We're still here...

As you can tell my desire to blog is pretty much gone. 
There are so many other things I'd rather do in my spare time.

So here is an almost dialogue-free post from the past couple of weeks...

Jenn's 30th birthday in Las Vegas.  FUN!

My cute, pregnant sister in-law also turned 30...

Derek started preschool again.  He's pretty happy, but I'm overjoyed!

We've been at the park...

And of course football started...

And that's what's been going on here.

Until next time....

Happy Fall!

Short & To The Point

My friend Katie over at Everyday Katie really has it going on.  Her blog posts are always short and to the point, and I love that.  Fast, easy, enjoyable reading.  I'm going to be more like her!  So here it goes....

My husband is a busy man.  As you probably know he is a new business owner... going on 19 months now.  His company installs network cabling in schools.  That's all the cable for the phones, computers, security cameras, and so on.  He has been doing this for about 12 years.  He enjoys it.  But it's a lot of work.  The last few weeks before school starts is crunch time.  He and his guys work 7 days a week for about 3 weeks... putting in 12 hour days.  I don't think he realizes that I hate it as much as he does.  I'm stuck home with the kids for 14+ hours, and I miss him.  It STINKS!  I'm tired and so is he.

We went to San Diego for a couple of days with only Derek a few weeks ago.  It was really nice.  We went to Sea World.  I used to love Sea World until it was sold and now the Budweiser Clydesdale's are gone.  Derek still had a really good time.  We came home on a Sunday morning and Jason had to go right in to work as soon as we got home.  Yucky for him and yucky for me.

I've been having dizzy spells off and on the past 5 weeks.  But the one I'm having today has lasted more than 24 hours.  I'm going to the doctor today.... hopefully.

The twins are now 19 months.  James weighs 32 pounds and is 36" tall..  Jillian is 28 pounds and also 36" tall.  They have crazy personalities and fight constantly.  Jillian continues to go potty in the toilet when she feels like it.  I haven't pushed the potty training at all.

It's football season again?  Anyone else excited?  The 49ers are looking good.

The bad days outweigh the good.  No one ever says that, do they?  Well, I am.  These kids drive me nuts way more often than not.  I long for their 3rd or 4th birthday!  And that means Derek will be older too.  I don't mind at all.  And no, I will not miss the baby stages.  I never have, never will.  I'm not one who really likes babies.  I don't see a baby and think, "Aww how cute".  I think, "So glad I'm done with the baby stage!"

 

I'm leaving for Vegas on Friday.  My good friend Jennifer is turning 30.  We're flying.  We never fly to Vegas, so I'm excited.  But now I'm left hunting for babysitters because Jason has to work.  I've had this trip planned since February.  I think Jason should have to find the sitter.  But I know he doesn't have time.  I have Friday covered, but still need Saturday and half of Sunday.  And I have Derek covered.  So it's just the twins.  Any volunteers???  ...just kidding.

I don't think I really accomplished the short and to the point post, did I?

Tomorrow...

To my dad who keeps busting my butt to update the blog:

I will do it tomorrow!

And to anyone who cares... Miss Jilli-Bean (who just turned 19 months) went potty on the toilet yesterday.  After I took her off she insisted to get back on... and went number two!  I couldn't believe it.  But today... nothing.

We have another wedding to attend tonight.  You know I can't wait!

Bliss

Can a birthday party get much better than this?

My friend Nikki celebrated her 30th birthday in style today.  Her husband treated her and ten of her friends to a spa day at the Montage in Laguna Beach. 

(We're missing one girl in our picture)

We arrived early to enjoy all the amenities... sauna, spa, gym.  Okay, so we didn't use the gym.  But I would have loved to stay for the yoga class.  Too bad I had kids to get home to.

After our massages we enjoyed a delicious lunch poolside.

and red velvet cake... DIVINE!

It was such a perfect day.  She even gave us a gift for coming.  Seriously Nicole, it's YOUR birthday.  You're an amazing friend!  Thank you so much for a FABULOUS day!

7 Years Ago...

I married this man

It's been a fun journey!

It's August

How can it be August already?  Derek's already talking about what he's going to be for Halloween.  We already have the costume so hopefully he doesn't change his mind.  Then I'll only have two costumes to make buy.

We ended July with a great weekend.  A friend of mine had her son's 1st birthday party.  I just love Nicole and wish I got to see more of her.  We met in school at Paul Mitchell 6 years ago.  We were training to get our Esthetician license.  She and I were the first girls to class on the first day so we starting chatting.  We became fast friends and the following year I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. 

Nikki does everything the best it can be.  Including her parties!  Jason and I were saying how this party would have been fun if it were only adults, too.  It was pretty amazing.  She had an In-N-Out truck come so everybody had some great food.  I wish I got a picture of it. 

She rented an ice cream truck to stay for the kids.  Derek really thought that was the coolest thing ever.

There were pony rides... the guy leading the ponies knew Derek well.  I think he rode the same horse 6 or 7 times.  Jillian wanted nothing to do with the horses.  She had a death grip on daddy.  And poor James, I just totally forgot to see if he wanted to ride.  There was too much going on watching the 3 of them and he was content being in the petting zoo most of the time.

They had a bounce house, a petting zoo, and even a visit from Woody who made the kids balloon animals.

Coming from the usually disgustingly hot Inland Empire (can you tell I miss Huntington Beach more and more?), we were not dressed properly for a cool, overcast day.  But it cleared up to be beautiful.  Nikki's backyard overlooks the ocean.  You can't really see it much in these pictures, but it's breathtaking.

That's Genny, my BFF and her daughter Claire.  Aren't they cutie's?

We stayed a couple hours and had to leave after James got lost.  Jason had to make a phone call for work at exactly 12:15... I forgot and I thought James was with him.  He wasn't.  He was trying to feed a goat a carrot and got bit.  Everything went downhill after that.  It was definitely nap time.  The drive home from Laguna was quiet.  The kids were tired.  The twins slept 3 hours when we got home.  Derek watched a movie.  And Jason and I fell asleep on the couch.  It was great.

Highlights of the upcoming week:

* Our 7th anniversary is on the 3rd.  We celebrated with dinner in Newport last night

* Nikki's 30th birthday at the Spa at the Montage in Laguna Beach on the 8th

* The finale of the Bachelorette.  I don't think she chooses either of the 2 guys.  What do you think?

* Hopefully more weight loss... I lost a jean size in 2 weeks.  You know how exciting it was to wear a pair of jeans to dinner last night that I haven't been able to put on in over 2 years!

Have a great week!

It's Always Something

This was Jillian the entire weekend.

She must have felt terrible because she laid down like this all day on Saturday.  Very unlike her.  She had multiple naps on the sofa.  A fever of 103.  Which made me a little worried about a febrile seizure.  (Derek had one around 18 months and was taken away in an ambulance, so high fevers always scare me).  I took her to the doctor Monday morning.  The fever was gone but she had developed a rash over her face, back and abdomen.  She wouldn't eat and would constantly stick her tongue out and say, 'Ooowww'.

Dr. F told me right away it's Roseola.  He also tested for strep which came back negative.  Today seemed much better.  The rash is starting to subside.  Hopefully she's back to herself in not time.

While I made waffles this morning, the boys watched a little TV.  James always gives us some funny faces.

And just because this made me laugh I had Derek do it again so I could get a picture....

He grabbed my SlimFast drink, took a big gulp, lifted his shirt, sucked in his tummy and said, "Wow, I'm getting skinny already!"

That boy!