Favorite "Foto" Friday...

"Heart...Soul..." what does it mean?

This post is a part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog.

Be sure to check out their blog to read more posts from others... 

The theme for today's "Laughter Lives!" Tuesday  post is to share about funny or endearing ways that we say I love you...

"Heart...soul..." It is not just the title of my blog. It is so much more!

If you ever hear my husband or myself and most preciously, it has been passed on to my children... saying to each other as we say goodbye or are about to hang up the phone some 1/2 sung utterance as we hang up or walk away, What we are saying is "heart...soul!"

"What did you just say?" I will get from someone who doesn't know us well, or a strange look from a fellow co-worker as I hang up the phone. "What does it mean?"

Well, a long time ago, when Glenn and I first fell in love... we used to tell each other that we loved each other "with all of our hearts and souls." Well, that was a mouthful. And since we are SOOO in love and tell each other how we feel so much, it slowly evolved over time to "heart...soul!" This is great because it was our OWN special way of proclaiming our love anywhere... even when it might not be the most appropriate time!

Watching both Daniel and now Naomi saying "heart...soul" just warms my heart to a whole other degree. Daniel knows that it is only "our family" that says I love you like this, and he feels special! Naomi just started saying "heart...soul" back to us when we put her to bed at night. I melted the first time she sung back to me in her soft little voice, "heart...soul."

Happy Chinese New Year!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Chinese New Year is January 26. Since that is a Monday... we traveled to visit our friends this past weekend to celebrate early! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate... We reunited our daughter with her first friend, Mia... from China.  It was precious! Naomi and Mia have so much in common and our families share so much!  We plan to keep the friendship and connection between our daughters alive... and really enjoyed the time we shared together! Thank you Darren & Sarah for opening your home and your family to us! We had a BLAST! We wish we lived closer! Sarah and Darren hosted a GREAT Chinese New Years party Saturday night! There were 9 children under the age of 8(4 beautiful children from China) and 9 adults! It was wonderful and so special! :)

Our family...

The "H" family... Darren & Sarah with Emily, Anna & Mia!

Sarah set a beautiful table!

The feast began... note the children opening their lai see, or red envelopes! 

We tried to get all the kids on the couch... this was just 7 of the 9 kiddos! It was almost impossible to get all kids in any one picture! Someone was missing at any given time! :)

Anna and Naomi...

Making New Year's dragons...

Art is serious business...

Getting ready for our New year's parade...

Anna starting off the parade...

Naomi following along...

Naomi & Mia...

I think Daniel thought the parade was a race... he was getting ready to push Naomi aside here... and win the race! Can you see that look in his eyes???

Sweet girls from Yingtan!

Does it get any cuter than these kisses?

What is Chinese New Year's without a few sparklers?

Naomi was not too sure about them...

MMMmmm...Cake!

Yep...that's my girl! Totally caught red handed with her hand in the frosting! She doesn't look guilty at all!

Mia passed out on the couch... and Naomi wanted to try to pretend to sleep next to her!

What a blessing these children  girls are in our lives! Naomi & Mia have brought our families together as friends... a true gift! Happy New Year everyone!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

A sneak peak...

I have hundreds of pictures to go through, and I am not even home yet! This a is a cute shot off of my Mom's camera of little Miss Naomi and Miss Mia right after they were re-united on Saturday! We had a WONDERFUL time with our friends and had a perfect Chinese New Year Celebration!

You know me... I will post many more pictures... I can hardly wait to download the pictures of our fun weekend, soon as I get home!!! :)

Look at how these beautiful girls have changed!

Naomi and Mia... both with pointy tongues out!

Snow Park... at Yuba Gap...

We had a great time with friends the other day at a snow park... it took Daniel the entire time we were there, to "warm" up to the snow... and Naomi cried almost the whole time... because she wanted to go CONTINUOUSLY down the hill on the sled! It took us awhile to figure out that that was why she was crying! I thought she was hating the snow and cold... nope... she wanted to go down the hills with Daddy... and only Daddy (because he goes fast)!

I don't have too many pictures... I left my camera in the car! I was afraid I might drop it! Good thing too, because I fell a couple times! In fact, I fell so hard on a patch of ice in the parking lot that I am bruised all down my back! I was totally not paying attention to where I was walking (typical, I know) and next thing I know I was staring up at the sky! Lesson learned...watch where you are going, and don't walk on ice! :) 

Goodbye 2008...Hello 2009!

We found a beautiful spot in Nipomo to watch the last sunset of 2008. My Mom took some beautiful pictures of the sunset!I hope everyone is having a restful New Year! We are looking forward to the new year!

Happy New Year to all our family and friends!!

Ever feel like you are dragging....

I have been run down for about 3-4 weeks with a cold. It is in my sinuses now... and I am finally seeing my doctor tomorrow. Ugh...I am tired of being "tired!" I feel like I am kind of just dragging along... I am pretty tired. Don't get me wrong, I am super happy... just "draggy" if that is even a real word! These were from Sunday! We had a fabulous lunch with family in Sonoma! All of  the little cousins were having a blast! It was Glenn's job to pull them around, by his ankles... Thank you Theila & Barry for the wonderful time! Matt, Kelly, Mike & Kerry... We thoroughly enjoyed hanging out! We always leave saying we need to do it more often! So, LETS DO IT!

We are off to visit my family tomorrow (SIX HOUR DRIVE) , after I work a 10 hour shift.... ugh... I am tired... and look, it is after midnight! What am I doing up... writing about it? I should be fast, asleep dreaming of Nipomo and the ocean fog...

Ok, I am signing off... for a while!

Happy New Year  to all my friends! :)

Daniel, Luca & the linguini...

Because a picture can tell it so much better...

Birthday Party for Jesus!

These are my faithful friends, God gave them to me... we meet every Friday and do a bible study. They have become so special to me. They are my encouragers. These woman keep me accountable in my spiritual walk. They have taught me so much and helped me to grow so much. I love them! I could go on & on & on... 

Yesterday, we got together with all of our kids and had a birthday party for Jesus! What a fun a special way to remind our children what the true meaning of Christmas is.

From left to right in the back...

Me, Traci, Shanna, Vicky, Dawn & Monica  (Kristin, Kate & Amber... we missed you!!)

We decorated sugar cookies cut out in shapes of the nativity scene! 

The kids had a blast decorating ornaments...

We listened to Vicky read us The Legend of the Candycane, by Lori Wlaburg and James Barnardin!

...and, Of course, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus! Cupcakes, candles and all!

You are probably noticing a couple husbands in the picture! My love, Glenn  and Monica's husband, Joe came to help out with "kid control" and actually, they just wanted to be a part off the party! :)