Life Update

The kids started school and they love their teachers! Cole decided he wants a pattern: mom walks him to class, Kayley walks him to class and then he walks alone, then repeat. Quite a difference from Kayley's attachment issues in Kindergarten!

We're moved into our new house now. The movers from church were amazing. They got to our condo at 9am Saturday and left the new house with everything moved at 11am! What a blessing! Our neighbors pretty much all have kids around Kayley and Cole's age and they have been outside playing with friends every day since we moved in. I will post pictures when our house looks less like a bomb went off inside and more like a real house.

Yesterday last year my Grandma Eve passed away. My heart is sad for my Grandpa; I know he misses her very much. We all do.

Today is my first day on both my new medications for allergies. I still haven't been given anything for my migraines. We're going to see if the allergies are a partial cause of the headaches. I'm loving my doctor!

Tyler is having minor surgery tomorrow. If you think of him, say a little prayer!

To Kayley Baily

Pretty Girl,


You're such a beautiful girl. You've made me so happy from the moment you were born. Once I saw that little bald head in the NICU with the pink bow glued to your head I fell in love for good. You were a fussy little thing. Your lungs made a funny sound and we called you wheezer. You loved to fall asleep on Hillary when she stroked your eyes. You really didn't like your daddy when you were a baby but he was still patient with you. You were happy when you were on a schedule and didn't like it when things didn't go as planned. We loved to sit and watch you as a baby. We wondered when you would crawl, when you would walk, when you would talk. And when you started these things there was no stopping you! You loved to walk outside in the sunshine and pick the "yayas." You had a language all your own. At the park you like to stay close to me. You were my little baby girl.

As a toddler you were so happy, so much fun! You learned to ride your bike when you were only three and were always more advanced physically than all your friends. You were, and are, a strong willed little kid, too. When you started school you did so well because you're such a smart kid. You are amazing at pretty much every subject, especially math and reading. I love that you have always had a soft spot for Jesus. You and I have had so many conversations about your understanding of God, what He's like and what you can do to obey Him. I know in my heart that you love Him very much.

Your love for all things boy makes me smile. I love that you've started wearing jewelry and that pink is a color you'll actually let me buy for you now. You have become aware of what matches and what doesn't. You have such a cute little girl figure and will probably look a lot like me when you're older. You've lost seven teeth, with one wiggly one on it's way out! You love to cuddle and have your arm scratched softly. You are quiet, shy and sweet but wild at times, too.

You're so big now, starting second grade today. It will take a while for you to warm up to your teacher and the kids in your class. But once they know you they will love you! I love you my sweet seven year old.


Love, Mom

To My Little Monkey

Coley Oley,

I cannot believe you are starting Kindergarten today. The time has gone by so very fast. Not too long ago you were a happy little baby, eating constantly and smiling all the time. You loved to lay in your crib wide awake and talk, giggle and do anything but sleep. But when the sun went down, you slept like a rock and woke up happy as a clam in the morning. You were easy to potty train but lots of times had better things to do than use the toilet. You would tell me "I was just busy." You really were. Always working hard on the task at hand, be it zooming Larry Boy to help the old lady crossing the street or watching "beggie" tales.

I love your ability to do things early, like learning to swim and riding your scooter and bike. I can still run faster than you but not by much. You're a fast little booger. I love that you love worship songs and that you sing them really loudly (and partially off key) in the bathtub. And your slightly rude saying "why you here?" when people come over is really kind of cute.

You have always used your charming little self to get out of trouble. You smile and melt my heart, son. Daddy says I baby you. It's true. You are my blue eyed little baby boy. You love to grab my face, turn it towards you and kiss me and say "I love you, mom." You love to help, especially with laundry, dishes and feeding the dog. You love to "sleep like a man" in your boxer briefs. You still love to eat anytime, any place and your giggle is contagious. You are tan like your dad and the little blond patch on the back of your head makes you even more special.

You will still be my funny, sensitive little man, even in kindergarten. I just get to share you with a whole new set of people who will like you a lot. But they'll never love you as much as your dad and I do. So go ahead, go throw grow up. I love you mister Cole.

Love, Mom

It's my blog and I'll only post six if I want to

1. Tuesday is weigh in day. 14 down, 3 to go!

2. Our house has just the bare necessities in it at this point. I'm getting very excited about moving!! After moving some stuff into the playroom at the new house I realized how much extra space the kids will have in this new place. The only problem we have at this point is that the closets have organizers (which I love!) in them and the amount of hanging space is very minimal.

3. Hartley was really sick this weekend. She has a double ear infection, threw up all day Sunday, got stung by a bee and got hives and had unfortunate number two's. Poor thing. After a visit to the vet yesterday she's feeling much better, thank goodness. She needs to stop eating stuff that isn't food! Darn puppy. And that solidifies our decision to not have any more kids!

4. I will never have to write a check for preschool ever again.

5. Kayley and I went shopping at Old Navy for school clothes and shoes. When we left she said it was the first time she has ever really liked shopping. I love spending time with my sweet seven year old!

6. I'm anxious to hear back from the doc about my migraines. I have one today and it sucks. I wish I had more to write about but I don't. Everything else is going well. Until next time, folks.

Two Very Different Subjects

I started writing about Cole and then some stuff happened. So now I'm writing about two completely unrelated things.

Today is Cole's last day of preschool.

I thought I would dread the day I took Cole to Kindergarten because it would mean he wouldn't be a baby anymore. I've enjoyed every moment of both kids' first years and I think I'll enjoy watching Cole start school, too. Kayley and Cole are still very young so it's not like I have adults who are ready for college yet (even though Kayley acts like she's 18 sometimes!). So, while I'm sad that Cole is getting bigger, I'm thrilled to watch him get bigger at the same time!

Today is also a heavy day for my heart. I see people close to me suffering, even dying and I feel helpless. I don't know if I should pray that God heal them and change their situation or if I should pray for God to comfort them as they pass through their tough times. Do you ever feel like your prayers are useless? I kinda feel that way today. I know it's not true, though. This is the moment when I have to lean in closer to God and have faith that He's listening.

Ten Nine On Thursday

1. I pretty much always start these on Tuesday and finish them on Thursday.

2. It has been a really slow week at work.

3. My friends are really fabulous. They treated me to dinner at Wood Ranch for my birthday and then we hot tubbed it afterwards. My coworker Katie got me a gift card to Express and I had a coupon to use so I went shopping! I got two work shirts and two others that I could probably dress up enough to wear them to work. Joanna got me jeans, a shirt and some unmentionables from American Eagle that I just love! All the gifts I got from friends and family have made me feel so very spoiled!

4. Sunday the kids and I picked up my coworker Georgia and we went hiking! I took Cole on the same hike once before but Kayley had never been before. Kayley caught a newt and we saw a few water snakes. Oh, we also saw a coyote on the way back down to Montecito in the car! Georgia treated us to hamburgers afterwards and Cole consumed about a half a cup of ketchup. Yum.

Here's the fun we had on the water slide!

5. This week has already proved to be a challenge for me. How did I ever do it alone?

6. Tuesday night was our walk through with the landlord. We weren't supposed to get the keys until the 16th but we have them now! I'm going to try and go to the house today or tomorrow and I'll take some pictures to post.

7. This weekend will be child free for me!

8. The jewelry I ordered came in. I just love Lia Sophia!

9. Our neighbor Lisa is really wonderful. She watched the kids so I could go grocery shopping and she and her son have walked Hartley a couple times this week. I'm sad to leave her. But everyone else I'm happy to leave!

Ten On Thursday

1. I feel so spoiled! Aloha Steakhouse was for dinner Tuesday night, then dessert with my family, then lunch yesterday with my coworkers at Endless Summer in Santa Barbara and a Whodidly cupcake today! I'm stuffed!

My wonderful hubby got me my coffee fix in the morning on my birthday and cooked dinner in the evening so I could relax. Now I'm looking forward to Saturday for girls night!!

2. School starts in three weeks. The summer has gone by so fast.

3. We met Tyler's grandma Ella this weekend. I think this was the first time she had been to Cali since we were married. The kids and I liked her a lot. She reminds me of my grandma Eve in some ways. I think it's because she's real spunky.

4. I got my baby fix holding little Riley on Sunday. He's a month old already and is the sweetest thing. Raeleen put him in the outfit I bought him and of course my heart just melted. Just call me a sucker.

5. Tuesday was the first day ever (since I can remember) that I left the dentist with clean teeth and no need for fillings! In Febuary I finally got all the dental work done to fix my teeth. I will never take my dental insurance for granted. It really is horrible to go without.

6. I know a couple of people who have been doing the juice fast from Fat, Sick and Nearly dead. I like the idea of it and I've been thinking of doing it myself. I know for sure I don't incorporate enough veggies into my diet. I eat plenty of fruit every day, though. Maybe after the move I might start juicing once a day for a while.

7. It's time for me to go clothes shopping. All my work pants are saggy and most of my shirts are too big. I know this isn't really a problem compared to some but it's starting to make me feel like a hobo. So clothes shopping I go!

8. I met my new doctor and I love her! She spent 45 minutes talking with me about my medical history and my migraines. After my bloodwork comes back I'll go back to see her and we'll figure something out. She's pretty sure I'm getting migraines from allergies and ragin' hormones.

9. Today is our neice, Zoey's birthday. She's two and getting so big. She loves to call me mom and say no to everything. Last week she loaded up the stepstool (turned upside down) with stuff and walked around the house with it saying "toys, toys." Love her!

10. A few days ago Cole woke up in the night to go potty. He didn't turn the bathroom light on and ended up going in the trash can. I guess it's better than going in his toy box in his room (a very close call) or going without pulling the lid up off of the toilet (and making quite a mess to clean up!). Oh boys, gotta love them!