I miss you...

Who knew blogging and emailing were such a huge part of my daily routine. I certainly was not aware. It has all become excruciatingly clear, however, since I have not had Internet access for the past week and a half. We thought that we were making a great financial decision by getting rid of the land line- nobody ever calls our house anyway... but with that went our Internet- DUH. I did not put the two together because our Internet was wireless. Well.... Here I sit at Panera using the free wi-fi as I wait for the UPS savior to arrive with my wireless router card from AT&T. So... till we blog/email again... I'm missing you.

... AND Happy New Year!

The Empire Strikes Back... The MUSICAL

HILARIOUS is all I can say about this event. Saturday I took Eli to the "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back- The Musical". It was in Huntington Beach & put on by a group called the ARTS & Performance Conservatory. The cast & orchestra was made up of middle school aged & younger children who transformed the story of the movie with altered versions of songs from theatre classics like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Cats. The song lyrics... I wish I had copies of those... they were so funny! Eli & I sat in the front row... me trying not to laugh too loud... and him mesmerized by the kids and the costumes. He said he wants to be in plays & sing songs on stage too. Any tips on how to make that happen... I have no idea how to pursue the children's theatre thing (aside from being a patron).
During intermission there were adults who belong to a Star Wars fan club (yes, they exist & they mean business) on site to take pictures with the kids and show off their fancy Star Wars themed car. I know... it's funny. I had a hard time taking them seriously, but they were so nice to kids. Eli was most excited about getting a photo with Master Yoda, R2D2, and that "Darth Vader" remembered fighting him Disneyland. I had to give the guy a wink and a high 5 for that one!

This young actress had the coolest R2D2 costume. I am totally going to attempt to make one for Eli.

This fan club is called the Rebel Legion. They even have their own trading cards... yes, I'm serious. To each his own, I guess(:

Thanksgiving Dinner

YEAHHHH! I made the Thanksgiving meal this year... and ... it was good. Thank God!! After two days of cooking and re-heating to make sure everything was as good as I could make it- dinner was served! I watched my grandma's face throughout the whole meal to know if the food was actually good or if they were hiding bits of food in their napkins. In the end, I feel badly for not thanking my Mom, grandma, and mother-in-law for all of the time they spent making our holiday meals over the years. I had no idea... and I love you!

The kids- my true critics- wanted no part of the dinner & opted for macaroni. They're funny!

Doll House Make-over

Christmas is coming and what to get for the girl who has way more than a 3 year old should? What to do when $$$ is in short supply? Reduce, reuse, & recycle, my friends.

This dollhouse belonged to the Sosa girls many moons ago. I dragged it from my grandma's garage with hopes of making it hip, cute, and the perfect little home for Polly Pocket. Can paint do the trick? This is the antique style furniture that I arranged a million times as a child. It was dusty & broken, but I'm gonna spruce it up!

Pink, yellow, lavender, lime, and white spray paint did the trick!!!

Turquoise paint inside & out...

pink trim... my favorite color combo...

Now... the real work begins. I have to paper the walls & embellish the heck out of it. Actually, the real dilemma is where do I hide all of this from Sierra?? But - I am so excited to share something that I spent hours and hours enjoying as kid.

Chim-Chim Cherie

We LOVE Mary Poppins. The movie is a total family fave... The kids have even been Mary & Burt for Halloween, so when we got the opportunity to go see the theatre version we jumper at it! From start to finish it was an incredible experience... the kids got all dolled up, the Ahmanson Theatre at night is beautiful, it was all decorated for Christmas, and then... the show. WOW, WOW, WOW! There are songs that are different from the movie & the story line is altered a little, but we enjoyed ourselves soooo much. The actors voices were unreal. I knew it was really something special when Eli had to fight so hard not to fall asleep during the chimney dancing scene in Act II. It took place around 10:30 pm- my kids go to sleep at 7:30- he was literally shaking himself to stay awake and not miss it. So great! Mary even flies for real... It was SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXBIALIDOSIOUS! The kids danced to the singing of street performers before the show... they got applause from the crowd and bowed. Should I be afraid?

The water fountains at night were so beautiful... I was wishing for a better camera. Do you hear me Santa???

SIERRA MY SWEET. I LOVE THAT SHE LIKES TO GET FANCY LIKE NANCY- (moms of little girls know what I mean) for all big events.

Jedi Training Academy

A five year old boy's dreams come true...

Are you kidding me with this Jedi Academy at Disneyland? It is the coolest thing! In Fantasyland there is a daily show where kids from the audience can be chosen to go through "Jedi Training" with Master Windu (for Star Wars nerds he's a BIG deal). The kids are given capes, light sabers, and war-fare class. Mid-way through the training the infamous Darth Vader music starts playing and out comes Darth Vader ready to battle each child on stage. Eli was chosen for the show & his expressions throughout the show were so sincere. It was real to him & you could tell he was truly saving the galaxy from the "Dark Side". We will never forget it. Master Windu (In the movie he cuts the head off Jango Fett... remember Jango Fett... the name Eli gave as his own during his first week in Kindergarten)

Eli, saving us all from Vadar...

Deep, deep in thought...

Check this out! I was the ultimate beamin' Mama.

Picking & Treating

Okay, so in true Tafoya style I am totally behind on posting Halloween pics & I have still have 4 uncarved pumpkins on my porch... BUT, I have to say it was the MOST fun Halloweeen ever! Rich has never been home to trick or treat with the fam, and this year HE WAS!! It was so great. As always, we have gone head first into Eli's latest obsession- STAR WARS. So we were all characters from the movie... even little Sierra who has been 100% brain-washed into thinking that Star Wars is as great as Polly Pockets- Crazy! Any-hew... Here's our Halloween from start to finish. Pumpkin picking & trick or treating.

The petting zoo at the pumpkin patch certainly stole Sierra's heart. Baby goats- too cute! Eli, Christian, Landon, & Sierra doing their best silly faces.

Ah-ha! I've found the perfect pun-kin.

Along for the ride...

A little interested & a little terrified of the GIANT bugs being shown at the bug-cart.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT! Princess Leah (Me) & Queen Amidalla (Sierra)

This was the best! My NOTORIOUS LADY'S Man found a girlfriend during the night. This is a girl we have never met before ... EVER and he's already working his magic. The family stayed with us for the next hour or so, and the two kids remained hand holders... NICE to meet you, Emily.

Black table cloth- $9

Eli's light saber- $10

Darth Vader mask from Walmart- $10

Elijah thinking his DAD is the coolest!!!- PRICELESS

The Family

PRE-trick or treating fun...

Is it wrong that I LOVE this picture of my kids so much... especially since my son is attempting to shoot us? It's kinda wrong, but they are my favorite(:

You Too? No,...U2!

100,000+ people came together on October 25, 2009 to see U2 @ the Rose Bowl. To say it was incredible is not enough. It was so amazing....
I loved the messages throughout the show of hope & "one-ness"... seeing the Black Eyed Peas open, well that was just icing on the cake!!!

Clearly, we were in the nose-bleeds, but you could still see everything on the crazy 360 stage. I thought it looked like a giant bug. Thanks, Laura, for another wonderful night... it reminded me of when we were growing up.

LOVING...

Elijah was definitely NOT loving the Green Eggs and Ham I made for his class for his class. It was a special dress in green & watch a Dr. Seuss movie day.He was LOVING having his DAD volunteer in his class. He also LOVED wearing his favorite tie for GREEN day. Sierra is LOVING her Tinkerbell more and more as time goes on. We've had her for a year now & she is the bright spot in Sierra's day.

Eli & Sierra are LOVING Legos... to the EXTREME & STAR WARS legos the MOST!!! Visiting the store at Downtown Disney is MUST as we enter the park.

LOVING their duel with newly purchased LIGHT-SABERS!

I am LOVING the opportunity to go to Disneyland on Friday nights for a few rides, laughs, and ice creams with the kids.

Celebrate!!!

We did a little family party with pizza & cake for Sierra's BIG 3! Grandma came from New Mexico, Gigi, Nama, Mackie, Papa, & Auntie Laura.... so FUN! Thank you to all for spoiling the pants off of my "Little Peanut". She made out with some serious loot! I love her expression in this... I can just imagine her saying, "Oh my-lanta!"

On her real birthday-day, we went to Disneyland. Her highlights were meeting Tinker Bell, getting a new crown at the Princess Shoppe, and talking to Mary Poppins as she ate an ice cream cone.

This was how she started to day... yes I am serious- she IS that cute. Love you Baby!

Every princess needs RED converse of course (: