I'mmmmm Back!!!!

Well all the Twilight books are read and all the things I have neglected in reading them are now finished, updating my blog is finally happening!! Anthony's soccer team played in the Association Cup in Redding, CA. We had a really great time! The team did well, tied two games and won one! Coming in second place. Anthony scored a goal and did the usual over the top celebration!! Joe worked really hard to organize this trip for his little guys :o). I am so proud of him. He is such a great Dad and dedicated Coach. Of course Joseph was there cheering on the team. It klls him to just watch and not play...his team will have thier chance in March.

WHEW!!

Well I did it! I finished all four books in the Twilight saga in three weeks and four days!! I now patiently sit back and wait for the people around me to finish all four so we can sit for hours discussing every single aspect of the story!!

THIS IS CRAZY!!

This book took me longest to finish, probably since Monday reality set in and our schedules resumed the crazy pace we are used to. I will start the fourth and "final" book tonight. I have to say that I really strongly DISLIKE the Jacob storyline, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that the fourth book strays from that! As much as the second book had me reeling, I'm looking forward to the movie! To my niece Nicole, thanks for lending me the first three books, I bought the fourth book today and I will pass it on to you to keep when I am finished. Well three down one and one more book and a teaser left to go........

OHMYGOSH!!

Well I had no idea, I would take the title of the second book in the Twilight Series so literally!! I started reading the book Friday night at 10:30 p.m. and finished it....yes finished it Saturday at 6:30 a.m., It was the dawn of a new day!! I couldn't stop reading. I survived Saturday on two hours of sleep. I have started the third book and plan to go see the movie on Sunday, I am definitely taken with this series!!....Thanks EvE.

UNBELIEVABLE

Well I finally gave in..... Yesterday after a very long 12 hour day at work, I came home hungry, tired, and cranky!! I ate, hugged my boys, wandered around thinking I should do a load of laundry but instead picked up Twilight and started reading!! A little back story..... I first heard of the series from my GT Friend Eve, she raved about the books and soon it became the national phenomenon we all now know about. I was not at all interested in reading , even after every third person I talked to said I should! During our last trip to the GT with endless chatter of the books going on everywhere, my friend Karen said, "okay the curiosity has gotten to me I think I need to read these books". My niece Nicole (sweetest girl you'll ever meet) has read them all and loved them. She let me borrow them and Karen took Twilight on vacation with her. She returned the book yesterday and said "there is something very likable about the vampires", you've got to read it. And so as before mentioned I was exhausted from my day and I managed to only read the first TEN CHAPTERS before falling off to sleep! This morning I have read one more chapter, but really need to do that load of laundry!! So to Eve and all the other GT book reviewers.....You were right! It only took 9 chapters for me to fall for Edward :0).

Happy New Year Everyone

This is a super cute test take it and let me know what you think :o)

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL???
Try it without looking at the answers..... .

1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9

2) Multiply by 3 then

3) Add 3, then again Multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the calculator.. ..)

4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number….

5) Add the digits together

Now Scroll down .............






Now with that number see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below:

1. Einstein
2. Barack Obama
3. Abraham Lincoln
4. Helen Keller
5. Bill Gates
6. Oprah Winfrey
7. George Clooney
8. Thomas Edison
9. Lisa Dones

10.Tiger Woods

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> I know....I just have that effect on people....one day you too can be like me.... :-) Believe it!
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> < > P.S.: Stop picking different numbers. I am your idol, just deal with it!!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you!! This Christmas has certainly zoomed right in!! We are gearing up for all the fun that the holiday brings! We will attend the Children's Mass at Church and Joseph will be an altar server (makes me beam with pride to see him up there). Then we will go to my parents house (just around the corner) and celebrate with our entire family and a few friends will drop in. Santa usually comes for a visit. We make our traditional Tamales a week prior but don't steam and eat them until Christmas Eve. After an evening of celebrating up to 27 of us all have a slumber party!! Yes we all spend the night, we have a pajama contest, sleep all over the place, stay up into the wee hours of the morning laughing and chatting! In the morning we all make and eat breakfast together. Then open gifts, say our goodbyes and all move onto to our other families. This year Joe, the boys and I will have Christmas Day Dinner for my parents and grandmother as we won't be traveling to see our other family until New Years Day. So we are all looking forward to a long drawn our celebration! Lucky us!!

Wow! Where has the time gone! 16 years ago, we welcomed our first born Joseph Michael Dones Jr., he was a tiny little thing at 6lbs. 4 oz. look at him now!! We are so incredibly proud of you Joseph!! Here are a pics to share from the school Holiday Concert (he plays the clairnet) and the Winter Ball (love the shoes!) and a soccer game....Enjoy

It Finally Looks Like Christmas

We have been so incredibly busy, I was starting to think that I would never have time to decorate the inside of my house. Joe and the boys put up the outdoor decor weeks ago! Now if you know me you know that I was born without the holiday decorating gene. My Mom decorates like a pro and her house is always beautiful. If it wasn't for her reminding me how dissapointed she'd be in me if i didn't put up a tree and decorate the house, I would let it go!! Well Joe and the boys jumped right in and helped out and the house looks great! I am always pleased when it is finished.

Patting Myself on the Back

I am back from my wonderful, relaxing, and productive trip to the Green Tangerine. My scrappin' partner this trip was the always fun Karen. Thanks so much for your friendship and creative support :o). I completed 75 pages!!! Karen completed 50 pages!! So together that makes....US AWESOME :o). A million thank you's to my family for pitching in to help Joe out while I was away. A HUGE thanks to my three guys for being just plain amazing.

Miss You!!

Happy Thanksgiving to my Nephew Pfc. Manuel A. DaBranca III. He is stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. We are counting the days until we see you again!! We are proud of you! Stay ARMY STRONG :o)

AND THE WINNER IS........

Okay while most of the world is completely engrossed in the Twilght series, I am obsessed with Dancing with the Stars!!! Call me physic, but I called it on week one! Brooke and Derek are the Champs!!!! YEAH!!!!

THANKFUL

Our crazy life in this crazy world during these crazy times, we are THANKFUL!! For so many things. I am so encouraged by the upcoming change in our government, hopeful that the economy will be restored and people can relax alittle. Here is a randon list of the things we sometimes take for granted but are so thankful for:

1. Our Family and Friends

2. Pepsi

3. Lollipop Lane Preschool

4. Shear Illusions

5. Public Schools

6. 17481 Meekland Ave.

7. Our camera (even Joe thinks it stinks)

8. The ability to commicate through the Internet!!

Another Sport Same Great Player!!

Anthony has moved on to his CYO Basketball Season. This is his 4th season with St. John's and Wow! he is playing really well, or as they say, "he's a balla". He was named Offensive Player of the week having scored 10 of the teams 25 points. He is playing forward and point guard. He plays with an insane level of intensity, so i am a nervous wreck!! Such a different game than soccer! Our goal as a family is to support Anthony without being ejected from a game! So far so good....Joe can be alittle vocal and Joseph alittle protective.