Nathalie graduates pre school

So, I haven't blogged in about 4 months but thats besides the point. I am completely aware of that fact, and have a zillion things I should "catch" up on. But the most important is Today!

Nathalie graduated pre-school, my baby girl is all set for Kindergarten which starts at the end of August! I can't say enough good things about her amazing preschool, the experiences we have had there have been amazing, and I am so excited for William to be starting there in September!

Here is my favorite shot of Nathalie from today, more to come (hopefully)

The cutest little cast you ever did see

just look at those toes!

still alive

just quite busy. Sam had shoulder surgery 2/2... William fractured his foot on Monday......I have a husband in a shoulder sling, and a son in a lil blue cast! I have been working full time, which is not fun, being the working parent is definitely not all its cracked up to be, but we need the money, so work I must! Just a brief post to say we are still alive!

When I was In San Luis Obispo

The new nose piercing, My best friend Kersti and I

The process of getting the nose piercing

I went with Kersti to get her tattoo, I have contemplated a nose piercing for quite a while, and she offered to pay for one for me, I couldn't say no, what do you think?

First time Bowling for the Kids

While up in Morro Bay, Kersti and I decided to take the 4 of our kids bowling for the first time. Nathalie and Hayli loved it so much, and even the little ones (William and Emma) did really well!

The Train Ride up

Wasn't so bad, the kids got a little restless here and there, but luckily we had a sweet 19 year old behind us who my kids, specifically my daughter fell in love with, so we had quite a bit of help on the ride up. The train ride was beautiful, there was so much to see. Neither kid napped which slightly put a damper on things towards the end of the ride, but all in all they did well. When we arrived in San Luis Obispo, I could not contain the excitement in me to see my dear friend Kersti, and Nathalie and Hayli (Kerstis daughter) had similiar reactions...Then, my luggage and Carseats were not there!!!! They were in Santa Barbara.....Luckily the situation was quickly rectified, and I had all items the next morning, and 125 dollar travel voucher for Amtrak, although I dont know how soon I'll be using that.....

brave or insane you decide.

i leave tomorrow to go see my best friend and her 2 daughter in San Luis Obispo, via train, I am boarding an 8 hour train ride with my 2 kids, wish me luck!!!!

Merry Christmas!

William and Nathalie this morning, infront of the tree, surronded by gifts, and love! Nathalie was so grateful for everything that she opened, and I was really proud of her in that she took the time to thank each person for what they got her! Her top gifts, were her ballet slippers (from Santa) an art easel from Nana and Papa, and some dolls from assorted relatives! William actually really got into opening presents this year, for the first time! He mostly received things with wheels, trains, cars, etc...and of course loves them all, wanted them al opened to play with! They joy on the kids' faces when they opened gifts was priceless, and amazing!

Nathalie Making Gingerbread Men

I am in the middle of finals, I spent today writing two lab reports, took one final on Thursday, and have my last final on Tuesday. Despite that my kids have needs, specifically for my attention, and more specifically when I'm trying to study. Nathalie has been asking, and asking to make Gingerbread cookies, so today in between my two reports, she did, and here are some pictures of my little baker!

Our Christmas Card!

Nathalie and Santa Claus...

As I was putting Nathalie to bed, she just told me she wants to write a letter to Santa, and I told her we will do that tomorrow.



She said ok, because I need to tell him that I want some tippy toe ballerina shoes, some tap tap shoes, and a ballerina dress ( I guess we'll be signing up for dance lessons huh?)...oh and she wants Sleeping Beauty, the MOvie (check on that one)!

Unplanned Car Emergencies Suck

For many reasons we drive recycled cars. And we love our recycled cars, love not having a car payment for sure! Well the things we don't love, is coming out of Target this morning (after scoring some sweet deals) and finding a tire that was blown, I could see the metal not good, shredded tire, not good....Discount Tire in same parking lot as Target, good. Price for 4 new tires right before the holidays, not good.

Thanksgiving

has been a fantastic day, and I am full to the brim from eating to no end all.day.long...enjoying this time with my family has been precious and has meant the world to me

Things That I am thankful for

My beautiful children and husband. My amazing parents. My loving Sister. My genuine friends. My life experiences. Overall health in my family. I am thankful for love, faith, and hope.

have you ever wondered

if people that you know/have known/have ever met, know people that you know, without even knowning it? Thats weird right, that I think about those kinds of things? I just was catching up on blogs, while I'm sitting here allegedly studying, hey, Mommy needs time for other things too, right? And I started to think about that. So I just wonder if people I know know other people I know without me or them knowing that we are all connected....ok its official I am weird....

dinner at nana's

Things that I am thankful for, there are soooo many, which I will get to later in this week!
Tonight, we had dinner at my mom's because she watched the kids for us all day while we both worked, as I have some time to make up from being out with meningitis. For dinner she made Lasagna. From my child hoood I remember vividly requesting her to make her homemade lasagna on my birthday, every.year. It was as good as I remembered it, and Nathalie gobbled it up. William didn't get any (I know I'm a mean mommy) but it contains gluten, which is no longer on his diet. He ate Salad with no dressing and a banana and some rice chex (which is now gluten free)

Nathalieism

A bit ago Nathalie stopped what she was doing and put her hand over her heart! With intense excitement she exclaimed "mommy, I can feel my heart beeping"

Organic Chemistry

is hard, really its hard. I took an exam last night, then had lab. This is the 2nd semester of this course, and the final is on December 17th, and I can not wait, the days are numbered in my head...it will be nice to be done with Orgo. Then I get an entire month school free, returning the last week of January. Next semester i will be taking Anatomy.

Mama's got a brand new do

I think it really, really helps that my hair dresser is my sister. But we (she and I have this amazing relationship) where I can tell her what I want, maybe show her a couple of pictures, and tell her how I want this one mixed with this one, and she Always, without fail gives me exactly what I had pictured in my mind. Today, while in her chair I realized how much talent it really takes to be able to do what she does! Thanks Nichole I love it!

Halloween

yeah so it was a few weeks ago, but here are Nathalie and William as Snow White and a police officer, with their fruit creatures auntie made them