Cabo

Been married for 10 years.

Me paddle boarding around this giant floating city to the arch.

Lunch at Zipper's

Father-n-Son Campout

Teaching Chad to fish
On the way home they saw a tank museum and had to stop to check it out.

Healthy breakfast, potato chips...yummy and Mommy is not here to take it away.

A moment of stillness, Chad and Curtis waiting for the catch of the day.

First father-n-son campout was successful. Chad had so much fun and he was wiped out by the end of the day.

Lake Mary at Sunset

Olivia and Chloe

Ellie and Buffy

Swinging monkeys

Chad already to go

John working the waves. Gotta surf even in flat water.

Our beautiful Piper

FEBRUARY Piper's Birthday

Celebrating at pre-school Playing dress up Our beautiful and most confident child, Piper, turned 5 this month. I think I spend about 2 hours watching videos of her as a baby I couldn't get enough of her. I don't remember her as a baby except when watching old videos. Piper has so much energy and is so amazingly articulate and I love that she tells us all the time that she knows what she wants to be when she grows up. She told us that she wants to be a "kid dentist." Maybe by me telling her that she brushes her teeth so clean like a dentist would makes her believe that she is. Anyhow, she had it all planned out. She will hire her dad to build her office for her, me to "let everyone where her office is" (I knew my marketing degree will be useful someday. ) Now, the problem with working for Piper is that if John and I discipline her at anytime, she will let us know that we are fired. I think we both get fired about 3-4 times a day. I told her one day that I can't work for her anymore, the emotional roller coaster of being fired is just to much for me to handle. She told me that I can always be her mommy because she will never fire her mommy. I love Piper and her vibrant spirit.

JANUARY 2011 Staycation

Chloe getting some air

Piper

Buffy and Chad

Ah...hot soapy tub

We had to stay in a hotel for a couple of days while the pipes were being re-routed at our house. Although the hotel was only 2 miles from our house, the kids thought it was the best mini vacation. This was the highlight of the month. I loved that I did not have to clean, do the laundry, cook and clean. I did feel like we were on vacation somewhere in the tropics, not quite tropically but it was definitely a vacation from the everyday chores for me.

Semi-Home Made

Now that the Christmas break from school has begun, I am relieved and anxious at the same time. Relieved because I am not running around town doing errands, gifts for teachers and classmates, baking cookies, Christmas programs for all three kids at different times, and so on. I find myself at times not enjoying the season, it becomes more of a checklist. Prior to me becoming a mother, I remember dreaming of the day when I have children so I could do all those things for them and make their childhood as perfect as I could, and be happy doing so. I had visions of me making cookies and cakes to take to school. The best I did this year was baking the pre-made cookies. I did feel guilty for not making them myself, however, the guilt lasted about 4 seconds. Thank you Pillsbury. And even with that, I forgot them in the house as I drove away taking Piper to school.

THANKSGIVING 2010

Friends and cousins

This is the first in 5 years tht we did not host Thanksgiving at our house. Although I really enjoy the planning, preparation, cooking, baking and hosting, it was really nice to just sit back and enjoy the food prepared by someone else. We spent Thanksgiving with our friends that Roberts in Chino. The kids had a great time running around all day and night. There were a total of 4 families, 17 kids, a giant blowup slide/jumpy, 4 turkeys, lots and lots of mashed potatoes and deserts, and LOTS of love, laughter adn good times.

Thanksgiving dinner is one of may favorite meals. It's up there with chips and salsa. It is not just the food that I love, it is the time when family and friends are together. It is all about the relationship that I have with my loved ones that I am so thankful for. It is all about the memories that we make. It is the time with one another that is the most meaningful and for that I am so thankful.

The younger kids table, Mia, Sophia, Stephen, Buffy, Paris, Chloe, and Piper

The big girls' table. Hayley, Hannah, Lexi, Elle and Aspen

My two favorite guys ever, Chad and John

The little boys' table Hayden, Ty, Jack and Chad

So fancy

Deena, Andrea and I. Many years of friendship.

Andrea does Thanksgiving Martha Stewart style, no paper plates here.

John carving one of the 4 turkeys, and Hayley strikng her modeling pose

Steve and I waiting for the turkey