Some are dying to know...

I know you all are probably looking at this picture and wondering what the heck it is. This past Thursday I went in for my ultrasound, and now the answer to that nagging question is sealed and stapled in this very envelope. It sits in my wallet, and I see when I go to make purchases. I know it is there, and I know that all I have to do is rip it open, and it will reveal to me what we will be having. Yet there is a part of me that smiles each time knowing that I am not opening it. I can hear the screaming now. It will probably drive you all crazy, but for right now it is staying sealed with an opening date to be determined. We may open it...we may not. I just haven't decided yet. Until then, I smile everytime I open my wallet and see it staring back at me. Part of me is amazed that I have had enough will NOT to open it.

This past weekend has been a blur full of excitement and fun. I just feel like I haven't had time to breathe quite yet. It started with the ultrasound on Thursday, and then all of my Reunion activities over the weekend. To make things even busier we somehow managed to squeeze in a Family photo shoot! I will post the details and pictures of my fun weekend within the next few days.

Last Call...

This post is for my fellow MHS Class of 1997 alumni...

I am helping the Reunion Committee to compile and make a video for the reunion, and need your help.

Can you email a recent picture of you or your family and possibly a couple of pictures from high school.

We want to get as much of variety as possible. So even if you aren't planning on attending we would love to get some photos!

Email them to mesa97@yahoo.com by Friday October 19. Thanks! (Yes I realize that is tomorrow...they had posted a request on the reunion blog, but I don't know how many people have seen it.)

Thanks so much!

P.S. You can find more info about the final details of the Friday night Pre-Party @ Dos Gringos, The picnic, and the actual reunion at www.mesa97.blogspot.com

Sugary Pumpkins

Today was my day to have the kids, and Karyn to have her 4 hours of bliss...aka Kid Swap Day. I had seen this idea over at An Ordinary Mom's, and thought it would be a great craft for the kids to do while they were here.
It involves a pumpkin, push pins, and lots of gummy, sugary treats. Hopefully Karyn isn't too mad at the sugar high I gave her kids...but they had a blast making them and sneaking in treats for themselves in the process. It was alot of fun, and there was no "messiness" that you get with the regular carving of a pumpkin.
Also just so you know, Scribbit is hosting a weekly carnival for the Winter that she has dubbed "The Winter Bazaar." Every Wednesday, people from around the blogospher are linking up on her blog with different crafts, activities, and recipes to do during the next few months. There has been lots of fun ideas already submitted, and if you participate or even leave a comment...your name gets put into the pot for a prize! You should check it out!

I Love Tuesdays!

Have I told you lately how much I love Tuesdays!? Why do I love them you may ask? Well, a few months ago Karyn, my kid swap buddy, called me and told me about a community orchestra that her high school orchestra director was directing. She and her sister, Kathryn, were going to enroll, and wanted to know if I would want to sign up to. The thought peaked my interest because I hadn't really played my violin for quite some time. I really have missed it. So I got up the guts and enrolled.

So now every Tuesday Karyn, Kathryn, and I drive together to the community college to play in an orchestra. It has been so much fun. I have really enjoyed getting to know them better, and I get to do something that I love in the process. After rehearsal we pick a place to go for a treat! It is our weekly "Girl's Nite Out." Something we have to look forward to every single week!

This Karyn, Me, Nicole (one of Karyn's H.S. friends & now my friend too!) & Kathryn

I think sometimes as a mother we tend to put everything off. I hadn't played my violin in forever! When I pulled it out to tune it before our first rehearsal, Caden said, "Hey, Mommy...what is that?" It tugged at my heart because it showed how much I didn't play it. I am thankful that I took a step to get some "me" time. I think me and my children will benefit from it.

Fun at the Zoo!

I had gotten a zoo membership earlier this year. Since our summers here are sooooo hot we haven't been there for a while. Julie ended up getting a membership too, and the membership she has is big enough that our friend, Heather can come too! We are hoping to be able to get alot of use out of it, and go possibly once a week. We thought it would be fun to go this Thursday. Her oldest, Mason, was out of school for Fall Break and the weather here has been cooling off. So we planned on it last week.

When we arrived it was if everyone else had the same plan. I had never seen the parking lot that packed! Thank goodness it isn't like Disneyland where you have to wait to get on rides, but there was plenty of people there. It also happened to be one of the hottest days this week (104 - yuck) Despite it being hot and crowded...the kids still had alot of fun. I am really looking forward to going more often.

Here is the clan...Easton, Jayden, Tanner, Gemma, Mason, Sydney, and Caden (doing what he does best...avoiding the camera)

My Little Pre-Schooler

We finally got Caden's pictures back from school. I was a little nervous at how they would turn out because Caden is not really a "smile on demand" type of boy. I pictured getting back some photos of him pouting.

To my surprise he did pretty good. He wasn't really looking at the camera, but I still like them. It really amazes me at how big my child is getting.

My mind has been racing with alot of different thoughts and insecurities that I am having watching my child grow up. I don't have time to delve deep, but will have to post on those thoughts later.

I sure do love this boy.

Snip, Snip, Snip

Back in 1997 I met a girl while I was selling cell phones. She was a hairstylist and I needed a change. I went to see Sam and got my haircut. Over the years I have followed her around because I loved her so much. When I got married I kinda lost track of her. I was so sad because I was always pleased with my cuts. I tried to go to other stylists, but it never seemed right. I missed Sam not only for the way she cut my hair, but also the conversation that flowed when she cut it. No one seemed to be able to replace that.

In June, my sister Cathy had her baby shower. One of her friends, Candy, was there and we started talking. She cut hair too. Somehow in her conversation she said something that made me wonder if Sam worked in the same salon. To my surprise...SHE DID!! I was so excited to find her again. It took me awhile to set up an appointment, but I finally did.

On Thursday I went in for my appointment. It was so fun to see her again, and catch up on what we missed over the past few years. Here is a before and after shot of my cut. They aren't the best pictures, but they will have to do. I hadn't got my haircut since March! It wasn't really bad, but there was no style to it at all. So I got a couple of inches cut off, and added some layers.

Birthday's and Check up's!

Two years ago on September 29th our little Sydney Ranelle made her entrance into this world. I have to say I was a little surprised when I first saw her. Caden was really blonde when he was born. At least he had blonde eyebrows and lighter features. My little girl had these dark eyebrows that took me back for a second. She was screaming at the top of her lungs, and her face was all scrunched up. Part of me thought…Wow…she isn’t really a very cute baby. I felt bad because Mom’s are supposed to say their kids are beautiful, but it took me a little while to get used to such a difference in how she looked from Caden. Yet as she has grown, it is those very dark features that make her so beautiful.
As the saying goes, “No two children are alike.” Everything from the day she was born has confirmed this to be true. Her delivery was simple (if there is such a thing!) compared to Caden’s. Her looks were different, and their personalities are night and day. It has been interesting to watch her develop, and gain some feistiness. Even though Caden can be rough with her, she absolutely adores that boy.

Her potty training is coming along. She is doing amazingly well. I still can’t believe that I won’t have to change diapers for 6 whole months before the baby comes! I don’t know what I am going to do with myself!

Our little princess is just that. She is a doll with all the sweetness you could ever handle and more. She has captured our hearts, and we love her more and more each and everyday.

We had a small dinner/birthday party for both Caden and Sydney this past Sunday. It was actually nice to not make such a big deal about it for once. Part of me felt bad because I dropped the ball this year when it came to planning. I just didn’t have the time or energy to put something together. So this was totally last minute. It is nice that they are so young, and I can still get away with being a slacker mom.

On Tuesday, I took the kids in for the yearly check ups. I am always interested to see how much they weigh, and how much they have grown. We don’t have a scale at our house so I never really know. Caden never fails to top the charts. He now weighs 45 pounds (96%) and is 44 inches tall (98.74%)! My sister, Cathy, affectionately calls him the Tank. He lives up to the name.

Sydney on the other hand is on the other end of the spectrum. She weighed in at 26 pounds (42%) and is 32.5 inches tall (17.88%)! This will be the last time that they measure her head, but for that she was in the 99%! So I have this tiny little girl with a HUGE head.

When I looked back at their progress it was kinda crazy to think that when Caden was 6 months old he was the about the height and weight that Sydney is at 2 years!!!!! Can you believe that!?! I have no idea how I handled that boy! He was huge!

Caden had to get 4 shots. It was so brutal. It brought tears to my eyes! It is hard enough when they are little and they cry, but it was soo hard to actually hear him pleading them not to hurt him. My heart broke. It was so sad!