It's been a fun month, the kids put together a gingerbread house.  Thanks Costco for the kit

The annual breakfast with Santa at the church

I volunteered at Austin's school to help with the Christmas party (didn't take pics), then we all headed outside for their annual Snowflake Sprint.  Lots of kids and lots of fun.

Then we hosted a Christmas dinner party for Brock's basketball team and their families.  We all enjoyed playing Left, Center, Right dice game, but I wasn't the winner

My side of the family all gathered together for a mini Christmas before Krista & Bob left town.  My mom read us a Christmas story then we all opened some presents.  I love it when my mom & dad are in town!!!

Today we took the kids to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel" and tonight we hope Santa will find us so we can party tomorrow with all the family and presents!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Here is what we have been up to the past month.  Oh how I love Arizona in October!

Riding bikes

Going to the park

Finding a HUGE frog on our front porch!!!  What!?! I know, right?

Spider night at the school where the kids got to make all kinds of spider art projects

Neighborhood chili cookoff party

Church trunck-or-treat and chili cookoff (same day as the neighborhood chili cookoff mind you!), Brock & I did TWO huge dutch oven pots of chili and a dutch oven pot of corn bread....yum!

"Carving" pumpkins....okay, so this is totally cheating but I really don't like the way my carved pumpkins turn out, they always look so pathetic, besides these last longer.  Don't judge.

Pumpkin patch with the neighbors!  Hey ride, decorating pumpkins, hay maze.  Fun!

Neighbors had a party where they rented an inflatable screen and projector for the kids to watch a movie, how cool is that?

Last but not least....HALLOWEEN!!!

Meet Mario & Luigi

Mario did NOT want a mustache.

Kim, Krista, Bob, Jackson, & Brynlee came over for the Halloween celebration.  Cute Jackson as a fire fighter and Brynlee as the firehouse dalmation.  Too cute!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween this year!  I'm itching to get all my Christmas Decor up.  Hurry up Thanksgiving.

It's official, my first born is now 6 years old!  Happy Birthday Austin!  We had a fun day.  We went to Cold Stone for a free birthday ice cream.  We went to my sister Kim's middle school girls championship basketball game, of which she is the coach, and they WON!  We headed to Chuck E. Cheese for some fun and games.  Then headed to IKEA because Austin chose IKEA Meatballs for his birthday dinner!  How cute is that?  AND....I don't have to cook, let's DO IT!

The party is Friday and should be lots 'o fun.  Bounce house, pinata, pin the tail on the donkey, cake & ice cream, friends, family, and fun!  Can't wait.

AUSTIN AT 6
He is still that sweet and sensitive boy who really does think of others feelings and looks out for them.  What more could a mom ask for?  He is doing well in school and has made lots of new friends, he's even starting to actually remember their names...finally.  He LOVES being with his family and is always asking for a family movie night.  Is currently into anything and everything on the Disney channel.  Should a 6 year old be watching Hannah Montana & the Jonas Brothers?  He loves it.  Austin, I am so proud of you and the great example you set for your little brother, Brody.  He looks up to you and I am expecting you to continue to set that good example.  As you grow up and become more independent, I hope that I am doing my part in preparing you.  I pray that you will always be able to talk to me about ANYTHING and know that I love you always.

WOW, what a vacation!  For those of you that didn't know, my maiden name is Widmer, thus the title "Widmer Cruisin' 2009".  We got back last week from our trip to Florida, where we spent 5 days at Disney World and then got to go on a 7 day Disney Cruise with my parents, in-laws, and all of my siblings and their families, 24 of us in all.  It was awesome.  Just today Austin said, "mom, wouldn't it be great if we could live on the Disney Cruise?"  Come to think of it, I could probably handle the four of us living inside a room about the size of my closet if I had someone to do all my cooking, cleaning, and entertaining for me, while I visit beautiful ocean beaches.  Okay, back to reality.

So here is our trip in pictures, enjoy!

We started out with our 5 days at Disney World.

Day 1 - Animal Kingdom

Gross, disgusting, HUGE bats!  How do they sleep upside down?  Seriously?  Oh, and I might mention here that there was NO glass separating us from these bats!  Nothing, zip, zilch!

I can't believe Tiff & I let Austin & Kai go on the Mt. Everest ride!  They were pretty scared when they got off, poor guys.

Days 2, 3, & 4 - Magic Kingdom.  Brock was still working, so he didn't get to come until day 4 (Magic Kingdom) and day 5 (Hollywood Studios).

My parents.....let's say it together, shall we....."ahhh."

Best Buddies.....Kai & Austin.

Oh, and Damon too!

Video of the best buds secret handshake.....now not so secret.

Brody was EXACTLY the height minimum for Splash Mountain, he shocked me and went on it THREE times!

Brody got to meet his favorite characters....Buzz & Woody

and go on the Buzz ride.

as well as many other rides.

Then day 5 we all went to Hollywood Studios.

This Toy Story ride was the hit!  There is a new Toy Story game out on the Wii that is the same game as the ride.

I even got Brock to go on the Aerosmith roller coaster ride!

Me and my sista in our matching Mickey shirts.

Now that we are overly Exhausted.....we are ready for the CRUISE!

Here is the WHOLE gang, all 24 of us in our "Widmer Cruisin'" T-shirts we had made.  Side note, make sure the person taking the picture doesn't have his finger over the flash!

It's time to Paaaarrrty!

Our stateroom

Every night before bed there would be a different animal made out of towels, the kids LOVED it.

Formal night on the ship with all the men in the group with their matching ties!  CAAUUTIES!

My caauuute in-laws.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the cutest of them all?

Pirate night on the ship

Oh ya, and LOTS of Disney Characters!

We did some Swimming at the Goofy & Mickey pools.

The two youngest of the group, Brynlee and Aila.  More cauuteness!

And LOTS of eating!

Mickey Mouse waffles

Mickey Mouse Ice cream bar.  Why are things so much cuter in Mickey Mouse shape?

How cauute is this restaurant?  Ok, I need a new word besides cauute.

ahhhhh, and the ocean!  Now those are some hotties!  I'm just sayin'

We went to Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Disney's private island Castaway Cay.

Here we are all crammed in to a taxi to get to the ocean.  Nothing like humidity mixed with a bunch of people squished into a vehicle.

I'm going to close my eyes now and picture myself here, in Cozumel, where I got a massage right on the beach.  R U jealous yet?  I know, I'm a brat like that.

Wait, is there something on my head?

The kids got to go to Kids Club everyday, where they had activities scheduled all throughout the day.  Can you say, mom & dad time...........ALONE!  Yahoo, Yippee, Hip Hip Hooray!  Oh, and the kids had fun too.

The entertainment on the ship was fabulous.  The nightly shows were amazing.  It's so fun because everyone recognizes the characters and songs.  So you get to just sit back and enjoy a show that would cost you a minimum of $50 per person to go to.

It was so sad to see it all come to an end.  I had Austin write a report about his trip.  This is what he had to say.

Disney Cruise
I went to the kids club.
I swam in the pool and the ocean.
I had a lot of fun.

And so did I!

A big THANK YOU to the two responsible for this trip.  Mom & dad, this trip would have never came to be if it wasn't for the two of you.  Thank you so much for all that you do for all of us.  We are indebted to you 4-eva. 

First day of KINDERGARTEN

School is in session and my baby is growing up way too fast.  Austin started Kindergarten last week and he did great!  He likes his new teacher, Mrs. Williams, and talks about some of the kids he plays with during recess.  The school however has been a mad house!  I know it's the first week of school and I have to expect it to be a little CRAZY, but seriously people!  I guess my biggest complaint is that there are 5...yes 5 Kindergarten classes and there is no separate area for them.  No separate drop off/pick up.  So imagine over 100 Kindergartners and all of their parents and then of course all of the 1st - 5th graders mixed in the bunch.  I really think there needs to be a separate area for these little ones or maybe I'm just being over protective over my little one?  No, there definitely needs to be a separate area.

I'm so proud of you Austin for being so brave during your first week of school!  You have always been so easy going and an obedient child and I hope this continues while you are at school.  I hope you make lots of new friends and that you treat them they way you want to be treated.  I think Mrs. Williams is lucky to have you!  We miss you while you are away and are always so excited when it's time for you to come home.  Brody asks every couple hours "where's Austin", he misses his big brother.