Back to Work

Tomorrow I am headed back to work. I am very excited about this and a bit nervous. I have spent the past 15 months at home with my kids, and although it was tough at times I am really going to miss it. Some thoughts:

• I am kind of used to being home with Edward for 3 full days each week, this makes me feel a bit spoiled
• Going back to work is going to be a financial savior in paying off our bills and making some progress towards larger goals
• The kids get to spend 3 days a week at home with their dad!!! What fun!
• We are only going to have one full family day since Edward works on Sundays
• We will continue to each lunch with Edward on Sundays
• The kids are going to get some awesome quality time with their Grandpa 2 days a week, and that is really special for them
• I don't think taking a mid day nap will work to well at school, but if I can work it in I will let you know for sure!
• I need to work! I have learned that I love my kids, but I also love my work.
• I am so lucky to work for a school that took me back after a year off so willingly and with open arms!
• The kids also get to spend some time with their Aunt Brittany each Tuesday!
• I am going to miss my kids, but for our family this will work out beautifully.

I think I am ready to head back, wish me luck!

It was Wicked!

Tuesday night Leia and I went to see the musical Wicked! It was so amazing, especially our seats. We were literally the front row. That's right, the orchestra was directly in front of us. So incredibly awesome! I had never seen the show so I was super excited. Leia had already seen it twice and I think she was even more excited. Now I know why! Simply amazing!

Outisde before the show

Intermission

At Gammage (at ASU where the show took place) you can go 2 1/2 hours prior and enter your name into a drawing for tickets to that night's show. The tickets are only $25 a piece (usually seel for $100 or more)! Leia and her family have been going since Wicked started playing. LAst week Leia's name was called and Jen and Don took the tickets. This week Don's name was called and he gave us his tickets. Thanks Don!!

Fun at the Beach!

Last weekend we headed to CA so I could go to a baby shower for my friend Shannon, and while we were there we decided to take the kids to the beach. Gabriel has been once before in Hawaii, but Kiera had never been. We had so much fun with just the four of us hanging out as a family.

Look at that (dirty) face! So cute!!

We also spent some time with the family. Edward and Gabriel headed back a day before us so her are some pictures with Kiera.

Enjoying a popsicle with her Great-Grandpa

Silly picture

Kiera and Grandma

Kiera and Auntie Linda

109th post

Bummer!! For a while I have been waiting for my 100th post. Supposedly there is some 100th blogger post tradition about making a list of 100 things for your readers to learn more about you for your 100th post. Well, that happend a while back and I missed it!! I am really bummed, so here is my 109th post with 109 interesting (or not) tidbits of info about me:

1. I love to laugh
2. until I cry
3. I think my husband is the hottest man on Earth
4. I have two crazy kids
5. Our dog Parris is 7 years old
6. I hate doing laundry, so Edward usually does it
7. I usually do the dishes, because he hates it
8. I was never a confident person until college
9. then I became a little over confident
10. I have been to Hawaii (2) and Alaska (both with Edward)
11. I am not a fan of cheese
12. I love to read
13. I enjoy working out
14. especially running and kickboxing
15. but I somtimes let being tired be an excuse
16. I miss teaching
17. even though I never thought I would
18. I can't sing
19. but I do it often, especially in the car with Edward
20. then he changes the station (hmmm...)
21. not a big fan of water (pool kind)
22. unless it is really hot out and I'm in the mood for it
23. I have started baking more recently
24. and I love it
25. I am not very creative
26. but I wish I was so I could scrapbook cool stuff
27. my kids' baby books are not caught up
28. and probably never will be
29. I mostly vacation in CA
30. but still love it every time
31. have the best girlfriends in the world
32. and can't usually go a few days without talking to them
33. it makes me so happy to see Edward so happy
34. and the kids, too
35. think my wedding day was the most amazing day
36. but the birth of my kids was simply a miracle
37. I am the middle child of 5 kids
38. my siblings think I am the spoiled one,
39. but I don't see it
40. graduated from college in 4 years
41. with a degree in Elementary Education
42. have only worked for charter schools
43. working towards a Masters
44. in Curriculum and Instruction
45. I broke my right ring finger in two places
46. playing football with the guys
47. in San Diego on the beach
48. where we went after graduating HS
49. I bought my first car, a stick shift,
50. while wearing that cast on my right hand
51. have lived in AZ my whole life
52. with no plans to move
53. until maybe retirement, Edward and I decided
54. ran my first half marathon this year
55. and really loved it
56. love Diet Coke,
57. but Diet Dr. Pepper is a close second
58. love desserts,
59. especially cookies
60. My Dad is really my step-dad
61. but I can't imagine him not being my Dad
62. we have the same eyes (weird) and
63. I am good at math just like him :)
64. I love Gabriel's race car room
65. don't really love Kiera's room
66. but am always looking for what we will do next
67. love to plan things
68. but sometimes wish to be more spontaneous
69. would rather shower than take a bath
70. but also love a bubble bath once in a while
71. hurt my back in junior high
72. and still have pain from the cracked vertebrae
73. and the 3 herniated discs in my lower back
74. love my home
75. but I have already found my dream house
76. just waiting for the owners to sell
77. enjoy taking naps on Sat afternoons with my hubby
78. love shopping
79. love pedicures, even though I have ugly feet
80. love being pregnant!
81. can't wait to do it again, but not anytime soon
82. wish I had the dedication to have a rock hard body
83. but Edward loves me the way I am
84. so does it really matter?
85. am so thankful for my family
86. no matter how crazy, funny, weird or silly
87. I wouldn't change them for anything
88. they, too, love me for who I am
89. love Krispy Kreme donuts
90. love Target
91. love Costo, but not as much as my father in law
92. can't wait for another vacation like Rocky Point
93. it was an amazing trip with amazing friends
94. almost miscarried Gabriel when I was 8 weeks pregnant
95. Edward and I were heartbroken when they told us
96. Somehow he "stuck" around
97. We are so thankful
98. Wish Kiera could meet her great-grandmother Eva
99. had a cat named Whiskey for 18 years
100. I cried when we had to put him down
101. love trying new recipes with Leia from the food network
102. even though it takes forever to cook them
103. wish I was more organized, but I'm not
104. hated my hair for most of my life
105. was made fun of because of my hair, skin, ect
106. for a long time....still do sometimes
107. don't know why I still let it bother me
108. I am a better person for it
109. I have learned to love me for who I am or who I can be if I choose to, and I love it!

Well, there it is. My 109th post. Maybe a bit boring for some, but I wanted to do it. I challenge the rest of you bloggers to do the same, but maybe for your 100th post! Have fun with it, I know I did!

Enjoying the Fourth Together

We were so lucky to have Edward be off on Saturday with us for the Fourth of July! The city of Tempe does a huge show (that is where we went to see the fireworks) so we thought he would be forced to work overtime, but he wasn't! Yea!

So, we went to Rachel and Anthony's for food, water play, and family! It was a lot of fun and lots of yummy food. Then we went to Tempe to meet up with Bill, Terri, and their girls, Emily and McKenna. It was hot, but we had a good time and the show was really cool.

Fourth of July 2009

Here is some video from the day. Having a little fun with the "cannonball". I qoute it because these crazy people don't really have good form. Okay a couple do, but you can decide for yourself. There should be a vote for the best. If you can see who each person is and you think there is a clear best, then I want to hear it. Please post in the comments!

Water Play

On Friday we went back to the Aquatic Center for some water, family, and fun. Luckily we got their early enough to get in. When we left there were a ton of people in line and the place was at capacity! We had so much fun with the kids and adults, and it didn't even seem overcrowded. Such a great day!

WARNING: Lots of pictures!

Auntie Katie enjoying the lazy river

Gabriel on the slide Auntie Leia finally convinced him to go down

"swimming" to Daddy

.....then underwater she goes

Yea! high five

Auntie and Kiera on the slide

Mommy and Kiera

Hanging out

Auntie and Kiera

Don showing off some moves

Anthony's dive

Don doing a cannonball

Jenn and Tommy

Golfing with the Guys

I didn't actually golf, but a couple of weeks ago I went golfing with my hubby! We were watching a golf tournament when I mentioned that I had never seen him golf (aside from the driving range). He immediately got on the phone to try and set up a game with his buddies. Well, some were busy, but Ernesto was coming into town for Father's Day and he was interested. It turned into a game with Edward, Ernesto, Erntesto's dad and his brother. I actually had a lot of fun! Yes, I was shocked, too.

Edward waiting to putt

Not sure if he will like this picture. I don't really know this is a good swing or not.

I think this is called "chipping" or something like that
Waiting for Ernesto to putt.

The lesson of the day is: Actually golfing doesn't take that long. This is what takes so long

1. Waiting for your turn

2. deciding whose turn it is since the balls are so randomly placed throughout the course it is hard to tell sometimes

3. looking for your ball and

4. deciding if you are going to take a drop or go for the shot that will more than likely turn into two more shots and you will decide that you should have just taken the drop