when you notice they aren't babies anymore

Every mom has experienced this. And I did with both my children just a few days ago. In the midst of taking a million pictures of them, you look back and BAM! There is the picture that changes the game. The one that makes you tear up instantly. Not because it didn't come out the way you wanted it to. But because it's a glimmer of what your precious pea will look like as a teenager! It's true that they grow so fast and when you see them everyday you don't necessarily notice how much in such a short amount of time. So without further ado...

Nicolas,
Really???? This day when we got home from work and daycare, I let you check the mail because your daddy wasn't home yet so I knew it was still in there. It was all junk obviously and I let you carry it up to the door while I got your sister out. You plopped yourself down on the door step and starting what looked like reading the ads. It was absolutely an adorable sight so naturally I snapped a few pictures. Then once we got inside the house I looked back at the pictures and there was this one. My eyes instantly welled up. When did you get so big? You have such a smoldering handsome look about you in this shot and it took my breath away. I could see you as a 17 year old boy. I could see you all grown up. Why are you in such a hurry to get there? Don't you know I'm not ready for that yet? You've hit the stage where your looks are permanent. When you're grown, we can look back at this picture and I'm certain you will look exactly the same. One more thing, please slow down.

Raegan,
Look at you pretty girl! This picture was taken because you just looked absolutely adorable in this jumper that I had to send a picture to your Aunt Devan. Her text back to me was exactly what I was thinking, that you looked so big here. Anyone that knows you knows how petite you are but for some reason you just look so grown here. Maybe it's the angle from which it's taken, but whatever the reason I don't like it. You're taking a liking to your brother's pace and if you're not aware, I don't approve. Your smile cracks me up in this picture because you look like you are so proud of your standing accomplishment, of which you should be. But again, I can see a glimmer of the teenage you. There's only one thing I'm sure of, you will only get more beautiful. I'll end same as I did for your brother, please slow down.

Easter is kind of a big deal!

I would have to say that my second (because Christmas is number one!) favorite holiday is EASTER!!! And I couldn't wait to put up some décor! This year we are hosting Easter for family and I couldn't be more excited! I am sooooo looking forward to an egg hunt in our backyard. And the kids' Easter outfits! The Easter baskets (which are almost finished by the way!) Ahhhhh! Easter is just so exciting! Especially with kids! Here is some décor we have up in our home to celebrate this wonderful holiday! I can't promise more won't be added!

The chalkboard helps add a little "umph" to it all!

I cannot wait to get this years' Easter picture with BOTH kids!

Cheap little felt banner that I probably could have made but "ain't nobody got time fo dat!" and it was only $2!

Had to have these little tin bunnies. Blue and pink to represent my boy and girl, of course!

I love these blocks. Nicolas keeps pointing them and saying "prrrrring!" HA!

I love this little block set!

 

[most decorations were purchased from this good ol' store called Target, have you heard of it?]

And lastly,

for your viewing pleasure! I know, she's too cute for words!



Weekend fun fun fun

Friday Night

I built Nicolas a fort in our living room. He hung out with daddy for a bit.

We let him eat dinner in there. And he watched his nighttime cartoons in there also.

 

Saturday

We ended up just staying at home and having a super lazy day.

We have not had one of those in a loooong time.

We set up a redneck water table for Nicolas to play with.

Eventually there was a bigger plastic bin used for the water that allowed Nicolas

to get completely soaked!

He had fun and that's all that mattered!

 

Nala must have been worn out because in the early evening she started to fall asleep,

on my lap, while sitting up.

Crazy dog.

She was my first "baby" and I get reminded of that from time to time.

This was one of those times because she looked so sweet just to rest her head for a minute on me.

 

 I die at Raegan's new face!

She is starting to get so chunky I can't take all the cuteness!

Don't you just want to bite these cheeks?!

 

Sunday

Ryan was playing in a softball tournament with his cousins and uncle.  So we spent part of the day watching the game and then hanging out at the park. I love family days like these!

 

 

I never get tired of these father daughter pictures..never

Nicolas-"Tickle tickle!" Ryan's face is priceless!

[left to right] cousin Malia, Uncle Randy, cousin Mike, and that handsome mountain man is, yes, my husband!

little dare devil!

 

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!



Valentines Day!

The outfits..(for the kids, that is)

Most Eligible Bachelor..umm over this momma's dead body!
He's thinking "really mom, this early in the morning? can't you see I'm trying to watch Octonauts?



 

Front- Little Cupid
Darling, I know!

 

Back- those angel wings? just precious!

Our traditions..

 

Ever since our first Valentine's day we've eaten at Panda Express, (short version- my then boyfriend didn't make reservations at a restaurant so we ended up eating at Panda and we were the only ones in the place aside from the workers. We've eaten there ever since!)

 

 

Our newest tradition (starting this year actually) for the kids will be that they each will get a movie and we will have a Valentine's Day movie night. This year since Raegan is still a baby, Nicolas got to open both of them.

 

And he also got to choose which one we watched.

 

He chose Tangled. One of my favorites!

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

 



Currently..

currently...
This month has been extra crazy and busy. After celebrating Christmas our house became a packing frenzy! We were scheduled to move the first weekend of January. We were really excited but we weren't expecting to be so drained afterward. We rang in the new year one last time in our old home and that following Saturday we gathered all our boxes and furniture and made the transition to our Znew place.
 
Ok so I'm going to try to keep this pretty short because frankly I'm exhausted and have been for a few weeks now.
 
We moved. We started to unpack. Continued to unpack. Are still unpacking. And with a full time job and two kids and adding in Zumba here and there, getting this house in complete running order just seems impossible!
 
For about 3 weeks we were cable and internet-less. At first I didn't mind because I was busy organizing and what not. But then after a while I missed my shows and my social media (aside from what I could pull up on my phone.)
 
The 3rd week of January my husband went away on a work trip for four days. I hated every minute of it! It seemed like I was barely able to talk with him because he worked 12 hour days and was exhausted by the time I got off work and settled at home. So in other words I was counting down the seconds to when I could pick him up from the airport. Not to mention his birthday passed while he was away. So that wasn't fair.

Now we have almost everything settled in. However, getting our routine back to normal has been somewhat of a challenge.

There have been lots of lazy movie days prior to getting our cable in order. I must admit if I never see Toy Story 3 or Cars ever again I wouldn't mind. So I'll leave this picture of my adorable critters that have made this hectic move and settle a little easier..

Our new year celebration

For the last four years I'd say, we rang in the new year by staying home and enjoying each other's company..some years we watched the ball drop and others we watched movies or when we waited for 2010 to arrive I made our wedding favors! (I'm fully aware of how big of party animals we are!)

This year we did non other than stay in. It dawned on me as I was doing my friend's hair for her night on the town, I want to spend all our new year celebrations at home with our kids and who ever else would like to join us. Why? Because I never want to not be able to kiss my children at midnight and wish them a Happy New Year!

So our evening went as such.. The day was like any other, we both had a full days work and once I got home I did my friend's hair. My husband got home and I gave him his early anniversary gift (more on that later) we decided to get take out (Mexican) for dinner. Nicolas was a little rambunctious so I decided to go get the food instead of sending my husband and took Nicolas with me. We got back and my mom and brother came over. We ate, hung out and watched some good old TV. After a while my family left and it was just us. We put Nicolas to bed around 9:30pm and Raegan followed about a half hour later. Ryan and I started to watch a movie that was playing on TV and when I came back from the kitchen after getting a glass of wine, my husband was fast asleep! I could believe it because for us it was a regular day, we worked and went about our normal weekday routine. 10:30pm hits and we become zombies pretty much. I watched the movie for a bit (you know to drink my glass of wine I had just poured) and once I was finished we turned everything off and went to lay in bed. My husband fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow like every other night. I started watching Friends because I really did want to stay up until midnight so I could wake him up and kiss him. I drifted off to sleep and was woken up by fireworks going off, I checked my phone and it was 12:05am. I woke up my husband and we shared yet another New Years kiss. Then I got up to kiss my kids and whisper happy new year to them although they were happily dreaming. As I laid back in bed my heart was happy to start off this year with my absolute favorite people in the whole world!

We're moving!!

yes that's correct! Currently we are in a 2 bedroom 1 bath duplex which would be perfect if we still only had once child. But since having Raegan we've felt like we've outgrown this little home of ours. So to better suit our family that has grown, we are in the middle of moving. We found out right before Christmas that we were approved for our new home so since the day after Christmas, I've been overwhelmed with packing. Thankfully I've been really organized and it hasn't been too bad.

When I really sit to think about all that has gone on since living here it makes moving bittersweet. After my husband and I first married at the end of that same month I found out I was pregnant so to save money we moved in with my grandma. When Nicolas was 8 months old we moved here. This home was our first home as a married couple and a family. Nicolas finally got his own room in this house. We celebrated his baptism, first and second birthday. I found out I was pregnant with our darling girl in this house. We also celebrated her baptism while living here. This house has seen us through two Christmas' and we will (in this upcoming week) have brought in the new year twice. This may not have been the best or most up to date home but it holds so many memories from our family. It's witnessed our relationship evolve and had front row seats to watch our family grow. This has been a great little home for our family and I will always have sweet memories when I think back to our first home.

But for now.. packing, packing, and more packing!

With the occasional play time of course!

Our Christmas Story

This Christmas was wonderful! We were busy busy busy. Every year we have certain family traditions that we do. First, sometime before Christmas, usually the weekend before or on Christmas Eve morning, we have breakfast with my husband's Tutu (grandma in Hawaiian) and family.

Me and Raegan with our cousin Alicia and her son Juellz
 who is almost a month younger than Raegan.

 

Christmas Eve we go to Ryan's Papa's house for his famous Chili dinner. (Unfortunately I slacked big time in not taking any pictures of this year's get together! I'm kicking myself for it too!)

 

Christmas day was spent at our house. We adopted this tradition last year. Since having kids, my husband and I agreed that it's such a hassle to have "Christmas morning" then get ready, then lug everything to and from both my parent's house and his parent's house. Just seemed like a lot of running around for just one day. So instead we invited anyone and everyone who wanted to come over to join in our Christmas morning. This invitation includes breakfast and this year I lucked out and my father in law cooked for me. Here's just a glimpse into what our Christmas day looked like.

Before family arrived, Nicolas opened a few gifts to keep him occupied.
 Daddy helped him put his new Jake puzzle together.

 

Uncle Mark got both kids new piggy banks.
 (Nicolas previously had this same pig, however, he dropped that one)

 

 

Raegan's bank is zebra stripped with a pink bow on one ear.
Perfect for this little fashionista!

Once sister went down for a nap, Nicolas tore into his abundant amount of gifts.
This kid is so spoiled. No, I guess just loved an awful lot!

When Raegan woke up she had a new saucer waiting for her.
As well as some new dolls to play with that included Daisy duck and Minnie mouse!

After we ate, opened presents, and visited with family,
the rest of the day was spent PLAYING!

Later in the day, we attempted a family picture.
This was the best of the many we took. Not bad.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Gobble Gobble 2012

I have always gotten excited for major holidays. And now that I'm a mom, I get even more excited for them. What's even better? When it's a first! This year was Nicolas' THIRD (wow) Thanksgiving and Raegan's first. Because we already had an early dinner with my side of the family, the actual day was spent at my mother-in-law's house. We had a great time to match our great dinner. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

The kids did a little playing before dinner..

Raegan enjoyed her Thanksgiving "dinner" before we enjoyed ours 

The beautiful table my MIL set

She was ready to watch us inhale our food!

As you can see he enjoyed his plate

He was so stuffed that he immediately laid on the floor to play

Momma and her princess

And..Momma and her prince

This little girl always always falls asleep when daddy holds her

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!