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Here it is, almost the end of August and it’s just now starting to get hot in SoCal.  Odd?  I think so.  I mean, it’s been comfortably warm with a few hotter days but the real summer heat has just started.  Now the creativity has to start… what to do with the kids when it’s roasting outside.  What do you do for your summer activities?  We really like the more simple things such as dragging out the molded plastic pool and getting wet.  But I’m always up for something else that’s cheap and fun.  This weekend was no different.  The pool was dragged out and I was splashed by my happy kiddos… until I had to tell them I was done being splashed.    I’m perfectly happy watching the crazies playing in the water while lounging in a chair in the shade… dry.

As a reminder, I really do have 3 kids… Tony still avoids the camera 99% of the time.  But I will get some photos of him someday… while he’s still 6.

Eye rolling. It’s one of those things you do when you’ve heard for the umpteenth time that time goes by way to fast and before you know it, your child is going to be a teenager. The thing is, those aren’t just words. Really, it happens. In my case obviously, we haven’t hit the teens yet, but I can see where this is headed. It’s amazing to see our children grow up. To watch them learn new things. I love these days.

Ashton turns 1 year today. I know it’s just a small step in the scheme of things but currently being at this stage, it’s amazing how quick it went. I still vividly remember the day I went in for my scheduled c-section. My stomach was sick because I couldn’t eat. And I was nervous. I had done it twice before but regardless, surgery is a scary thing. The nurse went through the longest checklist ever with me… “Do you have any piercings?”, “Do you have an tattoos?”, “Are you hungrier now than you have ever been in your whole life?”… Okay, the last one wasn’t asked but I would have answered yes! lol

Ashton was such a perfect baby. Heck, he still is! He can walk if he’s holding on to something… and will let go and stand by himself for a few seconds before he lowers his little butt to the ground. He says, Uh oh, Moa (which means more), Mama and signs more, water,eat. He has started drinking a little milk over the last week or so but still prefers to nurse. He currently loves to play with his brother and sister and cousins. He will crawl all around the house to “chase” them when they are running around. He really enjoys baths, getting into cupboards (and pulling everything out of course), being held, driving with the windows rolled down and crawling around with toys in his mouth. He prefers finger foods and currently likes cheese, pb&j sandwiches, Goldfish, hot dogs, green beans, chicken, chunked up (canned) fruit, graham crackers and peanut butter crackers. He does not like taking naps…or going to bed in general or being left behind a baby gate.

Happy 1st birthday my little man. May the next year be one of many discoveries and many memories. We love you so much and are so blessed to have you with us each day of your life.

Yesterday Ben and I took the kids to the Griffith Observatory.  I have been wanting to go for some time now and we finally found our time.  We arrived around 1pm and finally found parking after about 10 minutes of driving around.  We had to hike up the hill… oh, thank goodness for double strollers!  The kids had such a great time exploring!  I love the ages they are at right now.  Spending time together is still so much fun and the world around us is so fascinating.  We definitely will have many more trips there over the years.

Happy Monday!

The weather has been ridiculously awesome so far this summer.  Not what one would expect for July, that’s for sure.  If the whole summer was this nice, I’d be one happy girl.  Oooh, if the whole year was like this… niiiice.

This weekend was great.  We spent time with some of our favorite people for a few BBQ’s, great food and even some pool time.  Okay, so I have my excuses for staying out of the pool.  I mean, come on, who is going to take the pictures?    And I can’t very well be by the chips and dip if I’m in the water, right?  Oh, the summer life.

My little lady rethinking her decision to step into that chilly water… I just love the tutu swimming suit…

Leave it to daddy to blow up the toys for the pool.  He’s our hero!

Need I say more?

And I’m tired. Ummm, maybe an understatement. I’m exhausted. Yes, that’s more like it. For one, as you can see, my blog has changed. This is now a blogsite. Yep, a blog and a website combined into one. I’m still working on a background that I like so for now, hopefully not much longer, it’s just plain black. I love this blogsite! I hope you do too. Second thing, I have a new logo. It’s not much different then the first but I needed something a tad different but with the same concept as the last as well as different colors. Thank you Sean for doing that for me! You are the best! Last, but not least, we have moved! If you didn’t already know this, might as well come clean now.

Things got a little crazy, busy the last month and I realized that I never did officially announce it, although many of you knew. My family and I moved back to SoCal. It’s home. This is where we lived before moving to Colorado but work has brought us back. For the last few months Ben has lived here while the kids and I stayed in Delta so they could finish the school year. The day before school was released for summer, Ben and our brother in law, Aaron, flew out, picked up a Uhaul and moved us that weekend. It was a long few months without our rock being around but now we are together as a family again and couldn’t be happier.

So now we are just trying to get back into our groove. Sometimes that is easier said than done. But we will get there. Anthony should be starting 1st grade next month (year-around school system still), Amanda starts preK this week and Ashton and I will be starting up with Stroller Strides, my most favorite workout of all times!

There we are. Now you know where to find me and all that jaz. Have a great Sunday everyone! Much love. **Muah**

My grandparents have a large draw on their property. During the summer, when the ditches are running, there is water down there but it’s dry through the winter (with the exception of snow). My little sisters leave their sleds at the house because, of course, it’s so much fun to go sledding down the steep hills. Well, the snow is gone but the novelty has not worn off. Now, the fun is all in the dirt! Oh yes, talk about some high pitched giggles, endless hours of fun and not to mention the mud baths we have to give our children at the end of the day!

Down in this draw, to the side (away from where water would be when it’s running) there is a little bbq pit and some benches that my grandpa put together. We recently gathered down there for a hot dog and smore roasting evening. The weather was perfect… as in, warm enough to be down there but not too warm for those dang mosquitoes that don’t die off quickly enough. My brothers, sisters and my kids put two sleds together and took turns sliding down the hill. At one point, they all got on it and it was soooo.funny. My family can make me laugh at any given time. Gosh, I love those peeps!

Oh, this sun! The warmth! Isn’t it fantastic? I’m so over winter! Snow, ice and chilly temps are not my friend. I feel like I’ve been cooped up in this house forever. Yeah, yeah, give me a few months and I’ll be complaining about the heat. It’s a vicious cycle. Today, while Tony was in school, I took the two younger kids around town scouting out local alleys. Amanda was my little superstaaaa. That girl can bust a move out in a heartbeat if she’s up to it. The key phrase is “if”. She was a lot of fun today though and afterward fell asleep in the truck just as nice as can be. Wow, I got a willing smile out of her AND a nap? Definitely can’t beat that kind of day.

Ashton was game for anything too. Well, what choice does he have if I plop him down somewhere?

And of course one just for giggles.

Today I took the kids to the library to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with the other kids in the community. They had Thing 1 and Thing 2 (one of which did an awesome read from a few Dr. Seuss stories), games, coloring pages, crafts and a good looking Cat in the Hat birthday cake. Anthony really enjoyed making his own hat, with the help from my youngest sister while Amanda had fun coloring her own Daisy-Head Mayzie head band. Amandas little boyfriend was even there. When we were getting ready to leave, he told me that he wants Amanda to wear a wedding dress next week and he will wear wedding clothes because they are going to get married. His mom and I got a good laugh out of that!


And yes, that is chocolate cake all over their mouths. Because what can possibly be cuter (or yummier) than that?

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