Happy 5th Birthday Baby Girl

My baby girl turned 5 today which makes me sad and excited at the same time. The terrific toddler has now become a little kid in kindergarten. I told her she needed to stop growing up but she said, "Mommy, I have to grow up so I can be a mommy like you!" We had a yummy dinner of her favorite food mac n cheese, Noni style.

She picked this cake when we were buying our groceries the other day. I have no problem buying a store bought cake if that's what her little heart desires.

Raine loved this Hello Kitty Necklace from her daddy. We picked it up from the Hello Kitty store in NYC. Mo loves it as much as Raine.

Raine was so grateful for the Squinkies from her brother.

She couldn't hug him any tighter or longer. It was a perfect pick by Reece.

Another gift we picked up on while traveling on the east coast. Daddy grabbed this tie-dye from a shop on the boardwalk in Ocean City and Raine couldn't wait to put it on! She was very happy about these and all of her other presents; a very spoiled little lady. I can't wait for her friend party at Fairy Tales & Tutus this Saturday.

Thankful Thursday

So very grateful for Grammie Rosie's pool. We snuck up there today to spend our last few days of summer vacation in the water. We love this pool and have been swimming in it for many years. Hope we can continue to do so next summer too. Reece loves diving & jumping off the ladder. Raine plays with her watering can; she keeps me nice and cool.

Lunch is always better by the pool, who knew apples could taste so good!
A lovely pic of mama and mini me. Reece did pretty good taking this shot huh?

Friends

We finished our summer road trip with a stop at the Brewer Bed and Breakfast in Nampa, Idaho. I love this place and would actually move here, except it is pretty stinky with a sugar snap pea plant and meat packing plant. The night we arrived there were six adults and eleven children sleeping under one roof. I wish the Russo clan could have stayed one more day so we could get a little more time with them before they move to Virginia. While they were trying leave the chaos and head back to Nevada, all of the children climbed into their Excursion. I was totally ok with it, I would love some adult time with my Shontell & Mike, but Jenn & Mark weren't that hip on the idea!

Remember this picture was taken at a very early hour of the morning, after I had about six hours of sleep. I cherish these two women, more than they could ever imagine. I have know them for ten years and we have raised children together. They were there for my through so many difficult and joyous times and now both of them will live too far away from me. Good thing they will open their homes to our family in the blink of an eye. I know that whenever I text or call them, they will make me laugh and smile for quite some time after. I love my girlfriends.

Shontell and I were trying to have a nice photo taken before the Hauguel clan finished our road trip home, and Izzy Rose kept jumping into our picture. I love her, she is an amazing young lady with a heart of gold. I love that she is in this picture and I pray I can raise my daughter as well as Shontell has raise Isabelle.

Not sure what Mo is laughing about in this picture, maybe he had too many mugs of coffee? Mo could speak volumes about his friend Michael Brewer. He would have taken me home to Las Vegas, turned around and driven 12 hours back up to Idaho to hang out with him and his amazing family. They have a very manly relationship that involves fishing, hunting, camping and at one time jeeping. Oh and these two Godly men are very fortunate to have the most understanding and flexible wives around. ;)

The Brewer family is just one of many that we call our FAMILY, not just friends. We say we are going to start a commune, I do hope it happens sooner than later...

Idaho is as stinky in as Marilla

We took a trip to the Boise Zoo and had a ball checking out all that it has to offer.

Another great day was spent at this amazing park.

Adam loved sitting on the anchor and seemed to claim it as his own.

Love these ladies, have known them for 11 years. I was so excited to see Rebekah and her kids.

Shontell and I were trying for a cute pic of the two of us and Izzy kept popping her head in it.

I love the way this turned out.

Yes, we chose to marry these clowns!

Visit with Grammie & Pops

We sure do love visiting with these crazy kids! They are so entertaining!

When we pulled into Burt, NY on Pop's 61st birthday and brought him a yummy chocolate cake with Butterfinger frosting. Yes we filled our kiddos bellies with cake and then sent them to bed.

Grammie bought the kids a slip and slide but they don't work so well in the desert on a backyard full of pea gravel. We set it up and the kids played on it every day. They loved the natural slope of the backyard.

Reece loved landing in this little pool at the end of the slide.

Daddy went out in Uncle Jack's canoe and Raine wanted to get out and swim in lake Ontario instead. She is so brave the water was cold and the rock are really slimy.

This visit to New York was very low key and lazy. I failed to call my cousins and run all over western New York visiting people. I just felt like I needed to be near my mom & dad. It was one of the best weeks of the summer!

Hershey Park

That's where they make the CHOCOLATE!! We didn't do a tour or anything this time because the kids are a bit too young but next year maybe. We had so much fun exploring this amusement park with Aunt Amber and Aubrey. Last summer we visited Sesame Place and this summer Hersey Park. Let's not forget our first trip to Disneyland with them too. We love creating first memories with our cousin and auntie. Mo was excited to see how it changed since he had been there when he was young.

Ariel view of the Hershey Chocolate Factory!

Brother & Sister enjoying the heat & humidity!

Cousins needing more water and it was only 10 am.

The kiddos loved this ride they must have went on it 7 times,
the line was short and it must have given then a nice breeze.

Kiddos so happy for the photo op, can we just go in the park already!
I love that all of them insisted on wearing their new baseball hats from Uncle Doug.


Reece was checking his height. Ironic he could ride all the ride with a Reese's Peanut Butter candy sign. He was so excited when he learned that was most of the roller coasters we saw while we were driving into the park. Reece & Daddy rode a lot of coasters this time.

It was such a hot day we spent a good 4 hrs of it at The Boardwalk a water park part of the amusement park. The kids didn't mind that at all they loved every second of the day, well except when we made them go on Tidal Force. Just check out the Description: One of the tallest splash-down rides in the world. Guaranteed to get you soaked! Ride Facts: Number of boats:3, Riders per boat:20, Ride duration:2 minute, 10 seconds Maximum speed: 53 mph, Capacity:950 riders per hour. Aubrey was too frightened and after we all sat and started moving forward, Amber had to ask them stop the ride so she and Aubs could get off. Reece and Raine were not too thrilled it when it was all over. Reece said he was never going on that again and Raine wanted to know why she couldn't get off when Aubrey did. Oh well lesson learned, no more Tidal Wave rides.

We opened and closed the park and had such a great time that Mo said he wouldn't mind getting a hotel room next year and trying a two day pass. We will see...

Fun in the Sun~~Week One

We have had so much fun already while here at the Jersey Shore!

Girls love to lay in the hot sand.

Our wonderful friends the Feldmans spent the week with us.

Raine and I are twins with our matching swim suits.

Raine loves to run up from the water to where we sit.

My dear friend Christina.

We Are Here! We Are Here!

Our home for three weeks this summer. Mo's summer vacation tradition that he has introduced to his little Vegas family. We love it here as much as he does and my kids are now making similar memories he made as a child. I love that!

The Atlantic, with a view of the boardwalk in the distance.

Sassy pants with her new watering can.

The stud enjoying his freshly caught Maryland Blue Crabs.

My blessings relaxing with a snack.

I am in heaven, thank you Lord for summer vacation.

8th Grade Graduation

The RussoFam

The Feldman Fam

The young ladies in these pictures are like nieces to Mo and I. We were honored to attend their 8th grade graduation from Cornerstone Christian Academy. I can't believe I have watched Samantha Russo grow from a spunky little 4 yr old to a very mature 13 yr old. I am not happy she will be attending high school in Virginia.

Happy 37th Birthday to me

Today I ran my third half marathon. It was the San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon and it was so much fun! I think it was my favorite of the three because my dear friends Amy, Paula and Shelly ran it with me. We made a weekend of it and had such a great time. We left school on Friday and enjoyed and evening in Cali. Our hotel was a very short walk to Pacific Ave where Anthony's Fish Grotto is located. It was a delicious meal with friends.

Saturday we walked along Harbor Blvd to the convention center to pick up our swag bags. There was so much to see and buy. The best part of the expo was the yummy MGD 64 beers we consumed for only a dollar each. After hours of shopping and drinking at the expo we decided we should find some place to each lunch. A stroll through the Gas Lamp District brought us to Fridays fora healthy salad outside in the beautiful weather. Shelly took us to a little shop she loved and we all found something new for summer. I scored a super cute dress for only 20 bucks! It was nearing dinnertime and we needed to find some carbs for our race in the morning. We started walking toward our hotel in hopes of catching a cab to Little Italy for pasta. Instead of a cab we grabbed a bicycle taxi and choose a fantastic Italian eatery. While waiting for our table we met some very nice people who were also running the race. The whole city was consumed with 13, 000 people all there to run 13.1 miles. It was such a neat atmosphere, reminded me of huge sporting event like Superbowl or World Series. Everyone we talked to asked if we were running in the race and my girls often answered yes, for her birthday!

Race time came very early in the morning. We dressed, ate breakfast downstairs in the hotel and caught a shuttle to the starting gate at Balboa Park. I was so excited to be running a race with my friends. Shelly and I planned on staying together while Paula and Amy trailed behind us but only by 5 mins. Shelly ran ahead of me for several miles of the race, but with her in my sights I was able to push myself to catch up to her. I really enjoyed the bands, music and all the people who cheered us on. The course of the race was along a bunch a roads I have driven on every year during Sea Camp weekends. I walked through all the water stations making sure I didn't slip and stayed hydrated. At mile 11, my knees were screaming at me. Sea World was insight and I just had to ouch through 2 more miles. While looping back toward the overpass into the Sea World parking lot I passed Amy and Paula on the other side of the road. It was the motivation I needed to run harder and faster and finish this thing. I caught up to Shelly and then passed her to sprint through the finish line. The announcer even said that is one way to finish a race. After I heard that I thought I should have run in with Shell. I found a garbage can full of water bottles downed and few and then grabbed some ice to put on my knees. After a few minutes I hobbled over to the finish line to cheer Amy & Paula, but they had already crossed and double backed to find us. We all took a seat so I could finish icing me knees.

She

SHE wakes up happy just about everyday and almost always asks to crawl into our bed with us.

SHE has very strong opinions about her clothes. Poor thing wears a uniform to school so the first thing she does when she gets home is change into something pretty, usually one of her princess dresses.

SHE wants to do everything herself. She is strong willed and very independent.

SHE loves imaginative play. While we were at the dollar store the other day she picked out a crown with earrings and then a new princess wand. I have enjoyed listening to her play mommy. She told me several times to be quiet her babies were sleeping. I can often hear her singing random made up songs while cooking dinner at her Dora kitchen.

SHE says “yes, please” & "no thank you" more often than not – some of the best words in the English language.

SHE loves the colors purple and pink and blue.

SHE has the best giggle. She finds humor in so many things and laughs right out loud.

SHE loves to try and read books and has even started reading some on her own. Her current favorite to try and read aloud is Go Dog Go! She loves to listen to me read to her this gigantic princess book.

SHE is sassy, soft, curious, cuddly, creative, confident, courageous, and wonderful.

SHE is an awesome little four-year-old.

Idea borrowed from Ali Edwards blog

Happy Earth Day

How are you going to spend such an awesome day? The weather here is amazing, so we took a walk to the dollar store and Dunkin Donuts this morning. The kids ate their doughnuts outside and played make believe princess and pirate with their new items from the Dollar Tree. We moved around a few plants for daddy to plant and then made meat, cheese and crackers for lunch. Once again we ate outside and had a blast giggling and laughing the whole time. Daddy and Reece went to Feldman's to landscape and swim while Raine and I rested here at home. Now I am off to take my daughter shopping for some new Easter sandals and going to give some old flip flops to Old Navy. They will collect your old flip flops and turn them into the bottom of playgrounds. You could also go for a nice hike in and around a National Park for free! Go play outside today!

Family Movie Date

Look what we went to see today!!
It was such a cute movie; we all laughed right out loud!

These boys had so much fun dancing to the songs at the end of the show.
Reece was excellent at shaking his booty and rocking out!

Raine enjoyed the movie the most.
She would laugh so loud and say,
"This is my favorite part, this is where they shake their booties!"

Reece & Daddy played Angry Birds Rio while we waited for our delicious sandwiches.

We decided to enjoy some lunch after and what better sandwich to have than a Capriotti's Bobbie and Capistrami. YUM-O!

Spring Swimming

She is so sweet, I just love her hair.

Reece has been learning how to dive, he almost had it last summer but a winter without swimming and he's forgotten what to do. Now he's back at it and loves it as much as I do.

He really is a fish and loves the water.

We are so blessed to know and love the Feldman family. They are even joining us for a week of our summer Jersey Shore vacation this year. I can not wait for that. It will be so much fun sipping yummy adult lemonade on the beach with Tina. Today, she let me bring the rascals over to swim all while she prepared herself for a staycation at The Four Seasons. What a life huh?
I sat on my tush and enjoyed watching the kiddos splash in the pool. Sunny 86 degree weather lends itself well to a relaxing by a pool on this Tuesday morning. We will definitly head back there a couple more times this week.

Today

Life moves so freaking fast, take your time and note down what you did TODAY.
Today is very important.
Yesterday is gone and tomorrow isn't certain.
The best day to live is TODAY.

Here is what I did today:

made homemade cinnamon vanilla waffles

3 loads of laundry

opened a Easter package from Noni & Pe Pere

played with new dancing Easter bunny

read about Princesses and rock climbers

1 puzzle

read lots of blog posts and Facebook status updates & comments

chatted with friend on the phone & made plans to swim

explained what free will is to my 6 yr old son

listened to a lot of Justin Bieber music

tickled, kissed and hugged the little people in my home (a lot)

vacuumed

watched a very frustrating hockey game

called my sister

attended an amazing bible study and ate a delicious brownie

shopped for more Easter goodies at the dreaded Walmart

I enjoyed the first day of Spring Break and am trying to appreciate the little things this week since I can not have my way and spend a few days in California. What did you do?

Someday...

I will go on vacation during spring break.

I will not have to save money for it because there will be extra money in the blow fund for it.

I will get to go a shopping spree for a new spring/summer wardrobe.

I will get to be a stay at home mom.

I will have new floors and counter tops.

I will be cheering on my son as he runs around the bases or steals the ball from the other soccer player.

I will encourage my daughter to keep practicing her ballet dance.

I will be able to fly up to Reno for a girls weekend without a plan or budgeted trip.

I will be soaking up the rays and playing in the waves in Maui.

I will be free from grading papers.

I will have an extensive collection of stories to tell my children's spouses.

For now I will appreciate the blessings God provides.

LOVE

At service this morning the pastor spoke about all the sacrifices Jesus made for us. Upon the close of service he asked us to go out and love others like Jesus loved us. I cry every Sunday morning while soaking up all the pastor has to share yearning to hear more; this morning though, I wept. My heart was aching as I watched the images of the road to cross. The relentless amount of pain Jesus endured for me, a sinner who doesn't deserve his love. It was good Mo wasn't there because I have been quite somber all day.

Then I was reading a friend's blog and she said this:

I came up with this quote and I hope you enjoy it. "You are worth more than the sum of your choices, more than the value that the world places on you. You are a priceless gift to this world and the impact that you make in this world will be evident in the lives of those who met you and truly knew you. Use your time, words, and actions wisely"

I pray that as you go through this life that you are moved to make a difference in this world. Sometimes I think we all believe that we have to do something HUGE to make a difference, but really all we're called to do is love and to love without expectations or boundaries.. Love unconditionally.

I cried again. Easter is horribly emotional for me. Every since I became a mother, I can not look at the images of Mary & Jesus without sobbing. I couldn't imagine watching my son go through something that horrific. I am so very blessed that God sent his only son to live as a human with desires and temptations and to prove that God is the almighty father. But why oh why did God have to have his son die that way? I guess so we always remember what a sacrifice he made for us. During this Easter week I hope you reflect on how truly blessed you are. And if you don't know Jesus, I pray you will come to know him because having a relationship with him is such an amazing experience. God Bless You!

Camping with Daddy

Ready to sleep in the tent.

Reece fell in love with Arthur the dog
and hung out with him as much as he could.

Raine was supposed to be taking an afternoon nap.

Sweet, sweet blessings from the Lord!

I love this picture. It shows the innocence of my children and the joy they have within them, especially while camping with daddy and his friends. I had planned an all day scrap event at church from 9 until 9. Mo put on his super dad cape and took the kiddos to a huge Easter egg drop extravaganza, then out to Lovell Canyon for the a little spring camping. The had the best time and didn't want to come home. All three of them wanted to stay and camp another night. They loved playing in the dirt and made swords with sticks. Raine said she loved the smores the most. Daddy loved every minute of it. I was spoiled by how much mommy time I had to myself, Mo should probably take them camping at least once a month. Glad they all loved it!

New Position

YEP, I found a new career, well not really. I will be moving into the Special Education Department. I will be one of two resource teachers in our building. Not quite sure which grades I will be working with yet, I think 4th & 5th. We are still working out the placement of students for next year. I will be attending several meeting throughout the end of the school year and will have to brush up on my special ed laws and IEP writing over the summer but overall, I am excited. It is unfortunate though that I can not show my excitement because we are losing 5 regular education positions from our building. While I am cheering for my latest teaching adventure, two of my dearest colleagues and friends who teach in the classrooms on my left and right are having to find new schools to work in. Why is it we have to cut so much from education but can fund other dumb things?