The prereturn of posting. . .

So tomorrow will begin a string of 26 (hopefully, but not likely) continuous post! I figured before I jump into THAT I should write a welcome back blog :) attempting to recap life is impossible but maybe a couple blurbs would suffice. . .

So I turned 23 again this month and got to spend a long weekend in Catalina with some friends. The weekend adventure was planned far in advance and when i told people, they always responded with something like " oh fun, but what are you going to do there for 3 days?" . . . Ummm HELLO, no kids . . . 3 days . . . .HEAVEN! (haha, no offense little loves)!! So the day of departure came, we loaded the ferry (some of us got sick), arrived on the beautiful little island and pretty much immediately asked, "What the heck are we going to do here for 3 days??" We did eventually figure it out and had a BLAST!! Relaxing ,eating, walking, golf carting, bike riding, exploring, celebrity (or so he thought) stalking, shopping, para sailing, a morning at the spa, tv watching, ummmm even sleeping :) It was pretty great and a lovely way to celebrate!





Much to my liking, Aubrey has made an excellent transistion into middle school. Just this last week she was named the 6th grade student of the month. It took them 3 short months to realize my Aubrey is a superstar :) She will be honored at a breakfast in a couple of weeks. We are super proud of the choices she has made and sets such a good example for her little brother.

AND whats a blog without a quick story about our family comedian CAYDEN . . . so the other day we went to the new In -N-Out for lunch. The place was packed and like most In-N-Out experiences go , I sent the kids to scout tables while we ordered and filled drinks. The kids found 2 empty "bar style" seats next to 2 "hopefully soon to be empty" spots. I was watching the kiddos from afar waiting for our number to be called when I see Cayden reach over and grab a french fry from the now empty seat besides him. At that very moment Shawna kind of turned around and was like, is Cayd eating french fries?? It took me a second to get through the crowd and stop my kid from continuing his appetizer . . . ."CAYDEN!! what are you doing?? Those people are still here!!" His face is immediately shocked and he chucks the fry to the ground. "Oh, I thought they left" Okay kid, whether they left or not - we DO NOT eat strangers leftovers. "They looked normal and I'm hungry!!" This guy at a neighboring table totally watched the 30 second ordeal and was cracking up as he shared it with his friend - giving my little food snatcher thumbs up on their way out. He drives me BONKERS!!

. . . okay, just one more. . . . we recently flew off to throw my adorable pregnant sister a baby shower. Our trip to Indiana was quick and sleepless but we were honored to throw her a shower, meet her friends, play with the triplets she watches, and help set up baby Brooklyn's nursery :) We cant wait til the baby arrives and Molly practically moves back home ooops, I mean visits a lot :)

Not SWEET Aubrey

. . . Oh yes, sweet little Aubrey has a not so sweet side too :)

Last month, I made a "motherly" decision and pulled Aubrey from her softball team. While she completely understood my reasoning for why she couldn't be on the team anymore, she was devastated. Thinking quickly, I came up with this "exciting" plan to train her to be a runner, and compete in short races with me (ones with medals of course). I figured it would be something fun for us to do as a family. She was totally on board, and the plan immediately lifted her spirits. I made cute charts, convinced grandma to join us, and everything seemed great. . . ummm, that is, until the training and running aspect of the plan actually started :) GRRRR! Our training progressively leads us through series of run/walk cycles, leading up to 30 minutes of continuous running. We have basically the same ritual every day (or 5 days a week), I come home from work and chipperly announce. . . . "it's time to change into running clothes!" and my sweet little Aubrey immediately turns into the BEASTmaster :) The first two weeks we had a 6 minute walk/2 minute run cycle, repeated 5 times. We got through the first week with minor whining and complaining but when week #2 rolled around, the HOT SUN also decided to roll in to town. Not far into our run one day my Aubs turned into her crabby runner self and was purposely doing everything I was training her not to do. To say the least, she grew frustrated with my critiquing and yelled "I HATE YOU," and proceeded to spit on me. Ummm, I was a little shocked, and in my stern, mean mom voice (holding back my laughs) she got a yelling :) I believe she immediately regretted her actions, and even more so now. . . .A couple weeks have passed and not a day goes by that someone doesn't mention it. "Hey Aubs, you're not going to spit on me, right." We all laugh at her, and sometimes she laughs too. I am happy to report we are currently working on week #4 and today's run increase was fabulous. Mom and Aubrey did amazing and Pregnant Auntie Molly is here visiting and joined in the training fun :) Yeah for our new hobby. I hope one day Aubrey will admit she kind-of-sort-of likes it and I can relive my early running years through her :) The reason we have kids, right? Oh how I love them and their little mistakes too :)

Dedicated to my dear, sweet, pregnant (w/ my lil' Brooklyn) sister who doesnt believe changing fonts & layouts counts as blogging :) Here's your post

Hooray for fall!! A time for new beginnings . . . or is that Spring? Guess it doesn't matter, I am ready for new beginnings. I love it. . . the kids are back in school, the decorations are up, apple cider, chilly weather, yummy soup . . . fall is the BESTEST!!

Besides a great family vacation, the exciting reveal of my sisters baby girl, and Caydens 8th Birthday (okay, I guess there was more good there than I thought) August was basically a BUST in my life. . . . I lost my 2 best friends to the wicked witch of the west (ummm, like seriously), discovered a boy I dated but 3 months earlier ran off and got married (hmmm, you think he was dating us both??) , and lost the current bf when he ran off to Greece for a month and ummm, never returned??
I'll just assume he got married too. I was sad all month, but now it is September, I am putting it behind me, and trying to find humor (and a lesson) in it all :)

The kids have fallen into their school routine and so far everything is perfecto. Aubrey started middle school (attending the same school I did as a kid) and LOVES it. To be honest, I think the transition was harder on me. She is getting so old and I don't like it :) I actually wasnt even able to drop her off on the first day and had to take her to a friends. . . I have since over come that haha. I went to preregistration, back to school night and parents lunch day and am so happy with her teachers, the staff and the school environment. It is awesome and I know she will continue to grow in to a bright young lady there :) Cayden is now in 3rd grade and getting so big and responsible too. He was sad his sister wasn't at his school anymore (although they rarely even saw each other) but has proven to be quite independent and happy with school life. He loves his teacher (his first man teacher), is doing well with his school work, and hasn't even had a close call with the principals office (knock on wood). He got a new bike for his birthday from grandma and grandpa and it is still (yes 3 weeks later) his most favorite present ever. He practices riding it every day in hopes of proving to me he is responsible enough to ride it to and from school. Awww, maybe one day little one!! He is also having a competition with grandpa (although gpa may not realize the competition factor) to grow the biggest pumpkin. He wakes up extra early each morning to tend to that growing plant. It is beyond cute!
Okay, okay. . . I will stop rambling. Hope this post will satisfy my sister . . . Happy new school year and fall to all :)

It's LUCKY Thursday . . .

Shocked, Surprised, Ecstatic . . . I just won the bestest blog prize ever! I wanted to give a shout out and thank The TomKat Studio Blog. . . I am addicted to this blog and inspires my crazy party planning hobby :) I feel so Lucky and honored :) WAHOO! Cant wait to get this amazing machine and put it to work . . . Awww, I LOVE it already!!

Oh yeah. . . here is the prize . . . an amazing piece of machinery

http://tomkatstudio.blogspot.com/2010/07/super-fabulous-friday-giveaway-winner.html

Half way through 2010 . . .

. . . oh yes, sadly it is true. . . .we are on the downhill of 2010, meaning its time to check in on those new years resolutions. . . . I should probably just stop writing now!

Okay. . . .here goes it

fail
GOAL: Lose 20 pounds!
ummmm, pretty sure I have added another 20 (as I sit and eat my sour patch kids at 12 am!)
Maybe next year!

fail
GOAL: Run 1000+ miles this year
not looking so hot. . . .is it possible to run 100 miles per day?? haha
This could possible be the cause of the failure above

looks promising
GOAL: Compete in 3 running events
San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon just passed and I wasnt there :( but I already ran the Carlsbad in Jan and am planning on Disney in Sept and possible the Ragnar Relay in the fall too??

Awww, my favorite goal
GOAL: Read 52 books!
Should SUCEED with flying colors :) Lovin it!!

hmmm??
GOAL: Be a better friend
struggle, struggle. . . always a struggle. I am prob not the one to judge this, but I think all my "Friends" in January are still currently talking to me today :) I hope that counts for something!

I still have all summer break??
GOAL: Help Cayden become a better speller
Horrible speller but read my last post . . .even a horrible speller can be a GATE student :)

hmmm??
GOAL: Let Aubrey act like a 10 year old
Welp, she is ELEVEN now, so treating her like a 10 year old would just be cruel, right??

and my final goal for 2010 . . .

FAIL :BLAH: FAIL again!!
GOAL: Find that 2nd paycheck :)
yeah, probably not going to ever happen, oh well!

Looking forward to my checkin in 2011 :) Happy Half Birthday 2010

My little Brainiac. . . or NOT??

Sharing my proud momma moment . . . we received Cayden's acceptance letter to the GATE program in the mail today. His adorable, sweet, brilliant, "Editor-in-chief of the school newspaper," hard –working sister couldn’t be more jealous. Honestly, the program at his particular school doesn’t offer much, but as momma of this little rug rat, I couldn’t be more proud, and AHEM (clear my throat) ummm, SURPRISED????

Yes, just yesterday it was this "brilliant" child who managed to drive me to near insanity with his less than genius maneuvers, maybe his brain was on hiatus?? We ended up at a local store to pick out some new sunglasses, glasses he managed to lose in an empty church room?? Guess that’s not dumb . . .. maybe magical?? Anyways we arrive at the store, I park, and my little puppy of a kid immediately sticks his head out the window and I nearly chop it off rolling up the windows. "Ummm. . . .get that dang head of yours in the car my love." GRRRR. . . . So again, we are at this store and Cayd and I run in to use the bathroom before filling our cart and heading to the checkout line. Jump scene to that awkward moment where the items are all rung up and bagged and I'm franticly searching for my ATM card. . . we got gas on the way to the store and I could have sworn I put it in my back pocket??? I give up and pull out one of those evil credit cards and hope its one that’s still good :) haha, yeah, thats a whole different blog! So we succeed, get to the car, and head to our next destination. I am driving, and Aubrey is throwing everything out of my purse searching for this card. I get a little flustered and am talking to her not so nicely . . . . she’s in tears, I am mad, and the little puppy in the backseat is completely clueless, and simply along for the ride. We get to 711 and I announce – they are luck I have a couple bucks, and can still get them slurpees (as promised before this whole mess) At this point my "genius” son looks at me and says, “youre looking for your ATM card? . . . and simply states . . . you dropped it on the bathroom floor at target." ummm, serious?? Could you have not mentioned it 30 minutes ago. . . when we were actually in the bathroom??? Guess you can say, I was less than happy and maybe a tad LIVID :) haha, I can say it with a smile now. Where did this kid come from? Completely clueless of the commotion that has been occurring?? At one point I had even turned to him and totally blamed him . . . he is notorious for losing things (hence the trip to the store in the first place) "Ummm, I thought you would pick it up!" Of course, the card was not still on the bathroom floor when we returned once again to the store, nor had anyone turned it in to guests services. But luckily, canceling the card was super easy and my child got a lesson in identity theft :) He loves learning things. . . .but usually takes the hard way!

Oh brilliant one . . .. good luck in the GATE program :)

RSVP Please

I love making invitations!



. . . But, I didn't especially love making three separate sets last month! My nights have seen its fair share of patterned paper and double sided tape :) My last requester said . . . "nothing big deal, I only need like 10 or 15." While it isn't the mass production that kills my time. . . its my initial vision . . . and my over thinking of that initial vision. One of my many faults . . . pursuit to perfection. If I am going to spend my time making something, I might as well create something I LOVE!! I think those "nothing big deal, only 15 invites" costed me 4 trips to the craft store and 12 hours of arranging and rearranging before I ever did start creating :) I was so so so excited at work today. . . I am going home tonight and have absolutely nothing to glue!! Hopefully now I will find the time to blog about the actual events that followed those invites . . . .

Just the 15 invites :) Love you Barbs


Aubs aprons to go along with her cake decorating party!


To be honest, I actually never did fall inlove with these flip flops and will never make again. . . something about them says Grandma's Slippers to me! Oh well. . . we all occasionally FLOP (no pun intended) haha