Happy Birthday To Me....{28!}...yesterday

I love getting older! I've just all of a sudden started feeling like a "real" adult! It's kinda funny...and I love it!

Here are some reasons why I love turning another year older!

1) I don't care so much what others think of me...I am way more comfortable with myself now than I have ever been.

2) As my kids get older, they get more fun!

3) I feel stronger and am in better shape than I've ever been. No more yo-yo dieting...that is a huge one for me!

Here are some of my loves....

1) FlatOut Wraps from Costco - it makes a yummy PB&J

2) Body Butter in the new scent from Bath&Body "Dancing Waters" - thanks Mom!

3) Making salsa - Can you believe I just made my first batch like 2 weeks ago. It's so fun and yummy. I'm going to make some today and put some ranch dressing mix in it ??? I don't know, it just can't taste bad with ranch seasoning in it right???

4) Half Reg/Half Diet Coke in a styro cup! MMMMmmmmm

5) Anthropologie - thanks to my sis Allie for the gift card...I might be able to afford something there now :)

All&All a great birthday! I went to lunch with some of my favorite friends to WholeGrain Bread - they are too good to me and way to much fun to hang out with...you know who you are!!! We went to Amazing Jakes last night with my whole fam and it was a blast. My sister Meg's birthday is today and we just had a fun double celebration!

Happy Birthday today to you Meg! You're the best!

So Sad, but So True!!

Kaitlyn's First Day!

Peace and quiet...that is what I have right now. Kennedy is sleeping and Kelsi&Kaitlyn are in school. 2 1/2 hours of bliss for me :) Deep Breath, ahhhhh.....

I've posted about my Kaitlyn before - She is Miss Personality. When she is happy she is really happy, a ton of fun to be around and so hilariously funny. When she is mad she will kick, scream, yell, pout - no fun .

Needless to say, I am so happy she got to go to preschool this year. She definitely needed something to occupy her time and something that was JUST for her! Kelsi gets to do so much more than her and always gets to do things first because she is the oldest. Go to preschool, have friend parties, get her ears pierced, go to music....it was time for Kaitlyn to do something on her own. I am so glad she got to go to Miss Peggy just like Kelsi did. I can't say enough about this teacher...she makes these kids so independent and excited for school.

Kaitlyn was so excited for her first day. She had her backpack ready to go and even put a few extra books in it so that it would be "heavy enough". - her words - She wanted her hair curled just right and even let me roll up her jeans! If you don't know, Kaitlyn likes to wear only jeans and she likes them to be long. I have long lost control over what my girls wear :)

The kids looked so little walking up to the door. It made me a little sad to think of how much she will grow this year. Last year, with Kelsi, all of her friends looked so grown up to me by the end of the year. I am a little saddened, but also excited to think that the same thing will happen to my Kaitlyn.

Fun Filled Weekend

So not only was it my baby's one year old birthday...I got a little early birthday present myself! Jesse suprised me with tickets to Martina McBride on Friday night. Our girls spent the night at my parents house, so we just kicked back and enjoyed the show. It was great! She is such a talented performer...right up there with Celine Dion. Every note was belted out perfectly.
I loved it especially because #1. it was FREE! Our neighbor works for KMLE Country and hooked Jesse up. We sat dead center about 20 rows back. And #2, She sang a ton of covers! Bryan Adams, Pat Benetar (Hit Me With Your Best Shot), Journey (Don't Stop Believin'), Lean on Me. Anything 80's will definitely get me up out of my seat!

Here we are before the concert with the "Camel" mascot. I accidentally pulled on the camel's chain and it started to sniff my face. The guys said, "Don't Do that!" I had know idea...so while the guy taking our pic is trying to figure out my camera, I am thinking this thing is going to eat me.

Here she is with her daughter Ava...how fun would this be? She sang "This One's For the Girls" and danced with her daughter....sweet....


On Saturday we celebrated Kennedy's birthday at Neilsen's. She got to try frozen custard for the first time.

On Sunday we just had a "dessert party" for her and invited our fams over for some pizzookie and icecream.

Here she is blowing out the candle on her pizzookie cake.

A Fun Filled Weekend For Sure!

They Say It's Your Birthday....Happy Birthday to you!

Today is my supersweet BABYGIRL's 1st birthday!

You just can't get any cuter that this yummy ball of chub! I love this girl so much and am so excited to watch her learn and grow in this new stage of her life. So far she is taking a few little baby steps all by herself, she can say nana and dada and is already showing her cute little personality.

Time is definitely passing me by way too fast! I wish I had a pause button!!

It's Time....

There comes a point with all of my children where I just can't rock them to sleep anymore...for my own sanity. Sadly, it's that time for Kennedy :( Today was the first time I put her in her crib awake for her nap. Remember that cute swing that I posted about a while ago?? She's still been napping in that. It was great! Swing + Bottle = Sleeping Baby! Well, now she won't go right to sleep and ends up hanging halfway out of it trying to get loose. I shouldv'e taken a picture, it was quite funny.
So to ease my guilt I bought this wonderful musical aquarium ( the pic is SO decieving!!) It makes me feel less guilty leaving Kendi in her crib, but I think she could care less!! About 15 min of screaming (it felt like 525,600 minutes! haha) she finally gave up and when to sleep.

I have to say, that is one of my favorite sounds. Screaming and then silence! The silence of my sleeping Kennedy learning to fall asleep all by herself!

Someone Call the Whaaaambulance!!!!!!

Today is the first day of All Day Kindergarten for KELSI!

825-3pm!

She is now in the hands of a great teacher, Mrs. Hubbard.

My sisterinlaw Val had her 10 years ago...FUNNY how time flies!
I know she's excited and can't wait for her to have all of the fun experiences that a 5yr old can have in school. Holiday Parties...lunch in the cafeteria...learning to read...recess...making new friends...

In some ways I'm so not ready for her to grow up, but in other ways I totally am! It does get easier and way more fun the older kids get!

My house has been pretty quiet today. Time has actually gone by pretty fast..I might be liking this all day deal :) And as an added plus to all day kindergarten, I am picking her up right in the middle of Sonic Happy Hour :) SaWeet!
Have fun my little KelsiBee!

Kelsi is lucky in the fact that she has all 5 of her primary friends in the same class with her. It definitely made it easier to send her off! Here she is with her cute friends, Maggie & Lauren. Kelsi was so excited to wear this Hello Kitty outfit.

She picked it out all by herself on a shopping trip with her Grandma Cindy. It has a cute little charm belt and Kelsi told me when she put it on that "When everyone hears my charms they are going to think it's the school bell." Cute...

Catchin' Some Waves in Coronado

The beach in Coronado was great! Complete with golden, sparkley sand. We had a great time on the beach playing volleyball, renting 4 seater bikes, boogie boarding and just chillin'. Kennedy did great in her pack'n'play and the girlies loved playing in the sand. All&All a great vacation!!!!

!VayCay to Cali!

What a great week we had....where to start!!??

Jesse's parents treated all of their 7 children + fams on an unbelievable trip to Coronado Island; a fun little place just outside SanDiego. We stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado; a magnificent building that was built in the 1800's. The lobby, elevator & staircase looked like it had been taken right out of the movie Titanic. Everything was very detailed...not one room in the hotel was designed the same.

As you first walk in you see this amazingly HUGE fresh flower arrangement. I had never seen such a big bouquet before - it was beautiful! Note to Jesse: Our anniversary is next month...here is a picture of what I want delivered to my door. Can you seriously imagine what this would cost? They had just changed the flowers out right before we left. When we arrived it was more colorful with white tiger lili's inside.

There is someone in the elevator at all times to open and close the door for you and take you where you need to go. Stephanie and I had some fun with one of the elevator guys, Andrew. For some reason he liked us and would always remember our names and knew just where to take us. I think it might have something to do with the fact that we both had humungo strollers that we would squeeze in about 10X a day.

Every night we would walk down the street and find a restaurant to eat. Not an easy task when you are in a group of 22 people! I was so suprised at how accomidating everyone was. Everywhere we went we were practically in our own little secluded room. We ate so good and the food was fabulous. Well....maybe not the sushi. Jesse and I tried sushi....thanks to the ever adventurous Bryant! :) Now I can say I've tried it and I WON"T be tryin' it again!

Here is Jesse gettin' ready to hurl all over the table...j/k...pretty funny though!

On to more appetizing things...ICECREAM! Moo Time anyone??? The best little icream shop ever. The first night we got a plateful of dessert nachos for 5 bucks...what a deal! Yummy homemade waffle cone pieces drizzled with chocolate, caramel and marshmallow cream. Dip it into your choice of icecream and DELISH!

Jesse and I are all about cheap mexican food...MMmmm...Jesse had wanted to try a place called Clayton's all week. He went to the concierge desk to find out where it was and the guy was telling him what a hole in the wall it was. So obviously the place has to be good right? The breakfast burrito was sooo good. Obviously, we did more things than eat. But I have to say that eating is one of my favorite parts of a vacation!! Moo Time has a saying on the wall that is now my motto for life!! "EAT HERE, DIET AT HOME" I love that!

The most buttery, flakey tortilla I have ever tasted. I am not a huge sausage fan, but this sausage was crispy and yummy! I would make a trip back just to get another one! :) Good choice Jess!

No pics of SeaWorld :( But on our last day we got to see good ol' Shamu. Kelsi was so excited and screamed when he jumped out of the water. It was a great moment (I wish I had it captured)

We reluctantly headed for home about 630 and had a nice quite ride. The kids were exhausted and it was fabulous!!!

Cali Vacation 2008