Catch up

Hi Friends!

Bobby is 6 today! 6! I remember when Bobby was a baby thinking it would take forever until he is 5. My heart aches a little bit that my baby is so big! He's so tall. He stands a little above my elbow now too. He tries to tell jokes, sometimes he's funny and other times you just shake your head in disbelief lol. Bobby is enjoying hanging with Derek and doing "big kid" things. He's definitely growing up and I can't squeeze his baby fat much longer.

We have had so much going on, just wanted to update on life.

Bobby had opening day earlier in March. He is on team Angels. He is in Tball this year - he was on the cusp of going up a level but because he's never played before we wanted him to build himself up on his ability and get familiar with baseball.  The kids try 3 times to hit off the pitching machine, then if they miss those 3 tries we get out the tee and they hit off that. This week Derek told Bobby, "hit off the machine and we'll go for ice cream" and of course, he hits TWICE off the machine! Ahh it was so exciting! Still brings a smile to my face.  Derek got sucked in to being an assistant coach. He's doing great despite zero experience actually playing baseball. Derek is a great guy. Kids do really well with his guidance and I think Bobby enjoys having Derek close by.

Last Saturday we celebrated Bobby's birthday with friends and family at Pump It Up in Poway. Short and sweet. Just right. We did glow in the dark, not sure if I would do it again with kids this young, but it was fun.

Brooklyn. My little best friend! She's a mix of it all. We walk to Montessori School which she spends 3 days there (8:30am-2pm). Works out perfectly. Tommy naps at 11:30 until almost 2. I do my little loop of picking up Brooklyn, then walk and pick up Bobby. Been great. We do miss our old school, but before we know it all the kids will be back together again.

Its been so ridiculously hot in Ramona these past few weeks, we have been in the pool a lot! Tommy loves the pool and will just walk right in with his clothes on. He's a bit apprehensive about going any further out then this short step that borders along the baja step which is fine by me!

Tommy is a lot of fun. He has a lot of character and is learning so quickly, slow down baby! He's always telling me no. I'll ask, Tommy do you want juice? NO! Tommy can I change your diaper? NO! Tommy you want a cookie? NO! Silly kid. He answers no before he even has a chance to comprehend my question. He follows directions pretty good. I'll ask for his shoes, he knows where to go get them. He actually understands quite a bit. Not sure what I'm doing different with him than the other 2. By far I'm sure I've talked to him more, the siblings help to teach (sometimes bad) manners, and then all of the action day in and out helps.

Here's some photos of the last few weeks.  Gotta go catch up on HW, cleaning etc.. and then soak up an hour for a run while the kids are gone.

Pictures below posted in no order, sorry!!

Bobby is around 1 year old here! 

Happy Birthday Baby!!! Love you so much Bobby!

Alan Jackson

Derek has been working some CRAZY weeks. 6 days. 12+hours. Non stop. Time for some fun, to say the least.

At last second , we decided to go see Alan Jackson play at Valley View Casino last night. Derek originally had plans to be in Newport again for work, those fell through so he said ok, lets go! His parents bought tickets awhile ago, and we got lucky with last minute tickets - everything lined up for us. Quick little dinner beforehand for some laughs with the parents. Sally and Bob are great.

I'm not a huge fan of Alan Jackson - like him enough, and actually, this concert was a lot of fun!  I heard a few new songs I've added to itunes today, and am happy we went.  We had great close seats that were pretty cheap. The opening acts were neat - Brandy Clark & Jon Pardi (say that last name like "party", he sure was a party on stage, ha!).  It wasn't a huge crowd, which we enjoyed too.

There was a guy in one of the first few rows of the concert, in overalls with NO SHIRT beneath his overalls, some wild honky hair and a cowboy hat. We couldn't stop laughing at him. Good times.

Now that Tommy is old enough to be left behind, and I can count on him sleeping until at least 6am everyday, I'm letting loose - a little. Time to start making memories with Derek again.

We have tickets to go see Brad Paisley in June which should be a good time as well.

Have a great weekend!

Soooo sick!

Ahhhhhh! Our house was hit by the flu this week - fevers, vomit, coughing, sniffles... WOW! Three little kids so so so sick. I have had all 3 laying all over me, watery eyes, sniffles, crying... Bobby was first, then Brooklyn and Tommy decided to come down with it at the same time. Lots of laying around, gatorade, and sprite.

Derek has been out of town all week for work too - talk about double duty! I was a little anxious about doing all of this by myself (even before everyone was so sick) but its been fine. It probably is an ideal time for him to be gone anyway - dont want him catching this, and since I'm feeling so sick myself, I can squeak by with just a can of soup for dinner or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Hopefully next week we are restored - Bobby missed everyday of school this week! I'm sure he will be out again tomorrow.

Here's to another 3 day weekend. Wash your hands! 

Bike Riding, Hiking and Baseball

Yesterday Brooklyn rode her two wheeled bike, no training wheels for the first time!  She is EVERYWHERE now riding her "big" bike - in the back, in the house, in the street. She loves to ride! She had been practicing on her KaZam balance bike for awhile now (I let her ride all the time in the house). Tuesday she asked me to take her training wheels off. She was a little scared at the first try because she has to go a bit faster on the pedaling bike to keep her balance/momentum. Then yesterday she wanted to try again pedaling, and this time I let her practice in the house and then all of a sudden she just got it! She was up and down the street all afternoon yesterday.

This morning she looked at me and said, "Mommy my legs are tired". I'm sure its from her riding so much! Great exercise for her which, she needs. Click here to watch her ride. So proud!

Then I've decided to go hike Mt. Woodson with Tommy on my back and Sadie leading the way while the 2 big kids are in school. Went twice this week and have been improving on the time. Monday it took me 45 minutes to the top, today 38.

As of late, Tommy has been saying goooooooo! We heard bye bye the other day, and alot of "Bobby" too. He's a rascal. Changing and learning so much each day. Next month he is 18 months!  Amazing how fast a year goes by.

And last but not least, our little Bobby has taken a dislike to jiu jitsu, I think he's burned out. There is no big break from jiu jitsu and I just dont think Bobby is aggressive enough to want to wrestle (at least not yet). So we've told him he has to do something/some kind of sport so - he's decided baseball! He loves to hit the ball, play catch...so he's signed up and the season begins in March. This definitely feels like a much more cohesive tight knit group (compared to the people who put on the local soccer league) and I really hope Bobby takes to this sport - just so he has something he enjoys other than video games and wrestling with his cousins. Looking forward to this season but a little nervous how we will manage our time with HW, practice and games.

Have a good weekend!

Goodbye 2014, Hello '15!

The past few weeks have been packed with stuff. Good grief.

On December 17th was Brooklyn's preschool play and it was cute and fun to watch as usual. We invited grandparents to come see her this year and to our delight they all came. I think it made Brooklyn proud.

Tuesday before Christmas Eve we celebrated with my Dad and that side of the family and went to Wonderland at Petco Park.  This place was LOADED with Christmassy stuff; jumpy, giant slides, a merry-go-round, snow playground with sleds.... I would do it again but just go earlier in the season. It was SO busy the night we went and it was cut short because Brooklyn and Tommy fell ill with the stomach bug. (On a side note, I am happy to say both her and Tommy caught it the same night, both barely vomited - only 1x - and I attribute this to our regular intake of Amazing Meal. No one else in the family caught it which is very rare; this is the one sickness that I dread most with the kids.)

Christmas Eve Derek had to work and because the kids weren't feeling 100% we stayed home and rested.

Christmas Day we spent the morning at home, the afternoon with the Roeds. We went easy on Christmas Presents this year because we decided as a family to take a trip to Disneyland for a few days instead of buying junk. (I'm trying to convince Derek to take us to Florida. The cost to go to Florida for nearly a week, stay at a Disney Hotel and visit 1 park 1 day in Florida is only ~1000 more than going to Disneyland staying for 2 nights and doing 1 park 1 day and staying at one of the Disney Hotels in Anaheim. WHATS UP WITH THAT?).

Friday after Christmas I went and spent some of the day with my mom.  She sure misses seeing our kids and my brother's family often, so I need to try and make it a point to visit her more. I talk to her most everyday but the kids are growing fast and she is missing out. Very hard to juggle her and my life demands.

We have family in from Washington (my nephew) and so the kids demand to see all of their cousins regularly (since most of them live about 100 feet away lol). So we have.  Most of these vacation days have consisted of waking up, playing at grandmas house or in the street, eating lots of food and then playing some more. We've had some great days of just staying in PJ's all day, playing Uno, Old Maid or Candyland together and have read some great books. I hope the past few months of kinder hasnt been washed away from all the relaxing at home so I've been trying to quiz Bobby here and there to make sure he doesnt forget. Above all, while I have permitted the kids to play the Wii, I drastically notice behavior changes in Bobby and have to be very strict with game time play. I cannot believe the changes it does to him. He goes from being his sweet loving self to a real jerk and a pouty kid. (Anyone out there relate?)

Last night we had some of our closest friends over to celebrate the New Year (early party I suppose). We had a total of 12 kids +1 baby running around in our house last night!! Its always great to see everyone and I know our kids really look forward to having friends over at the house.

Haha here are the photos of trying to get everyone in the photo at once, to smile and sit still!

2014 was a busy, crazy but fun year. I do not know sometimes how I managed to juggle so much at once, ultimately alone. Yes, I am happily married but like many families out there, my dude works long hours, weekends and then likes to have some time to himself leaving very little time to have an extra set of hands to help with responsibilities. Shuttling the kids to and fro - school, activities, doctor appointments; finishing up college (yay I am in the home stretch!), naps for baby (they always conflict with school times! grrr!) , and some time to work out (which is rarely done these days, booo) leaves very little time for anything else - like cleaning (gross I need to bleach this!) lol... Tommy is older so things are much easier to get done now (whew). And since the other big kids are older as well, I expect help from them regularly as well. They are pretty good at doing their chores, and other little tasks as I request, so I cant complain all too much.

Wishing everyone a safe & happy New Year!

More Christmassy Things

On Sunday we were fortunate enough to be invited to join the Bryants on a sleigh ride through Coronado.  We went down the main streets of the town and above is video from riding through Hotel Del in Coronado.  The sleigh is most definitely an attention getter and we were so fortunate to be invited to ride on it.  The sleigh plays cheery Christmas music and the Bryants have it completely decorated with cushy Christmas seats, sleigh bells to hold and rattle to the tunes playing and even Rudolph is in the front leading the sleigh.  This was one of the top memories I have with our family.  Awesome Christmas Magic for sure. :)  

Before and After - 2nd Try

Here are the unedited photos I took today. This was the 2nd try at Dos Picos today (the temptation to run with friends was gone lol) even though the sun was more overhead it seemed like the lighting was better - bet at 1pm-2pm its ideal since the sun goes behind the hills over there so early.  We arrived at Dos Picos around 11am.

Below are the edited versions of the same photos. Amazing. Thank you Photoshop.