Happy New Year!

Okay, so I haven't had a chance to post anything new since the day before Christmas...but we've been extremely busy...

On Christmas Day after breakfast and the kids opened up all of their gifts, just to let them know that there are less fortunate people in the world we drove to downtown San Antonio to the Salvation Army which was actually a homeless shelter to donate some items like, blankets, cans of soup, toilet paper, bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes.  As we walked in, each of us carrying a bag of supplies, we asked the kids to take a good look around.  They noticed that there were various people trying to get settled in for lunch, as we talked briefly with the director, a little boy around the same age as Michael wanted to play with him and his Toy Story toy.  It really pulled at my heart.  We wanted the kids to understand that there are kids their age who might not be as fortunate as they have been especially after "Santa" has been so good to them.  And after seeing that little boy I think the message really hit home for them.  I hope that we will continue to remember what we saw that day and find ways to give back no matter how small the gesture.

We celebrated the New Year at my Aunt and Uncle's house, popping off some fireworks, later to find out that it was illegal in the city limits (Whoops!!) But thankfully we didn't get caught because we actually set off all of our fireworks before the local police came into the neighborhood to pass out warnings and tickets to residence setting off fireworks...Whew! We dodge a bullet there...that would not have been a great way to start off the New Year.

New Year's Day we celebrated Keanu's 1st Birthday.  He is the son of my 1st cousin Bryan and his beautiful wife Jenny.  I was fortunate enough to take pictures for them that day helping capture the memory.  It was extremely nice to see so many of my relatives and to see my kids finally meet some of their many, many cousins.  Makayla was extremely excited because for once she wasn't the only girl to be running around.  I can't imagine what she must think about always having to play with boys and then suddenly have a ton of girls to play with.  In some strange way it puts a smile on my face because I'm just so happy that all of my kids have the next few months to get to know some of their cousins.  As Army children it's a rare thing to be able to spend time with family longer than a family vacation.

School started here on January 3rd and we all rolled out of bed bright and early, lunches made, backpacks packed with school supplies and armed with registration forms ready for Joseph and Makayla to start their first day of school in their new school...only be to sent home after turning in their registration forms.  The secretary needed a day to assign them to a classroom, completely understandable considering we just showed up without warning.  However, the following day they were able to start school, no problem and after the first day they both came home saying that they LOVED their new school.

Joseph celebrated his 7th birthday by having a classroom party, Danny and I brought cupcakes and juice to the school for JoJo to share with his new friends.  His teacher seems stern but friendly (if that makes any sense...)  After school we took JoJo to Toys-R-Us to pick out toys for himself using a gift card from his Grandma and Grandpa B.  He was very selective, walking up and down each aisle trying to decide what is the best way he can stretch his "money" and still get what he likes.  Smart kid.  He decided to pick up a police car/patty wagon play set, a matchbox tank set and the book Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

After our trip to the toy store we went out for a family dinner at Olive Garden, where Mikey decided to throw up in the front entrance (YUM!)  Poor kid, he seemed like he was trying to fight off a cold the weekend before and I guess he lost the battle that night.  OH!! I almost forgot to mention that JoJo had his eyes checked for the first time since he was a baby.  He mentioned some time ago when we were in El Paso that he was having a hard time reading the words on the dry erase board but we couldn't find a place that would check his eyes being that he was only 6 years old at the time...long story short, he needs glasses for reading.  He seems pretty excited at the idea.

Yup!  Mikey was sick for sure!  We ended up taking him to the doctor to find out that the had a slight ear infection and was suffering from some crackling/weezing in his lungs and was prescribed an inhaler...if you haven't had the pleasure of giving a toddler medication via an inhaler...let me just tell you it has been a nightmare!  Mikey for his 32 lbs self is a pretty strong kid and he's a scrapper too! So, it takes two of us to even attempt to give him his inhaler; one to hold him down and the other to hopefully hold the inhaler long enough for him to breathe in the medicine.  Believe me when I say NOT FUN!

Whew!  I think I'm finally catching y'all up with what's been going on with us...

Finally, this past Friday, JoJo and Makayla were being released early from school and in their school when it's early release day, the entire school has a picnic during lunch and they invite the parents to join them.  Danny and I decided that we would go, and bring them McD's as a special treat for them.  I went to JoJo's class and sat in the tiny chair with his table mates.  It was great to interact with Joseph and his new friends.  But some of his classmates were a bit jealous saying that it wasn't fair that "He got a cheeseburger AND a chocolate shake!!"  Ummm...sorry, I'll have to think of something else for the next time.  Danny and Mikey joined Makayla in her class where they got to watch a movie while they ate lunch.  Both JoJo and Makayla both seem to be adjusting well to their new surroundings and I'm so thankful for that because it was one of my biggest worries that they would have a hard time adjusting to new teachers, new rules and new friends.

I really need to make sure that I don't take this long to update the blog again because trying to remember everything we've done for the last few weeks has been pretty tough.  Maybe Danny and I shouldn't have been playing so many rounds of SPEED with my cousins, April and Calunie!  Ha Ha!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far!  'Til next time...Take care!

Lights, Tradition and Holiday Cheer

This evening we decided to pile up in the minivan, and drive around a few neighborhoods to check out all of the Holiday decorations.  We came to this house The Jones Family with an amazing light show.  They even had a radio station that you could tune into to watch the lights dance to the music.  The kids were in awe.  We were in awe.  The amount of time and effort that it must have taken this family to put up and coordinate the lights was extremely impressive.  

It was nice to experience this as a family.  It's those little traditions that makes the holidays special.  I posted a mini clip taken from my phone but I hope that you take the time out to visit their website just click on the link posted.  

What are some of your holiday traditions? Baking cookies? Driving around looking at the lights? Comment and let me know.  Hope you're having a great holiday!

It's A Wrap!

We finally finished up all of the Christmas shopping.  Danny and I both realized how much we not only hate wrapping presents but we are both terrible wrappers.  Good thing the kids don't really care about the wrapping job.  Ha Ha!

Today, Joseph spent the morning shopping with his Opa.  From what I hear, he was a very thoughtful shopper by not only wanting to buy a gift for everyone in the family but he was a conscience shopper. (Everything he picked out was on sale).  His Opa was pretty impressed.

Makayla, spent her morning with Danny, doing some last minute shopping and she decided that she wanted to buy flowers for both Mommy and Oma but she also wanted to buy flowers for her Auntie Caroline, Calunie and April.  Later on in the day she said to me, "Mommy, I don't want any presents this year."  I asked her, "Oh really? Why not?"  Her reply was simply, "Because I have enough toys.  Santa should give them to kids who don't have any."

After dinner, the entire family sat down to create our 2nd Annual Gingerbread House.  Of course the kids couldn't wait to taste the frosting and all of the little candies that we used to make our windows, doors, walkways and Christmas lights on the house.  They even put a Christmas fish on the rooftop! Afterwards Makayla and Joseph were singing made up Christmas songs to which both of them started singing that "Christmas was not about presents but about giving"

As a parent, I always wonder if my children are getting the message about being thoughtful of others and how important it is to not only care about others but to take care of each other and today it seems as if the lessons are finally sinking in.  To me, it is the best gift to receive...to know that my guidance is putting my children on the right path.  And that is a gift that needs no wrapping!!

Total Mayhem...

The boxes and movers are have left.  We cleaned until our arms were sore.  We passed our house inspection.  We said our "See you later." to all of our friends.  We drove to San Antonio at day early and surprised Sasha's mom.  What a week!!

Cute story from Joseph's last day at school:

Joseph has been real sweet on a girl named Yarizeth.  They have been in class together since Pre-K.  Since she found out that he was moving away she brought a Christmas gift.  Inside was a bucket of plastic army men, some silly band bracelets, and a Christmas ornament with her photo inside, along with a note saying how much she was going to miss him and then she listed her address, email address, home phone number and her mom's cell number.  Later, we had Joseph drop off a gift for his sweetie at her house and when she called to thank him he turned beat red, ears and all.  Too Cute!!

Since we've arrived to San Antonio we unloaded the cars and managed to get all of the kids settled in and in the process attempted to complete our holiday shopping.  We've made countless trips to Wal-Mart.  It almost seems to be our daily ritual.  We did however manage to make time to watch the Lunar Eclipse.  Although it was foggy it was still a sight to see...especially in the wake of all of the mayhem that's been going on in our lives.

Here are a few photos from our week...ENJOY!!

Makayla and Joseph both were recognized as Terrific Kids.

Danny jumping for joy as he signed out from the BDE HQ.

Apfelkorn with friends at the German Club on Fort Bliss.

Lunar Eclipse as seen in  Cibolo, TX.

Weekend Warriors

Since Friday we have been so busy with fixing, cleaning and sorting things that are left in the house.  Even as we are posting this blog we are trying to figure out what to pack and what to send in the last shipment of household goods.  It can be so stressful trying to decide "will I need this in the next 6 months or can I do without it?" and then you ask yourself "if I can do without it, do I really need this at all?"  Try doing this with three kids who are bored at home and relishing in the fact that without a living room set they have so much more room for their crazy antics!  Sword fight anyone?

Last night was great, we had a few friends stop in to help us clean, no job was too small from washing windows to putting DVD's back into their cases.  A HUGE thank you was paid with pizza and beer! Ha Ha Ha!  Later on we hung out watching a movie and playing a few rounds of Guitar Hero. Ahem! Sasha still remains as the household champ.

Today, was a bit laid back.  We are all a little burned out from looking around in every nook and cranny.  There is still so much that needs to be done, various lists are being made as reminders of what's left to do

• Clean out the fridge
• Clean the bathrooms
• Wash the floors
• Load the car 
• Take out the trash
• Collect all the keys
• Remove all the nails from the walls
• Forward our mail

And the list can go on and on. It's always all the small stuff that gets us in the end. It seems like no matter how much we plan, how well we prepare and organize ourselves with a timeline all those small things just seems to pile themselves on.  

The upcoming week will be the kids last week in school here in El Paso and along with that comes the holiday classroom celebrations, the classroom gift exchange, homework, not to mention we will be doing all of this and dealing with the last round of movers. Soon we will be dealing with the early morning commute from on-post lodging taking the kids to the school and then back to the neighborhood, that should be interesting.  Whew...it's tiring just thinking about it.  But we are sure that as long as we remain calm it will all get done. One thing at a time...just one thing at a time.  

Day 2 of the packing invasion

Today the packers actually showed up on time, I believe this has been a first in the history of this Bleifield family moving.  However they have been here 6 hrs already and the truck isn't even close to being loaded. What's up with that?!

Thankfully to pass the time JoJo's school was hosting a Fun Friday for parents to come and join their children during the P.E. class.  Sasha joined him for a walk around the "track" (a sand and pebble filled area marked off by construction cones) all of JoJo's friends and his girlfriend walked with Mamma and son.  Afterwards, the parents and kids had their pick of physical activity such as four square, basketball, jump rope, football and soccer.  JoJo was extremely excited when he managed to fight his way to a football.

Hmm...football with Mamma and a bunch of 1st grade boys.  It was interesting to say the least...living in the land of Cowboys and Mom is wearing a Saints shirt (Saints beat the Cowboys this past Thanksgiving in case you didn't know).  Here are all three 1st grade boys trying to cheat their way through the game but Mamma kept them straight.  Ha Ha!

Christmas Program Videos

Here is Makayla with her Kindergarten classmates singing Mr. Grinch and Whoville Christmas.

Joseph with his 1st grade classmates singing a song I don't know the name of (yikes!) and Jingle Bell Rock.