Pierced Ears!!

Tyler & I debated wheather we would pierce Caroline's ears or not. I had decided I wanted to but left it completely up to Tyler to decide. He gave me the thumbs up so I took her to Claire's. I made sure 2 employees would be there that they could each pierce her ears at the same time. Caroline cried for 20 seconds then figited with them for a bit & then cried some more. I showed her Mommy's ears & her own ears in the mirror so she could see that we both had them... then she touched her earing & in her sweet, soft spoken voice said, "coot" (cute). She looks so adorable with her new earings!

Baby Vac

The Baby vac is the most amazing product that every mother sould have. It's a tube-like thingy that you attach to the hose of a vacuum. The other end goes in the opening of the baby's nostril & it's gets rid of all the snot. It doesn't suck with the force of the vacuum so no brains being sucked out through the nose! It's especially helpful for kids who hate the bulb syringe and/or don't know how to blow thier nose. Caroline is sick right now with a nasty cold & she Hates having her nose wiped. I use the baby vac on her & its very quick & painless! The noise of the vacuum is kinda startling to them but it does not hurt them. I bought this when Preston was a baby. He got RSV at 2 months & this device was very helpful at that time. Go Here to the website where I bought mine & they cover all questions. It's truly an amazing product!

Product Demo:

Oh Preston!

Innocent:
a : free from guilt or sin especially through lack of knowledge of evil : blameless.

Preston embodies this definition. He is so very sweet & innocent. He desires so much to do good & "make good choices" (a common phrase used in our home). I love this about him. Like every child, he makes messes & gets into things but not because he's malicious or trying to be naughty. He genuinely feels good will toward others & wants to be happy. When I get upset with his choices he Always tells me, "I won't do it Again! ...I want you to be happy mommy". When he says things like that it's hard to get mad at him. I love my tender-hearted Preston.

A funny story:
One day I had just gotten out of the shower & my kids were being real quiet, which is never good. I called for Preston & got no response. Then I heard a beeping sound. I ran downstairs to find the fridge open (which was beeping) & a chair pushed up to it. Preston & Caroline (old reliable) were sitting underneath the kitchen table going at a giant block of cheese with butter knifes...  We cleaned up the mess & I asked Preston, "What are you going to do the next time you want some cheese?" and he said, "Get a sharp knife"! So funny.

Something Preston said:
Preston has been having a few accidents lately. He holds it until the absolute last second & doesn't always make it to the potty. He also has issues with wiping after he's gone #2. This will cause him to get a rashy bum sometimes. So the other day Preston was crying to Tyler & trying to explain that his bum was hurting. He then bursted out, "My bum is SPICY"!!! He said the same thing when he wet his pants & his legs were stinging... "My legs are spicy"! It's hard not to laugh out loud while we're trying to be compassionate & make it all better.

Tribute to Sisters

I just LOVE my sisters!!! They are my Best Friends & greatest role models. I look up to every single one of them since I'm the shortest & the youngest ;o) We were all united once again during our trip to San Diego. I'm so lucky to have such amazing, beautiful, talented sisters who bless my life so much.

(Left to right is oldest to youngest: Jen, Kimberly, Lisa, Victoria)

Jen is the leader of the pack. I know I can always count on her when I need some solid advice. She's very diplomatic & she always gives the most rational, sound advice of any person I know.  Jen is super-oober fun & silly, I love it! All of us girls look to her as a mother figure & she is an amazing mother to her 4 kids (very soon to be 5). When she walks into a room, the energy changes b/c she contributes so much love & light to others. The world is a better place with Jen in it ;o)

Kimberly is someone who will do anything for her sisters. I know I can count on her for advice as well especially pertaining to natural health... she is a well of knowledge. Growing up she always encouraged me to stand up for myself (which has always been something Ive struggled with). I never had to do this very often since I always had 4 protective sisters. I admire Kimberly for christ-like love & her inner strength. She has been through a lot in life but presses onward with faith & confidence. I love this about her.

Lisa is the sister I call when my kids get sick! She has a lot of expereince with her 5 kids! FIVE! She is an awesome mother. She's the most talented & creative... she never ceases to amaze me. Lisa is also the most calm of our crazy bunch. She is the perfect balance to our sisterhood which is why I believe she was born in the middle. Lisa is hilarious & is always cracking some line or funny comment. She gets this from our Dad ;o) She is always a friend before she's a sister. Her presence is always so uplifting.

Vicki is 2 years older than me & the craziest one of all! But in a good way. Her presence is like sunshine. She makes others happy & is full of fun energy. Vicki is also full of service & charity. I know I can always count on her help for anything. I call Vicki when I need to vent or talk b/c I know she'll never judge me. She speaks her mind & makes me Laugh! She's also experienced some difficult trials in life & I admire her for her courage & strength to overcome it all.

Halloween Time

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Tyler & I really look forward to this time of year that we get to dress up & host our annual halloween party. It was a lot of fun putting it together & just like every year, I'm always really glad when it's over! This year we had a decades theme party & dressed up as 80's Rock. I love that Tyler is the biggest trooper when it comes to dressing up. Look at him! My husband "rocks"!!!

Since Preston has been all about Star Wars this past year, he of course chose to be Darth Vador;o) And Caroline was a darling little bumble bee...

She was really fussy so Tyler & I nick-named her little Bee-yoch since it was so fitting with the costume ;o)

Don't mess with this little mama! Her looks sting!!! 

After trick-or-treating at 5 houses Preston cried, "I'm cold! I want to go home!" lol ...It was an eventful halloween to say the least.

CAL-I-FORN-I-A

What a wonderful vacation! It was so refreshing to go home to San Diego & see the old familiars (scenery, family, friends, Dog Rex). Ah, I miss it there & would move back in a heart beat! I took for granted the beach & fabulous year-round weather b/c growing up there, it was all I knew. I thought a lot of the rest of the nation had fantastic weather... I never experienced the chaning seasons until I moved to beautiful Utah. But I'm lucky to have the best of both worlds! It's worth living here & being married to such a fantastic, amazing person. When I married Tyler, Utah was apart of that package ;o)

Our long anticipated trip to CA & Disneyland went by way too fast! Despite the illness we all encountered while we were there, we really enjoyed the trip & are still grateful to have had the chance to go. The day before we left to CA, Caroline got a 12 hour stomach flu. On the 2nd day of our trip, I got the flu. Preston then had his little episode of the flu on our 2nd day at Disneyland (of all places)! Then Tyler got the flu after that. Luckily we had A ton of fun that made up for all the illness.

Disneyland was a Blast, my aunt's wedding was beautiful & when it was all over I was really sad to have to leave :( Here are some moments of our trip!

My parents Grandpa Bryan & Grandma Jodi joined us at Disneyland!!

We were loving the way Preston & Caroline interacted with Mickey Mouse.

I love how Preston has his hand on Mickey's face.

These are the 3D glasses for the Toy Story Mania ride. That is THE coolest ride ever!!

Watching the Pixar Parade at California Adventure.

On the 2nd day Preston did a lovely throw-up number at lunch time while there were lots of other sitting near eating their lunch. Poor guy ended up sleeping in the stroller for about 4 hours. When he woke up he was fine & wanted to go to Toon Town. What a bummer for a kid to get sick at Disneyland. By the look on his face you would never know he was sick that day!
Ah, it was a blast. Tyler & I felt like kids again & thankfully my parents helped a lot so we could go on some big rides. Tyler's sister Tami & her kids joined us for the 2nd day & it was nice to share that time with them as well. Even after spending 2 days there, we still didn't cover everything we wanted.

After Disneyland we were all crazy getting ready for Aunt Julie's Wedding. It was at La Jolla Beach & my Mom did all the decorations for it. She did such an amazing job & the ceremony was beautiful. It was a big celebration as it was her 1st marriage! My Uncle Rod escorted her & gave her away.
Julie married Norihiko Nakajima who is from Japan. They are so adorable. During the vows my aunt Julie said to him, "I love you Norihiko Nakajima, you nocka me out". Anyone who knows my aunt knows that she is always cracking some joke or funny line. Love Her!!!


I miss this humidity! Even though my hair went flat in 2 seconds of being outside I love what overcast can do for a family picture at the beach ;o)

Heavenly Father, THANK YOU!

I need to give a shout out to the Big Padre... We have been so blessed by His love & support that I feel the need to write this down so I can look back & remember. Tyler & I have been planning/saving-up 4 months for a trip to San Digo for 2 reasons:

1.My Aunt Julie's Wedding (It's a BIG deal, she's in her 50's & getting married for the 1st time! We're SO excited!!)
2. DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!

Disneyland is known for being the happiest place on earth, which is true. Tyler & I always feel like little kids when we're there, but it is also the most expensive place on earth. We're going to Disneyland for 2 days & have been anxiously planning this for our kids. All summer long I've asked Preston, "What would you like to do today?" His reply "I want to go to Disneywand!" lol! He can hardly wait.

Well, at the beginning of Summer we decided we needed to budget for our upcoming trip since it would be around the time of our annual Halloween party & then the holidays. I prayed & told Heavenly Father our plans & asked that he would help us figure out a way to come up with the money for our trip without having to dip into our personal account. I felt peace & excitement! I didn't know how He would help us, but I KNEW He would. He gave me that clarity & peace of mind.

I was given through inspiration that there was something I was going to do that would allow me to come up with the money. I'm a hairstylist so I thouhgt, Maybe I'll get more clients & come up with the money that way??? Yes, that did happen but that was not all. I was cleaning one morning & a thought came to me, "you could do glitter toes". I stopped what I was doing, did some research online, & found out that I was licensed to do glitter toes! So I bought all the materials, taught myself how to do them & used a ginny-pig to make sure I was doing it correctly... thanks Kattie ;o)

Well a few nights ago Tyler & I figured out an exact budget of what our trip would cost us (gas, food, Disneyland, shopping). I then proceeded to count the cash I had come up with doing hair & glitter toes this summer & to my astonishment we were $10 over the amount we had budgeted! I instatnly realized that Heavenly Father answered my prayers & He totally helped us out. Wow, Im not a fan of repetitive Christian music, but "Our God is an Awesome God... Our God is an Awesome God"...

THANK U, THANK U to all my wonderful friends & family who had glitter toe parties & came to me to have their hair done. You were all apart of His helping hand & I'm truly grateful to you aswell.

Friends Forever

When Preston isn't teasing Caroline to death, she REALLY loves him. And when Caroline isn't screaming at Preston for being in "her space" he really enjoys her company. Preston always loves his sister though, regardless. I've never seen a big brother treat a little sister so sweetly. They get along most of the time. I love the days that Caroline follows Preston everywhere around the house as they play so well together. I've captured some darling pictures of them recently & I must add that none of these were staged (minus the 1st one). They climbed in the basket together & in the last pictures, Caroline inched herself next to Preston as close as she posibbly could while they enjoyed their apples.

Ah! I just LOVE you Preston & Caroline! As you grow, I hope you will continue to be the best of friends.

Preston's 1st Day of Preschool

Cutest Boy in the WORLD! Preston Loves school, he loves his teacher & he loves all the social interaction. He looks forward to school every week. Every time I pick him up I ask "So what did you do today!?" And he says, "I don't know". Or I ask him, "What are your friend's names?" And it's the same,"I don't know". Then a few hours later in a conversation with someone else, he excitedly explains details of school and all his friend's. So I've stopped asking him Right when I pick him up, rather I ask him during dinner or at bedtime. He's an open book during those one-on-one moments. He's JUST like his Dad! ...which is a very good thing, of course ;o)

With Preston at school, Caroline & Mommy like to run errands together or stay home & just veg. This is exactly how you'll find her most mornings, all snuggled up on the couch & watching her morning cartoons. Little peanut!

Preston's Sweet Spot

My kids are little sneakers, always getting into things they're not supposed to. They manage to figure out every child proof system in our house. Preston pushes stools & chairs around everywhere. Well, he has a corner that he likes to hide in once he scores a treat or snack. I often find Caroline nestled by his side in his "sweet spot" (as we like to call that particular corner). I'll find them both hiding there behind the couch & end table. It's the silence followed by the crinkling sound of a wrapper that gives them away... as well as the abandoned chair still hanging out in my pantry. The one nice thing about all this is that Preston always shares whatever jackpot he finds with his sister. Last week, they broke in the pantry & shared 3/4 of a king size symphony bar! Caroline had chocolate smeared from ear to ear. I tell him, "Just Ask! And I will say Yes!" It's not like I don't give my kids treats. They get them everyday, believe me... we use all kinds of bribery in our house to get Preston to eat his dinner. My children are definately not deprived of sweets b/c Dad & Mom both have a sweet tooth so there's always something sweet in our pantry & the little buggers know it!

Well, I was looking through my library of pictures & came across these photos that I took earlier this summer. I chuckled to myself when I realized these photos. It's really quite funny that I have a picture of both of them being naughty. I most definately need a picture of them in their little corner ;o)

I snuck behind him & yelled "Hey!" as I took this picture ;o) Caught ya' red handed Boy!

If there's dirt around, you can be darn sure to find Caroline playing in it! This plant is now outside.

OUCH!

Warning: the following images may be disturbing to some. Viewer discrection is advised.

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It looked a whole lot more worse in person. I took these pictures a couple hours after the accident so the swelling had gone down some.

Caroline was following her Dad in the house (through the front door). As Tyler came in the house, he left the door open for Caroline. Well the door to the Garage was open as well & it caused a gust of wind through the house that slammed our front door shut... right on Caroline's hand. Her hand was on the door jam so as it shut, it came right over her hand. It didn't latch closed infact it swang open a little bit after slamming on her poor little baby hand. It was so awful! She cried & I cried along with her. I had never heard her cry that way before, it was a really painful cry. We got in the car to take her to the Urgent Care b/c she wasn't moving her hand. But on the way she settled down & started moving it & using sign language. Our next inclination was that she was okay but we were a little unsure. So I said a prayer & we both felt comfort that she was fine & didn't need medical attention. The swelling lasted 2 hours until I was reminded by a thought to use deep blue on her hand (deep blue is an essential oil blend) I put it on her hand & within 15-20 minutes the swelling had gone down Significantly! Tyler & I were A-mazed. She's perfectly fine today & using her hand like normal, thankfully no broken or fractured bones.

Highland Splash Pad

This sweet spot is located in Highland (behind Kohlers that's just off the Highland/Apline Hwy). There's also a man-made "river" thats only 4" deep that connects to the Splash Pad. We discovered this place a couple weeks ago, it's really perfect for toddlers & little children. FYI: This place gets Crowded in the summer but with school in session, it's less crowded now so it's the best time to go.


Preston & Indie (my friend Brittanie's little girl)


This picture makes us LAUGH! They both have a similar cheezer face. I think Preston has met his match... in girl form ;o)