Married for 7 years.

Today Mitch and I will have been married for seven years, and even though we have had our share of ups and downs, I wouldn't trade it for anything. He's my best friend and I couldn't have chosen a better father for my children. He's supported me through family troubles and listened to me when I've been an irrational mess. We have done so well with the hand that we were dealt; I don't think many other couples could have survived going through what we have gone through, and it has only brought us closer. We still love to wrestle and laugh at nothing. I love you Mitch. I would do it all over again!

Mitch loving on his baby girl this weekend..melt.


Mitch and I admiring our new bundle. Love my Pebbles hair? This was snapped about 3 minutes after she was born.


Mitch and I at Bridal Veil Falls Thanksgiving weekend.


Love you, babe!

Baby Slingin' and Family Picture: FAIL

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my ring-sling. It's the best little invention in the whole wide world. Aja loves it too.


She especially likes to suck on the edge.


Until she falls asleep.


Ah, the family picture. I think we took over 60 pictures and not ONE turned out. Ugh..So I guess this next weekend we will go for round two. Our main problem was that little boy on the right...yah, the blond one.


Thanks Cohen for making this SOOOOO easy!


I could go on...


I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

One November afternoon when my daughter was in kindergarten, I picked her up after school. She bobbed out to the car and crawled into the back seat.

"What did you do today?" I asked. She couldn't wait to tell me.

"We learned that boys are different from girls," she chirped.

Looking into the rear view mirror, I could just see the top of her head.

"My teacher told us that boys have a thing the girls don't," she added.

"Well, yes they do " I said cautiously.

I couldn't think of anything else to say, so we were quiet for a moment. Then she piped up again. "That's how girls know that boys are boys," she said. "They see that thing that hangs down and they know that he is a boy."

I mentally calculated the distance home. Our five-minute commute already felt like an hour.

"Did you know that when the boys see a girl they puff up?" My palms were beginning to sweat. "Um…well…"

I was still searching for something new to say, to change the subject, when she asked, "Why do the girls like the boys to have those things?" Well, I didn't know what to say. I mean, what woman hasn't asked herself that question at least once?

"Oh, well…um" I stammered.

She didn't wait for my answer. She had her own. "It's cause it moves when they walk and then the girls see that and that's when they know they are boys and that's when they like them. Then the boy sees the girl and he puffs up, and then the girl knows he likes her, too. And then they get married. And then they get cooked."

That last part confused me a bit, but on the whole I thought she had a pretty good grasp on things.

As soon as we got home and I pulled into the garage, she hopped out of the car, fishing something out of her school bag.

"I drew a picture," she said. "Do you want to see?"
I wasn't sure I did, but I looked at it anyway. I had to sit down.

There, all puffed up so to speak, looking mighty attractive for the ladies, was a crayon drawing of a great big Tom Turkey. His snood, the thing that hangs down over his beak, the thing that female turkeys find so irresistible, was magnificent. His tail feathers were standing tall and proud.

She was a little offended that I laughed so hard at her drawing, and I laughed until I cried. But when I told her I loved it – and I did – she got over her pique.

That was the end of that, for her anyway. But I'm not so lucky.

Every year I remember that conversation.
And to be honest, I haven't looked at a turkey, or a man, the same way since.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING

My take on the "Twilight" movie.

I have to admit, I am disappointed.

There are no words. I know it's not humanly possible to fit the bill for Edward, but honestly, they could have picked someone a little more "good looking" than Robert Pattinson!! There were times when he really did it for me (when watching previews online before the movie came out), but after seeing that movie...Barf!! I groaned outloud at the "hang on little spider monkey" line..PUH-LEASE!! Honestly, if Mitch had said that to me while were dating I would have said "you know..Your nice and all, but this just isn't going to work". OY! The SUNGLASSES! Which ERA did you get those from buddy! He said a few funny lines, but all in all he was a great disappointment for me. I know some will disagree and that is fine. No hard feelings, ok?

Bella blinked WAY too much. I also didn't feel any "spark" between her and Edward.

Jasper, Alice, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Charlie were all great. The special effects..Need help. The baseball seen was terrible..I full body shudder at the memory of that scene.

The movie needed to be so much longer, it felt so rushed. There were some parts in the book that are supposed to be romantical and mysterious in a way and they totally hack-sawed it.

Meh..I would like to hear those who have seen it thoughts on the whole ordeal. Also, just got word from a friend..They gave the green light for New Moon..HOPEFULLY they will pick a different screen writer.

BUT, my Junior Mints were really good.

Cohen's name for Peyton

Cohen's speech therapist was concerned because Cohen didn't have a name for Peyton. Here it is:



If you couldn't catch it, it's Pee-pee. Sorry I couldn't get it full size, I really don't know what I'm doing here. If anyone wants to help out with that part, great!

Enjoy!

I'm so tired.

It's not even 9 and I'm about to fall asleep at the computer. I got up at 6:30 and the nights sleep was pretty decent even though Aja was sleeping in my bed and Peyton and Cohen were sleeping on the floor next to the bed. Also, I slept through Anessa cracking nuts (the girl grinds her teeth, BAD and someone else (I haven't figured out who) has taken to doing the same). I got in the shower and got ready (including blow drying my hair YAY!) got the kids out the door, got Aja and Cohen ready and then we headed off to thera-PLAY. Aja of course wouldn't stay with the "sitters" there and so I had to take her with me. It's not easy rough housing with Cohen while holding her.

There is a little boy there who is getting into the habit of hurting Cohen every time he sees him, and it's starting to piss me off. Today he kicked Cohen in the back and in the head. So I did EVERYTHING in my power to avoid another situation, I got side-tracked by another mom asking how I was holding up and the kid runs after Cohen and pushes him down, and Cohen knocked his head pretty good. UGH! I know that the kid has really no control over what he does and I'm trying to be patient, but any of you who know me know that I'm SUPER protective of my kids and I'm having a hard time with this.

We get home and I feed everyone, including inhaling a lunch of my own (I'm apparently not allowed to eat according to Aja) and then had to hold Aja for a few hours and finally got her to sleep. Then the Lord smiled upon me and made it so Cohen went to sleep too! I thought, YES! I can do a few things...Nope. I got a call from my work and I talked to my boss. She lives in California and her house and business (my work) burned down this weekend so she was giving me all the details on that. I feel so bad for her. Her mom died this year, she had to have back and knee surgery, then her two front teeth broke and then her house burns down. Wonderful year for her, huh? Anyway, I have made arrangements to send her some things since she now has no clothes. Then Aja and Cohen get up, Anessa gets home and it's time to run Peyton to gymnastics. We get home at 5:45 and yet again I feed everyone and I'm allowed to eat a sandwhich and that is all! LOL! Then it's off to take Anessa to basketball practice and we didn't get home until 8. I then tried to do a bit of work while Aja played in her saucer (not having it) and Anessa and Peyton go shower. Cohen did what he does best..wander. I FINALLY got everyone down at 8:45 and who decides that she needs to wake up? I'm hoping she will go back to sleep on her own, but I think that is a vain hope. Anyway, this was my day. This is how my typical day is every.single.day. Can you see why I'm tired?

My only saving grace is that I get to see this on Friday, and I can't wait!

My 5 month old baby girl, and Basketball Anessa!

Aja is now five months! The time is just flying by, I can't believe it! She is trying to crawl, the little bugger! She rolls around everywhere making it very insteresting to change her diaper. She also growls, it's so funny! I can't have a conversation on the phone without her having to put in her two cents worth!

Here is Aja's first taste of some applesauce. She loved it!


And of course we have to be a big girl and try to feed ourselves.


Oh Mom, you want me to SMILE for the camera?? Too bad. I just won't ever do it.


Mini push-ups!


We just put Anessa into basketball. I'm so proud of her. She's tall enough that she could get pretty good at the sport!