A day in the life of me...

My friends often ask me what it's like for me in a typical day...so here ya go!
Mind you...no day is typical for us...we always have something new to keep us on our toes.

I start at 6am (mind you, at this point I have been up at least twice with a certain princess...come to think of it...a certain little prince who seems to find his way into my room 5 nights out of the week too)

7:30 we're rushing out the door for school (the hour and a half in between is filled with a constant nagging sound calling "hurry up"...wait...that's me!)

7:45 drop the kids off at school...
7:50 STARBUCKS...yes this is a daily venture...venti Carmel lite frap for me please

8am- crap...driving to work...late as usual

8:30- arrive at work...1/2 hour late...but hey...I have my Starbucks!

5p- head outta the office (on typical days I'm ready to pull my hair out)

5:30- swing by wrestling (where Jeff and the kids have been since 5)
pick up the girls and head to Boulder City

6;30- Alyssa is at dance and I sit in the back of the van and feed Gabriella...yes, it's as fun as it sounds!

7;30- Alyssa is done...I head home to meet up with Jeff & Brandon

8pm...we're home...what's for dinner?? Ya mean I gotta feed them too!

8:30- dinners ready...I'm checking homework, packing lunches, changing diapers, doing laundry, wiping counters, loading dishwashers, giving baths, brushing teeth and best of all, saying prayers. (mainly for my sanity...but don't tell the kids)

12am...it's finally time to hit the hay myself...Thank you Lord, for another great day!

Insight from a 9 year old

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Use this as your daily bible lesson! LOL

Yesterday after church I peeked at Alyssa's bible journal that they keep. (yes, I know, that's not nice) Anyways, I was shocked at what I read...she wrote, Jesus is my Messiah, he is my best friend and I love him. WOW...I never even thought like that until just a few years ago...
Jeff and I pray with the kids and Jesus and God are often a topic of discussion in our house but I had no clue what impact it had on her. God is guiding her that is for sure...I can't wait to see where he's leading her!

Have I mentioned latley

how much I love being a mommy...I have great kids! Sometimes they drive me bananas when they are fighting or when I have to beg and plead with them to clean up...but for the most part they really are good kids. They are three of the cutest kids I have ever seen too...ok, maybe I'm a bit bias!

More pictures

Warning

Below is a quick clip from Brandon's tournament today. You'll hear a lot of yelling and the camera work is a little jumpy...ok, it's a lot jumpy...what can I say, I was excited!

Brandon

Random Pictures

Random Update

As usual it's been a crazy busy week. I do have pictures to post and will try to do some either tomorrow or Friday.

Saturday Brandon wrestled (again) he came in 2nd place and had his first "pin" he was very excited! He has another tournament this Saturday as well.

Alyssa is busy with dance. She received her Irish costume for the June show today. I'm now on a mission for brown convertible tights...huh?! Not to sure what the heck a convertible tight is but I guess I'm about to find out. I just hope it's not like last year where I ran around all over town looking for black dance tights...when in the end she never really needed them...she just "forgot" to mention it!

Gabriella is busy being a princess. Alyssa changed her diaper and put her PJ's on for me tonight. It was a looonnng process (the kind where you just wanna take over and get it done) but Alyssa was so proud of herself.
She has regressed in her sleeping patterns. (Gabriella that is) For the longest time she would sleep from 8 to about 5am...lately she has been waking up 3 times a night! Yikes...makes for a long day for me.

Well...it's 10pm and I can still hear Brandon so I guess I better go and use my mean mommy voice and get him to bed once and for all!

The things I learned

The things I learned today while cleaning Alyssa and Brandon's room....my this list could quite possibly be endless!
I was blessed today with a quite house. Brandon was at a friends house for the day and Alyssa had gone with Julie to see Hannah Montana. It was just me and Gabriella. Naturally the first thing I decided to do was get in and clean their room while they were gone. So...that's lesson number one...it's sooo much easier and less stressful to clean when they are not home.
2nd- it's not the dryer that eats the socks after all...it's the dark hole under the bed. I literally pulled out 30 pairs of socks...not to mention PJ's, empty juice boxes, game pieces...really this list could go on and on too.
3rd-If you let it soak long enough...large amounts of glitter glue can be removed from inside a bathroom sink with minimal scrubbing.
4th- It's really not the baby that is using all those diapers..it's the dinosaur and puppy from Build-a-Bear.
5th- stickers are nearly impossible to remove from wood furniture.
and last but not least...the back of the closet is the perfect place to shove the clothes that you just don't feel like hanging up.

I did get the room clean..it looked great...and then Brandon came home....

Putting it into perspective

It was our turn at church to host the families from Thrivant Lutheran that are homeless. We always see alot of these kids in our Sunday school classes and tonight was no different. It hit me as I looked at my son (who was sporting Osh Kosh jeans and a Polo sweater) and Gabriella who was decked out in her name brands that some kids have NOTHING. I kinda felt bad...I work hard to provide for my kids and lets face it my kids pretty much get what they want...they have never not had a warm bed to sleep in or had to worry about what they were going to eat. I realized that I need to do some changing. We donate old clothes and toys now, but as they get bigger I know I need to do more. I'm thankful everyday for what I have and pray that those families will one day get to feel the same way.

Telling the world...

Today is our 10 year anniversary! I often talk about Jeff and how special I think he is...in fact if I could announce it to the world I most certainly would! Since that is not an option this blog will have to do!
So, just in case you read this Jeff I hope you know how special you are to me...how much I LOVE you and how thankful I am to share this life with you. I never could have imagined 10 years ago how sweet life could be. I love you more today than the day we were married..I am so proud of you and admire the person/daddy that you are. A million words could never fully explain to you how I feel...I just hope you already know. So happy 10 years together...thanks for everything!

3 months

Gabriella turned 3 months old yesterday. I can't believe how fast time has gone. She is a great baby!

Random

It's been a busy week. Both Alyssa and Jeff are getting sick again...I pray Gabriella does not get it.
Jeff is doing well...he fills the roll of mommy pretty darn well. Tonight he has to be at work at 7:30 (right after Brandon's wrestling) I'm wondering when he will find the time to sleep...
Brandon is now wrestling 4 days a week (not counting the Saturday tournaments) so between him and Alyssa's dance schedule both Jeff and I are stretched thin.
Our 10 year anniversary is Thursday...not sure what we will do, at least Jeff will be home that night.
Gabriella is the happiest baby! She LOVES her daddy and thinks I'm pretty cool too. Alyssa and Brandon still adore her and take any chance they can get to wooshie her and hold her. (ya gotta know Brandon to understand the wooshie part) She has a pretty good routine established and finally goes straight to sleep in her bed as opposed to the swing...it makes me feel like I have "me" time...even if I am cleaning and folding laundry...that never seems to go away by the way!

That's about all...

She finally found it!

Her thumb that is...
I was hoping she would be the one that skipped the binky and thumb phase...but not the case.

Mr. Tough Guy

Brandon wrestled in another tournament today, in fact he has a tournament for the next few Saturdays. Besides the early mornings I really enjoy these. He took 4th place today and though he did not win every match he was a tough guy with a ton of heart and ENERGY! Here are just a few pictures I took today.

Crazy!

Well, I survived my first week back at work...well almost! It's Friday and 9:30am so I still have to finish the day. It's been one heck of a crazy week though...it seemed everyone had somewhere they needed to be. Tuesday it was straight from work to Boulder City to pick up Alyssa from dance, Wednesday was straight from work to the place where Brandon has wrestling practice, picked up the girls and off to Boulder City I go again, Thursday Gabriella had a 6:20 Dr. appt for a follow up on the RSV...2 hours later we were given the all clear. Today Brandon has wrestling and Alyssa has dance...at the same time, Thankfully Grandma (aka my mom)has stepped up and will take Alyssa to dance.
Brandon has a wrestling tournament tomorrow morning...if I time it right and his practice ends on time I can run him to weigh in tonight and save me two hours tomorrow morning! (weigh in is also in Boulder City)If we can't make it we have to leave the house tomorrow morning by 6:30am! Wish me luck!

All in all it's been crazy...but the positive things are...
-Gabriella does not need breathing treatments anymore (say a prayer..cold and flu season has the potential to be very hard on her as her lungs have yet to fully heal)
- Jeff has settled into a routine with the kids and everyone (though very tired) is very happy
-Gabriella will take a bottle!!! It was a rough start!
-I managed to get a load of whites done last night...now everyone has clean socks! (ok...that's a positive for me!)

I'll post pictures of the tournament tomorrow...

Back at work

I'm here...back at work. I have to admit it was not as bad as I had set myself up for. Jeff, Brandon and Gabriella made a visit for lunch so that really helped. Honestly it's like I had never been gone (except I forgot my accounting password). In the end it was much more hectic at home, after pulling 9 hours at work I came home and did my mommy duties...it was literally 10:30pm when I finally had a chance to sit down. Today Alyssa has dance at 4:30 and Brandon has a wrestling match at 5. Jeff will drop Alyssa off and then take Brandon to his match...I will leave work at 5 and rush to Boulder City to pick Alyssa up by 5:30. It's crazy yes...but I think one thing Jeff and I can both agree on is it's a blessed kind of crazy!

Feeling sad

I'm due back at work tomorrow morning...have I mentioned lately how much I am NOT looking forward to this?! Don't get me wrong, I do like my job and for the most part like everyone I work with. I'm gonna miss my kids like crazy and I have to admit it was fun playing "stay at home mom" for the last 12 weeks. Before Gabriella I never had the chance to pick Brandon or Alyssa up from school, never had the chance to go to Wal-Mart at 7am (best time to go by the way!) I feel like I have missed out on so much, I am thankful that at least Jeff is with them to experience the things that I have already missed out on and of course all the things yet to come. So say a prayer for me this week...I have a feeling I'm going to need all that I can get.

Random Pictures

Family game night fun! It was a long game but in the end daddy came out the winner.

Brandon won this time around...he was so proud of himself!

She was full of smiles...until I pulled out the camera.

Playing with her gym

Random Update

Seems as Gabriella and Brandon are already asleep for the night and Alyssa is staying the night with a friend I have some free time. Really, to be honest I should be cleaning and taking down the tree...but who has energy for that?!

Gabriella had a follow up appt. today for her RSV. I could have sworn she was not getting better but the doctor says everything is looking better. We are to continue the breathing treatments every 4 hours until at least next Thursday when she will have yet another appointment. Say a prayer for me...and me too!

I have a severe sinus infection, I do have antibiotics so that is a good thing. Unfortunately I will not be getting the rest the doctor advised me to...kinda hard to do when you have a sick baby.

I go back to work Monday...listen close...that's me sighing...I DO NOT want to go back. I think I'm the only mom I know who works outside the home...yup...that's me feeling sorry for myself. I'm just thankful Jeff helps as much as he does and as usual work will never get in the way of me being a good parent.

I do have some pictures from last nights family game night and today's game of Sorry with Jeff, Brandon and I. I will post them when I have a chance.

That's about all for now...

Looking back

I stole this idea from another blog...but I liked it.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Hmmm...that is a tough one...I have no clue.


2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I that last years was to become more organized...my life is anything but that...I do however get me and everyone else where we need to be ON TIME so I guess that's a start. This year I will keep my resolutions.


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Just me...


4. Did anyone close to you die?
No..Thank God!


5. What countries did you visit?
Ummm...NONE.


6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Patience...


7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
So many to list...
August 27th,Brandon's First day of school
October 15th, the day we welcomed Gabriella into our family
Those are just a few

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Gabriella...and my other two babies too. I have great kids and they are by far my best achievement...HANDS DOWN!


9. What was your biggest failure?
my lack of patience and my weight gain. Yes, I am aware I had a baby..but need I remind you she only weighed 7 pounds! I WILL correct this issue this year


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Besides the usual colds...nope.


11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmmmmm...I guess Starbucks. Really people...it's like crack to me!


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Again a few people come to mind...
For sure Jeff! He does so much for his family, I would be lost with out him
Alyssa and Brandon (especially Alyssa) she is an amazing girl. I always hear from her teachers how much she does to help and is such a role model. She gives 110% to everything she does (except cleaning her room :)
Brandon is special in his own energetic way...he really does want to please us.


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I can think of a few...however I plead the 5th now


14. Where did most of your money go?
I'll give ya three guesses!


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Gabriella's birth and Jeff's new job


16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
the first song that comes to mind is Beautiful Girls by Sean Kingston. Honestly I have never heard it all the way through and only know one line to the darn thing...but I sing that one line to Gabriella


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
Happier, Fatter (working on that now though) and richer in so many ways!


18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Relaxing!


19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Cleaning

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family


21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Many, many, many times! I LOVE Jeff insanely and I have to say my three beautiful kids are pretty lovable too!


22. How many one-night stands?
Ummm...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


23. What was your favorite TV program?
Desperate Housewives and Will & Grace...yes, I am aware they are all reruns now!


24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't like the word hate...do I dislike...I can think of a few


25. What was the best book you read?
I'm hear to tell ya Dr. Phil's family first book is pretty good


26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jeremy Camp (thanks Sheila)


27. What did you want and get?
A new baby


28. What did you want and not get?
Hmmm...a million dollars


29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmmm...I can't remember the last movie I saw...oh yeah...Shrek the 3rd...not a big fan.


30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Went baby shopping...and I turned 29! YIKES!!!


31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A maid!!


32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
frumpy...I had no desire to dress up while pregnant!


33. What kept you sane?
Jeff, Sheila and Starbucks (in no particular order)


34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
no clue..


35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Not sure


36. Who did you miss?
Jill and her kids


37. Who was the best new person you met?
Hmmm...no clue


38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Having money can't buy you happiness


39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Any lyric from Phil Vassars "Another day in Paradise" song