Mondays

Mondays aren't really stressful for us. It's just another day and apparently today is a day for fave painting and forts. It's been pretty awesome. We've even had hot chicory and are preparing for Dia De Los Muertos. This is out first year celebrating. We never did growing up and I want my kids to have cultural experiences. 

trying to keep it clean

The Kitchen After

i have been trying to keep the communal parts of the house clean.it's been a struggle since the baby. not blaming her, just love to be with her and the other kids. she's kind of amazing. anyway, back to the house cleaning business. the past few days i have been taking pictures and posting them to the blogs Facebook page. it's sort of an accountability, for me.

i am also trying to keep my mouth clean. i don't know what in the world came over me, but my language was getting pretty foul. maybe it was watching a rereun of Real Housewives of New Jersey. i really don't know. slowly, but surely i am cleaning it up.

Jimmy has been on a wild goose chase to get a copy of his Baptismal records. So far, we have a copy of his First Holy Communion records. It came with a letter about his Baptism. He is on his way to recieving communion. WOOP!

Happy Guy

the little kids planted flowers yesterday. it was plant a flower day. we read more books and Joaquin had an MRI. he did well and without sedation for the first time. he said he pretended he was in a spaceship battling space bandits and the like. he's such a great kid and becoming more than i could ever expect.

At his favorite Subway!

Libraries and Such

Today I took the littles to the library. We checked out plenty of books as well as paying a two dollar late fee. I am so horrible at maintaining library books. I am working on that. My kids all love the library. To them it's not a mundane event, it's exciting. That is how I have always been.

Most of the books we got are on the Solar System. Maggie and Waylon want to learn more on this subject, and I have a Magic School Bus kit to help them out. More on that soon.

Joaquin read this whole book today. Tomorrow I am taking him to get some more and return this and a few other books. If he enjoys those as well, we will be on Amazon adding them to our home library.

Maggie got a couple early reader books. With me and then later with Joaquin she read through them. Funny thing, they were both about dogs. This girl loves her animals. She is making progress despite her dyslexia. She doesn't let anything hold her back. Sometimes she gets frustrated and has to regroup. I am just thankful she knows when to walk away.

Here are the books that were read today.

Hope you all had a wonderful day.

Love,

Momma

Weekend In Review

Saturday, Waylon had a Cub Scout swim party. It was pretty fun for him. He made a friend. It's nice to see him around kids and being unashamed to be himself. It was also nice that even though he is water weary, he was not made fun of. Not many from the pack showed up, so it was low key and not very loud. I visited with some of the parents for awhile, and it's always interesting to see how adults interact. I have grown used to limited adult interaction that is in person. For my kids, I will learn to move beyond my own comfort.

Saturday evening, we went to a birthday party and had a good time. I photographed the Hello Kitty themed party. This was a nice size crowd and there was lots of food. My friend really can put a themed together. Here are a few pictures from that.

We started to clean up and move things around yesterday for our big once a year unBirthday Party. That takes place this Sunday. Waterslide, snow cones, pool, trampoline and lots of food. Here is a picture of last years waterslide, she will be making a return visit! What did you do this weekend?

SO BUSY!

I have been so busy with the kids. Last Thursday, Maggie started Girl Scouts. She is a Brownie. Her troop is a Super Troop and she loves her leader. Look below and see her being all crafty! I signed up, as well. I did so, that way I could go on trips with her. We got membership scholarships, this works out because I still owe money on the van repair bill.

Friday night, I had a surprise, my lovely friend Tanni and her family were in town. We went to high school together. She is who the baby is being named after. She totally rocks and I hope to see her again, really soon.

Saturday I did a photo shoot on Saturday. Before the ceremony could officially begin, I got sick and ended up in the ER. How embarrassing. I am just glad I grabbed a bench before they shouted "Pregnant lady down!" Here are some of the photos from that shoot.

Sunday, we went to Del March Beach on Camp Pendelton. We went and visited my brothers family. It was such a nice relaxing time. Oh, how I have missed the beach and my brother. I can not wait to do it again, soon!

Monday, that started early. Jimmy took the day off to take Joaquin to his EEG. It went fast, since he was not so wiggly this time. But, look at those things on his head and his hair all over. He looks like he was head banging and took a slip.

He was still tired and had Subway on the way home...where is mine?! It's a Loma Linda visit tradition for him.

Lastly, here are my two hippie boys at Boy Scouts. They had a blast last night. We only had to pay $5 a boy, so late in the year. We opted out of Boys Life magazine for now. When we pay for next year, we will get it.

I am 23 weeks and some days pregnant....going fast!

Love,

Momma

Comedic Life or Something Like That

I have been a bad blogger I know, probably a bad wife and mother as well. This week my energy level dipped to an all time low. There were a few days marked with contractions and some discomfort...go being pregnant at 36! One day this week I had to venture to Walmart and I ran into two people from Jimmy's rehab. I knew what was coming, he has been working a lot and not attending meetings. Therefore people assume he is out there getting drunk, NOPE!

I am standing there, all hot and sweaty holding some Poise Pads. They come up and just stand there. Part of me wanted to throw the bag of pads and pretend I didn't see them, part of me wanted to ask for a recommendation. "Poise or Depends?" They small talk me and asked how Jimmy was doing. I said he was over by the pool supply and he was doing good. They smiled and I threw the bag of pads into my basket along side some shampoo and Toms toothpaste. They looked confused. Come on people! I have five kids, a undependable bladder was bound to happen. Oh, wait! These were two childless adults. Send me your poise pad coupons! I'd love them.

I have been practicing my photo skills a lot. Like every day, a lot! There have been several great photos that have been bombed by nose picking. Oh, wait! My tag line is "Capturing real life." So in real life my three year old is a nose picker and he is not ashamed. Yes folks he is all boy. Speaking of photo taking, I am looking into getting more educated on it. I am not charging since I am in no way a professional. Some people have offered and I will just say 'Hey if you want to give me gas money or buy me an AmPm Lemonade with crunchy ice, I will not say no." Other than that, I will not pretend to be well learned on taking photos. Although, some of them I am very in love with.

This is life and I can not say I'd want to change it, okay maybe not dealing with buying poise pads. Love your life people.

Love,

Momma!