Stone Temple Pilots!!!!

I wish I had some pictures... the concert was AMAZING! Kelly and I felt like teenagers all over again. Scott looked HOT and they played all their hits. My feet are aching because we danced and sang to every song! Part of me wasn't looking forward to it, but only becasue I dread being so tired the next day. Well, I'm very tired, but it was so worth it! Anthony and Don had a great time, too! We took the "park and ride" from the Lakewood Mall - definitely the way to go - and now I can't wait until our next concert... Dave Mathews Band in August!!!!!!

Fabulous Weekend!

Bunco night in Newport Beach. Check out that view!
Gorgeous sunset!

Anthony and Abby at the beach.
Ruby slowed down a second to let her daddy get a smooch.

These smiles are what life is all about!

In our household slowing down is not an option! We had a terrific weekend. Friday was Bunco night and this time it was on the beach in Newport. The view was amazing and it was nice to just sit around with the girls and chit chat about life. Anthony flew solo with the girls and I think he was proud of himself, as he should be. He RARELY watched them by himself, but he did an awesome job! Saturday morning was Anthony's surf contest in Huntington. I brought the girls down to the beach at about 8:30 and they LOVED it! I just wish it wasn't SOOO MUCH WORK! I was exhausted. Ruby loved looking for seashells, running from the waves, building sand castles, etc. Abby loves eating the sand, throwing the sand, destroying sand castles, and splashing in buckets of water. I think we will be spending a lot of time at the beach this summer. Abby fell asleep as soon as I got her in the car and we headed over to Kim's house for some more fun. They played in the pools : splashing, jumping, running... I don't get how they have so much energy! Anthony called me after the contest and asked if I wanted to go to a movie and dinner... he already arranged for a sitter... are you kidding? Of coarse we went. We haven't done that in over a year, maybe 1 1/2. We saw Get Smart: some really funny parts, but over all, pretty cheesy! We went to Outback and had dinner and drinks, then made it home by 11:00! Sunday Kim and the kids headed our way. I think they were done with the heat and pools because after 20 minutes outside, they were all asking to go inside. We had a picnic lunch in the living room and then time for naps. They came back over after naps and we ended the evening early. Work has been CRAZY and we have a concert tonight - Stone Temple Pilots!! And this weekend is the cruise! Kim and I have a pact: NO alcohol induced arguments with our men:) We can't wait!

Updates

Just some general updates of how things are going. Since we have moved Ruby to a "big girl" bed, she has not skipped a beat. She goes to bed every night, never gets up, and when she wakes up in the morning, she just calls for me. Naps have been nearly perfect, too. For all you parents who have bedtime woes, I am aware that she can change on me at any given moment. Potty training, I think, is over (except sleeping). I can't remember the last time she was in a diaper or that she had an accident. Again, I know that this can change, as well. For now, I am very proud of her! She is so excited to start school. Every day she asks me if she can get a pink back pack and go to school with Trevor. My heart aches at the thought, so be prepared to hear some VERY sappy posts come September. I am already having a hard time because I feel like something happened when she turned three. It was the first time I looked at her and thought she looked like a little kid, instead of closer to a baby. It hurts in the strangest way. She is the most sensitive and compassionate kid I know, and sometimes I feel really bad because I don't keep that in mind when I need to discipline her. Last weekend when Abby was giving me a really hard time - sick - we were leaving the park and I just strapped Abby into the car seat - she LOVES her car seat, so she finally stopped crying. Ruby looked at me with those big blue eyes and said "Mommy, how are you feeling?". I just looked at her strange, and then she said "You feel better now? Abby stopped crying." She really picks up a lot on peoples feelings, especially mine, so I have to remember on those stressful days.

Speaking of Abby, she is back to normal... for now. She is done with her antibiotics and full of get-up-and-go! She does have a strange rash around her neck, but I think it just may be the heat. She is so jolly, cheerful, adventurous, silly, and loving. She fills my heart with so much love. It hit home to me when Azure said how it feels to know that when your baby looks at you, you know she loves you... that's an amazing feeling. She lights up every time I get home from work and it always cures a stressful day. She isn't really talking, yet, which is so strange to me. Ruby was probably reciting the pledge of allegiance at 15 months (I kid), but Abby is perfectly happy with her babble, and I am, too. The only thing she says consistently is momma, hi, daddy, and uh-oh, yes, and what's that. We have heard her say Nana, bye-bye, ball, and a few others. One of the funniest things she does: You can ask her anything - do you love me? do you love your sissy? do you love daddy? is your momma skinny? - and she will always answer YES!

The differences between them: Last night I took them to the concert in the park. We had so much fun! A true difference between my girls. Abby figures she doesn't want to climb up the steps anymore to go down the slide. She wants to climb up the slide to go down it. Yes, she just turned 15 months. All of the 2-3 year olds kept getting sick of waiting for her and just started going down the slide and taking her out. I overheard a nearby parent yell at her son -"be careful, she is just a baby" I walked over and let her know that it is perfectly ok, she needs to learn the park rules, plus... have you noticed she laughs every time she is taken down? I find Ruby under the fire truck with a strange look on her face. I ask her if she has to go potty, she says no and cowers away. I get mad because I think she does. I pull her out - no accident. I walk away and notice she is hiding again. I go back over and tell her that if she has an accident, we are leaving ASAP! She seems unusually upset. Finally I get her out - I couldn't see that some older boys were running in and out and yelling and rough housing - she was scared to death, poor girl. We left to go watch the band play. Ruby frolicked with all the little girls dancing. It was so sweet to watch. Abby just kept trying to figure out how to get under the stage, on the stage, unplug any wire, etc. Every now and then she would stop and start dancing and crack everyone up! I AM BLESSED!!!!

Tonight: Bunco - I hope I don't win, I think they will scratch my eyes out!
Tomorrow: Anthony has a surf contest, so I am braving that adventure!
Sunday: I'll let you know!

Ruby's Birthday!

Ruby on her actual birthday... so happy!
Ruby hugging her friend Sophia with Trevor in the background.
Cousin Jade having a blast.
How sweet, Kade and Kyla about to slide down together.

This isn't the best picture, but, Trevor has the BEST expressions ever!

Another birthday party in the books and it still seems like we are recovering. It was a beautiful day and we had so many friends and family over to celebrate. The parties are soooo much work, but I did take a moment to sit back and reflect about what is really important in life. It wasn't the stress of getting ready for the party, or the $40 spent on balloons, or the $175 we spent on the jumper... it was being able to look around and see all our friends and family relaxing, smiling, laughing(ok, minus Kim - see her blog, bless her soul, she had a rough time and we ALL can relate - the kids are all better and gearing up for the next party:)). We were surrounded by love and friendship. We were surrounded by people who cared. I am so grateful to everyone who has made my life better just becasue you care about my family and I. Ruby had a BLAST and luckily the jumper was picked up at 8:00 because I didn't want to pry her out of there. She saw it deflate and there was closure:). I think the second best part was the look on Ruby's face when we sang Happy Birthday. It was so cute. Her eyes lit up and she just looked at everyone their and smiled. Thank you to everyone who helped... especially my Mom and Dad, Grammy, and Kelly - you take a lot of the stress out of the day and I appreciate it!!!
p.s. When I weighed myself Saturday morning, I had lost 5 pounds from my "sick of being fat" post. Having said that, I am SURE I gained it back over the weekend on my chips and dip, pasta salad, mimosa, no exercise weekend - so I am not going near the scale for a few more days...

Happy Birthday Ruby-Do!

June 11, 2005... Ruby was born.
I wanted to hold her sooooo BAD!
Ruby at 6 months old.
The gang at Christmas... Ruby was 1 1/2 and I was 7 months pregnant with Abby.

Ruby at 2 Years old.

My Darling Ruby, I can't believe you are three. You have brought so much joy and happiness into my life. After 23 hours of labor, they had to take you out of my tummy. You were born at 3:25pm and my life was and is forever changed. When I woke up after the c-section, my heart was aching so bad to see you, to feel you, to smell you. As I write this, my heart aches the same and always will when you are not by me. I have always wanted you. I have always dreamed about you. When I finally had you, my heart was consumed with love. You are becoming such a wonderful child. You are kind and caring, helpful and generous, compassionate and sweet, lovable and likable... you are my girl! I am so proud of you and I hope I can be the best mommy for you. I hope I can give you a childhood filled with wonder and imagination, fun and safety, and love and support.

Ruby likes: water, the beach, her sissy, cheese, MILK, parks, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Pinocchio, helping me cook - bake - garden, being outside, painting, her friends, her family, going anywhere, planes, birthday parties, bouncers, the moon...

Ruby dislikes: getting her hair combed, LOUD NOISES - vacuum - trash truck - screaming, crying babies - she gets upset if we are at Target and she here's a baby crying - she wants to go see if they are ok, most food, when I am upset with her, when I go to work.

Funny Ruby story: This was a couple of months ago... we were in line at Costco and it was very crowded. We were just a couple feet from the line next to us. Ruby says: "Oh momma, is that a cute chocolate baby?". I look and it is a darling little black baby. I panicked... Oh s@@t, please be quiet Ruby. The mom did not look like she would think that was funny. I have NEVER said anything like that before. Then Ruby says "Is he my friend?". "Does he want to play with me?". It was too funny. Then, on a different note, a couple of day ago I was doing the dishes and Ruby said "Excuse me!". I asked her if she tooted, and she replied: "Nope, this one came out of my mouth!".

Last weekend

All the pools and toys don't match the changing table that was taken out of the shed. We had to put it on it's side becasue they kept climbing on it.
Blurry, I know. Abby and Taylor hanging out on the table. Imagine that!
The birthday kids, Aubrey and Brady at their party on Saturday.
Bean LOVES the bouncer.
Ruby thought it would be fun to put stickers all over her and Daddy.

I will write about my birthday girl later when I am at a better place... mentally speaking. I had a terrible morning - kid stuff - seriously, how can I wake up at 5:30 and still not get to work on time. Abby is pretty sick - shocking! I took her to the doctor on Monday and she had a 104.5 fever. She has her usual m.o. - ear infection, soar throat, cough, fever, snot, need my momma really bad sickness. The weekend, however, was a blast. Parks, pools, friends, birthday parties, etc. Happy Birthday Aubrey and Brady! We all love you! Ruby, my girl, I will write about you when my mind is in a more peaceful place.

Where's Abby?

Oh, there she is on the kids table.
Just thought she would stand on the end table to get a better view.
Really?
Oh, the window sill is a perfect chair.
Jumping on the ottoman.

I am very strict about climbing on tables and chairs, or at least I was with Ruby. Ruby was, for the most part, a good listener. Abby hears just fine, but if I was commenting on her report card, I would say she doesn't follow directions well. I just blink and my little monkey is climbing on something. She's getting sneakier, too. Now she usually waits until I leave the room and finds something to get on top of. Yesterday she was in her room standing on the small activity table. This morning I was in the bathroom when I heard Ruby yelling "Mom, Abby's on the table again". I think this is a sign of things to come: Abby doing something naughty and Ruby tattling on her. I'm not sure which one is going to bother me more:).

Thanks Dad!

Last Thursday the girls and I were sitting on my parents porch and the cat ran in the house. My Dad jumped up and said "Dammit!". (that has always been my Dad's cuss word). Well, on Friday Ruby was trying to close a book and a bent page kept it from closing all the way, then I hear her say"the book wont close, Dammit!". Thanks Dad:)