Year End Blog Card

Okay, so I didn't get Christmas card's out this year. You can only do so much right? Anyway, I decided to just do the post on my blog and tell about the year and show some pictures of the year. It was a great year, I can't believe that it is already over!! The older you get (or the older your kids get) time truly flies by. Maybe I am that much more busy or I am that much more tired, I dunno. I did take pictures of the kids in their Sunday clothes by the tree and everything but that is about as far as it got. What cute crazy kids!! They get along great...most of the time and they love to scream and run around the house. I wish I had just an ounce of their energy (I would probably blog a lot more) and they can always make me smile.
Isabelle has done a lot of growing this year. She is definitely not a baby anymore (although she likes to pretend like shes one saying 'wah' and 'goo goo') . She is absolutely a little princess and wouldn't have it any other way. I told her it was time for her picture and she ran and posed herself sitting under the tree perfectly all by herself. She knows how to use those great big brown eyes of hers. She is a spitfire, truly strong willed little girl (My mom told me that she is as stubborn as I was - I guess I had it comin') which of course I love about her but it also wears me out. It is probably a good thing since we are having a BABY BOY next spring and she have to hold her own between two boys (I don't think that she will mind the attention)!!!
Collin of course started kindergarten this year. I look at baby pictures of him and am amazed at the boy he has become. He is so bright. He catches onto everything and doesn't miss anything. He loves to be involved in whatever we are doing. After watching Ratatoullie, he wanted to learn how to cook, oh excuse me, be a chef. He wanted to cook for himself (not just help mom with cookie dough) and he made (supervised) maccaroni and cheese and because he was very exact in his measurements, it turned out better than mine usually does (I just throw some milk and butter in). Collin is a wonder to me. He loves to love and always knows when to give hugs and when to draw me pictures to cheer me up (after hormonal pregnancy meltdowns usually).!!
A rare picture of our whole family. We need more of these! We are very lucky to live where we do. I never pictured myself living in California but it has been a better fit than we ever imagined and we hope that we live here for some time to come. Mike's job is good and we have all made great friends here. It also helps that some of my family has moved closer and that we live in a popular vacation spot and get some visitors (definitely more than in Reno).
I had the opportunity to do a show this year and play Maria in The Sound of Music at a community theatre in Irvine! I loved it! It is a role that I have always wanted to play (doesn't every body?) and it was as fabulous as I anticipated! This picture is pretty much the only proof I have as Maria has a ton of costume changes and is rarely offstage but I had to get a picture of me in the signature nun habbit. Maria doesn't make a very good nun and about 5 weeks into the run of the show I found out that I was pregnant and we are due to have a baby boy on April 21 of next year. It seem like everytime that I get into a groove with my singing and performing and have visions of granduer the Lord brings me down to earth and reminds me of my eternal duties and blessings and my true role . I am grateful though for every chance I have to do a show!! I love and it makes me whole. I am lucky that I do get to 'have it all' in moderation of course.

So there is a brief overview of my 2008 and my life. Hopefully I can keep more resoulutions next year, survive having 3 children with flare, and just be fabulous!!! Ha Ha!

Happy Halloween! (a week late)

Isabelle found a new baby to play with (she adored this horrific thing!)

We saw skeleton Goofy

We did our Pumpkins

Pink Princess

Scary Skeleton

So here was our Halloween. The kids of course were very excited for it. Collin has been talking for months about be a scary skeleton (it couldn't be a silly one). We eventually found this 'skullzoar' costume and he loved it and decided he was the Head Skeleton (he told the other skeletons what to do). He directed his make-up, weaponry, everything. I am just glad that he felt cool and that he measured up in school and that no one else had the 'Head Skeleton' costume.

Isabelle wanted to a pink princess. That was easy enough to take care of. I did have to ignore her for a day unfortunately to get it done but she was very happy with it and loves to do 'princess arms.' She loved trick-or-treating and walked down the street yelling "trick-or-treat" and "Happy Halloween" and she asked to go into everybody's house that we went to.

My first tag!

I got tagged for the first time so here goes. Tina tagged me to pick the 4th picture from the 4th folder. It is little Isabelle on her first Easter. I love her in her little pink seersucker.

Collin's first day of Kindergarten!!! My baby is all grown up and in real school. He loves it of course and feel all grown up and independent. I know this blog is a little out dated but it is still good to document. And I think I get little leeway since an am completely exhausted all the time and my brain is shrinking (it shrinks 8% when you are pregnant).
Both kids with their "backpacks." Isabelle too wants to go to school and sneaks off and runs into Collin's classroom every chance that she gets. Her purses are her backpacks. She just saw this picture and said "There's Isabelle and my backpack purple!"

Collin is 5!!!!!

Collin and his friend eating their pinata spoils at his first 'friend party.' They are a lot of work! But they are definitely a lot of fun.
Collin and Daddy on the big day. I can't believe I have a 5 year old who is starting kindergarten next week! Collin loves to golf and so we golfed (miniature style) for his birthday. He wanted to go to Island's for dinner and get their quesadillas (my tortillas and cheese just can't compare) and he got his first big Legos set (with little Legos). I can't believe that I have a child big enough for little Legos! It was a great day.
This is a picture of Collin when he was 1. Cute boy!!

Our First Real Earthquake!

Well, we experienced our first real earthquake today. It was measured at 5.6!!! This was a real southern California quake. I was on a play date at my friend Rachel's house when everything began to shake. I didn't believe it was actually happening at first. Luckily my motherly instincts overtook my shock and I quickly grabbed my kids and ran to a door way. I don't know if that is the best thing to do now that all this controversial information is out there on what to do but...anyway we lived through it just fine and no damage has occurred (only a crooked mirror on the wall). Collin had a lot of questions about the earthquake and although he was clutching my leg during it, he told Daddy later that it was kind of fun. I was pretty scared because I had never really experienced anything like it before (unless you count the studio tour at Universal Studios, which I don't) and my heart was racing for quite a while afterward. Isabelle, my fearless child, wanted to get down and go back to normal play the second the quake stopped. We are all fine and safe and I am not scared anymore but it does make you think about emergency preparedness and how important it is. I have a lot more work to do in that area.

Trip to Utah

Me and the kids took a quick trip to Utah in the end of June. I drove all by myself and although I made it, I am not looking to do it again any time soon. It was fun to see everyone and the kids had a great time with all the cousins! Collin of course uses their names when he talks about them, but Isabelle just calls them 'cousins' and she is always calling them on her phone and saying 'hi cousins.' All 17 grandchildren were together which was wonderful especially because the scattering of the tribes of Collins has really begun. Luckily some of the scattering happened to a closer location to me.


Emmy got married!!! I had a great day and it made the long drive worth it!! She was a beautiful, beautiful bride and the whole day just said "Emmy" in the best possible way. I love that girl and I hope that it's not another 8 years before I see her again. Cam and his family are moving into her ward so there will be more connection and hopefully more contact!
The last night of the trip the kids were soooooo tired. They actually fell asleep in the same bed and I couldn't resist snapping a picture. I guess after 4 days of all party and no naps they could finally lay in the same bed and sleep instead of play. It was a great (but short) trip and the kids still talk about how much fun it was (Isabelle always says Utah with a smile)!

Isabelle is now 2!!!

Isabelle at 2.
Isabelle at 1.
Isabelle at 5 weeks.
Okay so I totally stole this idea from Lark. She did it for Afton and I loved it. Isabelle just had her 2nd birthday. I can't believe she is already a two year old and yet so much has happened to our family in her lifetime. She is a joy everyday, we all love her terribly and can't imagine our life without our little Isabelle.

My Favorite Things

Last week Daddy took the day off to go to Disneyland. Collin was so excited to go on the big rides like Space Mountain (which he will not go on for another few years I think). When Daddy comes we buy stuff (Mommy is cheap) and Collin got to make his own light-saber that is even bigger than me. He knew that he had hit the big time and was feeling pretty cool!
A day at the beach with the kiddies!! One of my favorite things (how could it be otherwise?).
Isabelle does not do anything without Kitty. She and Kitty are inseparable. Sometimes she even has to come to church (to avoid disruptive tantrums and we are working on that). She loves her Kitty and loves to show everyone else her Kitty and puts her right in their face and says "Meow, meow, meow..." I sure hope strangers like Kitty because they get to develop a close relationship with her.

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day and the whole house is sick!! It is sad to be sick on the best Sunday of the year and to miss out on all the gifts and singing in church but we are spending the day all together just hanging out. I thought that I would talk a little about my kids (being Mother's Day and all). Right now they are at very fun stages. Collin is playing some recreational soccer through the city and is having a lot of fun. He was very excited about going his first day and insisted on wearing his 'uniform' that his cousin Kyle sent from Brazil and he is now almost big enough to fit in it. The kids all picked their coaches by the color team they were and surprise, surprise, Collin is on the blue team (no other would do). They are just learning the basics right now and Collin is anxious to be playing real soccer (games without his coaches right there) because he already knows how to play soccer he says. Right now he says 'I know' about everything. Isabelle is a very determined little girl. She knows what she wants and won't take 'no' for an answer. She is completely shocked when someone opposes her wishes. We have some work to do there or she will be running the house soon. Already she runs around the house saying "Mama, (where) are you?" and when she finds me she simply says "Come on!" and takes of running, expecting me to follow her and do her bidding. Right now she is obsessed with 'Monsters Inc.' Maybe because she looks like Boo. It is the only thing that she wants to watch. She wakes up and says "Show...Monsters?" It is and extremely well made film and I commend the people at Pixar, but how much can one person really take? I love my children and everything that they are. I have a lot to be grateful for on this day of being a Mom!

Sprinkler Time!!

When we moved to So Cal I was afraid that I would terribly miss the seasons, and I do, but I do understand why the cost of living here is high. It is for the many afternoons of sprinkler time. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy the weather here and how much I would utilize it. It is nice to be outside an early April afternoon and be able to turn the sprinklers on for some easy and fun entertainment (for everybody). The kids were having so much fun together that I had to get my camera. It is candid pictures like this that remind me how blessed I am. Not to say that sprinkler time doesn't occur everywhere but I was glad that I was able to have this one.

Easter 2008

Okay so Easter was a while ago but I still had to put a picture of the kids up. I decided to make the kids Easter Sunday clothes this year. I have very fond memories of my mom always making me an Easter dress. I remember picking out the fabric and the pattern with her. She is an excellent seamstress so my dresses always looked like they came from a boutique. I have always been determined to do that for my kids, but, having a boy I wasn't about to make him a dress. Now I have my Isabelle but I felt bad leaving Collin out (no one can ever be left out or I am excessively anxious) so I decided to knit him a sweater vest! As light blue (not dark blue) is his favorite color there was only one option for its design. I underestimated (of course) the time that my project would take and doubted myself (as this is the first garment I have ever knitted). With a few stitches of love and character (mistakes) I completed it the Friday before Easter. I was extremely proud of myself of course but I could not bask in my glory for long as my daughter was now in danger of being left out of the Easter memory in the making. Needless to say that was not going to happen on my watch and I finished the dress late Saturday evening. I had to have the kids match and I made Isabelle one of the 'girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes' (reference to The Sound of Music). I was very happy that I had finally finished a project on time and created fond memories, for myself at least!

Why am I posting?

Okay, so I don't know why I am posting. I haven't invited anyone to my blog at this point and I only have had 2 posts in 6 months! I really admire all of my friend's blogs. I love that they have such a great record of their family's life. I say to myself, I have a great family too and should document it more than I do. I am not very computer savvy but that is just an excuse. I really love living here in Huntington Beach. It just feels right for my family. Collin loves that he has a personal relationship with Disneyland and I love that I can take my kids there for a few hours and at least feel like a good mom even though I am so exhausted the rest of the day and they watch movies, at least I took then to "the big D" right? Isabelle has finally learned the word 'yes' which a great change from 'no, no, no.' The variety is quite pleasant and she is generally a very happy girl, it is nice that her words match her personality now.