Adding to our Family

The following pics may or may not have made the cut on our Christmas card,

And it only took some 300 pics to get a few decent ones.

But these two? Together? Trouble?

Are you really asking me that?

I might as well of had twins!

They are the best of friends and the worst of enemies, the encourage each other and tattle on each other, and they get into some of the worst trouble together!

They tell each other all their secrets,

So we decided to add to our family, yet another person to keep all their secrets....

Meet "DUDE" (yeah they are total So Cal Beach Boys) he is our Elf on the Shelf.

It will be interesting to see if their behavior adjusts accordingly while DUDE is staying with us.

Kissy Kissy

It was picture day at school, and Christopher's first kiss was caught on camera!

Tell me this is not just precious?

We need to teach our daughters the difference

Between a man who flatters her and a man who compliments her.

A man who spends money on her and a man who invests in her.

A Man who view her as property and a man who views her properly

A Man who lusts after her and a man who loves her.

A Man who believes he is God's Gift to women

and a man who remembers a woman was God's gift to man

And then teach OUR SONS to be that kind of Man!

~Unknown

It is THAT kind of man that my husband is,

and it is THAT kind of man I hope to teach my sons to become.

I miss that the most....

It was rainy and ugly all day today. And Rainy days are made for baking and making yummy goodness.

So this is my very first home made apple pie with fresh picked apples from a client's tree! I was at her house, admired her apple tree and I told her I missed the fall apple season the most in Michigan.

She invited me to pick as many as I like. Now if I only had the recipe for those amazing Apple Donuts! My mouth waters just thinking about it! If you are ever in Freeland, Mi....stop by Bayne's Apple Valley Farms in the fall and try their amazing donuts!

Now just add vanilla ice cream melting on top and you have the perfect Sunday dessert!

Thanksgiving Faith

This is so amazing, and I am honored to be a part of this community as well as this "movement" so to speak.

I have met Jill at BlogHer after her panel and was just delighted with her sweetness and all around general goodness. She was one of those "must meet bloggers" while I was there. As I am not "star struck" since I live in So Cal and they are a dime a dozen, I am, however, blog struck by some of my most favorite bloggers.

While I am only just a face and someone I've tweeted with or commented on her blog or participated in her message boards, she is absolutely amazing and has completely restored my faith in my fellow bloggers as well as "neighbors". The saying really does ring true, "Blog Friends are Real Friends". Not to mention she is hilariously funny and I can't wait to read her book coming out soon. I've pre-ordered mine have you?

Anyway, I am fortunate enough to not have to struggle to put food on my table at Thanksgiving but I know there are so many that are. And while I wish that I could help everyone, I can't.....but Jill over at Scary Mommy did. And I read her post and "immediately said What can I do to help".

What she did is something indescribable. I read the "after post" so to speak, and the piece ABC did on it, and literally had tears in my eyes. (I'm a huge sap that way) I was wowed! And I was honored that I was able to participate, and I was amazed and thrilled that all these wonderful families were going to have a special Thanksgiving.

A Thanksgiving to be with family, friends and loved ones, to sit with full bellies and a warm heart and most importantly a renewed sense of faith in humanity.

If you missed it this year, I am sure there is still a way to help and if not, don't worry it'll be back next year and I'm sure better than ever!

The Blind Side

The blind side.....it's not easy to catch me off guard, I'm a Virgo, it's in my blood to know everything that is going on! Yes I am that way! But the hubs did catch me off guard. The rain and cold almost ruined his plans!

We had our first date on the Santa Monica Pier, we walked and talked and walked some more, we got hot chocolate and talked and laughed and all that good stuff. It's where it all began. It would become kind of a tradition....hot chocolate on the Santa Monica Pier makes for a great night! So November...cold, rainy....he tells me he is taking me out for dinner to a quaint little restaurant in Santa Monica called Giraffe. Adorable little place, 5 course meal type place. I so didn't want to go....but I did, but I didn't! I was in training for work, spending all week away from home, sick as a dog! uggh....but once we got there is was really nice! The food was excellent. And we laughed at a lot of the people who where there! At least the rain let up!

So after we were done with dinner and for what I thought was on my way home, to go to bed and just sleep until Monday morning, he says "Hey we're right down the street from the pier, you want to go get some hot chocolate?" Not really, but okay I'll humor you, I didn't want to go to dinner and it ended up being really good and we had a good time. So then once we got there I was just going to have him run up to the place to get the hot chocolate while I stayed in the car. But once we got there I figured the ocean air would do me good....so out of the car we went....freezing cold to get some hot chocolate. And it was good, warmed me right up. We walked out to the end of the pier....almost NO ONE was there! We talked and listened to the waves and talked some more and before I could even turn around to say "I'm cold, can we go?" He was on one knee....my ring in hand....my ring is made of of 3 pieces, so with freezing cold hands, he had to make sure he didn't drop these tiny rings through the slats in the Santa Monica Pier, so someone would have gone swimming!

And on bended knee, the hubs asked if I would do him the honor and the pleasure of becoming his wife. And I was shocked! Did not expect THAT at all! And of course I said yes, we got all 3 rings on me....my special ring, he designed himself. And as blah as I felt and as cold as it was I think I skipped the whole way back to the car! And the rest.....is History!

Brought to you by Mama Kat and her world famous writer's workshop!

Longing for Spring

When we were in Maui we saw some amazing flowers.

The colors were vibrant, beautiful and inviting.
As much as I love Fall, it made me not wait for Spring to come around again!


Or maybe just another vacation to Maui?

Photo courtesy of my BFF at Larsen's Photography

Either way, the flowers were almost mesmerizing!

Photo courtesy of my BFF at Larsen's Photography

Evidence

The proof is in the puddin' as they say....

We went to Hawaii and while at the Luau the kids were playing so nicely.....
Well go on, see for yourself!



My BFF just so happen to have her camera rolling, and once she sent this to me I was just dying....we pretty much knew what happened, and of course Thomas said "He tripped, and I was helping him up"

Yeah right Bud! Now we have the proof!

Making Memories

When I was little and it rained my mom and my brother and I made "memories". Those memories came in the form of chocolate chip cookies and home made bread.

Now I am not nearly the talented bread maker as my mom was....that is why I have a bread maker (that I never use)

But I do make some mean Chocolate Chip Cookies.....

And with my two little helpers......

We made some awesome "memories" on this cold and rainy night!

And they came out perfect!

And that is how we roll in our neck of the woods on a Rainy day!

Because....

Because Life is short, and they stand proud.

Because this is their vow, their pledge, their Life.

Because they promise to do what it takes to make sure all is safe for us.

Because they leave their families, their friends and their life behind,

Because they sleep in streets, in cars, underwater, in boats and in tents without fear.

Because they live without all the comforts of home,

Because they put their mental well being at risk to protect the homeland.

Because Freedom isn't Free,

Because of all these things and more I extend my heartfelt gratitude to those members of the United States Armed Forces. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Coast Guard.

Veteran's Day is a day to give Thanks to those that provide the very Freedom in which I and my family enjoy.

So to all the Active, Inactive, members of the Reserves and their families.

THANK YOU! And Happy Veteran's Day.

Fall Back

I have a love hate relationship with Fall. Being a CA Girl born and bred and moving to Missouri and then Michigan, I had the opportunity to see Fall colors and was amazed. But now that I'm back in CA, we don't really have those "colors" but we have a different sort of colors in these parts!

The early sunsets bring out some amazing colors, and in that case I Love Fall....


The Fall also brings about the Santa Ana winds, which I hate, because they bring breathing problems for my breathing challenged little one. And when he's miserable, so is Mommy!
But this fall has also brought on SCHOOL!! Which I love, and the kids seems to have a ton of fun with what they learn. And Grandma has bought some fantastic books for the boys which they are having a pile of fun with every night.

Thomas knows how to write his name and has known for quite a while, but now they are learning to recognize and write their letters in both upper and lower case, as well as their numbers!

As you can see Thomas is so proud of the letter he not only traced but the one he did on his own!

These books are from Lakeshore Learning. They have the most amazing toys! So much fun for learning! All you need is a white board marker that wipes off and you are set to go, and the book of course! =)

Even Christopher at 3 can do it, and he raises his arms in absolute bliss when he writes a letter, especially the ones that are in his name, which are a lot!

That's what fall looks like in these parts these days! So despite the downright COLD weather we've had, I'm ready for Thanksgiving, as I have a lot to be Thankful for!
And this year I think we may have a little Elf on the Shelf coming for a visit so that should be interesting to report on!

What comes with Fall in your neck of the woods. And anyone had success with their Elf?

Brought to you by Mama Kat

Nothing Parties like.....

My niece turned 7 and had her party at the nearest bounce house!

And there is nothing in the world that parties like a bounce house birthday party....

And some of your girlfriends to share it with.

And 15 of your nearest and dearest to share it with?

Life doesn't get any better!

Suicide, Let's Talk

There has been several teen suicides in my local area, and it's disturbing me.

Reading the articles in the papers, the responses from some of the psychologists in the school district and the superintendent of the school are almost laughable.

These are educated people and their responses are "It's complex" and "There were clearly issues outside of school". Does that help take the ease off the school district to provide some sort of counseling? Does it make the superintendent sleep better at night to say in a statement that it has nothing to do with the school? Maybe it doesn't, but don't shake it off, offer a solution. TALK about it!

This is becoming a real issue and it needs to be discussed. It needs to be talked about, in schools, in homes, among friends. I don't know why these young high schoolers took their own lives, and I won't pretend to know. And I don't think their needs to be blame placed anywhere. We need to help those that are left behind.

These kids were hurting, confused, feeling alone, possibly suffering from an undiagnosed mental health issue and somehow, someway, someone needs to make connections with these kids. I hope that I always have a strong connection with my sons, I hope that they never feel they can't come to me, I hope they never feel alone and backed into a corner so that their only way out is to take their life.

I pray that I never put over the top expectations on my sons to be star athletes, to be stellar students. If my sons are nothing but average, they will be over the top in my eyes, and I will love them no matter what. I hope that they always know how much their life is valued not only by me but others as well. I hope that if they suffer from a mental illness of any kind that I have the ability to realize this and get them help.

If you have tweens or teens, please, TALK to your child about suicide. Listen without judgement, and be supportive and prepared for a lot of emotions. Helps your child understand their emotions and allow them to FEEL those emotions. Make sure that they have the means to talk to someone, if not you, then someone.

I'm lazy

A day in the life of Petey.....

*Yawn* Are you getting up already? It's only 7:15, and you'll be taking away my warmth. Now I'll have to at least sit up....annoyed. Why are you taking my picture? it's too early and I haven't even groomed. I save that for when you are going to bed at 11 pm or after until I incessantly lick and lick and lick AND lick! Until you kick me off the bed.

Now I'm freezing, so I'll sit here and cover up with myself until you are ready to snuggle again.

Oh you are going to work and won't be around all day? Fine, I'll move from the bed to the mini couch and snuggle up with Beeker the snowman. And I'll sleep, and sleep, and sleep.

And sleep some more!

That is a day in the life of my cat Petey, Literally! He's the laziest! But he's cute isn't he?

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Halloween Fun

Halloween definitely isn't what it used to be! But one thing that will always remain the same, little kids are so cute in their costumes!

Christopher was all smiles marching in his parade at school.

And Thomas was all kinds of tough as Iron Man!

My Nieces, the Vampiress' of the group, aren't they beautiful?

We had a little bit of everything....cats, and firemen and super hero's and mermaids and pirates!

And of course all things sugar to enjoy!!!