Happy Thanksgiving!

So this year for Thanksgivng we had 16 people in our apartment!! It was Davone and I and our 3 kids, our friends Trevor and MaryAnn and their 2 kids, our friend Angel and her cousin Teresa and her 3 kids, and my Mom and Dad. Needless to say it was a little crowded! It was in the 60s all day so some people were able to eat outside at the picnic table. This was my fourth Year to cook the Turkey! We had a 24.5 lb Turkey and a 10 lb ham. We also had Green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, broccoli and cheese rice, crescent rolls, banana fritters, cake, and of course Pecan pie, and pumpkin pie! I think that everything turned out well!! For lunch while waiting we had noodles with cheese and tomatoes with Italian dressing pured all over it ... Something that Charity and Angel had made for us while we were in Ohio! Once everyone was finishing up eating I sent Davone and Marcus outside with a BB Gun to shoot some mistletoe out of the tree for me to hang up for the Christmas decorations. They brought back quite a bit. I was so happy!! Everyone was gone by 7:30. We were able to get a few pictures of Trevor and his family before they left. Did I mention we had a 24.5 lb Turkey and NO ONE took home leftovers!!! Next year maybe someone else should cook!!

While staying on the Thanksgiving topic for a minute I guess I should do the typical I am thankful list!
I AM THANKFUL FOR....
My Family.... Without them I would be lost. I have truly been blessed by having them in my life!
My Faith..... Although I have not always be devout I do have a strong testimony and love for my church and all that it stands for.
My comforts.... We are not rich nor or we poor.... We have what we need for now and learn to make do... there are people who have less than I do
My Friends..... I don't really have anyone that I hang out with now but back in the day ..... I had tons of fun calling the radio stations and having sleepovers and talking about guys.... I have so many fond memories and I can't wait until my girls can start experiencing that too. My friends meant a lot to me and even though I don't see any of them like I wish I could .... I think of them often and the examples they were to me.
and last but not least....
My Struggles.... I know that the things I have been through have made me who I am today and that what I have faced can help someone else avoid the situations in the future

That's all folks!!!!

So that is all about my kids! They each have their own very distinct personalities and bring much happiness to me! I could not imagine being without them!! I am glad that I was able to be sealed to my Children as well as my husband! So for my Tag.... I tag Jane, Tara, Juli and whoever else decides to do it as well!!! I know people don't have a lot of time but I look forward to knowing more about their children!!

Important facts about Imanni

Name and Meaning: Imanni is Swahili and Arabic for Faith. Nicole was my best friend's middle name. I had a couple names I was really wanting to name her. I really wanted to name her Bailey but Davone would not have that at all!! He is the one that suggested Imanni to me. It is Actually suppose to be spelled Imani but Davone wanted to add an extra N. So in the end she ended up being Imanni Nicole. Which Imanni is pronounced with an I like igloo and not and E sound like the letter E. I think I have heard everything for her name!

Age: 10 and 354 days

Nicknames: Ok so she will kill me for posting this but when she was younger we called her "Booger Butt". I have no clue why but we did and I still sometimes call her that.....Her first stocking still says "Booger Butt"!!! She is also called ImmyLu. On a little side note her initials are INV so I sometimes call her Envy! She also has the nickname Ashanti....Who knows where that came from!

Favorite Activities: She loves playing with Barbies. I know that a lot of people will think that an 11 year old should not play with Barbies, but hey what is the alternative? If she is happy with Barbies I have no problem with her still playing with them! Just as long as Ken and Barbie are NOT doing "Bad things"! She also loves playing with her friends and decorating her room with Joe Jonas posters!

Favorite Food: Davone's "Red" Chicken, Chicken Tenders, French Fries, and Mac 'n' Cheese.

Least Favorite Food: Green beans will have to be at the top of the list! Then there are beans of ANY type, as well as the "un-salad" vegetables such as squash, zucchini, potatoes, etc.

Favorite Music: Right now it is the Jonas Brothers! ANYTHING by The Jonas Brothers ( she is in love with Joe Jonas )!

Favorite Toys: Barbie anything!! She is hoping that Santa gets her some new Barbie clothes! We will have to see.

Favorite Books: She reads a lot! She is reading a series about American Indians right now! She also like the Diary of a wimpy kid and Calvin and Hobbs comic books.

Favorite Item of Clothing: She has a pair of pants that her Grandma Wanda ( Davone's mom ) gave to her.... I think that is her Favorite right now!

What makes her happy: when she gets to hang out with her best friends ( Gigi and Lyric ). Her Birthday is coming up so she is anxiously awaiting the time that she gets to hang out with them again. She also enjoys drawing little comic stories and playing Barbies.

What makes her sad: She is sad when the kids make fun of her! They make fun of her for being poor and for being "fat"! Kids are so RUDE!! It makes me sad that she has to deal with kids that are mean to her. She wants to fit in and she tries but she is never accepted by the "cool" kids! I hope that someday she will learn that she doesn't have to "fit in" to be cool!

Just about Johnathan

Name: Johnathan Allen Northrop When I got pregnant with Johnathan I was single and already had one small child! I had originally wanted to name him Tyler but I then later found out that he had a half brother named Tyler and figured that would be too weird if they ever met! I knew that Johnathan was meant to be a "J" name. The names I had picked out were Johnathan, Joseph, Jared, and Joshua. Johnathan's biological Father's name is Johnathon and his last name is Seaman. I thought that the last name of Seaman was not good for a little boy and that if I gave that last name to him that he would be made fun of! So instead I gave him his biological Father's first name and he took my last name for a while. Then in 2006 he was officially adopted by Davone and then became Johnathan Valentin. His middle name ... Allen! Okay so a very close friend of mine while growing up was named Steven Allen Hicks. We made a promise once that if we were not married by the time we were 25 ( which we thought was so old ) that we would marry each other, and if we were married to other people then I would name my first son after him and he would name his first Daughter after me! Steven was killed when I was in the 9th grade! The murder is still unsolved and not a day goes by that I don't think of Steven and pray that whoever killed him dies a slow painful death! John means the Lord is gracious and Allen is Gaelic meaning precious. So I guess the Lord is gracious for giving me Johnathan who is Precious!!!

Age: 9 ... he will be 10 (ohhhhh double digits ) on May 11 2009

Nicknames: Of course being in the South he is called Bubby, also Johnny boy, he likes to go by John at school.

Favorite Activities: He really likes to use his imagination! He enjoys scouts and learning new things there! He likes to read and play board games, such as Scrabble, Monopoly, and Battleship. He also enjoys playing Video games and shooting Airsoft guns!

Favorite Foods: He loves Spaghetti, Pizza, Biscuits and Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, and Strawberry milk. He is obsessed with Mustard!

Least Favorite Foods: Chocolate! I know how strange, but yes he HATES chocolate! He also doesn't like Veggies. He will eat corn and beans but anything other than that he refuses.

Favorite Music: I don't know that he has a Favorite but he does listen to the Star Wars music a lot

Favorite Toys: I would have to say a sword that Uncle Kenny and Daddy got for him from the Renaissance festival we went to in September. He also likes his Airsoft gun and his Nerf gun

Favorite Books: He likes the Diary of a wimpy kid and comic book type of stories! Anything really! He likes to read!

Favorite Item of Clothing: I will have to say his Cub scout shirt. He likes to wear it to school and even had his school picture taken with him wearing it! He hates wearing Church clothes!

What makes him happy: Johnathan is happy when Grandma is around! He loves my mom and always wants to be with her! He is still Grandma's baby and always will be!! He is also happy when he gets to play Halo on the Xbox and when he gets to shoot his Airsoft gun with his Dad! He also is happy when he gets to hang out with his best friend Braden.

What makes him sad: He is sad when he can not be with his Grandma and when he can't play video games! He also gets sad when he is forced to do chores and any form of cleaning!

Keepin it real with Kiannah!!

Name and Meaning: Kiannah Marie Valentin. Davone and I could not agree on a name to save our lives! I wanted to name her Kenya! I love the name Kenya and I have always wanted to go to Africa!!!!! Davone on the other hand HATED Kenya for a name and has NO plans to ever go to Africa! I knew that her middle name just had to be Marie, after my Grandmother Marie Northrop. I am not sure how but somehow we managed to agree on Kiannah and I liked how it sounded with the middle name. Kiannah is Hawaiian for God is gracious. I just looked it up and Marie is Hebrew for bitter.... My Grandmother was NOT bitter and I don't think Kiannah is either!

Age: 2 years and 319 days ... She turns 3 on January 11th which is ALSO Charity's birthday!!!

Nicknames: I don't really give my kids nicknames but I do call her Kiki ( which in the Philippine language that her best friend's parents speaks Kiki is a term referring to Vagina ). I also call her KiKers and Baby girl

Favorite Activities: Kiannah loves to paint! Almost everyday she asks to paint! She loves to sing songs and actually will sing in her sleep. It is so darn cute!!! She loves to play video games on her Vsmile ( which I have to say she inherited from her Father!! ). She loves being Dramatic and being the clown of the situation!!

Favorite Foods: She loves Corndogs! Everyday when she wakes up she asks for Corndogs. She also loves cereal with marshmallows but she will eat the other stuff if she has too! She loves Green beans , ANY type of noodles, Lumpia ( thanks to her best friend's mother!! ) and she loves Bananas!!!

Least Favorite Foods: Mushrooms ( which I don't blame her for )... Last time she had one she gagged and almost threw up! Regular milk!! I say Regular milk because she is Lactose intolerant and the littlest amount of milk will mess her up for days!! She is cool with cheese and yogurt it is just milk!!

Favorite Book: Any Christmas book!!! She loves looking for "Hoho" which translates to Santa Claus to normal people!! She also loves the Hymn book from church! She always wants her own and for no one to touch it!

Favorite Music: I know I will shock NO ONE with this but she loves Christmas Songs! You know Jingle Bells, Silent Night, O holy night, Santa Claus is coming to town, etc., etc., etc.! She also loves Twinkle Twinkle, Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, and Wheels on the bus

Favorite Toys: She loves her Wal~Mart shopping cart that she got for her Birthday last year! She also loves her mega blocks and Barbie dolls!

Favorite Item of Clothing: I don't know... If I HAD to pick I would say she loves her PJ's and anything that Aubrey gave her or that matches something Aubrey has!

What makes her happy: Kiannah loves watching movies! Any Christmas movie and Willy Wonka are her Favorites right now! She loves holding and playing with animals...Too bad my cats HATE being picked up! She loves seeing Aubrey! Aubrey is her best friend! Aubrey used to live next door and so they would see each other EVERY day but now Aubrey lives in Little Rock which is 3 hours away! So needless to say she is happy when she gets to see Aubrey! She loves ridding her bike and going to the park as well!

What makes her sad: The typical getting in trouble but most importantly... When someone new gets on to her or someone who hardly ever gets on to her finally gets on to her! She is also VERY dramatic! She can make herself cry! She also will watch a movie and if it has the slightest bit of sadness she will cry or make herself cry! She also gets sad that Aubrey lives so far away!

On a side note....

My friend Charity tagged me on her blog!

For those of you who have no clue I will fill you in on Charity!
Charity and I go way back! We first met in Colorado. She doesn't remember, she was not even a year old yet. Wow! We grew up around each other! I was not the best of influences on her or her sister Angel ...but their mother ( shout out to Goldie!! ) never forbid ( at least to my knowledge ;) ) them to hang out with me .... maybe she should have!! Hahaha
Anyways, Charity and Angel and I would talk and laugh and hang out! When I had my kids ( the oldest two ) ...Charity and Angel and Tanya ( Tanya is a friend from church!! ) would babysit for me! Charity is the one the got me into blogging to begin with! If I didn't know any better I would swear she was related to Martha Stewart! Charity is so darn talented it makes me sick!! She can take scraps of food and boil them and season them and turn it into a 5 star meal!! :) Not really but you get the point!
She tagged me on her blog ... the tag has to deal with kids!! Davone said I should do one separate blog for each kid just so that they have their own!! So watch for them!!!

Davone's Family Elfed

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

ElfYourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I've got the best!!!

Everyone should know by now that I have the best family EVER!!!

I am sure though that few people also know that I have the Best Visiting Teacher EVER!!!!!! For those of you who are not of my faith .... A Visiting Teacher is a Woman (usually 2) from Church who come over to visit once a month. They usually come over and visit for a while and then they will also share a spiritual message as well. I always look forward to my Visiting Teacher coming! She is the Best!! Her messages are ALWAYS inspired and ALWAYS are full of help for whatever issues I am facing in my life! While chatting I can always tell that she genuinely cares! I usually always feel like I don't fit in but my Visiting Teacher is the best!! I love the friendship that she shares with me and the joy I feel when she visits!! I am thankful for the Relief Society program and the sisterhood that comes because of it!!

Always into something!!!

Kiannah just wanted to have "makeup like big girls do" !!!

Is it Christmas yet?

I LOVE Christmas!!!

I am finally going to pull the Christmas decorations out of the closet this weekend!! I have been waiting for this all year!!!
I had been wanting to get the tree out for a while now! We had our Enrichment meeting at church and it was all about Christmas! We made some really cute crafts and sung Christmas songs. I loved it so much that when I got home that night I dug out a couple of the Nativity scenes that I had in my closet! :) I have enjoyed going to the stores and hearing Christmas music playing!!! I went to Kmart the other night and saw that they are selling a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree....


I don't know where else they sell them but I HAVE to have one!!! Christmas is not complete without Charlie Brown and his Christmas tree and to have my own .... maybe Santa can get me one!! It is just the cutest thing ever!!!
Also not only does Kmart have Charlie Brown Christmas trees but they have Lay-a-way and Sears just started Lay-a-ways back too!! I am glad some companies want to help people who are broke!!! Plus Lay-a-ways will help people not charge things on credit!! If you can't pay it off in 2 months then you don't need it!!!!!!
(: UNLESS IT IS CHARLIE BROWN"S CHRISTMAS TREE!!!!! :)

Kiannah's BFF is 3!!!

I can not believe that it has been 3 years!!



That means Kiannah's birthday is right around the corner!
Aubrey.... for those of you who have NO CLUE is Kiannah's BEST FRIEND!!
Aubrey and Kiannah have learned how to walk together and learned how to talk together ( still working on that one :) ). They have enjoyed their first snow outing together, enjoyed their first birthdays together, and their first road trips together! They have enjoyed many, many things together! Kiannah LOVES Aubrey!!
Aubrey had moved to Little Rock ( about 3 hours away ) a couple months ago. Kiannah was lost without her!
Angel, Kiannah, and I were able to go and visit Trevor, MaryAnn, Aubrey, and Coleman Yesterday!
November 10th...Aubrey's birthday! So far her parties were #1 was a princess theme! #2 was a jungle safari theme and this year #3 was Spongebob! We had a little snag with Kiannah! She didn't really understand where her presents where! We finally got her to understand that her birthday is not until January! I guess it is hard to wait for something so exciting!!



I am thankful to the McGarrah family ( most of them ;) ) for letting my family be part of theirs! I have had such good times with them and I am grateful that now my kids get to grow up with their kids!

Tagged again?!

I was reading a blog of a friend and she announced at the end that if you were reading it and had a blog then you were tagged!
This one is a little different!! You take the 4th picture from the 4th album and the 6th picture from the 6th album!
The first one is when Davone went out with the Missionaries to teach an investigator. Elder Jurgensmeier and Elder Davis were the Missionaries at the time! Elder Jurgensmeier has since left. I took this picture so that I could email their families and let them know their sons are okay!! I know that when my son leaves to serve his mission that I would LOVE for someone to take the time and update me and honestly let me know how he is doing! So I try to return the favor!! I know their mothers and fathers worry about if they are getting fed and on holidays and on their birthdays if someone cared enough to do something for them!

The next one is of my lovely husband AGAIN.....
This one was from the 6th album of when we went to Kansas City Missouri with my brother and his girlfriend. On Day 2 of the trip we stopped to look at the fountain at a park! Davone being the lovely and entertaining person he is posed for this picture!! You have to know him to fully appreciate it!

So if and when anyone reads this you are offically tagged as well!!

He is checking his list ....

According to my Christmas countdown on my blog ( Thank you Charity ).... Santa should be checking his list right about now!!
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!
My dream Christmas would take place in a cabin in the mountains with lots of snow!! I love Christmas movies and Christmas decorations!! I love being able to do stuff for people and have them wonder who it came from!
Every year at Christmas we have very little money but will have even less this year!!
The store that Davone works at is closing and he informed me that they should be totally shut down BEFORE Christmas! I worry about how to put together all the trimmings of Christmas for the KIDS!!
All the kids are begging for a Wii .... yeah that one is not going to happen!! They are IMPOSSIBLE for me to find and afford!!
Kiannah is really wanting Clippo for Christmas....I think she would have fun with a light bright too! Imanni is wanting anything to do with Barbies....Kiannah LOVES playing with them with her! I know some people will think that Imanni is too old to play with Barbies but as long as she is happy and content with Barbies she isn't outside trying to talk to boys!! ( I DREAD THAT TIME ) Johnathan....who knows what he wants. For his Birthday he wanted a crystal growing kit and metal detector, so who knows he is silly!!
Hopefully Santa will have enough room on the sleigh for Imanni and Johnathan and Kiannah to at least have 3 presents each!! If not then I have a bag of charcoal that I can split up between the three of them!!! :)
The Christmas season is what I look forward too ALL year!!
Maybe the Christmas movies should start tonight!!!

History has been made!!

Although he was NOT my choice for many reasons ( which I will NOT debate with ANYONE ) I am excited for the history that has been made tonight!!
My husband and many other African-American children grew up with people telling them that they could be anything if they tried hard enough!! How awesome it is for them to finally see that they can!
It is nice to finally see that the leadership of our great country knows no color boundaries!!
I am saddened that the man who I voted for did not win the election, it is too late now to do anything about that. Even though my new President is not who I wanted .... I know that Heavenly Father is still in control no matter who is elected!!
By following the teachings of the Prophet and praying A LOT I know that my family and I will be able to survive until a new man or woman is elected!!
HOW ABOUT ROMNEY FOR 2012!!!!!

Begging for Candy!!

This year for Halloween started off the same as every other year!!
Davone had to work... So mom and dad invited us over for dinner since they also invited the missionaries over.

While in West Virginia Kiannah dressed up as a cowgirl... I thought she was real cute! We used the costume for our trunk-or-treat at church and it just was not the same without Ryan's red shirt we borrowed from Charity! Thanks again Charity!! Also I figured if we were doing a lot of walking the boots were not going to have enough traction and they are not comfortable enough!! So we changed it up a bit for trick-or-treating!!



This year we put together costumes at the last minute again!!! Imanni was an Orange and Black witch....

She liked it so really that is ALL that matters!!

Johnathan wanted to be a vampire!! Once again... He was happy!! So after talking with the missionaries for a while we were off to beg for candy!



We go to the same area EVERY year!! We have pretty good luck with it too!!
Davone got to meet up with Sarah Palin ( Not perfect but we knew who she was going for! ).

Halloween is so much fun!! It is after all the unofficial start of the Holiday season!!!

All good things must end!!

Our last night in town!! :(
Charity was still acting up!! I wonder about her!!
Just kidding... It has been nice hanging out with Charity and Drea!! I will miss them bunches! I enjoyed all the late night talks and apologize if I was too BOLD for anyone!!
I will NEVER in my life forget Drea's story and how darn entertaining it was! I still laugh about that to myself and my husband wonders why, out of no where I start laughing hysterically!!
If he only knew!!!
Good times with the girls!!
Below is some of the messiness of the room! This was after half of us packed up our things for our trip home!!

I can't say enough how much fun it was!! Eating cupcakes, staying up late snickering and talking, watching movies and talking about boys!! How fun!! It makes me miss the days of Young Women's classes and Young Women's camp. Maybe one day we can get the girls together for a camping trip!!
HOW FUN THAT WOULD BE!!
THANK YOU ANGEL!! For letting me ride with you and being such a great friend!!!
THANK YOU GOLDIE!! For suggesting to Angel that she invite me!!
THANK YOU CHARITY AND DREA!! For putting up with me for the time that you did!!
THANK YOU ALL!!! For the great memories and fun times!!!

Sunday is for Church and Parks

Sunday mornings sometimes come way to early!!
I was surprised at how easy it was for us all to get ready in such a messy room. 4 grown women and 4 kids ( all under 3 ).... including all the suitcases, toys, blankets, shoes, makeup, and one bathroom! Obviously we had some divine help in getting to church on time!! :)

Angel had a slow start .... and NO Charity was not crying ... Angel said an Octopus was eating Charity's face but actually she had no makeup on and didn't want a picture to document her transformation.

The Nursery was were the party was!!! Snacks, Toys, and Music! Any kid would LOVE to stay.... Not mine though! Kiannah talked all week about going to nursery with Aubrey and she was so excited, once there though she SCREAMED
the whole time. I even promised to sit there with her. NOTHING worked. So Huntington 1st ward had 1 more visitor in Relief Society.

My Father served his mission in Huntington West Virginia area! Although it was not the same building it was nice to be in the area that he served in.

After church it was time for some pictures!! Pictures with the girls and Kiannah .... And Pictures of the whole crew.

A few pictures of the kids!! They are too cute!!!

After a quick trip back to Goldie's house to eat lunch we were off to the park!

The park was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! We didn't get to see all of the park but what we did see we LOVED!!!
Angel Loved getting some pictures of the park and the "Earth Portal" we found there.

Myca thought the park was PERFECT for a nap and a quick "picnic lunch".... While Charity enjoyed playing with the kids in the tunnels.
Thanks Charity for helping Kiannah in the tunnels.... I so did not want to get stuck in there!!!

Goldie was trying to have fun!!! I think she was sad that I was leaving in less than 24 hours!!!
Hahaha.... Just kidding!! Love ya Goldie!! Myca was having her own fun.... Sunday afternoon naps are the best no matter how old you are!!

Kiannah loved playing in the leaves. She then decided she wanted to climb a tree.
She had a bit of difficulty but Aubrey being a true friend pushed Kiannah up the tree!!
HOW CUTE!!!!