Station One

My cousins, Kaylie and I went to Devin's station to visit him- I love a fireman!!!

The rule when you come for dinner is you have to bring ice cream.....we gladly did! Does it look like we are eating out of dog bowls?....we thought so, but didn't complain, it was basken robins after all!!!

After ice cream, they took us for a ride. Kaitie honked the horn and we went lights and sirens while blowing a stop sign!!! We were like kids in a candy shop.

Family Visit

My cousin Han-Mei and her husband Joe came in for a visit because they were stuck in Oregon for Christmas and couldn't come. We met up with them for lunch and an afternoon of bowling.....I wish they lived closer because I love hanging out with them, but I guess we will just have to settle for visits. Can't wait to go to Oregon and see their house when they finish remodeling it!

Baby Boaz

My cousin Rachael and her husband Jon had another baby boy (#3....so not fair!!!) on Sat. Feb 28th. We went today to visit her growing family. I couldn't stop loving her newest addition....how do they get so big so quick? Seriously, I don't remember Kaylie ever being that little (and she was smaller than Boaz). He is so sweet and adorable- I almost stole him....but their 3 year old (Judah) wouldn't let me.

Isn't he sweet- couldn't you just eat him up!!!

Party Party Party

We spent the weekend partying it up....My girlfriend's son turned 3 and had a party here. Kaylie LOVED the bounce houses....I was surprised. It was a fun party for the kids and adults!

Are we really old enough to have kids this old?

It's Official!

I just booked the park for Kaylie's first birthday party....She is turning 1!!! Can you believe it? In a little over a month we will be celebrating our first born's 1st birthday. CRAZY!!!!

Where has this year gone?

I should have said YES!!!

Devin had plans to meet up with a couple of friends for a late lunch today....he asked if I wanted him to take Kaylie with him...

K and I stayed home, having a relaxing afternoon making a chicken and potatoes for dinner. After putting my chicken (a whole different story....) in the oven I noticed Kaylie playing with AND eating something dark.....I immediately wish I had said YES!

I didn't think to take pictures, I just panicked- BIG TIME. I scooped up my darling daughter who was in the middle of eating her poop, tore her clothing off and dumped her into the bath. I washed every crevice of her cute little body. She didn't understand why I needed to wash out her mouth so many times... but I didn't care, I let her scream.

I did take some after pictures of my kitchen floor, the nice art work K made, but decided to spare you....I think you can create the picture!

Did I mention I love her?!!!

Just Another Day In Paradise!

As close to snow as we are going to get here in CA!!!

(Don't mind the pots hanging out in the middle of the walkway....

they are enjoying the rain too!)

On this rainy day I am enjoying the simpleness of my day....listening to the sounds of my dishwasher cleaning all my dishes, my husband fixing up the bathrooms upstairs & the rain on our skylights..... but most of all, I am loving the smell of this cooking in my oven!

Hope your day is as simple and lovely as mine, minus the above mentioned post!!!

NAP TIME....whether you like it or not....

Nap time is from 12-2pm every day....nothing has changed EXCEPT....she didn't want to nap. At 12:45 she decided she wanted to play. So if play is what she wants to do, play she can do in her bed until 2:00...You can't see it, but on the side of her crib is an under the sea music thingy she loves watching and listening to.......Isn't she adorable?!!!

:) I'm going to be busy watching her play! I love my baby!!!

Adorable!

Found this idea here and loved it!

LOVE Love love her!!!

How can this NOT make you smile?

Facebook = Fun Friend Reunions!

I was a little hesitant about joining Facebook at first. I felt like I was too old, that it was a college thing. But some of my friends had signed up and I wanted to look at their pages, so I signed up & now I am SO thankful that I did. I have had contact with so many fun people from my past. I love love love that people from all different parts of my past have found me & I get to see what they are doing. I have even had the blessing of getting together with some friends recently & looking forward to so many more reunions!!!

My friend Jaime from High School...we played softball together. Her girls are so adorable and I love that we each have a Kaylie (Kailey), and Katelyn.

Mindy, Kelley, and Me at breakfast

What Do You Do With Your Children While You Make Dinner?

A Girl's Dream....

I have too many clothes. It's terrible since I don't even fit into half of them anymore. Instead of telling me that I had to get rid of the clothes that don't fit, Devin suggested adding a third row. I love that idea and my heart melted!!!

This photo was half way through the project and you don't get the full effect of the layers and layers of stacked clothes, but I'm sure you get the idea!!!And when he was done...three levels of hanging space! I love my husband!!!

In order for me to be able to reach all THREE rows he had to buy me this beauty!!!

He is so thoughtful!

The other thing he wanted to do was replace our dining room light.

We are slowly changing out all the brass fixtures for brushed nickle.... the above beauty was possible because of Christmas gift cards to Home Depot.

Who Is Ready For The Rain?

I AM!!!

Walking, Really?

DISCLAIMER......

The thing I love most about blogging is that I can post something & if you want to look, read, or watch you can- but you don't have to. I hate those parents that always talk about their kids ....they think their kid is the only one who has done cute things, or new things (you know the type...their child is so advanced!) I am NOT that person, I hope.

My blog lets me be the proud mom that I am... but you get to make the choice to listen or not! Thanks for sharing in my joy!

OK....

Kaylie is learning to walk and loves the stroller she got for Christmas. Along with learning to walk behind the stroller, she is also learning to wave hello and goodbye.

On The Move....

Here she is learning to crawl....we called it "bulldozing".

Crazy Proud Mom!

I just learned how to post videos....so watch for some fun mom videos to come!!!

Christmas

Every year Santa visits my parent's neighborhood. It is a tradition we have had for about 25 years now, and something we look forward to every year. Santa comes on a fun, different ride each year and brings presents for the kids. This year Santa arrived on a Double-Decker bus with a police and fire escort. After opening a gift from Santa, there are cookies, cider, and Christmas Carols out front for everyone. It is a fun & unique evening.
Devin and I were excited to start this tradition with Kaylie this year & look forward to many more years of visiting with Santa.....Thank you all 4 grandparents, Uncle Brady, and Nicole for coming with us....we had a great time!

Kaylie LOVED Santa, she could not get enough of him & just loved staring up at him. Isn't she precious!!!

Kaylie, Christmas morning, with her new shirt Grandma & Grandpa gave her....maybe she will love to read as much as G-Ma Chris and Uncle Brian do.

Run-In With Rodman!

Kaylie and I went to Fred's in HB with my cousins and a couple of their friends to celebrate my cousin, Mel's, 21st birthday.
Picture This:

A well-known ex-Chicago Bull and rebounding extraordinaire with tattoos and piercings in toe standing next to the bar nonchalantly watching his children. His young daughter, 7 years old at best, was dancing seductively ON TOP of the pool table while his son, maybe 12, was dancing wildly around the whole place. Clearly enjoying more than just life!

While we were waiting for our table, Dennis Rodman came over to us and started to talk to me. He made very little sense. Fred's has a spinner near the entrance that has funny things to either sing, do, or act out. Dennis picked it up, handed it to me and told me to spin it. I spun and it landed between two choices ('Sing The Hokey Pokey' and 'fake an orgasm'......WHY ME?) I quickly said, "Sing The Hokey Pokey". I really didn't want to sing- good thing his children came running over, I quickly took that opportunity to tell his daughter that she should sing the hokey pokey, I saw her dancing on the pool table, I knew she could do it. The kids started to spin the wheel & Dennis patted Kaylie on the head and said that she should do the hokey pokey..... I started to make the hand motions with her right hand putting it out and looking up at our server, my eyes begging for help. The guy understood my message and took us to our table. While we were at the table waiting for the birthday girl to arrive, Dennis continued to wave at me from across the restaurant. I ignored him....but that didn't stop him. He took off his shirt, put it on his daughter, then she took hers off and Dennis put it on. Both kids got inside Dennis' shirt and all three danced/ran around the place..... Finally they decided to leave, but never changed back to their own clothing.

This is a great reason to say no to drugs!

Disneyland!

My cousin, her roommates and I took Kaylie to Disneyland for the first time. She had a great time and so did we!!! Strongest women alive?As a kid, Kaitie's favorite ride was Dumbo so she wanted to take Kaylie on it so Dumbo would become her favorite too!



The Happiest Place on Earth!!!
Kaylie would not let this apple go- She sucked on it for an hour & I have no idea why Kaitie didn't want to eat it when Kaylie was done with it!!!

Small World has been repainted, updated and all decked out for Christmas....I LOVE this ride during Christmas!

By 1:00 she was pooped....good thing grandma offered to pick her up so she could take her nap.

Cookie Party, Part 2

For the record, I had a great time at the cookie party & even won first place with my cookies! (can you believe it?... NO ONE that helped me make them can!!!)

Watch out because you just might be invited to a cookie party hosted by yours truly very soon!!!

Cookie Party

Have you ever been invited to a cookie party? I hadn't until this month. When I got the invite I thought it sounded like fun and I agreeded to go. THEN, I got the rules. These parties are intense and I quickly began to wonder what I was getting myself into....

Let me share a few of my favorite rules with you....
1. All cookies must be homemade, baked and the main ingredient must be flour. No "no-bake" cookies, brownies or bars

2. Bring a total of 6 dozen cookies

3. No chocolate chip cookies allowed

6. If you don't have time to bake, or have ruined your recipe, but still want to attend, you must go to a REAL bakery and buy 6 dozen really yummy cookies.
** Don't tell anyone, but I didn't exactly follow all the rules!!!

....YIKES!!! And to top it all off, my parents invited us to the USC/UCLA game the day before the cookie party, so when would I have time to do all this baking? Devin agreed to help me after the game & my cousins were over watching Kaylie so I tricked them into staying and helping too. Devin's friend Aaron wanted to hang out with Devin so he agreeded to come over and help. It took 5 people & 3 hours to make 90 cookies....

Please shoot me if I ever agree to go to another one of these parties.....

And P.S. if you want a cookie, come on over, I have 6 dozen assorted cookies for sharing!!!

I am pretty happy with how my cookies turned out & am SO thankful for my helpers....here are some of the final products.

Are You Listening?

I was talking to Devin about dropping Kaylie's afternoon nap, when he didn't respond, I looked up to find this:

I guess she isn't ready to drop that nap....I don't think Devin is either!!!! :)

Big Bear!

Isn't she adorable!!!