Merry Christmas 2008!

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will post some more pictures once we get the camera cord but for now here is our Christmas card. Pam took the pictures as well as designed the card. She is so creative and generous, we are extremely lucky!! The next picture was taken at the Christmas house on Sycamore. I was at work but I was told that Jaxon and Emma ran for their lives but Stella was just fine. I hope all of you have a fabulous day and pray for the many people who have lost their jobs, homes, and loved ones at this time. We are extremely thankful for our health, family, and friends and for the opportunities we have been given. May this next year bring everyone lots of laughter, happiness, and success!!!!

Mani/Pedi anyone?

Does anyone need a manicure or pedicure? If so I have a daughter who would love to help.....






Jaxon and Emma were upstairs taking a nap and I was doing what I do best feeding the baby on the couch. All of a sudden I heard something drop upstairs. I put the baby down and ran...Jaxon was sound asleep and Miss Emma was sitting in my bathroom "painting her nails" and the noise was the nail polish being dropped on the floor. It was on the cabinets, the floor, and all over Emmy. I put her in the bath and she said "Mom don't be mad it is so pretty. I painted my nails." I could not help but laugh and soon after my sister had arrived to help clean up the mess. We scrubbed and cleaned her but that darn nail polish took a week to finally come off. One minute she is painting her nails and brushing her hair and the next she is hanging upside down and playing bad guys. Check out the picture of Jacob giving her a pedicure a couple months ago.....awww

A Day at the Beach

Awwwww.....What a wonderful day we had on Saturday! Absolutely no work for me and just a stress free Saturday for all of us. We went to Zuma beach in Malibu and had an absolute blast! The kids played by the water with their buckets and spades, Jacob and Jaxon played football and frisbee which was hilarious in itself, and to top it off we saw dolphins. I got tar on my foot and hands and so did Emmy which was a real pleasure trying to get that off but other than the tar it was a great time. I realized that we spend so much time being caught up with work that it is truly important to have a good family day at least once a week. We have been trying to designate Saturdays so hopefully we can keep that up. After the beach we grabbed a bite at Chuys and went to Toys R Us t get the kids a toy each since they got some money from my Uncle Brian. Jaxon got some star wars guys and Emmy a doll (since they don't have enough) and we were sitting outside the shop when a song starting playing. It is the song that Tara added to the video of Great Grandma. We would not have put two and two together and for the second time since Grandma has passed, Jaxon turned to us and said "this is Great Grandma's song" and just stared at us for a minute or so with his sweet smile, kind of looking up and listening. We listened for a minute and realized what he was talking about. It brought tears to my eyes and it's just so amazing how a child so young can be so impacted by the events around him and hold onto those memories throughout their lives. We all miss you Great Grandma even the little ones!
On a lighter note, here are some pictures...look at the beach babe laying out

Update

Sorry that I have not written in a while. I have been extremely busy with work and all the events going on. My sister graduated and as most of you know so did Pam, Congratulations to you both.My brother will graduate from high school this week too. My Uncle Brian and Aunt Maria were staying with my parents for a couple weeks. Brian is my Dads younger (not youngest) brother and it was a real pleasure spending time with them! The kids really enjoyed seeing them as well! I wanted to say Happy birthday to my brother Josh who turned 18, Russell, and Grandpa Russ if I haven't already. May this year bring you all the joys and happiness that you deserve.
I am 30 weeks now and Stella should be here early August. I am feeling okay however not as good as I felt with the other two. I have really bad hip and pelvic pain that literally brings me to my knees at times. I can't imagine living like this forever and I do have a deep sympathy for everyone who has physical pain everyday. I am trying to keep a positive outlook and trying to take everyday as it comes. I am no longer running around and playing soccer and football with the kids. It sure is hard trying to rest my body while having two little ones and a job. I am trying to be careful and just knowing that this will go away soon makes me happy. I have my next appointment on Monday the 16th in which I will have another ultrasound and start going back every one to two weeks for checkups. I have gained 17 pounds at this point and am a little deficient in iron. I heard liver and onions may help out a bit (thanks Maria) plus some iron pills. We will start painting the nursery in a couple weeks after my next ultrasound. I would hate for my Dad and Jacob to paint the room bright pink and find out its a boy. Jacob is doing very well. His job gets a bit stressful at times but he is extremely motivated and works so hard! I know he will make all his goals and feel extremely accomplished in a couple years. Jaxon graduates from Pre-K on Tuesday and will be attending Kindergarden at Atherwood in late August. He is ready to take some time off this summer he seems a little burnt out on school. Unfortunately he has a long way to go so hopefully he will be refreshed and ready after the summer. Emmy is doing great 86 her 2 year old temper tantrums and whining. She is my chatty Cathy and her vocabulary expands everyday. She is very loving and extremely helpful. Jaxon and her have their spats but for the most part they are good friends. They love and play together all the time and miss each other very much when the other is gone. I added a few pics of the the kids at the civics arts plaza when we took them to see the sesame street show. They were really excited! I am very blessed to have my family. I need to study for a renewal for my Real Estate exam but I just wanted to give an update.

Emmy's 2nd Birthday!

Today was bussssyyyy! We had to be at the field by 8 for Jaxon's last soccer game, came home got ready for Emmy's party, went to Jaxon's soccer party (he received his first trophy), picked up a cake and balloons, and got back just in time to do some last minute clean up and the party had started. I forgot how much work a party takes and how much you don't get to talk to your guests. Anyway, saying that, Emmy had a blast!! The theme was Elmo, she had a bouncy, lots of friends, and her Daddy's BBQ and even a Sesame Street cake. The party was a hit and everyone seemed to have fun!
During the past couple months we have been working on changing a few things but they all seem to come into effect this week. She got her big girl bed (which she loves and sleeps in like a princess) and we moved the crib out of her room , we threw out her bottles together and the transition has been fairly easy using strictly the sippy cup (although she does call that her baba now), and she is 99% potty trained. Lots of stuff going on over here but in the long run she has done extremely well. She is two now and I feel so blessed to have her as my daughter! She is smart, funny, caring, well mannered, sweet sister (idolizes her brother) and daughter, definitely has her opinions and is not scared to express them, loves to dance & sing, loves water(I think she is part fish), hates bugs, and loves soft blankets and Elmo. I am so blessed to have my whole family and I only hope my next daughter will have many of Emmy's characteristics . I have attached some picturess starting from this morning (you can see she is not really a morning person) until this evening. I also wanted to wish My Wee Clodagh a Happy Birthday! I have known her since preschool about 27 years. We grew up together and spent almost everyday together either at school or back and forth from her house to mine. She is in San Diego this weekend and I hope she is having a fabulous time because if anyone deserves to be celebrated it is Clodagh! Goodnight I am exhausted!

It's a Girl!!!

We are extremely happy to announce that we are having a girl. Jacob, Jaxon, Emmy, & I went to our 5 month ultrasound today (what an adventure that was). My doctor takes forever to see his patients and the kids are not very understanding. They lasted 10 minutes and they were climbing the walls. After going through what seems like 20 magazines trying to keep them occupied we were finally called in. Once we entered the room and I sat in the ultrasound seat Jaxon started to freak out a bit thinking I was about to deliver. He started to cry and told his Dad to get him "outta here". I guess he has been exposed to too much TLC lately with shows like Baby Story and Bringing Home Baby. (Oops, I didn't think the shows were graphic) Saying that our doctor joined the group and told us the great news.....First and foremost, the baby is healthy, completely on track with her measurements, and that we are having a baby girl. Jaxon told the doctor that he was wrong and that we were having a boy and the doc said no maybe next time tell your parents to try again (haha). There is nothing like having a sister...... through ups and downs they are always there to lean on and I am really excited for Emmy to be able to experience that!!! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers at this time.

Easter & An Update

I hope all of you have a nice day with your families and friends. Jaxon visited with the Easter Bunny, attempted to sing at church, and the kids dyed eggs with Grandma! Today, we are having brunch and an Easter Egg hunt at our house at 11 and later in the day we will be stopping by my Aunt Margaritas house to visit with the rest of our family. I haven't had much time to blog lately so I will just give everyone a little update. Jacob came down with the flu a couple weeks ago which quickly turned into Plueracy. He was in excruciating pain and even ended up in the ER because the pain in his chest behind his lung and is his back was unbearable. He is doing much better now and we pray we have seen the last of this viral infection for a while. I have been so busy with work lately thats all I seem to do have time for. It is every weekend and many nights after Jacob gets home. Lucky enough I am able to plan my schedule around Jacobs and my wonderful mother in law trys to help me out with Emmy during the week whenever she is not too busy with school. The kids have been doing well. Jaxon started AYSO soccer which he loves and asks about almost daily. Jacob took a required course and has become an AYSO referee which he seems to enjoy. Jaxon plays Saturday mornings and has scored 8 goals in the past three weeks. Yay...but goals or not he is having a blast! He must take after my Dad, Brother, and Sister when it comes to soccer. Josh is about to graduate from high school in the next few months and just finished up his soccer season at Thousand Oaks High School. He got MVP for his team as well is getting on the All Star team for the whole Ventura county soccer league with his new title Defensive Player of the Year/ League! We are very proud of you Joshy Boy not just because you are the greatest soccer player in our eyes (other than Dad of course)but because you have become a responsible young man and a true gentleman! Emmy is our Chatty Cathy...She is speaking sentences and always asking questions. Her three favorite things are still her BaBa (which will be going away very soon), Elmo, and being outside in the water! I am just turning 19 weeks pregnant and I feel great. I do get tired and am usually in bed relaxing by 9 but I love being pregnant and just recently started to feel the baby move. I had Jacob take this picture last night to monitor the growing belly so although I am half asleep at least you can see the belly.We will go for our next ultrasound April 4th so I will keep you updated. Also I had to add the picture of Catalina playing with our ferocious dog Chuy..... We also went to Ventura Harbor a couple weeks ago had some fish n chips, an ice cream, and flew a kite. What a great day I wish we could do that every weekend. Happy Easter!

Happy Valentines Day!

So this morning I made eggs, toast, and tea for the kids and thought it would be so cute to add some pink food coloring being that it is Valentines Day and all. I had warned them before I gave it to them and once I put it down Jaxon was really grossed out. "Uh Mom what is this?" Emma, "ewwwwwwww". I convinced them to have a bite and they realized it tastes the same just with some color. It was really convincing Jaxon cause once he does anything Emmy will follow. It did look pretty gross and with my weak stomach now days I wouldn't of wanted the eggs. Maybe next year I will stick to cookies. The kids have been sick for the past couple days and to make it worse Emmy has pink eye. Yesterday her eye was almost shut and today with lots of drops it looks a little better at least the puss is gone. I have the worst gag reflex right now, I just can't take puss, poop, smells, snot, or spit....... which I deal with at least one of them on a daily basis having two kiddies and Chuy.
Well enough gag talk we are 13 going on 14 weeks pregnant! Just went to the doctor and the baby seems to be doing just fine and I have gained a few pounds. Here is a picture of the little bean...If you look at the 4-D shot you can see the babies profile...I swear technology these days is amazing!




I have to attend to this messy house and the laundry:) I hope all is well with all of you and although Valentine's is a Hallmark Holiday, it still gives me a chance to say I appreciate and love you all!

10 weeks Pregnant!

I am sure most of you know that we are pregnant and due August 19, 2008! Yes it was a bit of a shock at first but now we are all over the moon! Since we have Jaxon & Emmy we have no preference whether we have a boy or a girl we just pray that our little bundle of joy will be happy and healthy. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers at this time! I will be blogging and posting pictures of my growing belly and ultrasound photos. This is for everyone to follow our pregnancy but also for us to look back at our last pregnancy/baby! If you want to know week by week updates on how the baby is developing I have added a link on the side of my blog thats called "Pregnancy week by week". Once you click on that link it will bring you to the site. To the right of the site, under VIP: click on the link this week; you will find the baby is very small, however almost fully formed, and kicking up a storm.