Reminders

Just a quick friendly reminder that our kids are so aware of everything we say. Last week Abby came out of her room looking like the photos below and with my keys in hand, told me

"Mommy, Abby go to work to make money"

I asked her why she wanted to go to work?

Abby need to make money, bye... love you... and then I got three big kisses!!

It was super cute at the time and reminded me to be a little more conscience of what we emphasize to our kids as being important.

On a side note, for those of you who know one of my best-est friends... just had a child on Tuesday, he was 33 weeks and is in ICU in La Jolla. Mom is home and doing o.k., but any additional prayers is greatly appreciated. She has an amazing family right next door and is such a strong women I know all we be fine, but these next few weeks will be tough. I love them so much and do not always know how to help, but have faith god will help them and me in finding ways to help her.

September = School

As every mother knows, when school starts it is sweet sorrow... sweet to see the kids head back to school and provide a little relief for me, but sad that this means they are growing up. Isabella started 3rd grade, Aaron is in Kindergarten and Abby is still home with me...ALL DAY. :)

This school year brought new feelings for me because it would be the first day of public school. My kids have always been in private school, but with me now being home, it was just not financially feasible to continue to pay $800 a month for school. All in all I am very pleased with the kids new school, I have met the principal and she is very dedicated to the kids and their education and they have very good API test scores.

Flashback Friday - Me

I sit here and ponder what to flashback on today.. my kids... my marriage... me??? All hold a very special and important place in my heart. Today I choose me... I was the girl next door most of my life. Always did what was expected of me, never wanted to let others down and consistently followed the rules. With those actions came typical results. Average student in high school.. average athlete in softball and soccer... average student in college... average working career... average home... I am not complaining about average, nor asking for sympathy. Average has given me many amazing gifts, but now I want more then average. I am blessed to have people tell me when they see me after 10 or 15 years that I look exactly the same. I appreciate that I may still look 20, but again I would like to look like a grown up every now and then. You tell me, minus some added wrinkles... do I still look the same???

The top photo of me was in 1991 and I had just finished climbing half dome in Yosemite. The bottom photo was in April 1993 when I went to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Texas. I really enjoyed that trip!!

This is Chelsea and I in her Colorado home in 1994. I think she looks a lot like Isabella.

Kim and I with Max and Isabella in 2002

For the next 90 days I am setting new goals for myself... above average goals for me. I will let you know how it goes... I am expecting hard times, even harder times and some of the hardest moments of my life. Sounds kinda funny, I know, but hey I am ready to try something new!!!

Flashback Friday

We had the Montoya cousins over yesterday for a fun filled day of Wii for the boys , dress up for the girls and swimming for everyone!! All the cousins had a blast together and play so great together.

The first photo is from the scrapbook I attempted to make with Isabella. Max and her have a lot of baby photos together so in honor of flashback friday... here they are. Sophia and Aaron unfortunately do not have as many photos together as babies, so when you read this someday kids, we sorry.

Isabella and Max Princesses
Big Boys!!

Trying to get five smiling faces...not so simple. :)

Best bunch of kids I know!! Love you!!

Abby

I have just come to realize, it may not be normal that my third child talks in the third person all the time... Her vocabulary consists of

Abby do it
Abby drink milk
Abby want ba (pacifier), (yes I know at 2 1/2 it should be gone, but its not)
Abby brush teeth
Abby take shower
Abby get dressed

I am sure you get the picture...

With that said, I have also realized that now that I am home with her, I will be potty training, I will be taking her ba away and hearing her scream bloody murder for the first few days, I will be teaching her how to say "I" versus "Abby". These were all moments with my first two children my lovely second mommies (in-home day care providers) did for me. Although I am so grateful to be home now, boy o' boy it is different. So if their are any other moms out there that were previously in corporate America and then came home, I would love to pick your brain on how you have retrained yourself to feel fulfilled. Don't get me wrong, I know I am doing a good job and I am so grateful to have this time at home. But what is a good day for a stay at home mom... all the kids are smiling, get feed, get off to school, don't get hurt, learn something new from me? I would love to hear what makes it a good day for you.

Happy Monday to all those working and staying home... may you have a week filled with accomplishments, laughter, joy and smiles.

Flashback Friday

Happy Anniversary!!

I married the best man in the world for me!!

August 16, 2002 - Rehearsal Dinner

August 17, 2002 - Happiest Day

Thankful~

As many of you know I was laid off in May and have been home all summer with the kids. Times have been great, not so great and everything in between. All in all, I am happier then I ever could have imagined. Thank you lord for showing me a path I would not have taken on my own. I will continue to count my blessings everyday.