On being a Mommy....

The day starts out with little smiles at my bedside, little voices that say "good morning, come on mom, get out, I am ready for breakfast". As I slowly open my eyes and see two little cuties smiling, it starts my day off just right. As I make my way out of bed, they head to the couch, turn the TV on and patiently wait until I am ready. "Can we have breakfast now?" asks Ethan. Then it's Trader Joe's O's (Cheerios) for Ethan and Vanilla almond granola cereal for the princess. The 3 of us sit quietly at the table eating our breakfast, me thinking of my day ahead of me and them watching cartoons while s-l-o-w-l-y eating (the only time they get to watch TV while eating), daddy quietly joins us, normally making his way to the couch first. 20 minutes has gone by and I am finished, making lunches, getting backpacks packed and they are STILL eating. Does anyone else's children take this long to eat!?! But I enjoy these quiet moments with them, it starts my day off just right. I am glad I take the time to enjoy breakfast with them, even if no words are exchanged, even if it is just silence, no rushing, just simply enjoying the moment. Even though most of my days are filled with chaos and busyness of work, I can only look forward to coming home to my sweet little family. I hope these quiet morning breakfast moments never end.

Mother's Day

I can't even begin to write how much I love being a mom, mommy, momma. How much joy it brings to my life and how much love I have for my kids! I often wonder how much my mom loved me in the few short months she held me in her arms, I can understand the love of a mom now that I am a mom and it is THE BEST feeling ever! Ethan's school had a mother's day event and we made aprons together (mind you that Ethan was over making the apron after 5 min, but it was the point of being together). We spent Mother's Day at Sea World and had the best day! I love you Taelor and Ethan and I love that I get to pour all my love into you. I hope that one day you understand the love of a parent and you will know just how much you both mean to me. I love being your mom and I love all that comes with motherhood (even the days you both drive me crazy :)) I know one day you will both be grown up and I will miss these moments with you, so for now I will soak in all the funny, sad, hard, and enjoyable moments! Thank you for letting me be the best mom that I can be to the two of you!

My mom in heaven...I love you more than you will ever know!

Poor little Owl...

Over the weekend I cleaned and purged out some junk....I mean... non-used toys from the kids room and organized them all back into their places for the umpteenth time. Why is it that every.little.doll. has something so miniature to go with it! Tiny shoes, cupcakes, hair clips, you name it, I found it. I realized after sorting through boy vs. girl toys that little missy is the the culprit of so many pieces of toys! Ethan's toys consist of cars, trucks, diggers, more cars, train tracks, helicopters, super hero's, more cars, army men, more cars and more cars (did I mention he has A LOT of cars), but at least all of these things are big and can be put into it's  own bin and not get lost! Taelor on the other hand has enough tea cups and saucers to have tea time with the entire neighborhood, a bakery full of every pastry possible that are the size of, oh..a thumb tack, barbies, dolls, mini shoes, play food, more mini dolls with purses and accessories, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, dress up dresses, clickity clack shoes (which by the way are VERY loud on the wood floors), more dolls with hair that always seems to be in a permanent knot, baking stuff, cupcakes, cakes, food....which by the way, all of these toys should be in every girls toy box!

Then I got to the stuffed animals....I am pretty sure we own over 50 stuffed animals. So I took it upon myself to "purge" out the old, non sentimental stuffed animals. I came across this little bean bag owl that was a hand me down and I knew I had to part with some of them so I chose this one, snuck it a bag and threw it in the trash can. Well then, Tuesday came (trash day) and it just so happened the kids were sick today so they stayed home from school, the trash man came and they ran to our bedroom window (which you can see the top of the trash truck and all the trash in it) to say hi to the trash man, but yet they saw poor little pink owl getting thrown in with the trash!!! They ran to tell daddy that the trash man had the pink owl in his trash truck, how did that happen?!? Well needless to say, daddy of course said he didn't do it and maybe it was mommy, goodness I was sure thrown under the bus! So yes I threw out the owl, and I feel bad, but yet Taelor made light of it when I got home, but yet was a little disappointed that she was now gone! What's a mom to do, you can't keep everything right? How do you choose what stays or goes? Guess it's just the story of kids growing up and parting (or not parting) with toys. Sorry little owl, I know Taelor is very concerned that you will be in the "fire" just like Woody and Buzz and the gang were about to go into but we reassured her that maybe a trash man will find her and put her on the front of his truck! Good bye little owl...I promise to not throw away anymore stuffed animals without having the kids OK!

Love notes

These little love notes just make my day....even though the one from Ethan is because he was in trouble, but how can a mommy be upset after finding this! I love the heart that says "Ethan my Mom" Love, love, love!! Ethan you will for sure be a little heart breaker and will possibly get away with anything when you turn on your cuteness and sweet little loving nature!

This love note was left on my nightstand so I could see it when I went to bed, this melted my heart. Taelor you have the biggest heart ever and I will forever cherish these notes. I love the way she spelled "luvf". I love you too sweet girl!

A good read...Sparkly Green Earrings

I bought this book and finished it in a few days...Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle...( visit her blog at Big Mama Blog) I love a good book in my hands (no, I just can't bring myself to buy a Kindle) I like the smell of a book, the sound of pages turning and just having a book in my hands, maybe someday that will change, maybe, but I don't think so. This book made me laugh, it made me cry at times just thinking of how fast life goes by, but it made me stop and remember to make sure that I soak in all the little memories of my children. Here are a few lines that I loved from the book.

"Real motherhood is different. It's better and it's messier and it's more complicated. It will break your heart and make you laugh harder than you have ever imagined."

"I look back on those days and think that's exactly what people mean when they tell you the days are long but the years are short. Those were the days I would look at the clock and couldn't believe it was only eleven in the morning. Those were the days I 'd count down the minutes until bedtime. But those were also the days that seemed to be gone in the blink of an eye"

"Sometimes I regret that I didn't enjoy them more in the moment, but isn't that the way motherhood goes? Looking back the sweetest things are often the hardest things. They teach you the level of sacrifice you didn't know you were capable of, and for me, having a child was the beginning of a glimpse into the kind of love Christ has for us. Sacrificial love. Love that doesn't keep score. Love that isn't independent on what's in it for me. Love that is consuming and protective and unconditional."

" We become mothers and immediately realize our job is so raise these little people and pour into them and pack in eighteen years of wisdom, love and protection."

" Because raising a child is a fleeting moment in time that sometimes gets swallowed up in the daily routine of car pools and soccer practice. And yet it's quite possibly the most important thing we'll ever do. It's the daily balance of treasuring the moments even as we wish some of them away. It's treading water in a sea of imperfections. It's a delicate dance of guilt and joy."

"Even though there are times I can't be there and times she'll act like she doesn't necessarily want me there, God is always there. Watching, catching, loving and molding her into the person she was created to be. She's safer in His grip than she'll ever be in mine."

For me motherhood has been the BEST gift ever. I love my children, I love that they get to call me mommy, I love that we get to pour into them and I love that I am a mom! Some days may be hard, yes, some days may be too busy, but everyday I am filled with joy and I feel nothing but blessed. My children will always have my heart and I will cherish them forever. I love being a mom, especially to T & E!

January...Hello 2013

It seems like the New Year just started but yet Spring is practically here already. How does life seem to go by in a flash even when you try and slow it down. This year I have vowed to myself that I will NOT fill my weekends with "busy" stuff to do and keep more time for us. This doesn't mean that I will say no to everything, I will just be a little more picky on the things I am commiting myself to these days. With working during the week, I need my weekends to be spent relaxing, doing spontaneous things with the kids, enjoying each other, yet while seeing the friends and family we have. So here's to 2013 and changes, slowing down and enjoying life.

This month we celebrated, well, ME. I turned THIRTY-four this year (which means I am still in my "early" thirties...at least until next year). I had a great birthday with my sweet little family and my friends. A few my close girlfriends and I went to the cutest little tea house called Paris in a Cup in the Orange Circle and enjoyed an afternoon sipping tea, laughing and just being ladies. It was a perfect day. Working on your birthday doesn't always sound the best, but when you work with some pretty awesome friends then you know it will never disappoint. To my surprise my office had been decorated with new pillows, a clock, table lamp, and a new picture frames. My work friends are truly the BEST!! Thank you friends who made my day extra special. The hubby and I were able to get out for dinner over the weekend and celebrate by birthday which is always a treat in itself. the kiddos always make my birthday extra special by just being themselves, making me a bowl of cheerios with a blueberry face ( I know not much of a breakfast, but like I said I had to work that day so it needed to be something fast), their handmade cards are always my favorite. Dinner was spent with my parents, sister and M-in-love, and the kiddies of course. It was a perfect day, just how I like my birthdays!

Thankful...

Today I am thankful for my LIFE, technology and God's grace! Everyday is a blessing, live life to the fullest always, you never know what tomorrow will bring. Blessed & Thankful!

Fall

( I can only dream this is my backyard)

Fall, where are you? I can feel it in the air, just a little bit. I didn't care that it was still 78 degrees out on Monday, I couldn't resist the cold morning and I wore my boots and a thin scarf! Yes, I am craving Fall, I am craving pumpkin everything, hot tea, a warm blanket, crisp air, fun traditions and all fun that Fall brings! So even though this week will dip into the low 70's (and back to the 80's this weekend) I am going to enjoy the semi-transition into Fall, cause I know I know it will be here soon!

Quiet rays of sunshine

I enjoy quiet time in my house especially in the mornings before the world (and the kiddos) are up. It's refreshing, the quietness and the sun shining in is a great start to a perfect morning. I hope you take the time and enjoy some rays of sunshine in your life. 

Happy Day! 

20 years ago...

I wrote this 20 years ago when I was 12, in 6th grade and kind of funny that I found this today as I was going through the box with my year books. This is what I thought my life would be like in 2011.... well sorry to tell my self bit I instead of USC I graduated from FIDM, I don't live in Palm Springs (probably wanted to live there since we vacationed there a lot growing up) but I live in a two story house in Irvine. I don't have 3 kids...yet, but that is still something I want. I didn't become a pediatrician, instead I am a Merchandise Planner, much more up my alley, hence why I went to FIDM. One thing for sure is that I did married a handsome man!!! And no I haven't done anything to help abused and neglected children, but that is always still on my heart and a passion of mine. Funny that I thought at the age of 12 that 32 was so far away and probably felt like an eternity away, but here I am 32 years old and I feel like being 12 was only a blink away. Life has gone by in a flash, it might not have been what I thought it was going to be when I was 12 but let me tell you its better, I love my life, my happy marriage, my husband, 2 kids and my job! Here is to another 20 years and whatever it may bring.

Women's Retreat

A few weeks ago our church had our Women's Retreat at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort, let me tell you it was a wonderful weekend.Not only did I get to spend a weekend with my sisters (except for Vanessa), and other wonderful ladies of the Bridge, I got a great feeling of faith renewal. It is so awesome to hear such wonderful speakers, women who have struggled in their own lives, they were not perfect and neither are we, even though we strive to be as women. I went on the leadership track and boy did God speak to me! To be a leader means to be stretched beyond yourself but you need to know the Gift of Limits, meaning you need to know how to limit yourself to what only God has called you to do. As a leader you need to let others know that you are real, that you are not perfect yourself, and that you have weaknesses also. It's amazing that God puts you in the right places at the right time. I got a lot out of what Tammy had to say, I got a lot out of the weekend and I felt so refreshed when I came home. It also helped that the hotel was amazing and SO relaxing, and that hanging out with the girls is always a good time! I look forward to our women's retreats every year and I am already looking forward to the next one!

Girls night

Tonight was a fun night out, or should I say in with the girls. My wonderful friend Alyssa hosted a girls night in just so she could say thank you to all of us that helped her through the craziness of her wedding! It was a fun night of wine and appetizers, girly TV shows, and just plain old great girl talk. It's nice to get out with the girls every once in a while, so thanks Alyssa for having me over.....we deserved it after this crazy week we have had!