lazy day

The kids have been playing a lot of video games during this vacation. Mainly because I have been too tired to take them anywhere. Today, I mustered up just enough energy to run them up the street to a little "park" (empty landscaped lot), where there is just enough of a hill to please the neighborhood kids.
It worked, they had a blast, even though it was nothing much. Jade keeps complaining that she wants to go skiing, but we don't want to deal with the long lines for the lifts. She will just have to wait till Jan. She was happy with this for now. :) Josh was ecstatic.....that is so sad....it really was nothing much.
Eddie thought it looked fun at first.

snow flinging in his face.....didn't go over too well.

face plant in the snow didn't encourage either.

didn't turn out too good for him.......poor little guy. He gave it one more shot though, a little while after his wipeout

Josh is getting a little pooped at this point, but he still wanted more.

I wish I could have caught Eddie when he was really excited watching the kids. This was is a bit "muted", I think he got camera shy. But really, he was yelling and screaming with excitement with each run the kids sled.

The funniest part of the whole thing, was Eddie's reaction to Jade after his traumas. You can see in the video how he didn't look thrilled when she called him. What you didn't see, was that every time she called him and held up the red sled, he started to shriek and cry "NO NO!".

We will try with him again next month.

look Grandpa......green mustache!

Seriously........1/2 apple, ice-water, suger, and wheat grass.....it rocks!
We Heinzen's start them young.

a little reunion.....

My oldest friend is in town with her family for Christmas, but it's always so hard to get together since time is tight for them, they have a lot of family to be with, and most of her good friends all live here as well. (sound familiar to anyone?)

She has some really great friends she grew up with, who were all so kind to include me in their circle everytime I would visit her when we were young. Since we all love Jamie so much, but there was so little time for individual visits, Katie offered her home for a little get-together of all the old gals and their families. She was nice enough to include me, and I am so grateful she did! I will post the picture of all the ladies once I can steal if from someone else's blog. :)

Eddie and Peyton are just a few months apart. Jamie's girls are just little dolls, they are all so beautiful!
Lexi, Eddie, and Jordyn

I didn't get any more pictures, Josh was running around with one of the little boys most of the time, and Jade was her big-sister self, playing with all the kids.

I don't know why the background is so fuzzy, but this is the only shot I have of Jay and I. We have known each other since before she was 1 yr old. (I'm older hehe, I was already 1 yr old) Friends like this are more like family, and I cherish every chance we have to be together.

*As always, it was wonderful to spend some time with you Jay! I love you so much!*

Katie, you are awesome to get everyone together and open you home to the friendships (and a little chaos) with all the families. Thanks again!

Random and and update

Update; I am doing much better as far as my health goes. I have had a bunch of scopes and tests to figure out what my issues are, but no news yet. So far, I just think my body hit a wall and needs some time to recover. That's all. I will post if I find out anything exciting. :) Thank you all for your concern and well-wishes. I really appreciate all your support. For now, I'm doing good. YAY!


I just posted a few new things on my art blog, nothing big, but check it out if you want.


Of course I'm behind on photos, so here is what I have......

Eddie's love affair with marshmallows has increased with the gift of marshmallow guns from Uncle Enos and Aunt Lindsay. Not only has the bag been more accessible, he has found no shortage of dried marshmallows left behind in the war zones. (even with our constant nagging to the kids to pick up after their "battles") Awww-yeah.....the marshmallow shooter

I almost missed being hit!

For my dad - look at my wheat grass, it's growing! yum! ...I mean....HEALTHY!!!

Jade's school performance. Can you find her? I took video while Alyse had my camera. She wasn't able to get the best angle, but she managed to catch Jade anyway. :)
Alyse's son and daughter, with her sister and two little nephews. It was fun to hold a cute baby boy again, he was so cuddly! (Can't wait for Lucas!)

I only took video of Joshua's performance. He was darling in that one too. I will post more after Christmas. Hope everyone is having a wonderful time!!!

WOW, time already?

Christmas is right around the corner! I am so behind with blogging, and Christmas stuff! This is lame, I know, but better this than nothing. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Saturday morning brothers

Last night the kids had a "TV night" with pillows and blankets in Bill's office. First thing this morning, instead of cleaning up, Josh and Eddie put on cartoons, ski goggles, picked out foam swords, and hung out together.

Just FYI, when Eddie has his mouth open like that, he is mimicking Josh when he does his "sword fighting" sound effects. :) funny little boys.......

a black eye and wheat grass

Josh got his first black eye yesterday at school. We were proud, what a tough kid! A classmate accidentally ran into Josh with his head. It was more swollen yesterday, and darker, but I forgot to take a picture. He didn't even cry. He thinks it's pretty cool. :) Go Josh!
I'm going earthy! (surprise) I'm attempting to grow wheat grass to make wheat grass juice for myself and Eddie. (we are the only ones who like to drink it, and also the only ones with health issues) My first batch just sprouted, I'm so excited! If you are not aware of the health benefits of wheat grass, you should google it, that stuff rocks! Talk about the ultimate superfood! I just hope it grows in our cold weather. :)

Merry Christmas!

This is a little drawing Jade threw together last night for a school assignment. I just LOVE her creativity! I hope everyone is having a wonderful season!

*And HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lindsay, we love you!!!

Christmas before Thanksgiving

We had my family Christmas celebration the day before Thanksgiving. It was great. Everytime we go home to Ca, we wish we could move back, it's the best state! :) Here are just some random shots.

Bill's sister cut Jade's and my hair earlier that day. Her hair cut is SUPER sassy! (it's hard to see from this pic, her hair is VERY stacked in the back, with a dramatic drop in length right in the front) Mine is just a tad longer than Bill's, which is fun for me, I like short. :)

Cutie little Lindsay, ready to have baby Lucas in Feb. She is in her "relaxing" clothes, she deserves major relax time right now.

Oh....the newlyweds. It's sick...really. But I guess we were all there once?

My mom's ginormous pumpkin pie of all pies. It's like an extra large deep dish pizza.

Kids excited to open presents.

Josh got the coolest gift, and handmade batman cape and cap with a mask. He LOVES it, can you tell?

I like early Christmas, it was fun to be with family. (Even though most of them live up here now, and we see them every month) Nothing compares to grandparents, and that was the real treat of the visit. We love you guys!!!

Palo Alto Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Palo Alto where my aunt and uncle live. While we were waiting for all the action to start, we took the kids to a nearby school with a really great playground.

As we walked back to the house, I noticed Jade looked super cute in her red sweater standing next to a colorful yellow tree. Poor thing, I forced a photo shoot on her. But doesn't she look sassy and cute?

After a fabulous dinner, I remembered the camera to took some pictures. This is my sweet and feisty little grandmother, my Tia, and my Mom.

I love my little grandmother, she is a riot.

My cousin Carlo, is SO sweet with Eddie. They are buddies. Eddie totally has the "man thing" down, with his hand resting at the top of his pants, just chillin' watching TV.
Later, he and Josh pooped out on daddy. I think they were watching Deep Blue or some nature show. :)

It was a great visit, I wish we could do it more often.

Zip line

This picture was taken the night we arrived. The kids wasted no time in putting on Grandpa's old work shirts and getting to work. My dad has been building a zip line going across the backyard. The kids were not going home without giving it a go. To help speed up the completion, they offered their professional services. I don't know how my dad would have finished it without them.

Finally it was done, painted, set up, and ready to go!

The kids had so much fun. They took turn after turn of winded bliss.

Does anything say more than this face?

Thanks dad, you are the best! This goes right up there with the forever awesome space ship you made when we were kids. (for anyone who remembers that thing, it is still in my parents backyard, with a new generation of rugrats climbing all over it......with sound effects)

My space

Here is the collective result of weeks of work. This little table with my jewelry and bookmarks. Doesn't seem like much, but it's all mine. :)

If you want to see more details, go to my art blog. Split Level Studio blog is in process of a makeover, I'm still working on the new look. :) And can someone PLEASE explain to me why I have such a hard time taking good pictures? I did some research on cameras, but I still do not seem to "get it", or get how to adjust the darn camera so my pictures turn out nice. I'm afraid it feels impossible for me to ever get my art blog to look "hip and stylish" when pictures of my work turn out like crap. I need help, someone please point me in the right direction!?! Thanks in advance.
And one more thing, I should probably get a good photo/image program. Adobe sounds really complex, does anyone have some suggestions?

'Tis the season....... to be crazy

This has been my life for the last week. Making stuff for a local boutique. I always tell myself I will not go crazy over holiday shows, and every year I repeat this vicious cycle of all-nighters right before the boutique.
What better way to take a 4am break than to post a little something on the blog? :)

This is a shot of my table, one of the ongoing project stations. This is the lampwork "station" where I am making glass beads for the bookmarks and jewelry.
This is a picture of all three "work stations". Soldering glass charms for jewelry, making glass beads, and good-old-trusty beaded bookmarks. This is why I LOVE having my own art room. Never again will I destroy kitchen tables. And the best part, Bill can close the door and not look at the mess! :)

Sunday, Enos and Lindsay came over so Lindsay could start a project for baby Lucas. Jade and Josh wanted to help as well. They are making a really cute "pom-pom ball" rug. Lucas is going to have a monster theme baby room. (think "ugly doll meets hairy monster". I love my sister-in-law!)

Cute prego Lindsay. And two very excited cousins for Lucas.