PRIVATE TIME!!

Hello friends.

The time has come.

I am going to set my blog to private.

If you would like an exclusive membership to view my non stop, thrilling, adventurous life please leave me your email.

thank you, goodbye.

mornings

I really like our mornings.

I feel like I already know in 20 years I will think back to how it "use to be".

Are they so precious because I am fully (kind of) rested? Is it because my house is just how I left it last night (clean)? Or maybe because all toys are out of sight and yesterdays battles of who had it first are forgotten. I love my little family and the mornings we share on the bed, however I could do without the morning smells...

Oops!

Baking with Riles....

note: tears.

who's who?

A.

B.

C.

You might win something.

really funny!

the 7 most inappropriate toys for kids! What were they thinking?

click HERE

Treasures.

WHO DOESN'T ENJOY A GOOD THRIFT STORE FIND?

My Babes

The Summer of 09 Are you ready?

It has been quite an eventful summer! Here is a little peak as to what we have been up to...

To break up our trip to carlsbad we stayed at a hotel in Irvine...LUCKY US it was the same weekend as CHEER CAMP( or spirit consultants as they say). EVERYWHERE you looked someone was doing a flip, a high kick, toe touch, or being flung threw in the air! The kids were in heaven. Jackson wanted to be a part of it. He asked if there are cheer boys. Ryan said no before he could even finish his sentence.

CARLSBAD!!!!!!!!!!! we camped for a week...

flew kites

a little R&R for T

The men. (sorry Derck & Ryan)

Our Favorite camping buddies!

Me and my Robert Palmer back up girl hairdo.

All the ladies in the house!!

How cute??!!

The fam. Shawna what was your hand doing again?

I L-O-V-E this picture! My boys!

NEXT

SAN FRANCISCO

Probably my favorite picture of Jackson. This is him at the BART station uncomfortably waiting for the next train

YIKES!! 1 reason why I will never live in the city!! The fog and my hair are not friends!

and then

A week at Gramma's

At the Bay with the girls

Here is a better picture of them all

lots of kids.

Bid farwell to this lovely girl ..off to the Philippines

Saw this Tristan get married! Love him! Love both of them! And his new wife!

Me & T

Sisters

Family!

Of course we paid RUBY' S a visit or 3.....

the shell shop

T at the beach!

ate at NICK's

The 3 of us have all been friends since high school! and now look at us! 8 kids between us all! Breakfast was good but next time the kids are staying in the car or at home so we can taste what we bought!

DISNEYLAND for Grampa Motorcycle's BIRTHDAY!!

Tristan has been on a world tour! What a trooper.

Suck it!!!!!! I am an ASTRO BLASTER champ!

G'pa shakes his booty and the kids go NUTS! ( so do Rob & Shawna)

Best of all was my DAD meeting Tristan for the first time! We surprised him on his Birthday by showing up on his doorstep!

ACCIDENTE

SOME THINGS JUST AREN'T WORTH SAVING.

How do you feel today?

First day of first grade

cut off itchy label of shirt- Check

Pancake breakfast- check

picture in front of the pencil- check

Sunglasses for the tears- check

Hug from dad before going into class- check ( double check on the sunglasses for the tears while he hugs his dad)

This is it.

Life goes on.

Placental abruption (also known as abruptio placentae) is an obstetric catastrophe (complication of pregnancy), wherein the placental lining has separated from the uterus of the mother. It is the most common cause of late pregnancy bleeding. In humans, it refers to the abnormal separation after 20 weeks of gestation and prior to birth. It occurs in 1% of pregnancies world wide with a fetal mortality rate of 20-40% depending on the degree of separation. Placental abruption is also a significant contributor to maternal mortality.

Scary but true. This is what happened.

I went to the hospital late Sunday night (june14) to be monitored. My mom and sister were in town for my baby shower so we were able to go to the hospital knowing our boys were well taken care of. We were at the hospital for an hour, everything checked out good. I was NOT going into labor and the baby looked fine. We drove home around 1:00AM all I wanted to do was kiss my boys and go to bed. (and maybe take 6 tums) I started to feel sick to my stomach. Ryan pulled over and I threw up....alot. We got home and I kissed my happily sleeping boys. I remember thinking how peaceful they looked. I laid down and fell fast asleep only to be woken up to my water breaking (so I thought) I ran to the bathroom, turned on the light and saw more blood then I have ever seen before. What just happened? Do we call 911? Do we page the doctor? Do we drive back to the hospital? There was no time to wait. Back to the hospital that was about 25 miles away.

Ryan was driving close to 100mph to get us there fast. I have never heard him breathe so hard. we were quiet. I kept saying calmly "it's ok, it's ok" I could feel the blood coming out in a constant flow. My thoughts were my sleeping boys. Was that the last time I would kiss them goodnight? I should have hugged my mom. Would Ryan be left alone to raise our boys? Is this really how my life would end? It was unreal. I was scared.

I was wheeled up to Labor and Delivery. I was there less then an hour ago. It was like a movie. Nurses, doctors, needles, tubes, monitors beeping, phones ringing, pagers going off, everyone talking all at once.I looked back at Ryan.. I will never forget the look on his face. His eyes were glassy I could tell he was ruined.

I was going to have my baby. I laid on the operating room table in disbelief of all that was going on. They took him via c-section at 3:44am. He was whisked away to a team of NICU nurses who pumped his stomach several times because he had swallowed so much blood. He was under observation for 12 hours and then brought to me in my room. I have never been filled with so many emotions...

I feel like my life was spared. I recovered in the hospital for a few days and had a lot to time to just try to take it all in. Life is so fragile. We are so blessed to have what we have. I know I have a Father in Heaven who truly loves me and my family, who is in charge, is mindful of our prayers, and is watching over all of us. I had thoughts of not returning home to my family. I realized how grateful I am to be here and I want to be better at everything I do. I look at things differently. I feel closer to my husband and children. I have been trusted with life. I feel honored to hold my new little sweet smelling healthy baby. He is special and will forever remind me of why I am here.

my little peanut.

He fits right in!

CNNBC video

CNNBC video

Shared via AddThis

thanks mom.

We're Home.

Tristan Kennan

7 lbs

19 1/2 inches

5 weeks early

more to come....

HEATHER!

TO KNOW HER IS TO LOVE HER.

love her for her HUGE black platform flip flops,  her gorgeous hair, her wonderful parenting and supporting her husband even though he wants to touch and stare at peoples feet for a living.

Heather you are officially a link. 

Preschool Graduation

We survived yet another graduation. However this one was a little bit of a challenge.

THE THEME: luau 

THE DRESS: Hawaiian shirts, leis, sunglasses.

Fun and easy, right?

Not for #2 (as we call him) 

FYI- don't ever tell him what to do, where to go, and

  DON'T EVER DIRECT HIM  BY HIS SHOULDERS ON WHERE TO STAND!! 

This is what you will end up with.

OTHER PARENTS-"oh cute,  look at all our kids we are so proud, look at them all sitting there in their leis and sunglasses... what a beautiful day"

ME  in my head " he has 2 years of preschool left..why do I bother"

He got a little closer when he realized Mrs. D was giving a roll of SMARTIES away with each diploma.

And Finally... We compromised. I would wear the Lei, he would wear the sunglasses, and the SMARTIES were the saving grace of the entire day. What would the world be like for moms without candy?

summer isn't so bad

$0.39

You can't beat it!!

My Buddy.

"Mom, yesterday I was 5 and today I'm 6!"

Legos, star wars, breakfast for dinner, baseball, getting wet, chap stick, books, gum, Jon's incredible pizza company, animals, the barracuda song, one armed push ups, the beach, bartering....it's all about the deal. 

YIKES!!!!

I would like all your divine wisdom on how to  get my fat butt into labor!

I want it all!! 

I've heard of  a certain salad dressing, liver oil, the  horizontal mambo (if you know what I mean,  sick.) 

not like I am going to try any of them...uh, hum. Not now anyway. 

I just need a good laugh. 

The kids were busy!

yes, it is a flower pen in a handmade clay pot.

I screamed out loud when I got this card from Jackson. IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THEN THIS!!

Happy mom's day! I love being the mom of these boys.

Is it any surprise?

Can you tell? Does his hand really need to be that close to it?

Me: "why is it so big?"

Nice ultra sound lady who didn't want to say what she was seeing (with a giggle): " Well it he actually has an erection right now"

Me: "At 20 weeks...really?"

WHO KNEW?

I am so grateful to be having a healthy baby, really.  I cried for 3 days straight mourning the loss of the daughter I will never have. But, I got over that.  I couldn't love my boys more!! They are my most prized possessions !! I really can't wait to meet this little guy and see which brother he looks like more...what's your guess?

it never gets old

Little Riles tries to say binoculars and it ALWAYS come out

"KNOCKERS"

"I want the knockers"

"look at my knockers, Mom"

"Jackson has knockers and I don't"

IT'S THIS GIRLS BIRTHDAY!!!!!

HAP- HAP-HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

My selfish dilemma.

As a mother I try do do the best I can to find a balance between being fun, setting limits, discipline, and showing love for my children. 

Last night I was so excited for the kids to go to bed so I can get their easter baskets together. It's almost like christmas eve. You know what your children want, what they like,  what candy makes them spin with excitement, and how morning couldn't come fast enough to see what has filled  their baskets.

ENTER THE DILEMMA

Morning came and the kids are through the roof seeing all the candy and toys!!!!!!!!!!!

Jackson can't believe that the Easter bunny brought him his FAVORITE TREAT....

COTTON CANDY!!!!!

I saw a sparkle in his eye that I don't think I have ever seen before. 

And then it hit ME 

I want to be the one that  his eyes twinkle for, I want him to know it was ME!

I know all his favorite things! Not the freakin easter bunny!

HE IS NOT EVEN REAL!!!!!!! 

DARE I tell him?

I have had a bad feeling in my belly all day thinking about this fictional character who my son is beaming about because "he" brought him COTTON CANDY!

 Do I say anything in fear that he might start asking about other holiday "friends"?

I want credit. I want to be the good guy.

Is it to much to ask?

Family picture.

First off  here is a picture of my 2 strapping young men.

I am not one for matching family portraits however I do appreciate those who put in the effort to make there family look as good as possible.  

Today was the day.  We are already dressed for church, it's Easter and my hair looks good.

Before I could blink my boys were off wrestling with their dressers to find the most comfortable clothes to put on. I guess 3 hours in church attire does this to most of us. So here is the finished product....

drum roll please...

presenting our 2009  Family Easter pic

- 1 flip flop

- huge shorts

- small shirt

- church socks

- soccer shorts

- just because there both black doesn't mean they match

- where is the rest of the family in our family picture?

remember when...

I had to find a baby picture as an assignment for the kids school. I forgot how much I LOVE going through old photos, I love the way they look , feel and smell. I love that  half of them are Polaroid's, even though my mom was a professional photographer. I love looking past the picture and remembering the carpet, the random cat, the TV we thought was so cool and the free mirrors my dad used to bring home from work adorned with beer logos. I love seeing my gramma tan and young and my mom and dad looking like they just walked off the set of Dynasty. I came across this picture and literally laughed out loud. As long as I can remember it was like the coolest thing in the world if you got to have a party an Chuck E. Cheese. Now I don't even want my kids to look at the sign as we drive by in fear they might get hand, foot, and mouth disease, or worse rabies. 

Now after looking at this picture I have more reason to hate the guy. Was it evil 

Chuck E. Cheese day? Look at his psycho eyes! Why is he bitting that girl and 

WHY IS HE FREAKIN' TRYING TO KILL ME??!!

by the way which one of my responsible parents was taking this pic?

MAYBE.......A little bit?

I heart maggers.

And I wish the feeling was mutual.

I guess I would be a little confused too if someone sounded EXACTLY like my mom but had a 

brown afro and weighed 100 lbs more.

Thanks for visiting. I want to live a lot closer

Z is for ZOO

As a part of my blogging "journal" ( just an excuse to make me feel better about being a total slacker when it comes to scrap booking) I want to express how proud I am for my little Riles.

He's a little timid with a touch of not so sure-ness. He looks to his big brother often when there is a situation in question...but when brother is not around he is left to make is own decisions.  the "zoo lady" came today with a few friends. I was watching little riles and I could just see the wheels turing in his head..was he going to bolt? or was he going to sit ? HE SAT!! and enjoyed every second  and even got chosen to participate in wearing the "owl eyes" which HE ACTUALLY DID!!!! 

I couldn't help myself...

Thank you!

HAPPY BALENTIMES DAY 

EVERYONE!!!

BOYS and their STAR "HORSE"

What would a little boy do with out his STAR WARS guys? Who would keep him company in the night? What friend wouldn't mind getting dropped, flung, twisted, tied up and shot at? Thank you Star Wars men....all of you and your  annoying microscopic removable parts.

We all have a bad day every now and again.

Wouldn't it be nice to act 3 for just a day. I would give this reaction to my husband when he asks me to call our insurance for a bill we got that we weren't suppose to get. Why are random medical bills so maddening?

Tender moments with my baby....

Last night I was laying in my bed thinking about how much I wanted to sleep, going over the day in my head and jealous because Ryan lays down next to me and with in 2 seconds he is already twitching. I am trying to understand how there is  life growing inside of my body. How I have been trusted with yet another life. I feel honored and scared.  

Just as I am having these thoughts I feel a light angelic tickle. 

Could it be? 

I think I just felt my baby?

 Tears of joy filled my eyes realizing I just felt the first of many sweet kicks by my precious babe.

I laid there waiting for another and  felt another little bubble motion then...

 OOPS! My tears turned to laughter when I realized my tiny tumbler was nothing but a fart (why is fart such a funny word?) .  Man, what was about to be a journal worthy experience was a little gas. O'well maybe another night.

for some extra laughs visit HERE

(turn up your speakers)

Oh' NO

The other day my eldest lad asked for something that he already knew the answer to. In his tricky mind I think he thought if he asked me with out moving his lips my answer might change.  Quite the talent if you ask me. But, while he asked again without moving his lips I got an image in my head that I can't get out. A image like one of these. It is NOT okay to VENTRILOQUIZE (yes, it is a word) I quickly realized how uncomfortably embarrassed I feel about this subject. My dearest friend  Sarah classifies 2 types of embarrassment Type I and Type II click HERE to read it. 

Why would anyone want to talk without moving their lips? So, I tried it. I looked my big head in the mirror and I said 

" Look at me, I can talk without moving my lips"

 Did I fell like a freak? YES. 

Did I give my own self embarrassed chills? YES. 

Did I semi move my lips? again, YES. 

I just need to get this off my rapidly growing pregnancy chest. Thank you for reading  and I am sorry if these images give you the willies'! 

2 more things:

1. if there is something that makes your insides pucker and you need to share with others feel free to leave a comment

2. Get to the mirror ASAP, say something w/o moving you lips and then laugh.(and make sure nobody is around because if someone sees YOU doing this alone in your bathroom they will never look at you the same)

what have WE been doing?????

We fed Santa a healthy meal: a dum dum sucker, giant smarties, a piece of chocolate, milk and crusty carrots for his reindeer.

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas.

This crazy  gramma did not get run over by a reindeer but she does know how to fire a mean nerf gun

We  had the best vacation break filled  with the ENTIRE FAMILY! 

We got to have our every other year annual talent show! 

she can walk

He can rock out on his fancy guitar

He can do a 1 armed push up!!

He is a math wiz with an award to prove it

And this girl can freakin' SKIP -IT like nobodies business

She can kick it...high

he does sideways card tricks, Look out David Blaine

she can tap WHILE holding an iPhone

he can read wacky  christmas stories in spanglish

he can tickle the ivories 

He CANNOT Skip-it But he gave a good effort

He can farm

She sees faces in the in the rug and draws  them( only on the bathroom rug)

she makes out of this world ornaments

he sets traps and catches wildlife in his attic

We had a gift exchange

witnessed a tiger figt at the zoo...yikes!

we rode the train. she turned 9!!

we had a spot of tea.

 AND we are having babies!

HOORAY 2009!!!!!

We have left and come home and had a non-stop party.

more to come....

Birding not Bird watching

I can't look at that armpit any more. I thought this would be more fun to look at. I was on the computer the other day and took these pictures. humming birds LOVE this tree outside our window. Lucky me! They really are stunning.