A Trip up North...

So my cousins Tammy and Hannah came into town a few weeks ago and we decided to take a road trip up North. California is such a beautiful state and I really wanted them to see it all coast to coast.
We took off early Wednesday morning and made our first stop in Solvang. the day could not have been more perfect. Sunny skies that were bright blue and the greenest rolling hills ever.We stopped there to eat and walk around.



Nicholas tried his first rootbeer in a bottle, which he loved and I had an amazing french dip sandwich.
After Solvang, we proceeded up to Monterrey where we stayed in a little hotel with a pool. Kids love pools!


The next day we headed to the aquarium. LOVED it. It was so cool and Isaiah said it was the best spot!



After the Aquarium, we headed over to Bubba Gumps to get some grub..

and for me and my cousin to get a good drink! We needed it!
We were supposed to go to my uncle's house that night but since that was canceled we figured we would head to San Fran for the day since it was only 100 miles away..We quickly booked a hotel (a crappy one) and went on our merry way. Once there we explored and checked out the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz from afar. Can't say I'm a fan of San Fran. Too busy, too many people!



After we ran screaming...I mean left..San Fran we headed back home via HWY 1 along the coast. The drive was breathtaking but added a few hours to our commute home. But, I can check driving the coast home off my bucket list.




It was a great trip and even better with my cousins and brother and sister-in-law.

So I used to blog..a little update

I've been busy with life and kids and work and family and life and life..So I have been very behind. So, in a nutshell: I'm still working, still mothering and still dreaming. These pictures are from various outings with my boys and my nephew Jeremiah. We went hiking and had a blast! I love doing outdoorsy things with my boys. It connects us and makes me feel like supermom, but honestly boys have a lot of energy and it helps to get the out of the house and get some of that energy out!

The pics of the smiley baby with the big ole smile is my sweet nephew Aiden. Here he is 9 months old and loving his bath in my tub. This kid always smiles and loves his Auntie! Its so great having a baby nephew because you get all the joys of a baby without all the work! Bingo!

Progress

This picture reminds me of Progress...as my son has made SO Much!!
Progress is advancing in some way. Progress is making changes to yourself and hoping that those changes make you a better person. Progress is inspiring. Progress is hoping against all odds and actually seeing it happen. I'm progressing in life. I'm changing things, myself, my situation my outlook, my faith, my hopes my dreams. I'm trying to re-define my own reality and see things for how they actually are and what they can be, not what they will never be. I'm faithful but not patient. Yet I am faithful that I will learn to be patient. Life is unique in that one must always aspire to higher levels to avoid being mediocre which is my biggest fear. I do not want to be mediocre, I want to be extraordinary and exact a change on this world. I need to make goals, checklists, recordings, or whatever it takes to keep myself accountable to what really matters. Writing is one of these things. I need to make it a priority because the weight of what is on my heart can only be released through writing. So in this I have made Progress.

My Bucket List

A Bucket List or Things I need to do before I die...

Life is precious and having personally watched two of the people I love the most on this earth die in front of me, almost losing a child and having a special needs child, I really understand that. While I know heaven is a place I will be going, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the life God gave you here on earth.

I encourage everyone to make one of these as they are amazingly good for your "you".

1. Do something amazing
2. Get my Master degree
3. Raise my boys to be good husbands/fathers
4. Hike the Narrows in Zion
5. Travel to Italy
6. Go to Rome, Europe, etc.
7. Be a model, just for a day or two.
8. Be comfortable in the skin I'm in.
9. Write a book
10. Change the view of just one person and save just one life because of it.
11. Get my Doctorate degree and make my kids call me "DR. Mom"..LOL
12. Hear my son say "Mommy"
13. Adopt/Foster a child
14. Travel to Africa and help sponsor a village.
15. Start a charter school/class for Deaf/autistic children
16. Go to a writing/photography retreat
17. Take a singing lesson, so at least I sound a little better.
18. Put my money where my mouth is
19. Help someone with Ovarian Cancer in memory of mom.
20. Be an inspiration.

This is just a few..but I think lists make people accountable and all of these come from my heart.

A trip to Oak Glen

Last weekend, Sunday, to be exact, I took my boys to Oak Glen with the intentions of going apple picking and taking some super rad pictures that would define me as a super rad photog! Well, I did get some super rad pics of my boys, my nephew and bro and sis in law and a few good ones of my aunt and cousins. however, apple picking did not happen. Who would have thunk that last Sunday the entire population of California would decide..Gee We should go apple picking in Oak Glen?..well that's what happened. So after going to the pumpkin patch and taking some great pictures we headed up the hill to go apple picking. Long story very short..CRAZY amount of cars parked on the side of the road and a large sign that said " No More Apple Picking Today!" in front of the place. BUMMER! but have no fear as when in doubt food always makes everything alright! We went back down the road and got us some yummy apple cider floats and donuts with apple seasoning randomness sprinkled on them!
Hope you enjoy these pics of our day!

Playing Catch-Up

Well this summer has been a busy one!
Let's see.
June: My bro had a baby, well his wife actually did the hadding, but you get the picture.
Aiden Thomas weighing in at 8lbs 15 oz 21 inches. LOVE HIM!!








Then later on in June Isaiah graduated from 6th grade...WHAT!!! Crazy!!


Then Andrew became a rock star and played his first show.."Sweet Home Alabama". He loves the guitar now if I could just get him to practice..!!


Some sad things...My grandpa Jester passed away and then a few days later my great-Aunt Polly died. It was horrible and I will post a photo collage soon. Its just to fresh to talk about as it was heartbreaking watching another person die.

So in an attempt to keep myself busy, which is not hard with 3 boys, we've been staying busy.


My nephew went back to live with his mom after being with us for a year, but that is a good thing. Both her and him had a chance to do some growing and maturing and I think it will work out well. They will both be joining us for vacation and I am still VERY active in his life and school.

Isaiah made it to Junior Olympics in the 400M, 800M and the 1500 M and will leave Sunday to New Orleans to compete. My Dad is taking him so he is super excited and has been training like a beast lately. Here's a pic from a recent race.

And Finally...Here is a pic of my nephew that I took a 2 weeks ago

That's it for now..We are going to Yosemite in 2 weeks so I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow..
my baby will graduate 6th grade and I'll bawl my eyes out.
How is Isaiah already 11 and finishing Elementary School? I just graduated high school...didn't I?
Andrew will be finishing 2nd grade..and is 5 feet tall and wears a Men's size 7.5 shoe..
Nicholas will be starting 2nd grade..
Where did all my babies go? Gone is the stroller and diaper bags and changes of clothes in the trunk..just in case. They have been replaced by track spikes, soccer cleats, an electric guitar and portable Amp. A roll of Paper towels and cases of granola bars (because all they do is EAT).
My vehicle no longer smells of pampers and baby wipes but of fast food (did I mention they are always hungry?) and boy funk..that delicate mix of sweaty armpits and rapidly growing stinky feet.
They get embarrassed when I kiss them..except Nicholas, he's still my baby love, don't like my music and say things that make me frown. What happened to the "wheels on the Bus" song being played over and over again?? Now its Rhianna or whatever is on KIIS FM and my son is rapping next to me!
I miss Isiah dressed as Buzz Lightyear singing in the back seat yelling at all the Fire%*cks! (Fire trucks).
Get ready..I guess I have to let him Grow UP!