Friday, September 3, 2010

Summer 2010


Summer started off pretty rough. July feels like a nightmare that I barely remember. But we made up for it in August! Here are some summer highlights.





This is priceless. I guess when you're 17 months old, you don't want to be dragged around by your big brother.



Yes, that's little Maya behind the wheel. But she held her own.


Water baby! She loves the pool. Mateo has too much fear to enjoy the pool. That's why I have no pictures of him.



But he loves the splash park!


Really cool dinosaur park.

This is what Maya thinks of the dinosaurs.


I thought Mateo would have more fear of them but once he made sure they were fake (by tentatively touching it then running away as fast as he can and watching to see if it responded), he loved them!




Okay. Is she not the cutest thing you've ever seen?


My cute little family! I love them.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

I'm Such a Sucker




How adorable are these boots? I'm in love with them!





We are totally rocking the animal prints this year. It seems they are in fashion and Maya can easily pull it off with her olive skin and dark hair.

Anyone else as obsessed with their children's clothes and shoes like I am?

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Things Not to Say

I was in the waiting room for Mateo's speech therapy and the kids were playing on the floor. I noticed a lady watching us closely. Then she said...

You're kids are gorgeous. Your husband must be very handsome.

Excuse me? Did I just hear you correctly? Am I not supposed to be offended that my kids would be cute only from him?

I had half a mind to say

No he's just as ugly as I am. We don't know where the kids got their looks from.

But I didn't. I graciously explained that they were adopted. What are people thinking?

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Hair Drama


Mateo's new haircut.

Mateo has hair drama. We've been having issues with hair cuts for years now. Finally after trying many a classy beauty shop, I took him down the street to the local hispanic barbershop. It was the most run-down crappiest place I've ever been. But they gave him the best damn haircut he's ever had. And he didn't cry or squirm once. It was amazing. All for 10 bucks. Wish I knew it 3 years ago.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Back to "Normal"

I say back to "normal" but some of you know how abnormal normal is to us.

But Mateo is doing better. We are all living under one roof again. It feels good. We had a week of chaos. Well, life is always chaos. But more chaos than usual.

So...back to blog business.

Anyone read this book series when they were kids?



It was my favorite! Well imagine my surprise when I saw a giant advertisement in the mall the other day for the new Ramona and Beezus movie!

I SO wish Maya was old enough to see this with me. Ah well, maybe I'll just see it myself!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Family in Crisis

Sorry I haven't written in almost a month. We are in crisis right now. Without revealing too many details, Mateo is having trouble. We have gone to drastic measures to get him the help that he needs. We are all feeling the stress with this decision. Hopefully in a couple weeks we'll be back on track.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Why I'll Never Go to a Mega-Premier Again

I thought it would be a brilliant idea to join the world of Twi-hards at the midnight premier of Eclipse with my best friend Devan, wearing our t-shirts and Team Edward bracelets.

Next time I think I have a brilliant idea that involves staying up till 3am with a bunch of teenage girls and their moms, someone please slap me. Why? I'll tell you.

I'm too old. I felt tired before we even got there. Seriously folks, 10:30 is pushing it for me. Half way through I had a headache. By the end my eyes couldn't focus. The only thing I remember from the movie was a lot of close-ups on Kristin Stewart's big teeth.

The parking lot was so packed on the way out that we sat in the car completely unable to even back out of the spot for 20 minutes. There was a curb with a strip of grass and a small tree directly in front of where we parked but on the other side of that was the main road. When we first noticed how far the parking lot back-up was, I suggested hopping the curb. It was pretty high and I thought we probably would have scraped something off the bottom of her car so I didn't think she'd actually do it. And she didn't. At first.

But it was 2:30 in the morning. Devan doesn't really do well when she's tired. She may have sort of...well...snapped.

I knew there was a change when she rolled down her window and started shouting at the young couple making out in the car next door, "excuse me!" When they rolled their window down she implored them to try jumping the curb first promising she would do it after them. When the guy, who couldn't have been more than 17 and most likely was not the owner of that car refused, she then asked if he would mind backing up a bit so she could do the jump.

I was a little worried at this point. It was a tight fit and a large curb. But she was desperate.

I have to give her credit, she revved the engine of that 6 cylinder oldsmobile alero and bumped up the curb, over the grass being careful to avoid the small tree, then down the other side. She scraped the bottom of the car but didn't lose any important parts and made it onto the main road skipping about 40 minutes of traffic. And we were home free.

That was probably the best part of the whole trip. I never in a million years thought Devan would do anything like that. Well, now I know not to underestimate anyone at three in the morning. That sort of sleep deprivation can make you desperate enough to pull a Dukes of Hazard move without a second thought.

Anyway, here are some pictures from my trip. It was an awesome and amazing time. I was able to kick back and relax for the first time in a long time.



Pedicures!


Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Jasper. Oh HALE Yes!


My best friend and I are heading out tonight to see Eclipse with probably about a million pre-teen girls. We will be sporting our twilight themed t-shirts (mine says "Jasper Hale. Screwing with your emotions since 1863) and our Team Edward rubber bracelets.

I'm so excited! This is my first midnight movie premier. And although I'm nervous I'll be disappointed in the movie (I'm a huge book fan) I'm still excited for the experience.

Anyone with me?





Pictures from the event to follow!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Cowie Gets Adopted

This is Cowie.




He is a very important part of our family. Mateo has had Cowie since his second surgery when he was a baby. He is Mateo's best friend. I know I've blogged about Cowie before so some of you may already have been introduced.

On our way home from church last week, which was Father's Day, this conversation transpired.

Dave: Mateo, who's Cowie's daddy?

Mateo: (chirp, chirp, chirp)

Dave: Are you Cowie's daddy?

Mateo: No.

Dave: Am I Cowie's daddy?

Mateo: No. Cowie adopted.

Me: Cowie is adopted?

Mateo: Yeah, he not have a family.

Me: Oh. Did we adopt him into our family?

Mateo: Yes.

Me: Who else in our family is adopted?

Mateo: Me and Maya!


He's never ever used or even seemed to understand the word "adopted" before so this was a first. And it caught me rather off guard. But it was cute and innocent and I'm glad he's starting to get familiar with the story.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Fathers

I wanted to write a special post to all the dad's out there but especially for my husband, who, in my opinion is the best dad around!

Dads are important. I didn't have one growing up and even now there are moments in life when I wish I did. I had fantasies growing up about what having a dad would be like. Or what I wanted my kids dad to be like. It's hard to fulfill people's fantasies about such things but Dave goes above and beyond what I imagined a dad to be.

He is playful and funny. He makes the kids laugh with his silliness. He's not afraid to make a fool of himself just so the kids have a good time.

He is kind and gentle. He doesn't yell (much, we all have our slips). He doesn't say hurtful things or scare them. He uses a calm positive voice when he corrects them. He is a good listener and always hears them out. He gives each one undivided attention when he can. He cuddles and hugs and kisses them.

Most important of all both children know without a doubt that Dave loves them. That he cherishes and treasures them. That he understands them and that they are valuable and important parts of his life.

What more can two kids ask for in a dad?

Dads give their daughters a role model for how their future husbands should treat them. They give their sons a role model for how they should treat their wives. Dads give their daughters the confidence to be who they are, and feel confident in how they look. They give their sons the confidence to become great men.

I am so thankful for Dave and his significance in the kids life, in my life. We love you Daddy!



Saturday, June 19, 2010

Bad Lullaby

I have a string of funny stories to blog about so I'm just gonna do them one right after the other with some pictures thrown in here and there if I can.

First story. I think it's funny, you might cringe.

I was putting Maya to bed and every night I sing her at least one song while we cuddle. It had been a long day and my brain was pretty frazzled. The only song (really the only song) I could think of was one that I'd had in my head all day from the radio. It's not your "traditional" lullabye. In fact, it makes a really bad lullaby.

But since it was the only song I could think of, I knew the words, and Maya was expecting a song, I sang it to her, in my most soothing lullaby voice.

Here are the words. See if you know this song.

I wake up every morning
With a big smile on my face
Never feels out of place
And your still probably working
At a nine to five pace
Wonder how bad that tastes

When you see my face hope it gives you hell
hope it gives you hell
When you walk my way hope it gives you hell
hope it gives you hell
You find a man that gives a damn and treats you well
Well he's a fool hope it gives you hell
hope it gives you hell


Yes, I sang my baby "Gives You Hell" by The All American Rejects as a lullaby. In my defense it's a really catchy song. Do I win the parent of the year award or what?

Monday, June 14, 2010

Best of Birthday 2010!

BEST OF MATEO'S BIRTHDAY, 2010...

Presents:






This last one is my favorite...

My Grandma bought a beautiful handmade Amish wooden train set similar to the one above. It is very high quality and gorgeous. Needless to say Mateo won't be playing with it for a while :) But it is most certainly heirloom material.


Party Moments:



Who needs Chucky Cheese when you have music, a perfectly good floor, and a few kids who think they can break-dance?


Cupcakes:





Money Shots: