artist

I came down stairs to find that Gwen had taken out my little easel and picture of Jesus from my primary lesson today, and she was sketching Jesus just like a little art student. It was too cute!

handy hubby

Yesterday we pulled out the gross carpet that was in our dining room, and laid laminate flooring. This was our first time, and I'm pretty proud of the job we did! It took us all day! It didn't help to get 4/5 (that's an exact measurement people) done and realize we had the space to lay the cover between floors wrong, and pull it all out and recut the ends! It was a good learning experience, and it's so nice having a floor that's easy to clean spills up from!

New Moon sneak peek

This is hilarious. Listen to the commentary and the screaming at Jacob!

AZ monsoons

I love nights like last night!

We could hear the thunder and see flashes of lightning all night.

I heart monsoon season!

images courtesy of AZ Central

twin cousins

If you didn't know, Drake was born on the same day as his cousin Jack. Not planned. Totally different due dates, but wound up being born 6 hours apart in the same hospital, by the same (wonderful) midwife. They just love each other, and luckily we have ichat to keep them connected since Jack moved to California a year and a half ago. So this year, Tara loaded up the kids and drove down to AZ-despite the 115º weather- so the boys could celebrate their 3rd birthday together.  

The first day, we went swimming.  

Jack wasn't having the pool, so he spent his time on the deck watching the landscapers.  

And Drake kicked it in the pool.

Well, they played and fought all week.

It was wonderful.  

Then the weekend started with the boys birthday.

We took them to Big Surf to cool off and play.

This time Jack enjoyed the water a lot more.  Maybe he was just so desperate to cool off.

This girl should be a swim suit model!

How cute are Eli and Katie?  (the answer is super)

What about this man-child: Kit? 

I did get a family picture with out Aubrey walking in front of the camera, but she conveniently covered Kristin in a swim suit, so this is the posted one!  ;)
Then after lots of really good ideas, and the procrastination to eliminate them all, we settled on a Cars themed birthday party.  They both love Lightning McQueen.

How cute are they?  We just did a family party at Gigi's, but it was great.

Then the weekend ended and it was time to say good bye.

We'll miss you guys!

morracanoil

While at the salon, I picked up a new product, and I'm in L.O.V.E!  

 It smells amazing, and leaves my hair so silky!

 Peace out Bumble and Bumble!

new hair

Tara's been in town for the last week. And together we had hair appointments at a fancy Scottsdale salon.  This is a big deal for me, because with the exception of about two hair cuts, I've cut my own hair for the last 10 years!  So for the last couple weeks, I've been thinking of what I was going to do with my hair, and for about the last YEAR, I've been wanting bangs, but I had convinced myself that my hair was too thin to do bangs.  So we go to our appointments, I mention my bangs curiosity, but he wants to do just long swooping bang type things and I agree!  So I got home, was disappointed in myself for chickening out, and took out my scissors and cut my own bangs after finally getting my hair cut by someone else.  But I like them!  And Ryan SAYS he likes them too.

Okay, so the picture is only okay since my hair's in a pony tail.  Let me try again.
Gwen's been so funny about my hair too. The first thing she said was "Oh, your hair is so pretty! You look like Hannah Montana!". Great. Then the next morning she says, "mom, you sound the same, but you look different". Silly girl.

Also, tomorrow my baby turns three!  I've been kissing my two year old baby good bye all day today, getting ready to never have my two year old Drakey again.

Wendy's Sweet & Spicy Asian Boneless Wings

When I saw the commercial for these, I was so excited! They look like Pei Wei's spicy chicken, at half the price! I was salivating and I couldn't stop thinking about them. So today Tawnya and I met at Wendy's to try them. Huge disappointment! I mean the sauce is pretty good, but do you know what they are?! They're the regular chicken nuggets that they shake up in the sweet and spicy sauce- that's it! I think there's 10 in an order for $3.99 (non combo price). Well you could get two 5 piece chicken nugget sides for $.99 each, then just ask for a side of the sauce!

it's hot here

This is what happens when you buy a huge thing of gummy vitamins from Costco, and they get left in your car for one day.

Up and Down

I've been delaying this post since I can't find my camera and I wanted to add photos, but oh well.

So my birthday was fantastic!  I was more like a weekend celebration.  Since my birthday was on a Sunday, and the day before is Independence Day, we went out to dinner as a family on Friday.  That's also when I received my gifts.  I can put a check next to just about everything on my list! (obviously except for the extravagant like the Dooney and Burke purse and kitty!)  Ryan spoiled me-he even put together a group gift to get me my ROAD BIKE!!!!  Yippeee!  I was so excited to start riding everyday... until yesterday.  

Then on the fourth, we went to see WICKED!!

It was amazing!  I loved it!

   Then Sunday we had the family over for dinner and coconut cake and ice cream.  yum yum

Okay so yesterday:  I went to a sports medicine Dr. about my stress fracture.  He said no physical activity for probably a couple months.  I told him I was still hoping to participate in the marathon in October.  He said highly unlikely.  I told him I was planning on swimming, cycling and weight training to maintain my muscles until I can run again.  He said NO cycling, NO weight training, and NO more walking than absolutely necessary!  I guess I should be happy I can still swim.  But I was so devastated I left his office in tears.  So much for riding my new bike everyday.  :(

5 years old!!

 

My little Gwenny turned 5 yesterday.  Seriously, where does time go?  My friend Holly commented on facebook yesterday  "it seems like just yesterday you were nursing her on the floor...in Texas...in an apartment without furniture".  Yep, Gwen was born during one of those summer sales summers.  We were in Texas and I came home to Arizona to have Gwen delivered by my amazing friend and midwife.  But as soon as she was two weeks old we headed back out to be with Ryan.  Only then the managers decided to move office location.  We were then in Oklahoma (after being in Texas).  And we would only be there for a couple of weeks before we were moved again to Kansas.  And that was were we didn't have furniture for maybe a week?  It was HARD!  But there were some guys in the office who heard that I had a newborn, and no bed or even chair and they were nice enough to donate theirs until our furniture came.  Thanks guys, I don't even remember who it was.  So Gwen, you had an interesting first two months.  It didn't get much better either.  In Kansas we didn't have a crib for you, so you slept on an armchair surrounded by blankets.  But I'll never forget that horrible feeling when I was awakened in the middle of the night to the thud of my newborn falling off the chair to the floor.  Sorry.  But you turned out perfect anyway!  ;)  

Gwen, you have been our sunshine for five years now.  It's incredible how much my life has changed since you've been around.  It is so much harder yet infinitely better at the same time.  Thanks for being my spunky, sassy, funny, gorgeous little girl.  I love you my big five year old!