Sons of LaFayette

Man....I took some other pictures of Richard after his choir concert but they didn't transfer or something...anyway....here is he after the concert with some of our friends who attended. This year they performed with the LaGrange Symphony and it was fabulous! We really enjoyed it! Richard really enjoys singing with the choir and they put on a great show. Last year a choir from Ireland came to perform with our choir so in 2009 The Sons of LaFayette choir will travel to Ireland to perform. I hope we all can tag along for the trip! (Richard looks really sharp in his tux....can't tell from this picture though;))

boys and their holes....

This is a picture Nate's blue jeans before I ironed-on patches. This particular pair required 3 patches....one on each knee and one below the back pocket. These holes are not intentionally created by Nate but are the by-product of his intense urge to slide whenever and wherever he feels like it. He can't just walk somewhere he has to slide to his destination-outside or in. Hence....all his jeans will eventually look like this. I sure love this boy of mine...even with his holey jeans!!

12 1/2 years old.....

and they still taste good! These were the mints from our wedding June 24th 1995! I don't know why I was saving them for so long! While I was rearranging my cabinets this weekend I needed the space for some new pots and pans so they had to go!

Letters to Santa

The kids wrote letters to Santa(on their own) this week and I just wanted to post what they say....

(you can actually read them if you click on the picture)

Sophia's said:

Dear Santa,

In the bag that looks like a raindear is raindear food. I've wanted a bell from your slay like in porler expres. A tellskop and ice skats with 2 blades. I want to see a pikcher of you too. From, Sophia Villamor

(could you decode that? I love how she sounds stuff out!)

Here is Nate's: (he did very well with his writing of it too but I will just write what it is supposed to say not how he spelled it)

Dear Santa,

What we want for Christmas is a dog that is not a bulldog and is not a girl dog, 2 bionicles, a race track with 35 cars that I always wanted.

He even put his in an envelope and asked for a stamp! For a while they were asking for an XBox but i didn't want to spend that much money....so I tried to explain that it was too expensive and we couldnt' ask Santa for that to which Sophia replied "but mom, Santa makes all the toys!" and so I said we still have to pay for some of it! ha! That worked.

I wonder how many more years she will believe. I think rationally she knows but she loves a good story so she wants to believe. She has asked me a few times if I believe in Santa and I have either said "yes" or "it is fun to believe". It will be sad when that magic of the holiday is gone but maybe we will always play along even though no one believes!?!

Just as crazy!

There is a class at the gym that I crave sometimes....the other times i just go and am so so happy i went afterwards. It is called RPM-not sure what that stands for but one place I looked it said "raw power in motion" so i don't know;) I call it "spinning class". Whatever you call it you will definately sweat, get breathless, uncomfortable at times, maybe nauseated but afterwards feel so evergized and glad you came! The class typically lasts 48 minutes but some instructors will add-on extra songs to make it an hour or more! I love that! Give me more adrenalin!;)

Anyway....I love it and so do so many others at the gym that if you don't get to some classes 30 minutes before they begin you will not have a bike.

My favorite time to go is 520am. The gym offers 3 classes at this time and there are people who get to the gym at 445am(it opens at 5am) to wait so they can be sure to get a bike! I usually get there at 5:03am hoping I am not too late and am always shocked at how many people are already in the spinning room when I get there! One morning I overheard some members talking about how early they get up to get to class and that some mornings they get here before the gym opens and they have to wait in their car(the guy opens the gym at about 450am). I thought "they are crazy" and then I remembered that I had gotten to the parking lot at 449am and was just as crazy as they were!

Now I just need to get some spin shoes that fit!

She's 8!

Enid Sophia Villamor turned 8 on November 17th. Everyone tells you "enjoy them while they are young because they grow up so fast" and it is so true! I can't believe I have an 8 year old and I can't believe I was blessed with such a wonderful daughter like our Fia-girl!



Here are 8 things I love about Fia-


1. Her smile. It is just beautiful and she is always flashing it!! When she was a baby I got this comment a lot: she is just the happiest baby I have ever seen! She was always so happy and such a joy to parent!! If I could have eaten her I would!


2. Her laugh! It is so sweet and infectious! I guess that goes a long with her smile:)


3. Her friendliness. Sophia has always had so many friends. When we are in town there will be adults as well as children she knows from school or the gym or whereever....but they will all say "Hi Sophia!" There was one kid she was in K and 1st grade with whose grandmother was so worried about her grandson not having Sohpia in 2nd grade with him! Apparently Sohpia kept him "in-line" and she didn't know how he would do without her!


4. Her desire to be with her family. Sophia loves to do things as a family. She loves to play games and just be together. Last year I asked the kids what their favorite part of Christmas that year was and Sophia's response was "just doing things together as a family". Just what a Mom wants to hear!


5. Her creativity. Sophia LOVES to create things. She will often argue with me about not throwing away a bottle or box because she could recycle it!!! Occasionally I have to go through her room and put those "recycleables" back where they belong!


6. Her personality-she is just someone you want to be around and it shows with all the friends she has!

7. Her snuggly nature- Sophia loves to snuggle and she will keep you warm at night for sure....until she kicks off the covers!

8. Her desire to learn-she is very inquisitive about new things and everything science. She is quickly out-growing my knowledge base!!

Below is the picture I took of her while she was watching a comedy show at Stone Mountain. It isn't the best shot but it did capture that smile I love so much!

Stone Mountain

Yesterday we went to Stone Mountain to see the Christmas Village they do every year. Back in the summer they were advertising a "snow mountain" that we would be able to sled down.....but since we are still in a drought....and creating a snow mountain would tons of water they cancelled that exhibit. We didn't realize that this particular evening would be so crowded either....it was CRAWLING with people. That is something we try to avoid but we just toured the shops and tried to do the things the crowds weren't(they were there to see Santa apparently). It turned out to be a fun evening...and not so cold!


They had the trees and buildings all wrapped in lights. This was was particularly beautiful because it was naturally orange with the changing leaves still on it and then they had it wrapped in orange lights as well. It was my favorite!

One highlight of the evening was watching "The Polar Express" in 4D. They shortened the movie to 30 minutes but it was still magical and cool how they had the caribou sneeze on us and actual "wet" snow at the end.

Our 3D glasses....we are so cool!

Coca-Cola is a big theme at Stone Mountain too.