This is my life for the next four days. It is a cool place to be. I love the image of my nativity behind my sewing machine. It keeps me level and reminds me what this day is all about. I feel blessed today. I love my kids. It is nearly impossible to really get much done between PB & Js, more juice, mommy I got to go peepee, where are we going, what are we doing tomorrow morning, can we have our countdown...you get it. Being a mom is grand.
I know I have not posted in a while so I thought I would add a picture of my sweet family at Christmas! I hope to get back into the writing part but have gotten more fond of the reading part! It is so neat to be able to read about peoples lives! Merry Christmas!
Okay, so I know it is slightly troubling that my four year old has a concept on evil but if you will...look past that and see the art here. She drew this and told me she named it 'Evil Lady Hand'. I was so impressed because it truly is an evil lady hand. I think she may have a talent here! Mona, I know you will back me on this. Don't be to alarmed though, becasue she is drawing babies as we speak. She is still innocent and sweet and precious.
So, I turned 36 today. It really was not that big of a deal since for most of this last year I thought I was 36 anyway. I had a great day. My favorite part of my birthday every year is my birthday breakfast with my dad. This year was no exception. We had a wonderful breakfast at the Ramos House accompanied by wonderful conversation. What I know for sure is that my dad loves me.
While we were at breakfast my mom had my kiddos. I'm not sure how she did it in three hours but she cleaned my kitchen (including major stove work), did three loads of laundry (wash, dry & fold), made my bed, watered my plants, and bathed my children. I would be lucky to get all that done in a week. She is the mom of all moms. She just makes stuff happen. Oh, and she made some homemade almond milk. Amazing. What I know for sure is that my mom loves me.
I got an hour and a half massage at noon which was wonderful. I got phone calls singing happy birthday, text messages from my d-ship girls (I love you guys!), flowers from my family in Vegas and in Wyoming, and a beautiful salad bowl and tongs from my dear Wendy! Zoe gave me lots of kisses because she said she didn't want to waste time at the store. How precious! What I know for sure is that my friends and family love me.
I got a beautiful letter from my sister that made me cry and feel really special. What I know for sure is that my sister loves me.
My mom made dinner for me and my family and it was wonderful! Salmon Stack wrapped in parchment with capers, lemons, spinach and leeks...and don't forget the brown rice biscuits! The biscuits actually rocked. She was also thoughtful enough to get a pin the tail on the donkey game which was a big hit with the kids!
When it was all said and done, I felt loved at the end of the day and what more could you really want.
I took this picture of us holding out the camera and had no idea he put on his ROCK STAR face. I love it!
Today we went and looked at model homes. We do this often because we like to dream and the kids love to find 'their rooms'. We were walking up the stairs in one of the homes and there were these stained glass (kind of) windows to outside casting rainbow prisms all over the stairs and Zoe said " Look Mommy, Gods promises". It was so precious. Just one of things I want to remember that she said.
So, this isn't going to make sense to most of you but it will to Mona and my Mom. The fake cheese, brown rice lasagna noodles, grass fed hormone free ground turkey homegrown tomato lasagna was AWESOME! Cory couldn't even tell the cheese was not real. YES! I know the picture looks disgusting but it was SSOOOOOO good! I've missed cheese and now its back, well...kind of.
I couldn't resist putting these pictures on. I suppose it may be an invasion of privacy but I don't think he cares yet! He is doing awesome with potty training. He is kind of doing it himself. It is actually quite remarkable. Truthfully I think God just said "Jen really can't handle potty training right now so I'm going to do it for her". Either way, I'm thankful! And of course the adorable shot of Zoe from up above once again! So sweet!
So, here is Zoe in her 'big girl' pre ballet class. She feels very big because it is in the 'upstairs' room where the big kids go. She was so proud when we came in to see the last fifteen minutes of her class last week. It is so precious to see her look at us like "did you see that? did you see what i just did?" She would do her thing and then look over to make sure we were watching, smiling and giving her the thumbs up and I love you sign. I hope she always feels proud of herself and always looks for that thumbs up from us because I tell you this...it will be there always! (even when shes not looking for it!)
Just some pics of me loving my babies and sending a big huge I LOVE YOU to Mona! 12 Days! Oh, and I thought I would add yet another picture of Zoe looking perfectly angelic.
Watching Zoe today was awesome. Although at times she was more concerned with waving at everyone on the sidelines she was GREAT! She ran with the team like a champ. I just could not believe that was my girl out there. I feel like she was just my little baby and now she is playing soccer. It is an exciting time in her life and watching her grow up is pure joy!
Brother has begun to choose his own clothes. I want you to look closely at all he has chosen here. From the bandana, to the "buddy boy shorts", to the spider-man socks with sandals. GQ here he comes!
I thought I would add the top one because it is so funny. I was taking a picture of Brother and I and didn't realize the zoom was on...made me laugh hard. Masterpiece huh?
So, along with the papis we also gave up on naps since it was getting increasingly hard to get him to sleep at night. I decided to go ahead and give him a nap today and he woke up HAPPY! Naps are back! Naps are the new no naps. Just wanted to update you for those who were left brokenhearted from that last picture! Yeah Caleb!
caleb gave up his papis about three weeks ago. (papi = pacifier) we had a bye-bye papi party and he said goodbye to each one and put them all in an envelope to mail them back to papiland to be with their family. he did great after a couple days of fuss, but it has definitely been an adjustment. here is a picture of caleb that i see about 3 or 4 times a day. i know it is just a phase but i just feel so bad for him.
