Cuttin Down Our Christmas Tree!

5 Months old today

Our 6th Christmas together!

Our not-so-little fam!

As a family tradition, Zachs family has always gone up to Apple Hill to Indian Rock and cut down their xmas trees! Now we do it as a family with them every year! It is so much fun and something I hope our children pass on to theirs. The kids did such a good job hiking all the way up the mountain! We found our perfect tree and we are sooo anxious to decorate it but were going to wait til next week when we're in our new home!! Oh and Ireland got her 1st Christmas tree on her 5 month old birthday, how fun is that!!

Gobble Gobble

Another Thanksgiving....Rileys 3rd, Trevors 2nd, and Irelands 1st!! We had Thanksgiving dinner over at my moms this year. It was a full house....my mom and Jack, Tyler, me, Zach and the kids, Bob and Linda and Great Grandma Shirley, Josh and Des, and my dad and Mikayla!! So much fun. We played Taboo, visited and went on a walk while the kids drove their jeeps. Then we sat down to a delicious meal prepared by my mom and Jack. The turkey was so moist and my mom had all the fixings...mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, biscuits, corn, stuffing, broccoli and rice and I made a green bean casserole. Yummy....of course we all ate way too much but somehow managed to fit in our choice of pumpkin pie, blackberry pie or chocolate caramel cake!

Riley's 1st field trip

Last Thursday Riley and her class went to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery. I came along and took Trevor and Ireland as well. They had a great time learning about how the fish jump up the ladder and what happens to them once they make it to the top. I dont know about you if you've been there before but when you're in the visitor center they allow you to look out a big window and watch them bring the fish in, hammer them in the head with a rubber mallot, fill em with water and then slice them open and retrieve all the eggs!!! I do not remember that at all! I felt a smidge better when I learned that the fish die anyways after they spawn but still........so we fed the baby fish, watched the big fish jump the ladder, ate our lunch and headed home. Great 1st field trip!

Thankful This Thanksgiving

We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Mine and Zachs lives have really changed and we couldn't be more proud or happy with ourselves and our family.

• So thankful and grateful for our wonderful family. We enjoy being so close to everyone and we wish we lived closer to Auntie Jess and Daniel, Nina and Papa George, Aunt Jan and Uncle George, Aunt Denise, Layla and her family, Mema and Papas,and all Bobs siblings that live in Tennessee, Chicago, Montana and Ireland and mine that live in England. Theres new babies and one on the way with cousin Jenny due in about a week and a half! Our parents who are always there for us and love their grandbabies so much! We love you all!!!
• Being married 5 years this year on 8/30/08!! Can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you Zach. You are truly an amazing husband and father. I couldn't be more proud or in love with you than I am at this moment!
• Our babies....the loves of our lives. We welcomed our third angel this June and as it was unexpected it was very welcomed. Riley, Trevor and Ireland have brought Zach and I so much joy and laughter. We have so much fun with them and they are little love bugs! So thankful for the three of them!
• Our new house!! Yes, we bought a house again and are so anxious to move! So thankful that we can own a 4 bedroom home with a pool in a great neighborhood!
• My disability! Although I would give up my Rheumatoid Arthritis in a second I am thankful that all my hard work paid off and I was rewarded disability this time last year! It allows me not to have to prove myself anymore and also to be able to stay home with my children. It also allowed us to have a savings again, pay off our Suburban, and buy a house.
• and some little random things to be thankful for: Sacramento weather, living so close to Walmart and Winco, our 2 dogs, Zach's mustang being painted, cartoons to entertain the kiddos every morning while I shower, a father in law for a Realtor, and friends.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!!!

Growing Girl!

Ireland had her 4 month checkup yesterday, even though she will be 5 months on the 30th. She is very healthy and happy. The Dr. couldnt believe how much she smiled and said how beautiful her eyes were. Ireland Kate weighed in at 13lbs. and 14oz! She gained 2lbs and 3oz since her last appt and has gained a total of 7lbs. 5oz since coming home from the hospital. She is pretty much around the 50th % with her height,weight and head size. We cant believe shes about to be 5 months already. She tries to sit up and loves to stand and even went in her walker for the first time on Sunday. She has the sweetest temperment and smiles at anyone that looks or talks to her!

"Im Gonna Miss This"

*Cleaning up the same mess three times in a row.
*Folding laundry I swore I just did yesterday.
*Trying to potty train Trevor.
*Packing for our move and having things unpacked by my rugrats.

Tonight I was just reflecting on my day. I had had a long day with the list mentioned above not to forget I had steam cleaned the carpets,vacuumed the entire house,dusted and cleaned out the car. For the most part, I just was tired. Not upset. Not frustrated. Just tired. I kind of had thought in my head: Won't it be so nice when Trevor is potty trained? Won't it be so nice when we're all settled in our new home? Won't it be so nice when we can buy this and this and this on our list of things we need/want?

Then I recalled a song I had heard the other night on the CMA Awards. The song is by Trace Adkins, and its called "You're Gonna Miss This". If you haven't heard it, I suggest going to youtube watching the video or downloading it. The verses were all different stages of life and how this woman kept wanting something more--looking at the future for all of her happiness. The part that touched me the most was the advice she got throughout the song via the chorus...
"You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

I thought about the lyrics and it was like he was saying to me, "You're gonna miss this....You're gonna want this back." And instantly, I felt that.
I also realized, I'm going to miss these days where Zach and I are 25 and 28...virtually still newlyweds and in the prime of our lives. I'm going to miss the days where we have little ones running around the house yelling at the top of their lungs. I'm going to miss the days when we realized that even though we didnt make a lot of money and didnt get everything we wanted...we still had everything we needed right there.
I'm going to miss the days when I even had little kids to take to the park or clean up after. I'm going to miss the days when I'm strong enough to pull a huge load of laundry up and down the stairs.
I'm going to miss the days when my little babies needed me for everything...even if it meant wiping their poopy diapered bottoms.
I already miss it...and I'm living it.
I know its normal to have those feelings of being tired and frustrated in the monotony of life...but I'm grateful for those little moments that make me realize that even through the midst of it all...
...I'm gonna miss this.

Baby Food!

I gave Ireland her first little taste of baby food the other day and she wasn't so sure about it...it was pears. After a few bites she would start moving it around with her tongue but it didn't last too long.

1st Day of School!

Riley had her first day of school last week! She loved it and we couldn't be happier as well as suprised! Zach and I thought she was going to have a really hard time being as she is soooo shy. But, the 1st day I took her in, we met the teacher, put her name tag on and sat down for circle time. I left after 13mins. and she didn't cry at all, she just simply waved goodbye! When I got there to pick her up she was just coming in from outside and was walking with her friends. On the way out she says to me, "that is so fun!" I asked her if she wanted to go back and she yelled "Yes!"

She goes every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00-3:30pm. She loves it and it gives me some alone time with Trevor and Ireland.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear Gpa!

Happy Birthday to you!!!

Hope you have a wonderful day! Cant wait to see you Sunday for lunch and a movie! We love you lots!!!

New House!!!

We are officially in Escrow!! We are sooo thrilled to be purchasing a home again! It is on the border of Orangevale and Citrus Heights off Oak and Old Ranch. It is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath home with a pool!!! I never would have thought I could own a house with a pool but I know its bc of all our hard work and of course this market! Now we get the fun part of picking out paint colors and ideas. Thanks Bob and Linda for ALL of your help...we truly appreciate it! And to everyone else, get ready for some pool parties this summer!!

Thoughts after the election.......

So the election is over! Barack Obabma wins by a landslide with the electoral votes but it was a very close match with the popular vote. I really was 50/50 on the two candidates and didn't make my decision til the night before I voted. Zach and I just sat down one evening after the kids were all in bed and researched for over an hour about each man, his beliefs, thoughts and goals. After looking at education, healthcare, abortion, death penalty, gun control, security and gay rights....I made my decision....and I guess I wasn't alone...Obama! We'll see how he does in office and hope for the best. God knows we need "change" and to get this economy back on track.

As for the propositions.....as most of you know I was definitely and always will be NO on Prop 8!! It was a pretty close race but Yes on 8 has won. How sad is this day! I'm not even gay and I feel like crying, I cannot imagine how those who are must feel. We can elect a black president who wins by a huge gap but can't let 2 people in love marry eachother!!! I know they will continue fighting and hopefully one day we will have and keep equality!