Time Flies When You're...hmm am I having fun?

It's hard to keep up with this blogging "thing" once school starts. Every time I read someone else's blog I always think to myself "Gee, I should update mine." Of course I decide I'd rather go to bed then take the time to tell you about the latest in my life.
If you don't know already Bryan and I are expecting!! This will be our third child and as of now the house is split.
Girl-2 votes
Boy-2 votes
Although, I'm pretty sure Bella and Gus would vote for a girl as well.

We find out the gender on November 17th but we won't ACTUALLY find out till that weekend. My sister is throwing me a "Gender Reveal" party...don't ask. I've never been good at surprises so I don't know how I'm going to handle this, even if it is only waiting 1-2 days.

October is always a busy month----my grandmother's birthday, Hunter's birthday and of course Halloween. We have a tradition that we do every year. There is a pumpkin patch nearby that we've been going to since Hunter was probably 2 or 3. They have this shark slide (can't believe they still have it) that Hunter used to ask me to get him for his birthday. This thing is taller than my house and probably costs a gazillion dollars.

I couldn't even fit the whole thing in the picture if I still wanted you to see Hunter. He still loves it but now that love only lasts about 5 minutes. Ava on the other hand enjoys these blow up slide things from a distance.She much prefers swinging and climbing through tunnels.

Our whole purpose of going to the pumpkin patch was to pick out pumpkins. I'm sure your wondering where are the pictures of the kids choosing their pumpkins. I would have but I was busy taking pumpkins out of the wagon as fast as Ava was putting them in. After she tired of that I was busy running after her and freaking out because we were right near a very busy street (she's fast, even for a 2 year old). After about 10 minutes of this I finally grabbed 2 pumpkins, paid for them and watched the kids zoom past me to play. Go figure.

I love traditions and I love spending time with my family. Some of my fondest memories have been traditions that my parents created with my sister and I. Bryan and I have made it an important part of our family to create our own traditions that I hope Hunter, Ava, and Baby Carey will remember for a lifetime. Here's to family, traditions and creating memories!

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!! Be safe and get lots of candy!!!!

Practice Makes Perfect!

Oh blog, how I have neglected thee…not only have I really blown this whole blog thing but I think my blog probably thinks I’m a little schizo seeing that I’ve changed the name 3x. You see, here is my problem…I want to keep up with blogging trends. I’d love for people to WANT to read my blog and it has to be interesting and funny---two things that are not me. I am not a great writer but I’ve decided I need to take the advice I give my students ALL THE TIME: To be a great writer you have to WRITE! The funny part…well…unfortunately my sister would need to be writing this blog for that to happen. Since she doesn’t read blogs and probably doesn’t even know what a blog is then you get to enjoy my sense of humor or rather lack of.

At this very moment my house is in shambles. We decided after living here for two years we would FINALLY take out the carpet and pull up the wood floors in the kitchen. Little did we know when we started this “little” project that we would discover that the wood is all rotted along the double doors going out into our backyard. Now we have to fix the rotting wood and replace the doors. That doesn’t seem sooooo bad does it? Well the floors were supposed to in and everything was to be finished this past weekend but because of the rotting wood fiasco I now have to wait until this weekend JUST to get the wood replaced and the new doors put in. Who knows when my floors will be finished? For now we must run through an obstacle course of misplaced furniture, half empty paint cans, and various tools that could easily impale you if made the wrong misstep. Even the counters are not safe…you could easily pick up your drink only to find that you are choking on dust from a Crate and Barrel vase. My house resembles and a cross between an episode of “Hoarders” and any show on HGTV (your choice). In the end it will all be worth it!! (That’s what I keep telling myself)

Where's Hunter



I’m really enjoying my summer off! I’ve enjoying sleeping in almost every day, going to the pool, taking naps, spending time with my kids, taking naps, watching as much TV as I want, taking naps…you get the picture.

Hunter has been busy this summer going to Boy Scout Summer Camp and visiting relatives in New York. It was quiet when he was gone…a little too quiet at times. I’ve enjoyed seeing him off playing with friends and listening to Ava begging to tag along. I can’t believe he’s going to fifth grade! One more year till MIDDLE SCHOOL!!! Am I really old enough to have a child this close to entering the next phase of childhood? Last time I checked he was two and sleeping on vacuum cleaners (just wait buddy…oh, the stories I’m planning to tell your future wife). Now he’s almost as tall as me and is constantly reminding me that he is a “pre-teen”. Sometimes when I look at him I see a glimpse of a teenager but then his child like features push their way back and I feel relief that I have a little bit longer till I start hearing that change in his voice and worst yet…HAIR—MAN HAIR!! Oh dear…I’m going to have nightmares tonight.

My “diva-in-training” said to me today, “You’re jealous!”….what?!? How does a 2 year old know that phrase and better yet does she even know what it means! This seems to be her catch phrase as she’s been saying it A LOT lately. I believe she may have heard me say it to my sister a few times too many.

Ava and Bella our cat have been bonding lately, or should I say Ava has been fervently trying to befriend Bella as if her life depended on it. If Bella could talk I believe the conversation would sound a little like this:

Ava: Sit Bella Sit. (pushing down on Bella’s back)


Bella: What the hell? I am not a dog. I do not sit when commanded.


Ava: (hands around Bella’s neck) Come on Bella, wanna snuggle? (pitch of voice gets higher)


Bella: GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY NECK, B#%$*!


Ava to me: Bella wants to take a nap with me and sleep in my bed


Bella: The hell I do…mom…mom…nooooo don’t close the door!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Thursday!!

It's time...

I can't believe it's been a year since I last posted! Well, hopefully now that I have a new idea of what I want to do with this blog I will be better about posting.

I have recently become RE addicted to makeup. Here's how it happened: I decided over the Christmas break that I wanted to get a "new" look...something I could wear for New Years or other special occasions. So, I went to my FAVORITE makeup store--MAC--and fell in love with the makeup the girl at the counter was wearing...Well after about 45 min I left with a new look and about $100 worth of makeup. My sister was with me and well....lets just say that we both fed into each others frenzy over the makeup. It's been down hill for me since then. Les and I went back to the MAC counter about a week later and spent even more money. Don't even get me started on the Vegan eyeshadows created by Indie companies that we discovered this past week. I need to start posting pics so you can see all the great colors. Bryan of course thinks I'm crazy but at least my attention has been slightly turned away from Matilda Jane for the time being...at least for another 2 weeks that is :)

Oh and here are some pics of the kids to satisfy any family members who aren't really here to listen to me rant and rave about things I'm buying :)

Ava in September 2009

Ava had not starting walking yet but she was able to stand up on her own. I kept saying "I can't wait for her to start walking"...didn't I learn my lesson from Hunter :)

5 months!!!!

It's been since August when I made my last post!!! I guess you can tell how busy I've been. It seems like since I've been back at work I have NO life!!! I go in super early, get home late, play, feed, bath and put the kids to bed, do some MORE work and then go to bed myself. Sometimes I feel like a zombie walking around. So I'm going to try my best to recap the last 5 months :) So in August our friends Buck and Barb came to visit with their son Dominic. We had the opportunity to visit NOB and see some military helicoptors. We love when Buck and Barb come to visit and we hope they come again soon!!!

Summer...hmmm

Summer is almost over :( I've really enjoyed being able to be at home with Ava and I'm not looking forward to only seeing her in the evenings and on weekends. Hunter's been gone now for about 2 weeks and I miss him a ton as well. We talk almost every day and I still can't tell if he misses me or not...hope so :) He'll be back in about 3 weeks...which feels like a LONG way off. I wish I could say that I have some exciting news to share or some interesting story to tell but I don't...I've been spending most of my days being a "bum". You would think that my house would be spotless and that I'd have meals cooked everyday...ha ha ha not at all! Right now there is folded laundry on my couch, laundry in the dryer and washer, dishes in the sink, clean dishes in the dishwasher and baby toys on the floor. The best part...I DON'T FEEL GUILTY!!!! Don't worry though I'll be back to normal once school starts. Funny how when your really busy and feel like you have no extra time to do anything is when you accomplish the most...well at least that's true for me. Well Ava is standing now and crawling ALL OVER the place. Today a friend of Bryan's was visiting and we were all hanging out in the kitchen. He asked "Can Ava climb the stairs?" My reply "No, not really" Dan's reply "Well she's climbing them right now". Sure enough she was up to the 3rd stair and wasn't stopping...guess we need to get a gate.

So here is my little (not so little anymore) H-man...he said he wanted to get some sun...heehee...he's so cute. He of course LOVES the water whether its the beach or pool. He's my little fish.

This was Ava's second time at the YMCA pool. She gets so excited when we go and loves to splash in the water. Her hair is a bit messy and you may even see sunblock on her face. She was getting tired and was ready for a nap.

Here is Ava in her Kate Mack tutu bathing suit...I LOVE this suit!! We will definately get it again for next summer. This pic was taken on July 4th. Unfortunately when we got to my aunts house it was time to eat so Ava didn't get to go down to the beach in her bathing suit. We went down later that evening and she wasn't too excited about the sand and waves. She did however LOVE the fireworks!! She watched them in awe and clapped the entire time. I'm waiting on a friend to send pics from the night of her clapping. It is too cute!

Yeah! I've added some pictures!!! I feel like I accomplished so much. Well I'm gonna end with a funny story from yesterday. My sister, Hunter, Ava and I went to the Y to go swimming. Bryan came and met us a bit later. We all got in the pool and Bryan took Ava to play with her. A group of girls (probably age 4) swam by and said that Ava was cute. A few minutes later these same girls came over again but this time they wanted to talk and "play" with Ava. So Bryan, being the character he is, says to the little girls that he just found this baby on the other side of the pool and was trying to think of a good name for her. He asked them what they thought of the name "Bruce". Of course the girls laughed and said that Bruce is a boys name and that the baby was a girl. So then he asked "How bout Ava". They of course thought that was a much better name. Well the girls swam off but not for too long. In the mean time, a little boy (probably age 3) swam REALLY CLOSE next to Bryan and looked at him with this smile on his face. He continued on and we thought that would be the last of him. Soon after that funny encounter the girls were back in full force. This time Bryan offered to sell "Bruce" (Ava) for $5 if they wanted her. Of course they did so they took off to ask their parents for $5. I was starting to worry that the police might come either b/c Bryan was trying to sell a baby or that the parents were starting to think Bryan was a Chester (if ya know what I mean)...ha ha well of course we didn't sell Ava. Before we got out of the pool though Bryan's son...I mean the little boy that looked at Bryan in such a loving way came back but this time he swam up to Bryan and decided to kind of hug and hang on him. We had know clue who this kid belonged to or where he came from but obviously he had some attraction to Bryan...maybe Bryan looked like his dad...so that's the story...it was pretty funny to those of us who were there...don't worry we did figure out who the boy belonged to and Bryan made sure we didn't bring home an extra mouth for us to feed. Well its getting late...I need to go to bed early...can't sleep in tomorrow b/c I have to be up to "babysit" my parents dogs and take Hunter to summer camp. Good Night!!!