Walks around the lake...

A little scooter ride around the lake can wear you out and sometimes you just need a break to sit on the rocks and pretend to fish with a stick...

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!

Taelor is 6 {S.I.X}

6 years ago our lives were changed forever...our baby girl was born and now she is a young girl turning 6! It has been a great year watching her grow from a preschooler to now a kindergartner. Taelor you have blossomed this year and have come out of your shell (in your own way). You have a love for everything girly, you wouldn't miss a tea party, dress up time, coloring, art, singing, dancing, or anything that has to do with sweets! Taelor, you are such a joy, you listen as well as a 6 year can, you follow directions and obey almost every rule (and that is apparent in class as Miss. M says she uses you as an example most days), your neat and tidy, you LOVE your brother, you take care of him and he takes care of you. Ethan looks up to you as such a great big sister. Even though he still wants to love and kiss you, you shrug your shoulders and make sure he misses your cheek every time.

You love dolls and dresses and never leave anywhere without little Hoppy. Your choice of clothes everyday is a dress as you love to be fancy no matter where you go... such the fashionista already. Thankfully you don't fight (much) with me on your outfits for the day, as long as it's a dress or pink you are good to go. You are a daddy's girl who thinks your daddy is nothing but the BEST. You love to be with me and you can't wait till the day you get to wear my high heels and wear my makeup (sorry but that will not be for a LONG time). You are more then words can even express. Your sweet smile and quiet nature is what makes you, YOU!

You learned how to ride a bike this year and you are beginning to read and write ( I love seeing how far you have come), you LOVE school and your heart for Jesus makes my heart smile. You ask a million questions, especially when we are watching a movie, you find so much joy in making things for other people. I have received SO many cards and drawings from you that I will cherish for a lifetime. Taelor you are a one of a kind daughter, one who we are so proud of, our love for you is overflowing and we are beyond proud to be your mommy and daddy. You brighten a room with your sweet little smile and your meekness. I can't wait to see what God has in store for your 6th year. May you bring light to every one's life you meet, may your world be seen with such happiness through your eyes and may your 6th year be your best yet. You are our little princess who has so much to offer this world. May you always stand tall, believe in yourself , stop to smell the flowers and don't rush to be older (that will be here sooner then you will know), be SIX not sixTEEN, always use your imagination, because I think you have one of the best. Thank you for being so precious!! We love you!

1 Peter 3:3-4
"It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No your beauty should come from within you- the beauty of a gentle quiet spirit, this beauty will never disappear and it is worth very much to God".

Happy 6th Birthday my sweetness! We love you!

Your birthday celebration lasted all weekend!! First we started with a birthday Tea Party (of course) at Queen's Bakery with a few of your close friends, it was so cute seeing you 5 girls act like little ladies sipping away at your tea and giggling like all little girls do!

I LOVE that these two are still so sweet with each other. Taelor has known Hailey since she was born, they are only 9 days apart. LOVE them! 

Lunch and Tea for these sweet little girls

Then the next day we celebrated with family, COWGIRL style! Our my sweet little cowgirl, yee-haw....we all had a great time!

Then it was your birthday! The best day in the year to have a  party...New Year's Eve!!! We started the day off with mommy's french toast bake (birthday girls choice of course), then we headed to Island's for lunch with Gamma, and then it was celebrating with the world and ringing in the New Year! I mean, if "celebrating" means making homemade party hats and watching the NY New Year's Eve, then that's just what we did....oh and we also had a "concert" put on by the one and only Taelor and Ethan! We know how to party on New Year's....let's face it, I only have a few more years and then I am sure my house will be filled with little girls that will be over for slumber parties, so for now I will enjoy the "party of 4" that we have!!! Taelor just thinks it is so great that the entire world is celebrating for her...something tells me she will think this her entire life!

I mean , this was the "BEST" concert, plastic cups, boxes, pencils and all!

Yes the clock says 9:00pm...Happy New Year NY!

Happy Birthday my love and Happy New Year to all!!!

Christmas...a time to Believe

Oh Christmas how I already miss you, but my tree is still up so I am still soaking in the last days of Christmas. What a fun season this was for us. I truly enjoyed every minute of this month. We watched who knows how many movies from Elf, Polar Express to Love Actually and the Holiday. We wrote letters to Santa and dropped them in the BELIEVE mailbox at Macy's, had lots of hot cocoa and movie nights, read every Christmas book we own (mommy wraps up 25 books and puts them under the kids tree and it's a treat for them to open each night), drove around looking at all the wonderful Christmas lights (even though Ethan was apparently bored by the end since his yawning was getting really loud...), baked cookies, made homemade ornaments. The Christmas Women's Tea at church was perfect as it is every year, my girlfriends and I had a "Favorites" gift exchange lunch, Christmas parties (my work and family one, they both never disappoint) and best of all we celebrated Christmas the birth of Jesus.

Chippy our elf was also back...oh you should have heard the squeals from Ethan as he ran into our bedroom..."he's back, he's really back, Chippy is back!!" oh the excitement was priceless. Chippy came with a letter from Santa reminding him what the true meaning of Christmas is, Jesus and to make sure we celebrate Him during this time. He reminded the kids to love one another, be kind, and give to others. It was great having Chippy back, the kids were VERY sad when he left on Christmas.

Our fun holiday began at our Candle light service on Christmas Eve and I can't even tell how my heart was SO full watching my kids and niece and nephew listen to the service and holding there lit candles (with their eyes watching the candle ever so closely) singing Joy to the World and Silent Night, of course I wish I had taken a picture of the moment but I didn't (so unlike me, but the cameras were left in the car), but that moment was my FAVORITE moment of the night, possibly my favorite moment of the season!

We headed to Papa and Grandma's house for a fun filled night of tamales, goodies and opening presents. We ended our night at 12am, so of course Santa's "elves" did not make it to bed until 2am or later I am sure!!! And then 4 hours later I...yes I said I...was the first one up, like a child waiting for the kids to wake up. An hour later they were up and Ethan ran in the room and said..."He came, he really came, Santa came to OUR house!!!!" and that is how our Christmas morning started. It was perfect in every way, we opened presents, lounged in our jammies till 3pm, played with and put together all the toys, then we headed to Gamma's for some more fun and eating. It was a mellow Christmas evening and of course I enjoyed every bite of trifle and Christmas pudding, it is what I look forward to eating every Christmas!

Christmas season, I will miss you, but I loved you while you were here. See you in 11 months when you come back around!

Fashion Island tree...visiting Santa

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Love this time of year. We headed to Fashion Island for our annual visit with Santa and to see the beautiful tree. It was a perfect night, and we even got to see and hang out with our friends the Elhaj's while we all sipped on hot chocolate at Starbucks. Visiting Santa was great, the kids asked for a Fire Station house for Ethan and a Barbie house for Taelor. I guess we will just have to wait and see what Santa brings them! I am so excited for Christmas as are the kids. I can't wait to do all the fun activities that come with Christmas! It is going to be a fun Season!

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving has come and gone and it was a great time with our family. The weather was perfect and we had our "dinner" table outside at my parent's house with all my sisters, brother-in-laws, brother, nieces, nephews and parents! It was a great time as always. I am pretty sure the LOUD talking and laughing that comes out of us 4 sisters was enough for one day for my hubby, but I know he loved this day, eating, talking, and eating some more. After we were stuffed we headed to my Mother-in-Loves for round 2. I am pretty sure I ate enough calories in one day for an entire week, but it was all SO worth it. I love Thanksgiving, I love that you can reflect on what you are most thankful for and to share it with loved ones. This year, as I said in my last post I am thankful for my life, for God, my husband and kids, for my family and friends, for rainy days, a cup of hot tea, snuggling on the couch, kisses from my sweeties, a good book, love and laughter. Today and always remember to be thankful.

Seriously this kid is so in LOVE with Sophie and Lola

Thanks Ethan for taking this picture :)

Cousins are forever friends

My sisters....less Vanessa...where was she??

One Family picture was hard to get...kids were ready to run...

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!

Soccer

This is what our life has consisted of the last 3 months and I am actually quite sad to say that this weekend is the last game of the soccer season. It has been such a fun year. Taelor has really come out of her shell this season and has scored 5 goals for the season, we are so proud of her, she did such an awesome job! She loved meeting new friends and we loved meeting new moms and dads! The season started out SO HOT, the poor girls only have 5 on their team so they are pretty much all playing the entire game, but they all played with hardly any complaints. Of course last weekend and this weekend will be the only 2 games we actually get some cooler weather. And little man Ethan, I am thinking  Manchester United or Liverpool might be in his future....or I can just keep dreaming. This was his first year playing and I have to say he was pretty good...yes I know he is half British so he has to have some skills, I mean it's in his blood! He enjoyed every minute of playing! I love that my kids love sports, I love that they want to be a part of a team. I am so proud of my kiddies and how great they did this season. Now for a little break to enjoy the holidays...until next Fall, I will miss you soccer!