What Kyla wants to be when she grows up...

She's going to be BUSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert wrote out her list of jobs she wants to have when she get's big.

p.s. I can't wait to see what she ends up being so we can reflect back on this later

p.p.s. I actually can, I never want her to grow up, but you know what I mean!

New friends and a new motorcycle!

Friday night we went bowling with the couple that Robert is buying the motorcycle from - and had SO much fun!

We have been together for over 9 years and have never once gone bowling together... that seemed so weird when I sat down and thought about it. Doesn't everyone go bowling when they are dating???

We played 3 games and I started out with a strike my very first turn - I definitely didn't keep it up!! As you can see by this screen shot of the scoreboard!!!



These are our new friends Jerry and Jody!
( the pictures of Jody and I bowling aren't nearly as impressive!!! )







On Saturday morning they delivered Robert's motorcycle to him....
They couldn't find the keys for a couple of hours, and I am not exhaggerating when I say that it was probably the longest 2 hours of Robert's life! He did very well actually but you could see his pure joy when he heard the bike pull up! It's such a beautiful motorcycle and is Robert's perfect match!! The kids loved it and were confused when Jerry left.... Kade said, "Mom he forgot his motorcycle!!"




Just a side note - off topic....
My kids skipped naps both days and although Sunday was rough, it was so worth it. I'm a different person today. Jack was asleep both nights by 7 and Kyla and Kade by 9!!!! Sunday morning though - Kyla and Kade both made their way onto Robert and he left them both on the couch together and I got this cute picture. It makes me want to go home and cuddle with them and smell their necks!!

My boys

Kade and Jack ( in-between fighting and hitting and all the stuff I just LOVE ) are becoming very close friends and partners in crime. Around this time last year I remember watching my Jackie be a bit of a loner and think about how anxious I was for my boys to have the bond that Kyla and Kade did. The dynamics have been really great and they all seem to be finding their place with each other and activities. This was the boys playing in Kyla's room and her dress up clothes last night.... Kade was the one that actually insisted I take their picture!

I love my little Mr. Beards. I can't believe Jack will be 3 in a couple of months. My YOUNGEST will be 3. That's just crazy to me.

Just a journal entry...

About my week - and it's not even over yet!

Monday March 23rd...
Chriopractor appt right after work which was awesome - i'm fully addicted now (o:
Also a great night~ I went out to happy hour with mom & dad for Mom's actual birthday and had the best Mango Margarita at El Torito!

Tuesday - after work I went to the gym to have my very first appt with a personal trainer. Robert bought this for me and I was very reluctant because, well if you know me you'll know why. ( hint: I'm slightly on the stubborn side ) I decided to be very very open minded and it started out quite horribly, but ended "ok" He however didn't assess my capabilities and basically in-between "training" me and 5 other people just threw me on some machines with way too much weight for my lower body. My legs are quite weak and need to be trained and built up - he didn't bother to want to know any of that. He did stretch me out real well at the end and that felt good. I knew though that I would be hurting in the coming days when I left
Nighttime: Hell. Pure Hell. I took pictures of Kyla throwing a fit and was going to post them here, but that would be too mean ( I am though going to save them to show her for next time. ) I told her that if she doesn't stop before I count to 3, I was taking her out of preschool because she clearly wasn't old enough to go yet. That helped. A little.
I also took a video in the dark of Robert's snoring. Another reason why nighttime sucks.... how am I supposed to fall asleep relaxed after dealing with 3 kids who fight me and then once it's finally quiet the HORRIBLE sound of a 255 lb man snoring !?!?!?! I want to punch him in the face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( when I'm tired! ) (o; Love you babe! <--- incase he reads!lol

Wednesday - I got no sleep the night before because I couldn't breathe and my whole body was achy and chilly on and off. I decided to stay home because the next morning I could barely even open my eyes. I dropped the kids off and didn't move from about 9:30 - 2:30. No TV no radio nothing. ( THIS is when I should have watched my DVR but NO I waste my energy at 11:00 at night wathing instead )
I was supposed to go to the gym again for the trainer but I couldn't move.
I picked the kids up at 4:00 then got hit by a kid trying to pass me on the left while I was slowed down to pull into my driveway. Thank goodness no one was hurt - but the kids were a little freaked out by it.
My mom had to come over that night to put the kids down - I just couldn't do it. I was very aware of my inability at the moment.

I know what I need to do to fix my bedtime problems, but I need to take a couple of days off to do it -
Oh and Jack is very much starting the horrible 3's. He says NO to everything I say. I honestly thought I would get lucky with him since Kade was bad enough for 4 kids. I figured I deserved a break - I guess not. ( we'll see though )

Today I have the Chiropractor again, thank goodness, but I'm afraid for the massage part because my muscles are so sore it's ridiculous.

Oh and since I'll be keeping this forever - I should note that this is the week that Robert is getting his motorcycle. It's being delivered by his friend that he is buying it from on Saturday morning. Needless to say - 99.999999% of his brain has been in a euphoric daze since last week when he got the pink slip. I'm just going to go ahead and declare that I am the best wife in the world. He is seeming to recognize this fact as well. ( just a little side note: I didn't agree with it, but backed him 100% because for the perfect, well handled deal he was getting - he would have done the same for me )

Tomorrow night we are going bowling with the above friend and his wife........... I however sincerely doubt I will actually be able to bowl because I can't even walk down the stairs without looking like my legs are broken.

Lots of rambling today~

Happy Birthday Mom!

There is no one that I admire more in the world than you.

You are unique, you are self-less, you are understanding, you are beautiful and loving, you are a teacher, a mentor, a friend and a wonderful woman all around.

If there are people that react negatively to you, it's because they can't fully comprehend how it must feel to have a heart as big as yours. Your heart may beat out an internal battle with your head sometimes, but that's what make's you, you.

You make every single day of my life better, whether we are together or not. You care for my children who love you with every ounce of love inside their tiny little bodies. ( well not so tiny, but you know what I mean! ) The role you have in their life is a priceless gift. You've stimulated their intelligence, their love, their compassion and most of all their love for life!

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being you and wish you the absolutely best year of your life. I hope you feel surrounded by love even when the words aren't spoken.

Happy Birthday!!!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

This weekend was WAY too short

I feel like I didn't stop cleaning between Saturday morning and Sunday night but yet nothing seems to have gotten done? How is that possible?

We did get out to dinner Saturday night for my mom and our friend Jeff's birthday's. The kids did so good and Kade has a new found love of BBQ sauce. It's his first condiment and he's declared how big he is because he now eats it. He used to say "when I get big, I'll try it" Now he "IS Big" because he loves it.

We went to a place on Beach Blvd called The Lazy Dog Cafe. It was great for families - they are so crowded though, they only give you 2 hours per table!!

Sunday in between the sprinkling the kids played dress up and went outside the second the sun came out....
Kyla was the princess of course and Kade was the knight that saved her and Jack was the bad pirate!! I love just listening to them sometimes, it's creativity and imagination at it's best!

kyla was pretending she was ice-skating while Kade drove her around!

The only good thing about the weekend being over is that I get to go back to the Chiropractor today!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!! - such a change from last week!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Jack had ANOTHER fever yesterday?
I just don't get it......

He just finished his 10 days of antibiotics ( of which we only missed one dose the whole time. )

My mom called me to come pick him up and when I got home, there he was ready to cuddle with his bright red cheeks and cuddly little self. I admit, although I don't want him to have a fever - I did enjoy the extra cuddling I got in.

I'm on day 22 of a headache, and am going to the Chiropractor tomorrow, and am DEATHLY afraid of this. I'm SOOOOO tense, I'm afraid my body will resist what she is trying to do and I'll create myself to become paralyzed. I'm serious. Wish me luck.

Although I miss the days of going to a bar after work with friends for green beer and junk food, I am thoroughly looking forward to corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots at mom's house tonight. Maybe we'll buy some green dye to put in the margaritas!?!

Hope everyone has a good day -
Did you know there is a petition going around to try to make St. Patrick's day a National Holiday, not just a calendar holiday!? Funny!

The start of "party season"

I remember this time of year by my very crowded calendar! Tons of kids turn a year older, the sun stays out longer, throw in a baby or two, a wedding or two, some fireworks on the 4th, and now baseball for friends and family and it's a wonderful reminder of why I love Spring and Summer much better than winter!!

Saturday morning we had a shower for my wonderful friend Amber! Her and her husband Jim are welcoming their first baby girl due next month! Cheryl, Nicole, Becky and I were honored to have Amber's mom, daughters Madelyn & Morgan, and friends over to celebrate baby Brinley Claire Zabel's upcoming arrival!!!

Here are a few pictures.... the only thing that could have made it any better was a little bit of sunshine - ( and Kyla not busting her lip open on the swingset! )

The shower

One of the tables.... we all told Cheryl that we are going to start having all of our parties at her house and maybe even a renewal of vows some day!

Our pretty plates and favors. We had so much fun putting everything together

Amber's seeing the shower set up for the first time!

the whole group

14 years of the 5 of us, and by the end of 2009, there will be 14 kids between us!

3 generations (o:

The play-doh babies

Kyla and Megan were so happy to be part of the girly party!

Grandma and her beautiful grand daughters

The anxious daddy getting his "daddy dooty" apron!

Amber & Jim

After the shower, I rushed home and changed - grabbed the kids and made our way over to Jeana's to celebrate Abby turning 2! My camera died as we were taking the last of the pictures at the shower, and it's not the kind where you can just put in batteries so I didn't get any cute pictures of the kids.
Jack was enthralled with the bubbles that Jeana opened and I was so proud of Kade for interacting with Trevor and Brady so well in the jumber and playing basketball. It's so hit or miss how dramatic he is, and I just really enjoyed watching him play that day. It's hard to explain.... They didn't want to leave - but I was so tired ( maybe it was the several mimosas I had already had at the shower that day??? ) Jeana told them to take 2 party bags because she had extra and you would have thought they won the lottery!!

Sunday was Trevor's 4th birthday party. I don't normally nap the kids on Sunday's so I can get them down early to start the week. Well that was a HUGE mistake yesterday. Let's just say the party at Trevors did not bring me nearly as much pride in my children as the party at Abby's!! (o: There was a lot of anti-social whining and leg hugging going on! Kyla went from being so excited that her "best friend" from pre-school was there to announcing when we were getting in the car, that she is "NEVER going to a party at Trevor's house EVER again" ( I'm cracking up as I type that. ) It's because she only got 3 pieces of candy when the pinata broke. She fell asleep before we got on the major street...... hmmmm would have never guessed that would happen!

The birthday boy!!

This explains how my day was. He normally lives for the camera!



Look how cute the girls are!!!



I just love this one so much because you can see how they are holding hands.

Look at the professional swing he has!!

Sweet Aubrey!

Look at Kyla's face - she's probably picturing one of her brothers being taped to it or something!

Will they ever not feel this way?

My mom said she is going to buy a whistle because all she does is referree! I think that's what I'm going to do too!!
This letter is because Kade and Aiden wouldn't throw her the balloon they were playing with. SO dramatic.

It just cracks me up to have them be so concerned about each other, and loving one second, then absolutely hate "which is a word we aren't allowed to use, however it's clear that they "feel" that way" each other the next second. If this is a hint of what is to come when they are teenagers going through this stuff with other friends, I think I'm going to just give up now. Look how much fun they CAN have together!!