Why Buy Toys?...

Why do we bother buying toys? Well the answer is because the toys always seem so cool to mom and dad! Today I had a good friend of mine over with her little girl who is 9 months old! I had just recently gotten down all the infant toys (these toys were Liliana and Dillon's toys as infants that I saved), and thought Laney (my friend's daughter) would like to play with them now that she is moving and groovin these days! She loved playing with them, but liked playing with Dillon and Ava much more! She is so far an only child so other little kids around pleases her to pieces! After my friend and her little girl left there was a whole family room full of toys that had come from an empty plastic storage bin. So what do my 3 kids do... they play with the the darn empty bin! Granted the toys are all infant toys but that doesn't usually bother the younger two! I swear if I knew what I know now back when Liliana was first born I would have just bought an extra set of pots and pans, wooden spoons, tupperware, and big plastic storage bins beccause thats all these kids ever seem to want to play with!

So guess what I will be doing this weekend... yeahup getting rid of more toys!

2 Months Already...

Sniffle Sniffle... Garrison is 2 months old today! Its bittersweet! I want him to grow up but yet would love him to stay this small forever! Its crazy how fast 2 months have gone by! He is certainly growing very fast. He smiles at all of us, loves to coo and gets all excited when wide enough awake! He really likes Liliana, I can put him in her arms crying and a few minutes later he is all snuggled up on her chest fast asleep! He is a very easy baby but I think I can say he is easy because he is #4 however, he is the first baby that is very very very fussy at night and even sometimes during the day! I don't mind the crying and lack of sleep though. His face scrunches up in the cutest way when he is upset and crying, I can't help but love it! I don't like when he is upset but at the same time I have learned that he is going to cry from this time to this time and that all he wants is to cuddle, be held, and loved so that is what I do! Like I said above he is growing so fast and soon I will miss these days no matter if he cried more than he smiled, I will still miss these days!

Garrison's Baptism...

The day finally arrived. The day was a very busy one. I woke up with a list of things I knew had to be completed by 4PM. In attendance were myself, Marc, our children, great-grandma Simpson, Aunt Jeneen, Papa, Grandma, Aunt Donna, Uncle Jeff, Mandy, and Erin! Sadly Uncle Pat, Matthew and Jason could not attend. We all met at our house, drove over to 4:30pm Mass and then had the Baptism at 5:30PM! It was a nice ceremony lasting 30 minutes. Garrison was the best dressed in a baptismal gown that Marc's mom made for Jarrod (Marc's younger brother). Not only was this Jarrod's old gown but Liliana, Dillon, and Ava all wore it! Garrison luckily timed his feedings just perfect for this wonderful day. He slept pretty much during the entire Mass AND Baptism! The only thing that I feel a little bummed about is... we were all so hungry and in a rush to get back to my house for dinner that we didn't take the time to capture as many pictures as I wanted! I love having the pictures to remind me of these special days and even though we got a few shots of myself and Marc, the godparents

(Aunt Donna and Uncle Jeff), and a group shot of all of us together, to me its not enough!! All in all despite the lack of pictures, it was a beautiful day!

Disney Princess Cooking With Ava...

For Ava's birthday she received a gift that I thought was neat. It was a Disney Princess Cool Easy Bake Oven. Cool oven because it doesn't plug in and it cooks the cake mixes with cold icy air! Sadly with Garrison's arrival and so many things on the calendar lately finding time to open the box and do this fun activity with Ava didn't come until this week! She was so excited when I got the box out and told her she was going to make a cake! It came with two kinds of cakes, chocolate and vanilla. She picked the vanilla to make on this day. So once the choice for what kind of cake to make was made, it was time to set up the oven. I snapped the pieces together, got out the pans, measuring cup, spatula, and mixing spoon that came with the oven. She was so excited she started grabbing and playing with the measuring cup and spoon withOUT anything in the cup!! It was very cute! I told her what she had to do and she followed my directions perfectly! We spooned the mix into the baking pans and put it inside her "cool" oven! Basically what made this oven a "cool" oven was it had a drawer underneath the shelf where you had to put mini icecubes into! 10 minutes later the timer went off and Ava quickly opened her oven door to find 2 spongy cakes fully baked and ready to frost! She picked the chocolate frosting packet and mixed it up, then spread it all over the tops of the cakes (she made 2 of them) and then put sprinkles on top! The funniest part was when she got ready to eat one, Dillon walked over and asked ever so nicely if he could have one. Now remember there were 2 cakes, she had 1 with chocolate frosting covering the top of it completely and then the other had just a small circle of frosting with lots of sprinkles all over it! Sure enough Dillon didn't just want 1 but he wanted the one with all the frosting. Ava looked at him and said "no" and so Dillon put the thinking cap on and said "But Ava this cake has way more sprinkles" You could tell she really thought about what he just told her but wasn't completely falling for it! She knew he wasn't going to give up so she looked at him with a frustrated facial expression and said "Fine then you can have this one" and gave him the one with all the frosting smeared all over the top!! It was so very nice of her to not only share but to give Dillon the one he so desperately wanted!!

This oven is my favorite gift any of the kids have ever gotten from someone on their birthday! Its the neatest idea. Its not near as much work as the regular easy bake oven and takes way less time! I will definitely be buying refills for this "fancy cool oven"!!

Lots and Lots on Valentine's Day...

The planning for Valentine's Day started on Friday the 13th! I decided we would make our own chocolate covered strawberries since the grocery stores prices for 4 strawberries was OUTRAGIOUS! All 3 kiddos LOVED dipping the strawberries in the melted chocolate! While those hardened in the fridge I sent the children upstairs to play while I typed up clues for the scavenger hunt I wanted to do with them on Valentine's Day. Next I had the children help me make the clue backgrounds that I would later glue the actual clues to! They enjoyed this and it got them even more excited for their "hunt" that would happen the following day!

Valentine's Day


The day finally arrived. Marc sadly had to work most of the day so I had to make the morning special for the kids without him. I made heartshaped pancakes, french toast, strawberries, and sausage. Basically all their favorites. We then headed over to Papa's and Grandma's house for a nice bike ride/run through the neighborhood on really nice paths. Once Marc came home from work we headed back home to meet him, where I set up their "clues" and let them hunt for their Valentine gifts. The younger two sorta got some of the clues but Liliana was definitely the one solving and telling where to go next! Once they found their gifts, it was time for me to start dinner. It was the fanciest VDay dinner to date...prime rib with all the fixings! For dessert we enjoyed our homemade chocolate covered strawberries along with a heartshaped berry cake! It was yet another fun day to remember!

As for Marc and I, we don't exchange gifts. I personally do NOT like flowers... they are pretty but the die and are a waste of money. I LOVE candy but LOVE even more to save a penny or two so we buy chocolate and such the day after when its on clearance!! I am not a big jewelry fan either! I know I am the perfect NON high maintenance chic out there!! HEHE So needless to say I wasn't expecting anything! Around 9PM when all were asleep including the baby Marc says "Don't come in the room yet, wait 5 minutes then knock." So I do as instructed ... The door opens and Marc says "Welcome to Tocaloma Spa De Marc" (Tocaloma Spa is where I had the most wonderful spa package in Scottsdale last year for a Bday/Christmas present). He made me a nice bath and gave me a really nice massage. Normally if I want my back rubbed I have to get him on a good day and early enough in the night! As hard as I "work" around the house I always feel guilty asking for him to massage my back especially since he has been working just as hard away from the house! He did a great job planning out how I could relax and not worry about the kids, especially the baby which is VERY cranky in the late evening time! Of course as soon as I stepped into the bath tub I could hear Garrison start to cry and then Marc calming him back to sleep! Typically Marc doesn't deal with Garrison at night time because he claims "Garrison only wants me and wont calm down for him", but Marc was so determined for me to relax that he managed to keep Garrison calm and spend some daddy time with him! I think not hearing Garrison screech and cry was better than the warm soothing bath I was laying in thats how fussy he is at night! I must say it was the PERFECT most present out of all the years we have been married!

Dillon's Preschool Valentine Party...

Yesterday was Dillon's preschool Valentine's Day Party. The teachers had themed centers, themes snacks, a valentine heart bean bag toss, and a valentine exchanged planned for the kids. Parents were once again allowed to attend so I was there! Dillon liked the Candy Heart Matching Game but was upset he couldn't sit next to his girl Korynne! Next center was snack... they each got a cookie to decorate along with a cupcake. Then was the valentine exchange where they practiced recognizing each others names on the paper bags and dropping the labeled valentine in the correct bag! The final center was where the kids got a little crazy and tosses around bean bags in the shape of hearts. Dillon and Korynne stayed near each other as much as possible! It was very cute. I even convinced them to take a picture together! Definitely a page I can't wait to scrapbook!! All in all it was a fun afternoon! As soon as we got home Dillon could NOT wait to go through his paper bag, which might I add was pretty darn full!

They Grow So Fast...

Liliana is 7 years old and will turn 8 this coming May. She weighs 50 lbs and is a little over 4 ft tall. She reminds me so much of myself as a little girl. (Its sometimes a little scary) Her love for babies makes her an excellent helper with Garrison these days. She is a very sensitive and loving girl that ALWAYS wants to be doing something, anything!

Dillon is 4 years old and will turn 5 this coming May as well! He weighs 38 lbs and is 3 1/2 ft tall. He also likes to be my helper but enjoys helping me cook more than anything! He has embraced being a new big brother and likes to make his presence known these days by saying some of the funniest things I have ever heard come out of a little boys mouth! He spends most of his days now talking about his "girlfriend" in his preschool class.

Ava just turned 3 years old a couple weeks ago. She says shes NOT a "big girl but a big sister". She is struggling to share her "mommy time" with her new little brother as she was the one and only "baby" until Garrison arrived! She always wants to be talked to, played with, cuddled and hugged whether her baby brother is around or not! She is full of energy these days and NEVER wants to take a nap! She is very stubborn and strong willed but I try to see the positives in these qualities! She is just like Liliana when it comes to her love for babies and having that kind and caring side to her personality!

Garrison is growing like a weed. He was only 6lbs 4oz when born just 6 1/2 weeks ago and today he is just over 9 1/2 lbs! He is holding his head up by himself a lot more. He stays awake much longer and has been focusing better on objects and everyones faces. He is still the center of attention to the other children and fought over for who can hold him next. I try my hardest to NOT hold him during the day other than for feedings and diaper changes. My time with him is when I am dead tired and up with him alone at night! I find it challenging somedays to give everyone their desired 1 on 1 attention but find confort knowing they all know I love them each very much!

Its been an interesting few weeks since the arrival of Garrison, but just like when all the others arrived, we adjusted and time flew by. Its amazing to me how fast time has flown by and how fast it continues to fly by! I cherish each and every day. It doesn't matter if I want to pull my hair out by days end... there were still plenty of good moments throughout that good or sometimes very bad day!

"She Came Back To Me"

"She Came Back To Me" was a line that Dillon said to me while I was sewing this afternoon. He was handing me pins and all of a sudden said this to me??!! I looked at him and asked who he was talking about. So he went on to tell me that Korynne his "friend that hugs him and holds his hand and he plans dates in the afternoons with" WAS Tegan's girl but now she "came back to him"!! I almost peed my pants! He said it with the most serious of faces! Then I started asking him if he hugged or kissed or held her hands today... he looked me straight in the eyes and said she kissed him. I opened my mouth and said "WHAT" and he said "calm down mom I am just messing with ya!" He is such a mini Marc with his sense of humor!!
I think its so funny and cute that he LOVES to talk to me about his days with Korynne... especially since I know that when he is older I will be lucky to know anything about who he likes and wants to date!!
Oh if only I could freeze time and keep him this age forever!! Then again it is gonna be such fun to watch him grow and see his personality become funnier and funnier!!

Garrison's First Bath...

Ok this wasn't really his first "bath" but his first bath in the big bath tub. Up until today I was bathing him in my bathroom sink. Yes he fit just fine!! I was waiting on my trip to Target for the bath cushion a friend of mine recommended. I HATE those baby tubs. They are so big and always in the way when not in use that I always bathed the kids in the sinks as long as I could! So when my friend told me about this bath cushion it sounded like something I should have discovered 4 kids ago! Its just a regular foam bath cushion that is around $6 at Target. It has a heat sensor built in so if the water is too hot it turns a color before you put baby in the water! After the baby's bath is complete you just ring it out and let it dry.

Anyway, so today was the lucky day. I have had a very cranky baby the last few days and have found giving Garrison a warm bath or even just putting him in some warm water calms him. I turned on the shower and he immediately calmed down some. As the water warmed up, I got him all undressed. Still calm. I checked the water and put him in. His reaction... still calm! He just looked around since the surrounding area usually is the entire bathroom, this time... just the white perimeter of the tub! I started to pour water on him, he kicked and swung him arms, also things he really couldn't do in the sink. I began to wash him with his body and he just sat there and seemed to be enjoying it. I then washed his hair. After I began to pour the water on his head he started making the funniest of faces...

I pulled him out of the tub, dried him off, got him dressed, and within 5 minutes he was fast asleep! Gotta love how a bath relaxes a cranky baby!

Its Already Starting...

All I can say is "Its already starting!" All Marc can say is "You the man Dillon". Dillon officially has his first "girlfriend". He will say that shes not his girlfriend but you all can be the judge...

About 3 weeks ago the teacher asked me if it was ok to give a classmate Korinne's mother our phone number. I said sure but then was wondering why and just had to ask. Her response was that Dillon and Korrine were sitting at one of their centers and were "planning" an afternoon together! Dillon was offering to cook her nuggets and french fries or mac cheese! They then were planning an afternoon at the park where he would push her on the swings and go down the slides with her! So after his teacher informed me of their conversation, I came home and asked him about what Korinne talked about with him today. He went on to tell me all that his teacher had told me a little earlier. I decided it would be fun to bring this topic up when Marc got home later that evening. We began to ask him silly questions like "did you hold her hand, or kiss or hug her, do you like her, is she your girlfriend! His reaction was HILARIOUS! He got all red in the face and said "NO she is just my friend". He didn't get mad, he actually liked Marc and I asking him these "silly" questions. He even said that we were both silly!

Over the last 3 weeks he comes home some days talking about Korrine and other days not saying a word. Today was one of those days that he had to tell me about his day with Korrine. He informed me that not only did they have lunch and an afternoon at the park planned out but that they held hands, hugged, and that she kissed his shirt 3 times! We were at Papa and Grandma's this afternoon when he told me all this and so I started to "mess" with him like a few weeks earlier. I asked why she hugged him and held his hand. I dropped open my mouth and said he was too young for her to like him. He started doing the infamous Dillon faces with a silly smirk on his face! It was too funny! At the end of our conversation he told all of us that "Its ok and that he and Korrine are just friends NOT girlfriend and boyfriend"! It was too cute but all I could think was "Great its already starting"!

I will say, this little girl is the CUTEST girl in his class. They are all very cute but she is my pick for the cutest! And of course whats Marc's response to all this he says "Way to go Dillon you the man!"

Working For Their Dinner...

Tonight was an interesting night... Liliana decided she wanted to help me cook (a raritity in itself), that of course led to Dillon peeking his head up from the couch where he was so soundly napping and saying "No I cook with mommy", well like a domino effect Ava of course wanted to help! That leads me to what was on

the menu for tonight... Italian Pan Seared Lamb Chops, Spinach, Asparagus, Garlic Bread, and Salad. Once I knew I was going to have 3 helpers instead of my normal one (Dillon), I quickly brainstormed who could do what without risking the result of a tasty dinner. Dillon was assigned biscuit and salad duty, Liliana was assigned Lamb Chop topping and Spinach, and Ava decided she would do the laundry. I know I know... Ava and her laundry obsession! There was a fresh load of diapers that needed to be stacked and put away so she was all over that task!! It was very funny to see all of them working so well on each individual task. Usually I only allow 1 or 2 at a time since they usually all start to fight and the meal ends up burned or not quite "right" but the assigned tasks given were PERFECT. Dinner came out as well as it could have, they all were very proud of their contribution, and I was glad everyone worked well together instead of fighting!

The Winter Crops...

Cauliflower

Jalepenos

Broccoli

So Marc and I wanted to keep the garden going throughout the entire year but haven't ever planted in this climate before. So everything we planted this winter season was an "experiment". I am happy to report that we have cauliflower, broccoli, jalepenos, green peppers, and tomatoes all growing wonderfully! We have picked about a handful of tomatoes now and have plenty more coming in! The only crop that didn't do well in the cooler desert weather was the squash, which if all of you remember did beyond awesome in the spring/summer months!

I am anxious for the broccoli and cauliflower to finish growing so we can have our taste. Its amazing how well this little corner area of a yard is growing and providing for us, mainly because of my awesome gardner...Marc!

Green Peppers

Tomatoes

Papa Bing's Visit...

Ava taking a nap ON Papa Bing

Dillon watching Wall-E RIGHT NEXT to Papa Bing.

It was once again that time of year for my father, Papa Bing, to come and visit for a couple weeks! Its always nice to see my father but its even nicer to have someone extra around to keep the kids busy! The kids had a blast playing with him but also convincing him that a "snack" just before dinner was ok, or bedtime was later than normal, or that it was ok to start the day with junkfood instead of a healthy breakfast, or ok to head downstairs and skip the morning upstairs routine! But I think all Papas let the kids bend and break the rules! Its makes it at times trying on me, who is such a strict routine kind of mom, but its nice at the same time because it reminds me its ok if things don't always go as planned and can go back to normal the next morning! I unfortunately didn't snap pictures as much as I normally would have for various reasons but I did capture an afternoon nap and a group shot before he left for Georgia!

This morning we all loaded into my van to take him to the airport. Every child but Garrison shed some tears as they kissed him goodbye and continued to ask when he would be back to visit. The morning of Papa Bing's departure

The Pantry Is Tiled...

I am proud to announce that after a couple days hard work, I cut, layed, and grouted the tile inside my new (well not so new these days) pantry! It was a project Marc and I went back and forth on as to what type of floor to put in it! After deciding tile was the easiest and best option it then came down to time. Sadly with Marc changing jobs, the busy holiday season, and of course another hard pregnancy he never found time to do it!

I broke down and took advantage of my dad visiting from out of town and was able to complete it! I think I did a decent job. Afterall it is just a "closet area"! Here are a couple pictures, one being the tile after I cemented it down and the other of the finished grouted floor!

The Last 8 Years...

So an old friend kept asking me to post pictures of the older children when they were little. I guess curious minds wondered if all my children looked alike at the same ages. The answer to this question is yes but to prove it... enjoy a look back at random pictures from the last 8 years!

Dillon a couple weeks old

Garrison a couple weeks old

(Notice the facial expression)

Liliana and Dillon holding Ava the day she came home from the hospital

Dillon holding his new little brother.

Liliana holding Dillon, 2004

Liliana holding Garrison, 2008

Ava on the left and Liliana on the right.

They are the the same age!

Dillon a couple weeks old, 2004

Dillon holding Ava who is a couple days old, 2006

Dillon a couple days old

Marc holding Liliana, a couple days old

Garrison a couple weeks old