Random pictures

Football mania...

Today, while I was out with the girls, daddy and Brandon went and did some "guy" things. (As Brandon would say) They had lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings (and had "dirty" chicken...that's what Brandon calls chicken wings) then they hit Sports Authority and the park to throw around the football.
I sure hope daddy wore him out...he's sleeping with me tonight. Oh how I love sleepovers. :)

My brown eyed girls

At this point in the day Gabriella had had it. I realize her hair is a mess and her dress is hiked up....what can I say?!

Lot's of pictures...sorry.
Gabriella never really gets the chance to sit in the grass. She loved the leaves but was unsure of the prickly things under her little legs. Yup...she's a city girl!

NV Heritage Museum

This is a general store that used to be on the strip...pretty cool.

This picture just reminded me so much of my Grandma Terry. I walked into this house and I felt like I was in hers. As I made my way through I came to the kitchen and saw this stool. My Grandma had the same stool except hers was green.

Alyssa is having her friend, Elizabeth, over for the night. We were supposed to go to the water park but the weather was overcast and we could tell the rain was on the way. Instead we went to the Nevada Heritage Museum. The kids had fun and so did I (except for the fact that I decided we didn't need the stroller and carried Gabriella, my purse and my camera for the entire two hours we were there!)
Afterwards I took the girls to lunch at Red Robin and them we met Jeff and Brandon at the park.
It was a good day.

Good bye my friend...

My beloved crock pot died on me. As a matter of fact, I was in the middle of roasting a chicken in it when it decided it could no longer handle the work load I was giving it. He has come through for me for many occasions, he has even traveled to church pot lucks and teacher luncheons at school. I will miss you Mr. Crock pot...now I have to go back to life with my little guy.

****Hint Hint...this would be a wonderful Christmas gift*****

I can't believe I forgot...

Yesterday was my sister Jill's birthday. She turned 31...man are we getting old.
We are 13 months apart (yes folks, that means I will be 30 soon)
We share a great relationship. We tell each other everything. We laugh together and even cry together. I know if all else fails I always have her to turn to and talk to.
Happy birthday Jill...I know you had a great day. We all love you!

First Day of School

Well, we survived our first day back at school. Alyssa is now in the 5th grade! This is the last year of elementary school for her. Yikes...really, where in the world did the time go?!
Brandon made it successfully through this first day in 1st grade. He has given me a list of instructions when it comes to packing his lunch, no cutting his sandwich, not to many extras. I in turn have given him a few pointers, it's ok to throw your trash in the trash can at school...this includes the half empty juice bag that he left in his box to leak all over.
I can not believe how fast these kids have grown!

Mobile...

I have been a slacker lately.
Alyssa started back at dance last week and Brandon has been playing football. School starts back Monday so we have been busy getting ready for that. Well, Jeff has been busy getting ready for school. He's out with Alyssa and Brandon getting new shoes and the last of what they still need. Gabriella was napping, but woke up when everyone yelled "BYE" up the stairs...
Crawling is going good. She is officially mobile. Just a few minutes ago I left her to grab the phone. When I returned she was between the wall and the TV attepmting to get a hold of the speaker wires.
Dance looks like it will be another exciting year. The big news with that is Alyssa was finally able to get a locker. Trust me...to Alyssa this is a BIG deal.
Football is going well too. Brandon has been playing center.That's about all I know about that.
We're busy as usual...

How did they....

Get this picture of my husband?!
I love you honey...and yes, I know you do a lot for our family. But ya gotta admit...this is totally you!



Can you tell it's been one of those days for me?!

Finally....

I was beginning to think it was never going to happen.
I bribed, coaxed and pleaded for what seems like months. I listened to the endless comments about milestone time lines and used my share of excuses...but today we have progress. FORWARD progress that is. Gabriella is finally crawling!
My life as I know it will never be the same. :)

Are ya ready for some....

FOOTBALL!!!!

This is what happens when you weigh 35 pounds and wear an average 6 year old size uniform! :) Also, note the football "mean face", not to be confused with the wrestling "mean face"





Brandon had his first football practice today. Much to my surprise he seemed to really like it!
He has his first game next Saturday- it's a round robin tournament so that means he will play more than one game. (I think)...
I was just beginning to learn about wrestling and now I have to learn about football and the proper lingo...it's a practice not a rehearsal...
Jeff's got his work cut out for him!

10 Months

Gabriella turned 10 months old yesterday.
She is such a sweetheart. I know you hear me say this all the time...but she really is a sweetie.
She has finally started to pull herself up but only when she is in the mood.
She is at the stage where she wants EVERYTHING she sees too. The TV remote, phone, keys, toys, FOOD!
She loves Alyssa and Brandon.
I can't believe my sweet baby is already 10 months. I look forward to seeing her grow- to walk and talk and do all the things that come with each new stage...but still it's sad to see her grow.

I love you Gabriella!

Life

My newest obsession is blog surfing...call me creepy but it's interesting to read about other people and their families.
I have stumbled across several where families have lost a child. In one in particular the mother urges her readers to hold on to every moment we are given, cherish everything that comes our way. I do that, I thought...but then, as I thought more about it I realized I don't. I get caught up in "busy" things that must be done and allow these precious moments to just slip by without a thought.
The last few nights I have taken the kids out for bike rides. It does "cramp" my time when I would usually be doing something that "needed to get done"...but guess what....whatever it was that needed to be done was most certainly still waiting for me when I got home and in fact the world did not come to a screeching halt because of it.
I take the time to listen to Brandon as he makes an observation about everything from dust on the street to the beautiful sunset we saw last night. I watch Alyssa as she rides back and forth past me just as fast as can be, her hair blows in the wind and I take a mental picture. I want to soak it all in...every last thing.
Hopefully tonight daddy will join us for our walk...as Brandon said. "Alyssa and I can ride our bikes, daddy will push Gabriella in the stroller and you (meaning me) can run off some weight"....Yup...I love em!

5th grade!

Alyssa will be entering her final year in elementary school on August 25th. I wonder where the time went.
I still remember what she wore on her first day in Kindergarten...how I fixed her hair and how big that princess backpack looked on her little back.

I was sitting in the car waiting for her to get out of school on Friday. Jeff walked up to the school to get her...I saw her run to him and I knew why. She pulled off straight A's for the entire year...again!
In the teacher remarks she said she had never worked with a child as well mannered and bright as Alyssa. Yes, I realize she may be a bit of a teachers pet...but hey...I'll take it!
I am so proud of all of my kids but Alyssa makes me beam from ear to ear. She worked hard for those straight A's and we are so proud of her!

If you are wondering what the American Girl Doll picture is for...well, this is what daddy promised her if she could do the all A's for the year. He made this deal BEFORE I informed him how much these puppies run. :)

1st Grade here we come...

On Friday Brandon graduated from Kindergarten. They had a nice little program complete with songs and a really nice slide show of pictures compiled from the year that was set to music. I can't believe my little guy is going into 1st grade. He had a great year and learned so much. His teacher, Mrs Thornton was also Alyssa's kindergarten teacher we loved her then and we love her even more now. I'm so proud at the progress that he made and look forward to what new and exciting things lay ahead in 1st grade.

side note...in the slide show my son was featured in pictures with all girls...in one him and another girl are strolling the playground HOLDING HANDS!

Random Updates

Just in case anyone was wondering...

Alyssa did make the school newspaper...
she was chosen as an alternate for the morning announcements. She's happy with the outcome of both.

Dance starts back up on the 18th. She is taking Tap, Irish, Hip Hop and Ballet. That's four classes and four trips we will be making to Boulder City every week. It will be interesting to see how everything runs with football and wrestling practices, PTA meetings and well....sanity. This is where I thrive though..as crazy as it gets...nothing makes me happier than seeing my kids do what they love.

The last day of school is Friday. Brandon is having a kindergarten "promotion" on Friday morning. They are singing songs and letting off balloons. It should be fun.
Alyssa gets off at 11:30 so I'm taking the day off and we are making a family day out of it. Lunch and school supply shopping...the goal is to get Brandon his lunch box before he asks for the millionth time.

Jeff and I are good...me being the person that I am reminded him yesterday was our 11 year anniversary of our first kiss...
I know, I know...GAG ME!

Flag Football...

Brandon starts football next week. His team, as you can see is the Chiefs. Games will start August 30th...so grab your chairs and some sunscreen and be prepared for some good old fashion flag football. It should be a lot of fun!

Meeting a champion...

Brandon had wrestling camp this week. On Friday one of the coaches was Kevin Randleman, former UFC heavyweight champion. Brandon was so excited to have him sign his shirt and said he wants to be a champion just like him one day...
In the three days of camp Brandon was able to learn some new "moves"...I can't wait for wrestling season to start back up so I can see his new skills on someone besides his poor sister.
He may be a little guy but my little guy is tough!

YUMMY...

On Friday my mother-in-law made some of my favorite Filipino food...even Gabriella got in on the action!
This was her first time eating pancit and just like her mommy...she LOVED it!
Thanks a ton Minda, it made my night much easier knowing I didn't have to cook dinner.