What I don't know....

There isn't much I know how to do....

I'm not crafty, I didn't pick up a single ounce of that gene from my mom.

I have no fashion sense, which is why I had a friend, Morgan, help me with my BlogHer '11 outfits.

Until now, I have had like 4 pairs of shoes....tennis shoes, black shoes, brown shoes and some sort of flip flop. And then Morgan happened and I have like a ton of different shoes and I keep looking for more! (My mom Thanks you Morgan haha) And if you have a chance to stop by her blog she has several posts on fashion and what not to wear to BlogHer '11

I have no makeup sense, I remembering begging my mom to let me wear eye liner, and I never ventured past that....much. So I'm pretty plain and simple, a little mascara and a little eye liner, if I remember, on a good day, you might even catch me with some lipstick or gloss on.

And I definitely do not know how to pack. So I'll be employing my mom to help me pack a week and a half's worth of clothes for 3 days. Good thing I don't have to fly, I'd have to check a 50 lb suitcase.

I also know that there will be at least ONE thing that I forget at home. It's a curse!

But one thing I do know? That although I am shy (to some extent) and nervous, there is only one me, and that is all I can be.

So the more I think about all these people I am going to meet, all the people I hope to meet, and all the people there, the more nervous and overwhelmed I get.

And I stop and think....all I can be is me.... who is "ME" you ask?

I'm Erin, a working mother of two miracle boys, the wife to one, a daughter and a friend. I'm friendly and confident in who I am. I am not afraid to share my faults. My life is an open book, there isn't anything I won't discuss with someone that I have gone through in my life if it helps someone else get through it in their life.

So I hope I get to meet all my mentors, all my twitter friends, and I Hope to learn....A LOT!
So if you see me, I may not walk right up and barge in and say "HI I'm Erin" but I will certainly try to put my fears aside and try!

Oh and I'll keep you posted how my 50 lb suitcase comes out!

The pencil mark upon the wall

1.) He likes going to school, and doesn't cry when I leave him.

2.) He swims all by himself and doesn't mind the water in his ears

3.) He says thinks like "Well actually mommy"

4.) He runs and runs....never looks back to get approval from Mom.

5.) He's starting to be worried about his brother and his feelings.

6.) He doesn't freak out when his "bankie" has been left at school at night.

7.) The pencil mark on the wall is getting bigger and bigger

8.) He tells me he has an owie but that he didn't cry, but sucks in air when you come near it.

9.) He's becoming more and more interested in playing some sort of sport and not just parallel play

10.) He likes bugs and things that crawl and slither.

And all these things tell me that my 1st born baby is growing up. And I'm okay with that....mostly....sometimes.....ok probably not at all. But he will always be my 1st born baby, and he will always love his mommy, no matter how old he gets! (I hope)

Wouldn't it?

I can't tell if this qualifies for wordFUL or wordLESS post.

But wouldn't it be nice if you could just know what they were saying or even thinking?

We went to the Long Beach Aquarium last weekend and Thomas was just enthralled with this little alcove where you could see a sting ray from beneath.
He was hollering for anyone that would listen.....

Would it be nice to know what his brain was processing?

And then there is Christopher...

I can't remember what he was so excited about, but Thomas looked at him like "What in the world?"

That's right Christopher.....just smile, it makes 'em wonder!

Somehow they understand each other, it's a brother thing!

Another Moment

Don't you just love those "Proud Mommy Moments"?

Come on, you know what I mean. We all have them....

The "Bad Mommy Moment" when your child says while waiting in line at the grocery store

"Mommy, can I have that candy bar?"

And of course your reply is "Why no, why ever would you think you could have that?"

And they reply "Because you let me have one for dinner last night"

OUCH! #EpicFail

But there are those few times....when you hold your head a little higher, your shoulders are a little more square and you walk by saying "YEP, that's MY kid"

Yeah well I had one of those today!

We took my two little cuties to the Long Beach Aquarium today....

Once we were all done petting sharks, and feeding Lorikeets, and touching startfish and watching the antics of Sea Otters and Sea Lions it was time for lunch.

Normally we go out to eat and that is my boys excuse to have soda with their meal, yes my kids drink soda upon occassion, don't judge. It's also their excuse to have french fries with whatever they order.

So at the Yardhouse in Long Beach, when ordering they not only ordered Milk to drink but also Fruit to go with their meal!! YES!!!! Proud Mommy Moment all wrapped up in one.

And they did drink all their milk and ate all the fruit but the strawberries!

What's your Proud Mommy Moment? Or even your bad mommy moment?

The Simple Things

Ok so I am cheating just a little bit, ssshhhh don't tell but I put up this post a while ago, but it fit perfectly into the prompt this week. And I couldn't resist!

"The Simple Things"

I remember, those tiny fingers, searching so endlessly for me, for mommy, as my oldest closed his eyes at night while nursing. Griping my fingers, I watched his little hand close over not only my fingers, but my heart as well. I watched him drift off to sleep, and I thought how all was right in the world, for that moment. It was simple.

I remember picking both of my boys up with then would fall, to comfort them, to pat their little diapered butt and kiss them, telling them it was okay to try again, mommy would always be here to pick them up and dust them off. It was simple.

I remember rocking my youngest to sleep at night, while he snuggled against me. I would breathe in so deeply soaking in the smell of motherhood. Feeling his breathing become long and slow, the moment when I knew he was asleep. I would sit for just one extra minute, loving all of it. It was simple.

Playing with my boys, laying on the floor, throwing them around, playing horsey, while they bounce cheerfully on my legs and say "Ride cowboy, ride". Hearing their giggling, their laughter, with me, with each other. Watching the pure joy in their eyes. It was simple.

When I feel beat by mommyhood, and I cry to myself that I am doing it all wrong. I remember to sit and reflect on all of these simple things. And I remember, I'm not a perfect mom, and my babies, my boys, really are simple. They are simply simple, it is me who makes it complex.

And tomorrow? Tomorrow is another day, and all my love is wrapped up in them, and it's just that simple!

This and That, don't mix!

I love that my kids go to school. And I love that they DO things at school.

I learned that instead of just running out and getting them the cutest clothes that make them look so adorable, I am going to be running to the thrift store.

I put my kids in clothes that are just the cutest, and then all of a sudden I pick them up and they are unrecognizable. That shirt that had just a little bit of white on it that morning is now green, or purple, or some other color it wasn't that morning.

Now I don't mind that they come home all crazy colored, at least that means they have DONE something that day, something FUN, something exciting. They have touched and mixed, and painted and played and they are BUSY!

But can't they use materials that are washable? Paints that wash out of clothes? Or at least ask for a donation of some of dads old t-shirts to put on at cover alls?

Because these bright and beautiful clothes look so adorable on my babies....

But they do NOT mix with face paint like this, especially when it's hot and they are boys, they tend to wipe anything and everything on their pants and shirts!

It's off to the thrift store for school clothes for my boys!

What kind of condition do your kids clothes come back looking like from school?

What do you do post surgery?

Well Surgery went off without a hitch, Thank you to everyone who emailed and tweeted to make sure all was well. It really does mean a lot!

I remember waking up, seeing my husband and saying "I wanna go home". I felt fine, I wasn't even tired, or so I thought. I get home, my husband asked me if I was going to lay down, I said "I might lay down and watch TV" That was at 11, I started at channel 2 and made it to channel 9 and don't remember anything until 2pm!

So what does one do after surgery is over and you feel like your the ugliest person on the face of the earth you ask?

Why you go shopping of course, and you look at people and DARE them to just ask you "What the hell happened to your face?"

So despite how tired I have been since the surgery, I did some shopping for MORE fun outfits for BlogHer, and yet another pair of shoes! This is SO NOT me, seriously, ask anyone I know, I hate to shop and I am NOT a shoe person.

And what else do you do? You take your young sons to go see Winnie The Pooh and then out for dinner, once again daring someone to make a comment about your stitches. Which no one did, except my own kids!

And lastly what do you do after you have surgery? You decide to redo your bedroom!! That's right, repaint and redo. New pictures, new shelves, new paint color! All of it! My husband put up with all of it too. I have two walls painted and will finish the rest tomorrow.

What? We had to stop to go to friend's house for home made fried chicken! Ya gotta eat!

Then it's all about the decorating. Some pics, maybe some shelves, some sconces. It's going to be AMAZING, I can't wait to show you some pics. Squeee I'm so excited!

Now what would you do after surgery?

I have one of These!

Ok because I am having a bad day. Well not really a "bad day" just a Blah day. I am going in for more surgery tomorrow. On my face. Which I am not thrilled about.....3 weeks before BlogHer! Tell me I am not going to be totally self conscious?

But that is why I employ (sort of) Morgan from The Little Hen House to dress me! So that makes me happy. Because if I can get some totally rockin' outfits that will take the emphasis off my face right? So anyone going to BlogHer don't mention my scars!

So back to my bad day, I am more nervous about this surgery than any other, and I don't know why.

So when I saw "What's your favorite joke" this one always cracks me up.....

A little boy and a little girl are playing together and the little boy says "I have 5 pennies"

And the little girl replies with "So? I have a dime"

Then the little boy looks around and he says "I have 6 marbles"

To which the little girl says "I have 12"

The little boys frowns, and then has that A-HA moment.

He pulls down his pants and points to his junk and says "I have one of THESE"

The little girl laughs and stands up and pulls her dress up and says,
"So? I have one of these, and with one of these, I can get as many of THOSE as I want!!"

And she stomped off proudly!

Ahhh so true, and it makes me laugh every time I Hear it! So a little shinning light to my otherwise blah day!

The perfect shot

I am by no means a photographer,
But I am always looking for that perfect shot..... and I try really hard!

And I thought this sequence was pretty dang good!

And I caught just the right amount of splash!

And I thought that KC's form was rather good don't you? Only thing I am missing is her coming up out of the water with her arm in the air gold medal style!

It's not just a girl thing

I have realized that when it comes to weight, it's not just a girl thing.

I have recently been on a "I'm eating healthy and by doing so I will lose weight" kick. And I am losing weight, and I am eating healthier, but it's not all about losing weight. It's about being healthy, and that is what it should only be about, and if I happen to lose some weight in the process then a bonus is to be had there.

I have realized that I need to watch what I say and do around my children, even if they are boys.

I don't want to be the 98 lb high school graduate that I once was. But I want to be healthy. I want my family to be healthy. I want my children to see me eating more fruits and vegetables and less junk food and candy. I hope that someday they will ask for grapes versus cookies, watermelon over a candy bar and even frozen yogurt over ice cream.

But I also know that body image is much more than "just a girl thing". I know that boys struggle with body image just as much as girls do. Society affects boys just as it does girls. Peer pressure is a very real thing among boys as it is girls.

But most importantly I don't want my boys to think that only tiny/skinny girls are worth their time and attention. I want them to value what's on the inside not what they see on the outside.

So I have been watching what I say when discussing my weight, and how often days I feel "fat" and how I look "huge" or a particular outfit makes me look like a "whale", I need to remember my boys are listening, and that they are learning and are so impressionable at such young ages of 3 and 4. It's not an easy thing, but I am working on it.

So when my boys come into my room in the morning and say "Ohhh I like your skirt mommy?" I need not ask "You don't think it makes me look fat?" Just to hear them say "No mommy, you look beautiful" as their father has taught them to say so preciously and honestly no matter what mommy asks.

And tomorrow, when one of my son's say to me "I like your shirt/shoes/pants/skirt" I will simply reply with "Thank you and I Love you for noticing".

VRRROOOOOM!

This weekend we took the boys to see CARS 2. This would be Christopher's 1st real movie theater experience. So we decided to go all the way! We took them to El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. Right across the street from the Grauman's Chinese Theater. And wouldn't you know it, they found Donald Duck's foot prints?

They enjoyed VIP seating, which included popcorn and drinks and fun times after the movie! Christopher really enjoyed his 1st movie experience. He watched almost the whole movie without too much moving around.

Then it was over to the fun.....a McQueen made from Lego's, How would you like to put that together? Or take it apart for that matter?

Thomas got to head to the body shop and paint the car, which he proceeded to get all over the car, his shirt, his shoes, good thing it was all water based!

Thomas does like Mater....trying to life up his cheeks high enough to have big teeth like Mater!

And by the end of the day they finally met McQueen! Too bad it didn't talk to them like a KIT car!! I think they would have jumped out of their skin!

And Christopher Was thrilled to get his Finn Car, he hasn't put it down since.

After all that excitement they got to go meet this guy.....his name is Jack. And aside from the Ventura Co Fair they haven't seen a pic up close and personal. They fed him grapes and "pet" him.

There were horses there but they were hiding to try to stay away from the heat. But they were both so excited to see that pig!

It was a busy, fun filled weekend.

They loved Cars 2, it is a very cute movie. If you like James Bond movies, you will love Cars 2. But there are a lot of jokes that kids just wouldn't get, but they laugh anyway. But the kids were captured by the excitement and the characters.

Our next movie....Winnie the Pooh, my niece wants to see it but doesn't want to see it childless, and since her baby isn't due until August 8th, she's going to come out and see it with the boys!

What TO Wear BlogHer Edition

Last time I had the edition of What not to wear - Salon Style

Today I am going to link you to my new fashion coordinator Morgan over at The Little Hen House! But it should be titled What TO wear to BlogHer! She's awesome, I heart her!

We all know I literally have no fashion sense. I worry about EVERYTHING. Will those capri's make me look shorter than I really am?

That shirt has to fit me on top and then doesn't fit anywhere else so now I look huge.

Those shoes don't even match anything are you sure they will go with what I am wearing?

Does this make me look fat? I look portly huh? I look squatty.....and on and on and on!

I've been branching out a LITTLE bit with the help of my mom. She totally put together my outfit that I wore to Bloggy Boot Camp back in March. But it so wasn't as cute as Morgan....or even Angie.....these two are A-Dorable! (Morgan on the Left and Angie on the right) Angie has to digs on the CUTEST accessories too!

So since I am going to BlogHer in less than a month, and Morgan so graciously offered to help my failing fashion sense. She put together the CUTEST outfits for affordable prices! I am so off to find a few of the items and I am not going to worry about it!!

So head over to Morgan's and see what she has in store for me for BlogHer....I will be totally in style and can focus on Squeeing with all my bloggy friends I've waited so long to meet and others I will be seeing again!!

It's an Obsession!

My adorable little almost 3 year old, is just in love with Tangled.

When we first got this movie, he said he didn't want to watch it because the horsie looked mad, and he doesn't like mad horsies!


Now he knows what is going to happen before it happens. He will scream at me from across the house "MOMMY, your favorite part". And I look and it hasn't even happened yet, it's like 3 seconds later. Because I just love the part where Maximus shreds the Wanted poster of Flynn.


When someone gets hit with the fry pan, he says "Ow" and rubs his head. If you want to see an almost 3 year old sit still for more than 10 minutes, put mine in front of Tangled. And lately with how horrible his asthma has been, I'd prefer him to sit still!


It's an obsession! He asked if next time we go to Disneyland can he meet Tangled. I said sure you can! Will you let her hold you for a pic? Nope! But he still wants to meet her.


I don't mind his obsession because it is such an adorable movie. But I am thinking that watching that movie at least once a day I could play Rapunzel in the Broadway musical!

Just a Crescent

This was the view from where we hiked up to watch the fireworks. So as the day slid into night and the moon made it's appearance....This is the amazing view we had!!

4th Rocks!

Happy Indpendence Day!
We had a BUSY 3 day weekend. And it sure does show in the fact that my babes are sound asleep in their beds!

Don't you love BBQ's? And don't you love them even more when your neighbor offers up their pool to go swimming? That's what happened when we went to Auntie Re-Re's house for a BBQ. Thomas had a blast swimming with Auntie Re-Re.

As well as boating around with Uncle Q and Quincy.

And the second you add a little brother to the mix, the splashing begins!

After swimming all the kids were yards and yards away in hopeful anticipation of the fireworks Uncle Q was setting off....ssshhhh don't tell anyone! But they sure were excited to see that little paratrooper being shot out of a "canon" into the air and parachuting down to the ground!

After a few more simple ground firworks and an awesome dinner.....a small hike up the hill to see the whole valley and we watched the fireworks from there! It worked out perfect because we didn't hear the loud bangs from the fireworks which tend to bug those little ears!

And YAY for their hero Uncle Q who gave them their very first sparklers! They thought that was the coolest part of the whole evening!

And what a better way to spend the 4th, but on the beach with friends and family? After our huge BBQ the night before we all drug ourselves out to the beach. It was gorgeous! When we left home it was almost 80. We got to the beach and it was 70. We left the beach and it was 78 and when we got back home it was still 94!!!! The beach was definitely the best choice!

Ben and Quincy were digging for buried treasure...or crabs!

See? We found one....they were all over the beach, and the boys just thought those were the neatest things! Thomas wanted to bring about 4 of them home!

I was just thrilled to have a long weekend to share with friends and family but most importantly my Baby Boys!!

What did you do over the 4th? I hope everyone got some much needed rest and time with their family!