First Day of School!

Can't believe it....first day of school....again.....they are getting older....I am getting older....I wish life had a PAUSE button.  Now that the kids are back in school and I am working less, I am going to catch up on my blogging and start documenting this life that I love so much.

 Taylor is in 6th grade this year.  She is actually the Student Body President this year and so excited.  She promised all the kids to have soda in the drinking fountains.  Works every time. 

Carter is in 5th grade this year.  He has a male teacher for the first time and came home yesterday from the first day so pumped up.  Why?  Because his teacher loves sports and talks like a surfer dude.

Tate is in 1st grade and has the same teacher Carter and Taylor had.  As he woke up today (2nd day) and was reluctantly getting ready, I was explaining to him why we have to do school.  He then let out a big sigh and said,   "I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS WORLD."

Uh, you and me both buddy.

More to come...I promise!

Crazy Mom Meets Sweet, Innocent Child

This kid is constantly drawing and leaving the pictures all over the house.   A few months ago I found this paper lying on my bed.  It's Tate's way of apologizing.  He writes notes and draws pictures with it.

What is that in my hand?  Oh, it's Tabasco.  Yep, that's me threatening him with it.  That's him crying alligator tears, yet both of our mouths are smiling.  Despite the crazy mean eyebrows, our love conquers all with three hearts "rising above" if you will.

On a side note, I think I really do look that crazy when I'm upset.  Way to artistically catch me at my best, Tate!

A Bee, A Rapper & A Pirate

Guess what?  I love Halloween.  I think it's because I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.  In Arizona, the weather begins to cool down a bit, I enjoy being outside again and smelling the fresh air, I love the kids' excitement and on a less profound note...I love Halloween decorations. 

As Tate said his prayers on Halloween night, it went something like this....
TATE:  Heavenly Father...thank you for all our blessings.  Thank you for our family.  Thanks that we could have a fun Halloween.  I bet you had fun watching us!

My Brother is in LOVE

My younger brother Jeff has been a great uncle to my kids, a great brother and friend to me...now he gets to be a great husband and father.  He got hitched October 15th (on Willy's birthday) to my awesome new sis, Danielle.  It was a beautiful day to say the least.

Uncle Jeff with Taylor, Carter & Tate

My brother Bryan and his lovebug, Rachel

Jeff, Danielle & Calan coming out of the temple.

Da fam

Jeff and his new son Calan

I love this kid.

And I love this kid.  And I love pink.

And I love these kids.  I love a lot of things right now.

My family...





My Grandma Reel (still sharp as a tack) and my Mom (still sharp as a tack too...it's only fair)

I'm still loving this pink thing.

Well, here's a nice four generation picture.  And by the way, I think the cooler looks awesome there.

My lil' sis who is mucho taller than me.  Not fair.

Jeff and the Birthday Boy

This was such a special day.  I'd even do it again.

Disneyland Fall Break 2010

 We just had to get out of town.  Willy and I needed a break, so we took the kids to the happiest place on earth.  Now, I will say that on Fridays, calling Disneyland "the happiest place on earth" may be a stretch for me, but it was still pretty awesome.

Pooh Stalker

This was Friday night at about 9:00 pm.  Tate was out of gas.

Uh, notice that Taylor does not have her glasses anymore!  She got contacts at the beginning of the school year and is doing fabulous with them.  I love her baby blues.

Sunday night we went to Goofy's Kitchen with our good friends, the Morgans.

The birthday boy gets a treat from Goofy.

Does Carter look happy to you?  Should I be worried he looks so happy?  Nah....

Saturday we went to Newport Beach.  It was absolutely beautiful and the weather was perfect. 



That is a ladybug on Tate's finger if you were wondering....

The infamous Nikolaus Kid Beach Pose....

I had to end with this one...Willy with his Dew.  (Intervention time?)

San Diego in July

Well, being the awesome blogger that I am, I thought I'd post some pictures of our San Diego trip we did at the end of July.  Better late than never...I'm a firm believer in that saying.  We love going to California, but I must say that San Diego was COLD!  Our desert buns were shivering the whole time!

One of our first stops was Sea Port Village where we met the parrot man.



 




 Our own D-backs were in town, so we had to support them.  Too bad they stunk it up. 

 We went to La Jolla Beach...it was freezing...it was crowded...and there was a jellyfish watch.  However, we loved it anyway. 

Every time we are at the beach I make the kids pose like this.  I wonder how long they will humor me!

 Our last stop was Sea World.  The last time we went to Sea World was in San Antonio about 5 years ago.  It was then that I was caught breastfeeding on the Shamu Cam.  That's right....my one and only time breastfeeding in public.

Here's the big phat whale Willy won for Taylor.  It was fun getting that in our car for the way home.

Not sure what's happening here, but I thought it was funny.