December

December is here, oh dear, oh dear! What an amazing year! It feels as if we have conquered it all, yet we know that there is so much more headed our way, most fun, some not so fun, all important and will enrich our lives and help us to get that much closer to overcoming this earthly state in preparation to our return to our Father in Heaven. We hope that you have had a wonderful year, full of love, surprises, family and friends. We love you all and are so thankful that we have been brought together in one way or another. As we welcome in 2012 look forward to a new beginning full of many adventures, love and excitement.

The only reason to celebrate this season!

Visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. Then flash! Mom took their picture, "Good morning it's Christmas, get, up get, up get up." To their surprise it was Midnight, still Christmas, just 4 hours earlier than we (the parents) normally wake them up.

Sweet kids waiting to open their presents.

"Thanks Jess, these were the ones I was looking at only I was looking at High-tops!"

"Cool, Thanks Britt!"

"Marcika absolutely thrilled! Toby delighted that she loved it."

Toby playing with the legos Marce got him!

Dad getting started.
Jesse and his friends went and saw the Christmas light. They look AMAZING!

Juan

Chandler and Lisa

Mariah went to her schools Winter Ball. Here is Mariah and her friend Maria. They had a great time!

Yep believe it or not he wore this to school. He even picked it out and bought it himself. What a character.

Sweet Jesse is getting gas!!

Ah a peaceful meal for four!

Dec 1st~ What a way to start the month :D I was on my way to pick up the boys from school when a lady that was parked by the curb hit me. Yep first (and last I hope) accident in Cali. She was very very nice (could not speak English, still nice), but I was still shaking like a leaf. I called Jason cause, well he is my sounding board and I depend on him for a lot. He answered the phone and I said, "I was just in an accident". He asked, "Who is this." I was already freak and was taken back by his q that I said, "uh, your wife, Misty." He instantly asked if I was okay . I told him that I was and he asked me to call him if I needed anything. The lady was so concerned about my shaking that she was rubbing my arms. I called the police (I had no clue on what to do), the dispatcher asked if anyone was hurt, I said no, she said ok exchange info, I told her that the lady could not speak English she sighed heavily and said I'll send someone. The lady's son came about 30 min later (no cops yet), so I called back and said we no longer need them, then I asked what I needed to get. I am sure the police department are having a good laugh. We exchanged info and as I walked to the van I was prompted to hug the lady, so I did. Yep I hugged the lady that hit me. I have learned some great lessons today. I have learned to be more humble, more patient, and to forgive more freely. God is great!

Damage to the lady's car.

Oh yeah! The van is fixed and looks like new (well at least on one side;}) The insurance company gave me a rental car while the van was in the shop. It was so nice to have a car all my own, one that no one else drove, even if was just for a week.

November

Happy Thanksgiving!
This year the Lopez Family have much to be thankful for. We are thankful for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, for the many many blessing that they have so lovingly and generously bestowed upon us, for their love, their support, their guidance, their wisdom, their strength, and their comfort. We are thankful for each other, for the love, laughter and support that we are able to share (even though we may not always show the love, it's there). We are thankful for life and it's challenges, for without them we cannot learn and grow. We are thankful for our family and friends, for your love, support, comfort, care and help. We are thankful for our animals (they are noisy, smelly, and can be annoying), but they are always there when we need them with a cold wet nose to lovingly touch our hand or a gentle purr in our ear, either way they lift ours spirits and make things just a tad better. We are thankful for good doctors (with Heavenly Father by their sides), with steady hands that have saved our lives, fixed our injuries and prescribed lifesaving medications. We are thankful for our faith and the knowledge that through Christ all things are possible.

Toby, Mariah, and Marcika steam cleaning the grout. They thought it was a lot of fun! My big helpers.

Oh my goodness! Brittney is 12! Haha, so many candles almost couldn't fit them all on the cake, guess next year we have to get a bigger cake just to fit the candles. She said she had a lot of fun today! Britt wanted to go to the movies for her b-day so we went and saw the new Twilight Breaking Dawn part 1 movie, then we went to lunch and then shopping, she got a Twilight calender, later we had cake and she got to go on a bike ride with her dad. I'm so glad that I was able to spend the day with my beautiful daughter.

Marcika found a hat that she just fell in love with. Such a sweetie!

Jesse got his permit! Wow! Time is going by way to fast!

Poor, poor Jesse Bear! On November 3rd Jesse and Ashley were walking home from school and had reached the tennis courts when someone crossed the street wearing a white bandanna came up to him, punched him once in the face and ran away. He has a broken nose and the bones under his eye are broken as well. Luckily one of Jesse's friends got a text about who hit Jess and told him the name of the person who hit him and we have turned that info into the sheriff department. Since then we have discovered that there is an eye witness (thank goodness). Scary crazy world we live in!

Jesse preop (Nov 18th)

Postop (he got to come home the same day)
Sweet boy, the nurse asked us which pharmacy we use and Jesse under his mask 1/2 out of it said, "Walgreens". Made me laugh. I was talking to him later and mentioned it and he said that he did not remember it.

A day or two postop looking pretty good. (what a trooper, 2 thumbs up even though he's in a bunch of pain and throwing up to boot)

Yay! The day has finally come! Time to remove the "cast" off of Jesse's nose and the stints from inside. I must warn you some of these pics are nasty with a capital N! I could not watch, Jason was the brave one and took these pics, laughing as he tired to get the ones I was gagging at (just the sounds did me in).

All done and on our way out, had to make him stop so we could get his first shots, frontal and profile. I know I know, really Misty, kinda over kill....hey, what can I say I love my little (not so little anymore) Jesse Bear!

Marce and Spinuck, what a pair!

Marcika and Mariah got doughnuts for A's talk about a sweet treat. For every A they got a glazed doughnut from KrispyKreme! They left with 8 total!

Marcika's class had a huge breakfast feast. There was a ton of food and everyone seemed to have a great time!

Marcika and Yamaanibah enjoying their breakfast feast!

Marcika and her place mat that she made all on her own.