Happy.

Saturday before mothers day.. may 8th. No Work today, or tomorrow.. how that has happened a couple weeks in a row I am not sure, but I try not to question a good thing. So we spent the day together, but at home. It was actually great. The boys were so good, we made art, blew bubbles, we watched a couple shows, did our normal thing. Dinner was easy and amazing as usual. I got the house relatively clean, and we played outside a lot. The weather was beautiful and the garden is doing good. I am so thankful for all the wonderful things that I have surrounding me. I don’t know what I did to get so lucky, but I am so happy to be in this moment in my life. Things are somewhat perfect. Works not bad, I wouldn’t mind making more, but I don’t hate going…and that’s pretty priceless. The kids are doing wonderfully and learning more and more everyday. I don’t have anything major keeping me up at night. I’m not bragging, I just know it can’t last forever, but in this moment… I am totally content. Well, I mean, that’s not to say there are not things I want, things I want to improve on, etc… but there is nothing bad right now..nothing horrible, unjust, or  wrong. That’s so beautiful. We have our health <3 With a few exceptions, we have the people we love close by, and we are so abundantly blessed it’s mindboggling when you really slow down and think about it.  Ahhhh, life is sweet with my guys. I am so lucky to be heir mama.. and to be my husband’s wife. We don’t fight.. we don’t have a lot of hardships or strife that we cant somehow find strength in. I find so much love and support in them all. They make me powerful. Whatever positive energy is flowing my way.. I hope the universe keeps smiling on me :)

My near death experience

okay.. well maybe thats being a bit dramatic! But damn! I jjust got over six days of being the sickest I've ever been in my entire life. I cant believe strep throat kicked my booty that bad. It started with a sore throat, I thought it was allergies (this part of California is ridiculous this time of year).. but it only got worse. It turned into very bad headached, swollen lymph nodes, sore neck and back, and my jaw and teeth had this pain that felt like it came from so deep down inside. It was disgusting. I've never had any teeth problems before. Yes, at the ripe age of 26 I've never had a single cavity, never had my wisdom teeth pulled, never had braces, nothing more than my teeth cleaned... this pain, however, made me want all of my teeth ripped out immediately!
Those people who really know me know I also dont like to take meds and I was on ample amounts of antibiotic and vicodin. I normally never would have taken a single pill, but they were the only thing that kept me sane and let me get some sleep... and I'm the girl who wouldnt even take the vicodin they prescribed me after childbirth. I'm so hardcore (except in the case of sore throats apparently) LOL

So I missed like a week of work, and a week of beautiful northern california springtime. I missed a week of my boy's spring break (which means they drove me crazy all week) But I'm Back! I'm feeling good, went to work last night and had a great night, today's my day off and I have big plans.. so..look out world here she comes!!!

Boys will be boys

Recently overheard during an exchange between my two preschool age boys: “ You’ re mean!, No you’re mean! You go take a bath and get soap in your eyes!!!” I love the innocence, yet severity of that insult. I know, I’m mother of the year for thinking its funny.. but I do anyways. lol.

  Love your Mama Earth!

Kindergarten Registration

Today was the day we registered Dylan to begin kindergarten in the fall (well, July actually). He is officially the future class of 2022! I got a little sentimental when I saw that on the sign they’d hung up in the multipurpose room where we had to go for Dylan to be tested and to sign all the papers. We are all very excited, him especially. He wasn’t nearly as shy as I had assumed he’d be. He amazes me everyday, why am I surprised this time? lol

Continuing our morning, we went on to preschool, where Trent and I stayed today, I was there to help out.. Trent was supposed to just be my tag-along but of course, it ended up just being a normal day at school for Trenton.  We painted, we read stories, we had snacks. My boys successfully came home with random paint splatters on their faces, and me with glue stick covered hands. It was a good day in preschool! 

The rest of our day was pretty mellow.. well, mellow by Taylor terms, which doesn’t actually involve much mellowness at all.. but we like to have something..lol. Anyways, we went to the grocery store.    

That went pretty great for obvious reasons! I made a big pot of my very favorite tortilla soup to keep in the fridge/ freeze, etc. And some yummy dinner for tonight. Now the boys are taking a bath, the rain has ceased for now.. and all is good in my little world <3 Goodnight!

…So I’m having a furious Friday!

So all you get from me for right now is a few pictures I took around the house yesterday.

 

And my wonderful project…. I like call it “What? I do a lot of laundry, alright?!”

                    

Big Day Today…

Today, I give in to my husband’s pleas and let him join the rest of the world in Nintendo Wii fun! This is the very first video game system I’ve ever actually been pretty excited about… and I’m certainly not proud of it, but my kids are video game junkies.. so the thought of them being standing up, moving around, downstairs in the sunlight is much more appealing to me. They’re gonna be so stoked too, not only are they getting a new system to play with, but they are OBSESSED with the fact that mom wont play a video game, so now they’ll finally get mom to play.  I can totally see myself playing too, I wont lie.. I’ve wanted one of these forever now! So, I guess I can stop torturing him and go take my shower so we may go on his mini wish list spree. Ssshhhh!

 

 

Does life cereal make us live forever?

This was a particularly hard week. I shouldn't complain because all things considered I'm still standing and no more grey hairs were visible than before (I'm not going to look and see just in case. But nonetheless, it was a trying time. Both boys came down with fevers that optimistic me thought would just pass on their own, if not maybe with the help of the all wonderful children's tylenol. This was NOT the case. We went thru chills, belly aches, ridiculously high fevers, throwing up all over Grandma's house on her 70th birthday, and so much more.
Yesterday was the day we finally made it into the doctor...which of course was an all day excursion regardless of the fact its less than five minutes from our house. Both kids underwent a series of probings and tests :( The final verdict (which I am not completely sure I agree with) is that Dylan has an ear infection, a cold,a rash on his face from the abrasiveness of the snot on his skin, and an eye infection. Trenton has the flu, requiring a treatment of Tamiflu, which just sounds scary in my world, and an eye infection. Trent's temperature got so high in the doctors office they stripped him naked and covered his poor little sick limp body in ice packs. I was terrified. I thought I did fine until that point, and I held my composure the whole time...but on the inside I had a meltdown the minute I was sitting there holding my sick little beansprout facing away from me, and every nurse walking in would look at him and get this like expression of pity and worry. It sounds cliche but thats really something a mother never wants to see. I felt better about their states this morning, they were " almost a little good" in Dylans words, and "still not good" in Trenton's. But they are starting to act a little more like themselves. Hope we can kick it soon. My kids never ever really get sick and I miss my little buddies. Trent really scared me a couple times this week. I could live without that.
Especially in the midst of working twice as many hours as I have the whole time I've been there! And the icing on our cake this week... Justin's business computer got a virus and pretty much crashed...resulting in the forced? purchase of him a new laptop and a slough of other goodies. Ahh, deep breaths...and a little Bob Marley and I'll be a new soul!

Knock on Wood...

But life is going very smoothly and well for us lately. The new "career" is way better than I could have expected. I'm going on week three there, and I love the place. I mean for starters, I'm surrounded y good movies, music, and books all day, its totally laid- back, I have my own coffee shop, and apparently I have developed a great reputation because people keep seeking me out to meet me..lol. I have already met so many people I just love in such a short time! Secondly, Trent is doing phenomenal at school ( for a 2.5 yr old) and loves every second of it. The teacher completely made my week on Tuesday by pulling me aside to tell me that in all her years of teaching, shes never come across boys as polite as mine. They are very big on please and thank yous and people eat that up! LOL. The weather has finally begun to shape up and we've had several park- worthy sun filled day in a row now. Today was actually playing soccer/ riding bikes day.. what little boy doesn't love that?! Oh, and I almost forgot today was my first full day of volunteering to help out at the preschool. The teacher asked if I could make it a regular thing, which I am overjoyed to oblige. And, the icing on my cake.. its my annual quarter life crisis haircut time and I found a life long friend that is a Paul Mitchell beauty school queen, who has offered to do it for a faction of what I normally pay. Just knowing a good haircut is in my near future is enough to keep my spirits high! I don't want to jinx myself, and maybe its just this nice cheery weather.. but man I really love life sometimes! I'm so blessed to be supported, encouraged, and completely enveloped in love by such a wonderful husband, and two amazing boys. One should be so lucky to make their acquaintance, and I get to be the queen of their worlds!

The Babyshower!

 

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Most people who actually know me, know of my longtime bestfriend Elizabeth (Liz, Lizard, Flizz, etc) Her and I have been wreaking havoc since we were around 12 or 13 together. Times have change, we've both grown up immensely, and we've gone down our own paths... but as we speak Liz is 35 weeks pregnant and due sometime in late February with her first child. Sweet little baby girl Charlotte Grace Welsh! This weekend we ventured together, with good old Caitlin in tow, to the babyshower. I love Liz with all my heart and the thought of a little baby Lizard makes me giddy with excitement. I cant wait for her to get to experience all the priceless, amazing, awe inspiring moments that I know are coming her way. I cant wait for her to hold that little tiny (or not so tiny, 6lbs already!) baby girl up to her chest in the delivery room and fall in love in magnitude that the mind cant even begin to conceive. And then all the little firsts that come after that, first smiles, first laughs, first words, first steps, first booboos, first days of school, etc. I cant wait. I am overjoyed to see my friend get to fall in love with her little baby bump and this little girl that has never met the world yet. I'm also very excited for Dom. He will make a great daddy and its obvious he too is ready to meet her and love her more than he even knows. Its so cute, having experienced all this myself twice now... to see the two of them, ready, but truly, having no idea what to expect, and having no idea how much this is really going to change their lives and them as people. I am proud and humbled to get to be an auntie not by marriage or blood, but by love to sweet baby Charlie, whenever she decides to grace us with her presence in the outside world!~

To New Beginnings

 

Two thousand- ten is barely off and rolling and things are already changing. Positive things... today is my first official day at the new job (yay I got it!) and I am very much looking forward to embarking on my adventures outside of Heather Place! Trenton had his first official day of preschool last week. He went for two and a half hours all by himself (plus brother of course) just like a big boy! He loved it, he made a gingerbread man that smelled like cinammon, played with playdough, and colored some pictures. He loved it and cant wait for this thursday. He will be going once a week for now till we see how it works out with our new scheduling commitments (work), and all.

 

The third major thing was that Jake and Tuck made the big move, goodbye California, hello Colorado! It was a long journey but we were all happy to hear that had made it safely, and we hope they have fun there! Its sad to hear the kids wonder where Jake is, and why he hasnt come back yet... but its exciting to get to see Jake go off and follow what he wants to do. Oh to be young! lol.. but how fun for him.

Welcome to 2010!

So my blog has been neglected in the wake of the holiday season.. I'm trying to recover I swear! We had a wonderful Christmas, or I should say Christmases. To this day I have not found homes for the new toys that have taken over our humble abode. Its slighlty ridiculous.

We had a big party this weekend for my brother in law. At the ripe age of "just shy of 21" he's embarking on a new life in Colorado. He'll be great there and love it, I'm sure without doubt. He will be missed my a lot of loving family members and friends though.. it just wont be the same without him.

Other than that the only other event in our lives these past few weeks is that I went for my first job interview in a long long time this morning. It was nothing amazing.. just a regular little position at Barnes & Nobles... but I think it could be agreat opportunity to get out of the house a bit, maybe expand my "need to read" list.. and hopefully make some friends. I feel very good about the interview.. but I guess time will tell if I get a call back or not. We'll see ;) I'm actually kind of indifferent because the thought of leaving my boys at all makes me a little sad, so if I dont get the job it will still be alllll good! Thats about it for now. Beef stew and delicious french bread are cooking now.. and my belly was ready for dinner at lunch time... so I'm going to go watch it cook since we all know that makes it cook faster!

We went to see Santa!

We got brave and dressed the little ones up and took them on the 30 or so minute journey to the mall (aka the north pole) to see Santa claus. I was actually very suprised at how good they were. I dont recall any running, crying, fit throwing, or other random embrassment. There was no wait at all to see Santa, and the boys were a little in awe of how he was just right there, so they stayed back and kind of hid behind a sign for a few minutes and just watched him. When we finally got up there, Trenton's first mission was to make sure Santa acknowledged his nice sweater. =) Then they both hopped up, Dylan rattled off his list of things he wanted, the one I remember is a dinosaur with a remote control that really walks. Trenton was awe struck after the sweater thing and couldnt make any words come out. His lips were moving, but no sound. Santa laughed at him and asked him if he liked to talk to himself. Finally Trenton spotted some big fake wrapped presents under Santas tree, and decided that he wanted one of those. Santa told him they were fake so Trent said he just wants a big pretty box for Christmas! We capped off out our afternoon out with lunch... again..I was amazed at the lack of melt downs, that almost never happens... and then a ride on the carousel for everyone. Yay..mom loves nothing more than spinning around over and over right after lunch! It was really a lot of fun though. I love spending days like that with the family!

ahh..winter!

Getting ready for the holidays this week at our house. We put up a few lights outside, icicle lights for the boys' bedroom, and of course our stockings and Christmas tree. That was an experience. This was the first year I've had TWO boys big enough to help hang ornaments. Lets just say it was rough...lol. The Trenton damage count at the end of the day was four ornaments, a salt to my snowman salt and pepper shakers, a picture frame, and a little old car with santa driving it that had belonged to my grandpa. It was more damage than I had expected, but I cant be mad, he's only two.. and most of it just needs some super glue. It turned out very pretty though. I love our new house. Christmas decorating sucked at the old house. No matter what I did it was cold, big and stark white. This house is warm and cozy and perfect. Theres a big cold wave going thtough right now, apparently it snowed here but we all slept through it. The evidence is all over Mt. Diablo. I've never seen it that covered in snow before. Very exciting! Except its bitterly cold outside all day long so that kind of sucks. Grandma Lois went into the emergency room today with fluid around her heart, so we're keeping her in our thoughts. We love you Grandma!

Thanksgivng week

One wild busy week is behind us, but I'm sure more are to come.. tis the season for frazzeling my nerves! We spent our nice quiet mellow thanksgiving with my inlaws. Nothing too big or huge, just good food and a relatively quiet day. I wont lie.. I ate and then napped on the couch like a big moo cow.. and it was good! LOL. We're not black friday people so we spent the next day at home just cleaning up and relaxing. Since we didnt make our own turkey there were no thanksgiving leftovers to battle over.. so it was just a normal day..with a ton of wind and rain. The weekend was actually pretty mellow too. Those of you that know me well know that mellow is my pace. I come with two little boys.. my idea of mellow is no smoke detectors going off or police men at my door because someone called 911! We baked more cheesecakes, and some homemade bread that well..lets just say we wont use that recipe again! Grandma Colleen and Papa Barr came over and we took Grandma on our little hike on the trail behind our house, and then got our fill of parktime at the spiderman park. We had a little bbq lastnight and had some friends over. The kids always have soo much fun together.. and I dont mean to brag but my husband does happen to be king of the grill.. so the fajitas were phenomenal. So much so our guests took a to-go plate! Good times! Todays a new day and a new week and almost a new month. We have a hot date today with some gingerbread men Trenton has special requested we make. I am really looking forward to that one. I'm apparently on a whole baking kick again. I know this always happens to me this time of year, but it is nice to focus on sweets and decadent things as opposed to soups, casseroles, and other various Amber creations for a change. The kids are totally loving seeing whats for dessert too. They are quite the little bakers. I love this part of life. Nothing fancy, nothing that cost an arm and a leg.. just me and my boys and quality time and making memories in our little kitchen.. this is what its really all about!

Everyone loves a parade!

We've had a busy week. I love that about this time of year, everything starts picking up pace a bit and our days are more full and less routine. We spent our weekend out and about. We caught up with some close old friends we havent seen in ridiculously long. Our kids played great together, thats always good to know. We also spent most of our saturday afternoon at the annual holiday parade here in downtown brentwood. Papa Barr was the fireman on the back of the old fire engine in the parade, so of course Dylan & Trenton were like little firecrackers of excitement as the parade went on. It was a little long for us this year because about half way thru my happy campers were turning less happy and getting ants in their pants that restricted their ability to sit still for any stetch of time. We ended up leaving before it was completely over, but that was fine for all of us after seeing how many people were there.

My little corner of the world

So this is my NEW blog, more family oriented as opposed to Amber's eccentric thoughts oriented. I promise to be more active on this one.. theres always some being a mama drama to post about. I am sitting in the living room of my new house, which I love, freezing my butt off because we havent got the furnace fixed so its space heaters for us for now. My littlest man is running around in a shirt and socks with the Candyland game box on his head.. my biggest little man is running laps and counting in his very loudest inside voice. And the scary thing, this is a calm few moments aroun here. Nonetheless I have plenty of other stuff to be doing. With the food holidays fast approaching I am sure I'll be here to share some yummy recipes and vent about my misbehaving monkeys or my burnt loaf of banana bread.