A smidge of gratitude

As I was running around cleaning my house like a mad man, I was noticing all the things I was picking up. Cars, DSi games, more cars, legos, the list goes on. And then the thought hit me, I can't possibly imagine my life, without my kids!!

Without my kids, I would:
-be lonely
-never slip and fall on a hot wheels cars
-never step on a lego, barefoot
-never wake up to cold hands and feet being put on my warm sleepy self
-not know what to do with my days
-not have anyone call me Mommy
-not have the fun of going and buying a variety of girl and boy clothes, in their perspective sizes
-not have to turn off the xbox 360, many times daily (Landon turns it on as it's at his level)
-not do 8 loads of laundry in a day
-not cook 3 meals a day
-not change 6 diapers a day
-not have to go up to Seattle every few days
-not go to the park, swimming pool, water park, achievement days and pediatrician appointments

And a MILLION other things. But, WITH my kids, I have learned to:

-be loving
-be kind
-be patient
-be sincere
-be genuine
-be honest
-be healthy
-learn to cook a massive variety of things
-watch my actions, in every way, 2 small people are watching
-teach my children about the blessing of life, and the many that just our family has received
-appreciate every single milestone
-appreciate legos, they really are an art, honestly
-love cars
-laugh at MANY things, funny or not
-give countless hugs and kisses, even if I'm in a funky mood
-do more pretty hairstyles
-cut little boy's hair (sorta)
-appreciate the sacrifices that everyone in our family goes through, for them

And so on and so on. I can't believe Leena is almost 9, she's not fully a lady, but we're working on the bot things she in advertantly does, per the boys at school teaching her. Landon is my car and toe enthusiast. He loves to gives hugs, blow kisses and most importantly, talk to stangers. He greets everyone at the park with a big warm smile and a cheerful "HI!!! HI!!" It melts them all. I'd be a lost soul without my kids, I really can't imagine how my life would be so drastically different, and I'm not sure if it would be in a good or bad way. But with them, I feel so whole and happy, they are my little healers when I'm having a a bad day, the sweet hugs and kisses and "I love you Mommy", maked every ounce of bad day, just vanish. I love those little kids more than anything!

So much, so fast.

Landon is my little chatterbox. He's putting sentences together and I'm just loving it, not to mention THRILLED at this big break in our communication with him.

We were getting in the car, which he has his prized hot wheels (toy cars)in, and I open up the car door, and he looks at me...I can tell he's processing something and he says "Mommy....cah pees?" I clapped and kissed him and handed him not one, but TWO cars for a job well done, YAY LANDON!!!

He usually says "MommyMommyMommy" as fast as he can numerous times, just for kicks. Today at dinner, I said "Can you say "Landon", honey?" and he smiles and says "Un-Eeeee!" it cracked me up! And I asked him again to say his name, and he sits up and shouts "NANDY!" HAHA. We do call him "Landy", for short, rather often so I'm not surprised in the least bit that's what he said. It was so cute and just made me so proud and smile a million times over. What a sweet and precious little soul he is!

We've been working on his relatives names, particularly the ones we see the most often. Such as my parents, and siblings (Katie, Cody, Seth, Hillary, Aaron) and I took a video of it, cuase it was so cute! Here it is! By the way, Papa, is my dad. His other Grandpa, goes by just that.

Whale Wars

As a little girl, I loved the grace and beauty of whales and dolphins, I thought dolphins were cute and would watch anything that had either creature in it. I loved Shamu at Sea World, at one point, I wanted to be a whale trainer at Sea World.

And a few months back, I saw an ad on Animal Planet for a show, called Whale Wars, where an activist group tries to stop the Japanese whalers, from hunting endangered whales. This hit a HUGE soft spot with me, I found it horrifying that the Japanese would go and kill a whale for "research", which they sell whale meat in Japan...

The episode I just watched, has me infuriated. The Japanese ship, harpooned a whale, it didn't die. It was making crying noises and trying to get away, they took a rifle out, and shot it SEVEN TIMES, and it finally died. I felt my heart sink, it was so sad.

I don't call myself an animal activist or super animal lover, but things like this, I think need more spotlight and attention. I didn't care much until I saw what REALLY happens. Arctic dolphins are harpooned and slaughtered for their meat. Humpback whales and Minke whales are harpooned and slaughtered for "research", which we all know, they take back to Japan and sell the meat on the market. With how many whales are being slaughtered to death, there really won't be much left of them. The IWC needs to make a decision, and fast.

This is inhumane!!

Some of Leenas other good ones!

School is winding down to an end...ok ready set, sing the "HALL-E-LUJAH!" with me!

I took these photos for Father's Day, and lo and behold I have a nice new gorgeous picture of my little girl up on my wall in my not as dull living room now, yee haw!


I am mesmerized at how she *CAN* be photogenic! She did inherit my genes! Ok, that calls for another HALL-E-LUJAH!





She's a cute little bug! I can't believe she'll be a 3rd grader! We plan on keeping her busy with "Where the Red Fern grows", this summer as far as reading. We have her in a little club at borders that if she gets 10 book reads in, she get a free book. She sure is a bookworm! It's cute though, she starts gymnastics here soon. We're going to a new gym, a smidge further away, but it shouldn't be too bad, knock on wood. She'll be in a competitive gym, so we will see. I don't think it'll stunt her growth as she's fairly tall as it is, and she has been only doing it a few years, and they've lifted many diet restrictions which were once imposed on gymnasts. Needless to say, she's excited!

The joy of my boy!

My little man, who was pretty sick, happily enjoying a small portion of pepto, who knew it would be sugary decadence?!

Doing little updates on a toddler, seems to bring me alot of smiles and giggles and excitement!

"Landy", as we call him, is 19.5 months old now.

*He LOVES cars, and trucks. ANYTHING with 4 wheels, he's a hapy, and quiet camper.
*He has discovered that he has a high pitch scream, and he tests it out regularly, driving his father crazy.
*He is learning to run, but with that, comes alot of falls. It's more falls than run.
*He is TERRIFIED of anything loud.
*He runs to Leena everyday when she walks in from school, to give her a hug. It melts me daily, he's so crazy about her.
*He just mastered "MOMMY!", I love that 2 syllable word!
*He thinks he can drink out of a cup no problem. Truth be told he can pick it up and try, but usually ends up soaked. A for effort, son.
*He also mastered "DADDY!"
*He LOVES to talk on the phone, it's the funniest thing! He just has so much to babble about and he really could care less if there is anyone on the line!
*He LOVES anything soft, blankets, fleece, you name it. He's usually seen with 2 blankets in tow almost daily. He will plop them on the ground, grab a pacifyre, and lay on it. No more than 5 seconds though, can't miss anything!


*He can say the following words:
-Mommy
-Daddy
-Leena (NANA! or E-NA!)
-Car (KAH!)
-Truck (Guck!)
-What's that? (Es-sat?)
-Uh oh!
-OWIE!
-No
-M-hmmm (he got that from me! oops! Ha!)
-Eat
-Out

We've also have decided because he IS a boy, and he IS behind, that sign language would be a valueable tool, and it's definately aided with our communication with him. We can ask him "Landon, are you hungry?" and he will do the sign for eat, so we put him in his highchair and he's one happy kid. And if he starts whining when his food is gone (or on the floor), we ask him "Do you want some more food?" and he will do the sign for more. So, it's helping, he can tell us what he wants alot easier!

he sure keeps us busy, but also keeps us laughing and entertained, that's for sure. He really is a joy and wonderful soul from heaven, truly he is. We love our little Landy!

WOO! Family Fun!

For ages, I've been hinting that my road tripping loving cousin, Amy, make the trek up here with their kiddies. They live in Provo, so I knew it was a drive...I also knew they liked long drives! PERFECT!

Anyway, they made it here and we had some cousinly fun! It was great to see her as I hadn't seen her in almost 8yrs. My family is spread out, and it's hard to get to see all 35 cousins (on one side) of mine.

We got to go to Owens beach Park in Point Definace, (where the girls loved to pick up jelly fish!) in Tacoma, Climb a rockwall, eat at Johnny Rockets (which was nothing like I expected, but the kids seemed to like it, so hey!) and have a big uge family dinner at my Mom's house, fun filled weekend, LOVED HAVING YOU GUYS!! Come again, seriously!! =)

And next time, we need to try the hot chocolate!! I can't believe we missed that! He's the pictures that are totally out of order but hey!

They grow up way too fast!!

Father's Day is coming up, and I decided to take a few photos of Leena...Well, here are the best of the best. She's growing up so fast and is so pretty in all of these! I love my little princess!!