Life (version 10 million... I'm sure I have so many posts with this title).

Yesterday a friend of mine told me about her shopping trip and some fun items she got.  I started to think back to my life with one or two toddlers and how the whole day was spent the way I wanted to spend it!  It was nice.  Now I get to spend everyday from 8-12:30 the way I want- except for that I need to be preparing for the rest of the day during that time.  Also, I have a lot of people to run errands for so it's never just my errands I'm running.  1:00-2:30 is spent frantically doing whatever I can do at home while the baby sleeps.  Then 2:30-9 is all about the big kids, the big kids, the big kids.  Homework, projects, scheduling, playdates, sports, dinner prep, piano, showers, anything they need etc. etc.  But I'm thankful for it.

Last week Dave and I went on a short little getaway for two nights to Santa Cruz.  Dave really needed some rest and relaxation but I have to admit I was a little bored at times!  I mean, it was GREAT to be bored.  We watched three movies, slept on the beach, slept in, ate out, and walked/hiked.  It was so nice.  But I had a good realization that I wouldn't want my whole life, every day to be that empty.  Can you imagine not having work to do and not having anywhere to be?  I discovered that I am not yet ready for the retirement years and I promised myself I wouldn't complain about having all these kids to work with constantly.  It's a blessing and I'm thankful for our busy, but happy, life.

Macey and Logan just finished up a season of track.  They really liked it.  I didn't take a single picture.  I hope by writing it down that there will be some proof that we did it.  I want my kids to know I let them try everything and supported them in it all.  Logan is super into long distance running.  At practice they got to run in the hills which he loved.  At the meets he mostly wanted to do the mile.  His best mile time is 6:36.  Way faster than me which is awesome.  He's hoping to shave his time down under 6 minutes this summer.

Macey did the long jump and some sprints at the meets.  It was so cute. The long jump was hilarious because she would run down the track with the hugest grin on her face.  Her best jump was 8 feet 4 inches I think.  The thing I love about Macey is her attitude.  She is always cheerful and excited about everything.  It's contagious.

Lexi is doing volleyball through her middle school.  School sports are the best because they just stay after school and you don't have to drive them around much!  The good news is I found some decently longish volleyball shorts... because seeing some of those girls in the black "short as underwear" volleyball shorts is disturbing to me and I wanted her a bit more covered.  I'm not ready (and never will be) to see my child's body displayed for the world.

My favorite restaurant right now in WC is Citra Grill.  I just tried it for the first time a few weeks ago when I went with some friends there before we saw "Sound of Music" at the Lesher.  I couldn't wait to take Dave so we went the following Tuesday.  I NEED to go again.  It's super yummy and healthy and you don't roll out of the restaurant feeling stuffed.  You feel satisfied.  I also think I'm not great at cooking good meat and so I love a restaurant that will serve me some good meat.

Last night we went on a family bike ride and accidentally rode 5 miles.  Having Dave home again so we can do things like that makes me HAPPY!

Earlier this week I drove by a tree-filled ditch near our home and saw a fire. I called 911.  They transferred me to the fire department but I didn't know it was the Walnut Creek fire department so when she asked me where the fire was I said, "Walnut Creek, California!"  She was like "........ where?"  Kindof annoyed I could tell.  That's when I realized I was talking to WC.  So then I was like "Oh!" and told her where it was.  I felt heroic when I saw them putting it out a few minutes later.  I think I was the first caller.  It was exciting.

Last weekend we got to visit with Dave's brother and his wife which was nice.  They have recently moved to Arizona but were in town for the weekend.  My childhood BFF Laura also came into town with her family.  It was so fun to see her and get to catch up a little bit.  I love seeing lifelong friends and I especially love when you love their kids and husband too!  Again, no photo.  What is my problem?  This month I will do better at taking pictures!

That's all for now!

This and That

A few things I love right now:

1.  Amazon Prime- do you have it?  It is the best!  Free TWO DAY shipping.  It is perfect for people like me who like isntant gratification.  I can't wait 3-5 days or more to recieve something I ordered- are you kidding?  Two days is do-able most of the time.  And FREE shipping.  It pays for itself at Christmas time alone- I think it is $75 a year.  If you don't have one try it out- worth every penny.  If I planned ahead enough I would like never have to go to the store.

2.  This sandwich at Boudin that I've only had once but have been dreaming about since.  It is the Grilled Cheese with Apples and Fig Jam.  Here is the description:  Brie and Havarti cheese, sliced apples and fig jam melted to perfection on toasted Multigrain bread.

It was truly delicious.  Please try it and if you don't have a Boudin near you, please try making it.  The fig jam was the perfect sweetness to go with the sour apples.

3.  The Mindy Project.  I've talked about this before I believe, but this week's episode was so funny I've watched it twice and saved it on my DVR.  A few fave moments:  When Mindy forces her priest boyfriend to say he would murder her killer, if she and their children were murdered.  When Mindy over packs and can't get her carry-on into the overhead compartment- and Danny won't help her- when other passengers try to help he says, "no,  no don't help her she needs to learn."  When she sneaks out to see her Ex and Danny confronts her at the car.  In the rehab center.  Ok, now I'm just going off and talking about the whole episode.  Does anyone else love it?

4.  I've read two books lately that I really liked, 'The Language of Flowers," and "The Fault in Our Stars."  Both so good and kept my mom-brain focused and entertained!  Read them!

5.  Logan's video!  He's trying to win $100 by getting the most hits and I check his number of views like every hour. There's still one girl ahead of him and I'm dying!  If you haven't watched it yet, please do!  And PLEASE, pretty please, share it with your friends?? 

http://youtu.be/58TduJF6oUI

6.  The fact that tomorrow is the end of tax season and Dave will be done being busy! I can't wait to have him around at night again.  We made it through!

And that's all for now!

Spring Break 2013

I had such a good spring break this year.  First of all, I was ready for a week of no school and missing Brentwood's 2 weeks off every March!  So I was ready.  Second, I planned our entire week and even hung a calendar on the wall with what we were doing each day.  Also, I switched things up so that we did chores at night right before bed and I felt like that made our mornings so much nicer.

Some highlights of the week:

Oakland zoo

The big cement slide park in Berkeley ( and getting ice cream afterward).

Tie- dying!  It is SO fun!  I loved it.  Kindof a big mess but really a blast.

and how cute did their shirts turn out?

The purple was actually a blue but when faded looks purple so too bad for Mack that he has a girly shirt.

Uncle Landon the best ever came over one night and did pictures with my kids with flashlights- they thought it was so cool- Landon is such a good uncle they all just love him to pieces.

I got to go skiing at Northstar

Swinging across the creek

We also saw " The great and powerful OZ" and really liked it.  We went to sky high but I have no pictures because I hate that place- we only went because friends were going.  We were supposed to go into the city one day but the rainy weather ruined those plans.  We also went on a couple of bike rides which is a family favorite.  Overall it was a fabulous spring break and I am now officially looking forward to summer!

Two.

Mack turned two!  He had a little family get together on the night of his birthday.  He is still obsessed with trucks, especially garbage trucks, so that's what he got.  He was very excited about all of his presents.  So excited that he would not look at me or even look away from his trucks at. all!  It was making me crazy because I just wanted one picture of him looking at the camera!  Finally, I yelled out to him that there was a garbage truck on my head and he looked up.  Crazy kid.

In the days leading up to his birthday I told him we would sing the birthday song and we practiced blowing out pretend candles.  When he saw his cake his blew them out right away!  He loved his cake. Although again, he would not look away from it, I could just tell.  It was so cute and I loved spoiling him with as many garbage trucks as I could.

Here he is with a genuine smile over the firetruck card from Grandma Susie.

And Grandma Susie had the genius idea to make him a speed bump!  He loves it so much!  He runs over it and yells "bump" over and over throughout the day.  He drives his cars and trucks over it.  It was the coolest gift- thanks Susie!

He gave her a hug to say thank you.

And I made him hug his cousins after they gave him a little gift and I'm dying over the pictures- he is fully hugging them the best he can, but it's so awkward and Parker and Miles are like, "ok."  Hahahah  I love it.

Kennedy was bored with all the boy toys!

The "small" family party.

Mack's birthday hopes and dreams came true the day before when I let him run up the street in his pj's after the love of his life.

I can't believe he's two.  I'm embracing all of his big-boyness now but it hurts me.  They grow up so fast and he especially just wants to be big like his siblings.  He is potty training this week and already has it down.  He rarely wants his binky.  He doesn't want me to help him with most things and I appreciate an independent personality, I really do, but man I miss the holding and hugging and loves- he's just too darn busy most of the time.

At two years old he weighs only 24 lbs.  He's following the path of my other kids- a lightweight.  But he eats really well and so I'm not worried.  He sleeps from 7:30-6:45 every night and 1-4pm everyday.  He still likes his binky but throws it away to try to avoid napping.  He shares a room with Lexi and she has a lava lamp near his crib.  When I put him down he says, "bubbles!" and won't go to sleep now unless the lava bubbles are going.  

Mack loves his siblings.  Lexi is his second mom and he will let her take care of him, he listens to her, and he goes to her for comfort.  Logan is the cool kid he wants to be just like and he copies whatever Logan does even if it's scary like riding a skateboard!  And Logan always has his back- keeps him away from the barbies and the high heel dress ups.  And Macey makes him laugh- he thinks she's so funny.  They get crazy together being silly and laughing so much.  When the kids are gone at school sometimes he calls out their names and says "whereareyou?"  I tell him they're at school and ask if he wants them to come home?  "yes- home!"  I love it. 

 I'm thankful my big kids are so good with him.  He is the luckiest boy in the world to have this family that just loves him so much.  Someday when the big kids have moved out and he's stuck at home with just me and Dave, and he's bored and thinks his life is lame I will remind him of the constant love and attention he experienced and how he got to be the boss and center of attention always!  I have a million pictures to prove it.  He's a lucky boy.  I'm so glad he came to our family two years ago.  Happy birthday Macky!

Can I Ask a Favor?

Logan's piano teacher is doing an awards program.

The students had to pick a song and record it with him in his studio.  Then they had to make a video to put to their song.  The teacher posted the videos on YouTube this weeekend and whoever gets the most views on their video wins a cash prize!

Logan is very hopeful he will win.


So.......

If you could watch his video and help him get some hits we would be SO thankful!  Please pass the link on to anyone you can and watch the video as much as you can (even just one time is fine of course).

He has worked so hard on this song... although technically it is supposed to be much faster.  But since he only has some of the parts down really fast his teacher won't let him post the whole thing faster... yet.

Anyway, below is the link!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

http://youtu.be/58TduJF6oUI

Please share if you can!!

Easter 2013

I love Easter.