CHRISTMAS JINGLE

To the Tune of "Jingle Bells"

(Verse)

Dashing through the waves as John rides on his board,

Jackie's working out, running all the chores.

There's so much to do, who can do it all,

We wish the kids were big enough to drive us to the mall. Oh...

(Chorus)

Buffy-Girl, she's the one, who dances all around,

Chloe's sweet and oh, so neat to sing us all a song! Oh!

Piper's fun happy too, she gets in everything,

Chad, we're glad, that he just sleeps, now join us as we sing!

(Chorus)

Oh, Jingle Bells, the Howe's are swell. We want to say to you!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too! Oh!

Deck the Halls and the Malls, ornaments galore,

Hope the season's filled with peace and joy and so much more!

"I am so over this picture taking ordeal mommy, I need a nap now"

Gingerbread House

One of my favorite things to do during Christmas season is making gingerbread houses with our girls. I guess I am reliving my childhood wishes. No matter how messy it is, the house always turn out so pretty. For the past few years, I have been decorating the houses while the girls ate the candy. This year, I gave them all complete creative control and they did such a beautiful job decorating. And, Piper only at 1/2 of the candy.

"One for the house, one for me." Says Piper

And.. Voila, the finished house! Great job girls!

Time for updating...

You look so pretty in your costume Buffy.

What a happy baby boy

Piper the Pirate, so cute

Congratulations Logan and Cheryl.

Chloe makes an adorable flower girl

My little man.

Hanging out at the pumpkin patch.

Already a big Johnny Cash fan.

Typical of my girls, they did not like hay at all, especially Piper.


It seems like I never have time to do anything but run around taking care of my kids. I have been wanting to update our blog and by the end of the day, I am just exhausted. My kids love Holloween, it's the only time they get to eat as much candies as they can in our house, and they do take advantage of this Pagan holiday. I just crinch thinking about their teeth rotting away.

We went to Death Valley for a Logan and Cheryl's wedding this past Saturday. It took us 5 hours to drive there and had a great time being with our family. There is NOTHING out there! This place is very appropriately named.

Chad's Blessing Day.

This past Sunday, John along with family and friends blessed our son. It was great to have all of our family traveling such long distance to support us on a very special day.

Chad is 2 months is just so darn cute!! He really is such a good baby. All he needs is lots of milk and a clean diaper, and all is well. He sleeps pretty much through the night. I think it's because he's got three sisters who fight to hold him during the day time so he doesn't really get to nap peacefully. So night time he takes advantage of sleeping without interruption.

He's beginning to smile and make super cute baby noises when we baby talk to him. He's just growing along accordingly, with cute baby chubs and all. I still cannot believe that I have a son. I am really enjoying him each and everyday. I love that Buffy, Chloe and Piper just adore him. I walked in on all three of them trying to change his poopy diaper. Poor little guy, he's going to have all these little mothers smoothering him.

Chloe

Chloe: "Mom, do you know why snails are so slow?"

Jackie: "No, why are they so slow baby girl?"

Chloe: "Because they don't have a brain."

Jackie: "How do you know they don't have a brain?"

Chloe: "Because I smashed them and I did not see a brain."

What a great summer!

I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by, school has started and our family have had a great and busy summer. Between swimming lessons, birthday parties, beach parties and family get together that it hardly felt like we had time off at all. My kids spend 3/4 of the summer in the pool and the other 1/4 of the time at the beach. The girls are very happy to be back at school. Since Buffy and Chloe are both in schools, I now have 2 kids at home. Buffy loves being at school and if it was up to Chloe, I would be with her in school all day.

We celebrated Chad turning a month by going to Disneyland. We all had a great time, Chad slept the entire time we were there.

/

"We are DEVO!"

English Beat

Lead Singer of English Beat

John and I had a chance to go see 2 great bands this summer. Devo, one of John's favorite bands and English Beat, one of my favorites. The Devo concert was great, but as soon as John and Curtis starting moshing, I got claustrophobic and left the sea of people. The English Beat were fantastic! I am so glad to have had a chance to see them in concert, they are one of the best ska bands, next to the Specials. I am so stuck in the 80's when it comes to music. I love the music from the that era.

Baby Chad Ethan, First Three Weeks!

Well after what seemed like an eternity, I finally gave birth to our 4th baby on July 22nd, 2008! I couldn't wait for one more second to be done with the pregnancy and hold our new baby. The labor was quick and easy, thank goodness. Everything was perfect!!! Chad is so tiny and so precious. Like with all my other children, I did not sleep at all the first few nights because I just held him and stared at him all night. I love kissing his little hands, feet, just love kissing him period! New borns are just so amazing and absolutely a blessing! I'm just so in love! He's fitting in great with our family. The girls just adore him. They all just love him so much, and fight over who gets to hold him. I have been in the kitchen and looked up at the top of the stairs with Chloe holding him! My heart nearly stopped. She was so proud that she got to pick him up. Buffy is as usual, super helpful and very loving to her new brother. She is my little helper. Piper has been, surprisingly, so sweet to the baby as well. There has not been any signs of jealously at all. She runs to get diapers and is constantly kissing the baby.

Chad Ethan have been a really good baby. He just eats and sleeps most of the time. He has not been fussy at all. I do hope he stays that way.

As for me, I am adjusting to having a boy, having four children! I am still in amazement and just elated that we finally have a son. I sleep less now than ever before. It's all worth it though. I cannot complain, I have been greatly blessed.

4th of July

Piper


"I am ready for smores"

We had a great time on 4th of July this year, although we missed out on the fireworks at the beach due to the fog. We had a great big beach fire and roasted smores, the girls had a great time and didn't even notice that the fog was too thick to see the fireworks.

Buffy turned 6 years old today! I took her to lunch with 5 of her friends and they all had a spa day at the nail salon. They all had a great time. I cannot believe my oldest child is now 6 years old. As I am about to give birth to my 4th baby, it still seem so surreal that I will have 4 children. Buffy told me today that she wants to have 15 children when she is married. I have to admit lately I have been more irritable than usual, because I am 36 weeks pregnant and everyone movement is uncomfortable. I think my children have been picking up on this. It's apparent in my conversation with Buffy.

Buffy: "I am going to have 15 kids when I get married."

Jackie: "What do you need to do first before you get married?"

Buffy: "Finish college, then I am going to have 15 kids."

Jackie: "Wow Buffy that's a lot of kids, are you sure want to cook, clean, make beds and pick up toys and iron clothes for 15 kids?"

Buffy: "I will have 15 maids, 1 for each kid to do all that for me so I won't go crazy like you mommy."

Jackie: "What are you going to do while the maids does all this work?"

Buffy: "I am going to get recipes from the Food Network to make dinner for everyone."


It's official, I have become the crazy mom that I swore I would never be. Just one more thing to add to the self-improvement list.

"This is the life Buffy."

Caylee, Sierra, Buffy, Allison, Abby, Lisa

Summer is here....you'll find...

Buffy searching for new ocean creatures....

Chloe writing her name in the sand...

Piper enjoying the cold water on her feet, with her clothes on....


And 5 seconds later....Piper enjoying the cold water even better!!!

BIRCH AQUARIUM

1. 
   "I can practically touch that fish"
   
   "Wow, that's a pretty big lobster."
   
   
   

"We are family, my sisters and me."

I took the kids to the Birch aquarium in La Jolla today. We have not been here for about a year. They all had a great time. Since Buffy is on spring break this week, we had plans for Disneyland but John has been so busy so it's not going to be possible this week. I tried doing Disneyland with the kids by myself and I think I lasted about 4 hours.

The girls had such a great time. Piper was just overwhelmed with all the creatures. Since Chloe loves animals so much, she had a million questions about each and every one of the animals. I think the oddest question she had for me today was, "Mommy, can a chameleon turn into me if I hold him?" And Buffy was just reading all about the label on each tank and telling me all about each creature.

My pregnancy is coming along fine. I am getting more uncomfortable by the hour. I had another ultrasound last week and he is growing right on track. The ultrasound shows him yawing and sucking his thumb. It's so amazing, I cannot wait to hold him. Newborn babies are just the most precious! I do pray that all will be well and he will be born strong and healthy.