First Birthday

Joanna's Birthday was on Friday and the whole Pierzina/Holley clan minus the newly weds who were truly missed ventured to Sunriver for a three day weekend.  We had a little princess themed party for Jojo, she had so much fun.  She sat in her highchair throne and devoured, smashed and smeared her whole cake.  She was performing.  She would squeeze the cake, pause, look around the room which sent everyone into laughter then do it again.  Over and over she was trying to see what reaction she would get ever time.  She opened her presents like a pro with plenty of help from her brother and cousins.

My nephew Jacobs 7th Birthday fell on Sunday so we celebrated Saturday.  The snow was mostly melted but we made the best of it and found a patch on the golf course.  Joanna got pulled around in her little bird sled and Jared wanted to be pushed down the hill over and over.  He would sit on his bottom get pushed down and once his sled stopped at the bottom he would switch to his stomach and wait for someone to tow him back up.  Joseph and Jordan were content to use sticks to dig and draw in the snow and the older boys of course made a ramp they jump jump the sled off of.

We went straight from sledding to the ice skating rink.  I'm surprised how much the little kids enjoyed it.  We had to tow them along so it was pretty difficult since I'm not much of a skater and every time I took a break to lean against the wall with Jordan she  let me know she wasn't done yet.  The big boys of course were trying to do 360s and race...

We went back to the cabins for Jacob's Birthday party and then went swimming at the spa which was amazing.  The pool was salt water and the locker room had a hot tub grotto complete with a waterfall and foe starry night sky.  Joseph swam around with his arm floaters on so well and Joanna was very relaxed in her  Mr. Crab floaty. 

All in all it was a great weekend.  I love creating these memories that will last a lifetime!.

Craig/ Pierzina Wedding

My brother Josh and his now wife Alisha were married last Saturday at the Hilton in Eugene. It was an amazing ceremony and Alisha was stunning. Im lucky there was a video because I'm sorry to say I had to force myself to look away during parts of the ceremony so I would'nt cry. I'm so happy that they found each other and I've gain such an amazing sister.

Alisha wanted to get all the kids involved which gave me great anxiety because Joseph would be walking down the isle with me. We got him a cute tux complete with a little bow tie, we practiced how we would walk, and every time I asked him to take my hand he would join his own hands together and tell me "I hold my own hand!" The night before the wedding at rehersal he skipped the whole way which was cute but on the wedding day with all those people he held my hand and walked straight as a board all the way to Grandma lol maybe I just need a house full of strangers to get some peace.

My neice Jordan was the flower girl she practiced the entire week before and pleaded to her mother everyday to please take her to the wedding andwhen her time came she walked down beautifuly and when she came to stand next to me on the stage she still has every pedal intact in her little basket. She was cute even waving out to my son Joseph who was seated next to grandma in the front row and wispering "Joseph Hi, Joseph, Joseph".



Alisha did an amazing job picking the music. Josh and Alisha walked down the isle as husband and wife to "Something Beautiful" by Newsboys which is soft but upbeat and it left everyone feeling kind of bubbly watching these two amazing people, walking down the isle, and into the rest of their lives together.

 The ceremony was fun, fun, fun!. The dinner was formal so everyone had four extra glasses that they didn't know what to do with which was actually kind of fun and unlike the movies I had to force so girls to catch the bouqet ( I had to throw mine twice because all the girls froze and it landed on the ground). They behaved very well and fed not smashed the cake. Alisha had a 3' wedding cake pinata made up for the kids that they broke wide open on the dance floor.

Everyone danced and had a great time. It ended around 10:30 but Mike and I visited with our friends Shannon and Mike until 12:30 and had the whole place to ourselves. If I could I would go back to Saturday January 8th over and over it was an amazing night.

My girls Joanna Amy and Shannon

Kids having a great time

New Year

With the new year here comes another year full of new things.  Our families first big event of 2011 will be the marriage of Josh and Alisha this Saturday.  We will be running around this week making sure we have everything together and pray for a good nap the day of.  Joseph will be in the wedding and nothing would distract from the ceremony like a cranky baby.  I have to practice walking in 4 1/2" heels, what was I thinking? well I thought they would look good with my bridesmaid dress I never considered the skill level they required. 

It doesn't really matter Alisha is pretty easy going and at the end of the day they get to start there new life together and I'm so excited that she is going to be my sister-in-law because she is already such a good friend. 

Christmas Time

Christmas was amazing this year with a little Santa Clause believer in tow.  Joseph spotted him again this weekend at Burger King... luckily when he screamed out "Santa!"  in delight the man was happy to play along and had pleasant conversaion with Joseph about his gifts.  Joanna was mostly interested in bows, she opened her fair share of presents at Grandma's with the rest of the kids but she was happiest to crawl under the tree to snatch a bow off  tucked away presents.  All in all it was terrific.  As tradition goes, we spent the day in our jammies at my Mom and Dad's savoring the day.

Joanna turned 11 months old yesterday she seems to small to be almost a year old.  She took her first steps 5 time she took 1-2 steps and was very thrilled so thrilled she started on a clapping spree.  She has clapped for us before but she really claps now especially if you say yea!! It doesnt stop there she also used a spoon yestday to feed herself some cottage cheese.  So there you have it Joanna seems to feel that you should go big or go home and she was ready to accomplish some tuff stuff yesterday. 

                                                 What a wonderful Christmas this will be!

Savor the moments

      Christmas is almost here I think I was too prepared.  I have all my shopping done which was easy because Mike's work is slow so the budjet was tight. My brother is hosting Christmas Eve and my Mother Christmas so I wont have to cook much.  Yet I'm still anxious because I have nothing to keep me busy in the mean time.  Just trying to keep on with the daily schedule with the kids and enjoy time with them.

       For instance this morning I realized it's really time to move my baking items to a higher shelf in the pantry.  Everytime I open that door I have two kids trying to wiggle past me.  This morning while getting Joseph cereal he squeezed past me and ended up having shredded wheat with marshmellows and sprinkles.  I usually give them pretty balanced meals but he will only be 2 once and I want it to be special.

Christmas card

My Mother-in-Law Melinda had us fill out a favorites list to use in her Christmas card in leu of a Christmas letter so I though it would be fun to post our answers on here as well:

FOOD:
Joseph fruit snacks from costco,we're trying to week him off
Joanna food baked sweet potato and venison stew once she ate more stew than Mike
Mommy...food..coffee......
Mike Prime Rib

SONG:
Joseph lol..so cute he loves the Hokey Pokey
Joanna Patty Cake
Mom..Twinkle Twinkle because joseph sings along to the whole thing but can't quite pronounce the words and he overly drags out the r in starrr
Mike Danny's Song

PLACE:
Joseph Shopping even if it's just to get groceries he is a caracter and people in public are his audience if he senses that we're headed home after the gym he gets upset and says"no home mommy shopping! "
Joanna Loves home she is free to crawl.climb.rumage.wander ect
Mom My bed right before the day starts joseph climbs in bed with me every morning still groggy and cuddles with me
Mike 12,000 ft in Colorado Wilderness

HOBBIES
Joseph Coloring usually fish that don't look like fish kites or really big circles!
Joanna Joseph..no really she follows him climbs on him copies him she thinks he is amazing
Mom Everything, most recently photography
Mike Hunting

SAYING
Joseph " One more"
Joanna " What's that? " with her chubby finger pointed at something
Mom "Last one"
Mike "Whatever"

ACCOMPLISHMENT
Joseph Steering his trike, before he wouldn't steer just peddle and peddle until he ran into an object then yell" mom, I stuck!"
Joanna is 10 months old so it's something new each week this week standing for 30 seconds and counting and talking
Mom Creating two amazing children of course
Mike Shooting first bull elk

MOVIE/TV
Joseph Loves anything on disney diego Mickey mouse ect
Joannas Favorite book is any that double as a teether
Moms Favorite film Pretty Women will never get old as a kid I didn't realize she was a hooker as a teen I wanted those boots as a 20 something I wanted that knight in shining armor and as a mom I realize that just when you think you have it all figured out life happens...and now I wish I could pull off those boots
Mike American Pickers..If my wife wasnt a habitual organizer we'd be horders