Busy week...

Last week was one of those weeks, where I could have written every single day...yet didn't write at all! It was just a crazy busy week! I will post the pics. The week ended with me getting my LONG awaited new camera! YEAH! No more blurry snap shots! The little camera we had was just not good indoors...as you will see in some of the pics below. I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend! :) I have to enjoy the summer months, as I am going back to teaching in the fall...yes, you heard me. I accepted a part-time job teaching 3rd-4th grade in the mornings. I am really excited, nervous, and a little sad about putting my baby in childcare. I think all in all though, it will be a good thing...no a great thing! Please pray that we will find the right sitter for my precious girl.



Yes, it is official...I am officially 30...we went out to eat for my birthday!



(if I had had my new camera, these pics would have been so much better!)




My kids highlight of the week, "jump jump" as Abby calls it...gymnastics for Caleb!





Then onto another splash pad!



Caleb graduated from preschool! We were actually a little teary eyed as this was his first year of school completed! Only 13 more to go...(not counting college)











Pics taken with the NEW camera!

Happy Memorial Day! We spent it with our closest friends...who had that monstrous water slide thing from COSTCO. The kids...and the dads had a blast on it!

Splash pad fun!

Today was a fun day in the sun!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends and family! I have so many friends (and especially my sisters) who encourage me daily to be a better mom and friend to my children. Thank you to all of you who lift me up and keep me going! A special thanks goes out to my very own mother...if I could achieve being half the mom that she has been to me, then I know I will be successful. She is truly an amazing person! It is my honor to have her as my mother and friend.

On Saturday morning, my hubby surprised me by taking us to Crackers and Company, which is this amazing breakfast place. I wanted the huge cinnamon roll...and I mean huge...but I ordered an amazing (and healthy) omlette. Then, we headed up to Scottsdale mall, where we let the kids eat cookies and play in the play area. It felt relaxing and fun to have no agenda but to enjoy ourselves.





Then, on actual Mother's Day, DS and Caleb made sure I stayed in bed, and they made me breakfast in bed...yes, you read that correctly, breakfast in bed. It was cute how the kids sat next to me and probably ate more of my food than I did...but just the novelty of it all was so fun. After church, we headed to the parent's house to enjoy lunch and swimming, and more important, fun Wii times! We got home late, and tired, but it was a great weekend. No laundry got done, the house looked like a tornado hit it, and I can say that I wouldn't do it any differently again. This was just a fun weekend of enjoying each other as a family.

Cousins enjoying a popsicle together!




I hope everyone else had a great great weekend!!

The BIG BASH!

On Saturday we had our long awaited big "30th" birthday bash, as both DS and I turn 30 within a couple of weeks of each other. We planned and planned, and then on top of the stomach flu last week, I had to pull it all together for an eventful night on Saturday. This is by far the biggest and most expensive party I have ever thrown (other than my wedding). I learned some really important lessons when doing this, but number one lesson by far was that my closest friends and family are what matters the most. I had 12, yes 12 people say they were coming who then never showed. Considering that this party cost us about $15-20 a head, it cost us a serious amount of money for the no-shows. This was hard for me to swallow...and at first I was upset. My sister spent two days fixing the food and pushing her family aside for mine...of which I am ever grateful. But, here is the thing...we did have 18 people come...whom of which are our closest friends and family. So, even though I was annoyed at those that said they were coming and didn't, and those that didn't even bother to respond, truthfully, we had the most amazing time with those that did come. My closest friends wouldn't have missed it for the world, because they knew just how important it was to us. They showed up excited to be a part of our exciting night, and that support meant more to me than they will ever know!

Alisen, myself, and Kim...two of my very closest girlfriends


To my friends and family that came....thanks for coming and honestly, I couldn't imagine ringing in my new decade of life with anyone else!!

The Chocolate Fountain was the BEST hit!


My two sisters and I...


DS singing Kareoke...he could do this all night long!


My oldest sister, Rachel, and I...


Isn't she beautiful? My middle sis, Kelly, who did all the food and rocked! Thank you will never truly express my gratitude!