I decided to check in on one of our East Valley mom bloggers and found the best news on “Surviving Unemployment.”
After 3 years, 9 months and 12 days, her hubby is working again! You can tell by the posts that they feel very blessed right now!
Take a look at the blog. As someone who has been through it all, she shares great advice and wonderful tips for anyone facing financial struggles and job searches.

My husband can light up the face of any of our children just by walking into a room. My youngest wraps her whole body around his neck when she hugs him. My middle daughter loved it when daddy came to build gingerbread houses with her class in December. My son’s whole outlook can change when daddy is around.
So when I received an email about this promotion from the National Center for Fathering (fathers.com), I thought I would share.
This year, one “Super Dad” will receive more than a coffee mug for …

I picked up the kids tonight after work and school. We didn’t have gym, soccer or tutoring. My husband was working late and I’d had a long day juggling work and family obligations.
I got an email about an evening “family bounce” at a local spot, picked up the baby and off we went.
We were the only ones there at first. We danced. We sang. We threw balls at each other. I came home with three tired kiddos … and one relaxed momma.
Hopefully they’ll get enough sleep tonight!

I took my oldest daughter to get her ears pierced – again – this past weekend. We did it to mark her 7th birthday.
We’d done the same thing about a year ago for her 6th birthday. But when we went to replace the started earrings, despite the care we took the first time around, she complained of some pain. So we never got another pair of earrings in and the holes closed.
While at the store this weekend, my 1 year old sat in her stroller. The mom ahead of me …

As many moms can attest, sometimes we are the last ones to bed at night, last to eat breakfast (if we eat at all), last to go to the doctor when we are sick. Sometimes a hat substitutes for a shower and “me time” is found in the 40 minutes of dance class once a week.
I’m guilty of all of the above. But I know mentally, physically and spiritually I want (and need) to do a better job taking care of me so I can be a better mom, a …

I thought I’d wonder over to our other mommy blogs on EVMOMs and I found this fun post at Finley and Oliver. The family went to see Zoppe Circus in Chandler for New Year’s Eve. The photos are fantastic. I believe there are still shows. Check out the Chandler Arts Center website for more information.
Plus, you gotta see the photo of the bird in the Santa hat. I have no idea how she did that!

Welcome 2012!
In 2011, my kids were busy and growing. They continued gymnastics, played another year of soccer and football and moved up a grade at their school.
Oh, the baby added walking.
I’m hoping the big kids take a step into the unknown themselves this year. My daughter already decided to try tennis. Last fall, my son went ice skating for the first time.
I bought Spanish tapes last summer, but we haven’t tried them. Maybe this year?

The holiday decorations are scattered on the dining room table, gathered from various rooms in the house. There are baskets of clean laundry in the loft (and the hallway and my room). Dirty dishes overflow the sink.
Rather than tackling these tasks today (while caring for an ill toddler), we grabbed shoes.
With new skateboards in hand and nature all around, the kids are playing outdoors. It’s gorgeous in Arizona today. We are going to enjoy it.
Everything else can wait.