Birthday Boy!

I can't believe I have an 11 year old.  It can't be real.  They grow up too fast.  Way too fast.  Peyton is such a great kid.  He is smart, funny, and loving.  He is very artistic, and good at it!  He is always the one to stick up for his friends, or his sister (unless we are at home, ha ha ha).  My kids are polar opposites.  Peyton is my serious kid.  He actually reminds me a little of myself.  He is quiet, neat and tidy and a thinker.  I remember as a very young toddler he would ask questions that just blew my mind.  Always thinking.  Always wanting to learn.  He loves video games, computers, reading, and would rather be home than anywhere else.  My little homebody :)  Here are some fun pictures of Peyton.

 I kid you not, 80% of pictures between age 4-8 he is dressed up as Spiderman

So handsome!

Peyton made this "rock band" out of bendaroo's... pure talent!

His goofy side

I love this kid!

Happy Birthday my sweet little (big) man!  Love you so much, I hope your day is the best.  You can bet there will be Pizza eating, and some cake too!  His favorites!

Pajha's Day

Today my baby girl turned 8 today.  Yes EIGHT... where has the time gone?  Honestly!  Here are just a few of my favorite pictures of her... 

 Scaring her brother... this is totally HER ;)

 Getting ready for one of many dance recitals.  She loves the stage too!

Her school play, she was the Queen... if the shoe fits!

The girl grew up on the beach, loved it from day one!

I get this face.... a lot.... still cute though

another dance recital

With one of her best friends from Cali

Isn't she cute?  

Today she turns 8, we opted for cupcakes.  Easier.

She wanted her ears pierced.  Guess what?  We ALL survived.  All she did was say "ow!"

These next two pictures totally show her craziness... she is such a goofy kid

Look mom, my ears are pierced....

Have to admit... makes her look even older.  She is beautiful!

Pajha is quite possibly one of the best kids I know.  She can make me a little nutty but she is full, and I mean full to the brim of ENERGY, she is always smiling, always laughing, always talking and always fun.  She is very outgoing and loves to please people.  She is funny and witty and constantly surprises us with her quirky comments.  Plus she likes to clean toilets.  I think I will keep her.  She is however the EXTREME of whatever emotion she is feeling. Mad?  Extremely.  Happy?  Extremely.  Sad?  Oh boy.  You never have to wonder what she is thinking.  She tells you.  I love this little girl with all my heart.  Now stop growing up will ya?  Love you my baby girl!

Thankful.

I realize that it has been a very long time since I have posted on my family blog. I have been so focused on My Fitness Journey that I have neglected this one. I am feeling SO overwhelmed with emotion right now. I don't know where it is all coming from but I feel like I am about to burst. I just had to get on here right now and say how thankful I am for my health. For my family. For my life. Over the last few weeks there have been 6 people in my ward diagnosed with some form of cancer. SIX. One of them happens to be my visiting teacher. She just found out two weeks ago she has breast cancer, stage one. I haven't been over to visit her yet with my schedule and I just felt like it was probably too soon but she has been weighing heavily on my mind since I found out. She is one of the most amazing women I have met. I am so blessed to be in such an amazing ward here.

The other day my doorbell rang. I opened the door and there she was. This beautiful, amazing, strong woman who is going through so much right now is standing at my door asking me HOW I AM DOING. That really touched me. She had made a Bingo game for my kids to play during conference and wanted to bring it over and see how I was. We started talking about everything that was going on in her life and come to find out that she actually had kidney cancer when she was 9, so they believe that this is probably because of the radiation. They aren't sure which route they will be taking yet. It is all still trying to be decided. I admire her strength and courage. I cannot even imagine how scary it would be to hear those words.

I really truly am thankful for being exactly where I am at this time in my life. Things have been rough since moving back to Utah. My life has been anything but easy I will say that. I have been through some things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy, BUT I am healthy and I am surrounded by amazing people everyday and that is where I get my strength from. God would never give us anything we couldn't handle. It is all meant to make us stronger, better, people. I think that we often take life for granted. I know I do. Its so easy to get wrapped up in our own "problems" or our own thoughts. We all go through tough times, we need to be there for each other and that is exactly what this ward, this neighborhood is teaching me. So thankful.

A little of this, a little of that

This post will be a little bit all over the place, with lots of pictures because what can I say? I am a slacker and have MONTHS to catch up on. So my son, my TEN year old son has decided for the first time in his life to play baseball. First. Time. Ever. We jumped at the chance to sign him up and they had their first game on Saturday. I have to admit (not just being bias) but he did a really good job. He actually surprised me. I had all these "fears" running through my head. He won't be as good as the others because they were born playing, he will get frustrated and want to quit, he won't try, he will have a bad attitude, etc. NONE of those happened. In fact he LOVED it. I am so giddy about it because I literally grew up at the ball park. If my dad wasn't playing one of my three brothers was! His coach put him in as the catcher (gulp) and the kid... nailed it. He did so good. Anyway enough bragging ;) Here are some pictures of my boy playing his first ever baseball game! Go Pirates!!!!!

Since moving back to Utah we have been so busy. Between family and friends and school and house stuff... it just seems like we really haven't had a chance to relax. I was so happy to be able to be here for my Great niece Chloie's blessing. My niece Kelcey and her husband Ben have got the sweetest little baby ever. I mean look at her... she is an Angel!

Chloie

Proud Grandma & Grandpa

Kelcey & Ben, proud parents

How can I deny how happy my little Angels are to be here? I mean just look at them! They are thrilled to be in Utah with their fun cousins and Grandparents... and a house... with stairs!!!! :) Pajha once told my friend in California that they were so lucky they had a house with stairs... because all we had was a hallway, lol

We have had a very busy past few months with moving and getting settled. I think we finally are. We are physically settled however emotionally I still have my "rough" days. It is getting better. You Californians really threw me for a loop. I had no idea the impact you would have on me.

Our living room

Kitchen

Dining Room

Anyways, house is coming along. We finally have most of our furniture and with only a little more "work" to do on the house I am falling more and more in love with its old yet updated charm. The neighborhood is incredible. Everyone is so nice and has introduced themselves and brought over goodies and just really welcomed us with open arms. My kids are LOVING it here. They love their school, and our neighborhood is full of kids so they are never bored and the best part is they are outside playing A LOT (which allows me to get stuff done inside the house)! For those of you who don't know this, the ONLY problem I had with our house in Temecula... well aside from the rats, possum and raccoons.... was our neighborhood was not a "young" one. The neighbors were all set in their ways, older, no young children and pretty much kept to themselves. Don't get me wrong... I kind of liked that too. No one popped in (which FYI I HATE popper inners). ;) Anyway, no one bugged us. EVER. Down side was there were no kids my kids ages to play with UNTIL about a month before we were moving a young family moved in across the street and Peyton and their son became pretty good friends. My friend and I were joking around about how much we stressed about moving the kids, how they would adjust, what it would do to them emotionally (she recently left Temecula too) and the kids... have been fine. It's us... who have had the hardest time with it. Such is life I guess.

We're ba-ack

Been a while. A long while. I don't even know where to start. My life has changed so dramatically over the last few months. We recently moved from sunny California to freezing Utah. I don't know when I will get over it. I am having a really hard time adjusting to this move. I guess because it was SO HARD for me to leave Utah 11 years ago that I just had to make myself okay with being away. I decided I could be miserable wherever we go or I could make it count. I have had the most amazing 11 years. Traveling, seeing other countries, making some of the most amazing friends a girl could ask for from all over the world. I could go on and on. Instead I will just focus on the now. We bought our first home EVER. Big time. That feels good. Pictures to come soon I promise. The kids love school (phew), the neighbors have welcomed us with many many cookies, dinners, treats and acts of kindness. All in all the move has been smooth... the only bump is the one in my throat whenever I think of Temecula... sigh! :)

Anyway, just an update... I have lots more coming... including pictures of the house.

Parent Teacher Conferences & Halloween

Does this scare anyone but me? I always get so nervous when I go to talk with the kids teachers. I don't know why, it isn't ever bad per say... it is just that you never know how your kids behave when your not around. Some teachers they clash with, some they are a perfect match. I have to say THIS YEAR my kids both are perfect matches with their teachers. Pajha's teacher is amazing. She used to be a Lakers cheerleader, she is not only GORGEOUS but she has this cute bubbly personality and is just like Pajha! She had nothing but wonderful things to say about my little princess! Peyton's teacher is a Mister. LOVE THIS. I was so glad that he got a male teacher this year. Peyton looks up to him so much and his teacher has been so impressed with Peyton. He told me today that he feels like he has literally watched Peyton come out of his shell, and become so confident. Watching him on the school news team, and Peyton speaking up in class has really left an impression on him. Both teachers also commented on their artistic abilities! I am so proud of my little man. If you guys could have seen him a few years ago, and talked with his teachers a few years ago you would understand why this conversation nearly brought tears to my eyes. There is nothing that could have made me prouder today! Okay there is my bragging for a while :) I just am soooo happy!!!!! Here's to coming out of our shells... hahaha!

Off subject, Halloween came and went and we had a blast doing the trunk or treating with the ward this year. The kids pouted when I told them about

it but in the end had so much fun and were LOVING the amount of candy they got without having to walk forever! Pajha was a cheetah and Peyton was Darth Vador. I was myself. That is scary enough :) Here are a few pics!

A Possum, Opossum... whatever!

So... as most of you know BJay is away on business. Every time he leaves me for any reason some weird creatures show up to torment me. This is nothing new. It started back in the ARMY days. He would go out in the field and suddenly my house would be infested with lizards, or turtles would just randomly show up outside my door. True story. Strange. Well why in the world should this time be any different? So for about a week now I have been hearing things outside at night. Nothing too crazy, just the normal "creature" sounds. I am well aware of the 10 Raccoons we have living out there, but they hardly ever make their presence known. And when they do they are not nearly THIS noisy. So here I sit at night, all alone, kids in bed, TV on but muted so I can HEAR all the sounds and get myself so freaked out that there is no possible way that I will sleep. Why? Oh... I guess I am a sucker for TORTURE. So finally well into the wee hours of the morning I fall asleep... usually forced, with a headache and shortly after I wake up to annoying critters running around what seemed like at first was behind me (where just outside my bedroom wall is a little shed). UNTIL LAST NIGHT. Let me just tell you how this went.

Put the kids to bed around 8. Sat down to unwind, relax and watch Dancing with the stars. WHEN SUDDENLY... crashes, bangs, LOUD noises all around my house. I am now in a cold sweat, heart racing, shaking in my boots scared out of my mind. I rush to look out the sliding glass door to my backyard. Can't see a thing. So I calm myself down just to do it all over again. This went on for a while. I finally started chatting with my sister on Messenger. Asking for advice because by now I am in tears. Never been so TERRIFIED in

my life. I kept imaging that it was crazy people trying to lure me outside to kidnap me. I know... I have a very active imagination... and I watch way too much TV. My sister who is ever so calm and not at all scared of anything mostly just told me to "RUN. COME HOME. GET IN THE CAR. CALL THE POLICE!". See calm. So as I am contemplating calling the police I decide maybe I should use the bathroom before I do. Just in case. As I am walking back from the bathroom I hear it again. This time I am right there by the window I rush over and sure enough there it is. A big HUGE NASTY Possum. This thing is HUGE. As big as a full grown cat. Back to Messenger I went to tell my brave sister what I discovered. As I am doing this there was another crash this time right outside my living room window. This scared me soooo bad that I attempted to run like hell only my foot got stuck in the cord of my laptop and my attempts failed when I ended up on my face. Awesome, you big chicken.

I did however feel much better at least knowing that it was a Rat on steroids and not a murderer, aliens or anything of that nature. Then I started researching this nasty creature, and what I read I did not like. Back to being TERRIFIED. I forced myself to sleep around 1:30 am, only to be awoken at SIX AM by the pitter patter of critters RIGHT ABOVE MY HEAD. Loud, clear as day... they are LIVING in my attic! The kids heard it too only they thought it was Thimbletack from Spiderwick living in the attic.

Exterminators come tomorrow. Not soon enough. I hope I can endure another sleepless night. P.S the pictures do not even come close to doing the size of this creature any justice. I could not zoom, it was too dark and my camera obviously wasn't happy about what it was taking a picture of either because it just would not cooperate with me.

Is there an ECHO? Birthday Boy!!!!

I am TEN!

Mom is totally freaking out now....

I am smart, and funny, and all around great

I like things in order and don't like to be late

I love to draw and write and read

I take off on my scooter with a lot of speed

I like my room clean, tidy and neat

Give me some chocolate and I am sure to be sweet

I love church, my family, my friends and school

My teacher this year is really cool

Happy Birthday to me Happy Birthday to me

Aren't I the coolest kid you ever did see?

I love you my little man! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!!!!

I am SEVEN today!!!!!

And I couldn't be happier about it!!!!

Mom is a little traumatized but thats her own problem ;)

I am smart, I am fun I am lots and lots of giggles

I am sweet, I am kind, I often have the wiggles

I am happy, I am loud and I really love to eat

My favorite is Pizza, no wait.... spaghetti.... okay its sweets!

I love my brother, he's pretty cool

I love church, my friends and I really love school

I'm a daddy's girl, one hundred percent

If I don't start cleaning I might have to pay rent

I love my dolls, a little mommy in the making

I love to help mommy when she does her baking

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me

Aren't I the sweetest you ever did see???

I love you my stinker! Happy Birthday baby!