Texas trip...

We went to Texas a few months ago to see my family again and as always....we had a blast! Some of the highlights for Kaleb were getting to see his Uncle Ross' fire station and get in the truck, watering Grandma's plants until they flooded and playing with Bella at Dad and Lyndi's.
Here are some pics:


Aunt Ash, Uncle Ross, K and Lucy


Lyndi, Bella, K and Grandpa Harvey


I wouldn't stop telling Kaleb to smile so this is what he gave me! ha!


At fire station, trying on his Uncle's boots.


Checking out the truck.

Just having fun...

Watering....

And now flooding.....;-)

And the Award goes to.....

ME!!
Thanks to my fellow blogging girlfriend, Krista, for passing this award along to me. Although I don't know if it's truly an award if it requires me to work extra hard for it. ;-) You know I love you, girl!!


"The Honest Scrap award comes with a caveat or two. Firstly, you have to tell your readers ten things about you they may not know, but that are true. Secondly, you have to tag 10 people with the award. Thirdly, let all the people you've given the award to know that they've gotten it (comment on their blogs or something). And finally, make sure you link back to the person who awarded you."

Here goes my 10:

1) I think horoscopes are a huge pile of crap. If you seek out people to be friends with and/or date based on when they exited their mother's love nest, I think you have problems.

2) I make fresh guacamole at least 3 times a week. I guess that makes me a guacaholic. tehe

3) Since Kaleb was born, he has probably only gone a total of 5 nights without a bath. I, on the other hand, only shower 3 or 4 times a week. hmmmmm....

4) I have a cluster of freckles on my right leg above my knee that I've had since I was a very young girl. I have had several people in my life try to brush it off thinking it was dirt.

5) When I was little, my brother used to make me eat rollie pollies.

6) When I go to the grocery store, I have to avoid the donut section like the plague. Hostess Donettes taunt me, really they do! The chocolate ones....sometimes I give into them.

7) I love my husband dearly, but his obsession with watches is very disturbing to me. He has 11 and counting. Funny thing is...I don't even own one.

8) My favorite thing to do is turn on some music really loud and dance crazy with Kaleb and Alf.

9) I didn't have hair until I was 2 yrs old.

10) And last but not least, if I never lived anywhere freezing cold again...it would be too soon.

Now I pass along this award to the following lovely ladies:

Janae Limongelli
Tonya Rauch
Kim Bevins
Danaly Payne
Jocelyn Phillips
Ashley Brown
Shelley Martinkus
Deb Carnesi
Rachel Bierner
Lindsay Delgado

Want some Candy?

So I have spent the last couple of months trying to perfect the art of the pulled pork sandwich. I have tried several recipes, added some things of my own, and removed ingredients I don't particularly care for only to leave my mouth still watering for THE ONE. Why pork you say? Probably b/c I feel bad for the little dudes...getting a bad rap a few months ago from swine flu and all. But seriously, it's b/c pork is sooo much more tender than beef and I have totally been craving it lately.
No, I'm not pregnant. ;-)
But apparently I AM glowing. My hair stylist Hillary, told me so. She said I had a nice tan, looked very summery and gave me some highlights to match! They are VERY subtle and carmelish. yes, that is a word. And I LOVE them....
So today I took my glowing, highlighted, summery self to the supermarket with monkey in tow to buy some sides for our pulled pork sandiches. Kaleb was his usual self, smiling at everyone, waving to passerbys and giggling at himself from time to time. When we were in the checkout line an old man got in line behind us. Kaleb gave him what I like to call his "what up?" wave where he just sticks his hand up in the air and puts it right back down. Of course, this just made this old guy's day and he starts patting his arm and touching his feet. I know I should be nicer and engage in conversation with these people but I'm just not and I don't. And really please sir, don't touch my baby. I don't know where your hands have been.
So I am paying the lady for my groceries and I hear the man say, "Can I buy you some candy?" When I look up at him, he is staring right at me and my first thought is...Oh great. Not only is this dude grabbing my baby, but now he's hitting on me?? Really?
I smile and say "no, thanks. I don't want any candy." "I was asking HIM if HE wanted candy!!" he quickly retorts, very loud I might add. Excuse me sir- you may be hard of hearing, but I am not. And it's kind of hard to tell exactly where you are looking through those bottle caps on your face with the extra cool attached transitional lenses flipped up on your forehead!
Well, that is what I wanted to say anyway......
Trying to restrain myself, I reply nicely that Kaleb has to nap soon, but thank you.
I quickly grab my receipt and high tail it out of there.
Then I start to feel guilty in the car...maybe the old man just missed his grandson and wanted to pretend Kaleb was him. He WAS just offering to buy him some candy. I could have let him. It probably would have totally made his day. And then it would have made my day b/c I would have gotten to eat it. Kaleb IS too young for candy anyway, right??
Oh geez, taking candy from a baby. Maybe I am pregnant.....;-)

Photo sesh

Once again, my friend Liz has managed to work her magic!!
I LOVE these photos!
Enjoy.......

Free

That Saturday was the best day. In fact, it was one of the best days I have had in a really, really long time. Not because of any spectacular occurrence but mainly because of the realization I had.

It started out with a family photo session at Freestone Park with my friend, Liz. She is so easy to be around and just makes me laugh. Kaleb was totally in his element so he was extremely cooperative and cute as could be. The pictures all turned out so great.

That afternoon, I decided to brave the mall for a MUCH needed shopping trip. I hurried from store to store almost like something was after me. It was the first time I had been shopping by myself in ages and I was not about to let any cute top/dress/shorts or shoes go unnoticed.
After about an hour, I started to drag....so I made my way to the food court. As I inhaled my lunch, I paused to notice all the people around me. Most were families, tyring to feed their kids lunch and chasing them around the food court simultaneously. I couldn't help but be joyful that I was without child, peacefully enjoying my sodium rich mall food and not having a care in the world (except maybe how big the shoe sale was going to be at Nordstrom's).

Then there were the "others", sitting alone watching the chaos unfold around them. I started to wonder what their lives were like...do they have a significant other, a child at home just like me or were they really all alone? Was this their Saturday outing only to step foot back into a home, quiet and empty?

As I finished up my shopping that day and headed home, I couldn't stop thinking about those people. Did they choose that life? Was it chosen for them? Would they rather just be alone than have to deal with the struggles of taking care of a family?
In some ways, for a moment I must admit-I envied them. Only having to think of themselves, being able to do whatever they want to do anytime they want to do it. No nap schedules, no diapers and no resistance from a spouse. Just free....

I drove and drove and lost myself in thought. I also turned up the radio really, really loud because that's what I can't do with my monkey in the car. I pulled into the driveway and prepared myself to be a wife and mom once again, putting my needs aside and thinking mostly of my boys. Upon entering the house, I heard the squeal of 14 month old and saw the smile of an amazing man. All the envy for those people quickly dissipated.
I was home. It was not quiet, it was far from empty and yet I felt incredibly free...

The last couple of months in pictures....

So we have been a busy bunch these past couple of months. We had Grandma visit, Kaleb's Auntie Jen (one of my best friends I have known since I was 4), we also went to the Desert Botanical Garden to see the Butterfly Exhibit and Chihuly (The Nature of Glass) and the Phoenix Zoo. It has been so much fun!!
Brace yourself-there are a lot of pics! Enjoy!

Just a swangin'....(as they say in Texas)

My friend Krista took this pic of Kaleb and it cracks me up everytime I look at it. I wish I could feel like he looks in this pic every single day.....