Cookies, Cousins, and Coloring

Cousins, Jonnie, Remi & Cyrus came over yesterday afternoon after school for a few hours while their parents were at work. To keep them busy, Bobby and I baked some sugar cut out cookies of pumpkins (and one that said "Boo" but it didn't turn out well), picked up some frosting that I colored orange with food gel, sprinkles, and candy corn to decorate the cookies.

Once the kids got bored of frosting cookies, they decided to color on the little easel we have...

Once that got boring they colored on each other...

Once that got boring I let them go ahead and color on the temporary dry wall in the house. Remi kept saying I was the coolest babysitter ever, I warned them that once the construction in the house was done there wouldnt be any more coloring on the walls!

Ready, Set...Preschool!

Welp, we decided to start Bobby in preschool this week. We were a little behind on the ball because technically school started a month ago but I haven't been sure if he's been ready, or if I'm ready. WE ARE READY!!!!! We visited the school on Monday and after spending just a little bit of time there I knew this is what he needed to continue thriving and keep his little mind busy (and to burn off some of this energy he has!). It is a little expensive so he is only going 2 days a week from 8am-12pm but I think this is plenty and maybe after getting used to the monthly costs we might bump it up to 3 days a week - if there is space available and after he is potty trained.

After some consideration, we decided to send Bobby HERE because our friend's mom is the director there and I just feel more comfortable leaving him at a place where I know and TRUST the people. Bobby does freak out and scream like crazy when I leave, but his new teacher, Ms. Michelle, said that after about 20 seconds of his screaming he was fine. We are starting to work on potty training - I'm new to all of these things and feel like I don't know what to expect from Bobby, or the best way to approach it. Its a control issue, and I hate the fight. We'll see, I'm just taking it day by day. He definitely has hit his "Terrible Twos" because EVERYTHING is a battle right now. NOT FUN. Lots of telling him "no" which I hate doing but dang kid, you don't listen after the 3rd warning!!!!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

(please pardon the fancy trash can in the background, we are in the middle of a mess in our home right now)

PICTURE DAY!!! WOO HOO

(cant wait to see the proofs!)

11 Sweet Months

Can you believe it? I cant. No seriously, I CAN'T!!!! 11 months of our lives has gone by in a blink of an eye. I think during the first year with a baby can often times feel so overwhelming, and then, seriously it feels like one day you wake up (Finally, after a solid 8 hours of SLEEP! HALLELUJAH!) and realize they are their own person now, unique, ever changing with each second that passes, growing wings to one day leave the nest.... I am sad. I dont want Brooklyn to grow up!!! (You cant make me! And in my mind she will always be my little princess) I dont want her to change out of this stage, sounds crazy but I don't! She is so funny (yes, she makes me laugh!), lovable, hugable, kissable... Yes, I'm one of those crazy moms, but can you blame me? Just look at her...

("I love this remote, but how come the cartoons don't turn on when I push this button??")

(Here mom, I'll hold it up for you, this is how old I am everyone!!)

I know we cant seriously even think of adding another member to our family TODAY, (just with the remodel and bills going every which way these days), but I really hope we are not done growing as a family. As a gift to my kids (think about it, how much do you love one of your siblings? how awesome is it to know that even if the world hates you, you have an eternal friend built in?), and as precious memories for all of us, I really hope we add another sibling (or even 2!).

THE GREAT DEBATE (do you have these in your house? we have them occasionally and now we even have an audience! too bad the kids cant speak for themselves yet): A First Birthday Party for Brooklyn or Not.

Pros: Pictures. Memories. Gifts for Brooklyn (not like she needs anything).

Cons: Costs. Naps. Organization. PLACE TO HAVE IT (our house is TORE up to say the least so our house is out)??

We have talked and SERIOUSLY considered going to Disneyland. We have invited only immediate family and 1 couple with their TWINS to join us, but noone seems to really be able to join us. And Derek wants to do Disneyland in a DAY, and I don't (debate #2, thats a whole other ball game). Seriously, who does ALL of Disney in a day with 2 kids under the age of 3? We'll probably end up doing ... nothing. We weighed the costs to go to Disneyland vs. a party and it ends up being the same or at least, close. I'm ok with the idea of no party, sort of, I mean come on, for those of you who know us, it is RARE for us to let a birthday slide by (well with our old age slowly creeping up on us we have calmed down with the parties) without a celebration. I have very mixed feelings, she's MY baby (yes, you read that right, MY BABY lol) and I just want her to feel as special as Bobby (and not look at pictures and say "hey you did it for him but not me, what gives?"). I definitely feel like we should do something but.... its the GREAT DEBATE in this house at the moment.

September Spending FrEEze!!!!

Bye Bye Yucky Fireplace...

Get off of me!!!!!

There are some perks about owning your own business, right? Lately it feels like its more of a pain than a perk. We ended up having to cancel our camping trip because Derek needed to go to L.A. last second for a 24 hour job. Such a drag, but I was not about to camp 2 days by myself with the 2 rugrats. We are changing the structure of the business to a Corporation so that Derek (and me too!) can start earning all the perks that truly come from owning your small business, collecting a paycheck, earning unemployment (so if work does slow down, we can pull out some unemployment $$) Anyway. Enough about that. So the trip was canceled. Bright side is we saved money...

Speaking of money, this month in our house is "September Spending Freeze" (saw this from another post, what a GREAT idea!). Mostly applies to me I guess. I'm not going to lie, I go to Target to pickup diapers & wipes and come home with 14 more things than I really didnt need. In my defense, who can walk out of Target without something extra right?! Anyway, I signed up for Amazon Mom (Thank you Robyn & Kassie :), and Brooklyn is on her last can of formula since 12 months is around the corner, this has helped discipline with me - 1) Forcing me to use diapers a little more frugally, and 2) Stopped the "extra" trips down the hill (Hate Kmart). I've truly tried to make myself (and Derek too) more responsible with our money this month and ONLY PURCHASE ABSOLUTE NEEDS. Granted, I have stuck to this 99%. (Hey, my yucky blonde highlights looked bad so I needed to fix them myself) I usually go to the gym 3xs a week more or less and ALWAYS walk out of there with 2 smoothies, bag of pop chips, a water...thats around 10$... 3x a week...over a month. Yeah.

So, I'm REALLY trying to buckle down. So far so good but uh, what day is today? Oh, only midway through the month!?! These next 2 weeks better get easier! (and honestly each day is easier, I have been cleaning and cleaning and trying to get this house under control with the mess - I know the pictures of our house don't show that I pick up anything but I promise, I DO!!! haha but tonight we are finally going to go see Harry Potter at the movies lol) Its forcing me though to STOP AND THINK before I go buy that Mickey Shirt I think Bobby needs/wants/would be cool to have. Plus...OUR REMODEL NEEDS TO FINISH BEFORE I TURN 40! Shesh.

San Elijo

As the end of summer draws near, we are getting ready to say good bye to this hot stinky weather with a camping trip next week at San Elijo. I'm excited to go just because it read triple digits on the thermostat today in my car! I cant wait to spend the week with just Derek & the kids and just RELAX. (& welcome some friends for a visit and bbq) Even though getting ready for this trip means lots of cleaning up, packing, unloading and juggling, it will be nice to spend time with each other. Today I was at REI picking up one last thing for the trip and they had a tent setup for display, I let the kids climb in the tent just to see what they would do...I couldnt get the kids OUT OF THE DISPLAY they were having so much fun.

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Remodel Saga Continues...

We ordered windows 3 weeks ago. They FINALLY arrived except for 1 of them, the delivery driver busted the glass so when the replacement comes in we are going to pick it up. Our fireplace is gone - thank goodness! What an EYE SORE! My other teeny tiny hall closet is tore out (this will be the new bedroom's closet) so I literally have NO STORAGE. I'm excited about the remodel but dang, I hate this house sometimes. Its small. When we originally bought it, we bought it purely on its location - across the street from Derek's family. Looking back, I wish we would have thought it out more but oh well, too late now, we are STUCK. I do love living next to the family, and Bobby REALLY does too. He stares out the window all the time asking for Chad.

Over the dirt and dust too. I have mopped EVERYDAY, swept EVERYDAY, and the floor still seems dirty. What the heck?

Ok, done complaining. I'll post pictures soon, my window installer (aka hubby) is supposed to be here on Saturday (right before we leave for camping) to install the windows before they break. (Yes, they are just sitting OUTSIDE in the OPEN for all to see, steal or break.)

Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day weekend and is staying COOL!

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Kids are changing....

Bobby: Starting to repeat everything we say. We saw an airplane near Miramar fly over us today while driving on the 15 freeway (probably prep for the airshow in Oct), and I said "Isnt that amazing Bobby??" and he replied "AMAZING". Taught him to say Thank you, Your Welcome, Bless You...he is copying all. Shuts doors in my face saying while waving and saying "See ya later" or "Byeee" and Brooklyn is usually in the room with him. Then I hear both of them giggle. Twirps.

Brooklyn: Adores Bobby. Follows him. Stares at him. Everything Bobby. Her first word will probably be "Bobby".

Dirty Thirty

I turned the big THREE ZERO on 8/30. Thirty on Thirty. And actually, I should take that back. Turning the big 3-0, I feel pretty good (and clean haha). Maybe the mirror says I'm actually 3-0, especially when I have no make up on. But all in all, things are so stable in my life with Derek, the kids, I feel like I have enough life experience to make better decisions, I'm in the best shape of my life...ahh heck who knows. All I can say is that turning 30 isnt as a big of a deal as I thought and life feels like its just beginning (especially with raising the kids).

(Bobby enjoying the delicious Cookie Dough Ice Cream cake from Coldstone Derek got us! DELISH!)

I am really looking forward to the next 30 years!

Below is a picture of Brooklyn on a towel I ordered for her from Pottery Barn Kids. Its ADORABLE! We ordered one for Bobby when he was about her age, so I felt it was only right to get her one too. I love that its a smaller towel that she will be able to use as her own as she grows - - and that its personalized! A little pricey but I know we will have it forever!

Pool Party!

We went to our friend's parents house (Niki Taylor's family) to celebrate Niki & Maury's son, Maury's 2nd birthday. Super hot in Ramona - hate it. House so beautiful, like something you'd see in a magazine. Stunning backyard, awesome pool. Great way to cool off and have fun with friends. Love the action shots I caught.