More Christmas...

Vi opening the dancing barbie from crazy granny.

Denise got her these pants. We'll just put them in the closet for a couple of years :)

Petting her Zhu Zhu pet. The dogs only went after it a few times.

Goggles from Santa. After I bought them she told Buddy she wanted blue lens and a green strap...phew!

Thanks for a good Christmas and to all a good night...

Christmas 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Our tree 2009 with all the presents under.

Vi loved her new Peace stocking...and all the goodies that were inside.

Love the face...I think this game was played about 8 times this afternoon.

Of course she had to strike a pose in her new dance unitard from Grandma Liz and Jazz shoes from us.

Yes she asked for a toothbrush and toothpaste from Sabrina. And she was very excited when she opened it.

School Holiday Party

Friday Dec 18th was the Holiday Party in Vi's class. They had different centers of fun activities and a book exchange.
Here Vi is working hard on a project.

They got to play with the "snow". It was 75 degrees outside when they were playing with the homemade stuff...gotta love living in AZ!

Getting ready to start the fun.

First Play

This past weekend was a busy weekend for us. The play that we bought tickets to, Junie B Jingle Bells Batman Smells, was on Saturday. Vi was SOOO excited! Me, Vi and her bff Alexandra and Julie, Allie's mom, went. The girls had a blast!! They were sitting on the edge of their seats watching. They really had a good time. We made a whole day (and night) of it. Alexandra's birthday is on Christmas Day so we celebrated Saturday. After the play we went to Outback for dinner (thank you Papa Dad for the gift card) and then stayed the night at a hotel (thank you Crazy Granny for the free room). It was such a great day/night. The girls were so excited and really had a good time!

Here is a picture before the play.

We had a early birthday party for Alexandra, cupcakes and all.

It was such a great weekend!

Winter Attire

Now that it is "winter" in AZ I had to make sure Vi had something fashionable to wear. It is hard enough to get that kid to bundle up so I had to make good and sure that I got her a winter coat that she would wear. So I headed to my favorite store, Ross and got her a coat. She LOVES it, she even wears the hat...Mission accomplished!!

School work

Vi is doing so well in school her teacher has put her into a group of kids that get extra projects. She is working on a book report and she had to write an essay about penguins. I am so proud of her!

Oh Christmas Tree...

This morning Buddy the Elf was sitting on the Christmas tree. She has been wanting him to be on the Christmas tree for days. She put on her Christmas dress and wanted me to take a picture. If you look real close it looks like he is watching her.

December is here!!

Victoria is very excited about Christmas this year...be on the look out for some Tori Stories...

Thanksgiving 2009

This year there are so many unexpected things to be thankful for. My forced unemployment has allowed me to do a lot of things with Victoria that I wouldn't be able to do if I was working. Eddie is also liking it because I am doing tons more around the house. Now if only I could figure out a way to get paid for it...
Vi and I have been talking a lot about what we are thankful for so she wrote down what she was thankful for and read the list aloud during thanksgiving dinner. The list consisted of 12 items. I have listed them below:
1. peace in the world
2. for mom and dad
3. for my home
4. for my family
5. cutls (cuddles)
6. tukts (tucks) in to bed
kississes (there was no number by this one)
7. for sweet dogs
8. love
9. crismis (Christmas)
10. for cats
11. for stuft anmals (stuffed animal)
12. for thanksgiving

I love her so much! She is such an amazing little girl...

This morning was a rough morning in the Taugner household. Started out by me waking everyone up by setting off the smoke alarm while I was steaming Eddie's work clothes. Then Vi wanted to wear a thermal shirt and I said no, it was 92 today! Well, that lead to tears and me getting the "meanest mom" title. I was frustrated so I said can you pick out some socks or is that too much to ask? She responded with "that is too much to ask." I walked right into that one...

First Sleep Over

Vi had her first sleep over last night. Of course she stayed at Alexandra's house. She had SO much fun and she was so well behaved. She is already asking when Allie can stay over here...

Halloween

Vi loves Halloween. We had a very busy week with all the Halloween activities. Weds we carved pumpkins with her friends Sonny. Friday was the Pumpkin Walk where all the kids carved pumpkins at school and they displayed them lit up at night. Saturday was trick or treating.

This is Sonny, Vi and Jimmy posing for a picture with the pumpkins.

How cute is she?!

The moon was almost full so I took a picture of the witch with the moon in the background. Vi thought it was cool cause I let her stand on the van.

The witch and her cat (Alexandra).

Vi favorite "treat" of the night. She tried to pick it up...

Reading

Every month Vi gets magazines in the mail that Papa Dad got for her. Her favorite is Your Big Backyard. It is all about animals. As soon as they come in the mail she sits and reads them. She is getting so good at reading!

On Friday Vi got to take her limo ride with the principals to get ice cream. She loved it!! It was a stretch hummer limo. There were about 10 kids that got to go. I was there when she got back. She was so happy. Thanks again to all that contributed!

Halloween is coming...

Victoria is so excited for Halloween. She is going to be a witch this year...an eeevaalll witch. Denise sent her a witch that hackles when you press the arm. She has been carrying it around calling it her twin. We are going to have to get some decorations next year since she loves Halloween so much. What I would really love it to take her to DisneyLand for Halloweentown next year. Hopefully I will have a job and we can do that...

Here is the witch with the pumpkin we got earlier in the week.

Locker

Vi has taken over one of our cabinets. It started out it was where we put all her dishes. She has taken it over and now calls it her "locker". I don't even know half the stuff that is in there. Yesterday I asked her for if she could go upstairs and get her pjs on. She said oh, I don't have to go upstairs and she went to her locker and got out pjs.
I refuse to go in there now, too much crap. If she is hungry she needs to get me a bowl/plate, spoon/fork and a cup.
Just look at all that stuff...

Swimming

October is unlimited swim month at Vi's swim school. I have been taking her almost every day. I have to call in the morning and if there is an open class at her level she can take the class. She is doing SO good. It is amazing what she can do now. She is going to move up to the next level any day now. She can float on her back by herself and swim across the pool. She has come a long way. It is also been good because she has got to take class with different teachers. Each teacher is a little different.
She told me that she wants to be a swim teacher when she is a teenager. We really want to keep her in lessons as long as possible. She really enjoy it!


I love when she just floats on her back. It makes me laugh...

Pumpkin Patch

Today Vi and I went to a pumpkin patch in Mesa with friends Rachel, Rueben and their 5 year old Sonny. We had a real nice time except that it was in the 90s, not really pumpkin picking weather but we still had fun.

There was a kids version of a corn maze amde with hay bails. Vi made it out first, she had no problem making it out. She is so smart.


Vi running to pick a pumpkin. Love the action shots!


After she picked a pumpkin she decorated it with stickers.


We went on a hay ride.


How cute is this picture?!

2nd Lost Tooth

Well, Babaganoush has lost her second tooth. The first one has started to grow in but she still has a big hole...She wrote a note to the tooth fairy letting her know where her tooth was and asking for $4. She also said Happy Halloween and Peace. She is so cute...

Brownies

The last couple of weeks there have been some good sales on brownie and cake mixes so I bought a bunch since Vi likes to cook. Tonight we made mint chocolate brownies with Andes pieces inside. We added some decorations on top for a personal touch. They are SOO yummy!

DJ Party - Read-a-thon

Today during school Vi got to attend a party hosted by a local DJ. It was on of the prizes for her read-a-thon pledges. The party was held in the afternoon after lunch. At the party she got a whole bag of gifts...free ice cream from DQ, free pizza from a local pizza place, $10 GC to Target, $10 to the school store and a bunch of toys. What a great way to start off Fall Break.

She also found out that her limo ride with the principal to McDonalds to get ice cream will be Oct 23rd. Thank you to all that helped her get these prizes!

Principal's Lunch

Once a month a select group of students from each grade are chosen to eat a special lunch with the principal. Students are chosen for exceptional behavior, use of their lifeskills and doing their personal best. Well...Victoria was chosen for October!!! I am so so proud of her!!! Her teacher is really tough and she is doing an amazing job. She got to eat lunch with the principals this past Friday.
Way to go Vi...keep it up!

Pajama Party at Grandma Liz's

In April Eddie and Vi went to Chicago for Tina's confirmation. While they were there they had a pajama party (this has led to Vi wanting pajama parties every couple of weeks). She has such a blast.

They got into their pjs and went to rent movies.

They also ate popcorn and wore candy necklaces. Vi had so much fun hanging with the girls.

Grandma Liz made chocolate covered strawberries. Vi could not get enough. As you can see she loved them.

Vi is going to be in the paper!

Melissa is putting an ad in the South Mountain Paper for the studio. Below is the ad. This picture was taken at the June recital. I, of course, am going to get numerous copies of the paper.

Bear down Chicago Bears...

As you already know we are HUGE Bears fans. The first two weeks have been crazy but we think we figured out how to get the Bears to win. Vi needs to wear her Urlacher jersey.
Here are me and Vi cheering on the Bears.

Vi sporting her Urlacher jersey. Since he is out for the season she has taken on his motivation.


GO BEARS!!

My Diva

Vi really knows how to strike a pose.

What happens in Vegas...

...gets posted on Vi's blog! We went to Vegas for Labor Day Weekend to relax and hang out with my family. We had a blast!! It was so good to see everyone...

Eddie hasn't been to Vegas since we got married. After the whirlwind of joyous emotions raced back from that faithful day he enjoyed a little gambling.

Vi and Madeline were happy to enjoy birthday number 3 for 2009. Another plus was that I got to see my sister prego. I didn't get any pictures but I am sure the kid already knows who I am. How do I know this you may ask...I bumped into her belly about 3 times. I am not used to it sticking out so far! :)

Denise came in from FL to celebrate her 50th (I know she looks great right). Matthew and his roommate Kirk flew in from Montana. They had one more summer fling before starting back to college. What a way to end the summer huh boys ;0

Brenda pulled herself away from the hubbie and her baby boy to get some gambling in. I haven't seen her in 3 years and about 10 for Eddie so I am glad she came in.

Evie and Leonard rounded out our group. I love sitting and talking with them!! Evie always makes me laugh!! She is the grandmother I never had...zing!

We had a GREAT time seeing the family! Even though we didn't win any money the rewards of this trip exceeded any amount we could have won!!

Much love to you all!!