Saturday, January 29, 2011

My heart....

I was driving yesterday on my way to a Thirty-One party, and this song came on. I had borrowed Pumpkin's CD and I needed to hear this song at this moment, but I did not know it. I had to put up the lyrics because it explained how I was feeling....

Never Grow Up
Taylor Swift
Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
and It's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
so i tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
to you everything's funny
you got nothing to regret
i'd give all i have, honey
if you could stay like that
(Chorus)
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
and no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up
You're in the car on the way to the movies
and you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
at 14, there's just so much you can't do
and you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots
but don't make her drop you off around the block
remember that she's getting older too
and don't lost eh way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school
(Chorus again)
Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
remember the footsteps, remember the words said
and all your little brother's favorite songs
i just realized everything i have is someday gonna be gone
So here i am in my new apartment
in a big city, they just dropped me off
it's so much colder than i thought it would be
so i tuck myself in and turn my night light on
Wish i'd never grown up
I wish i'd never grown up
Oh i don't wanna grow up
Wish i'd never grown up
I could still be little
oh, i don't wanna grow up
wish i'd never grown up
it could be simple
oh, darling, don't' you ever grow up
don't you ever grow up
just stay this little
oh darling, don't you ever grow up
don't you ever grow up
it could stay this simple
won't let nobody hurt you
won't let no one break your heart
and even though you want to
please try to never grow up
This song just touched my heart. I think as adults we sometimes realize how nice it was to be little and have someone take care of us and take the worries away. I look at our kids and see them wanting to grow up. Whereas i want them to just enjoy these fleeting days of childhood. Before they know it, they will be grown up....and before I know it, they will be grown up.....

Monday, January 24, 2011

Family Fun...

We have been leading a very low key life lately. Yes, Hubby and I have been working a lot....but our main focus has been the two crazy little people in the house! We have been building forts, playing outside, walking on Daddy or Mommy's sore back, reading books, pretty much all sorts of relaxing family fun.

Just realizing that the moments of calm family fun are going to keep changing as these guys get older. I want to soak up each simple minute of it! That also means, I have been soaking up moments without my camera as much. I miss being behind my camera, but enjoy being present for my kids and family....
Here is some of the craziness we have been encouraging...
I bet you did not know....the best way to pose for a muscle picture is standing on Daddy's back while trying to balance. This was a competition who could stand there longest and had the "biggest muscles".

Critter of course had to put the face with the pose...
Daddy loves that the two of them love baseball! It is pretty cute. Both are doing great with it. I will tell you though....watch out when Pumpkin is at bat! That kid can hit the ball! :)

She does everything in life with gusto!


He gets so proud of himself!
I just love this family! It has been great to try to slow down and spend more simple moments together. The goal is not always acheived, but we try!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Randomness...

Just a bunch of random moments of our family....
For his birthday, we got Critter a big boy bed! Yes, this big boy had been in a crib until he was 3. It really did look comical. He just did not try to get out and was fairly happy. He was SO excited when he got this bed.
He just looks so small in it! We decided to go ahead and get him a bigger bed, since he most likely will not be the smallest of boys. It has been a little bit of a challenge setting up his room, but we are making it work. He cool thing is that he will still (after a month) wait in bed and call for me to "get him out". Yeah! :)

Something about these pictures was just so sweet. We had a nice dinner one night and I had my camera nearby. I think these are some of my favorite pictures of the year....



I will ALWAYS cherish this picture. There is something so sweet about Pumpkin and Hubby.

Me and my silly boy! I have been trying harder to hand Hubby the camera (or let him take it from me) to get pictures of me and the kids. I have a hard time handing it over though :) But...images like this make it worth it :)

I am so not sure what he was doing in this picture. I think I was trying to get him close to me and told him to put his cheek next to mine. This is what we got. :)


These simple moments are what this next year are about for me. Life can get so crazy sometimes. We can get so caught up in work, school, activities, and just stuff. It is these simple moments of playing and just being together which make it all worth it. My goal for this next year is to remember what these simple moments mean to me and my family. If we lose sight of what is important, why are we doing everything else. We will continue to be crazy busy. We will continue to work hard to provide what we need and want for this family. But....the small simple moments are what lasts.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

A nice/relaxing Christmas...

We had a really nice Christmas. Unfortunately, I was not feeling well with stomach issues so I had to take it easy. Luckily, it was not so bad that I couldn't be out with people...I just kept my distance!
I heard the kids moving around and was able to get my camera before they came out. This was their first look at the tree. In our house, Santa brings only 1 present and fills the stockings. He also does not wrap presents, they are just sitting and waiting for the kids. So...the first thing they really saw was...
new bikes! Pumpkin had outgrown hers and Critter had a trike but no bike. They were SO excited. Especially since they got helmets they love....Spiderman and Princesses! :)

When Santa put these together, they looked HUGE! I did not think there was any way they could fit on these bikes. But..I was wrong. They are a little bit, but will last a few years. Pumpkin got a real BMX Bike. We are not telling her why the handle bars go all the way around or why there are pegs on the wheels. She is enough of a klutz without knowing that....and enough of a daredevil without knowing! :)

He was so excited about this helmet. He wore it quite a bit of the day. I think he finally took it off when his head was too sweaty :)

The kids were SO good this morning. We actually got up, looked at the bikes, opened stockings, had breakfast, got dressed all before they tore into the presents. I don't know if we will be that lucky next year. I have to say that our kids are so spoiled by people who love them. I can not thank everyone enough. We have still been playing with Christmas presents on a daily basis. Pumpkin loved this puppet. She loves to put on any type of show for us: dancing, puppet, singing, etc. and this bunny was a great addition!

Okay, he is so my boy! In the middle of opening presents he took one of his new books and decided to "read". He just sat there and did this for a few minutes until he was "done" with the book. He is a kid after my heart with books! He will sit still for me for at least half an hour to let me read to him. Usually it is me who has to say we are all done reading! I love it :)
We of course had to head out after eating to try out the new bikes. Pumpkins new one is MUCH heavier than her old one. It took her a few tumbles to get the hang of it. After Christmas Day, she has been able to get on and off without issue. Not too many tumbles. But....that is why we had her ride on the grass the first few days. It is much more forgiving than the sidewalk/street! :)
Critter hopped right on and started to ride! I was so surprised. Pumpkin got her first bike from Santa when she was 3 and we had to teach her what to do. It took her a few times riding before getting the hang of it. Not this boy! The only thing we have issues with are turning around on the sidewalk. When we play outside I let him go from our house to next door then turn around. I am still amazed though at how quick he picked it up!
At the end of the day, I realized I had no pictures of me with the kids. This was after everyone left and it was just the 4 of us. Luckily for Critter Sta.r Wa.rs was on. No, he does not watch all of it just the not violent parts. He has developed such a love of superheros and Sta.r Wa.rs, it is pretty cute!

It was such a nice relaxing day. I am glad I planned an easy menu and that my mom was here to help me out. I did not want to touch food or cook, not knowing what was going on with my stomach. It was hard for me to let go, but nice to know there were so many who could help. Everyone seemed to have a great day, especially the kids. That is what the day is about: family and laughter. That is exactly what we had!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

A wonderful Christmas Eve...

I realize I am a little late on posting these, but better late than never! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve this year. Typically it is a quiet night of going to church then coming home and having dinner. Usually it is just the 4 of us and my parents. This year, we got to celebrate with all of Hubby's family though! His dad has been in CA since November and came back for the holidays. We all wanted to be together. We headed over to my BIL and SIL house. We met my SIL and niece at their church since it was on the way to their house. It was going to be the "girls" at church and the boys at the house. But, about 10 minutes before we left, Critter decided he wanted to go. How could I argue with him wanting to go to church! :)
Them in their nice clothes after church, about to head into the fun @ my BIL/SIL's house. They are just so stinking cute, i don't know what to do sometimes!
It was a fun night of good food, family and really excited kids. I can not believe how good the kids were. At 7,6,almost 5 and 3 they took turns opening presents. We went around one at a time to open things. They took turns without crying, pouting or complaining! That is a successful adventure in my opinion! Critter was so funny. He wanted to open up each present and play with it. We could have spread out Christmas over a few days with this kid. He would have been totally content with that!

Pumpkin is still really into clothes for her bears. She saves every penny and asks me to save coupons (that's my girl) so she can buy her bears special things to wear. She wanted these sneakers but had not saved enough for them. I love how she appreciates the little things. Hubby and I try to encourage that and keep the kids grounded as to what is important!

The kids were both tired and wound up when we got home. This is the first year we had a mantle to put the stockings on. I am so glad that we re-did the fireplace last year. It has been so nice to have during the holidays. Pumpkin was big enough to hang her own stocking this year....how in the world did that happen!

Critter needed a little bit of help.

I attempted to get both of them to sit....but that did not happen. Too much going on! :) But....my girl does love her picture taken!

She convinced him to try to eat Santa's snacks.....just to help me get a picture of the two of them! My sweet thinking girl....

Off to bed to wait to see what would come.....

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A great way to end 2010....

We had a great end of the year (I will go back and post about Christmas a different day!). Hubby works crazy hours for New Years, so we headed up to my parents house. It was COLD this year for New Years, but that did not stop us from being crazy! We went up to this park on the coldest day in 5 years....yes it felt that cold. We thought we would be the only crazy ones here, but there were quite a few others there as well. It was not too bad when the wind was not blowing and the sun was out.....but otherwise it was COLD! We lasted about 4 1/2 hours. It was a great time and one we will not forget.
Can you tell how bundled up they are?
Okay....he had on a shirt, a sweatshirt and this jacket that was a little too small for him. He was a trooper.

Pumpkin loved the hyena's! They would follow you as you walked by. She started jumping and they followed by jumping. These guys came about at the right time. It was starting to be cranky time and these guys made the kids laugh until they were crying!


We got to go inside and see this beautiful bird and a snake. I was not able to hold both Critter and the snake, but could handle the bird. Poor Critter wanted the bird on his arm, but the bird would not go because he was not quite big enough. It was really neat to see the animals that close and have the kids love being close. Plus...it was really nice to head inside and warm up! :)

Heading out to the safari for the ride. We all got carrots to feed the giraffe and camel. Pumpkin was really excited. She just looks so adorable here :)


My boy....

Pumpkin feeding the giraffe....

Critter feeding the giraffe. You can actually see the giraffe's tongue wrapping around the carrot....pretty cool! Unfortunately, it was so cold that when my dad stood up to help Critter....he hurt his foot. He was a good sport about it, and i know Critter appreciated it!
Attempting a picture with my kids....the snow on the mountains is pretty cool! We don't get to see much snow in these parts :)

This was the last thing we did before warming up! The tigers and "trainers" normally go in the water to play, but not this day. Even the tigers would not go in the water. It was really neat to see the tigers play though....

Happy New Years :) Not really sure what is up with Critter's look

My mom had the crazy idea that before bed to let the kids run around for 4 minutes and blow the horns and just be crazy. Somehow neither of them got hurt and had a great time!

It was a great end of the year. I truly can not believe that 2010 is over. It was a year of so many experiences. Even with all the hard times and the things we are dealing with, it was such a great year. We grew so much as a family. I really can not wait to see what the next year has in store for us. No matter what, i know it will be full of excitement!