Disneyland

Ever since we have lived in Temecula (10 yrs. this year!), we have for most of the time, had annual passes to Disneyland. This has saved us so much money! So we usually go on spur of the moments and enjoy ourselves for a partial day. Here are some fun times that we had in September there.






Here are the bean bags the kids got for their birthdays. Robert is jealous now because theirs are so big compared to his. Cole also got a basket ball hoop. They were so happy!

Cole turns 5!

What a milestone this is. I can't believe my youngest has already hit it? Again, where has the time gone? He used to be my sweet and mellow baby/toddler and then he hit 3 and I don't know what happened! He challenges me everyday! Due to the fact that both kids birthdays are within 2 weeks of each other, Cole really has never had his own birthday party. We thought it time he have it! He got to invite 5 friends, Josh, Matthew, Jake, Cole and Christopher, and we went to the Pizza Factory. As you can see, we did have some BIG sisters tag along too!






Cole loved receiving all of his gifts and as you can see, he was thrilled with his skateboard. Cole was smiles the whole time and was just giddy that this whole day was about him. It was so cute! Happy Birthday my boy, welcome to the "whole hand" age!! :)

Cole in Pre-K

In the middle of last year, Robert and I had decided that we would not be sending Cole to Kindergarten because he wouldn't even be 5 until September. With Gracie, we did send her. Although she thrives academically, given the chance to do it all over again, we would probably have waited for her to start as well. So we grabbed the chance with Cole and so that we didn't have to send him to pre-school again, we decided to put him in a Pre-K program, some do call it Kindergarten and it counts as Kinder if you want it to. Our plan is for him to go there this year and then start Kindergarten at French Valley next Fall. He has been loving it every day and we are so proud at what he has accomplished in such a short period. Go Cole!!

Gracie's 8th Birthday

I could hardly believe it as I woke up on this day. :( I remember when Gracie was a newborn and people would tell me, "enjoy it now- the time goes by so fast." I used to think, "how can that be?" Especially when I was up at night nursing her or those times she was screaming her head off and I didn't know why. I used to think, "this will be an eternity- there is no way this can go by that fast." THEY were right. I will forever remember how someone once put it: " The days will go by slow, but the years will fly by." This has never left my head and has proven to be dead on.

She is 8 (Halfway to 16!- yikes.) It has flown by and there is not a thing I can do about it. NOT ONE THING.

We decided to have her birthday party on her actual day right after school. Gracie invited 8 kids, hence her age. Plus, a couple of little brothers tagged along. :)

Meghan, Payton, Madison, Abbey, Noel, Christian, Caitlin, and Megan arrived and the party began right outside in our pool.



Gracie was so happy celebrating with all of her friends and the day was plenty hot- well over 100 degrees. That is lovely Temecula for you. We made hot dogs and had chips and I made cupcakes for the occasion.




I can just continue to treasure every day with her and foster our relationship so that no matter what her age is, she still comes to me and appreciates me as her parent and trusts me to guide her in the right direction. I love my girl. She is growing into a kind-hearted, sweet, smart and sensitive girl. We are very proud.

Remembering 9/11

This day will never be lost in my heart. This was the most senseless thing I have ever experienced in my lifetime. Our nation suffered so greatly and especially those families that were directly affected by the losses that day. Those cowardly acts were just horrific. That day I lay in my bed holding my 10 day old baby girl who had been up for more than half the night: restless and cranky. It was like she "knew" what was coming. I was sleep deprived and anxious. I was a new mother who didn't know what I was doing. But as I sat and watched the ghastly events unfold on T.V., I held the most precious gift I had ever been blessed with. How ironic is that?
Now as Gracie is 8, we were having a discussion today about 9/11. I was explaining it to her because she was seeing a memorial going on as we drove through town tonight. So weird to hear her say, "no Mom, I haven't learned of 9/11 in school, tell me about it." I never thought to tell her about it until now I guess because I never thought she was old enough.

If you go over here http://www.incourage.me/, you will read some amazing stories. This is a very inspirational blog. The blog world is fun.

I LOVE our girl time...

Look at my girl...she is getting so big. On Sept. 1st she will be 8. I remember so vividly the day, minute, second that she was born. I can't believe she is 8 years old, just about. Where has the time gone? Where are the days that we used to cuddle everyday and she didn't talk back? She didn't ask for something more? She would just love me back and smile, not frown. I am trying to treasure every day as though they are dwindling away. They are in a way- but I have to keep in mind that we will just be transitioning to a new and different stage. It may even be fun. But there are no secrets here- I MISS the old days. She is my baby and always will be.

I am going to do a more detailed post of Gracie (around her bday)- some of my favorite pics!

tagged!

The Rules:

A) List 6 unimportant things that make you happy
B) Mention and link to the person that tagged you
C) Tag 6 of your favorite bloggers to play along and comment on their blogs to let them know they have been tagged

So here are mine:

1. having a clean and fresh home
2. no brainer t.v.
3. watching my kids play, swim, etc. from the outside. Meaning I am not involved but I get to watch them from that perspective. It is so calming.
4. pedicures - they make me relaxed
5. sleeping in/having a lazy morning with a movie

i'm tagging YOU-

Kandi McGeary
Amanda Burns
Sarah Markley
Lisa Leonard
Chrissie Rouse
Joceyln Swendsen