May 31, 2012

Another First

My plan for today's post was to talk about Averie having corn on the cob for the first time this past weekend. I know for some that is exciting {like me}, but for others, I am sure your are thinking, "why is she dedicating an entire post to her baby eating corn on the cob." Wow... when I write it down it does seem kind of lame. I am a sap and love talking about her. What can I say, everything that she does is exciting to me.

Instead, I am going to talk about all of the new things going on, and a few old. My family has been through a lot in the past two years, from the loss of loved ones, to financial struggles, and physical and mental breakdowns. We have definitely overcome our share of hurdles, and I think it is time for the sun to come out and shine down on us just a little bit. Not a lot, just a little. This year started off really well, Anessa verballed to San Jose State University with a Softball scholarship, We seemed to be getting back on track money wise, and eventhough there were a few health scares, everything turned out to be okay. I was starting to feel like this year was going to be less challenging than last year. Admittedly this year is less of a challenge, but it still came with a few big obstacles.

A very dear friend of my Family passed in April, and her passing came as a big shock to everyone. She appeared to be in good health and she was still so very young. She left behind a lot of friends, and her husband and daughter. When someone passes that you are very close with you tend to re-evaluate your own life. You create a new set of priorities for yourself and your family. Unfortunately it takes something like this to occur for some of us to see, that our focus needs to be adjusted. I want to remember her, by being a better person. It is as simple as that. She was an inspiration to many and I want to honor that. I am sure that in time I will figure out different ways, but for now.....

I want to be more active in my community, while at the same time still being present in my family. So, this year I have volunteered to be the Treasurer on the Board for my oldest daughters High School Softball team. I am also reaching out to other families that have children with Special Needs and making connections. I am trying to change my perspective on life, the idea is that maybe if I am able to make a negative year into a positive one, things will start to re-adjust. This is just a theory, worst case scenario I become involved in my life instead of feeling sorry for it. I understand that this a rambling mess. I just really feel out of place with myself lately.

In better news, Grammy and Averie have been swimming everyday at Wackford Community Center. It is a nice, new facility in Elk Grove with an amazing pool. I am honestly kind of jealous. We are also going to go to the "Dream Night" at the Sacramento Zoo this Friday. Averie has never been to the Zoo so that will be fun. I am excited to see how she reacts to all the animals. The only animal she is ever around is her sister. *laughs* Averie has also discovered that she loves music. Itsy Bitsy Spider is her favorite. She will watch the Sprouts channel only if in the show they are singing. I cannot wait until she is able to sit still long enough to watch plays and go to kids concerts. I have noticed something in my writing lately. For every bad thing that happens, there seems to be a good something right behind it.

Confession time....I have fallen off of the goals ban wagon. I still don't feel organized, I think I need a day in my house to get back on track. Then I need to figure out how to maintain. That is the tricky part. On the food front, I have been eating pretty healthy. Just not as healthy as I could be. You know how that goes. It does not help that I spend the majority of my weekends at a softball field that has a snack bar full of great unhealthy things to eat. Nachos YUM! I have always had a weakness for cheap cheese. The Farmer's Market is today at the Capitol, so I will be grabbing a few fresh fruits and veggies for the remainder of the week.

Thanks for listening everyone, and if you have any advice on how to juggle home life, work life, and social life it is much appreciated. I think that I am just blessed to be busy. I will find my groove eventually. Now something to smile about.





May 30, 2012

Wordless Wednesday's {Pool Time WK3}

Summer time......

I am looking forward to Summer time. There will be a lot of swimming, splashing, and fun in the sun. Starting with Memorial Day 2012.




{Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with Paper Mama, and Parenting by Dummies}

p.s. I dislike picasa. There, I said it. I am not a fan. It just is not high tech enough for me. I want to learn new ways of editing my photos. I do not just want to click a button and it fix everything for me. Or so the picasa ghosts think they are fixing everything. The reality is that I have a lot to learn, and maybe, just maybe picasa is okay for a beginner. I have never been the type of person to start with the easy steps first. I am the  throw out the instructions usually and go off of the picture on the box kind of person. I may make things difficult, but that is how I learn.


May 29, 2012

Memorial Day Weekend {part 2}



This pretty much sums up the WEEKEND...


This weekend in total was very long and very busy. By the time that Monday came I was ready to wind down with some yummy food and great family.

We started the day off with Softball, Anessa did really well but the team did not. USA Elite was eliminated in the second game of the day. Anessa wanted to go to her grandmothers for the night, and since we had Brian's nephew for the weekend we just dropped them both off. We had a pretty full house this weekend. We had a couple of friends off of Anessa's softball team stay the night, {in an effort to save a couple of bucks, our house is far cheaper than a hotel.} We love having them. Then there was Luke, Brian's nephew, and the four of us. The house cleared out on Monday, only to do it all over again next weekend.

After dropping Anessa and Luke off, we went over to my Parent's for a little BBQ and swimming. They love to entertain, and always do a great job. Good times all the time at their house. It was a little chilly for the adults to swim, but Averie's pool is so little that the water warms up quickly. She had a great time splashing and playing with the new water toys that Grandma bought her. We had a good time and, ate some good food. BBQ chicken, ribs, potato salad, pasta salad, corn on the cob, and chilli. Not much there I will eat, but I managed to get a full meal in. We gave Averie her first corn on the cob. I have the pictures on my camera and will have to download them tonight and post them. I took so many. I sucked it up and downloaded Picasa so I could start  my photo editing. It is no photoshop, but it will do for the time being. Look back later for some pictures of the weekend.


Side Note... per Amber's request here is a video of Averie at swim lessons. Grammy and her had a Fabulous time.






May 27, 2012

Memorial Day Weekend {part 1}

Friday I had to stay home from work because we did not have anyone to watch Averie, and Brian could not take the day off. Averie can sometimes be a handful, so to leave Anessa with her for a full 8 hour day is still a little much. I did not mind. I love being home with her.

Saturday was long and full of softball. Every weekend for the next 3 months with start off with some variation of this sentence. Softball rules!! Anessa played really well. Her team looks great so far this season. Go USA Elite Gold!!! It is Sunday now, and I decided to stay home. I have lots to do around the house and did not want to have to get up at 6am to pack Averie and myself up for the day. I will be ready for tomorrow, and my house will be clean. Averie and I also played with her new water table. She enjoys splashing and walking around it. Those were the two main reasons it was purchased, so it is a good investment so far. Here is what the weekend looks like so far...

May 24, 2012

Division 1 Girl's Softball Champs!

Yesterday was a very busy day.....

 I was able to get off a little early from work, and go to Averie's swimming lesson at the YMCA. It was the last class of the series, and I had not been to a class yet. I figured it was time. I was happy to see her kicking and moving her arms like a swimmer. I definitely think this is something that she will continue to do. It looks like she is having so much fun. After the lesson, Grammy and I spilt up. She went home, and I headed to the Playoff game. Sheldon vs. Ponderosa. We had played them twice before and lost, so the drive to the game was a little nerve racking. Only a little though. Averie and I made it safely to the game and posted up at the top of the bleachers with Daddy and the rest of the parents. Mo Mo {Nessa's Travel teammate} was there and needed to get her Averie fix in, so I was actually able to watch the game for a change. The game went all 7 innings and the final score was......

Wait for it.....

8-1 SHELDON!!!!!! They won the D1 Girl's Softball Championship! It was so exciting. They defended their title with honor. Mary Jo Truesdale is the Head Coach and she did a fantastic job coaching these girls. It really is an exceptional group. I took a ton of pictures, and no none of them managed to get edited. But here are a couple priceless shots.


Anessa dishing out an Irish kick.


Zamari and Anessa, cheesing it up!!



The Sheldon High School Varsity Girls Softball Champs!









May 23, 2012

Wordless Wednesday's {Lime! WK2}

Averie trying LIME for the first time... *giggles*




p.s. I am still working on finding the time to do a little bit of photo editing. I am doing a great job taking photos, but not such a good job at getting them onto my computer and posting them. I am shooting for the weekend. Finger crossed.

Linked up with Naptime Momtog.





May 22, 2012

Happy Anniversary Brian

To my Husband of two wonderful years, and two beautiful girls.

My plan was to make him authentic street tacos for dinner and a yummy brownie for dessert. I also made sure that there were Pacifico's on hand, that way he could have the whole street taco experience. Oh, and in an effort to save a couple of bucks, I made him a card. It was original and cute!! Anessa had a high school softball playoff game, and so they did not get home until around 7:30pm. Dinner was ready and waiting when they walked in the door. I love my family to bunches. They definitely keep me on my toes to say the least.

So....

I am a big ball of mush lately, and so when my husband did not even call me on our Anniversary to say "I love you". I was pretty crushed. He claims that he sent me a text, but I am still waiting for it..... When he did get home he brought me these roses, aren't they gorgeous. They are so beautiful. If only he knew that he could have just told me "I love you". That's all I wanted. I just needed to feel like I was being thought of. It's that easy guys {no jedi mind tricking}. I know how unbelievable and easy this sounds, fellas don't think so much. It really is simple, simple when it comes to me at least. I guess that is my little rant. Hopefully it is taken into consideration on the next anniversary. It does not need to be elaborate, it just needs to be thoughful.

At the end of the day I do have these beautiful flowers, a wonderful husband, and a heart that knows even when he doesn't do things the right, I mean my way he still loves me. He just doesn't show it the same way I do.

I love you Brian and look forward to many more adventurous years together! These past couple of years have been exciting and special to say the least. I truely feel blessed to have found you.

May 21, 2012

Week{end} Wrap up

This weekend was so much fun. It was packed full of excitement. Saturday was spent at the softball field watching Anessa play in the playoffs for her high school . Her team did really well. They won both of the games they played. Final score was 16-1, and 18-1. They crushed them to say the least. Later that night we took Averie over to my parents house to spend the night. Then headed to grab something to eat and to the movies. We went and saw, "What to Expect When you are Expecting." It was pretty funny in parts. Not that great overall. The couple behind us made it pretty hard for us to enjoy it as well.


The result of SOFTBALL.... Wear SUNSCREEN people!

Sunday was the big anniversary surprise. Brian planned the whole thing on his own. I had the opportunity to sleep in on Saturday, but the excitement woke me at about 7am. I was up and ready to go by 8am. Talk about excited right! We were Averie and Anessa free, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa.

We were off....

 We detoured from the original plan and had breakfast at Gilwoods Cafe in Napa Valley, California. It was so yummy. One of the best breakfast I have had in a while. We then drove to Pacifica. This might sound cheesy, but Brian found a Taco Bell on the ocean. We love Taco Bell, isn't he sweet. I do admit that we passed up on the opportunity to have Taco Bell beach side for a different resturant. We were so tired Saturday night that we had Taco Bell then. Two days in a row is a little too much Taco Bell. We stopped at the ocean and took a walk along the beach. Brian found a beautiful sea shell and two starfish. He felt so lucky to have found one starfish that when he found the second one he thought we should go out and play the lottery. From the beach we went to a restaurant called the Miramar. It was very nice and the food was delish. Okay I had a salad, how can you go wrong. The Mimosa was a treat though. I figured that it was our anniversary day and that I should have some champagne to remember the day. The end of the day came and we decided to head home. On the way home we decided to stop at CAL and watch the Women's Softball team play Arkansas. It was a great game, and a great way to end the day. I love you Brian, and thank you for being a great husband to me and father to our beautiful girls.

p.s. I am still working on getting photoshop. I have a slough of photos that need downloading and editing. I am so behind!

At the Movies. {sorry about the quality}


On the beach in Pacifica


At the CAL vs. Arkansas game





May 18, 2012

Insta-Friday FUN!


My Week in Insta-pics..... and a video, just for the heck of it. She is learning to walk and in turn is pulling up on everything.


 










May 17, 2012

Good Morning Averie Lynn

This is what I woke up to this morning,

How do you not want to stay home with her? I know I do. EVERY MORNING!







May 16, 2012

Wordless Wednesday's {My Boo Boo WK1}


Need I say more......

Who does not love a sleeping baby. This is Averie after her swimming lesson.




Dream Rooms....

I think I might be in LOVE! Someday Maybe.







{Black & White} Wednesday

Just a brief update on my goals progress. I have been taking lots of walks. I have not been to the gym, but I am walking every chance I get. The saving thing is rocky. We are at that point in the month where things get a little tough. I think we might have a handle on it but we will see. Life is a roller coaster ride, lots of up and downs. Just like on a roller coaster you scream when u go down! I have taken a ton of pictures. Now I just have to download, edit, and post. Where on earth am I going to find the time for that. I love it so much that I will make the time darn it. *smiles*. Lastly I will be testing my organizational skills on Saturday. May 22nd is Brian and my two year anniversary. Yahoo!! So the plan is to take Averie to my parents Saturday night, so she can spend with them all day Sunday. That means I have to pack her up for one night, and one day. I think that lately I have been doing well preparing and organizing. Maybe I can get Brian to post on here and validate my thoughts.

So it is Black & White {Wednesday}. Yay! I have a bunch of awesome, and cute pictures. However, I am posting from my iphone, so until tonight this is the teaser that you get. I plan on starting the editing process on my SOOC photos tonight.




May 13, 2012

My Mother's Day 2012



My Mother's Day was Fabulous.

Saturday was spent with Brian and Averie running around town. We went to Brian's Nephews baseball game, and then back to the house for a little fun in the Sun. I took Averie swimming in her new pool/activity center. I cooked up some hamburgers and hot dogs. Averie had her first hot dog. Cut up into itty bitty tiny pieces {they are considered a choking hazard.}.Brian and I popped open a few bottles of Pacifico and relaxed. The evening was spent just hanging out with my family, whom I love.


Sunday we woke up at 7am. Averie slept in for me a little, which was nice. Kind of makes me wish that I had gone to bed at a decent hour the night before. Shucks. Next time I guess. Moving on.... I packed up the boo boo and we were off to Rio Linda to pick up Brian's mother, Tammy. From there we went to El Novilero, I will say it again. One of my favorite Mexican Restaurants. The food was fantastic and filling, I don't quite remember the margaritas being so strong. I admit I walked out of there not feeling so fantastic. I don't drink much so it hit me pretty hard. From there we went to my parents house. We are so lucky that they live so close. It is literally a ten minute drive. I love it. My grandmother even came down for the occasion.We had an extravagant dinner, so much to eat, chicken, bread, green beans, artichokes, and potatoes. It was DELISH! I have not even talked about dessert yet. Wheew. I am tired just listing everything. My Dad bought my grandmother and I Bath and Body lotions and body wash.

Nothing about this day was bad, except for the fact that it is ending. I am not big on Hallmark holidays, but today was well worth the fuss.

I am working on getting photoshop so that I can edit my pictures. Currently I am using SOOC photos. I took a lot of great ones.