Today was school day for everyone (Mon. and Wed.). I was a bit rushed, as usual, getting everyone ready. Figuring they are almost four (wow already!), I thought they should start getting themselves dressed, so I gave the boys their clothes and told them to put them on while I got Malena dressed. Before I knew it it was time to leave, so we all ran out the door. Then it was Jacob dropped off at 8, run to drop Josh off by 8:15, and Malena off by 8:25 (this never happens, and Malena is ALWAYS late because they all go to different schools) Anyway, then it was time to pick them up (already?). First Josh at 10:55, then Malena at 11:45, then Jake at 12ish. We all got home and I started making lunch. As I was making lunch, I noticed Jacob running around. He looked funny, but it took me a second to figure out why. Then I realized. His pants were on backwards! OMG! I didn't even notice, but I can bet the teachers did at his school! How am I going to show my face next week. I can't even take my kids to school with their clothes on right? Uggghhhhh.

Okay, here's the long awaited (well I've been waiting, anyway) video of the kids dance recital back in June. Watch how Malena steals the show! Jake's on the far left and Josh is next to Malena, who's having a blast. I was also surprised that Jake did so well. For months he was saying he didn't want to go in front of people, but as you can see, he really enjoyed it! I think Josh LOVED being on stage and getting all that attention. :) Oh, and I'm sure Alex would like everyone to know that he did NOT do this video, as I'm sure his video would have been done MUCH better. :) And I didn't do the pics either (they're really dark and off color)



BTW, I think she's saying "help" when she drops her headpiece.

Heads up. I'm starting to catch up. I've got a lot to make up for as August and September have been very busy (hence the delay in the posts) Scroll down or click here for the new post from August.

Thanks!

Before he broke them again (actually he did, but didn't lose them) I decided to snap a few quick shots of Jacob in his new glasses. Joshua's new PURPLE glasses will be in shortly. This whole color coded kids thing might be biting me in the butt. :)










My two boys in glasses. sniff. And Malena soon to follow. (pardon Joshua, STILL potty training and wet all his clothes. Yes, even his shirt. Oh, and also pardon my messy studio. In between photo shoots).

I've added a new post below. HOORY FOR HOLLYWOOD I'm playing catchup now, so keep checking, because I plan to fill in more of August and September. :)

OUR HERO(es)

Hooray for Aunt Julie (a.k.a. Titi Julie)! She came over my house from a long day at work and tore my house apart (then put it back together again) and actually found Jacob's glasses! Wooohooo! Thank you, thank you , thank you Juju! First she found the glasses in the couch, (like I didn't look already) but one lens was missing. We couldn't find it, and I was fine with that, I was so happy to have everything else, but she wouldn't give up, and found the missing lens at the opposite end of the couch, under the couch. Okay, I want to know what happened now! Joshua's were in the trash, and Jacob's were in two ends of the couch. What were they up to!? And of course a big Thank You to Daddy who found Joshua's glasses in the GARBAGE!

Wow, it's been a LONG time since I've updated. I plan on catching up soon, but I wanted to add this. Unfortunately, we recently discovered that not only Joshua needs glasses, but so do Jacob and Malena. Malena would not sit still long enough to measure her eye, so we will be getting her glasses in the next few months. We received Jacobs last week. At first, he LOVED them. When I say at first, I mean for the first five minutes. After that, he constantly took them off, which made Josh want to take his off. A day after Jacob got his glasses, I went upstairs for something. When I came back down, neither of the boys had their glasses on. I asked them what happened, and at first they said, "they're on the tv". Nope. We searched and searched. Nowhere to be found. Finally, after 3 days of searching, Alex decides to go look in the garbage (which is by now thrown out in the dumpsters). No way they're in there. Well, 15 minutes later, he comes in with Joshua's glasses! Now Joshua is getting new glasses (discovered before these were lost) due to new prescription. So Jacob's glasses are still missing. Alex decides to give it another try, and goes piece by piece through three trash bins that have been out in 90 degree weather. Poor guy. What he won't do for his kids. :) No luck. So now, I have to go buy Jacob ANOTHER pair of glasses to replace these BRAND NEW glasses that I didn't even have a chance to take a picture of him in! AAAAgggghhhhhh! I just can't wait until Malena gets hers too, and I have to make three kids keep their glasses on! Oh, btw, Malena is the one who has a habit of throwing things in the trash. Especially if she's trying to take something from the boys (and remember the boys have some and she doesn't) We have no proof, but she is the current suspect!

The top of this castle toy box used to be Malena's favorite perch until I took it away in fear of her falling about a year ago. I brought it into the "new" toyroom (aka, their old bedroom) and this time I found her AND the boys getting a view from the top.

Later, after a day of swimming, I came upstairs to find Malena, still in her bathing suit taking her nap ON TOP of the castle. Yes, she is asleep. And yes, she must be comfortable, because usually, she squirms all around her bed, and actually ends up sleeping of the floor even though it has a bedrail. Maybe I'll get her a bunk bed when she gets a bit older. :)

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD

Yes, that is the infamous HOLLYWOOD sign in the background. Look. See it. Past the palm trees and smog. Yeah, there it is. Well, we decided to go see the Go Diego Go Show playing in Hollywood with my sister's family. I rarely go out to L.A. anymore. I worked there for 6 years and had a 2 hour commute (each way), so I'm pretty done with the place, but once in a while, my kids will get a small glimpse of the freak show. :) (I say that lovingly).

But before the show, we decided to have some lunch, so we waited about an hour at Cheesecake factory and finally decided to go for quick pizza before we missed the show altogether. Here are the kids in front of Cheesecake factory on the "Casting Couch" and later at the pizza place. They are sitting at the "bar" looking out at the passers by and guess who sits right outside the window? PIRATES! My boys were in LOVE. They LOVVVVVVVE pirates! They were so excited. The pizza pieces were HUGE, and I couldn't believe it when Jacob ate the WHOLE thing! Pirates have big appetites. :)

Here they are before the Diego show began. It's blurry, because it was dark, and before I could get a better pic, an usher came over and told me no pictures, even though there were hundreds of flashes going off, but oh well. I almost decided not to bring Malena along. I usually leave her with a sitter with things like this, like movies, or baseball games. Things she has to sit still for and pay attention for a long time, but I decided she has matured a bit, and we'd try it. To my surprise, the boys sat there during the whole thing like they were just too good for all of it (though they started to show they enjoyed it a bit at the end), but Malena was dancing in the aisle NONSTOP! She absolutely loved it. I am sooooo glad I brought her. I should have known.

After the show, we decided to stroll down to Grauman's Chinese Theatre where all the stars have their prints and sigs. Here are the boys trying some on for size.






For those of you who have never been, on Hollywood Blvd., there are a bunch of actors who dress as characters and available for pics for tips. So we pretty much stopped at most of them. My how The "Little" Mermaid" has matured. Uhhmmm....





The kids really got a kick out of meeting all the celebrities ;} But look at their faces when we come across the PIRATES again! They were sooo happy. Jacob got to tell them that he wanted to be a pirate when he grew up. The pirate's answer? "Ay, that'll be good in the business world, Matey." Never thought of it like that. Hmmm. Maybe pirates are getting a bad wrap after all.


So, the pirates are favorites of the boys, but did I mention Darth Vader (a.k.a. Darth Mader as in the Tow truck from CARS)? Pirates are cool, but Darth Mader is the coolest guy around! You should have seen the boys when we saw him IN PERSON! Just look at their faces. Funny thing is, later inthe month, we took them all to my friend's b-day party. A HUGE Star Wars fan. The biggest fan I know. For entertainment, one of his friends came dressed as Darth Vader and performed (with Star Wars Music) a whole Happy Birthday Joseph, speaking to Joseph, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BOYS! It was awesome! Best thing is, after that, he took off his mask, and sat down at our table for dinner. The boys were flipping out, asking him questions about his light saber, how they have some at home, what color they were. Where are the storm troopers! It was HILARIOUS! So now, the boys think they have met, in person, and had dinner with the REAL Darth Vader (and think they know what he really looks like). I had to move them to the other side of the table to let the poor guy eat. I couldn't stop laughing, and I don't think the boys will ever forget it. Thanks Joseph for inviting us to your birthday, and Ed for a night my boys will remember forever!

One for the Blog

You're not going to believe this one. I didn't. Recently, we have let the dogs back in the house. Ahhhhh. It was mostly for Joshua, as he has been unhappy lately, and the dogs (all animals, actually) make him happier than anything in the world. So the dogs have been in the house for about a week, with NO accidents! Better trained than Joshua, actually! LOL The day we let them in, we took Joshua (the other two were at school) to the store to get a new crate to put in the boys room to sleep with them. He was so happy, and everything was going great until tonight... Josh has not been going to sleep very well and whines for the first hour or two. He was doing the same tonight as usual, and i thought nothing of it until I heard, "Mommy, help." Still nothing out of the ordinary, he says that to coax me in there all the time. Then he said, "Get me out of here." Ok, that was weird. I went in and went to his bed (in the dark) and he wasn't there. Then I heard the little voice again, "Get me out of here," coming from the dog crate! Yep, he went in there with the dogs, zipped the door behind him, and couldn't get out! Okay, I knew he liked animals, but this is getting ridiculous! And yes, I got him out. :)

A SHINER FOR JOSH?!

Okay, a few days after Joshua got his glasses, he fell at the store and got a cut. Now it seems he seems to break the noseguards about every two weeks. So much so that I got an extra pair last time so I don't have to go back to get them repaired. Now, in the last month, he has gotten hurt (either by his own rough play or Malena tearing them off him) with them three times. The other day was the worste. The boys are in a very "deaf" phase. You know the one. Where they don't hear a word you're saying and continue playing on the stairs when you're standing right in front of them yelling at them not to. Well, you guessed it. Joshua decided he wouldn't listen to Daddy's warnings and fell down the stairs. The result, a cut on his eye (and possible black eye) and a broken pair of very expensive glasses. Luckily, they are not as expensive to fix as to replace. Josh has enough scares on him, I was hoping none would be on his face, but it looks like he's joining his Mommy on this one (I have a scare in my eyebrow as well). Hopefully it will not be noticable.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
We had a great 4th of July. This was our first time in the pool this year, and it was a good day for it. It was around 100 degrees! I was truly amazed by all three of the kids. Malena was actually JUMPING into my arms in the pool. Forget about the pool, just jumping is the best accomplishment! She just wouldn't stop. My arms are sore from catching her all day. :)

Jacob was so proud of himself for "swimming".

Totally independent, he swam from one end of the pool to the other. Well, of course he had his floaties and a noodle to help out.

Josh did the same as Jake, although he was a little hesitant at first. Daddy just made sure he stayed right next to him.

At night, we roasted marshmallows (I know totally cheezy) and watched fireworks from the back of the car out front, where we could see the local park's fireworks show. There are no fireworks allowed in our area, but I didn't miss them. Nor did I miss the constant fear with the kids being too close to them. We all had a great time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAMMA!

I love you and miss you always. You will be in
my heart forever, and I pass on your beautiful
life with my children. Thank you for your love,
and I thank God every day for giving you to me.

If Tears Could Build A Stairway

If tears could build a stairway
And memories a lane
I would walk right up to Heaven
And bring you back again

No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before I knew it
And only God knows why

My heart still aches in sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No one will ever know

But now I know you want me
To mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
Life still has much in store

Since you’ll never be forgotten
I pledge to you today
A hallowed place within my heart
Is where you’ll always stay

Author Unknown

How to get three preschoolers to play with their new swing set in the hot sun? Make it a waterslide!

Another Joshy Moment

Another normal day at the dinner table. Why is he sulking and upset? I have no idea. All he would say is, "It's no fair." Yes, poor thing, we were MAKING him eat pizza!

Father's Day Dinnertime
I finally bought a table that all five (mine and my sister's girls) kids can sit out and eat dinner in "peace". They really enjoyed sitting together and actually let us eat our dinner (for five minutes). :) Bonus is my fireplace hearth works as the perfect bench!

CAR WASH

Daddy decided to give the car a wash (finally), but was caught by the kiddos, so he handed them all a brush and a sponge, and let them go for it. They had lots of fun until they all wanted the same sponge (of which Daddy only had one, he'll never learn).

Last Day of School for Malena

Today was Malena's last day of school. Next school year (beginning in July) she will be going to a new school (her home school). Mrs. Hamlett and her staff have been wonderful to and for Malena. I know she LOVES school and I'm sure it's because of the wonderful environment they make in the classroom. They will be missed.