Our week

Just moving along around here. I got to celebrate Brooke's birthday TWICE this week. Lucky me! Once with friends up here and then again the next night with our Encino friends (didn't snap a picture that night though). Had a lot of fun just hanging out and chatting with these lovely ladies.

Brandon and Carter both got haircuts. I think this is the first haircut Brandon has had that hasn't been just a basic buzz cut. He's been wanting a mohawk for a while now. Funny thing is he won't let me fix it every morning. So he just wears it down. Silly boy. Might as well be buzzed. Oh well! He looks SUPER handsome in this photo. And yes I'm biased, but still!

Starting to get ready for Leah's baptism. It's coming up soon. Just ordered her dress this week and got it in the mail just three days later. It fits perfectly and she looks beautiful in it. She's so excited for her big day!

All three kids got their award for getting 150% on their AR reading goals, so Friday morning was awards ceremony central. Although I felt bad I had to miss Ashlyn's award. Luckily Tina snapped this photo for me. I missed it because I had to take Carter to a new OT doctor and it was his big evaluation appointment. I probably spent close to an hour and a half with this new therapist (who I really like by the way). She gave me some ideas and tips to try with him while we wait to hear if our insurance is going to cover any more visits. I surely hope so. It would be so nice to finally get him eating like a normal picky 3 year old instead of a cracker and milk eating only 3 year old. It's time to get some real nutrients in him, instead of just calories.

Spent Friday midday with Callie and Carter. We went to lunch at Cafe Rio and then over to the mall to walk around for a bit. I usually let Carter pick one activity to go on (there are two trains and one carousel at our mall). He chose the carousel. And then threw a fit about wanting to go on the train too (as usual), but there was no way I was caving on that. But he sure looks cute on the carousel ride with Callie. So I'll chose to ignore the huge fit he threw afterward. 

I also got to go see Divergent opening night. It was SOOOO good! I totally loved it. I want to see it again. I think I might. 

Saturday was nice and relaxing. I went to a kickboxing class in the morning and then we took a picnic to the park with the kids. On the way home we stopped at Menchies. They have key lime pie flavor now. IT WAS SO YUMMY! This treat was courtesy of Grammy and Pop Pop who wanted to let the kids know they were proud of them for doing so well in school. Thanks Grammy and Pop Pop! I didn't get the good grades, but I help with homework! Does that count? 

That night Paul and I got to go on a double date with Camille and Kevin Johnson. I don't think we have ever gone on a double date with them. It was so fun though. We had plans to go to dinner and then bowling, but we sat and chatted at the restaurant for so long that we nixed bowling and finished the night at cold stone. And yes, for those of you keeping track, that was TWO treats for me in one day! Yikes! Good thing I went to kickboxing right? 

I'd say it's been a pretty good week.

But lest you think my week was perfect, there were multiple, meaning multiple times DAILY, of breaking up fighting kids, times outs for throwing fits, nagging girls to practice piano and constant reminders to the kids to get their homework and chores done. But I don't like to dwell on those types of things. (wink wink)

Honor's Band

Ashlyn tried out and made Honor's Band. Only two students from her school's band made it and she was one of them. She was so excited! She practiced a bunch to get her try out song just right. 

She had three practices that were an hour and a half each. Plus more practicing than normal at home, plus regular band practice, but by the time the concert rolled around she was ready. They played at Canyon High with the Canyon High symphonic band. Not together, but side by side alternating songs between the two groups. They played three songs, "Indiana Jones theme song", "Radioactive", and "James Bond theme song". And she did great.  I'm SUPER proud of her. She practices all on her own and really enjoys doing it. It really makes it easy when I don't have to nag her about practicing. I can see her going far with the flute. It makes me so happy because I can tell it's something she just really enjoys doing!

Callie's Cheer Banquet

We got to go to Callie's Cheer Banquet with her family. It was really fun to get to be there with her and help celebrate her four years as a Cheerleader at Canyon High. She got some awards, one of which was an Academic award for having the fourth hightest GPA of all Canyon Cheerleaders, including Freshman, Sophmores, Juniors and Seniors. I'm super proud of her! We also got to watch a slide show of pictures from the year with a special section of it dedicated to the seniors. I know she loved Cheer and will miss it. I'm proud of her for sticking with it and still being able to keep her standards. That couldn't have been an easy thing to do. She's a strong girl!

Around here

I was getting ready for bed last night when Brandon walks into my bathroom. He's half asleep and walks past me to use the bathroom. This is how he ended up on his way back to bed. Haha…funny boy. He literally laid like that for probably 5 minutes before I escorted him back to his own bed. 

AND…super exciting news around here. Carter is eating Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. We won't go into the tears and time that was involved in getting him to eat his first bite. But suffice it to say, that he likes them and this is his second night eating some for dinner. Tonight it was an entire half of a sandwich. This is HUGE news. HUGE!!!! 

My Trip to Texas

I've been waiting for months and months for this past weekend to arrive. 

I got to fly to Texas to suprise my cousin for her 30th birthday. This isn't just any cousin. This is my BEST cousin. More like a sister than a cousin. And this wasn't just any trip. This is the very first real trip I have ever taken anywhere by myself (without any kids or husband) since Ashlyn was born. Ok, so don't feel bad for me or anything. I've done plenty of fun things since my kids have been born. But just not a trip like this. 

I got in late on Thursday night after a very peaceful 3 1/2 hour flight. My Aunt and Uncle picked me up at the airport and we went back to their house. We sat and talked and ate Blue Bell ice cream (the very best ice cream there is) until after 1 in the morning. The next day we got up, went to breakfast with my Grandma and then headed to an expo where Marcin, Brittany's husband, had a booth set up for his podiatry office. Brittany was there with her kids and was expecting her mom and Grandma to show up. She didn't know I would be there though. So after hiding for a while, and Brenda distracting her, I walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder and asked her "If she knew of a good podiatrist she could recommend to me". She looked at me, did a double take and then started screaming and asking me what I was doing there! I told her I came for her 30th Birthday and she freaked out even more. IT WAS SO FUN to surprise her! Makes me teary eyed all over again just thinking about it.  After everyone calmed down and the crowds of people stopped looking at us and dispersed, we headed back to her house so she could pack. We were heading up to Dallas for the night to spend time with my other cousin Sydney.

Brittany and Marcin. A big shout out is owed to him for letting me steal his wife for the night, even though he was running his first ever marathon the next morning. He did awesome by the way. Even with having to be up in the night with a suddenly sick kid. Super grateful to him for being willing to take on so much so I could spend time with Brittany!

Ok, this is the most random thing you will ever see standing on the side of the road. It's a HUGE statue of Sam Houston. The 1st and 3rd President of the Republic of Texas and a huge icon for the state. It stands about 70 feet tall, not including the 10 foot podium it's on. I don't know how I never saw it when I lived there, but I definitely noticed it this time.

Once we got to Dallas and picked up Sydney, she took us to this amazing restaurant in downtown. The food was SO SO good, but it was apparent from the moment we walked in that this was a gay restaurant. They even had a unisex bathroom. Not gonna lie, it was quite weird walking out of a stall, having a guy walk past me. But whatever. The food was so good, none of us cared. 

Sydney and Brenda. I have some beautiful family members that's for sure.

After dinner, we decided we needed to hit a different restaurant for dessert. Sydney was very excited to take us there. It was called "Rise" and they are known for their amazing souffles. And once again, the food was so good. We stuffed ourselves sillly.

We finally finished eating and headed to the hotel. Brenda wanted to surprise Brittany once again and booked us a night at the Ritz Carlton. I wasn't too sad to be a part of the fun!

The hotel was beautiful. We stayed up until 3 am that night. Talking and laughing until we literally fell asleep during a story.

Brittany had to try out everything. From the bathtub, to the robes and everything in between. She was hilarious to watch. Even did a nice little song and dance for us about how excited she was to be at the Ritz Carlton. I just love this girl!

On the way to Dallas, we stopped at Bucee's truck stop. Apparently it is THE place to stop on road trips. It was PACKED. Probably because it is known for how clean and well mantained the place is. They literally had sanitizing wipes for the toilet seats. And I must say the food there was pretty darn good too (yes we ate our way through the weekend). We decided we all needed matching pj's for the evening. It added to the fun for sure!

We walked around the hotel for a bit on our way out the next morning and we walked past a grand piano in a hallway. I talked Brittany into playing a song for us. It wasn't hard. She's an amazing pianist!

And a group shot before heading out to shop for the day!

After shopping and yes, more eating, we went back to Sydney's apartment to meet her sweet baby Blythe. She's super adorable, but wasn't too fond of me. She's a mommy lover. Reminded me of Ashlyn as a baby!

Sunday was church and family dinner together. And then that night I went back to Brittany's to spend the night with her.  I got her to play some more piano for me. I just love listening to her play. It's mezmerizing. 

We even got Marcin to pull out his guitar and they sang and played a song together. Love talented people like that for me to enjoy!

Oh and this was my adopted baby for the weekend. I mean seriously, look at those eyes. This is Brittany's littlest one, Holland. She's 6 months old and she loved me. Probably because I was excited to feed her and hold her and even change her diaper. 

Visiting Grandma GG and her dog Mecca. And this is Brittany's other daughter Emmy. Sweet and spicy and keeps you on your toes. She'll be 2 in a couple of months. 

 And yes, this is a terrible picture but we had just come from the gym and I didn't want to not get a picture with my Grandma before I left!

It was so fun to get to see her. It's been years!

And on the way out of town, we made one last pit stop for my favorite BBQ place. Valley Ranch. Brent and Brenda have been friends with the owner since before the place was opened and I have great memories of coming here with them when I lived in Texas many years ago.

Brenda and Emmy.

And this is me and Noble. Brittany's oldest child. And he is just about the sweetest boy around. He kept asking me why I didn't bring my "sons" with me so he could play with them. But then he finally decided if they weren't going to come with me, than Noble was going to let me be his new mom and would come back to CA with me. Guess the boy wants some brothers BAD!!! 

Best Aunt and Uncle around! I just love and adore these two wonderful people. And I'm so incredibly blessed to have them as my family!

And one last shot with my cute cousin. We kept saying the entire weekend how much fun we were having and how happy we were to finally be able to get together. 

A HUGE HUGE thank you to my amazing husband for holding down the fort while I was gone and for my Aunt for making this whole trip possible. It was such a great weekend full of wonderful memories I will cherish forever!