Last Updates of 2009

Justin's last picture of 2009
Kailee's last picture of 2009

I cannot believe that in about 15 minutes 2009 will be over. Where did this year go? So much has happened and changed over this year it's hard to believe we are moving into a whole new one. What will this one bring? What's in store for the Garcias? I can't answer that at this time. God has a ton in store for us I'm sure of that. I can't wait to travel on his adventure and see what all he does have in store for us. It's quite exciting. We had a very good 09. We had our ups and downs. Some highlights. We got to see my family in Texas quite a bit this year. Then we saw Paul's family at Thanksgiving. We all had fairly good health with no serious illnesses. Both kids grew and grew and grew. They both learned tons and made some new friends. Paul did exceptionally well in his career. He's very recognized to say the lease. He made Tech and runs his own station. We sold the TA :( but replaced her with a sick Cobra. I know there's lots of new memories there to be made. He grew as a husband and father and I couldn't be happier or more proud of him. I started school, stayed home with my babies another home, grew as a mom, wife, and friend. We were very blessed in 09 that's for sure.
Some of the downers were the house in Texas. I can't think of anything else. We had two buyers walk out on us, tons of damage we found out about, dealt with incompetent renters, foundation and roof problems, trees and yard damages. UGH that house was definitely our biggest stressor and downer.
Oddly that same stressor was a big part of our New Years. We got a call saying we had another offer on the house. Why we always get offers on holidays or right after is beyond me. So we shall see if 2010 will bring us the selling of the Texas property. Here's hoping.
For our New Years we stayed in and just spent the day as a family. We are very much over the going out and being around a bunch drunks. So we had dinner, baked cookies, watched some tv just had a normal day. Nothing is better than ringing in the New Year with my family. I can't think of a better way to spend it.
I made sure and captured one or four last shots of the kids in 2009. I wanted until 11:55 and then snuck into the kid's rooms and took a picture of each one. Then I snuck back in around a little after midnight and took my first shot of the kids of 2010.







Here's hoping everyone has a blessed New Year!

Thank You Grandma and Poppy

Well it's a chilly overcast Tucson day. Can't take the kids out because of their allergies, so we paid Target a visit. The kids got gift cards from their Grandma and Poppy for Christmas so I thought today would be a great day to take them to spend it. We get to Target and as soon as I saw the parking lot I wanted to pull back out. But, I had already promised the kids and I'm not one for breaking promises. So we walk in and I was pleasantly surprised that the store itself didn't seem to crowded. So I did my shopping first and then took the kids over to the toy section. They were so excited and went nuts. First we did the girlie isles for Kailee since it normally takes her less time to pick a toy out than Justin. That wasn't the case this time. She was like a kid in a candy store. She was so indecisive. They had tons of toys on Clarence and I wanted to buy up a ton of toys for next Christmas and their upcoming birthdays but I refrained. Kailee ended up picking out her Disney Princess mermaid barbie and new Dora tag book. Justin on the other hand went nuts in the car section. He picked out a ten pack of hot wheels and then he found a police car and train for his new Geo track. Then we walked up and down the rest of the toys just so they could make sure that's what they wanted. Both decided to keep what they picked so we decided to leave. As soon as we got back to the car I realized my total was quite a bit higher than I expected so I started going over my receipt. The Barbie Kailee picked ended up ringing up 13 dollars more than it was marked. So I had the kids all buckled and ready to go and I had to unbuckle them load them back in a cart and go all the way back in. The best part I had to go stand in the huge return and exchange line. :( They Barbie ended up being put in the wrong place along with 7 others but we ended up getting her on sale. Then the kids and I went back to the car and came home. By this time it's so late I can't put the kids down for their naps so they are playing with their new toys.

Snow... no thanks.

So with all the excitement of the snow in Texas and the eastern storms I decided to take advantage of the AZ weather. And, beautiful weather it is. It's about 70 outside and the perfect day to go to the park. Paul had to work so it was just the kids and I. We met up at Reid Park, a new park for the kids and I. We had never been, but I had always wanted to take them. We met Miss Amy and Seirra. I felt really bad because we were over a hour late. After getting in late last night and having such a long day we actually over slept and slept in til 10:30. Once we got there I had a hard time actually focusing. What an amazing park. I mean there was four different play areas, a rose garden, two ponds, a few water falls, a duck pond, two dog parks, and you could see some of the zoo grounds. It was amazing. I can't wait to go back in March. I guess the rose area is completely filled with every color and type of rose imaginable. And, they have butterfly exhibits. The kids played, fed ducks, and explored for over a hour and a half before we all started to break up and leave. I plan on taking them back in the morning since Paul will be going to pick up the new car. There was just way to much to do and see that couldn't be done or seen in a hour and a half. The kids still had fun though. Their sleep/nap schedules are off so they both opted for no naps, but that's ok. They are enjoying all of their Christmas gifts and playing while I update the blog a little. I think we'll take it easy the rest of the day and clean the house. We have been on the go so much lately the house desperately needs some TLC.