Craziness EVERYWHERE!!! I had nothing really in mind that I was going to get but you just never know what kind of deals you might stumble upon! So then I hit Kohl's, Old Navy, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and Ulta. I am pretty much done with the kids presents but I still have alot to do. Later that day, me and the kids went to the park to play with some friends....Ruthie, Serena and all the kids. Brad Riggins and his wife and kids joined us too! I haven't seen him since graduation but we have known each other since 7th grade art class. He and his wife, Julie and truly sweet people...so glad we got to see him. I will be adding her photography site to this blog. She takes beautiful pics...

Saturday night was the night for Sal and I to catch up with friends from high school. Even though most of them live here, we rarely get together...mainly, because we all have kids that are involved in sports, etc. We had such a good time. I posted all the pics (well, the ones that I wanted everyone to see) to my Shutterfly..so just click on there to see all of them.

me, Sara, Tisha, Emily & Ruthie

Those who came were: Ruthie and John, Serena and Tripp, Brad and Julie, Ryan and Leah, Chris F., Chad and Teresa, Tisha, Scott, Omar, Sarah , Emily, Pam, Teresa..and my friend Charla. We had some drinks, played some spoons, looked at all pics and laughed. Good times!! So glad we did this...we will have to do it again! Maybe next year, Emily can have it at her house? hmmm, hint hint! Maybe your toilet won't get broken! ha!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It has been a week or so since I have updated my blog...I have just been super busy. So I will try to catch you up with the latest. Brady got picked to be the 'Shining Star' award at school. It isn't a real big deal but he gets to fill out a form that lists all his favorite things..like favorite subjects, foods, hobbies, etc. So I took a pic of him and his cute little self. He melts my heart! It is hard to believe that he will be 9 years old in December...




Brady and his award


And I took a pic of Aryn as we were walking out the door to go to a Princess bday party for Jess. We had a good time and got to catch up with friends that we have known for 20 plus years...we usually only see each other at birthday parties but it is always a blast.

Princess Aryn

So from my family to yours, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! I will update on Monday and post some new pics from our Turkey Dinner and our get together that we are having on Saturday night.

Oh and here is a pic of my cutie pie kids before church! They are so used to me dressing them up and having them grin!
Brady and Aryn Paige

dance

like noone is watching you

love

as you have never been hurt before

sing

like nobody can hear you

live

like heaven is on earth

How Sweet!

Brady and Aryn
Brady loves his baby cousin, Payton

Just wanted to add a few pics because I thought they were really cute.

Trying to keep caught up!!

It's been a week since I updated this page. So here it goes....Aryn and I went to Angelica's baby shower last Saturday night. She got alot of really nice stuff. I am adding a few pics:

Friday night...

It's Friday night and Sal and Brady went to the SHS vs. NHS game. Aryn and I decided to stay home. I hate being cold...unless I am watching my son play, I care nothing about sitting on cold bleachers. But just so you know....GO BEARS!!! Anyway, Aryn is already asleep and I am trying to update this blog.

Not a whole lot is going us with us. Brady has his first basketball practice in the morning. Sal is coaching and is really nervous about it. He never played basketball but he is so good at coaching, that I am positive it will be a great year. This will be the first year Brady can play with his school...so he is looking forward to playing with all of his best friends. So while the guys are at practice, Aryn and I are going to help get ready for Angelica's baby shower that is tomorrow night. Fran and I are doing all the food so we have to get the stuff and prepare it. Nothing fancy, just finger foods and stuff. And then we are off to a birthday party for a little boy in Aryn's class...and then later we will be heading over to the shower. So another busy weekend but busy is good...I am not good at doing ' nothing'. -NICOLE

Happy 30th Lacy!

Katie, Sarah, me, Lacy and Michelle

Saturday night we went to The West End martini bar to celebrate Lacy's 30th bday! We had a good time! Lots of good drinks and food!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween was a great one this year! I got to go to both kids parties at school and then later we went to The Hindley's for chili and trick or treating! The kids had a blast and got way too much candy. Here are a few pics: