from my home to yours

Ryan {3.5} & Taylor {5.5} 

lesson learned {i hope}

So yesterday we were was supposed to go & get our Christmas Tree... I was so excited to start decorating! Hang garland, Christmas lights, pull out the stockings & of course bake cookies to take our day over the top... Well, that didn't happen! As some of you know I have a very strong willed little boy. I swear his cuteness saves him. No joke he's absolutely adorable so I have to think twice when I crack down on him. Lucky boy {wink}! Let me give you the short version on why we didn't get our tree or pull out all the decorations. Ryan has lost his ears {listening skills}... He kept honking the horn repeatedly where the entire neighborhood walked outside to see what was going on {for about 2 minutes while I was inside the house grabbing sweaters}. Then when I walked to the car to grab him he thought it was hysterical & kept doing it in front of me. A three year old is very hard to grab. They're like slippery fish... & they're fast! He got away & the first thing that came out of my mouth was, "We're not getting a Christmas Tree today!"  I realized what I had said, but once you say something you can't go back. I had to be strong... In other words I had to show him who was in charge! Oh man I really did it this time. I was so sad, I know Sean & Taylor were too. Heads up Taylor wasn't so innocent in this little ordeal either. She instigated. Have you ever done anything like that before... ? I love hearing that I'm not alone!

On the bright side... We will be decorating next weekend {if the kids are good} & our tree will be so fresh by the time Christmas rolls around. 

ho ho ho,

Alexandra

spring break

Hi everyone... I'm on Spring Break right now with my kiddos! Kind of feel like a girl in College... But, with juice boxes & pretzels mixed in with a few meltdowns. A girl can dream when her head hits the pillow at night! Ahhh to be young again partying it up poolside! {smile} Be back next week with some great new posts!

my babies

I stumbled upon this picture tonight of Ryan & Taylor. I've been cracked up ever since! I just want to eat these two little ones up... The tummy, the bowl cut hair, pink glasses & terry cloth shorts. I feel Mr. & Mrs. Roper from 3's Company dressed them that morning... lol Please never change & stay exactly that way... Too cool!

1st day...

Both of my precious babies are now in pre-school... Thank God they're together! I can't even tell you how comfortable I feel knowing that Taylor is watching over her little brother... Keeping a secret eye on him {my little informant}. Plus, Ryan is more comfortable at school knowing that his big sister Taylor is with him. I do have to say that I have picked one of the best pre-schools in my eyes. Kids By the Sea, thank you very much for making Ryan's 1st day of pre-school so welcoming & super comforting for me!

Taylor is now a dolphin... Yippie!

Ryan's a turtle... The lowest of low. Beginner of the bunch. Hey, we all have to start some where!

Look at them together... Why don't they play like this at home? Do you see Ryan's big scratch on his face. Hmmmm I wonder how he got it... "Taylor"!

Ryan made it through his first day just fine!

* Here's how Ryan did on Monday...

He did pick on one little kid {threw a car at him, twice...Ouch... Sorry Miller!}, ate 1/2 of the new girls lunch {was moved to a different table, sorry Willow... must have been good if Ryan started eating it!}, peed with his clothes on {he has to get naked at home} & let the teachers wipe him {little bit of a challenge at home as well}... Not bad for a 1st day! Lets see how he does today... Cross your fingers he stays on the straight & narrow path! Hey, Tina that wine you brought the teachers... Is perfect for them! Shhhh I think I need it {wink}!

train & pony rides with two sweet little rugrats

I can't even tell you how many times I've tried to go up to San Juan Capistrano to go to Zoomras Petting zoo with the kids. It seems like every time we say we're going something always happens... Well, not this weekend we did it! The kids were so excited... & I was kind of too!

We waited for the train!

They looked & looked for the train... Ryan was dying to run free & be one with the trains. His BFF's... He was on tight lock down {hand holding & stroller sitting}!

Taylor got all blinged out for the big Train date!

They walked to keep Ryan occupied till the train arrived!

Ryan was ready to rock & roll on this Train...

Huge SORRY to all the passengers that wanted a quiet ride. Sorry!

We made it...

This is what we saw when we got off the train! Too cute! Hate to have had a few drinks & try & figure out where to go with all these signs... Thank goodness we were all sober & only high on excitement!

We walked the road... then we saw THE SIGN! We were getting closer to Zoomars!

First, I had to take a few shots of some of the little accents in the town... Precious! As we were walking we decided to eat lunch "first" & then go to the petting zoo after. So Ruby's dinner here we come!

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!

Then we finally made it. All I have to say, is they are brilliant at Zoomars. Look at all the stuff you can buy {i kept hearing... cha ching in my brain... genius... money, money, money!}. I was happy to fork over the cash to make the little ones happy. They LOVED it! We bought food for the animals... Hats for the kids... Pony rides... & train rides.... I do have to say that this was the best money spent. Taylor didn't take her hat off all day & night... too cute!

Cowboy Ryan was ready to go & Ride the ponies.

Taylor looked so precious in her hat. She felt so special all day! I just love seeing her glow with excitement...

This was shadow! Ryan's ride...

Then we were off to the trains. We were pretty cool on the train until Ryan decided to take the seat belt off & try & jump out. Good times! Hey, he's 2 1/2... Arggggh!

They climbed & played their hearts out!

Off again to feed the bunnies & guinea pigs!

Ryan demanded that he holds a guinea pig... Grandma being the animal expert helped him out. I was dying with allergies behind the camera. I guess you call me the city kid. lol

Ahhhhhh He was so good to his little guinea pig!

He started squeezing it tighter & tighter... & saying mine, mine, mine! I had to step in & lighten the grip & discuss with him that they live here... blah blah blah!

Taylor so didn't fit in... But she was pretty cute in her sparkly shoes!

We tried to sneak some food in our mouth... I caught you Ryan. knock it off!

For those of you who know Taylor... You know she not quite an animal person... Well, she did it with grandma. You go girl! Look at her hand... She was so nervous! I'm surprised she was even in the bunny area at all. Taylor said her favorite bunnies were the sleeping ones.

Are time at Zoomars was coming to an end... So we had to get one more dance out! We got a little wild & then....

We were out for the ride!

Ahhhhhhh that train ride was the best ride home. It was QUIET & I got to sit & relax.

Thanks Amtrak, Zoomars & grandma for a fun Sunday!

THANKS!

blast from the past...

These two wild thing are what I LIVE for... So when I'm not working at the rooster or designing homes I'm playing with my kiddos. I was cracking up over this picture... WOW... What a blast from the past!

{look at Taylor's watch... It's my old swatch watch... Nice! Grandma thanks for saving it! lol!}

good morning little ones {mommies}

Good morning mommies... I have a little secret to tell you!

Go & get Little Blends yogurt... You will be very happy! My little ones LOVE this yogurt. Thank you, Thank you, Thank You, Horizon! I feel great knowing that they're getting veggies in the morning... Secretly! My son resisted for a little while, but I refused to feed him anything else. Once I walked out of the room & 1/2 an hour later he realized mommy was serious... So I had better eat up! {I'm not a short order cook... & my kids know that. Don't mess with mom!} He sat & ate the entire thing & loved it! Who's number 1... ? Ahhh ya I am! Sorry, I got a little carried away. ha ha ha

No joke... This yogurt is amazing. Go & get it! We just got, banana with sweet potatoes & Strawberry with carrots! Yummy!

oh kids...

I know these photos are really speaking two different languages, but I can't stop staring at them. So why not... I'll put them side by side & let you all stare! One says, I'm clean & crisp... Please don't make a mess in my room... Everything is perfect! The other says, come over & lets play. That polka dot bedding on that cot screams giggling all night long! Hmmm maybe these two rooms depict my children. One perfect angel {Taylor} & one wild devil {Ryan}.

{cot photo RealSimple.com}