Time...

"How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" Dr. Suess
My boy started middle school today. I can hardly believe it! Where does the time go? Seems like only yesterday that I walked him to his first day fo kindergarten.

Bday Boy...

Here is a picture of one of the most special people in my life. He turns 11 today! I can hardly believe it. 11 years ago my life changed forever. Not just because I became a mom but because my life was blessed with knowing this special spirit, and I am lucky to call him son. I have gone on about him in a previous post so I wont indulge again.
I still look at him everyday and thank my Heavenly Father for him.
So today I want to wish my dear Caleb a Happy Birthday! I am so HAPPY and BLESSED that you were born:)

Butter Fingers...

My Dear Brynley. Yes she may be cute but that cute face didnt get her out of the trouble she caused today. We ventured out to the mall today and I went into HallMark to buy some cards. Brynley was with me and had asked me if I would buy her some candy {Lindor truffle ball}. I was trying to check out and so I gave her the "no, you dont need candy right now speech" and I saw her put it back. I saw Mitch and Aubs and told them it was time for a potty break. Bryn said she had to go , so I took her in with me. As I was getting her on the potty, I noticed something in her hand. The Chocolate ball. All half melted and gooey in her hand. She must have grabbed it again as we were walking out of the store.She looked up at me with her big blue eyes, waiting for the scowl she knew was coming. I knew what I had to do. I took Bryn by the hand faced her in the eyes and told her how wrong it was to have taken this. Her reply..." But I wanted it Mom." Thats Bryn for ya. I gave her the speech that we all have to eventually give all kids, because all kids test us on this one. I led her back into the store, told the man what had happened, pulled out some change and made Brynley pay for it. I told her she needed to tell him sorry. She never would say it, so she will know be spending her friday evening in her room. I gave her several opportunities to go back and tell him sorry and she wouldnt have to go to her room BUT...she didnt. Thst what kind of stubborn child I have been blessed with. Hopefully she will remember this but something tells me she wont. Oh well. I am game for whatever she throws my way! She is special, as Mitch would say.

Hoopin...

Yum-O

I started Carly on solid foods for awhile now and she LOVES it! She hasn't met a food she doesn't like. She loves all the fruit, especially pears and bananas. And really actually likes all the veggies I has given her. Here are some of her food faces...

rice cereal

peas

green beans

prunes

sweet potatoes

She even tries to feed herself!

New found talent...

Caleb went to Hummingbird Music Camp this past week and had the best time! They played games, sang songs, fished, hiked, had campfires, danced, played cards, learned an instrument, made friends and went on an overnight hike. He learned to play the guitar and found that he has a new love and passion. He did good playing for us yesterday when we picked him up. When we got to the camp he was walking to the mess hall to eat and he saw us, took a pause and then bolted right to us. His eyes were filled with tears and my heart leaped in my chest, to see my little man so emotional. SO I cried. I held him in my arms to tightly and a flood of feelings and thoughts came over me at this moment. I want to share some personal feelings right now about my little {big} man.
When I was a senior in high school it seemed to me that everyone had their life figured out. What college they were going to. What they would study. Me. I had no idea. All I knew was that I wanted to be a mother...someday. During this time Mitch and I had become inseparable and all I wanted was to be with him. All he wanted was to be with me. I knew I had met my match. Well I think Heavenly Father thought so too and I would soon find out I was pregnant with Caleb. I was so shocked. Mitch however was so calm and I found comfort in this. He was excited and wanted to support me and wanted to raise Caleb together. There were "others" who thought that adoption would be the better choice for us. I can remember thinking about what it would be like to give my baby to someone else to raise and have forever. I had such a hard time with this. He was mine. I was his mother. Maybe these people thought that I would miss out on my life or that I wouldnt be a good mother. As I held Caleb yesterday, I felt with my whole being that I wouldnt have traded anything in the world for him. I didnt miss out on one darn thing. He is what I would have missed out on. Seeing him grow up and watching this beautiful, smart, sweet, compassionate, talented boy would have been tragic to not be his mother. I feel such pride in myself for "sticking" it out. For being strong and brave enough to be his mom. I feel happy that Mitch and I support our kids 100% to let them learn and grow and find their talents. For taking them to lessons, baseball, swimming, dance class, art classes, soccer, and giving them the opportunities to develop their souls and minds with experiences for them to enjoy life. Caleb is special. Yes all mothers think that of their kids. But He is. I see what a leader he can be and what love he has in his heart for those around him. He cares. He listens. He loves. He helps. I love everything about this kid. And I wouldnt have given him up for any of my opportunities, my career, my fun, my experiences. He is and will always be my FAVORITE son. My only son:))

Say Cheese...

At lunch today Bryn said she wanted "SOME OF THAT POKEY CHEESE" (swiss cheese)! Love it!

Wish we all could be California girls...

It's been such a crazy summer so far! I havent posted anything in a month. But just know we have been having fun and enjoying every minute of it. We recently went to my favorite place...California for some fun and a nice visit with Papa and Nana.
We started off by having a "half" birthday for Bryn, since having a birthday a week after christmas has proven to be kind of a bummer, we wanted to do something special for her. So we went to Chuckee Cheese and Papa even got her a beautiful princess cake for her:) She loved it!

My dad and Mitvh have had an ongoing rival with the basketball game there. Both are big dorks about it...

Dad after he lost...

And we have decided that nothing quite tops swimming at their house. Carly even had her first time in the pool and hot tub.


The dogs loved Carly...



Paradise Point. It was beautiful. It was awesome. Its a resort on Mission Bay in San Diego. It has five swimming pool, jacuzzi's, and right off the beach was our rooms. We ate awesome food, had a campefire and roastes marshmallows, drove the bicycle buggie around and saw the most AMAZING fireworks ever. But the best part for me was the couple's massage Mitch and I got together. Thanks Dad and Mary for such a great time!








Since Paradise Point is basically right across the street from Sea World, we took the kids over there for a day of fun. And it was!

My cousin Tammy's son Eric and wife Karina









Dad got us the best tickets to the Dodgers while we were there too. It was so much fun! The kids loved it, actually Mitch loved it too:)) Caleb is such a die hard fan, he was getting way into the game, especially since they were losing, it was making Caleb all worked up. Had such a great time! Aubs was even given the practice ball by the ball boy. I have never seen Caleb so jealous of his sister:)