Christmas Questionaire

1. Egg Nogg or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nogg with the sugar cookies Amiyah and I bake, and Hot chocolate with a mini candy cane hanging from the side of my mug. Oh... and don't forget the marshmallows.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? We have shared with Amiyah years ago that Santa is just a character. She knows that Jesus provides Mommy and Papi with the money to be able to buy them presents.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? We always do white lights on the tree. As far as the outside goes... we put our Menorah in our kitchen window for everyone to enjoy.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Every year. My Obe and I love meeting under it on Christmas Eve, when the little ones are fast asleep.
5. When do you put your decorations up? It used to be the day after Thanksgiving. As the years have gone on, they seem to go up earlier and earlier... we just love transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Sweet Potatoes. Oh wait... can't forget the COLLARD GREENS!!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Well it really wasn't my favorite, but, when my sister and I and my four brothers would go for our stockings, and in them all the way at the bottom we'd find fruit. It was pretty funny. I mean hey, you gotta fill the toe somehow.
8.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My parents never had us believe in Santa.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We did when we were little.We decided we'd wait until the kids are a little older to start that tradition with them.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White lights, silver and burgundy balls, burgundy bows, and snowflakes. Sorry people, I like a themed tree. Not to worry though, the kids have a tree of their very own that they (Amiyah) decorates. And of course it has tons of colored lights, and every ornament that was ever given to us, plus the new ones they receive from Papi and I every year on it.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I love it! That's of course because I don't live in it, so, no shoveling for me!
12. Can you ice skate? Yes. But it has been MANY years since the last time I did.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? When I was a kid, it was a boom-box with detachable speakers... Ahhh-yeah! Last year, it was my Rachael Ray pans from my Obe, they are the best!
14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Celebrating Jesus!
15. What is your favorite Holiday dessert? Banana Pudding, and Ambrosia.
16. What is your favorite Holiday tradition? Taking the kids to see Christmas lights.
17. What tops your tree? A star... because my Jesus IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both. But I love buying and making things for other people, it brings me so much joy.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night. Although Little Drummer Boy is right up there this year.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I only really like them in my hot chocolate.
21. What do you want for Christmas? Peace for my family, a new Bible, a new pair of jeans, running shoes, a new lens for my camera, and a really good book.
22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? We are all over the place during Christmas, we never have just one party to go to.
23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJ's? We open presents in our pajamas, but when it's time to leave to visit all the family, we dress up.
24. Do you own a Santa hat? Nope.
25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? My hubby and the kids in the morning. The rest of our families later in the day.

Phew! That was long. Your turn!

New Favorite Thing

Both of my kids really enjoy taking a bath, and always have, even as little babies.
But recently my poor bean has protested every single time by shaking his head and saying, " nooooo."
Usually after I remove all of his clothing and his diaper, he makes a run for it.
I always let him go, knowing that he's going to hide somewhere in the hopes that mommy will somehow forget about the bean needing a bath, and just give Amiyah one all by herself.
My bean has been doing this because he HATES getting his hair washed. He hasn't quite caught on to the fact that if he only tilts his head back a bit, the water won't run into his eyes.
So... I was on the hunt. I was looking for something that would keep the water out of my poor babies eyes so that he's not gasping for air every time our big red cup full of water comes towards him. My best friend once gave me these foam visors that babies can wear, the only thing with that is he'll take it off the second I go to pour the water. So I found this cup. The yellow part is made of some type of soft rubber, and it gently rests on their forehead. The inside of the cup also has two compartments so that the water doesn't rush out all at once. This cup has saved bath time in the Zarazua house , and now when I say " bath time!" The bean runs straight to the tub.

Baked Apples

So I thought this year I would get an early start on the holiday desserts I have been dying to try. Tonight when the kids went to bed I made myself and my hunster baked apples. They were delicious! My plan was to bake them, pour some of the drippings over them and take a picture to post on my blog. But what can I say, after about 15 minutes in the oven the smell of apple, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon all mixed together was making our mouths water. As soon as they were done I plated them, drizzled some of the drippings over the tops, and my hunster and I devoured them... literally. Oh I also added raisins which gave it a nice texture.
So the next time I make them my Poopy will be my special helper and I think we'll add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side... yum-o!

A-Z All About Me

Yeah so I totally don't have any clue why my a-z all about me post looks the way it does.
I apologize for that but no matter how many times I go in to edit, and change the size of the text it still comes out ginormous.
Argh!

A-Z All About Me

I have been tagged once again! This time by my girl over at minikitklan.blogspot.com
Thanks Gabbs! If I tag you, you must do the same thing on your blog!

Attached or Single? Happily married to the man of my dreams! We're going on 5 and a half years.

Best Friend? I would have to say my mommy. We have become so close through these tough times.

Cake or Pie? I am definitely a chocolate smothered... not covered, but smothered cake girl! Although a nice slice of sweet potato pie with whip cream ALWAYS hits the spot!

Day of Choice? Friday... DATE NIGHT! My Hunster and I usually wait until the kids are in bed and then we order in from our favorite wing place and snuggle up on the couch.

Essential Item? My journal. I carry it with me everywhere I go, jotting down random thoughts or poems that come to mind.

Flavor of Ice Cream? I loooove Moose Tracks. But for some reason I always go back to Butter Pecan.

Gummy Bears or Worms? Neither! Not a big fan of things that take the rest of the day to get out of my teeth.

Hometown? The original 5-6-1 ya'lls

Indulgences? Getting my nails done. After wearing gloves all day just about everyday because I'm scrubbing toilets, washing dishes, or doing some other kind of grease fighting it's nice to pamper them every once in a while.

January or July? January, most definitely!

Kids? Two beautiful children, Poopy (5) Beany (19ms)

Last Movie I saw in a Theater? My mom and sister took me out for my birthday to see Mama Mia. It was so good. We were cracking up. I downloaded the soundtrack a few days later on itunes.

Middle name? Maria. Named after St. Mary

Number of Siblings? I have 4 brothers and 1 sister.

Oranges or Apples? I prefer apples.

Phobia or Fear? Lizards. I'm serious! I'm deathly afraid.

Quote? " I am not moved by what I see, I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe." Smith Wigglesworth

Reason to Smile? My family. My wonderful husband, my hero, and my two beautiful children.

Season? Fall/Winter. I love to wrap up in my scarves, put on my furry boots and go out for a nice chai latte with my girls.

Tag five more: Yeah ummm... Gabbs you pretty much got everybody. None of my other friends blog... they just read mine.

Unknown Fact About Me? I am completely obsessed with anything having to do with money management. I get so excited every Friday to sit down and do our budget for the coming week.

Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals? I could be a vegetarian... but my husband needs his meat.

Worst Habit? Drinking Coca~Cola. I have a weakness for the stuff.

Xrays or Ultrasounds? Both... they were kinda cool.

Your favorite Food? I would have to say Sushi.

Zodiac? Leo

Mmmmmmmuuhhh!

Beany just loooves his papi. Everyday when Emilio hears my hunsters keys in the door he makes a mad dash for the door creaming "Daaaaaaddyyyyy."

In the first picture I left the Bean with the grandparents while taking Amiyah to a classmates party one Saturday, and my hunster was working that Sat as well.
When I came to pick up my bean I come in the house to find him laying on the floor napping in his papi's arms. Ok people this is a big deal... he doesn't even fall asleep with ME anymore! It was really sweet.

In the next pick my Hunster was on the computer and the bean came in for some papi time. He screamed to get up into his lap and once there all he wanted was his sweet papi kisses. All I could hear from the other room was mmmuuuhh... mmmuuuhh.

Art Lessons

Since starting school Amiyah will come home and teach Emilio a little something she learned on that particular day. Today was cursive b. Of course Emilio just does his usual scribble scrabble. But Amiyah being the great teacher she is just goes on encouraging every scribble he makes.

It's spaghetti time!

So I think I mentioned in a previous post about my beany and his picky eating.
Well it wasn't until recently when we placed a bowl of spaghetti (something he would never eat before because he doesn't like meat... or so we thought) in front of him with a spoon that we noticed he took right to it. Ate every last bite... meat and all!
So we have come to the conclusion that it was just a matter of independence. He wanted to be the one to feed himself. Of course with me right there making sure the spoon was right side up so that it actually made it in his mouth and not all over the floor.
Mealtime around the Zarazua house is a lot more peaceful these days.

Now, on to the BIG BOY CUP...

This is an example of letters that Amiyah writes almost daily to Jesus.
She's so incredibly thoughtful, always thinking of the hurts and needs of others.