the life and times.....

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2009-10-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

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2009-10-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

Fun at Freddy's

2009-10-07T14:14:00.001-07:00

She just looks so cute riding the horse at Fred Myers. I don't ever let a day go by that I'm not just totally amazed that we even get to have her in our life. It was a miracle.....

Homecoming 2009

2009-10-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

Kaylle makes funny faces!

It was so sweet, my son took his friend Kaylee to homecoming a couple weeks ago. They hung out the whole day. When they went to dinner that night some random guy came up and told them they looked really nice and handed them $20! All in all it was a great time for Kaylee and Ricky I think, and me and Jill got some awesome pictures of our kids!

2009-03-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

Lovin on Finn

Wrestling

2009-02-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

I don't know what I like most about watching Ricky play middle school sports....

1. It's a new side to my son, because he didn't start any competive sports until he got into middle school

2. Being with family and friends hanging out watching the sports

3. (this probably is my favorite part...okay it is!) Watching Ricky on the sidelines, he is one heck of a team player!!! It makes me so proud to see him cheer on his team mates, and be such a good sport, wether he wins OR looses.

Last night was especially fun; everyone showed up for the match. It will be the last match I see Ricky wrestle until next year for High School because I have to work late on one of the nights that they have matches. Ricky did great and pinned his guy in the first round. He now stands at 6 wins (5 of them being pins) and 4 losses.

Abigail had a blast traveling across all of her grandparents laps and getting to see everyone. Poor Tyler was suffering from a gluten attack so she spent a lot of her time on my lap trying to stay strong. Before the match was over she was feeling back to her Tyler self!

him times me = her

2009-01-28T13:26:00.000-08:00

(Haunted CamelBack Trunk - $400)--craigslist

2009-01-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure where I was reading, but I saw on someone's blog that they posted funny Craigslist ads they found. I never thought much about it until today when I read this, and I had to read it a second time to make sure that the person who posted this ad really wrote what they wrote!!

I am not sure how old this trunk is, but I my wife bought it for her brother in 1960 and it was old then. In 1990 it was given to my daugher. For a while, she had it in her bedroom, but didn't sleep well because at night she sees this old woman who sits by the trunk and cries. My daughter loves the trunk, but cannot have it in her house, therefore she is selling it. The trunk is 26" H X 23" W X 36" L It is in very good shape. Fully restored, this trunk would sell for $1200 - $2000 at sites I have checked on line.

2008 Questions

2009-01-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

I found this question thingy over at All and Sundry's blog

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I experienced the true power of turning it over and letting it go, and because of that I experienced less stress in my life. I think I had a lot of awakenings this year.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made any last year, I didn't want to set myself up for failure. This year I am going to NOT cut my hair!!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister in law who lives in Hawaii, had her first baby girl in November.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
Only the ones in books
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I'm not going to have any expectations of 2009!
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Finding my daughters nanny, what a life changing relationship that's been! and of course the election of Obama
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Less stress, more education and deeper relationships
9. What was your biggest failure?
too personal to answer here
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No
11. What was the best thing you bought?
None come to mind
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My children's
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My children's
14. Where did most of your money go?
House, Food, Childcare
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to school, quitting smoking, being a mom
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
There's a song on Scrubs that is kind of sad and slow when JD starts to remember stuff, that song and the Cold Play song
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier!
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter
c) richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Reading
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? worrying
20. How did you spend Christmas? With my family
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? with life
22. What was your favorite TV program? Scrubs and Always Sunny in Philadelphia
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No
24. What was the best book you read? The Red Tent
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Jack Johnson
26. What did you want and get? Healthy Skin :)
27. What did you want and not get? smooth sailing, life isn't always easy, it takes so much damn work sometimes
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Appaloosa
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? It seemed like we celebrated all week long, we had special dinners, we celebrated with my Mom because it was her birthday too, we had all kinds of celebrations and such special gifts that I will treasure the rest of my life. I turned 32
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Less stress, although I did so much better this last year! so this next year I am going to make the effort to let go of the things I can't change and try to keep relaxing. I leave the job to God and not try to do it for him!
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? I'm still trying to get used to being bigger after having my daughter, so my fashion concept this last year has been a struggle.
32. What kept you sane? My very close friends, my program, my God, my husband, and my gratitude.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? ??
34. What political issue stirred you the most? The ones around the election, I didn't think it's right for anyone to be racist or show bigotry, so I was really upset about Obama's pastor and the things he said.
35. Who did you miss? A very close friend who left our lives and has just recently come back.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Jessica!! She takes care of shmabel all day and she has become a close and dear friend.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. All the stress and worry in the world is not going to change how things turn out. I need to breathe in, breathe out and just let things be, I can only change myself, I can not change anyone else no matter how much I think it would make things better. God's Will, not Christy's. So I let go, and my body can be healthy, I have less skin problems, I have better health, and I'm an all around better person to be around. When the stress, anxiety and worry do come back, it is especially uncomfortable and more dramatic because I don't live in it everyday like I used to...I also pray every morning, that was something I wasn't doing in 2007...
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Some days I feel like crying Don't matter if its rain or shine I feel like my heart was broken At least a million times Some days I wake up dreaming Feels like I never even wokeAnswer life's big question As if it's one big joke Maybe it's too soon to be sure but I Really do believe that some day we're gonna have it all So I cry so hard it keeps the rhythm of a train Rolling right along when the ride gets rough you got to carry on Some days I feel like singing I sit back and just groove the day away Maybe I pick up a guitar and play what I want to play Maybe it's too soon to be sure but I Really do believe that some day we're gonna have it all So I cry so hard it keeps the rhythm of a train Rolling right along when the ride gets rough you got to carry on Carry on,You got to carry on You got to carry on You got to carry on Today I feel like laughing seems to be no reason at allAnd if the world stops spinning I'm not afraid to fall Maybe it's too soon to be sure but I Really do believe that some day we're gonna have it all So I cry so hard it keeps the rhythm of a train Rolling right along when the ride gets rough you got to carry on .........

What a way to bring in the new year

2009-01-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

We brought in the New Year in the tradition of our life; surrounded by friends and all of us reflecting on what the most important things in life are. I'm amazingly blessed in my life that I get to live the way I do, and that I'm constantly reevaluating to make sure that I don't loose touch of my gratitude, that way I don't ever have to stop this new way of life I'm living. We enjoyed a great dinner with friends, my husband was the main speaker at the event we attended, and then we stayed for a while and took pictures and visited. We left earlier than we usually do to pick up our 16month old daughter and we were in bed shortly before midnight. We had a great day today, we went to breakfast and then went and picked up our first ever flat screen TV!! Then we organized, cleaned and got stuff together to take to goodwill. Altogether a very productive and fun day with my husband!

Let it Snow!

2008-12-21T12:02:00.001-08:00

The girls had fun out in the snow this morning. Of course Abigail just stands in it, and doesn't really know what to do. Tyler is a pro and loves making snow angels and seeing how deep the snow is on her. When I brought Abigail in she was so upset, and it reminded me of my sister in law, Kate, talking about her son Nolan not wanting to come in last year when it first snowed. I really can't believe that Christmas is this week. It's really surprising how fast things jump up on me. I'm still not all the way done Christmas shopping. I only have a few things left to get, and the world will not end if I can't get it done. I just looked outside and it's STILL snowing HUGE flakes.

We're going to have lunch today at Inca's, today is my husband's birthday, and tomorrow is my Mother in law's birthday! I'm looking forward to lunch with family.

This is a recent picture that just turned out awesome. Me and the girls were just playing around with the camera after we'd taken our family picture in front of the Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas everyone, may your time with family be blessed. I'm hoping our family remembers the real reason for Christmas, and that I can use this Christmas to teach my children that Christmas has nothing to do with the gifts we get, but everything to do with THE gift we recieve!

and just a bonus picture of Ricky because I don't post many! But he was nice enough to give me a good smile for my birthday.

I didn't think we'd get it done-Merry Christmas!

2008-12-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

I was actually trying to convince James last week that we should just skip the whole Christmas tree thing this year, I am Sooo glad that he didn't fall for my whining and moaning about not putting the tree up. It looks beautiful! The other nice part about getting our tree is going to the Christmas Tree Farm that was across the street from the house my Mom and Dad lived in from the time I was nine up until just 3 years ago. So we've made it our tradition to always go back and see George to get our tree. Our tree has really changed over the last couple of years, I can remember the first year how bare our tree looked, and now how full and memorable it has become. The other tradition I love about our tree is the family picture we take in front of it. Here is this years family Christmas photo, and this year it took us less time to get the perfect picture, so I must be getting good at it!

Blessed, Yes so Blessed!

2008-12-03T22:36:00.001-08:00

I am such a rich woman-and a 32 year old rich woman at that! I have more than I'd ever hoped or dreamed I could achieve.
-I get to live my reality
-I don't have to regret my choices
-I have self acceptance
-I have a relationship with God
-I am married to my best friend
-I get to raise my children, be with them, love them and be a part of their lives
-I have my parents in my life
-I have even more wonderful family as an extension of being married to my husband
-I am blessed with such wonderful friends who make my life richer every day

How blessed am I? I praise God everyday that I am this rich, and this blessed. What a life, what a life!

Where does the time go

2008-11-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

This is Abigail with her camera and back pack ready to go to school!

Between school and family I have almost zero time to do some of the things I love to, like blogging, or reading-I can't remember the last time I had a bubble bath :) So I just wanted to drop by quickly and post these fall pictures of Abigail and Tristan that are so adorably cute.

Punkiness

2008-10-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

Abigail went to the punkin patch yesterday. Jess took this awesome picture of her. She is wearing her poncho that Shannon sent us. The poncho is from Peru. Abigail is from Washington (he he he) but she had a great first trip to a punkin patch. She took advantage of testing her freedom, explored the world, and played with fun animals that we always are trying to get her to say the sounds of because it is just too darn cute!
The pictures from there trip are the best. I almost feel like I was there. It makes a big difference for me that I can see some of her life through these pictures...it

Random Update

2008-10-16T19:06:00.001-07:00

Things are going great right now which I shouldn't jinx. But life isn't too unmanageable. I am trying despearately to stay on top of my classes that I am taking. I know how I am with procrastinating, so I have to stay one step ahead of the homework at all times. I'm doing okay and we're almost halfway through the quarter. The kids are doing good.

Tyler is working on losing more of her teeth. Lately she has been coloring up a storm. She's also started decorating her walls with math problems she writes up (like 1+0, and 2+2, and stuff like that) She seems happy and content. She has been spending more time in her room than I have ever seen her do, she seems to be making it her home :) She plays and sets up houses, and builds stuff.

Ricky is doing his best in Spanish, I keep telling him that it will only get easier, he's in the 8th grade now, so by next year in high school he'll be ahead. Tonight he's in Walla Walla for his second to last football game. They won their last game, he's hoping they win again tonight. Personally, win or lose? who cares, its how you play. but I'm not the one who's playing either, so I keep my opinions (some of them anyway) to myself.

Abigail is rockin and rollin the walking thing. It is amazing how her learning is on an up swing right now. She's back to doing something new almost everyday. Tonight when we were leaving Jess's house we were driving by where the high school practices football, and I said football, and out of her mouth came (and perfectly) "football", it was so frigin cute. We brought a little chair that my very close family friend Jackies dad made out into the living room for Abigail and she loves it. She crawls in and out, brings up her books, stands up (we say sit down and she does but she smiles that little mischevious smile) she's super busy with all of the walking and talking she's doing.

James is leaving on Sunday to go over to Seattle for training/school. Totally cool for the work aspect of it! I'm excited for him, this is his second trip over the mountains. Of course to be honest, I do alright with him gone, but I like it so much better when he is home. It could be a lot longer than 3 days so I am grateful this is what he gets to do.

3 Years

2008-10-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

James and I have been married for 3 years today. I just can't believe that we have done so much in that time. Our lives have changed, our family has grown. It is amazing to be married to James. I never thought marriage could be so sweet. Everyday is wonderful. My life has grown sweeter and fuller ever since the day James walked into my life.

Lates better than never

2008-10-07T17:27:00.001-07:00

This last weekend we had Tyler's late birthday party with her friends from school. They had a great time. We found some easy games off of the internet and they played, and of course they laughed and were ultra goofey (I think 6/7 years olds just come that way!) and then with Halloween so close by they had eye ball cupcakes, that was a huge hit with kid crowd. This was probably the most stress free party I've done. It was easy. I planned it for 10:30am, (no daughter asking me every ten minutes if it was time yet) and we planned for a one hour party. The kids were together long enough to actually have fun, get silly but also go home before everyone was just warn out from being there. I'm glad so many kids showed up! It was a lot of fun.

2008-10-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

James and I were so lucky to find Abigail's nanny. It's kind of a crazy little story. Today is an anniversary of sorts (although a very sad one). I went back to work a year ago today, after Abigail was born.

Abigail started out in childcare that was just right down the road from where I work. This was really great at the time. I left later for work, I spent my lunches at her house so I could nurse Abigail, and it only took me five minutes after work to pick her up. This was great until that provider starting watching a member of her own family and I noticed a decline in some very important care of shmabel (Schmabel is Abigail's nickname).

So when Abigail was just five months old a friend of mine started watching her. My friends life took on a new direction and just a few weeks into that situation we were looking for new care.
The search began and I was trying to not be picky but still meet our comfort level...

We found another child care provider, there were some compromises, like I couldn't go and see Abigail on my lunch anymore, which was okay because our breastfeeding experience was declining (but thats another story). The only other problem was that this day care could not take Abigail in until April and it was only the end of January! Luckily our parents helped us get by as we looked for temporary care.

That was when I decided I would post a child care ad on Craigslist. I had so many people respond, and I was mentally and emotionally drained talking to the varied and unqualified candidates. Until the day I got an email from the above miss. Jessica.

The day I met Jessica I had just come from another interview with a woman the day before who I wouldn't even let touch Abigail. I was weary, anxious and all to paranoid about who I was going to find for sweet Abigail.

Me and Jessica (not even joking) talked for over two hours during our interview. Jessica's qualifications were amazing, she was trained, experienced, professional, ingaging, intelligent and is a natural educator.

Those were the things that were tangible that I fell in love with. There is some more unseen qualities that I really can't describe that draws me to Jess. I trust her completely, I believe in what she does and who she is.

All those things don't seem to paint the complete picture of all the things that make my life better because she is in it!

Jessica really goes above and beyond what anyone could ever dream of to have taking care of their child. Although she does so much more than "just take care of our daughter" she's really helping us raise her.

Oh yeah, back to my story. Jessica started taking care of Mabel in February and by the end of the time when we were getting closer to having to move Abigail to the new day care both Jessica and I didn't want to end our relationship. So in the process of finding temporary care we ended up with a permanent friend and a permanent Nanny.

Abigail's life is enriched, her care is speacial to her very own needs, and she has everything I would want to give to her if I didn't have to go to work everyday. I am blessed, I'm very fortunate, I am extremely grateful that Jessica is a part of our life.

oh, I was tagged so I'm it!

2008-09-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

1. I still live less than 80 miles from where I was born. In fact I have never lived more than 100 miles from my birth place, and I have never lived outside of the state of Washington. (I am very happy this is one of my facts too)

2. When I was little I wanted to be the first female pitcher for the Mets. I had a few other ambitions that were weird (but I'm not mentioning them on this blog).

3. If we could afford it, and I didn't have to work, I would want to have atleast 2 more babies. I can want all that is good for me, because I am fixed.

4. I hitch hiked with my best friend to California when I was 14. We only made it to the very northernest northern part of California. We stopped in a diner and made fast friends with the waitress, we revealed all of our secrets to her. The nice waitress told us to go and wait at the nearby park, and that she would pick us up after she got off. 30 minutes later the police showed up and took us to a run away home (they must get them a lot in California-the house was full of kids) and we had to wait for my best friends mom to drive and pick us up.

5. I've only been on an airplane 3 times in my life. When I was 16 I went to California with my step sister and her mom for a disneyland/universal studios vacation. The next time I was on a plane was when I was 20, my mom best friends daughter was engaged to someone who worked at Berkstroms and we went up in one of those little planes when Ricky was just 2 years old. The last time I was on a plane was a couple years ago when I went to Las Vegas with my Mother and sister in Law to celebrate his grandmas birthday.

6. I was 28 when I got married. Practically an old lady (totally joking)

7. My favorite sport to watch is golf, but I have never actually played.

I tag anyone who reads this....can I do that, because I'm still learning all of the ins and outs of blogging.

Our day at the mall

2008-09-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is a long over due. And very blog worthy. Tyler is my beautiful 7 year old daughter. We have talked about getting her ears pierced for a long time. As the day approached Tyler got more and more nervous about getting them done. When we got to the mall I could tell that we might end up leaving with no piercings! The young girl at the store was very patient with Tyler. Tyler needed to take her time to even get up in the chair. Once she was sitting in the chair she was able to hold the bear who had its ears pierced :) As the earings were being loaded into the gun, Tyler started to back out of the chair. She had made up her mind in those short seconds that she didn't want to get them done! This was critical for me as a mom to help her with as much love and compassion as I could. I felt like this was a moment that Tyler and I could be closer, and development more trust. I knew she wanted her ears done, and I also knew she was scared. We worked it out! and I held her close, told the young girl to go ahead! and what do you know, but Tyler looked at me and said "that didn't hurt at all!!" so she was much more cooperative for the second ear. The best news of all was how proud she was of herself that she didn't leave the mall without the earrings. The best part for me was how much closer I felt to her because of the experience we shared together.

my day with Shmabel

2008-09-19T09:45:00.002-07:00

So I got my wish, and it has been great spending the day with my baby girl. We don't really have a day time routine together because I'm usually at work and she is with Jessica and Tristan. So we've winged it. The weekend is always different because the whole family is home and we have that routine going on. It's been a good day, and I was actually kind of worried about tonight as it was. We are going to Kamiakins homecoming game with Ricky and his best friend and the girls are going over to grandma and grandpas.

First Game

2008-09-19T09:45:00.001-07:00

#60 is Ricky's best friend. His name is Hunter.

It was the first game for the 8th grade Highlands team yesterday. Ricky started as Center for the offense and as a Line backer for the defense. Ricky played with passion and determination and this mom was more than a little proud to see her son in the light of someone who is in their element. Even on the sidelines Ricky is in the game. Pacing up and down the field, cheering his team on. The start of this year for Ricky has been all about the pay off of the last 5 years of hard work.

I guess I would have to explain why this is so monumental to me. You see I have this personal philosophy about my kids and the activities they do. So for the longest time Ricky has wanted to play football, but for my own personal reasons I like to keep it simple with my kids. So I was depending on the desire and passion of playing to make up for the lost years of experience once Ricky made it onto the field! And it has totally paid off. When I picked Ricky up from his school and he got in the truck the first thing I said was what a great game he played. He said "thanks Mom" and then went on to tell me the things that they need to do better the next game ( I think that this is fine when it is done in a positive way because going back over a situation and accessing the plays helps process and learn for the next time). It was such a good feeling last night to watch him play both on and off the field.

My "Mamma time"

2008-09-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

The thought that has been on my mind the most this week is-how much time I have to spend away from my kids....I especially look at Abigail and watch her grow, and I know that she wants "mama" constantly because lately that is all she says :) I have to be at work, and I have to help provide, but my heart yearns to be closer and to be near my children more. What a precious gift it is to be a mother, not that I'm the best, I have my moments of yelling and even arguing stupid arguments where I stop and go wait wait wait, but then I have those moments when I find my groove, and I stay intune with them and I figure out just what they need at that exact moment. Those are the moments that keep me going...So I will just enjoy the time I do have with the kids and really be grateful that I even get to have them in my life.

My current reading status

2008-09-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

I have been in a book club for almost a year, Yikes! time has just flown by. So I thought I could list the books we have read since we've started and add the books I've read on the side. I keep an updated bookshelf on www.shelfari.com

So far (listed in order of least favorite to top 3 favs):
The Thirteenth Tale
Three Quarters of an Orange
19 Minutes
A thousand Splendid Suns (!!!)
These is my Words (!!!!)
The Red Tent (!!!!!)

We are currently reading the Time Travelers Wife and I am SOOO falling in love with the characters...the idea of time travel has been a hard one for me to wrap my mind around, so I just have to stop trying to make the concept stick in my mind and just accept that it works :)

On the side I have gotten into the Philipia Gregoire Boleyn Girls books and have loved it (Thanks Kate!)
I've read some random books that I have laying around that I don't remember the titles to.... and of course I've continued to listen and re listen to Harry Potter on CD and also the Lord of the Rings. I've also been listening to a new series of Anne McCaffery books that she wrote with her son Todd on my son Ricky's Ipod when he lets me borrow it. With my daughter Tyler we started reading Anne of Green Gables, one of the best books of all times in my most humble opinion. And Tyler just loves the way Matthew and Marilla talks, and she loves listening about Anne...Abigail has also been expanding her horizons, her favorite book is still the peekaboo book that she got for her birthday, she loves to ROAR like a tiger when we get to the page that the tiger is hiding behind the curtain...poor Ricky has been stuck reading one of the Hardy Boys books because it is Mystery month for school...at home he continues to listen to Anne McCaffery on his Ipod

2008-09-11T15:26:00.000-07:00

My daughter Abigail and my Mother in law look so much a like. The baby pictures also look a lot like the baby pictures I have seen of my sister in law Katie

Same Day-Different thoughts

2008-09-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

Last night was the longest night for me and James....our poor abishmabel was having a bad stomach ache and we stayed up all night listening to her cry and not being able to do anything about it. She is the sweetest and usually very easily consoled, so when she is like she was last night we knew something wasn't right. She is feeling back to her self today, and I am looking forward to peaceful and early sleep tonight!

This is all new to me

2008-09-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

I guess that I should start with who I am....I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, sister and a friend. My life seems so hectic and busy these days but at the same time very simple. There is the constant of trying my best to put 100% into being the mom I think that my children deserve and also putting enough energy into myself that I don't loose everything I've worked so hard to regain.

I guess the desire to blog has come from reading my sister in laws blogs, it has been so cool to keep up with her life that way that I wanted to do the same thing.

I hope that I can stay consistent and that I will be able to share my life even more through this blogging thing!!