It's a New Year, New Beginnings

Another year has come and gone. 2010 has definitely flown by us. We were blessed to have had the love and memories of family, friends and outings throughout the year. We have had some challenges and changes through the year which has made us as a family stronger and closer.

With the New Year, we start to think about the new beginnings we will have. We've got plenty of trips planned for the year, new things we want to try or do and most importantly some new additions to our extended family. YES, there are lots of babies amongst our families and friends.
Konnor is still continuing in his music lessons. He's been doing a great job. He will soon be starting EAK (Early Acceptance to Kindergarten) and he also wants to do Karate or Teeball. Kameron wants to also join something so I think it'll be a busy season. Kevin is still in the Masters Program at University of Redlands and I'm continuing in the BSIT - Visual Communications at University of Phoenix. We're all pretty busy but we make time to enjoy eachother and our friends and family as often as possible. So here's to a new year...new beginnings.

Christmas Eve

We decided to have a quiet Christmas Eve at home...just the FOUR of us. Of course, it was also because we were all still recovering from being sick. We couldn't take the boys to Christmas Eve mass since they were still coughing and contagious. 

We spent the afternoon with Grandpa and Grandma McMaster. There we opened and exchanged gifts. The boys were interested in board games this year and they definitely got their share of games. The received Connect Four, Operation, a standing mic for our comedian, Kameron and a Table Top Air Hockey Set.



At Grandpa and Grandma McMaster's house

 

Before opening their stockings

After leaving Grandpa & Grandma's we had Pho (vietnamese soup) for dinner then spent the evening at home tracking Santa, opening stocking stuffers and watching movies. The boys were so excited to open something tonight and we could tell they couldn't wait.

Being that we've had the tree up since the beginning of November and presents piled under the tree for the past month, they were anxious. They knew they had some presents under the tree (since they could read their own names). There was one gift in particular that Konnor peaked at everyday..little did he know it wasn't a big surprise, but a surprise for his toys. LOL

We had fun encouraging the boys to track Santa. Since Konnor is very interested in maps, locations and geography, he had a ball. Every few seconds he would refresh the laptop and read (or try to read) the city Santa was in. He watched all the videos of the past cities and countries Santa had visited and anxiously waited for his arrival in CALIFORNIA!
 

Tracking Santa

Maybe I need to look closer












Konnor tried with all his might to stay awake. Being that he's the one that sleeps early, he really tried to track Santa until he got to California. Unfortunately he fell asleep by 11:30pm...but Kameron was still wide awake waiting for Santa. As soon as it hit midnight, we went upstairs and turned out the lights so that Santa could do his magic. Kameron was sure to leave Santa his milk and cookies we made.

I've never really had a quite Christmas Eve. This quite night made me reminisce about years ago as a child. I remember growing up spending Christmas Eve in Seaside, CA with all the family. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Grandparents and neighbors. It was always exciting to be with FAMILY. The smell of the delicious food my Grandparents were always cooking all night long filled the house. The laughter of all the kids (including myself). We had traveled from San Diego to Monterey every year to celebrate Christmas with the rest of our family.

As we grow our family and start our own traditions, this year will be spent together as FOUR. It at times felt lonely for me, even though I had the 3 most important boys with me, but I did miss the times as a child celebrating with our large family. Maybe it had something to do with missing my Grandma this year. It was our first year without her. Her passing 8 months ago is still hard to deal with, some days harder than others. But I know she is always watching down on us smiling.

Balloons for Great Mama

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A Day for Thanks!

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Wishing you all a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Your children need your presence more than your presents. ~Jesse Jackson

Visiting my LOVED ONES

On our road trip back home from Fairfield, we stopped to say Hello to my Grandma and my other relatives. It's been almost 7 months since the passing of my Grandma Nellie Concepcion. It's been a rough road. I know it's never easy losing a loved one. I've had many people in life pass early and leave me. I've been able to learn to deal with that at a very young age. Kevin and I made sure to stop by Seaside, where my Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Darlene and Great Grandparents are buried together.

Never the less, it wasn't easy to sit at this quiet grave and "talk" to my Grandma. I miss her deeply. I'm even in tears while blogging this!

Staump Productions Fall Concert 2010

This was an exciting night for both our family as well as the Staump Productions family. It was the Fall Concert at Lakeside Middle School. For us, this was Konnor's first stage performance EVER! Maria Staump, his keyboard and guitar instructor and Tim Staump, his drum instructor was thoughtful enough to allow him to play even though he is just a month and half into his lessons with the production company. They thought he'd enjoy it...and so he did! He didn't hesitate at all to partake in the concert. We are thankful he doesn't have "stage fright", but I'll have to work with him on his "stage presence" as he was a bit aprehensive when I had to keep telling him to SMILE! The whole point was him to have fun..and that he did! Click the link below to see the video.

Fall Concert "You and Me"

Here are a few pics to share Konnor's passion