The Renda's Rock!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

It's a NEW Year... New Decade!!

Friday, January 1, 2010!

I can't believe 10 years flew past so fast! I think these last 10 years of my life were AMAZING! I did so many things, accomplished so much and look where I am today.

Graduated from college
Got a real job
Lived in 3 different cities - Houston, Kansas City and Phoenix
Married my high school sweetheart
Took Amazing Vacations
Quit that job for a much harder one!
Had a Baby
Moved to our Dream House
Had another Baby

Those are just the highlights. A lot can happen in 10 years! Here's to another great year. I won't tell you what my new years "goals" are... just in case they don't happen! ha But one big one is to get into shape! Maybe if I write that one down... I'll be held accountable. Those two babies really helped me pack on the pounds! LOL

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year's Eve

Thursday, December 31, 2009

This morning we took Angelo to go play at Chuck E. Cheese with Dominic and Mattie. He loves going up there and riding all the rides and playing all the games, but there is one thing he doesn't like... Chuck E. Cheese himself. The mascot tried to come up to him and shake his hand and he immediately got in my lap and started crying and yelling, "NO... I'm SCARED!" LOL Not funny for him, but it was funny. I did finally get him to give Chuck one little high 5. From then on, he was very aware of where Chuck was at all times. Dom was the same way. If Dom thought Chuck was coming close to us, he would hide under the table! It is pretty odd to see a huge mouse coming at you that looks a little rough. He's not as well known in our house as say, Mickey Mouse. I bet Angelo and Dominic might be OK with that huge mouse coming in for a high 5! But just to be safe, we'll probably wait on that Disney World trip! LOL

Anyways, we are off tonight to go celebrate New Year's Eve with a few of our friends, the Newberry's. We've gone there probably about 4 years in a row now. We laugh, play games, then toast to another wonderful year!

We were very blessed this year to move to a new house (closer to our parents and cousins), have a new happy healthy baby girl and to enjoy seeing the world through the eyes of a two year old. We have such great family and friends who are there for us anytime we need help. Family is the most important thing around here and we are lucky to be so close to most of our immediate family on both sides. Angelo and Lola are lucky enough to get to see their grandparents and relatives ALL THE TIME! Here's to another year!... Bring on 2010!

Boys Day

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Even though it is Lola's 8 month b-day today, we decided to take Angelo and Dominic to Jump Zone to burn off some of their ENERGY!!! Boys indoors all week is not a good combo. Angelo needs to be outside and run wild for a little bit! So, since it's so cold, Jump Zone and big bounce houses will have to do!

When we got home from the bounce house, Sheila, Dennis and Kristal all came out to see the kids. They were up for a while, but then it was naptime! They were exhausted from all the activity. We ended up going to our fav. local restaurant, Twisted Root for some dinner, then home to bed!

Energetic at 8 months!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

I can't believe little Lolacakes is already 8 months old! Where did the time go? I'm glad I'm doing this blog, at least this way I can look back and remember each day that I had with them when they were little.

Things I know about Lola to date:
1. She weighed 17.11 lbs at her dr. appt almost 2 weeks ago.
2. She full out crawls now.
3. She wiggles more than any kid I know when getting her diaper changed or trying to put her outfits on!
4. She has started ripping out her bows and hats.
5. She now plays "shy" when any men talk to her. She will put her head on my shoulder coyly when someone like my dad or Uncle Tony talk to her. It's the most precious thing.
6. She still loves her big brother even though he still pushes her over or gives her a love tap every now and then.
7. If you sing her name to her or if she hears music she will "dance". Which means wiggling back and forth, smiling so big.
8. We had to lower her crib this month because she has started pulling up on things.
9. She has started pulling up on things.
10. She is the most precious little girl in the whole world.

Pulling up on her new toy

Pa pa and Mimi came over to babysit today!

Her schedule is still pretty much the same. She gets up between 7-7:30, eats breakfast, bottle and nap around 10:30, lunch around 12:30, nap and bottle around 3, dinner by 5:15, back down for the night between 6:30-7! A full day for this mama!

Bounce House Fun

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

I can't believe but it's snowing AGAIN! Three times in a week. We've never seen this much snow in Texas in our whole lives. Unfortunatly, this time it only lasted for a little bit. Didn't even get a good pic of it!

Dominic and Mattie came over to jump in the bounce house with Angelo. They all had a great time and wore themselves out! Yea! That was the whole point of this thing!!

Uncle Tony and the kiddos

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Family Game Night

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Hung out at the house all day. Angelo jumped in the bounce house a good part of the day. Carol came over to eat and open gifts. Ant, Jared and Rudy and I played a heated game of catch phrase. After a few rounds it turned physical between my husband and his brother! Thought Unc Tone might end up in the ER after re-injuring his knee from an earlier in the week incident involving a taxi cab and a flight of stairs...don't ask!

Angelo and Jared showing their muscles!

Can someone please come and clean this mess up??!

White Christmas

Friday, December 25, 2009

We woke up to a White Christmas in Texas! Amazing! and so pretty. The kids were up early to see what Santa had left them. Angelo was walking down the stairs and could see his goodies and was so cute pointing with his mouth wide open in excitement. We heard a "Holy Mackeral!" Once they were done playing with some of the new goodies...

we showed them the "big ticket" item that Santa had left... a BOUNCE HOUSE!... in our living room! Because it was too cold to set up outside or even in the garage! So, it lives in our living room until either it gets warmer or mommy goes crazy stepping around it every day! But Angelo has figured out how to turn it on and off by himself, so randomly throughout the day, we hear the loud humming noise of the bounce house... it's like white noise taken to the extreme!

Lola getting in on the action. She loves it! She gets in there and yells!

After the morning chaos, we got ready and made our way (slowly... because of the ice) to the Gaylord Texan for a Christmas morning brunch. We met Rudy's side of the family up there and also saw Mandy and Frank and their family too. A whole Renda reunion!

When we finally got back home after naps, my side of the family came over to celebrate. We ate and watched the kids play with their new toys! Angelo had to show everyone his new bounce house, even recruiting a few people to get in there and jump with him!

Playing harmonica with Uncle Bryan... notice the concentration...

Gettin' a lift from Grandpa

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Thanks to my husband who told me it was 10am, when really it was only 7:45. I mean, can I EVER sleep in??? My kids aren't even here and I'm getting up early. Oh well, a little room service breakfast, then we are out the door. I keep hearing all this talk about "SNOW". As we are driving home, running a few last minute errands and shopping, it has started sleeting. I never watch the weather, so of course, I have on flip-flops. YIKES! Finally arrive home to my sweet little boy running to me kissing me telling me, "Mommy, I miss you". Melt my heart. Love him.

It's Christmas Eve so we planned on having people over tonight to eat and be merry. But the weather wasn't cooperating, so only a few made it... my parents, brother, Anthony, Jared. This was the first Christmas that I can remember it snowing. It's pretty, but I'm so glad it only comes about once... or twice a year! We ate, played in the snow, played Scattergories then ate some more! Just as I thought it was going to be a full fledged slumber party, they all decided to brave the storm and go home. Just as well, Santa was on his way...