Disneyland 2011

So there will be no Christmas pictures, since I had no camera... so sad. We did have an amazing Christmas with our family though as always!! My family came over along with some friends, to enjoy our tradition of chocolate fondue on Christmas eve!! Growing up, we always had cheese fondue on Christmas eve (blech!!) It must have been a 70s thing?? Anyhow, I really hated it and decided that when I had my own family we'd do something different... Nothing better than chocolate eh??

Like most of you, my favorite part is watching the kids joy and excitement as they open gifts and the magic of those moments playing all day with new toys and games wearing new jammies. I LOVE IT!

We also have BOB... Bob is our families "elf on the shelf" He shows up on Thanksgiving and then goes home on Christmas eve. We've had him for a few years but this year I got the hint that Mackenzie isn't so sure about our elf being real anymore *sigh* Real quick I'll share a funny memory from the first year we got him. We explained how Bob works and Mackenzie said "well does he stay downstairs because I don't want him walking around in my room while I'm asleep... That is creepy" we couldn't stop laughing after she went to bed that night.

So BOB (we named him that because he really does look like Bob's big boy) goes home to Santa every night to "report" the kids behavior then shows up each morning in a "new spot" in the house. It's a fun tradition. He hides in all sorts of wacky places and I just loved that each morning for an entire month the kids would scramble downstairs to find him... Except when I forgot to move him... OOPS. Told the kids he must have been too tired to fly home that night. LOL

So this year one of the family gifts was a trip to Disneyland!! We left New Year's Day and were gone for 5 days. YES, we did... We left Nickolas with my Mom and it was FaBuLoUs!! No stroller, no leash (ha ha ha) and everyone could ride everything for the first time EVER. Wait! did I forget to mention that there were NO lines for 3 days!!! It was AWESOME ♥ We really had such a fun time together.

Everything was covered in lights for Christmas

Luke and his FAVORITE ride!
Love those crazy hats

it really is a HUGE Christmas tree!

Mac and Jack on Toy Story Mania

Mackenzie

goofing around waiting for Daddy

Randy and Mackenzie

Getting closer!

I figure while I'm reminiscing, now is a good time to post about a new development in the Onstine Family... NO, I am NOT pregnant... For some time now, I have been feeling very impressed to make some changes with my home-based business. You all know how much I love Arbonne. I love their products, people, ethics and philosophy. However, I want more time at home. Well, I don't, but I do... Does that make sense?

Sometimes it's tough to be home more, cause I need a break often from the challenges of parenting but really, I KNOW, like I know, like I know, that I NEED to be more PRESENT with my children (and everyone else for that matter). I have learned that being home is NOT the same thing as being present and have been working at this for some years now. For some, this is a natural part of parenting but it has not been for me... my true challenge. For example: when I am playing barbies with Mackenzie there is a little jeopardy timer in my head ticking away while I am thinking of other things... you know like, when can I be done, I have laundry or dishes or some other child to help or craft to start or other random thoughts... True presence allows me to sit and play barbies, just sit and enjoy the senses of that experience being shared with my daughter.

Of course I love my kids and I am a task oriented worker by nature... How to merge the two and reconcile my upbringing which inspired me to work from a young age. I love to work, I will say and have generated much satisfaction from contributing to the family financially... SO, what to do? because trust me, there are times, I really would rather be working (even if only from home)... Seriously.

So a wonderful thing happened as I was finally allowing my soul to be open... REALLY open. Not easy for a control freak like me to be. I had been meditating for quite some time (like months) when the thought came to me to call a friend I hadn't spoken to in years... Of course as I pondered the thought I came up with a million reason not to... But I have learned to act quickly when I feel so impressed. Long story short? She gave me another business option (not that I hadn't had plenty of them over the years, but somehow the timing was different) Now what to DO??

I'd been praying for this right?! But, actually taking actions to do something COMPLETELY different were tough for me, my ego, and my pocket book... LOL

Guess what?! After quite a feeling of "jumping off a cliff" and literally building my wings of faith on the way down, life has been nothing short of amazing! And guess what else?! This new adventure includes RANDY!!!!!! Who knew we could be such fantastic business partners? This has been by far the best gift for us both! It has given us something to work towards together and given him the confidence to develop a new skill set that gives us another income stream. We always thought that I was the entrepreneur but as it turns out.... SO IS HE!! Who knew?!

I am in love all over again ♥ I could go on and on about the things we are learning together and what it has done to enhance our friendship and relationship but I'll keep those to myself for now.

I'll add this... I wish that I had been more open to the Lord's plan at this time for me a lot sooner! I was raised under circumstances that required me to feel in control of things and over the years I learned how to maintain that... BUT, I am finally learning to really LET GO... Such a miracle, if you only knew!

I know that the Lord waits to bless us all... Must be frustrating for him when he comes across a soul like me, who honestly for years, must be resisting amazing things due to my inability to truly LET GO and let him. Life is a process isn't it? and its about PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION. May we all be willing to progress ♥

PS, I still Love and use Arbonne

Turkeys On Strike Nov. 2010

In November Jacksen participated in a School play the second grade did called "Tukeys On Strike" It was really funny about the Turkeys going on strike before Thanksgiving so the other "side dishes" of the Thanksgiving feast step up to be the "main course" so funny. Jack LOVES acting so this was right up his alley!!

our little Pilgrim
Jack and his buddy Hayden

Jack and his buddy Kyle

Loving every second of being up on stage

Halloween 2010

This year Jack was SuperMan, Nick was a Zebra, Luke was Super Cop and Mackenzie was a silly witch.

Holy Moly, after only 45 min of trick or treating... We donated it the next day!!
Jack and his pal Ryan

Silly Witch

Luke grew a mustache just for the occasion

Punkin Pickin with Pals

A fun trip to Bishops Pumpkin Farm with our pals the Costellos, Pizzutis and Indihars.

Me and the kids picking out the perfect pumpkin

Jack and his buddies, Julian and Ryan
crazy kids

local prisoners

beautiful sunflower patch

petting zoo

Jack and Mack riding the trainchoo choo Luke

How Tall??

Computer Conference

We are now entering October of 2010 (almost done catching up, YAY) Anyhow, I found this picture of Nickolas watching October Conference with us on the computer. He was really quite enthralled with it. We got rid of our Satellite and Cable services over a year ago, so we always watch it on the computer now.

I must say that going TV-free was one of the best decisions we've made in a long time. AND we survived the first year, LOL!! I am not anti-TV or anything and I know there are some good educational programs, but for now, we are living tv and video game free. We play a lot more games (you know, the old school variety) with the kids, read a lot more books, and talk (shocking to hear I know) I love not having the TV background noise flowing through the house all the time, it's somehow refreshing! YES, we do have a million Disney movies and a subscription to netflix to fill in the gaps though ♥

Onstine soccer-mania!!

Welcome to the Onstine family Soccer-mania! Whew... although the kids loved it, we are exhausted!~ Mackenzie played on the Disco Divas, Jack played on the Blackhawks and Luke played on the Surfs. I have to say that Luke loved playing the most. He would wake up almost everyday and ask me if it was practice or game day... He was so cute! Jack played with a bunch of his friends this year which was a great experience and his skills greatly improved (even though baseball is his first love) Mackenzie was an amazing goalie. Her coach even had the team sign the goalie jersey for her and gave it to her at the final game, SO SWEET! Until next season, we are outa here and onto baseball and back to horse back riding

Lucky Luke

chewing on his nails when he's really focused!

go # 19

lovin' the trophy!

Jack's good buddy Kyle

Love that smile!

halftime snacking

finally, the end is here

Mac and her coach Josh B.

♪♫ 3 little monekeys swinging in a tree ♫♪♪

Mac and coach

She loves being goalie ♥