Happy First Birthday, Oliver!!!

Well, my baby is one. Yes, one year old and he knows it. It is like the morning of August 26 he change into a toddler and began climbing the shelves, making boy noises (not all attractive) and just WILD. He is such a spitting image of Amelia, it scares me. I remember when Milla was a baby, I would have to just walk away and take 10 deep cleansing breaths. It took all my might not to lose it. It is still that way, except Amelia has the kindess, most genuine heart. She makes you melt. I could not ask for a more affectionate, empathetic daughter. Back to Oliver, he had his party yesterday with our family and friends and he LOVED the attention. He had the BEST cake ever and I could hardly cut it because it was so stinkin cute! He got some very special things including books, clothing, a monogrammed antique rocker and a pottery barn monogrammed chair. He is such a big boy and had a wonderful time with his cousins and friends. After the party, we went to Mimi and Papu's to the pool and have a barbeque. The kids also played with all the dogs and swam their hearts out. It is so nice that they live a mile down the road. We cannot wait until Sarah and Andy and Jon and Kristy live right down the road as well. We can have our tv shows nights and walks, etc. YEAH! Please enjoy the pics!!!

P Dog...

So it was P Dog's birthday August 23 and he is now THREE!!!! He is such a big boy and even talking more mature since 2 days ago. (ok, maybe it is my imagination) He had a great day which included: Art Van to pick out a new set of twin beds for he and Ollie, Red Lobster to eat shrimp and see the "real" lobster (yes, we actually got to touch them) and home to try on his new hockey gear!!! He had a great day-very relaxed with family only. His little buddy, Laiken, turned 3 on the 24th (we were in the hospital together) and his family took Preston to a Beach Bums game for his birthday. They had a marvelous time!! You can tell by the pictures that they were very bored... I want to start listing things I love about each child on their birthday. One thing for each year they are old. Of course, there are WAY more things about digger dooo that I love than just 3. However, this is just fun!! So, here goes. Three things I LOVE about Preston: 1. The way he LOVES his mama and is so sensitive to ME no matter what kind of mood he is in. 2. His adorable knock knees. 3. The way he puts "goop" in his very blond hair so he can look like Corbin Bleu. Good night...

Beach Babies

I have been working on a project that has to do with all of my "baby loving" stuff. As I have worked as a Doula and at Pregger's maternity store, I have come to realize what people are looking for in this area. I also love crafts and fabric, etc. So, I decided to expand my business into sewing baby slings, wraps, applique tees, nursing covers, etc. I have a website I am creating that you can view here. It has been so much fun!! I am also teaching a childbirth class this fall. I just love all this baby stuff. I have to get my fix somehow since I am DONE, DONE, DONE!!!!

at the pool...

I feel like the last 2 weeks have been a complete whirlwind. My house and kids are totally out of sorts and I cannot seem to get a grip!! I am actually looking forward to school starting again. Yes, I did just say that! I love them so much but they NEED structure and friends!! I am not enough-especially with all of the day to day stuff taking up so much of my time and energy. Ollie is going up and down the stairs, he is pushing his walker AND he is drinking organic whole milk!!! YEAH-NO MORE FORMULA!!! I am still nursing, however. He is the last and my little baby. Belle has decided that she is going to show her horse English and Western so we are going to try and prepare for that. She also decided to add piano lessons. Amelia is too young for piano but will continue dance and maybe ice skating. She will do riding lessons as well. We will see how Max does. He may not tolerate too much performance! Preston starts his skating program in September and he is totally ready and motivated!! I am really excited for him because he does not do as much as the girls. Scott is very busy with work but at the same time he has been in town a lot. This makes me happy! The kids as well. He has ben so kind as to hang with the kids while I sew and try to get my baby slings, etc. online and in the stores. I am also teaching Childbirth classes in September. It will be fun to get into a little schedule again. Ollie and I will have lots of time together as well. I guess it is off to clean the playroom. We are unloading many things for Goodwill.

Aunt Sarah's Wedding

The last week has been a huge amount of work preparing for this beatiful event. It is a beach wedding at her dad's house and much work needs to be done. When i got married, it was very traditional: church, country club, and St. Lucia for our honeymoon. I wish I would have had more creativity and had taken such a chance as to have it outside somewhere! So, Sarah has been the brave one. She is the 2nd sibling to get married. There are 4 of us. So, with my 4 children in tow, we planted a total of 82 hostas, 8 Climatis, 10 hydrangeas, and MANY planters full of annuals. Additionally, we spread 3 dump trucks FULL of mulch and pea gravel. My dear husband built 2 retaining walls with stone and worked his tail end off for 2 days straight. He did a fabulous job. Thank you for doing this for my sister!!! Let me tell you-I did not do this much to my own home after we built it!!!! I have to say, in a situation like this, you find out who your true friends are! :) There were over a dozen people there every day for a week. Sarah is so lucky to be married (for 24 hours now) to a man who has the most gracious and kindess of families. He is truly a a blessing to have in our family now and he thinks the world of her. That is all I could have wished for her. Anyway, the big event was yesterday: August 16, 2008. Our day went as follows: 8:00am : Fed the baby, kids and packed bags for the wedding that Scott could bring with him. 9:00am : Went to the bank, store and to the beach to do last minute set up (Milla came with me.) 10:00am : Called American Girl to find out where the doll Flower Girl outfits were that I had 2 day shipped to me. Only to find out they NEVER shipped... 10:20am :Went to the Art Fair downtown to look for the vendors who sell boat loads of handmade doll clothes (the last 2 fairs had 2-3 vendors each) and none were there. 10:45am :Went to Michael's and found white eyelet doll "nightie's" that looked like Belle and Milla's dresses. Perfect! 11:00am : Stopped at the liquor store to pick up Bailey's for the bridesmaids. I think this is the first time I have ever purchased alcohol...I do not drink. 11:15am : Went back to the beach and got things ready for when we all got dressed in the Colonial House. 11:30am : Realized Sarah (the bride) did not have the appropriate scrapbook for the poloroid pics she was taking of all the guests...so I sent Alyssa (friend of the bride) back to my house to pick up the pages and Belle (I did not want Belle to come too early because she does not rally like Milla does :).) 12:00 : Went to the salon to begin hair appts!!!!! (FAST FORWARD) 5:00 : Went back the the beach, put up signs for parking, gift table, tiki torches, chairs for ceremony, etc. 6:30 : Get dressed for ceremony-guests begin to arrive but decide they need to drink BEFORE the ceremony and go THROUGH the yellow roped off area directly to the bar. Classy... 7:00 : We walk down to line up...kids are PERFECT and ready to walk down!! I am unbelieveably happy they have made it with NO naps and a 5 hour long salon day. :) 8:00 : Ceremony over-beautiful, perfect weather, no wind, kids great. Pictures perfect, people happy, sister HAPPY!!!!! 9:00 : Eating, drinking, dancing-Belle, Preston and Ollie are very tired. Scott's parents take them home to bed. Milla stays to dance with Elliana and Amelia Marie. NO surprise! 10:30 Amelia leaves with Ms Sarah and Amalia Marie 11:00 Still dancing-Scott does the Bird by Morris Day and the Times. Hilarious... 11:30 Party crasher roams in off the street-Dad has to ask him to leave. He was just "checking things out..." 1:00 People still dancing, eating the next phase of food-homemade mac n cheese, corn dogs, fried mushrooms, fruit etc. in chinese take out boxes. Such a cute idea. 2:00 Scott and I drive 6 people home and go home and CRASH!!!! The day, as you can see, was exhausting yet lovely. I could not be happier for my sister and I know she can relax now and enjoy the these blissful days and weeks of newlywed fever. I have to thank my friends who have been a huge part of this-Sarah and Kristy. You made my sister's final moments before walking down the isle less stressed and perfect. The memories that she will have from your video and pics, Kristy, will always be treasured. Thank you...

Anniversay...

Well, since I have missed so many days and weeks blogging, I will back up a bit. July 15 was our wedding anniversary. Of course, we both forgot until the day of in the morning and then we looked at each other and remembered what the day had been 8 YEARS ago!! I want to take a minute to thank my husband for the person he is, the father he is and how lucky I am. It is not too often that you find someone who works 80 hrs a weeks, drives 3-4 hrs one way and then turns around to come home so that he can then get up with Oliver 3-4 times in a night, and wake up and do the same thing again the next day. He is TOTALLY hands on, NEVER complains when I decide I need to get in the car and drive to Target or go to dinner with girlfriends. He lets me sleep in, takes the kids school clothes shopping (ALL 4), takes them to breakfast, and more. I just want to thank him for being so wonderful to me and my children. You are my life. You have given me the 4 greatest gifts EVER. I appreciate every little thing you do. THANK YOU!!!! Happy Anniversary and MANY more to come!!