MEMORIES

Ok, saw this on my friend, Katie's blog and loved this idea.
here's how it works, or is supposed to work. ;)
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next-repost these instructions on your blog, and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume your playing the game, and visit your blog and leave one about you! Reminisce away...

MY BABY'S NOT A BABY, ANYMORE...

weird, i don't know why this picture
is on it's side. sorry

(this one, too? As if I've never blogged
before, right?)

IT'S OFFICIAL.
I don't have a baby anymore.
Toby turned 2 today, and though it makes me a little sad, I am just adoring the phase he is approaching. He is getting so smart, and trying so hard to communicate with us.
A few ways I actually see him growing up are:
*sleeping in a big boy bed. No more crib. It's torn down and out of the house.
*Not using a booster or his high chair anymore, unless we're at a restaraunt, of course.
*Knowing that the toilet takes our poop and pee "bye bye"
*Sharing his toys with Jacob and Dusty.
*Eating Pizza and Burritos. This boy is so his mom and dad! We'd eat those every day if we could.
This boy is such a joy to our family. I can't imagine our family without him. He is smart and loving, sweet and funny. and soo darn cute.
(pics to go with all this tomorrow. need hubby to figure out why my pics won't upload. ugh!)
Happy Birthday, sweet Toby.

ROCKIN' and ROLLIN' today

Yep! We felt it.
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake in So Cal today, just the 2nd day of school for us, and already, so much excitement. (oh, they just dropped it to a 5.4)
My friend, Julie and her kids were here visiting with Toby and I, having lunch. And, if you know me, you know that freaked out a little, and Lexi and I were in the doorway within seconds.
The boys didn't feel a thing, and if you know Julie, you know that she's so CHILL, it didn't bother her at all. She kept us all calm.
I'll post pics of Kids going to soon. I promise.

I am figuring that LA felt it worse than we did. We're just a few miles from the epicenter. But from what I see on the News, it looks like the damage is not close to us.
We didn't have cell service for a while, but our landlines are up and good. But aparently there
phone lines down and water mains broken, but not here by us.
Just reporting so you'd all know we'd be safe.

Another Coupon Post, I know, I'm sorry. I'm done for the week, yah, right...lol

first stop, CVS. I had to try the BOGO and
try to use my BOGO coupon on the Vive
shampoo and conditioner, and guess what?
It totally worked. I got them for FREE.
Also got the CVS hand lotion free using skin care
coupon, and paid 91cents OOP for the pencils.
School starts in 2 day....AHHHHH!

2nd Stop, Albertsons.
I know, more of the same, but here goes anyway...
1 chex mix, 3 cheerios mix, 2 bugles...for hubby,
4 sudd salads, 4 Fiber one yogurts, 2 pop secrets,
3 curves bars, 2 Fiber one bars, 1 choc chip cookie
break and bake and 6 Fruit Gushers (not shown-
gave to Julie for a swap) All this for 18.20
I have to say that the Albertsons in Corona on Foothill
are some of the nicest checkers and workers I have
EVER come in contact with. You always hope for
a nice checker when you are trying to work a deal,
especially with so many coupons, and they have alllll
been sooooo nice. 3 transactions in 3 days. Want to
shop there more. Hopin' they keep the deals coming,
so I can.
good luck to you on your shopping adventures...
later MAN!

my second trip to Albertons. I'm totally OCD, I know!

Really, I bought all the same stuff as the first trip.
5 curves bars (.50Cents per box)
5 Fiber Ones bars (.30cents per box)
10 Fruit by the foot (.75 cents a box)
2 bags of Bugles (1$ each)
2 Chex Mix (less than 1$ each)
Cheerios Mix (less than 1$)
10 boxes of Trix (.50cents a box)
and 5 Fiber One Yogurt packs (FREE)
total was 19.34
total savings was $141.70$
That's 87.8% off. WOW! My best ever.
Thanks Albertsons. I love you this week.
I'm totally going back with the other Qs I found.

An Afternoon Bike ride

A new bike from Grandma and Grandpa...
check out my cool helmet, too.

Cute Dusty. Posing for yet another picture.
can you just hear him?
"come on, Mom..."

The backside of Toby. Isn't he so cute?
from every angle. he totally is loving this
bike. This was the first time outside with it.
totally using his Fred Flinstone feet,
not quite tall enough for the pedals.

Mr. Dolphin, the artist who lives in my house

While Toby slept, and Brynne was at a friends'
house, Dusty wanted to do something fun.
He decided upon painting. and then informed me
that while being an artist, i need to refer to him
as "Mr. Dolphin"

Isn't he so cute. The things 6 year olds come up
with, is funny, and cute and really, need I say more?

My Kids love Baby Lexi

Lexi is my friend, Julie's daughter. And my
kids really love her. Especially Toby, though
I don't have a pic of him with her.
He cried when we pass thier house, and don't stop.
saying, "mom, Baby. mom, mom, mom. Baby!"

Here's Brynne being a cute little mommy sitter,
feeding and putting Lexi to sleep, and Dusty
posing for the picture.

My sweet Hubby, Ryan, and his friends, had a REUNION beach trip

Here is the man himself...RyDog Shumway! looking
quite a bit tired, and cold. BRRRRR!

and here are some of the buddies...
? who is the cute girl wearing Hot pink? next,
Wendy Mills Manning in light pink, Josh McBride,
Ronnie and Mindy Bain Skaggs, and Ry again.
on the bottom, Josh's wife Megan and daughter,
and Amber Bills Bain.

Again, Ronnie and Mindy, my Ryan and Amber,
then Dietr and Debbie Storrer and my boy, Dusty's
big head with the infamous marshmallow poker.

Tracy Bain and his oldest son.
sorry about the crazy reflections behind you, man.
Tracy really helped bail us out. we ended up without
a firepit, so he brought half a bbq from home.
boy did it work great. Thanks MAN!

More pics of Our "Reunion" Beach trip

Tobes and Brynne waiting for some food...posing
for thier Mom, saying "CHEEEEESE"

The two love birds after almost 11 years...can
you believe it? Terrible picture. Ryan was
freezing, and my hair is a horrid mess. it was so
windy and the sun came out for 10 minutes,
around 7:30 pm. Sheesh.

Tobes and Mom, having some cuddle time.
Toby was starting to get real tired at this point.

And a pic of my funny boy, Dusty.
I think he only had Marshmallows for
dinner. I kept telling him to put the poker
down, but he kept doing what he does best,
ignoring his mom. He probably ate about 14
marshmallows.
ugh.

Our Grandma and Papa came yesterday!

Here's a group shot. Everyone so happy!

Toby opened this cute ape from the Junglebook.
It is so soft and cuddly. Thanks for the gift :)

Papa and Grandma bought Dusty LOTS of legos.
So Papa and Dusty put one together, right away.
Thanks Papa :)

This is Toby's new BIKE. which I love to hear
him say. "BIKE" He had a hard time going to
bed without his bike. And when he saw the bike
this morning, he was so HAPPY.
Thanks for a wonderful afternoon and dinner
and staying for cake and ice cream.
We loved having you, and hope you can make
more visits like that.

a cute pic of Dusty as a 2 year old

I thought I should post something loving
about Dusty. This is one of my favorite pics
of him out in the yard when he was two. It's
a genuine half smile. You can tell he had just
had a Haircut. Wondered if Matt and Laura
think Chase looks anything like Dusty?
I always thought as a baby, Dusty looked like
his Uncle Matt?
Any thoughts?

It's not rain in July, it's BROKEN Glass

UGH
do you ever have those moments where
you think "What was this kid thinkin?"
Dusty was out in the back, on the bank,
with Toby. Ryan was doing just a little lite
housekeeping out there...and I heard a loud
high pitched THUD.
I opened this door, and when I saw the broken
glass on the other side, I could not figure out
why my child decided to throw a ROCK at the
glass door.
WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?
and when I ask him, you know, he has NO CLUE!

We are being orientated to having a 6 year old,
I guess. Tell me it can get better. Guess that money
he's been saving is now going towards a new piece of
glass for the door.

WELCOME TO Being Parents of a 6 yr old Boy!
and to think, Poor Ryan was out there cleaning,
trying to make our new pool more enjoyable, and
then had to clean up a new mess...
The question at hand is, How much does a piece of
glass cost?
Anyone have any guesses?

My favorite pics of our day at the beach

Brynne and Dusty on the pier. my girl
loves to be photographed.

Toby was really tired, and the sand was just a little warm,
not hot yet. His eyes were closed, I really thought for
a minute, he was going to try to sleep. But, he opened his
eyes the second the camera flashed.

My 3 kids touching the water at Huntington.
Toby was delighted, until he fell in a few moments after
this. Then, he was done, but Brynne and Dusty and I
went in the water, and jumped some of the waves.
Sooo Fun!

Kung Fu Panda Party

Kung Fu Training.
Learning to punch, block and kick.
then they took it out on the balloons.

Pin the Sword on Poe

Opening Presents

The shy Birthday boy. I love this cute
face. Happy birthday, Dust.

This was a really fun party.
The boys started by training.
That earned them their belt.
Then they did a high kick skill; earned a stripe
on their belt.
Wrote their name in Chinese, earned a stripe
on their belt.
Pinned the Sword on Poe. earned another stripe
on their belt.
and after presents and cupcakes, left with sweet
Kung Fu Panda goody bags, thanks to the TARGET
1$ section.
So fun. Dusty loved it, and so did the boys.
It kept them busy and interested, and in check.

My DUSTY is 6!

Dusty wanted to go to the beach for his birthday.
It was a great day to be there. overcast and
nice.
Here he is on the pier and then at the water.


I love you buddy. Thanks for keeping me on my
toes and being so sweet.

Best friends for 30 YEARS~

Unbelievable...I know.
Lauren and I have been friends since we were
3 years old, and not a day goes by that I don't
think of her...and her sweet family.
We've only lived near each other for 3 of those
30 years. They moved to Florida a few years
ago, and it never fails...we can go years without
seeing each other, but when we get together, it's like
we were never apart. Like we just pick up where
we left off. Like going home. It just feels normal.
no awkwardness...sheesh. I love you Lauren...
Hope to move closer to you soon....
Thanks for fitting us in, on your busy VaCA!
I'll miss you til the next time, but know that we're
never really apart.