Ahhh... I am sitting in a coffee shop with my laptop... enjoying the scarf wrapped around my neck, and my yummy espresso.
We put up the Christmas tree this morning, and for the first time since Zach was born, we put some ornaments on it.
It's not going so well. He's already driving the 'train' around the kitchen, and took the rest off to take to his room.
I might let the 10 or so I put on the tree stay there until tomorrow.
When does my cherished snowmen and santa's get to hang on the tree safely?
I am actually here at the coffee shop because I needed to get some pictures printed, and it's the only fast connection I can get to work. Lucky, lucky me. :)
I also have a few errands to run, so John suggested I get out for a while and get them done.
No problemo....
I just can't believe we are smack dab in the middle of the holidays. We attend the Christmas parade this week, and we have lots of Christmas get together's on the horizon. I have two more purchases, and I am done shopping!
Ahhh... maybe we'll just get through the next few weeks without stress. Now that would be bliss!

My Very Best Friends!

A VERY long time ago, I hung out with three girls in high school. We had all sorts of adventures, and I would never admit to most of them. Somehow, it's been over 20 years, and we still talk on the phone weekly. We have 8 kids between us, and and incredible exchange system for all things "baby"... from shoes to to sweaters.
You wouldn't believe the difference in our views... from political to religious. We have politics covered from the left to the right. We have different methods for just about everything, from raising kids to cleaning products.
Yet, somehow we are all the same. We respect each other and the differences that make us unique. We value each other's opinion and friendship... and love each and every second we get to spend together.
These girls lift me up in a way no one else could. I only have a brother, so I imagine that this is the closest thing I will ever get to sisters. I couldn't imagine having three more wonderful sisters. I couldn't imagine a day going by without thinking of them.
I am so glad to be part of this wacky group of women. I am so lucky that someone remembers me, and my crazy stories. I am so happy that I know when I am having a bad day, odds are that one of my girls will call to check on me, and help me get through.
Someday, when the kids are a little older, we are going on some 'girl-only' vacations. We are going to make some fabulous memories... and maybe then we won't have to keep telling the same stories- we'll have new ones.
Nah, I know this group, and we'll always laugh about Brenda falling down the bleachers into the band. Cause it just doesn't get any better than that!
Love you girls.. thanks for the great evening!

Happy Day with YOUR Turkeys!

Here's one of mine... He climbed in bed with me, and showered me with kisses this morning. I wished him a Happy Thanksgiving, and asked him if he knew what 'thankful' meant. I told him I was thankful for my family, and thankful for all my kisses. I said, "Do you know what your thankful for?" (I was just SURE he would say MOM!)
He said: "I'm thankful for TRAINS!" Funny bunny... errr... I mean turkey.

P.S. I am thankful to God that he has allowed me to guide these two boys into becoming smart, funny, compassionate young people. I couldn't imagine missing one minute of one second of their incredible lives.

I can think of a huge list of all that I am thankful for, but this year, I think it just comes down to being thankful for my boys.

Happy Day with your Turkeys Everyone!

Little Man, little man...

I must admit... there is nothing better in life than a man cleaning on Sunday morning.
Even if it is a little man...

Well, all of us were cleaning... but I thought my heart would melt when Zach grabbed the 'vacuum' and started cleaning up with his dad. (Who was also in his underwear, but I found no reason to post a picture of it! LOL)

He is just trying his very best to be a big boy.

I just had my first parent/teacher conference last week. He had very good marks for his first tri-mester. She said he knew all of his letters, colors and numbers. He tested very high with his sounds, and already knew most of his 'sight words'. Some of his scores, he required to be able to read 4 words at this trimester, but knew all 15. He is required to know 5 sounds that letters make, but got all 12.

She said he knew more, but that was all she had prepared.

I couldn't wipe the grin off my face.

There was some area for improvement, too. When he pronounces words, he sometimes looses the first syllable. She said he's the youngest in her class, and thinks this will improve with maturity. The teacher said he was very well behaved, and the only problem she had with him, was that he likes to work ahead of her. She has to slow him down, and remind him he's supposed to listen to instructions... because they might be different each time.

Still, I couldn't get the grin to go away.

I know... your probably thinking... "Whooppee- he knows his colors."

But I think, every failure Zach has, I take personally. And this time, when his teacher pats him on the back for a job well done... I am going to share the success with him!

And every time he grabs that vacuum, I am going to grab my camera... and prove to the world... even little men can make a big difference. :)

Over the river, and through the woods....

To my friend Jennifer's house we go.... and just look what we found along the way!It was the boy's FIRST trip to the snow.Zach had NO problem with the snow, but Kyle didn't like it much. That surprised us because Kyle is usually more adventurous. Zach would have stayed there all day, but I didn't have gloves for the poor guy, and he soon discovered how painful the cold is! (I bought him some later, doh!)The kids had WAY too much energy after being in the car for 3+ hours, so we went for a hike. Up a very big mountain. Poor John pulled the wagon, and the kids giggled all the way.... The entire reason for the trip, besides visiting our friends, was to take the boys on their annual 'train vacation'. However, we had a little time to spare... so Jenn and I got up early, and we went to a great consignment sale. We found THREE of these awesome retro scooters. You could tell these things were sturdy... like they used to build them back in the day! We ended up buying so much stuff, we had to call John to come get us with the van! Lol!These things are so great, they have two wheels in the back, and weigh a ton. Not at all like those flimsy things they sale now a days.. and we got ours for $20!

Of course, we finally made it to the train museum!

This picture cracks me up... those three were glued to the glass to watch the model train.

And of course, one of the best looking babies in the world. This is Quentin... and he's a funny bunny! He LOVED John... and I just had to tweek the colors for his mom. It's a little 70's, huh Jenn??

We had so much fun getting out of the house, and spending time as a family. The boys LOVED playing with Maddie, and exploring. John was awesome helping with the kids, so two old high school friends could sit and yap, and yap, and yap!

Thanks again Jenn! (I will be back in the spring... :)

Baer's Like to Bounce!

Two little boys with unlimited energy- One mommy that is very exhausted= A profitable trampoline company. Didn't you learn that rule in economics?

I finally got some pictures of the little bouncin' cuties this week. It's not easy to do when your trying to hold on for dear life...maybe I should have stuck my tongue out for balance....Isn't that funny? They think it's funny to watch mommy try to hold her camera, and sit in the same place while they are bouncing. I told him to bounce some more, and he said "I tyred..." Then he fell over, and said "I dead."

I feel that way every night, little man. :)

Looks like we are finally going to get a storm, and maybe now that the holidays are almost here, we'll start to get some rain. It's been chilly... but we've only had one storm- and it's the middle of November.

Well, I should get back to work. John is off for the rest of the week, thanks to some furlough days... and I think we are going to find something fun to do as a family.

I should have some fun pictures to post... Enjoy your week! (We sure are!)

Sac State Senior!!

This is Whitney, she is my friend, and the 'sister-in-law' that got away. (I won't mention anymore than that! lol) She is graduating from Sac State as an official smarty pants this summer. Her family asked me to take her pictures, and I was really nervous about it... but even I couldn't screw up this pretty girl!
Had a blast, Whit... you rock girl.

Those were only a few... but I wanted her mommy to see them. I'll have lots more for ya by then Kara!!

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be part of your pictures... luv ya girl!

Ying-Yang

My little boys look so much alike, I actually get asked if they are twins. I was thinking tonight about how different they are, it's like they are ying and yang.Kyle doesn't enjoy being 'snuggled'. He wipes off your kisses and tells me: "too many ma".
He will NOT eat peanut butter. He doesn't mind jelly on his toast, but you better ask first.
He loves sandwich meats, but throws the bread away.
He LOVES hot dogs. He will pick the batter off of a corn dog to get to it.
Kyle is left handed.
He loves juice in the morning, and must eat breakfast.
He will drop a cookie for any sort of fruit. I have never seen strawberries disappear faster...
Tells you 'goodnight', climbs into bed, and falls asleep with his blanket.
Zach couldn't possibly snuggle enough. He will climb into your lap for a hug any day of the week.
He exclusively eats peanut butter.

He won't eat sandwich meat, but always eats the bread. (He says ham makes him throw up.)
He thinks hot dogs are poison. He can eat the batter off a corn dog, and never touch the hot dog.

Zach is right handed.

He likes milk in the morning, and hardly ever eats anything before 10'ish.

He likes fruit, but cookies are his favorite.

He must have mom or dad to snuggle in bed to fall asleep.

See what I mean? I could go on all day.

I am learning I have to parent them VERY differently. I thought I would have 'experience' with the second child.. but I have had to throw it all out the window, and start fresh.

I know they are similar in some ways, too. (I'm thankful for those things, like you wouldn't believe!) And it's fun to see how each of them are growing, sometimes in such different directions.

Their personalities are just blooming each day, and I thought it would be funny to compare them and their quirky behaviors. I wonder what the next year will bring...

Happy Birthday Kyle!

My little guy is THREE years old today. I can still smell that little newborn, and hear his little noises.We were sitting out on the steps today, and I was singing him "Happy Birthday". He wrapped his arms around my neck and said "You da best mom ever..." and gave me the biggest hug. "I wuv you mom." Hmmm... his birthday... and I get the best gift. Love it.