This is the face of my oldest who just found out that she made All-Stars for softball. :)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Giggling...
My oldest was reading a story to my youngest and then they started goofing around with each other and laughing and laughing and giggling, while I was in here on the computer checking something.
As much as I wanted to go take pictures of that, I enjoyed, I mean REALLY enjoyed just sitting here the other room listening.
Listening to them together when they are happy like that makes my heart swell with joy and love.
That even with the bickering they do at times, they get along still.
And that's what matters.
I want them to always have a good relationship with each other, throughout the rest of their lives.
Friday, April 25, 2008
I Got My Present
The girls made a Happy Birthday sign and blew up balloons for around the house. My eldest made me breakfast and got all my stuff together. Isn't she so sweet!!!
Then I stopped by the post office this morning, hoping that they hadn't taken my package out for delivery yet, and it was there!!! So when we got to the girls' school, I opened it up, and this is what was inside for my birthday.....
And here's the box that was inside the bag.....
And here's what was inside the box......
I had told hubby that I wanted a bracelet like this and to have the girls' names and birthdates engraved on it. I read about it in a magazine just a couple of months prior of how this woman decided to to get herself a bracelet for herself for her 40th birthday. Well, hubby said that he wanted to do that for me.
Thank you SO much my wonderful husband!!! Even though you can't be here with me on this day right now, you are with me and I got your present on my birthday and that's the next best thing.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
What a Way to End My 30's
And then I end up in the ER today, because of some kind of bite I got a few days ago that has swelled up to a nice plump size with an infection.
Yea. Nice.
So I go to the ER (twice, no less because I thought it was getting worse later on, but it wasn't and I was probably having a reaction to the double antibiotics I'm on combined with a bit of an anxiety attack) and they "mapped" my ankle, gave me antibiotics and then some topical cream as well, as some anti-itching medication because it itches like CRAZY sometimes!
As I "ring" in my new decade of being 40 tomorrow, I get to hobble around with a "cankle". Oh wait, excuse me HALF of a cankle from some sort of bite (I think it was probably a spider bite though) because it's only on one half of my ankle.
Nice.
Even if I do have nausea from the antibiotics, I am determined to have my hot fudge sundae from Baskin-Robbins. It's a long standing tradition on my birthday, that I get that, and I will, dammit!
Oh a positive note, hubby sent me my birthday present (however the mailman did not leave the package) and I am going to the post office tomorrow to pick it up. I can't wait to see what it is! :)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Her First One!
My baby lost her first tooth!!!! It has been wiggly for a while and last night she was playing with it and she just all of the sudden pulled it out without even trying! She was so excited but SOOO nervous at the same time! When something new or unexpected happens to her, she's unsure on how to deal with it. I could literally feel her shaking a bit because of it. It only lasted a couple of minutes and then she was all happy because the tooth fairy was going to visit her!Here is her first toothless grin. You can see the adult tooth already coming in.

I'm telling you, this girl does not waste any time getting things done! Okay, let me rephrase that, when she's READY to do things, she doesn't waste any time. My baby is my dreamer child. You can ask her to do something and she'll be walking along to do it, find something else along the way and focus on that. Ahhh......if life were only that enjoyable, not to have a timetable, you know??
Oh, and the toothfairy gave her FIVE DOLLARS for that tooth! I'm telling you, inflation.........of course I did tell her that the tooth fairy only gives her that much for her very first tooth. All remaining teeth are only worth about a buck.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A Love Thursday Post
I love taking pictures of my girls at the park. It's such a beautiful setting and there's so many shots you can get.Our school had their spring pictures this past week and I know exactly how my little one here smiled.....a fake painful smile. She'll be all grins and smiles until someone tells her how to pose. Then it becomes fake. A friend of mine who helps when they take the pictures was talking to the photographer and asked how they came out and he said good, why? Then she said, "My friend's a photographer" and he's like, "Oh". Yea, he knew. He knew the shot that she did. And then it hit me. My friend called me a photographer! Wow, what a compliment to me! I LOVE taking photos of my girls and I loved photography classes in high school. Hubby and I have always wanted to have a darkroom so that we can develop our own pictures (black and white), but now with the digital age, Photoshop will have to do. (Plus we don't have the space for a darkroom). So bear with me as I show off my youngest today and her many faces.......
Yea, this one? I think she picked up from her older sister. I should make a mental note to show this to her when she becomes a teenager because I know she's going to do it then too. She's going to look at me like I'm a fucking idiot (pardon my french). They all do, all the teenagers. I know I gave that look when I was a teenager.....
My happy-go-lucky little one. Enjoying life and all the fun that comes with it.
Hmmm....is she contemplating life? Is she wondering what amazing things life has to offer out there? Or is she thinking of devious ways to bug her sister..............you make the call.....
This is my silly girl who LOVES, LOVES being rambunctious and crazy and goofy. (She gets the crazy and goofy part from me....yes, I admit it, I love being a dork when I want to......)
The look of....."I love you mom, thanks for letting me play at the park"
Her gorgeous piercing blue eyes. She gets those from Daddy.
I just LOVE the look of happiness on her face in this shot.
This is her. Disheveled hair. She doesn't care. She loves life.
And a "behind the scenes" shot of her just laying in the grass, enjoying herself. Because she does. She does enjoy herself. I love listening to her pretend play. She has a wonderful imagination.
And that's our day in the park. Now see? There's no way I could just pick one shot. Could you???
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Petco.....Where the pets go............
To get de-skunkified, in our case.I had the just wonderful pleasure (insert HEAVY sarcasm here) of having my dog "skunked".
I took him to the groomers this morning and then while he was there, I purchase the above product and sprayed the hell out of my house, especially in the rooms where he had been. I had to wash some bedding too, because we have a trundle bed and he got next to the bedding on that one bed. Oh joy.
And of course, it can't be a nice spring day where I can have the house open all day to help air it out.
No. It's 90 degrees here at 1:30 p.m.
I aired it out as much as possible this morning and will do the same this evening once we get back from the youngest's t-ball game.
I also have to keep him out of the one room where he "transferred" the most odor. So the oldest gets to sleep with me for a few days while it gets aired out.
Oh joy.
And here I thought I was going to get to have a nice relaxing Saturday until the youngest's t-ball game.
Well, on the positive side, he's nice and clean now.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Game Done

My baby pitched in her very first game. :)She was SOOOOOOOOOOO nervous that first inning. She got after me for coaching her, so I just kept my mouth shut for her. She did good for her first time. She pitched pretty slow though, I think she was just worried more about it going over the plate.
One of the coaches on the other team told her that she did good, that out of 25 batters, she only walked 7, which means the other 18 hit off her or struck out (she did get 2 strikeouts). And the coach that told her this was the other pitcher's dad. So that made her feel good too.
I was extremely proud of her for going out there and giving it her all. Not many girls out there will go and to that to help the team. She practiced every day for over two weeks straight to help out her team like that.
But she's certainly glad it's done! Haha!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Game On
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
The Creative Side of School
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A Little Spring Break Fun
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter!
We have a long standing tradition in my family.
The night before Easter, the Easter Bunny hides all the Easter baskets that are filled with goodies all over the house. In the morning, all the kids have to find their Easter baskets. I did this when I was little as well. It's amazing some of the places I found my Easter baskets at times!!

I have kept this tradition alive with my girls as well. The only thing that has changed is the fact that the Easter Bunny now wraps the baskets in cellophane, because we have a cat and a dog in our house and we don't want them getting into the baskets in the middle of the night and eating all the chocolate. Case in point in following picture:

My youngest one was so excited when she got Hannah Montana socks in one of her Easter Baskets. She kept saying, over and over: "I got Hannah Montana socks!! I got Hannah Montana socks!!"
My oldest one was quite happy with her stash as well, as she organized it all too, including a gift card to Itunes:
A tradition that started at my Aunt's house as well, was looking for the plastic Easter Eggs out in the backyard. We used to go to her house every Easter, but she moved far away, so it's not possible to to there at Easter now. So we continued the tradition here at our house. As you can see, sometimes they have to climb to find those eggs:
A lot of times they are just in plain sight too:
Happy Easter to you all!!!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
A Common Thread
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Ahh......Random Things......

I was supposed to get my new recliner tomorrow, however they made a boo-boo and put someone else's recliner in my box to be shipped. So as of right now, they have absolutely no idea where mine is. It could literally be in Canada for all they know. They hope it's not, because then it could take up to two weeks to get it back. Nice. Oh well, that's our luck when it comes to furniture. We NEVER get it on time. NEVER.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I HATE Junior High
The one girl who told her, thank goodness, though told her not to tell anyone that she knows. Okay, I guess I understand that you wouldn't want to be labeled as the "snitch" or anything, but why doesn't this girl stand up for my eldest and tell everyone else that she thinks it's mean.
I HATE that junior high girls can be so petty and mean and spiteful. And to girls who have done absolutely nothing wrong.
I want to go to those girls and tell them what I think of them.
I want to pull my daughter out of school and homeschool her because of these awful, awful girls. But then they win, if I do that. And no one gets to push my daughter around.
No one.
I want her to find new friends.
Ones that wouldn't talk like this behind her back.
I want her to have her best friend back.
The one that moved out of state.
Then I wouldn't have to worry about this, because that friend was tried and true to her and helped her to be herself and not worry about what others think.
You know what they say though....
Karma's a bitch.
And it's going to bite them in the butt one of these days for being this way.
I just hope I'm around to see it.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss, we do love you.You make us rhyme with new blue goo.
Green Eggs and Ham
That Sam-I-Am
A Cat In The Hat
how about that?
My youngest is now starting to read
And a book from you is just what she needs.
She created a reading area in the hall
With stacks of books around her all.
I had gotten these books out from in a box
That belonged to her sister, including Fox in Socks.
I myself had read them here and there
When I was young I read them everywhere.
Fox in Socks is my favorite one.
The tongue twisting.....I got it done.
And here my youngest is, reading Green Eggs and Ham.
She loves the book, especially Sam-I-Am.
So Dr. Seuss, thank you so much for your wonderful words.
Your drawings, rhyming and odd looking birds.

Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Quotes
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other people's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
--Steve Jobs
One thing I would add to this though is to be understanding to other people's opinions and respect it. Because otherwise you just have people running around spouting their opinions and not caring about the other one.
Unless they are of the negative kind.
Then you can just drown them out completely.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
I Wanna Be A BAD Girl
My youngest comes to me this morning all dressed up like this and says to me: "Mommy, do you have any gum? I want to be a bad girl". Apparently she's been informed by someone that to be a bad ("ass") girl she has to dress all in black and chew gum.Geez, what's next, she wants me to help pick out her posse and take some "kick your ass" lessons as well?
As you can see in the background our new couch came. I will take pictures later of the rest. Still waiting on the other recliner though.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day
Yes, I know I'm a few hours early when I posted this, but where hubby is, it's Valentine's Day now. :)Oh, and by the way, I didn't make this. My eldest did. She made it for her friends tomorrow. How stinkin' cute is this???!!! That girl has got some talent!
Happy Valentine's Day to you all and may it be a true Love Thursday!!
Looking For The Positive
For example, if the eldest comes home and tells me about how one girl was acting at school, whether it be bitchy or mean or whatever, I listen, comfort her and then tell her, "Well, maybe she is just having a hard day, or problems at home or something else that's making her be this way". Because I KNOW that my eldest can certainly not have the nicest demeanor at times, and it's usually because she's hurting or upset or something to that nature.
Hubby is gone now for 4 months. It sucks. Let me tell you, it's NEVER a good thing when he goes out to sea because we miss him terribly. And I KNOW he misses us terribly too. I mean, I don't think I could EVER do that, be away from our girls for that long and home and everything else. A positive note? It helps us to appreciate each other so much more during these times.
Now that's not to say that I'm one of those people who always has a cheery disposition and in "la-la" land or one of those TV shows from the 50's.
I can be a downright bitch at times too.
And then there are the times when there is absolutely no way to find a positive in certain situations. Sometimes things happen and it sucks and it hurts. Like when my mom died over 3 years ago, 6 days before Christmas. There is no positive in that. It was awful. It was painful and it took me a VERY long time to get to a place in my life of now. That's not to say that I constantly miss her. I do, all the time. I went through major anxiety attacks and the fear that I was going to end up just like her and die and leave my girls and my hubby without me. It took therapy and a conversation with my aunt to get past that. After talking with my aunt, she helped me to see a different side of my mom who was most likely depressed and lonely and who chose not to take her medication. And after she said those words, it was amazing how my view of the whole situation turned. It made me look back at her life in a totally different way. She was lonely. She did have a hard life, raising 3 girls all by herself. The fact that she probably never got over her father's death when she was 13. The fact that her mother, my grandmother, made her go to a home for unwed mothers when she was about 18 or 19 and forced her to give up the baby, and another baby after that, but before me. She was always looking for that love that she lost when she lost her dad.
I certainly do not want to end up like that. I make sure I take my medication. I don't drink. I don't smoke and I exercise. I've already changed the course somewhat by doing these things that my mom didn't do. Maybe you could say that the positive in that is that I now take better care of myself.
See, there I go again, trying to find a positive somewhere.
I had a miscarriage before I was blessed with my eldest. It was such a devastating thing for me to go through. I don't wish that on anyone. And while it was an awful thing, if I had not had that miscarriage, I wouldn't have my eldest. I do mourn for that little one lost, but I have to realize that I have my eldest and I wouldn't trade her for anything. Or my little one for that matter.
I've also been one who hasn't had to have the most expensive stuff, or the biggest house. All I have ever wanted in life was to be married to a wonderful man, have children and a house. And I got what I wanted, thanks to my hubby. There have been times when he would say, "I wish I could give you more, or a bigger diamond, etc." and I tell him that while that would be nice, you have already given me my dream come true.
So, after all this rambling, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I do look for the positive, at least over 1/2 the time. It may not be right away, or sometimes it may not even be there during a situation, but it's life. And you might as well go through life with a good outlook. It's the only life you're going to get.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Blue Sky
I took this picture going over the Coronado Bridge on Monday.
Ahhh......blue sky again.....
We have had weekends of rain the past two weekends and it really bums me out. I don't care much for rain at all. Oh, I don't mind it every once in a while, but a lot? No way.
That's why I don't live in Washington (no offense all you Washington gals).
I need the sun.
Not so much for tanning purposes at all, but the sun rejuvenates me. It gives me energy. I'm one of those people who could be come really depressed living in rainy, gloomy weather all the time.
Thank goodness the sun is back. :)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Sports...
The eldest just finished playing soccer a few weeks ago, and now she's juggling basketball and softball.
The youngest had her first t-ball practice too just the other day. She enjoyed it, but I think she has more fun just running.
And me? Well, I guess I needed to be involved too, so I'm on the softball board for the organization the girls are playing in.
I think we will be eating, drinking and sleeping softball for the next few months.
This evening when we got home and after the eldest and I watched our General Hospital (yes, we watch it and we love it!) I was flipping through the channels and came across a hockey game. The Los Angeles Kings v. New York Rangers. Oh, how I used to LOVE to watch hockey. There was at time where I watched almost every game of a Los Angeles Kings season. I even went to a few hockey games too. Weird, huh, to think of me as a hockey fan. And it's a hard sport to watch too. That hockey puck whizzes by so fast it's hard to keep up at times. I was such a hockey fan that I even collected hockey sports trading cards at one time. And I still have them in storage. Luc Robitaille was by far, my most favorite player. And one of the cutest as well.
Hubby loves to watch football and baseball games too. I enjoy watching football as well. In high school when everyone went to the football games to socialize, I would enjoy watching the game itself as well.
Hubby and I used to watch baseball games together and I would come up with nicknames for the guys on the field. Hubby still watches baseball games though. Every once in a great while I'll sit down for a spell and watch it with him.
Now we just watch our children play sports. I know hubby is so upset that he isn't going to be able to watch the girls play softball. That's one of his favorite sports to watch too. So I'm going to have to tape a couple of their games and send the tapes to him.
Ahhh....I'm tired. Tomorrow is Wednesday and thank goodness we don't have any sports practices to go to. It will be nice to be at home all evening.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Dorm Life?
Minus the black couch I used to have with my roommate Sue, I feel like I'm back in our old apartment. Of course we had black butterfly chairs then.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A Juggling Act
It's good and it's bad.
It's good because it keeps me busy so I don't think too much about hubby going out to sea again.
It's bad because I don't want to overwhelm myself.
It's good because I'm working on myself and making sure that even with all I've got going on, I'm remembering to remember myself.
It's also bad because I do worry about myself.
It's good because just about everything I do have got going on, is something I am passionate about.
It's bad because sometimes I don't feel I have enough hours in the day.
It's good because I'm helping to celebrate one of my oldest and dearest friends bring a new life into the world. One she has been wanting for a long time, and has taken such a long journey to get to.
It's also good because I'm helping to make a softball season a good one for my girls and the rest of the girls.
It's good because I'm also creating a book of memories for a school.
It's bad though because not that many parents seem willing to want to participate in it, thus having me make a decision that this will be my last year doing it.
Now that is also a good thing because it will free up my time to spend more with my girls, sharing gardening with them, and sewing and crocheting.
And I just have to remember.
To take it one day at a time.
To write down my lists so I don't get that overwhelmed feeling.
To remember to check in with myself.
And when the juggling act is all over with, hubby will be home.
And that is DEFINITELY a good thing.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
My New Best Friends
These are my girls' alarm clocks.
I have always in the past woken up my girls for school. I would try and wake them up nice and cutsie and all, by rubbing their backs, lightly tickling them, kissing them all over their face, etc. You get the idea.
Until this year.
Now when I try and wake them up (yes, even the little one, although I know where she got it from, her big sister!!) they are all grumpy and snap at me and even try to hold onto the bed so I can't drag them out of bed when I've had enough.
So now they wake up to alarm clocks that are NOT next to their beds. They have to get up out of bed to turn it off. I've caught the eldest climbing back in bed though, so that needs to stop.
I don't mind waking up my children, if they'll wake up and not be grumpy little shits.
But that doesn't seem to be happening and I'm tired of having to deal with their crabbiness. So out came the alarm clocks.
The youngest one loves it because it makes her feel like a big girl like her sister.
Now, if the eldest continues to try and crawl back into bed, I may have to invest in this:
This will actually roll off the table and they HAVE to get up to find it.
I like this.........
Friday, January 04, 2008
Friday, December 28, 2007
Guitar Hero Mania
And at our house, it's no different.
Hubby and the eldest put it on their Christmas Wish Lists, and so this year I decided to surprise the family and I was able to get it for them for Christmas.
We all have been having a blast with the game, including me. Of course I suck the worst at it out of all of them, but it's fun and with practice I'm getting better.
Hubby just loves this game and loves doing it.
So then the eldest comes out and tries it and pretty much blows hubby away with it.
She's good.
And she loves it.

The youngest likes to try it too, but to her, it's more of just a play thing and wanting to try it because of the rest of us doing it too. Her fingers aren't long enough to really be able to do it. She does get a few notes correct though.
I think she would just rather "rock out" with the guitar. Here is a couple of pictures of her rocking out with it.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Another Thing Checked Off
No more last minute things to get.
Now I just need to wrap.
And bake.
I'm doing a bit of that right now.
Most of the Christmas cards have been sent out.
Except for the ones that I needed to put school pictures in.
Got the pictures today.
So the rest will go out tomorrow.
We are going to drive around and look at lights tomorrow night.
One of our yearly traditions.
My youngest and I went for a sneak peek last night while the older one was at basketball.
Sunday I get to see one of my sisters again.
I love visiting with her.
I just wish my family lived closer, like in the same town or even within 20 miles or so from us.
I'm about to become an aunt again though, as my SIL is about ready to have her first baby.
Hubby is home for the holidays, yea!
The kids will be off for two weeks next week for the winter vacation.
I wish I could take off for two weeks too!
As much as I love our Christmas decorations, I can't wait to take them down next week.
After I take them down, our house always feels so much larger.
One of my goals next year is to continue to de-clutter my small house.
I've made good progress this past year.
We are also talking about getting a new kitty after the holidays too.
One that's nice and not mean, like my cat.
Let's just hope the two get along!
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Toes
Monday, December 03, 2007
The Decorations Are Coming Out.....
The girls and I got out our indoor decorations on Sunday. I have always loved decorating for Christmas. Now that my eldest is getting older, she likes to decorate too and so I let her organize a lot of the way the decorations go.
A friend of mine shared her collection of snow globes with our group of moms and I got to thinking that was a neat way to display them. I don't have that many snow globes (only 3 to be precise), but they all play music. I also have two music box decorations too. And that is, in part because I love music boxes. Other than the Christmas decorations, I have a music box that was my grandma's that came from Switzerland, one that my eldest gave me one year for Christmas and one that hubby gave me for our anniversary once. So I don't necessarily collect them per se, but I do love them. Here is my Christmas collection of snow globes and music boxes:

And they all play different tunes.
I also have friends who have their Christmas villages displayed at Christmas and some of them have shared pictures of them. That got me started on thinking of creating a Christmas village of my own. I finally have an area in my house where I could display them. The table is small, so that will be nice in the fact that I won't be able to get too carried away with it. Today we got a couiple more things for it and when my eldest was putting it on the area, she dropped one and it broke. Well, my creative child decided to use it in the scene, rather than have Daddy try and glue it back together. So in this scene, the woman it literally knocked off her feet by the two people helping them push her car out of the snow..........

Kids. Gotta love them.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
We've Been Elfed!
Just some fun humor for Christmas! :) Enjoy our silliness! (Thanks Sue!! :D )
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1131857607
24 more days until Christmas!!






