Catch up photo dump - Summer

Photos in no order...

British Soccer Camp (Challenger Camp)...Kids have been having so much fun in this one! I think its because they knew a lot of the kids in the group.

Hanging at home with the bossiest kid in Ramona... :) 

More Challenger Camp

The quilt I made for Bobby's teacher without any donations from parents or any help from any of those "involved" parents. Hmph....Its ok though ;)

Kids did a soccer camp at NCSP in June (right after school got out) and a few of the days I went and hiked Iron Mntn. I need to get an umbrella for poor little Tommy lol

Brad Paisley concert (with Justin Moore) - this was another goodie!!!

Hanging out by our beloved pool 

Last day of school picnic

Ian's graduation (I think he's in this photo?? doubt it)

Because parking sucks at the high school on grad night, I told Derek we should just walk. This was so much fun for some reason...a very memorable funny night for us.

Derek's bday (6/10)

The "fourth" kid in the family, Sadie....

Another day of hiking

Last day of NCSP camp back in June

Father's Day bowling with my (step) family

Swimming with the best dog in the world 

Del Mar Fair with friends for Brooklyn's dance recital

More pool 

Different Cousins over to play in the pool

This sign made me laugh (thanks Hobby Lobby)

Fourth of July

I LOVE this photo of Brooklyn even though she is terribly sad (she was super sad because we had to go home haha)

Just in case you forget who the photographer is -

Night out with us wild and crazy women

Cameron YMCA in Santee (this place is awesome)

Hoping to savor this last month of summer until SCHOOL STARTS!

Graduation & Mouse House

Hi Friends!
Well we survived a much anticipated weekend. After its all said and done, no, I would not drag my 3 kids to another graduation. I know if we had not gone to graduation I would have always wondered what I missed, so I'm glad we went. But, at times I felt out of place. College kids are little twirps! Wow! They were saying some of the meanest things about little kids and took everything out of me not to reprimand them! LOL...Wish Tommy would have slept better Friday night so Saturday morning would not have felt like the twilight zone. Honestly, probably got 2-4 hours of broken sleep. Awful.

Friday we went to Disneyland with hesitation because of all the rain.  When we parked it was pouring down rain. Derek and I were like oh man, are we stupid? But it actually was great because no one was there! We had on our rain boots and jackets and I made the kids wear layers of clothes, and they actually stayed pretty warm and dry. We were able to just walk right on to 3 rides on in a row when we first got there - Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain.  By early afternoon when the sun came out and things warmed up the crowds had come.  It still didn't seem all that busy compared to a Saturday or Christmas/Holiday visit.  Aside from some boredom in line (mainly Tommy who couldn't sit still) the kids did pretty good - I can't wait to go back.

A classic, hilarious photo of the kids on Splash Mountain:

In line for Mr. Toad's wild ride:

Its a Small World with the big kids sitting in front of us:

 Us 3 on Its a Small World:

Snapped a quick photo before jumping onto Big Thunder Mountain with my main man:

Waiting for the Soundsational Parade to begin while Daddy and Bobby rode Splash Mountain for the 2nd time and Star Tours:

Tommy LOVED the parade and kept pointing at all the characters yelling out "look ma!" Way too cute...

Met up with long time pals Gareth & Courtney Atkins in Downtown Disney for dinner.  Haven't seen them since Bobby was a baby.  Their 1 year old son Gavyn is here with Tommy...

 Of course, had to snap a selfie of this special day...

Quick little photos with my parents and family after my department ceremony.

After the whirlwind of our trip, we came home to a surprise gathering with close family and friends to celebrate my graduation.  Everyone was so nice to have given up some time to be with us, which I appreciate.  I have some of the greatest friends :) Derek was so thoughtful and I am one lucky gal.

And to put a cherry on top of this special weekend, Derek got us annual passes to Disneyland!  Now the problem is I'm so tempted to have the kids be "out sick" from school a lot more often! LOL

This all has been a great adventure. I'm glad its finished, but happy I endured it all despite having some pretty difficult days.  Here's to the future!

The Finish Line!

30 days! 

I often wish I had completed college before having kids.  Why I didn't, Im not sure. Just lazy I guess. I had tried to be a business major, and fell short when my GPA hit 2.49 and I needed a 2.5 for the College of Business. At the time I was at CSUSM, after I didn't get in to Business College, CSUSM changed the undergrad requirements and I just tossed my hands up and said screw it! This degree is not for me! The Business Calc class was so damn hard too. 

Anyway. Flash forward to 2 years ago. I stay home with the kids. LUCKY ME. Ha, no really. Lucky me. Then CSUF had this degree completion program and I honestly just thought, "Instead of wasting time on the Internet reading garbage, why don't I read educational stuff and finish?" Even though it was way more demanding at times than I had wanted, I'm so happy its done.  I even think why don't I go for a Masters? I even heard some Ph. D's are free tuition because a school wants you to complete it to represent them...not saying I would do that but that was interesting to find out.

Last week, me and the kids drove up to CSUF.  I showed them the campus, and we explored together. I was able to meet a director of my program who has been there for me along the way.  It was great. Picked up graduation stuff. Brings me tears. What a journey!

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!