Four Years With a Stud!

The birthday season has truly commenced! June brings all kinds of birthday happenings, starting with our Teagie and following with our Saigie Baby. I cannot even fathom the speed in which these kids are growing up. I feel like I was JUST planning their birthdays last year in Oki...seriously, this whole time warp thing needs to calm down.

But I guess it is safe to say that the lil stud has officially moved away from all things "free for 3 and under" and ventured into the "overpriced 4 and up" group. Truth be told, Teage could totally pass for 7 or 8 based on his wit and charm (I just beam about the awesome traits I pass onto my kids, lol). We decided to keep this year's affair a family only event (besides, this isn't my first rodeo and I just wasn't mentally sound to gather up a bunch of wild ass toddlers and unleash them into cake and pinata candy). So being that the other Isla Fam is here and they come equipped with two toddlers :o) , why not keep it that simple? So we did. Teage chose the bowling center as his venue and I used the extra $$ not going to strangers in his class to splurge on a giant Batman cake! It was fun and low-key and HOT (ummm, did I ever mention how ' hot it is here in the summer...and there isn't an AC unit within 600 kilometers of the KMC...it's just not right)!

Another added detail was I decided to make all my kids matching t-shirts to wear in honor of the birthday boy. They came out so great, but also led me to another side addiction. Iron-ons do everybody right! Once we got past the toddler out of turn-taking, a few tumbles on the lanes, random balloon poppings, a little fist pumping, and the 50 lb cake....we headed back to the casa to continue the party. Waiting there was Teagie's indoor/outdoor 2-sided kitchen. The chil'ren proceeded to have loads of fun and and proceeded to pour the wine. All in all it was a fabulous day and I thank everyone who wished him a Happy Birthday and sent cards/gifts. He loved every minute of it.

It's amazing how much can squeeze into a year. Teagie has gone through loss, confronting challenges, milestones, personal growth, and adventure. We are so lucky to have this little guy in our lives. Here's a montage to showcase his fabulous 4th year...ENJOY!!

Dear Blog...

Dear Bloggy Blog---

I love you...I really do. You make me happy, you're always there when I scroll through my bookmarks, you capture my stories well, and you know how to make my pictures shine. But my dear bloggy, I am able to admit that I haven't given you the time you deserve lately. I am busy and I literally don't have the time to sit and "hang" with you for our usual hour sessions. I am on a mission to scale back my long drawn out posts and just write only the essentials. Hopefully, this can keep our relationship going and you won't delete me from you memory. Until next time...keep the dashboard warm....

Today I feel...

Today I feel like nothing can take away my serenity. I feel at peace. My Family is healthy, happy...my schedule is falling back into balance...the weather is fantastic...all the makings of a thumbs up day :o)

Teage the Gymnast

This past Friday, Teage had his Gymnastics Exhibition and WOW, what a showstopper!!

While I nervously sat amongst the other gymnast parents (nervous because I know how "curious" my son can be and in a room full of toddler girls...just sayin'), I noticed that my son really likes to put on a show. Like a full on "These people must all be here for me" show.

The famous 'Stick It and Stretch' pose...

At one point in the show he decided he wanted to strip down and wear the patterned leotard shorts given to him that he refused to showcase earlier that morning. Imagine glitter, velvety, and almost bikini like....CRUEL. (Don't you just love the shirt though?)

That didn't last very long (again all of this occurred during the exhibition...SHOW.STOPPER, I tell ya)

After floor, his class moved on to the bars...where monkeys like him are experts.

Next up Balance Beam...

WOOOOAAAAHHHH!!!

Marching to every apparatus, they have to have their hands on their hips...I giggle every time I see him do hand to hip...he's such a lil guy.

After they were done, he decided to relax and gather up the honeys.

So proud...{tear}.

His first of many trophies to come...GO TEAGIE, GO TEAGIE!!

He really enjoyed going each week and this summer he will move up a class level...Woot Woot.

P.S. My wide angle lens is totally doing me right :o)

P.S.S. Beware of static cling on trampolines :o)

Mother's Day

So... We spent the day pretty low-key and my fam made it fabulous for me. I woke up to a collage of me and the three kids with a homemade card that read like butter. After that, we headed to brunch with Rhea and all the kids...and had a nice meal. We had hoped to take the kids to the park, but to our disappointment the rain took over. So, George decided to snatch up my grocery list and drop me off at home while he and the kids battled the C word (it's called the C word because nobody likes to go to the Commissary...so we mask its name). After that, he ventured off the BX with the kids while I watched Marley & Me (why I decided to watch a tear-jerker alone is beyond me...actually, I got stuck as I flipped through the AFN channels). The kids walked in and what a surprise! Teage had a shirt I had been eying hanging around his neck, Saige had a cute, brown summer purse in her hands and JD entered the threshold with a box of Russel Stover's (mmmm). As if that weren't enough...my honey got me a gift that far surpassed any previous gifts in the past. A new wide angle lens for my Canon....CHYA!! He really knows the way to my heart :o) I have the best Family.EVER!

As you can imagine, Mother's Day for us this year was quite different than year's past. I was thinking about how George would feel on this day and hoped I could make it as "normal" as possible for him. I had decided early on that I would send Maria some flowers for Mother's Day and I didn't tell him til the day before...with the hopes to not make him think too much about it. They arrived and we asked G-Pa to swing by and take a picture of her with the flowers. They were beautiful and they kind of encompassed the niche. But I know she would have loved them.


We also sat down to dinner (thanks to my awesome Saigie...she makes the best pasta) and went around the table as everyone said a few words to express their Happy Mother's Day to Grandma and Popo. Their words meant a lot to George, I could tell...we are starting a tradition where we will get Maria a card each Mother's Day and have the kids write what they want to say to her. I think it will be a great memory to look back on in years to come. In the meantime...we will continue to keep her in our hearts and remember her always!!

Día Siempre una madre para todos nosotros ... Feliz de la Madre!

To all the Madres...

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks. ~Carrie Latet

Soapy Saturday

The days have been long lately and I just have a few things I wouldn't mind slipping by you on my soapbox...it's therapy for me.

Don't eat Turkish tacos and then pound 8 beers...somehow it doesn't work out.

Be a good listener, not just a talker...it's one of the best traits a person can possess. I love to listen...but, I certainly don't have time to repeat myself or school you on manners.

2 year olds in gymnastics have far different methods than 3 year olds in gymnastics.

Taking a photography class online is like reading the Pioneer Woman's website (photog section)...I wonder if she could start passing out grades in the Home and Garden dept.

Don't terrorists know by now that trying to blow up the American people has long passed. We aren't taking your shit anymore...and P.S. New York again, really? Fugheddaboutit...somebody take care of that a$$hole already!

Teenage boys can be needy and co-dependent...and come out a stud.

Teenage girls can be independent...and get a bad rep, instantly.

There's more to life than labels and keeping up with the Jones'.

If I could have a raspberry cobbler IV drip, I would.

If anyone wants to visit Legoland, JD charges either 5 cents or a Pokemon card to check out his bedroom.

Liars need to check themselves at my door...all the days.

Nothing says I love you like, "You might get cut".

Chicken wire and cats have an established bond that goes way back.

Wall decals and crack....sisters!

Staples in your head are not easily detached when you are given a "suture removal" kit by a Doc.

Wubzy has a hypnotic way about him that entrances toddlers...I think it's the pipeline effect in his shows.

Brett Michaels needs to marry his baby momma already. The days of passing women and tequila shots around need to come to an end.

I think it's funny when people say I have an attitude. DUH!! Sorry I don't have a dry, sneaky way about me. I say it proud...I HAVE AN ATTITUDE....both good and bad, you decide which one you wanna see today :o)

I find cotton plants to be beautiful.

Lastly, my littlest informed me the other day when he was investigating the inside of my nose that I had spiderwebs in there and to be careful. I guess it could have been worse...spiderwebs with 'food' in them sounds much more insulting :o)

Here's to another Fall day in Spring...Bavarian style.