Chips and Cake for Dinner!

Life, as always, has been HECTIC!

I always assume that once school is out (which it has been for 2 1/2 weeks) that life will slow down and I will be able to pamper myself with much needed "ME" time. However, that has not been the case!

As the saying goes, "When it rains, it POURS!" Well, it has been pouring at our house.

Here are a few things I have learned in the past couple weeks:

• Just because school is out and you are no longer in constant contact with other grimy/germy children doesn't mean you can't get STREP THROAT...you can and you WILL!!
• Recovering from strep throat is even MORE awful when your hubby is out of town and won't be home for 2 days!
• You will do WHATEVER it takes to make sure your husband completes his Bachelor's Degree by April 2010. Which includes sending him away for 7 1/2 weeks to take classes at another University (only seeing him on the weekends) and doing his homework for him for his online courses.
• Absence DOES make the Heart grown fonder!
• Chips, cake, and cookie dough provide much needed comfort when you're alone and especially when you're alone at home watching "The Bachelorette."
• Realizing your baby brother REALLY is getting married...since when did he learn how to Kiss and look so cute doing it?!
• Thinking you're the BOMB when you, your mom, and your sister host an awesome (if I say so myself) Bridal Shower for your soon-to-be sister-in-law.
• Feeling so glad when it's over, but still craving the Chinese Chicken Salad!
• Spending a week with my sister is, as always, a blast! Especially when WE get to do the spying and teasing to those who are engaged...life is great when the roles are reversed!
  

Friends

Melissa, Kimberly, Carol

Since our move, last June, I have missed my friends. So much so that it still makes my heart ache whenever I think or talk about it!

Last month, I met up with some good 'ole friends (Melissa from San Diego and Carol my roomy from Ricks) for some much needed "me" time. We decided to reunion at Womens Conference. Let me just say I LOVED it!

I felt like I was in College again...

• We wandered around campus without worrying about the kids or appointments
  
• Stayed up until the wee hours of the morning chatting, giggling, and crying
• We ate great food
• Went to the movies
• Stayed in the DORMS!! (need I say more?)
• Danced
• Just had TONS of FUN!!
  

Thanks girls!! What do ya say we do it again next year!!

Let's Start at the VERY Beginning...

What can I say...life has been busy!!

I can say, however, that I have deeply missed all of you blogging peeps and I am ready to give you some updates.

So, here is the first (of hopefully many more blogging updates)...
Luke graduated from Pre-School! He will officially start Kindergarten in the fall. Wow!
The whole fam was there...look at this cutie!
AND, this cutie too!!
Yay for Luke!

Seven

7 years ago, today, you came into this world! For 24 years, I had been "training", waiting, and looking forward to this moment. Up until that moment, I was just a daughter and a wife and had no mothering experience of my own. I was hesitant, but knew I had been trained by the best...my hero...my mother!

Because of her, I have you...

Once upon a time she was the one giving loves and kisses to my bruises, broken heart or ego. Now, I'm the one empathizing, loving, cuddling, and kissing you.

Once upon a time she was the one singing the silly songs at the piano and narrating stories. Now, years have passed and I'm the one who sings and reads to you.

Once upon a time, she was the one cooking, cleaning up my messes, driving me to school, and holding me when I was sick. Now, I'm the one cooking, cleaning, carpooling, and caring for you.

I don't know how she did it! Somehow, she gave me wings to fly and leave the nest...and now here I am...your mother!

Although you are 7, you are still my baby. I am so grateful for you and for the joy you have brought into our lives. I am also grateful for my mother. Without her, I would not be the mother you have today. Thank you mom, for teaching me, encouraging me, and helping me each step of the way!

Much love to both of you! Happy 7th Birthday Taylor! And, Happy (belated) birthday Mom!

Loose Tooth and a Big Disappointment

A few days ago, Taylor told me she wished her tooth would fall out on its own. This is because she absolutely HATES it when I pull her teeth.

{{I don't know how I became the designated tooth puller, but I did.}}

On Friday, her wish came true!! She was entertaining her brothers and kept telling Blake to "bump" into her. Whatever the game was, it was fun...until she came crying to me that Blake bumped her in the face.

At that moment, she screamed and realized her tooth had fallen out! She was absolutely hysterical, at first, mostly in shock that her tooth was gone, but also because it was on the floor and she couldn't find it.

Well, the tooth was found, the tooth fairy came (a day late because he/she was so tired the night before that he/she forgot about the fairy thing), and Taylor was a happy girl!
Also, on Friday was my (I mean, Taylor's) Science Fair. We spent all Thursday night constructing her display board...which she took very seriously and turned out very nice!

All of a sudden, I've become my mother. I don't know how it happened, but now I'm the one responsible for creating and doing these things and it's just kind of weird...

Anyway, I was having a "Bad Mom Day" and totally missed the handing out of the awards ceremony thingy at the end of the Science Fair. I arrived right at the end.

My intent was to take pictures of Taylor standing beside her board and somehow I missed the event entirely. I arrived just as they were cleaning up.

When Taylor spotted me she totally looked at me and made a HUGE "Huffy" breath at me and said, "Moooommm!!"

First she was mad because I wasn't there for the awards ceremony.

Second, she was mad because she didn't win the Science Fair.

Third, she was mad because she thought the reason she didn't win the Science Fair is because I picked out the project/experiment.

Fourth, she was mad because she told me I never let her do anything that allows her to win medals.

{{This is where I stopped the conversation}}

Me: "What do you mean I don't ever allow you to do anything to win medals? This is the only thing you've ever done that you could win a medal for."

Taylor: (With a HUGE Huffy Breath again) "Yeah, well, you're the one who picked the project."

Me: "Well, there's always next year!"

I had no idea the Science Fair and winning a medal meant that much to her. Now I know how to negotiate getting chores done...tempt her with a medal?!

Spring Break

Devon was off school last week and we decided, last minute, to go to the OC for Spring Break. It has been months since we have been alone, as our own little family, and it was really fun for us to get away and be together!

Luke kept saying "This is the BEST vacation EVER, Daddy!"

He was right! Some of the things that made it the BEST vacation EVER were...

• Flip Flops, short-sleeves, and shorts
• Disneyland for FREE (yes, my friends it is good to have connections!)
• Great Mexican Food!!
• Bagels and the Beach
• Rosy sun-kissed cheeks and chests (actually, I look like a Lobster, but love it!)
• All of us sleeping in the same room together
  
• Finding out my brother, Michael, is ENGAGED...woo-hoo!
  
• Kids jumping off of Hotel beds onto mattresses on the floor
• Sand in the bottom of the tub that I don't have to clean
• Sand in our toes
• The smell of sunscreen
  
• Playing in the tide pools
• Meeting up with a few old friends (sorry to those we missed, we couldn't see everyone!)
• Just being together...it's the best place to be!

We were sad to leave, had a great time, and miss the thick, humid, ocean air, but hopefully it won't be too long until we can go back again soon! When I find my camera...I'll post pictures!

Happy Birthday, Michael!

When Michael was born, I was so excited to have a new baby brother. I can still remember going to school the day after he was born and bragging to my teacher and feeling so proud to be a "Big" sister again!

Of course, being 8 years younger, he had many opportunities to annoy and embarrass me. Especially during the teenage years. For example, popping a pop rock in Devon's ear, telling me I had bad breath while on a date with me, spying on me with his friends (again while on a date), making me and my boyfriend attend his dead turtles funeral, and so on...

However, he also has a very sweet side. He would always tell me how beautiful I am. Or, how much he loved the way I sang. He's always been very complimentary and dependable. He's gone out of his way, many times, to visit me when I've lived far away. We've shared many good, fun, and long conversations together on the phone and while running. He is thoughtful and kind and true!

Although he is almost 8 years younger than me, we are the best of friends!

Michael, Happy Birthday! We hope it's great! Love ya!