Gigi and Josippi

Ashley's Prom!

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:50:00 +0000

My Goddaughter is all grown up and going to her first prom!! Sniff!!

What color is my wall?

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:36:00 +0000

There has been a bit of a debate over the color of my living room walls. What color do you think it is?

We hope you enjoyed The Simple Truths of Service Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:03:00 +0000

We hope you enjoyed The Simple Truths of Service Movie

Christmas 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:12:00 +0000

Christmas 2008 at Aaron and Sara's.

Bad camera...I know, we need a new one really bad.

Cora and I with a honey oatmeal face mask that Cora made from her Spa Factory.

Mom with the honey oatmeal face mask

Goofy Face

Cora with the honey oatmeal face mask

Another goofy face

Oh yeah

Budah

We had such a great time! Cora and I made the mask and lip gloss. We had lots of giggles and had so much fun!

Mom after Cora put the mint mud mask on.

MOVING

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:12:00 +0000

We are moving! We found a bigger house only 11 blocks away from where we currenlty live. We are actually moving right now...except me. I'm sick with sinus infection and either my iron levels are down or I'm getting sick with something else because I can't even walk across the room without being totally drained of all energy. So everyone is moving my stuff for me. Kinda sucks!!!

Rylee's Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Rylee turned 11 on October 26th.

Here she is with the cake my mom made. Didn't Mom do a great job?

Blow out the candles!!!

For Rylee's birthday, I handed down my opal and diamond ring to her. When I was 15, my Grandma Strottman gave it to me when I was confirmed. Since Rylee and I both share the October birthstone, I thought it would be a perfect gift for her.

Here she is opening it..finally, after a month of Gigi tormenting her!

The ring

Rylee and Aunt Gigi

Happy Birthday Baby...I hope it was special!

Joe Drifting

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:53:00 +0000

Hmmm...what's new???

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Well, not a whole lot going on in the Santolin house.

As you know, a few weeks ago I got T- Boned 3 blocks fr om our house. Nice? All is well and my car is on the road but is still in the need of surgery...speaking of..Since Joe has recovered from his surgery, my little blue turbo zip machine will now get hers. She needs a new undercarriage, possibly new struts in the front, some body work and paint to the front quarter and driver's side door. Lots more stuff I'm sure, but I'm not the car person in this family..

Joe got his new rear differential in his car...now the 56 Beetle just needs to be tore apart!

Cora is loving valley ball! She said they won their game tonight! She's been getting up really early for practice every morning. She is very committed to it. We're proud of her!

The dogs are fine. Fall arrived today so we know a freeze will be on its bitter way hence relieving poor Kenzo from his allergies.

Josippi is recovering well from his surgery and is back to normal duties. I still get on his butt when he dares to lift anything heavy in my presence...

Me? Well...nuthin new with me other than my hair, but that's a given. I can't ever seem to stop changing it. I knew I'd put that Barbering degree to good use some how!

The BIG Dance!

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:32:00 +0000

Cora had her first school dance tonight! It was for 7th & 8th graders. She was so excited. We made jewelry to match her dress and did her hair up in curls. She had an absolute blast!

Getting ready..mom did her hair.

Here she is with dad.
A full view of the attire
What a perfect beauty...
The masterpiece.
Look at those blue eyes!
Mom and Cora.
Cora and Morgan.
Afterwards, at home. Tired but still wired from the excitement!

Sweetness.....

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:57:00 +0000

Labor Day Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:58:00 +0000

It was beautiful weather for our 2008 Labor Day weekend!
Saturday Cora and I were in the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival parade. We walked for HASDA (Hawkeye Area Down Syndrome Association).

Here is Rylee and Majia holding the banner.

Cora and Rylee. Yellow and Blue are the colors for Down Syndrome Awareness. Tulips are the flower for DS.

The gang pre-parade.

Aunt Gigi and Mayson.

May and Bella.

On Saturday night, Cora and I went to Fairfax 16th annual USA Days.

Aunt Gigi and Mayson waiting for the little train to come pick us up for a ride.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:19:00 +0000

I've been instructed by a family member that I need to update this.....

My batteries are dead in my camera so I have no new pictures to share. Sorry.

A couple of weeks ago I was on my way home from work...two and a half blocks away from home to be exact...and I got T-Boned. A lady pulled out from a stop, thinking she had a clear shot to cross the road, and hit me on the drivers side front wheel and door. I got a little bit of back issues from it, but nothing too bad. My car wasn't drivable but it's back up and running. Joe will get the body work done as soon as he is able to physically do that kind of work again...and now to that issue...

On August 12th, Joe had hernia surgery. About a week prior, he noticed the bulge in his lower abdomen. I made him go to the Dr ASAP and sure enough, it was a hernia. In his line of business we really couldn't put the surgery off so we had it done as soon as we could. Today is his first day back to work so wish him luck!!

Cora has started 7th grade and is also in volley ball and band, playing the flute. Where does time fly? She sure is growing up. A little too fast for my liking, but I can't stop time....

Nothing new with the dogs....

And that's it for now! I'll get some new pictures up soon.

Talk about cuddling..

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:36:00 +0000

They keep growing!

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:56:00 +0000

Sunflowers

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:55:00 +0000

Outside my back door.

July 8th

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:12:00 +0000

Cora and our sunflowers as they keep growing..

Three generations of Santolins

Dad's visit

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:07:00 +0000

Dad Santolin came to visit for the first time. Here's a couple pictures of us on July 4th!

Cora and our sunflowers

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:47:00 +0000

My little den

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0000

I like to lay under the desk whenever mom is on the computer.

We'll miss you!

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:19:00 +0000

Gramma Paula goes home today....we'll miss you. Come back SOON!!!! Next time, stay for good!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:47:00 +0000

The Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:56:00 +0000

Cora had a Luau for her 12th Birthday Party!

Here she is in the pool

Cora, Mayson, Rylee

Rylee, Mayson, Cora

Angie and Aaron

Mayson

Rylee

The birthday girl

Jaydo

Cora and Grama Paula

Maymay

Cora and Daddy

Cora and Grama Jo

Pinata!

Hi

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:53:00 +0000

Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:57:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day to all

Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Santolin) — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:16:00 +0000

On Thursday, Joe and I celebrated our 9th anniversary. He got me an Alocasia plant. It is gorgeous!

We both left work a few hours early and had a nice supper and watched a movie.

I've been having some really weird dreams lately. Last night I dreamt that I had a baby boy, he was a day and a half old and we were in Walmart. Joe and I had nothing for this child. I had to find a way to afford to get a bassinet, a car seat, onesies and jammies for this baby. Apparently I drove there with him in my arms since we didn't have the car seat yet. The lady at Walmart was really nice and was trying to find us a good deal on supplies. Apparently she knew my sister, so she was going to give us $40 off the price of the bassinet. I found some onesies for newborns that were on clearance for $.50.

My son weighed around 5 pounds and was 19 inches long, but I never did find out his name. I know he had blond hair and was sleeping most of the time I was shopping with him. Joe was off doing something..someone he ran into was talking about doing a side job/painting a car..imagine that.

A few days prior, I had a dream I was pregnant and could actually feel it. Very very weird stuff.

Today I planted some seeds of mixed flowers. I'm excited to watch them grow and see what beauties I will have to enjoy all summer.

Tomorrow it is back to work. Thursday I get to begin my respite work with Mayson. I'm excited to have her for the whole day!