Pool safety....please watch your kids!!!

I am writing this post to warn parents out there to ALWAYS watch your children when you are in and around pools/water. While at a backyard pool, I was sitting in a lounge chair at the end of the deep end so that I could keep and eye on my kids while they were playing on the grass area a few feet away from me. A 2 1/2 ft wall is between the pool and the grass and I was sitting right next to the wall, about a foot was between me and the wall and the pool was to my side. After the kids got excited about getting Popsicles, Taelor ran up to my right, and Ethan, thinking he would go to the other side, squeezed his way between the chair and the wall, and water at his side, without me knowing. (Remember this all happened within seconds, Ethan is almost 2 1/2 and does not know how to swim yet!) Next thing I could hear was a little bit of splashing and there Ethan was, already in the water with his little hands splashing the surface, had I not looked down to see him, I would not have heard him, I did not hear a big splash, he just fell right in! I jumped in the pool and got him up, he was OK, THANK GOD! He was a bit shaken up but the main thing was that he was safe.


Yes ,I was watching them and yes I was in arms length of him, but seconds was all it took. I dwelled on this incident for the next few days, but I realized this can happen to any of us. I will take this as a learning lesson and I hope whoever is reading this that they will too. Swim lessons are a must and both kids will be getting them soon!

Stay-cation Vacation Pictures

I have to say even though we did not go out of town for the week, it was still a busy and VERY enjoyable week. Wished it could have lasted longer, but it was great having lots of family time and spending time with great friends! Here are a few things we did:

Railroad Town in Los Angeles...

Lunch and shopping in Santa Monica....

San Diego Wild Animal Park.....

Swimming like the old days at the Loza's house..

Funny that I grew up at this pool and jumping on this same trampoline with my best friend Tally, so great to see my kids doing the same with their friends!

Swimming at the Doyle's pool with great friends...

Of course we spent time at the beach...

We ended with my sweet nieces 21st birthday party
Happy Birthday Alycia.....

Taelor's Prince Charming.....Daddy

Taelor was asking about Snow White and what happened to her when she ate the red apple. I was explaining to her about true loves kiss from her prince ( I know why do I even need to explain??), then I said to her, one day you will marry a prince, and this was her response....

"I'm going to marry a prince when I get older, I'm going to marry Daddy! My daddy is so cool (holding up her thumb)!"

Oh that made Saul's day! It's the simple things. I can only hope that Taelor marries a man just like her daddy because he really is the best husband and he is my prince charming too!

Great ideas and inspirations

Love, LOVE, LOVE this blog Ali Edwards If you love scrapbooking or any kinds of art projects, you would be inspired by the things this woman does. I found her on Shutterfly, she created a few photo books that had links to her blog, and yes I spent hours looking at her blog. I feel so inspired to do LOTS of things with my pictures, but only if I had more time!!! It amazes me how many projects she does! But I made a promise to myself that I will do at least this project I know its about Christmas, but I will have to get started on this project soon after summer ends (because we all know that once October is here then Christmas is just around the corner),so that I know I have it ready for the first day of December. Another great scrapbook project that I think I might try is this one A week in the life, she did this back in April but of course I just found this blog but I am going to have to try this out so wish me luck on both of these projects. I mean, I still have yet to finish completely my kids 1st year scrapbooks but oh well, maybe these will be done at the same time!

A fun Stay-cation Vacation

Yeah I am off work this WHOLE week. It is very rare that I take an entire week off (except for the week after Christmas). I normally take days off here and there, but I decided this mommy needed a break from my work life! All my days this week are filled with fun family things and hanging out with friends. I will post all the fun pictures of our "stay-cation" later this week. So far I am enjoying my time at home with my babies.

4th of July

Ethan taking a nap after running around

Waiting for fireworks

Desire and Taelor

My baby girl

We spent 4th of July in San Diego with my family (parents and sisters). We had a picnic on the bay, went out on the boat, but most of all just relaxed. We got to see 4 different fireworks shows from where we were so it was great. The kids actually enjoyed them this year. Even though the weather was cold, it still was a good time!

New Bedding....The Baby Guy

I just LOVE this new "matching" bedding I got for the kids. I got it from "The Baby Guy" at the Orange County Swap meet (he is down aisle J). I first used him for Ethan's crib bedding (which by the way I love so much more than Taelor's Pottery Barn bedding she had). He makes the best quality, custom stuff that is affordable. I say stuff because he does everything from bedding, to blankets, car seat covers, diaper bags, burp cloths, and everything else that has to do with fabric and babies! He has so many different fabrics and colors to choose from. He has a website coming soon too! So if you or any one you know is looking for bedding you should check him out first! Taelor loves her new PINK bedding, she was even so excited that her jammies matched too! And Ethan, well he couldn't be any happier than to have not only new bedding but a big boy bed as well!!!

Ethan's big boy bed

Didn't think this time would come so soon, but yes Ethan is in a big boy bed and he LOVES it! So far so good, he loves that he can get in and out of his bed all by himself! I think he especially likes that when Taelor walks out of the room in the morning that he is not stuck in his "cage" anymore and can come out with her. Yes I am sad, my baby is growing up. Since I really have not gotten out of the whole "baby" stage for almost 3 1/2 years (since Taelor and him are so close in age), I feel like this is the first time that I don't have a baby anymore, even though they will always be my babies. There is something strange knowing that the crib has been converted into a bed for both of them. No more cribs to lay my babies into makes me sad, but yet I am enjoying the growing stages of my little boy! Just makes me realize that I am NOT done having babies, I want one more! So, for now I will enjoy the no crib stage for at least the next few years!

Father's Day

I know this post is way past due.....

I am so glad I get to celebrate my wonderful husband as a Father as well as my own Father. These are two of the greatest men around. Saul has so many qualities that my dad has and I admire both of these men so much.

Saul- you are such a wonderful Dad to Taelor and Ethan. You show them so much love everyday and they adore you. It makes my heart melt every time I see you snuggling with them, hugging and kissing them. I have seen you grow into the best gift of all, being a Dad! You cherish your children and take care of them to the fullest extent, you have the biggest heart for them, you are their role model, Ethan even says sometimes that he is going to be a Daddy like you when he gets bigger. I love who you are as a dad and my husband. Thanks for being the best dad, a dad that helps out always, with no questions asked. Thanks for being their hero and thank you for making me a mom! I love you!

Dad- you are an amazing man, you are always there for all your children and family, your grandchildren adore you and love you so much. You are so special to me and I cannot express how much I love you. I have so many fond memories growing up and I want to thank you for raising me to who I am today. You have admirable qualities and such a kind heart for others. You will always be my daddy and I will always be your little girl. I love you!

Potty training

I can't believe I haven't even posted on this yet! At the beginning of May I decided to start potty training Ethan. Yes I know he was just a few months over 2 years old but he had been going potty on the toilet every night before bath. So I decided to give it a go. Well the weekend went better than expected bit when others told me boys are harder than girls, they were right. My daughter was potty trained in one weekend so I had pretty high hopes for my little guy! But I did go into it knowing he was just 2 so I was ok if it took a while. I was proud of him he was at least going in the potty at least half of the time so I felt was getting somewhere. I have to say the thing with boys is that they get so distracted so we have to "pause" everything and "freeze" so he doesn't feel he will miss out on anything while he takes the whole minute to go potty. Now training a boy is very foreign to me so yes I was peed on almost every time the first few weeks and not to mention that my toilets have to be cleaned almost each time!

Well we are now two months in and last week was our first full day with no accidents! He now tells me when he has to go with a few reminders. We are still working on going in public restrooms or other peoples houses but we will get there. Accidents or not I am so proud of my little guy he is doing better then expected even if it takes him a few months to master! No ever said potty training a boy was easy!!! So for all you mommies out there that are potty training good luck!