Ten Things To Smile About

Another month has come and gone filled with some fantastic moments.  I am on a journey to improve myself, one that is different from the daily workings have been trying the last few months.  My goal is to become a better woman, wife and mother. I am ready to learn.

Ten things that made me smile this month.... 

1. Spending time with my little ones at the happiest place on earth.

Abby and I enjoying the day on the rides she loves

Isabella and Aaron so happy after the parade at California Adventure

2. Abby running after her sister at soccer practice, not really that great, but it did make me smile.

3. Having spent a wonderful four days with family and friends during the Memorial holiday weekend.

4. Attending a new church with a wonderful family. Thank you Couch family we really enjoyed ourselves.

5. Celebrating our niece's 2nd birthday. Love you lots lil Maddy.

6. Visiting the Ophthalmologist  and learning that what we are doing to help Isabella's eye is working. Her lazy eye is getting stronger. :)

7. Sharing in a celebration with family on my cousins son 1st holy communion. Witnessing the love their family shares with Jesus is beautiful.

8. Warm May days filled with laughter and water.

 

9. Amazing connection and conversation with my hubby.

10. Spending an early Mothers Day dinner with my loving family.

Ten Things to Smile About

April has come and gone with some great memories!!  Thank you to another lovely lady for this idea...You can check her out here.

1. Easter – We had a wonderful time celebrating with friends and family.


2. Me time – I was able to spend an afternoon with two ladies I admire and know I can call at any time for any reason. 

3. Disneyland – Yes we have season passes, but this month I met another mom there and it was just Abby and I. We got to ride all the rides she wanted to. Usually she waits on the side lines while the big kids enjoy, but that day it was all about her. We will be doing this more often. I have found weekdays from 9-1 is my new favorite time.

4. Isabella’s first soccer match with her new team. I am not sure who loves it more, me or her.

5. A beautiful niece’s baptism where all the family comes together.

6. My son - who loves to read and eat carrots

7. My kids... who love to dance and sing.

8. Husband’s new job – In today’s economy it is not typical to leave one good opportunity for an ever better opportunity, but he was blessed with such and I am thankful.

9. Two little girls who love to play and remind me to keep it simple.

10. Moms, Aunts and Grandma's. The woman in my family are amazing, thank you for aspiring me to be more!!

Palm Springs

It's Sunday and very late. I can't sleep. I have so many thoughts running through my head, all good and exciting, but unfortunately keeping me up. I needed to unwind so I took a few moments to download some photos from a few weeks ago when we went to Palm Springs with the family. It was a tough weekend, as we mourned the loss of my uncles amazing mother, but yet also celebrated my parent’s 34th wedding anniversary. Lots of emotions and memories I will remember always.

Darin and the kids enjoying the spa

Sisters

Me and my sis

My amazing parents

Another First

Boys will be boys!! Aaron's first black eye, courtesy of baseball!!

Day 1 - not so bad in color, but the swelling was horrible

Day 2 - Swelling down a lot, but now a lot more color

Day 7 - Color starting to fade and swelling all gone.

PS - I can say he is probably a little sad because he loved telling the story of how he got his black eye. As some of you may know Aaron is not my attention driven son, but I can say he was very proud to tell the story. Such a trooper!!

Last Minute Vacation

Friday afternoon Darin and I decided to look into going somewhere and we ended up in San Diego and Sea World with the kids. It was an absolute blast. I have A LOT of friends who rant and rave about travel and how much they love it. I too, love it but just got used to not going that often. Often meaning every 3-5 years. I now see why they continue to take trips even it they are weekend little trips, it is great to get away. Financially we were never able to afford trips like this and would need to save far in advance. Now things are better and it feels wonderful. Here are some great moments from this weekend.

Just arriving

Sting ray petting area. They were afraid at first and like everything else, once they see how easy and safe you can't keep them out of the water. :)

My little water lover

Kids doing what they do best...climb

This huge sea turtle climbed up on the sand while we were watching and the kids were in ahhhh.

I surprised the kids and bought some fish to feed the seals. I asked darin to distribute them amoung the kids and I was going to go across and take pictures. So he passed out one to each kid and then kept the remaining 5 for himself. Someday I will learn to remind my husband that the fun is for the kids and not always him.. :)

Here he is feeding the seals the fish. He kept telling the kids watch, watch me feed the seals and they kept saying no.. I want to do it. 

Friday Skate Night!!

Last Friday I took all five kids (my three and my 22 month old niece and 6 year old nephew) to the skating rink for the school fundraiser. It hasn’t changed a bit since the last time I went, 22 years ago. Yikes writing/saying that out loud makes me feel old. They had a blast. I even had to put on the skates to help Aaron around the first few times and it was like I had been doing it every month. I have to admit, it was so much fun. Next time I won’t be bringing the little ones so I could skate the entire time with the kids. But wait I don’t want to be one of those parents that their kids are don't want them to skate with them... so I will have to be creative and make it fun for all.

I just love to see the excitement in the kid’s eyes and this was a great day!!

Big kids all ready to go

Little one's wanting to go, but not this time. Sorry

True Joy

Love seeing this smile!

Abby turns 3

Happy 3rd Birthday Abby....

Sucker and camera for her birthday, what else would a three year old want!!