3G and ME!!!!

My hubby has wanted an iphone since they first came out and I had never really cared much either way. When the 3G came out Michael couldn't seem to stop talking about them. Finally we both have an iphone and I am a convert! I have had this baby for a week now and it has been shear HEAVEN!!!! I can truly say I had no idea what I was missing out on. It sucha "fun" phone they should have called in "funphone" stead of iphone. I never knew I could "text" so fast. I love it so much I can't put it down! To quote a line from one of my favorite movies (Ferris Bueller's day off) ...." If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up, it is so choice"!

Back to school!!

Today was the first day of school! NOW ..don't even get me started on what a chore it is to get the "back in the school" routine under way. Honestly it is just as painful for me as it is the kids. I have enjoyed this summer and....." that's right you heard me"...I don't wanna get up early either..."yuck"! The very loud alarm rudely awoke me this morning at 6am. I had to drag myself from my cozy bed and make lunches, breakfast, fed the fish, fed the kids, etc. Next I dressed the kids in their super cute new school clothes. Then piled those smartly dresses kiddos in the car for school. In tow with them were all the new backpacks, lunchboxes, pencils, etc that would be needed for the day! I guess it was worth all my juggling and organizational effort... cuz Maddie and Lauren looked good enough to eat!

Santa Barbara Zoo

My friend Jayna is new to California and I love showing her around the state I call home. Being members of the Santa Barbara Zoo made it a perfect excuse for us to go there with her. It was a bit hot a humid out but the kids didn't seem to mind at all. Lauren and Maddie had so much fun taking Jayna's daughters all around the park. The kids fed the Giraffes and rode the mini train. We even stopped to ride the antique mini carousel. After a yummy picnic lunch we headed back to the Zoo playground. The kids played forever on the anthill slide. The kids were so pooped out from all the fun they slept all the way home!

Day at the farm!

A few weeks ago we spent that day at the UnderWood Family Farms. Jayna and Jule joined us with their kids which made it so much better!! . Both my friends brought tons or carrots for the kids to feed the animals. Maddie and Lauren were in a feeding frenzy trying to disperse the carrots to all the animals. We had a few first-timers on the pony rides with Jayna & Jule's little ones. They told me Maddie was now too big to ride...how sad! Then we took the kids over to check out the rides. I loved how all the kids had there "buddies" for the day and played so well together!

Best Summer EVER!!!

We did so many things this summer and it's really been the best one ever! I have been so far behind on blogging all the fun things we've done. Then I had tons of pics with Maddie and Lauren's little friends in them..... which is a great thing! But first I needed to ask their Mommies if it was okay to put the pictures in my blog. Well they said "yes"!! So now I can share more of the fun we have been having. Honestly, I have been having a great time too. I have been hanging out with old friends and new ones. I started a moms club at cafe mom and have loved all the fun kids and moms we have met. My new friends Nicole and Jayna live so close and we hang out all the time. It's great to take the kids to the park and actually have fun myself. Heck I never want to leave cuz I'm chatting with a cool crew of mommies! I have also started a monthly scrap night with all my friends and its great to use some of the scrap stuff I have stored up! I could not have asked for a better summer and I am so sad for school to start. Here are some pics from our big Lemon Park playdate. You can see a few of the kidz from the summer playgroup regulars taking a rest and having snack! I will be posting more pics soon!!!

Pavilion of Wings!!!

We visited the Los Angeles Natural History Museum this weekend to see the Pavilion of Wings. It's a live butterfly exhibit that is running this summer. Last year we went to a similar one in Santa Barbara, which was done much better than this one. Either way the kids had a great time. Lauren wanted so badly for a butterfly to land on her I thought she'd die.....and sadly it never happended. However they seem to love Maddie and come right to her. I must admit the dinosaurs at the LA Natural History Museum were very impressive. I have never seen a real dinosaur skeleton and it was a treat to see two enormous ones ( a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops ) on display in the entrance. They had tons of the typical "stuffed animals" on display in the giant dioramas. Miss Madison loved all the dioramas and searched out the animals inside. She made us look at every singles one as she couldn't pass any of them up. Maddie had such a great time that when we arrived home she a built her own "mini museum" for the dollhouse people to visit. We will have to make a trip here again!

Off to the Circus!!

We did our first family trip to Ringling Bros & Barnum & Bailey's Circus. It was everything the kids had imagined and wanted. Clowns were everywhere causing mischief. While elephants and tigers did amazing tricks. The kids quickly discovered that everything is bigger under the big top.....that includes the food!!! Yes, my kids dined on the endless supply of junk food. OMG the box of popcorn alone was almost as big as Lauren! As you can see from the picture above...lol. The cotton candy was also enormous and Maddie ate it so fast I thought she might get sick. As you can see from the pic of her enjoying her cotton candy feast. The show was full of energy and never dull. My kids sat mesmerized thought out the entire show and never made a sound. We will make sure to go again next year!

Our little Olympics!

Lauren and Maddie had their gymnastics expo this past weekend at Fun & fit Imagymnation. The expo is an event where the kids show off their skills on the balance beam and double bars. Madison is a very talented gymnast and it comes naturally to her. While Lauren is one who really has to work hard to achieve her goals. I must admit I was very impressed by both my girls. The fact that Lauren was able to reach her goals shows she has really worked hard. Madison has terrible stage fright and didn't want to perform for the large group of over 60 parents. However, with tearful eyes she went out into the arena and did her routine perfectly. Their coach , Ben, is an amazing guy! We are so lucky to have him!! His positive energy and constant motivation draws the kids into the challenges. They don't give up because he is right beside them cheering them on and telling them they CAN do it. That is Ben's motto we never say "I can't do it" and we always say "I can try"!

Confessions of a SAHM

Yep this is it...this is the life of a SAHM. What is a SAHM, you ask? Well it is a job that requires you to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are no days off, no vacation time, no bathroom breaks, no lunch breaks, and yes ....no pay! I am a Stay At Home Mom!

It is a thankless job really, as no one comes along as says "Gee you are doing one heck of a job raising those kids". It's a job that has its perks and downfalls you could say.

There are however what I call....." the moments"! I get to see the moments my children grow just a little bit older. The moment they learn something new, The moment they chose to do the right thing over the wrong, the moment when they have done a great job! Yes, I'm right there beside them in those moments. I'm there to hold them in my arms and tell them "I'm so proud of you" and "I love you very much"! How lucky am I to share in the those moments. How lucky are my children to have a mommy that loves them so much to want to be there. How lucky are my girls and I to have a husband & father who takes such good care of us that we have a SAHM!