I can't wait!

For Aug 16th! Mike and I are going away for the weekend! Leaving Saturday morning and coming back Sunday around noonish!

I've been trying to go away with my girl Marcie, but she can't after all. So I was just going to go by myself. Well we have a new amazing babysitter, Leah, that does overnights and I said, hey! Why don't we see if she wants to keep FOUR kids for the weekend! She said yes! Worth every single penny!

We are going to Sanctuary, we have our spas all set up: a couples massage and a facial, and dinner reserved at Elements, one of my most favorite places to eat!  Okay if I close my eyes long enough will it come quicker?! This will be the first time we have had a true vacation together since our honeymoon, one that is only about us and no one else. Not a work trip, spouse got to go on while he had meetings everyday, and not a wedding, which was fun and all, but it wasn't about us. PLUS I'm not pregnant, haven't you heard he's been fixed ;-), not nursing either! 

One our way up, we are going to go to "Old Town" Scottsdale and do some window shopping and eat at Valley Ho Cafe Zuzu's. By the way, Leah, is more than I could have hoped and dreamed for as a replacement for our dear Kate. She is a permanent fixture in our home on Wednesday afternoons and then fills in any evening and weekend spots. We also hired Julie, who is just as great, but will be most likely moving in the Spring to go to Nursing school. But I still wanted her and will figure out what I will do for my days. Right now she will keep Aislinn while I take Teagan to dance, and then flexible for any other days for either me time or dates. Plus she does nights and weekends as well. I feel so blessed to have these two amazing ladies, who are devoted Christians huge bonus, helping me with the zoo. Leah is already doing letter of the week with them, she wants to be a 1st grade teacher and is so passionate about children.

Speaking of Kate, she was readmitted to the hospital Monday and got out last night. I'm not sure why, but when we did talk via email on Monday, she said she was not feeling very well and having a hard time getting around. She had hemmorraged during the birth, so I'm just assuming it's related to that. She says she is doing much better and for me to still come today! I can't wait!

Aislinn is cutting her 6th tooth and screaming at me as we speak. Teagan wants to go get dressed for it's their last day of camp. School as she says it and she's so ready to go! She's ready to go to school, but I'm going to keep her home one more year since she still has 3 years of preschool ahead of her. But we are signing her up for dance today along with her girl Macey! Heather is going to be tired of me for sure! Our boys, her son is Cayden, are in the same Kindergarten class, going to play flag football together, and now the girls will do dance together! She is just such an amazing, giving person. I look forward to some good time with her!

Okay off to tend to the zoo! 

Oh yeah, one more exciting announcement. I officially graduate out of Physical Therapy in two weeks if I don't have inflammation! Last night was the first night I didn't have ANY! You can tell when he press on the SI, it would be tender, actually a bit painful to the touch. Ummm, yep none and I have been running and working out hardcore?! Thank GOD for PT, and of course I have to give myself credit for doing my homework with strength training on my back  and abs ;-) 

The second half of this year is going to ROCK, I can just tell! FINALLY, and I'm going to take advantage of everything coming our way!

Okay making time

Aislinn is asleep and the olders are fighting as always!

But I'm ignoring them!

Mike came home Saturday night from his trip saying he was missing his family and ready. It was a nice surprise. We all geared up the next morning and went to church! We go to hear the most amazing Christian from India. Drs. Ajai Lall and his wife Indu, founders and directors of Central India Christian Mission spoke on being a Christian Extremist. It was so amazing and so glad that we got to attend and be present for such a message. Our Pastor had traveled there in January and brought back stories you would even see on the news. To be a Christian in India, you are constantly battled and attacked by Hindu Extremists. Husbands beaten, wive's raped and killed all because they won't sign a document saying they "Do not believe in Jesus Christ and are a Hindu Extremist." And yet these spectacular Christians continue to spread the Word!

We are sooooo fortunate to be in our country with the freedom of religion rights. It's sad that these Extremists are so threatened by the word and feel they have to make a statement to be heard by hurting people like that!

After church we hit our favorite lunch spot, Paradise Bakery! I had one too many cookies. I just can't help myself! Got to go to Tumbleweed and worked out for 1 1/2 hours! It was so wonderful, yes wonderful! Once I find a show to watch I can work out forever! LOL

I had dinner with my friend Kristi last night and we had such a nice time. We hit Barnes and Noble afterwards. I could live in a bookstore. It's like a candystore to me! So much to catch up from not being able to read like I love in past 6 years.

Tonite a few of us are going to go see Mama Mia! at our new mall. Which by the way, is pretty much my home away from home now. It's just missing Tiffany and Nordstrom! Gotta talk to Amy about that ;-) 

Mike and I have a date night Friday night and we are going to go see 'The Dark Knight'. I luvvved 'Batman Begins' with Christian Bale and felt it never got the credit it deserved. He was spectacular. So Heath Ledger's last movie part is just a bonus for me. 

What else.. hmmm I have Physical Therapy Thursday evening. My back is whole again, so these are just follow ups to ensure that my SI is staying in place. Any time my muscles feel tight on the right, I know it's trying to move, so cardio loosens it right back up! Oh and I have been jogging here and there. Just little bit at a time and not for a long time. It feels so wonderful!! I really was ready to give up on being able to ever go back to running.

Caden has Kindergarten Kickoff tomorrow night. We already met his teacher last Friday for his KIST testing. I can't remember if I said, but small world, his new teacher is our dear Kate's cousin!! Isn't that crazy?! She is super nice and was really impressed with Caden's skills.

I have tea at the Phoenician Saturday with my girls! I have been looking forward to this since Rena planned it two months ago! The last and only time I've been was with Amy for her Bridal Luncheon. It was such a great time.

*Okay I had to take a break for lunch and now it's 1pm and the boys are chasing each other and beating each other up with pretend swords, while Teagan is calling for her backpack "Backpack wherrrrreeeee areeee you" and Aislinn is watching it all in sheer horror!

I just heard myself say, "Learn to play nice or don't play at all!" 

Oh and by the way Aislinn has cut her fifth tooth up top. Sad thing is I didn't find it. Mike did and it had been in for at least 4-6 days because it was realllly in, not just cut. Poor Aisie!  She pulls up on everything now, but still can't get her legs moving. 

Teagan joined the boys at camp this week and loves it! She was very upset when I left, but when I picked them up, she was very happy and has said over and over again that she goes to school now. I'm at a fork in the road to send her this year.  Part of me wants her home, but the other part wants her to feel like a big girl since she wants to do everything her brothers do. I will be signing her up for dance this Friday, so maybe that will help? Don't know.

Haven't had the camera out in a while, so will work on that the rest of the week. I'm in closet organization mode again. Did the linen closet yesterday and sometime this week need to get the art and pantry done. They are horrendous. It's also frustrating when I'm the only one who cares if things get put back in the right spot. Yes, that was directed at YOU ;-). And the garage is a mess again after I cleaned it a couple of months ago. Sighhhhhhhhh......

Baby News!

It's a BOY!!

For our dear Kate and her hubby Jason!

Micah Thomas arrived yesterday morning at 8:57 am after 24 or so hours of labor!

He is 7 pounds 15 ounces and 21.5 inches long.

She had complications after pushing for 4 hours! but is doing wonderfully today. 

So great to hear her the happy jubilation of a brand new mommy's voice. 

We are so thrilled for you guys! 

We can't wait to see you and meet your precious son!

Trying to get back what was lost

So here I am, had my computer two nights now and I'm no where near trying to fix my technical life. 

Also, I have now been without a cell phone for THREE weeks! 

After a week of getting the right parts or phone here, it's here. Just gotta find time to sit for 10 hours on hold to activate it.

I'm trying so to remember everything that I lost and make it back from memory. Which brings me to, Malloy family and extended!, you know who you are and if you haven't sent me your address, phone numbers and such, I can't send you a card on Christmas! 

Grammy was lucky I still had her cell listed in our old home phone memory that I have been trying to convert to our new home phone memory. Send those addresses people! ;-)

Mike left today for the weekend with some guy I have never met to see the Sox game in LA tomorrow. He will be back Sunday.

The boys have really been enjoying Camp week at Riordan's old school this week. I signed them up for next week and it's an Olympic Theme and Teagan gets to go too now that she is fully daytime pottytrained! So just me and Aislinn hanging out most of next week.

Our landscapers are really letting me down. We have a white sheen that has been on the pavers for weeks now, due to the fact they cut the pavers ontop of set pavers and the dust with water set in. They can't figure out how to get it off. I recommended pressure washing and they said they don't have one. And this is the little things that make you wonder why you don't go with a company instead of an individual. Also they have left the sod wood palette in the front yard for a month now and still didn't take it today! After I asked them too! It has been not so good week for me.

Birthday was just another day really. I made it to 35! We did go out to Hon Machi for dinner with the Zoo, but if you know what going out to dinner is like with four children 4 and under, there's a lot of work involved. I got a lot of wonderful birthday wishes from friends too! Thank you so much!

Aislinn is lovingggggg her bottle! The Soy Formula and the new bottle must have been what she needed. She demolishes them. I'm still faring well here on not nursing. I haven't nursed at all for 4 days now. I'm on the downslope of pain thankfully! My body was reacting well to cutting back, so I took it as a sign to go all the way with cutting it out. Went down to one feeding a day for two days and then did one day two days apart, to nothing. Didn't get mastitis! YAY! 

She is pulling up to standing and you can see the wheels turning on willing her feet and legs to move to cruise but they don't. She gets so frustrated! I then move them for her to help her acknowledge what she wants to do. She is still an army crawler too! She moves so darn fast! Just like Teagan it's so funny! And hurray! With formula now she sleeps all night long!! For a week now! Sometimes she's up at 5:30, but heck so is Caden so that for us is all night! Today though she slept till 7 am!

Our twice a week swim lessons are now over as of this past Thursday. We will begin once a week in August on Saturdays. Not sure what we will do in September though. Now that we have been there 4 months, I know who I want the children with and who I don't. And those I want them with are available in the morning of course while Caden and Riordan are in school. 

Beginning September Riordan will be in Soccer! He is wishy washy about it now, but back when Caden was playing he wanted to play so badly. Caden will play Flag Football again. He just isn't interested in Baseball much. Teagan will be in Dance for the first time as well! I'm hoping to get in a class on Wednesday's while Riordan is at school. That would be perfection.

So this weekend not much going on here. We will probably stay at home and play in our back yard. They did move the swingset back to the yard and we are going to use it! I have to retake pictures since the ones I did before are lost forever. WELL actually maybe not! The guys at Apple did tell me that if I take my harddrive, they took out and replaced, to an data recovery person, they most likely can go in individually and get whatever I want back. So all is not lost, but it will be expensive. But what is the price of memories? Yep, priceless. 

Now, just where did I put that harddrive?

Anyone got an airsick bag?

I'm completely and utterly sick to my stomach.
My harddrive is shot.
Nothing can be recovered.
ALL my pictures for the past 1 1/2 years, GONE. Yes I have some uploaded to Shutterfly, but not all.
My address book, gone, for emails and home mailings.
Itunes, gone.
Videos, gone.
Anything else that I had saved to the computer that I can't remember now, gone.

SO if you ever want an email, phone call, or Christmas card from me again, please send me your info. You won't ever hear from me, unless I get it. heatheremalloy@cox.net

I'm off to cry some more.
Oh and just so you never feel this pain. Spend a good $100 bucks on a backup hard drive and backup you precious computer.

This week has gotten away so fast!

So let me throw out a huge bellowing shout of "FREEDOM!!"
Mike gave me a day of me yesterday, all day. Which meant no nursing for Aislinn. She in the past would take the bottle about an ounce at a time.
She took 4 ounces TWICE at one time!! AND
Today she took 6 ounces from me! I'm almost home! Hurray!!! I'm so thankful she likes her new milk! So I didn't get her on the sippee with milk, but she will drink the heck out of water, so that should be no problem when switching to milk in a couple of months. I always start mixing for them at 11 1/2 months, the formula and milk so that milk is their drink at 12 months.
So, I have to slowly wean her. With Teagan, she did the weaning on her own until the end and I cut off the feedings and then had to pump twice for relief, and with Riordan the pump was my tool the whole time for weaning. So in order to feel the least amount of discomfort and not to get mastitis I know the best way is to do it slowly. Night feedings out for over a week now, I can now cut out another feeding! Seriously, I am so excited to have my body back!!
My computer is in the shop till next week, so I don't have much access to the computer right now. Please pray that the harddrive isn't destroyed. I never backed up and that means all my beautiful pictures will be gone. I never learn the lesson of backing up, no matter how many times I have had this scare with the previous computer!! I think lesson learned now!
Tonite we are going to my friend Rena's party "I kicked Cancer's Ass" Party! We can't wait to celebrate that! Tomorrow night is my birthday dinner Mike and with some friends, who I'm not supposed to know who, but I have a good idea, however I have no clue as to where we are going or what time.
My day of me rocked yesterday. I worked out, went shopping, got my hair done, ate at Kona, and then came home. I was home at almost 6 and left at 11!! I haven't had that much of a day to myself in I don't know how long. It can get very addictive very quickly. Can't wait for next months day of me and I can't wait to plan my girl get away with Marcie next month! We are getting the heck outta dodge for two nights and 3 days! Just us two moms of four! I can't wait!

Pics so far of Mom's visit and more...

Well first the 4th of July at the Jackson's home was absolutely wonderful. We had such a great time and the spread was so delicious! The olders, Mike and Mom swam for a while and then Mom took Caden back in to swim. 

The whole time Teagan did amazing with bathroom duties! I think it's definitely official, she is potty trained. The past two days she goes on her own, by herself without anyone for both visits. She is amazing! So young, not even 2 1/2! Girls truly rock! :-)

Saturday morning we went to see Wall-E. Teagan went potty 10 times I think. So she and I didn't see much of the movie. Oh and Riordan went 3 times and Caden once. ALL at different times. It was a bit frustrating, but I kept reminding myself : no more poopy diapers for Teagan. In a month or so, she should be able to hold it better. 

After movies, we came home and all took naps for dinner out at Chelsea's Kitchen. It's in Phoenix, on the cusp of Scottsdale and worth the drive. The kids had eggs and bacon. It came on a tray plate! So cool, with fries and apples, grapes, and ketchup to dip! It was so right up their ally, the loved it! Mom and I split the short ribs and fish tacos and Mike had the short rib tacos (he preferred the steak ones though). It was delicious! We then headed back to our side of town and stopped for Cold Stone. Again another hit. The zoo did so amazing. It is so nice to get out and do things with them! It's been soooo long and the Disney trip most definitely has helped us with relearning dining out.

Today we have done pretty much nothing, but lay around and lay around ;-)

We did get some Carraba's for dinner. Mike left at 2 for his 4 o'clock flight to Cleveland for Super Star Training. He will be back last Tuesday night and mom leaves Tuesday morning.

Tomorrow we may try and go swimming. Need to see if our girl Lauren can keep Aislinn. If not we do plan on a trip to Paradise Bakery. And that's about it! Well besides my work out, oh yeah!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Hope it's a fun and very patriotic day for you!

Had so much fun last night out with the girls! I can't wait to get a hold of the pictures from dinner that Michelle took ;-) Blue Wasabi was pretty yummy, but  I think we all agree that Kona's sushi is still the best. But BW is a lot more fun atmosphere.

Mom's flight took off a little while ago, so we will all be heading to the airport soon! Can't wait to see her! And then we will come back here to break for a couple of hours before we head to the Jackson's. We should make it back here to watch fireworks on which really is so much better since we have such a large tv and a lot of cranky zoo members.

Tomorrow morning, the 10 am showing of Wall-E! I think a few of our friends may meet us up there! How fun would that be!

Okay Aislinn just woke up from her morning nap.. The stinker woke up at 5 am this morning and wouldn't go back to bed, but we consider that sleeping through the night. Not easy when you get to bed at almost 2 am.. I need toothpicks again, seems to be my thing this week.

The Arizona Malloy girls!

Aislinn and Maddy

How Aislinn likes to smile for the camera.

Finally Pictures from John, Amy, and Madeleine's visit!!

So much fun. Aislinn was grabbing at Maddy and Maddy would cry and then Aislinn would cry. Oh cousins! 

More Pics here.

Our week

Has been busy with and longgggg with no sleep.

I have cut out night feedings for Aislinn and we have her cry it out when she wakes up. It's been going well, that it only takes her a few minutes to go back to sleep. But she's up all the time. The first night she woke Teagan up and it was a bit brutal. Mike is the one that went in there for that one. Last night she didn't wake up quite so much as the night before.

And big big achievement is Teagan is potty-trained! We've been working on it all week. As you know it's been her decision at first, but this week was when I wanted to be done with diapers. Of course she didn't. So we had some huge fights, a lot of crying on both her and my end, but today sealed it I'm pretty sure as a done deal.  

She wouldn't go poo for the past almost 48 hours and we knew she had to go, because she would scream for a diaper. So I finally guilted her and shed real tears out of exhaustion because she wouldn't stay on the potty. She calmed down and said she would go and guess what?! She did! She was so proud of herself as was I! I promised her a toy of her choice and straight to Target we went were she picked out a Disney Princess Cash Register LOL. 

And she says all the time now that Aislinn wears diapers, not Teagan, diapers are for babies, I'm a big girl now, I wear big girl panties! She's the best!

Also another huge win for the me and the will benefit us all is Aislinn drank Soy Formula big time from the bottle today. I know I said I would stick with the sippee cup, which she drinks the heck out of water, but she wouldn't take regular formula (really it stinks when mommies milk is so sweet) Then I switched it up to Soy, remembering it was more pleasant smelling and tasty. And she started sucking on a soothie pacifier the past couple of weeks when she find one laying around. She's not a pacifier baby, but she was having fun with it. So my big idea was to get the bottles that are from the same company that use the same nipple. She drank 2 straight ounces today! Yee Haw! She's had it twice today already! I see a silver lining now with totally getting my body back and my much anticipated Palm Springs trip with Marcie!! It couldn't come any sooner. 

This time weaning is harder, because with Riordan I could do it on my own with the pump, and Teagan slowly cut her nursing time down as well. Teagan loves to nurse. She is always grabbing at me! But those teeth and this reoccurring mastitis. Not fun.

My PT graduated me up to just once a week therapy! My back is really doing so much better. Hardly a twinge just a couple of times a day. I'm still very cautious and I'm not allowed to do more than 30 minutes of cardio, and of course no bending or twisting, but really no one should bend at the back.

We had our first week back at swim lessons with Kristen and the children did amazing. Caden is really improving so much. Still hates to jump in though. We will continue with once a week once these two days a week sessions are done. 

My mom comes in tomorrow for a much anticipated visit until Tuesday. Did I mention Mike has to go out of town Sunday afternoon to late Tuesday night? Hmmm.. So tomorrow we are going to the Jackon's for a swim/bbq party. Should be a lot of fun! Saturday morning we are seeing Wall-E and Saturday night going to our new favorite non steak house, Chelsea's Kitchen with the whole zoo, but early. Can't wait to eat more fish tacos! Sunday and Monday I promised close to home rest ;-)

Tonight my group of girls are celebrating Kristi's big 40th birthday (which happens to be tomorrow, lucky girl they always have fireworks ;-) and my 35th birthday! We are going to Blue Wasabi and who knows where after that. Marcie should be here soon to get me. I can't wait!

I haven't blogged all week and still have so much to say! I will try and catch up this weekend! 

Still need to post pictures from the Malloy visit!!

Visit from Georgia!

This is so special for the dresser to be in their room, Teagan's clothes are in it

Teagan's side of the room

Aislinn's side of the room

Inside view of the drawers and cubbies, Aislinn's things are in the drawers

Aislinn loves playing with doors!

My Mom is coming on Friday to Tuesday to see the Zoo! We are all so excited to see her and hope she hasn't seen Wall-E yet so we can see it Saturday morning. The three olders are just dying to see it.

With Mom's visit, we were 'forced' to move Aislinn out of the guest/office. We have been talking about for months where she would go next and thought we would move her into our walk in closet. It has a vent in there and it would move her away from the playroom so the kids could be loud and she wouldn't be disturbed.

Disney was a good test for us though. When she woke up in the middle of the night, no one even stirred. So we decided it was time to move her to her big girl room in with her sister! So that's what we've been doing all weekend. Plus we gave Kate the baby furniture, armoire and changing table along with the first crib, so it was perfect timing for everything. Lots of rearranging and building two Closet Maid drawers and two shoe cubbies. It fits all perfectly in their closet and we still have all our amazing hanging space for them. Then we put my dad's grand mother's dresser in their room in between the two cribs. Just perfect. All that is left to do is hang shelves and wall pegs for backpacks, jackets, and a little peg for costume jewelry :-) And move their names to the correct sides of the room.

Now onto the boys closet. With all this moving things around, Teagan is officially a 3T as the boys move up too, I had to move stuff into storage and move some old stuff out that we will now never use! Made trips to 3 girlfriends houses today to drop off seasonal clothing and still have a ton left if Jen is having a girl. In the boys closet, I will be moving out all of Riordan's 3T stuff. I think it's the most of that size we have ever had, and more than half he never wore. Moving in the 4T clothing, which will free up space to move Caden's 5t and start moving in his 6's, which of course we don't have much of. I can't believe how fast this growing stuff goes. I feel like I just did all of this!

After their closet then I will work on the guest room before mom gets here. We have a lot of time this week to do it, plus I plan on potty training Teagan completely. Our big issue is poops on the potty. She wants her diaper. Oh joys of potty training. BUT that will just leave me ONE in diapers! How neat that will be!

And they are done

The landscapers are done and we are really really happy with the beautiful new HUGE backyard we have. It's funny, you don't realize how big your backyard is till you do something like this! 

Our new grass looks like a football field! 

The little racetrack is going to be perfect for riding bikes, our flagstone steps are awesome, we have a mexican lime tree and a lemon tree that have fruit on them already, the gravel on the kitchen side of the house has been changed out to pea gravel and so easy to walk on, plus you can ride your bikes on.. they re did our rock river and I didn't realize how many rocks we had! It looks amazing and our pavers on the side of the driveway makes a huge difference already. I got out of Mike's car yesterday and stepped on pavers not gravel. The sod needs to be soaked for the next two weeks and then Jose is going to reseed the whole yard to make it one. Then we can put the yard back together.. So right now, no pictures because it's still not complete. All our toys are on the new patio and still needs a lot of washing down.

John, Amy, and Maddy came over yesterday. What a great time we had. Maddy and Aislinn were very much into each other and Aislinn was a bit on the aggressive side. It's the first time she realized she had someone smaller than her to pick on. Maddy would cry and then Aislinn would cryd. We had yummy Joe's Real BBQ. Oh and yummy it was! Teagan couldn't get enough of Maddy and just wanted to mommy her and hold her and sit as close to her as possible, once she woke up from her nap which took about a half hour. The boys played in the very soaked backyard. The sprinklers never turned off, so we called Jose and had to have the shut off where they were installed because unplugging the timer did nothing. Not sure what's going on there, but I'm sure Jose will fix it ;-)

We had such a great time with them, we can't wait to see them next month for our next date in Peoria.

More Pictures Link

Enjoy some 200+ pictures, some random, some pretty much the same shot, but all having fun.

Click here.

PICTURES!!

Just a few pictures and getting the rest uploaded to shutterfly..

Note that Riordan ONLY took a picture with Cinderella the entire trip, and only let me hold him for a picture with Pluto, the rest of the time he hid under a table or would stay in the stroller.

Random things to know

*You CAN fit a family of six in a standard third row SUV with hardly any cargo room and a turtle up top with a: double stroller, 7 large duffle bags, a briefcase, 5 pillows, 5 blankets, 5 backpacks, one mommy bag, one baby bag, one big beach bag filled with toiletries, 10 plastic bags filled with groceries and paper goods, and one air purifier/noise maker.

*McDonald's or other fast food joint is a better stop than the reststop, for your 5 year still remembers a year and half ago on his last Disney trip one of the reststops filled with bugs and still won't go in one to pee, and instead will hold it forever.

*Stopping every hour on a 6 hour road trip for breaks, diaper changes and feedings only delays you about 1 1/2 hours. Unless you hit traffic.

*Taking advantage of the early park days for those who stay at Disney Resorts gets you on a very popular ride in 10 mins rather than 2 + hours.

*Downtown Disney Store has every Disney item you can imagine and more!

*Having your 5 year swim with new friends encourages him to be more brave about letting those legs float up behind him and start kicking! He walked back and forth between the steps and would kick up every now and again (25+ feet) over and over again keeping up with two new girl friends as they swam back and forth.

*Getting in the hot tub after swimming takes the chill right out of your bones! And the kiddos don't complain about being cold.

*Having to 'yell' (because it comes out as a squeak) while voice is still recovering from laryngitis might not be the best thing and probably should go get it checked out.

*4 nights/5 days in Disney just might not be long enough for a family of 6 with naps and pool time, one more day would have been perfection.

*To have at least one or more adult on a Disney trip with 4 children, so most all children have an adult buddy and so adults can have small breaks and go on rides: Priceless ~ gonna have to look into that next time ;-)

Future trip: October 2009 either in Disney Land or Disney World!!

Where there's smoke...

there's fire.

And boy was there ever smoke. Huge dark grey billowing clouds of smoke. From the distance on I-10 it looked like a monsoon, but as we got closer we realized it was fire. I have never seen brush fire, unless on TV, before. It was scary and we weren't even that close to it. The smoke is a hanging haze in the valley, blocking the sun. There is no wind either, so it's not going anywhere right now. From what I hear, it was started by a lightning strike. It's not close to our home, it's on the west side, but we can see the pillar of smoke from our area. It's is so eery.

So yes, we are home sweet home, after a fantastic time in Disney.

Caden and I went out last night to ride Indiana Jones. He had been asking the whole time to do it, we kept putting it off. Wouldn't you know, it was closed last night. The biggest disappointment. I felt awful. I asked if we could ride the train around the park, and he excitedly said yes. 

As we were waiting for the train, they have the usual signs of showing people seat perfectly in their seat vs. people hanging out of their seat. Caden goes, " Mommy, that sign says no dancing on the train right?!" I wanted to laugh so hard, but he was so serious. It was my priceless moment with him. He just cracks me up. I explained to him that it means stay seated in your seat and he began to laugh at himself, so I started laughing. He is just beautiful.

We only made it through one station, for he was afraid of the very very dark forest we rode through. Can't blame him on that. So we got off in New Orleans, where Fantasmic was going on. A quick run by it, so he couldn't see, and we went to Critter Country and rode Pooh 3 times in a row. Then on our way back to the hotel, we checked to make sure Indiana wasn't open, it wasn't, but we rode the Jungle Cruise. Once we got to the unruly natives that were going to throw spears at us, I felt bad, because the look on Caden's face was sheer terror. I kept whispering in his ear over and over, they are not real, they are only pretend. 

He couldn't run fast enough off that ride. 

On the way back to the hotel we stopped off in Downtown Disney Store and got him and the Teagan and Riordan a Mike from Monsters Inc., a Tinkerbell (Teagan's new favorite), and a Boo dressed as a monster from Monsters Inc. It was fun to shop with him. 

This morning we packed up our things and then headed back to the park. Indiana Jones was open and only 10 mins to get on. So Mike took the kiddos shopping and Caden and I got in line.

I was so excited! He then looks at me after two minutes and goes, Mommy I think I want to ride this when I'm six. We talked to a boy the day before that told him about the boulder that comes at you. He was very anxious about it and decided as we were in line, that he wasn't ready. Wasn't going to take him kicking and screaming so we got out of line. I was bummed.

We went to Fantasyland and he and I went on Peter Pan while Mike took the rest of the zoo on the Tea Cups and the Caroseul. Once we got off, we did the Tea Cups again and then Dumbo one last time and headed back to our room to leave.

It was a longggggggg drive, Aislinn hardly slept, Teagan wet through her diaper, and we were all very cranky and tired.

Everyone is now sound asleep, but Mike and I. I'm not far behind them.

Will post pictures some time in the next few days.

One more sleep

And then we have to head home.
Not sure we are ready, but we are very tired from tons of walking!
Last night we stayed out late after doing a little shopping at the Downtown Disney Store and saw Fantasmic and then the fireworks right after. It was so cool! We weren't very close or had the best view, but it we had it would have been a very bad experience for the zoo. They were scared during Fantasmic. If you haven't seen it, lots of witches from the Princess' movies and then a great big dragon at the end. HUGE dragon, that came out of the water and fire all over the water, very cool, but very scary. Then the fireworks were extremely loud, BUT we saw Tinkerbell fly over the sky from the Matterhorn, that was worth it all for the zoo, it was very magical. We didn't get to see all the fireworks, they were ready to go back home. As soon as I started moving the stroller, Riordan passed out.
Teagan was the only one who wanted to stay out, might be because she and I were the only one's with a nap yesterday. She is so stinking independent. Wants to walk everywhere, refuses to hold hands, refuses to wear her monkey (a leash), but she somehow keeps up most of the time.
It was nice to see Downtown Disney at night. Lot so of music, made it feel like somewhat of a festival. We will be going through there again tonite for Goofy's dinner is at Disneyland Hotel.
Today we were going to sleep in but the stinking alarm went off at 6:30am! So it woke up all of us but Riordan, who is usually the first one asleep and the last one to wake up. He just woke up after an hour of us getting up.
Our agenda is to see Monsters Inc and Playhouse Disney and the new Toy Story attraction, and the a nice swim in the pool. Caden is dying to go on the Indiana Jones ride too, so hopefully tonite with a fastpass we can do it.
Oh and yesterday Mike took the boys out while us girls napped. They went the big, literally rocking ferris wheel at California. I still can't believe that Caden went on this, it's high and the cabs rock! Well, Mike was looking down at the next group and was kidding around about them going into the water and goes , "Oh they are so screwed!" Well Caden didn't know Daddy was kidding, and started to cry and yelled out " I don't wanna get screwwwweddddddd!"
As funny as it was at moment, I'm doing massive damage control on using that phrase again ;-)
I'm so glad we came back to Disney, it has just been a great time.

An update from the Magic Kingdom in California

Favorite phrases so far:

Riordan, first night before the sun went down, we were looking at California Adventure Park from our room and a look of amazement came across his face as he realized we were staying here and he asked ever so cautiously with a hint of excitement:
Are we sleeping here at Mickey Mouse's house?

It was absolutely one of those moments that I will never forget.

Teagan, she and I were going upstairs to the coveted Craftsman Lounge, the extra steep but worth it price for Concierge service, for drinks and snacks, running for the elevator she yells out when we enter:
I wanna press play! (which is what she wants to do in the car for the DVD player)
Priceless!

Caden's is more of a moment so far. He and I went out yesterday while everyone napped and we did Buzz Lightyear for the second time. Well this time he decided he didn't want to see Zorg and literally covered his eyes the ENTIRE ride, while I got over 18K points! I have a picture for it that I forwarded from the ride taking pictures. The picture speaks for itself.

We got on Nemo finally this morning taking advantage of the 7 am open for Resort stays at Disney only. We went straight to it and waited only 10 minutes. It normally is a 2 or more hour wait! It was so worth getting up at 5:45 am this morning, than waiting in the hot sun.

Yes it's hot, a bit humid, but cool in the shade. We are taking our time and lots of breaks and in just 3 days we have seen a lot considering the Zoo and naps. Aislinn takes morning naps on us, and then we come back in the afternoon for a long nap. We are off to have lunch with Ariel and her friends! Getting the girls all prettied up for this one ;-)

We are HERE!

And pretty much in record time, even with a horrible car accident that delayed us about 45 mins. Funny if we hadn't stopped at In and Out for lunch we could have been involved. Very eerie.
Everyone did amazing and we were on the road at 5:55 am! Apparently my husband wants someone to steal his tv, and left the door WIDE open and house unlocked. Thankfully our ever so watchful neighbors took care of it and let him know ;-) Siiigggghhhh and the VERY last thing I told him, as I brought Aislinn out was, I don't have the key, please look the front door.
So we are here! Sitting in the Craftsman room, it's a bit hot out so we are enjoying our complimentary chocolate covered strawberries, tea sandwiches, cookies, and scones, along with fruit, gold fish and trail mix! Oh and whatever beverage we'd like!tee hee hee.. Worth it all for a nice break!
I may not be back till the end, but wanted to let everyone know we are here, safe and sound thank God.

ONE MORE SLEEP!

I can't believe it! We are pretty much packed.. Just Mike and I need to get our bags done.

Then we will do the car in the morning before all wakes up since it's so stinking hot here. I just don't even want to imagine what the heat will do to our things while sitting out on the driveway.

My back is trying to act up on me, but I keep taking breaks.. this has been the longest one, about an hour. But back I go! Thankfully I don't have to clean too much. Girls will be here on Monday and it will be nice to come home to an immaculate home. Our neighbors are going to keep Sully and watch over the house. Coming and going at different times of the day. So nice to have them!

Everyone is so beyond excited and I think we are ready for an easy drive! Pray for travel favor for us, healthy bodies and minds, and only fun and excitement!

Oh yeah

did i mention that Mike has to go out of town yet again for training?

yeah 4th of July weekend when my mom is town.. the 6th-8th ...

i really thought one of the reasons for taking this job was so he did not have to travel...

he has traveled every other week since May... i'm tapped out on it

2 more sleeps!

Until Disneyland! 

We are super super excited and can't believe it is finally here!

SO much to do, but it's pretty much all home things. Today when Kate comes for the last time, BIG BOOHOO, I will get our neccesities, then go work out and then stay pretty much home until we leave on Sunday. Minus another training session and a couple of other errands. But all focusing on packing duffels and squeezing in everything into our car LOL! This is going to be interesante to pack for 6 people in a 7 passenger car with an inch of cargo room! I'm always up for a challenge though!

I'm off to Physical Therapy right now. Trying to get the last bit of tightness out of my back on the right side. It's not what causes my back to flare up, but it's still not comfortable. 

I'm officially 2 weeks + with no muscle spasms! Huge huge! I finally can see a light at the end of this tunnel. My voice still isn't back completely. There just isn't any rest for it but at night.

So in Disneyland we will have our Chip and Dale Breakfast, Princess Lunch at Ariel's Grotto, and Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen. We are going to try and eat 'our' food a lot during the rest of the time. The food in the park isn't the best tasting, although they try, and all of it is so stinking expensive. PB & J's, fruit, yogurt, and such we hope in our room, oh and the nifty fun little packages of cereal that was always my favorite thing to purchase for vacations.

Oopies, gotta run it's 5:41 and PT is at 6! LOL

It's only Tuesday?!

I feel like it should be Thursday!

VBS last night went by faster than Sunday night and again so much fun.

We had our best girlfriend, Megan, in Riordan and my class and Caden had Allison and Morgan in his class! It was so great to have them there. I know Riordan really loved having Megan there.

I think I have my voice back some what this morning. I can feel that my throat isn't as swollen as it has been for the past two days. Kind of hard to check out this early in the morning though, not that I don't ever talk to myself, but I'm afraid to wake anyone up if I do end up squeaking ;-) So I will find out in the car trying to sing.

I'm off to training at 6 am. I am absolutely exhausted. We walk the whole campus, a lot of standing, so my calves ache at night and my right arch has been aching since Sunday. I'm sure because again, just not used to all the standing. I finally fell asleep about 10:30, should have been earlier but I'm a week behind on GH and I never have time to catch up!

I got up 30 mins ago and ready for a nap. So instead I'm drinking a sugar free Red Bull for energy, just ate a yogurt and thinking about our day today, which entails NOTHING!!!!!

Only VBS tonite! I can't wait to just lay around again. I got to yesterday because Mike came home early and took Caden and Teagan to swim. Riordan, since he's not 100%, and I stayed home and vegged. It was good qt for he and I.

Okay off to catch up on my US weekly too. Haven't touched it at all either. Wow!

A look ahead

I am soooooo disappointed. I was just reviewing all the attractions for us at the parks and It's a Small World is CLOSED the entire time we are there for refurbishment! It was probably our best and easiest ride when we went and everyone enjoyed. Yes we got tired of the song, but seriously, that's one of our favorite memories.

BUT

If having it closed down means we will have amazing weather, well then I'll take it because it's forecasted to be in the very low 80's for the high and low 60's for the lows! I'm in 7th Heaven! Lots of partly cloudy days too, and and humidity in the 40%! Okay, fine, if I had to trade, then I would have to say this is a fair trade. We will be hopefully riding the new Nemo ride quite a few times anyway ;-)

Monday Monday Monday

Oh and I keep forgetting, Aislinn cut her fourth tooth on Saturday ;-) She is so congested still too, as is now Teagan and Riordan and I have laryngitis, apparently the adult form of croup. Lovely!

The landscapers started today with moving rock and grading out the dirt for pavers. It's going to look so great! Although, I'm still not seeing where more grass is going to go, so need to have a small discussion with them, when they come back. LOL This is moving at a turtle's pace, but to his credit. It is only he and two other guys, and they have their yards that they maintain on top of doing this job.

VBS began last night, and my voice is paying the price for it today. I don't know how I will make it through another night. I had PT this morning to evaluate my back. Good news is, nothing major happened! Nothing moved! Just have to decrease, actually cut out all cardio right now till it heals again, and then decrease my activity when I do it. My intensity is okay, which is not intense at all. A small set back yet again, but I will get through it. 

How many of ya'll are tired for the past year and half with always something wrong with me?

MEEEEEEEEEEEE for sure. I have never in my life had so many set backs and issues. I have always been extremely active, athletic involved and hardly ever sick. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired and this has been going on since I was pregnant with Aislinn. I pray pray pray the rest of 2008 is extremely healthy and active for me. I just want to feel well and have fun with my zoo.

So Brian suggested with our upcoming trip, to do PT again Wed and Friday to keep an eye and an upper hand of things. I agree whole heartedly.

VBS through Wednesday night, and the rest of the week we are at home, laying low and everyone is recovering from this summer cold.  As crappy as we feel, we can't wait for our big vacation!

HAPPY FATHER"S DAY!!

I lost my voice, so it's probably the best Father's Day yet for Mike! tee hee hee..

I still don't have Aislinn's cold full on, but it's coming darn it all. Probably just in time for Disney.

Both Riordan and Teagan have her cough too, minus the congestion. Teagan coughs so hard I get fearful she's gonna yak. 

Today, isn't really much of a Father's Day though for Mike and we will have to make it up to him.

We were a bit over-served last night and took a cab back home from Scottsdale!! LOL

We had dinner at Chelsea's Kitchen. The food was amazing minus the absoutely smothered everything I had with cilantro. And if you know me well, you know I can not tolerate it nor mint for that matter. BUT I managed my way around it on my swordfish tacos. I need more! 

We decided, since amazing Kate said to go out and have a good time!, that we would surprise visit my girl Kiki at her job, Geisha A Go-Go. Her reaction was absolutely priceless! She has been here almost a year and this was the first time I got to see her! It was like being back at home seeing her all night long. She and I used to work at a club together back in Atlanta, we figured out it has been 6 years since we've seen each other!!

Mike and I of course, met a lot of nice normal people, while we watched the 'beautiful' people show off for the evening, trying to hook up with the next hotty and drink themselves into stupor. Well the drinking part, we were a bit a part of ;-) It was such a fun night, and our cab ride home was with Tony, from Iraq, and a devout Christian. We had the most incredible conversation with him, life here and life there. It was an honor to have met him.

Tonite is the first night of  VBS and thankfully I am fully prepared physically (well my back hurts but has since Friday night) and mentally for a bunch of cute 3 and 4 year olds.

I'm excited for Riordan, for this is his first VBS and he is just as excited that I will be his teacher ;-)

SEVEN MORES SLEEPS TILL DISNEY!

Breakthrough!

For Caden!

He swam today! And not once, but about 10 times!

We had a substitute teacher and she and he clicked immediately!

He had complete trust in her and she took him to the shallow part of the pool, showed him how to walk it and then kick up his legs and swim to the stairs! 

He was so absolutely proud of himself as was I!! He kept asking if he could do it again!

We are over the hump! 

We are going to try and swim at our neighbor's pool tonite and practice some more. Hopefully will get a couple of pictures.

Oh and we have switched to Miss Kristen for swim lessons for our last session.

Riordan however, did not like the change and would not swim. So I had to stay in the pool area and once he calmed down from hysteria, he played on the pool steps doing his lessons by himself, which made him extremely proud of himself as well.

I'm going to have swimmers! YAY!! And hopefully bikers once our pavers are done ;-) YAY!!

New tooth

Aislinn finally cut her third tooth, on the top, yesterday. The next one isn't far behind.

I bet it feels a lot better to be through.

She was up again last night with the croup, but no wheezing like the night before, so we didn't need to steam shower her. Riordan got up as did Teagan. Then my hubby decided to put clothes away and not let me sleep in. I'm just craving sleep the past couple of days!

My plan was to get up first thing this morning and go to the Rec Center to do cardio. Going to MAKE myself go this afternoon when Mike gets home.

The ediets food is working out great! It's so filling because of whole foods, and it is so easy because while I want to prepare a meal I don't have time and it's not a frozen meal either, so no preservatives.

Okay Riordan is talking smack with me right now, so I need to take care of it ;-) WHY do children take advantage of you not watching them immediately?! How wise they are whether making a post, or making a phone call. However, if I weren't doing a thing, they would care less about attention.  And oh the joys of siblings. How they love each other passionately and then fight just a passionately! 

We are off to make up swim class this morning, Kate will be here to keep Aislinn and then when we get back, Caden and I will go on our date. Not sure what we are doing yet.

Being that Aislinn is still goopy nose, I doubt she and I will make it to church this weekend as well. They don't want her and I don't want her exposed to any more stuff while she's fighting something already.

Well....

Aislinn's cold was the beginning of croup that woke her up at 3 am this morning.

She is so miserable. I feel so bad for her!

We had to cancel our day of play dates with my friend Liz and her girls this morning and Monica and her girls this afternoon. Was so sad, but they both totally understood.

It's all about Aislinn and her rest today ;-)

Mike was able to come home HOURS early yesterday! So nice for him to come home! We also had the Tripp family (minus Jeff) over last night for pizza and play! So much fun. We have needed a Tripp fix for quite some time now! 

I went to training this morning, and because I was so tired all we did was briskly walk the canal for the hour. Let me tell you that was so nice and I had always wanted to check it out! It was still just cool enough at 7 am to not be sweltering under the sun. I have PT tonite and then back home to crawl into bed. Mike's meeting tonite was cancelled and at this point even if I wanted to go out, I don't know how I would make it. Right now I need toothpicks!

Not sure what's in store for our anniversary weekend. Mike's special Father's Day project is done and all I can say, it was very therapeutic for me. It's something I always have enjoyed doing in the past before children and didn't realize how much I missed it. Can't wait to tell you what it is, and post a pic of it.

Caden's new DS starting flipping out yesterday. It would go into sleep mode while we played, couldn't power down, couldn't power up, and wouldn't charge up. Literally freaking out all day long. So now we are waiting for a replacement via UPS and pray it gets here before we leave for Disney. Nintendo service was so nice and helpful!! They just moved the warehouse so it may be a bit delayed with all the back up orders.

Not surprised

I did end up with the beginning of mastitis again, but have antibiotics so on the path to wellness again.

Aislinn had a low grade fever all day yesterday too, and then in the middle of the night (well she was up all night) she developed a higher fever and a snookie nose. Nice and goopy today. She went down early for a nap.

So we cancelled our movie date tomorrow, because Aislinn would go to Kelly's and they are going out of town and don't want to pass on what I'm sure is just a virus. Her tooth is just moments away from cutting and normally I would say these symptoms are a result, but not high fever, so it's a cold I'm guessing. 

Kate is coming over a bit for me today. Gonna take Riordan on his date and then I will go train. We got almost all of our special Father's Day project done! Can't wait for Mike to see it! 

Jose' laughed so hard when I told him that Riordan brought him out beers instead of cokes and actually gave Riordan a good hair tousle for it! Going to have to remember beer for he and his crew at the end of the day. They start tomorrow on the backyard! He said it should take about a week and a half! I need to take before pics!! I think we have some yard pics from when we bought, and nothing has changed in 2 years.

I also got motivated to have our electrician come in and do our lighting estimates I got back in February. A patio ceiling fan, a flood light, a new sconce for the very poorly lit hallway (we will then have 2), and change out our can lighting at the front door and master foyer to my lights I bought over a year ago, to coach flush mounted lights. Also, I need them to 'fix' our coach lights outside, they are mounted all the way to the way and a good dust storm turns the one next to our front door.

I have not been doing well on my eating habits. All this pain I have been in has really kept me in depressive eating zone. I still work out with Joe, but haven't done much of anything on the side. Where I have gained any weight, I haven't lost anything in a month. Well except for the 6 pounds of water weight I lost when I had the evil virus (which could have been this big out break of salmonella from tomatoes, because I eat them like crazy) and it came back within days of course. 

I need to change that now. I started the eDiets food plan where they send you food. I'm still nursing of course, and add my extra food in. I'm on day 3 with it and I have to say, I have been pleasantly surprised at how well the food tastes. The lettuce they sent was brown pretty much though, upon arrival and it was iceberg (my most unfavorite) So that got thrown away immediately and I was nervous to try the rest of it. I'm on the 5 day plan of food they send. You can choose too, before hand what you want to eat. Hope that keeps me on the better path. It's chocolate that is my down fall and baked goods... Why do they have to be so darn yummy!?! And why can't yummy food be good for you?!?

Two teeth loose

Caden has both bottom front teeth loose! It is so cool! He is super excited, especially for shiny quarters from the tooth fairy!!

We been on the hunt for his bank all morning. I need three measly dollars for the housekeepers.. looks like they will be getting shiny quarters themselves.

Riordan is singing "Who let the dogs out" and Teagan keeps bumping her head this morning. 

I just realized that I can't go out with Rena Thursday night, Mike has a client meeting, so all in all that gives me Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday day and night as a single mom again (last week was Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday day and night.

I'm calming down, but 30 mins ago I was frustrated to tears. I haven't had more than an hour to myself in two weeks and when you get it, you are used to it. 

Now this weekend better be spectacular! After being alone this long and it's our anniversary weekend (okay Father's day too)?! And I won't be getting time to myself again, because it's VBS beginning Sunday night-Wednesday night. I'm leading Riordan's class. 

Our Disney trip seriously, could not have been planned at a better time. I'm booking spa appointments now ;-)

Health Status

Back~ feeling pretty good!

However, as I was just only thinking Saturday morning, that I have been doing well health-wise nursing, I developed a clogged duct last night 3 hours before Mike is to leave for Vegas.

It's painful, so painful right now! Pray that it doesn't develop into mastitis while he's gone!

That would be NINE times for me! Ridiculous!

Today we have our girls coming to help me clean! Yee Haw!

I'm on a purge kick right now. I needed to get the girls closests cleaned out from boxes still yet not unpacked from when we moved. Tons and tons of books! So we moved them to the Master foyer and put them everywhere. Hopefully this will motivate us to finish our entertainment center for some bookcase space. I have a few closet maid systems to put together for shoes and clothes and then I can move their things from the baby furniture and give them to our girl Kate for her baby! Then I will move the antique dresser from my closet to their room for clothing as well. It is a huge savings and great aha by me, from over a thousand dollars to do the closet somewhat the way I wanted to barely a hundred dollars this way! And I get to keep all of my hanging space, which we desperately need as well. So that's this weeks project. Oh and I keep saying I will move, but we all know it is Mike and hopefully a friend ;-)

Mike and I will have been married 6 years on the 16th. We were married on Father's Day! I still am so thankful to all our friends and family that came on what is such a special day to begin with and witnessed the beginning of our journey. We have a date night Saturday night, but as far as I know nothing has been planned, but that's okay. He's been so busy with work, I'm sure it's not even a thought. 

With it being Father's day, and we have everything we need and wants are not huge right now, I have something that will hopefully be so cool. But can't post about it as he reads this, let's just say I had to make two trips to Michael's yesterday to get the project all together so we can work on it while he's out of town.

This week is going to be a lot of catching up with friends. Besides swim on Mon/Wed and make up Friday, and Wed movies, we have Kelly and Ava tonite for din din, the Tripps on Wednesday night for din din, my friend Liz and her girls on Thursday morning and the that afternoon going to see Monica and her girls, and then I have a date with my girl Rena Thursday night! I have my training on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week, gotta figure out when I can do PT, which I think will be for Friday afternoon and I also am getting my hair chopped on Saturday. It's passed my bra strap and hasn't been this long since Caden was a baby. It's not too much work really, I just feel like plain jane, so color and new cut for our anniversary!

Okay off to tend to the zoo, they are trying to eat my leg...

A funny for the day

Mike and I have been working with our landscaper for redoing our backyard. It just isn't very useful for the children or us. I forever have wanted to do a track of sorts, like my friend Dani, for the children so they could actually ride their bikes, and learn so one day I could hit the park with them, confident in their skills since my hands are more than full.

Also, our grass is a postage stamp putting green. Very hard to play a good game of wiffle ball because there is no symmetry for bases. And last and my hated thing about the back yard is the rock. I know I live in the desert, but I hate it. And after 2 1/2 years, I still do so I'm not getting used to it.

Jose has been over a few times discussing the layout and showing me pavers. My children always love to get he and his workers water to drink. Well yesterday was final estimate day and we were out of water. So I asked Riordan to get Jose and his brother some Coke.

By the way, the yard is going to look amazing! We are doing pavers off the patio from there to the back of the fence. Then a four foot track along the whole back wall and then back around and all filling is will be more grass. Taking out all my very oddly place bushes and trying to move the one tree I do like. Replacing it all with new plants all along the wall and up against the house. Where there is this empty space next to our new pavers and the a/c, we will take out all the gravel and replace it with very very small pebble like rocks, kind you can walk on and the children can ride their bikes through, and more plants. And so much more!

So anywho, never thought again about the cokes nor did Jose, or so I think. Mike missed the meeting unfortunetly, he was out getting vanilla milk that I forgot to pick up on the way home from training, thank you! 

When he got home, I went over everything for him in the backyard. He goes, "Who's beer is that?" I was like, " What are you talking about, I don't see any beer." 

He shows it to me, two cans, on the patio, of Miller Lite. I start laughing so hard. Riordan brought them beer not Cokes! When I explained to him he brought the wrong drinks he goes, "Ohhhhhhhhh" He then put them back in the fridge. 

I don't know if Jose or his brother saw them and just politely didn't point it out that they weren't Cokes, but the moment was so funny. 

Riordan knows what beer is and what a Coke is. He must of thought they already needed a beer at 9 am.

Back to Public

After much thought, I have decided to go back Public with our blog. I don't remember if I have posted in the past about this, but I have had a few inquiries from people across the country asking to be added to read the blog since I went Private! Also, we have a few family members who's connection is hard to get on, so hoping that this one step eliminates frustration.

So here we are, for all to see again! Enjoy and hope you can get a giggle out of my frustrations and to those that I was not letting in, hope you didn't take it personally! 

Just felt right at the time, as does this now ;-) Thanks for reading!

Hide and Find

Caden misplaced his most coveted item yesterday. His Nintendo DS. 

It was our gift to him for such an amazing 1st year of school, only missing one day due to the flu, and being such an amazing help to us with household chores and his siblings.

His face was priceless on the morning before his Celebration when we gave it to him. I had always told him when he was older he could get it or that it was very expensive, so after 6 months I think he finally gave up on it.

Pure wonderful shock and he very quietly said, "This is the most awesomest thing. I always wanted this." It was truly a reaction from the heart, a grateful reaction and I was even more proud and happy to have given it to him, instead of what I think is a spoiled reaction I can get from my zoo, which then they treat their most prized items with no care.

He has been so careful with his DS, keeping up with it, taking it to bed for over two weeks, charges it on his own and such. It goes everywhere with us and we leave it in the car when we go to the store. Again, very proud of how mature he is handling his most coveted item.

We went to Basha's very early yesterday morning, at 7:45 am to get our normal things and lunch for our friend's the St. Geme's. We also go to Basha's because they have the toy/candy quarter machines and it is  a favorite thing to do among the Zoo.

Get home and begin to clean up for our guests. Caden starts saying he can't find his DS. I don't think much about it, pretty sure it's got to be somewhere here. He never finds it all day long.

And believe me, every 10 minutes we heard about it. Sometimes he would be so upset, other times just so nail scratching whiny.  We looked everywhere for it, under couches, beds, through the playroom, under covers, the car, you name it we looked.

Finally at 5 pm, I decide to call Basha's and see if we left it there, even though he and I are both pretty sure he didn't take it in. They don't have it. At that point, I was wishing they did so a) we could both breathe  a sigh of relief and b) he would stop asking for it.

Daddy told him that when he got home from Grand Caymans, that he would find it. Somehow Caden finally let it go. We went to bed and there was no crying for it, thankfully. 

This morning he gets up, his usual 5:30 am for crying out loud. I'm pouring milk for him and Teagan, because she got up at 5:45, drink anyone? He's at the end of the couch on the floor, his little corner when he first gets up, laying there watching TV. All of a sudden he yells out " My DS! I found it!" It was under the couch, but hiding under the fabric at the end of the couch. It is so dark under there, it would be easy to miss.

He had hidden it there, which is a normal hiding spot for him, so it was safe during our play date! We both started laughing!

Good thing too, because our Legos Indiana Jones game is in at GameStop, and since I beat Legos Star Wars and almost done with Speed Racer, I didn't know what I was going to do.

OH did I say I? I meant Caden. 

Yeah, I'm a gamer, have always been since my mom bought us an Atari at the age of 8.  I cold turkey "quit" when I was 21 and Mike and I both said we could never have a system because we wouldn't ever give the zoo a turn! We now have a Playstation, but the only game we have is Rock Band, which allows all of us to play together. The Zoo doesn't even know it plays other games, but if they find out, we will be in big trouble. We will all be fighting for a turn!

And of course

I was having such a good day with my back and I pick up Aislinn, off the floor, and it is in bad shape. Thankfully I had a PT appt to go to an hour later. He stretched and iced it. No exercise or heat. I cancelled personal training tomorrow and plan on icing it a lot tonite. Just so frustrating!

I was feeling so good, which is where I re aggravate it, every time. I pray there is a day that I don't have to deal with this.

I had to cancel playdate with the Tripp's tomorrow. The kids are going to be crushed. But since Mike isn't here, I get no breaks and need to take them frequently, even more so. He gets in late tomorrow.

Yesterday we went to see TMNT, at the summer movies, and that is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It is so funny to watch, because when I was a kid I lovedddddd Rafael and he's the stubborn one of the four brothers. Caden LOVED the movie and is now a ninja and Riordan does what Caden does, so I have two ninja's. He and Teagan were scared at some parts of the movie, but we made it all the way through. We were with our pals the Messner's and it was a good time. However we didn't get to chat since we both were keeping up with our zoo's.

Swim went okay yesterday too. Caden just doesn't want to go all the way under, so I promised him he wouldn't and Joel, his teacher, said so too. We just need a break from the anxiety and hysteria we go through pretty much every Monday and Wednesday up to and at swim class.

So tomorrow is a relaxing day. A make up swim class and then date with Caden. Then Saturday back to PT and my sitter's shower is that afternoon. Sunday is just a MALLOY FAMILY DAY!

Yee haw! No church, no nothing, just us before Mike takes off again :(

Oh by the way, we discovered Caden has is very first loose tooth! It's not major but it's moving! We are so excited!!

WONDERFUL NEWS!!!

I got permission to finally post this!!

My baby sister is going to have a baby!!!

She's made me wait all week to do it, I've been flipping out!

We are so super excited for her! It has been her heart's desire to have another child, Garrett is an only child, but not for long! And he is going to be the best big brother there is!

He has been praying and begging for a baby for as long as I can remember!

I hate now, even more, how far away we are from each other. 

BUT I can't wait to rub the belly in October when we go visit and come September we will know if it's a boy or girl!!

Love you sis!

Caden's Graduation

I can't believe I didn't post about it!

It was a week and a half ago and Caden was so amazing and adorable!

I've been trying to upload the video to Youtube.com but it doesn't look good through my movie maker to there. Fine on the movie maker.. so gotta find time to figure out what to do next. I was a bit shaky though filming. Been a very very long time since we got it out and I was holding Aislinn at one point. Totally multi-tasking!

Caden sat with his friend Allison, who's in the afternoon class, instead of his morning class! So cute. He said she was his best friend, when we asked him later how come he didn't sit with his class. He totally threw his friend Caden under the bus for a GIRL! It is all starting way too soon ;-)

*I wasn't in charge of the camera... tee hee hee