Memories For My Kids- age 31

To My Child(ren):
-Aiden age: 2 yrs

...I'm your mom and I am 31...

...bedtime is "our" time, you have me sit and rock you every night...

...you cry when I leave for work, and come running to me when I get home...

...I will go in and check on you while you sleep, just to see your peaceful face...

...whenever I'm getting ready you are always by my side just watching me...

...I struggle with working part-time and being a mommy full-time....

...I'm not perfect but I do try to be the best example I can be...

...I take you to the gym with me as I try to stay healthy, and sometimes you hate it...

...we spend many days at Disneyland, I love seeing the joy on your face when we go...

...I always have my toes painted and sometimes you ask me to paint yours... (I don't, sorry)

...I'm a moonbeam teacher at church, and I truly love this calling, even when its exhausting running after 8 two-year-olds...

...I've never loved your father more than I do today, and it keeps getting better...

I hope that when you are older this series of letters will be something you cherish. I want you to know me, and even though I'm not perfect I love you.

XOXO -Mom

TWO

I can't believe my baby is 2! We decided for his birthday we would invite his friends to the park and have a "playdate with Cupcakes" but plans quickly changed when it started raining that morning. We moved the party to our garage threw together some appetizers and stung up a piñata. I think the kids had a blast and the parents enjoyed watching the kids swing at the piñata, a little afraid someone might get wracked, but still enjoyed the show haha. 

 

Its really amazing how much this sweet little boy has grown in a year. He's always on the move and talks up a storm.

 

 

 

The Husband: Birthday 34...

Bill's birthday is today and I feel lucky to have such a loving, caring, hard working and mostly cranky old man to call mine forever & always. I love you more than you will ever know. Happy Birthday babe.

 

Dinner at Cheesecake Factory, the sweet fossil watch we got him.

Memories For My Kids- age 30

To My Child(ren):
-Aiden age: 15 months

...I'm your mom and i am 30 (seems old doesn't it)...

...I still put you to bed almost every night and when i do i whisper "your mommy loves you" those words are spoken alot and i mean them more every day...

...you  have grown into quite a busy little toddler, playing outside is your favorite thing...

...when i get ready i often find you right there in the bathroom with me, you're always trying to crawl on top of the toilet...

...you get into EVERYTHING, it saddens me to say this but i do yell or snap at you more than i would like to admit...

...there are nights after I've put you to bed, I will go into your room pick you up hold you close and rock you for only a few moments,  because I miss you and love you so very much...

...at my weakest moments (which I do have... ) your smile makes me realize there is more to my life then what I'm dealing with emotionally...

...this year my hair is the longest it's every been during my adult life, I think it attracts you... Haha

...I secretly love that you give me your "grabby hands" because you want me over anyone else...

...I let you hand me dishes out of the dishwasher, we haven't broken anything yet...



I feel so blessed and lucky to be your mom, i will never be able to put into words just how much i love you. I've always wanted to be a mother and it truly is my most favorite job i have ever had. I LOVE YOU.

XOXO -Mom

Happy 1st Birthday AIDEN

Happy Birthday Aiden.



On Wednesday, his actual birthday we went to dinner at the Olive Garden with Don, Kristin & Daniel Houle. It was a great way to start off the celebration. On Saturday we threw him his first ever birthday party. It was more of a "yay we survived our 1st year of parenthood" party only because there was more adults than children in attendance.

 

We hired a taco guy which was the best decision ever. I made his 1st cake, it was leaning ever so slightly to one side, but it still turned out great. I hung a few balloons and streamers and made a birthday banner. That was all the decorations we had.

I think his birthday was more than a success, he got plenty of  toys and cool clothes but more importantly Aiden was surrounded by all the people in his life that love him and care for him since the day he was born. Without all of our family and friends Bill and I might not have done as great a job as we have so far!

33

Happy Birthday Billiam

Today we celebrate you... the wonderful Husband, Father, & Man you have become.

 

 

A Tea Party Tradition

 

For my maternal Grandma's birthday every year my Mom hosts a "mini" tea party. Everything from decorations to food all of it is miniture. The tradition started when my sister Anneke and I were little girls. It is one thing i really look forward to each year, and i know my grandmother does too.

 

Memories For My Kids- age 29

one day my youngest sister Janette and i were talking about our grandma "big mom" we were discussing how being 10 years apart we know the same person but two very different grandmas. let me explain MY grandma growing up still had dark rich colorful hair, she would run around the block with me and get down on the floor with me. Janette's grandma couldn't run around the block or play on the floor her knees were just too bad at this point. also her colorful hair was traded in for a nice silver/white style instead.

right now I'm a mother of one... but soon more children will come and i will get older, i want my kids to know me to remember me and experience ME the young the old the present... so to my children.. I'm not only a lady, a friend, a daughter.... I am and always will be your MOM.

To My Child(ren):
-Aiden age: 3 months

...I'm your mom and i am 29...

...when i put you to bed from the very first night you were born i kiss your cheek and whisper "momma loves you"...

...as a baby you and i would lay on the floor together and play... granted i would sometimes fall asleep, but so would you...

...you love when i kiss your face, your cheeks, your nose... and i do it often because i love you...

...when you are fussy i put you in your car seat and i swing you back and forth, it makes you giggle and calms you down...

...you hate to nap so i swaddle you and hold you close because i know these days are numbered... i caress your bald little head and just watch you sleep...

...your daddy and i try to always speak kind words to each other because we want to show you a loving healthy relationship to model your own after one day...

...your daddy loves to let you "try" tasting his food, but i feel like you are just too young still...

...once you're in your bed i sit and watch you sleep from the baby montior, your father says i sleep stalk you...

...when i'm away working (3 days) i think about you, and your daddy sends me pictures, i get jealous that he is home with you and i am not...

...the drive home from work seems to take the longest of any drive...

...we sit and watch "stupid" tv together snuggled up on the rockingchair...

I feel so blessed and lucky to be your mom, i can and will never be able to put into words just how much i love you. I've always wanted to be a mother and it truly is my most favorite job i have ever had. I LOVE YOU.

XOXO -Mom

Whale Watching

For my Birthday Bill and I went whale watching out of Long Beach. I love whale watching and its always been a great time when we do go. This time was not exception! We saw dolphins, and seals but the best part was the 2 fin whales we saw! I got some really great photos and one special one it was of the fin whale's fluke! I've never been able to capture one in a photo so i was pretty excited!

After whale watching we had dinner at Orange Hill restaurant which was amazing and said to be one of the most romantic places to eat in orange county. After dinner we sung by my parents to pick up the baby. It was a big day for him too.... he slept in his own crib/room for the first time and slept like 7.5 hours!!! 

Texans in Town! 9/16-9/20

One of Bill's long time friends Amy flew in for the weekend to come visit. Amy and her son Jaxson got here Friday afternoon and stayed till Tuesday.

It was so much fun having them in town! We had a beach day were her son threw sand EVERYWHERE and I do mean everywhere! We went out to her Mom's house for a BBQ, where they surprised Bill with a Birthday Cake. Bill even got in some practice daddy time.... which I think was good for him after all this little one will be here sooner than later!

 

32.

Bill turned 32 this year and he still gets to me like the day we met!

Happy Birthday Sexy!

18... oh my!



The Tea Cups

My "baby" sister turned 18! It's crazy to think that she is now an adult. I've always had a very close and special relationship with her and watching her grow up and helping her along the way she's more like my daughter than a sister. I hope that my sister will feel this way about my baby...

For her birthday she and her and two friends Brooke & Kelly, went to Disneyland for the day, I met up with the 3 girls after I got of work. It was so much fun to spend the day with my little sister on her birthday and at Disneyland, I haven't been there in years. Granted I couldn't enjoy ALL the rides due to me being pregnant, but we sure did have a great time non the less!

Brooke, Jenny, Kelly

Jenny and I on Toy Story

In line for the little mermaid

Her friends had to leave a little earlier than we did so I got to spend some one-on-one time with her. It was fun getting to have that quality time with her. It seems like since i've been married and now that i'm pregnant I don't get to spend as much time with my siblings as i'd like. After disneyland I took her out to dinner for her birthday to one of our favorite spots.... HOF'S HUT. Her and I both have special place in our hearts for Hof's.  It was a great ending to our wonderful day!

Sunday at my parents we celebrated her birthday with the family. It's kind of a tradition. I always look forward to the "sunday birthday dinner" It's just family and it's ways a great time. This picture makes me laugh because the candles make it seem like she's 81 instead of 18!

Happy Birthday Janette!



My 28th Birthday



pineapple upside down cake.

 Today I celebrated my 28th birthday. WOW when did i get old?!?!?! It seems like yesterday that i was turning 23 marrying my best friend and heading to the future of kids, owning a home, and having a great job.

Now i may not have all those things yet.... but together we are building our future just the way it should be. I love when my birthday rolls around secretly it when i consider the year begins! hahaha.

this year is going to be a great one, i can just feel it!

On my actual birthday Bill and I had dinner at my parents with my sisters and grandparents. Of course we had my personal favorite Corned Beef and Cabbage, with a pineapple upside down cake. My dad makes the best ones and always makes it for my birthday! I opened a few gifts and just really enjoyed being with family this year!


a few gifts from the hubby




my favorite...been waiting this for awhile




Jenny, Me, and Elise. I love my sisters!



Birthday Celebration Begins!

Yes it is that time again

MY BIRTHDAY!

This year for my birthday we kicked off the celebration with a day at Knott's Berry Farm and Dinner at The Pirate Dinner and Adventure Show with some close friends. It was such a great time. Bill and I have found a pretty great group of friends one of whom shared in this birthday celebration, Happy Birthday Tom!

Mia and Bill in line for accelerator

 

Mel and Tom



Katie and Dave



Katie and Mia

Dave, Katie, Bill, Tom, and Mel on GhostRider

Mel and Tom (birthday boy)

Swinging Katie, Dave and Bill



Mia, Tom, and Mel

Katie and Mia in line at Camp Snoopy

Katie and Bill conquering their "supreme scream" fears

After Knotts we headed over to TGI Fridays for drinks/appetizers and to meet up with everyone else who was coming to the Pirate Dinner Show.

Capt Bill

Pre-show drinks

Pirate Stance

Tom was captured

our "blue" pirate arg!

Ducks vs. Thrashers

To celebrate Joey's birthday (one of Bill's childhood best friends) we all went to a Ducks vs Thrashers hockey game. We arrived a little late because of me...for some unknown reason it took me forever to get ready... hahaha

The Game was actually a really really good game. It even ended up going into over time and then spilled over into sudden death, 3 shots both teams missed then the Ducks shot and missed #4 where as Thrashers scored on the 4th shot winning the game. Even through the Ducks lost it was still a very intense game!

Go Ducks!

we might have been late but I look Good! ha

Me & Joey

Bill & Joey

27 Years Young!

Happy Birthday To ME!!!

For my Birthday Bill took me to Sea World San Diego!

It was so much fun to spend the day with just the two of us and all those animals!

We got to handle starfish, and check out my favorite...TURTLES!!! The picture of me holding a stuff animal turtle is a joke... I have the same picture from our honeymoon except the turtle was real...

Next we sat and watched the SHAMU show... then had dine with the dolphins. That was pretty neat... we had a private show.

We then checked out the seals and sea lions, the polar bears... (Bill and I got cozy in their dens)

random milk jugs...perfect photo opt...Hey I've been working out and building those muscles...gotta show 'em off! hahaha

We ventured into the "kiddie" park and rode the tea cups... and last but not least we rode the "skyride" it was pretty neat, plus we sat in bucket #19... which if you didn't know my birthday in the 19th and we went to sea world on my actual day of birth!!

one of the many pictures at the hotel we stayed at... look at that handsome man, oh and that great view of the bay!