Happy 12th Birthday Sara!! (sorry it is late)

So were do I begin, my 1st born is 12 years old. This is such a big step in her life. I remember the day fondly. I became a mom for the 1st time. All my fears about raising a daughter first has been unbelievably demolished. Altough it hasn't come without stumbling blocks. It would definitly had been nice if Heavenly Father would give you a handbook to help with all the little bumps in the road. But I have to say it has been worth every bump, bruise, tear, screaming, temper tatrum, endless hugs and kisses, and snuggles. Here is a look of the past and present of everything Sara.

 Winning 3rd place. It was her first time entering anything in the fair.

First time playing soccer. She ended up breaking her wrist about 3games in, but she made a great

cheerleader!

Her first time making dinner. All this for her Faith in God project. YUMMY!!!

 Love her!!!! I have one of us when she was about 4yrs old. wish i could scan it.

 One of many, many, many awards. She is such a hard worker.

                        First time trying cheerleading. She was perfect for it. Such great school spirit!

     Self- portrait! Beautiful!!

Sara I'm so proud of the young woman you have become and I'm excited and look forward to what the future holds for you. Your spirit is beyond measure. My hope for you is that you enjoy the time that you have ahead of you and that you always remember who you are!!! Love MOM

Happy Birthday Rebecca!!!

So 7 years ago today I gave birth to our sweet, lovable, fashionista Rebecca Mae Montalto. Oh how the years just seem to keep ticking by so fast. Rebecca has grown into this little girl who loves to wear many different outfits and loves to be helpful. She has become super smart in  math, something I can't take any credit for because I was never good at it, I watch as she does her math homework and she doesn't blink an eye when it comes to answering her math problems. I wish I had pictures of her when she was a baby to upload so you can see what a beautiful little girl she is becoming , but we will have to settle for some recent ones.
This year for her birthday we decide to not throw a birthday party on the day of her birthday, we thought it would be fun to keep just to us. So we began our adventure to Sherman Oaks Castle Park where we enjoyed a very interesting game of 18-holes of miniature golf. Let just say it was super busy!!

We play miniature golf all the time on the Wii, so this was different.

Doing her best at getting it in the middle hole. She did really well today. She kept coming up to me and giving me hugs and telling me thank you. I know she was having fun.

Next stop was a change in plans and I wish I could have gotten pictures of it but I just plain forget. We decide to head to City Walk, something free to do, except you have to pay for parking, and kinda of fun.

Then it was off to dinner. We decide to take her to Bob's Big Boy! Yummy!!! We had been saving up for are trip today and this was part of that plan.

Excited to get her free hot fudge sundae!! That she was not aware would be delivered to her and have

Happy Birthday would get sung to her.

We had just finish singing Happy Birthday to her, as well as the table of guest next to us. As we were leaving I told Rebecca to tell that table thank you for the birthday song, too and to my surprise Spencer Breslin was sitting at that very table. I was so super excited and starstruck. When we got out to car I explained to Rebecca who she just got sang to from and she was so, so, so excited screaming in the car that she had just got sung to by a super star. If most of you don't know Spencer Breslin played the character of Curtis in the movies Santa Claus 2 and Santa Claus 3.
Then we began are trek back home. What a day!! Happy Birthday My lovable, sweet, little fashionista. Mommy and Daddy love you very much and couldn't be more prouder of you!!

Enjoy a few pictures from the years before of Rebecca!

Her favorite fairy!

Striking a fierce pose! America Next Top Model look out!!

I think she would play a really good "Goose"

A goofball as usual!

She sure is growing up!!



Emily is 1 oh my!!!

                                       HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY RENAE MONTALTO

I often say how the year has gone by so fast and never had a thing or person to put with the timeline of the year. Well let me tell you, Emily has sure put it all in perspective. Words can't not describe how much I love each of my girls. Emily is loved very much. I love her comic relief she offers our whole family. Well the year did go by so fast. I can't hardly believe she is 1 year old. She walks every where. She has 8 teeth already. She is drinking whole milk now. Doesn't like baby food at all, so bring on the real stuff. She says things like "Mama", "Dada", "ok", "NO!", "thank you", sometimes I think I hear her say "whats that". Bathtime is her favorite. She loves her alone time to just play by herself. Naps are like pulling teeth, she has to be in the know. She loves her toys that make noise. Best of all she has a little bit of each of our personalities.
Here is a look back on her first year:

                                                          A sleeping Angel

                                                              1st Trip to Disneyland

                                                                      Blessing Day

                                                           Sitting up for the first time.

                                                               One happy Baby!!!

                                                                          1st Easter

                                                           1st Trip to the Poppy Fields.

                                                          1st Hike at Devils Punchbowl.

                                           When she discovered what her tongue could do.

                                        1st time in the pool. First of many summers in the pool.

                                                                    Summer 2010

Families our Forever

                                                                We jump for to long!!

                                                              1st time at the AV Fair.

                                                      Happy for the first day of school.

Put me in coach. I want to play soccer, too!

                                                          1st time apple picking.

                                                               Pumpkins as big as her.

1st Christmas

                                                        January 2, 2011---1 year old

How we rounded out the Birthday Celebrations. What a year it has been. I'm so very blessed to have Emily in our lifes. She has been a blessing beyond words. I hope you enjoy your trip down memory lane as much as I have. Sweet Emily Mommy and Daddy loves you so much. Sara and Rebecca love you too.

Christmas Time

"Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree how lovely are yoour branches". I can't tell you how much I LOVE Christmas time. Not only because of the warm fuzzy feeling it leave you with, but I love to listen to christmas music, watch christmas movies, and decorate my home for the holidays. This year was going to be a bit smaller then years past, but the important thing was we were going to enjoy it regardless. The season always starts with me listening to Christmas music 24/7 in the car. Richard just loves me during this time of the year, sense the sacrasm. This year we went with the fake tree we have. I love that little tree, we have had it since we have been married, so it is kinda a special. This year we had to put it up on a table so Emily wouldn;t get to it. I have to say she did a great job.

                       Emily's first ornament was Minnie Mouse. She wasn't quit sure what to do,
                                 but was super excited to be doing whatever at the moment.

With a little help from Daddy she got to put the star on the tree. Each year our tradition is to let each family member put the star on the tree. So because it was her 1st christmas she got to do it. I love these traditions.

Becca was next to hang her ornament. I let the girls pick there favorite ornament and hang it on the tree. Rebecca's favorite is this heart shape Disney princess ornament.

                             Sara's favorite ornament is her star shape High School Musical ornament. Next tradition we have, but is not very successful at it is the red and green chain count down. I did this growing up and have tried every year to do it. Some years it is a miss, but I wanted to make sure we did it. Next year I will make them for decorations and make an actually count down calender.

                                                                              Day 1

                                                                              Day 2

                                                                           Day 3
Next up for our family tradition is a trip to the Los Angeles Temple grounds to look at all the beautiful Christmas light that are placed around the temple. I get such a great feeling when I'm down there. It is a great remminder of why we celebrate christmas because of his birth.

                                                           The Reason for the Season

                                                    One of many large trees decorated.

                                                                         The close up. Last, but not least Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We started a new tradition this year and instead of getting p.j. for Christmas Eve we gave the girls slippers. So the plan is to give slippers every year on Christmas Eve.

Next open Christmas Morning:

                                                                  Santa Presents!!!

                                                      Look what Santa brought us!!!! Christmas brought books, dolls,clothes, a few video games, and a few movies. Thank you Granny Mary, for the Christmas presents. Overall Christmas was a wonderful time of the year. We visited family. Family came to visit us (we love you Rasch family, it was a GREAT visit). I wouldn't change it for the world. Like I said this is my favorite time of the year!!