Mommy and the kiddos go on a Trip!

So as you all know we made it to Nevada just fine, from my previous blog you might have thought I just slept after that LONG 16 hour drive TO Nevada, but nope, not me. I kept going and going just like the energizer bunny, or like Rian just after he wakes up for a nap ;)



Thursday was us getting the house ready, cleaned and such for my little sisters graduation party. Nothing to monumental, but then we woke up on Friday and that is when the fun began. Friday morning was already threatening us with rain and since we knew the rain and wind was making the town freezing, and the graduation was outside, I decided to make a trip to get Rian a sweater. What a mistake. We drove all the way to Carson City and went to my mecca: Target. Hehe. They didn't have ONE sweater for a baby, and all they had was long sleeve onesies. So we bought a pack, and since it was 12 months, I know for a fact he will not be wearing them again. So sad, cause he actually looked really cute with long sleeves under his little man shirt.



We went to the graduation and it was FREEZING!!! I mean COLD. The wind was cold, the air was cold. EVERYTHING was cold. So what do we do when it gets cold you ask and you are trying not to focus on things. We take pics! LOL. Then of course we waited for Ashleys ceremony to start. I still don't understand the hoopla. I get its a HUGE day, but man, when it's cold you would think they would just hand over the diploma's and get the heck out of there! Of course not, so we sat for a couple hours (nearly 3 to be exact), listened to speeches, jokes and then also joked around as our families ADD kicked in and we got bored quickly. haha. I know, what great adult examples we are. After her ceremony we quickly headed home to grub down and get our party on. So much fun.

I had to post this pic because we took one LAST YEAR at Amy's Graduation and we all looked so different. I was more saddened because all of THEM looked MORE grown up! This pic is of me, Amy, Ashley and our Cousin Georgia!



Saturday morning, we drove to Cali to hang out with my family and friends over there. Along the way we picked up my little "big" bro Gabe from Davis and dragged him down to Napa as well. On our way into town we met up with my bestie Mel and stopped at Mary's to enjoy a wondrous salad and breadsticks. Gawd, that is the one place I miss the absolute mostest. I have no idea why, I mean its not THAT great...or is it?!?! OH wait it is that great. So great that that night at 830pm I ordered a veggie pizza to take home for my Hubby and yes...he gobbled it all up in two days. Silly guy.

Saturday we also had a bbq. We invited some friends and fam over (Tiffany, Gabe, Noah, Aaden, Melody, Peyten as well as my in-laws, Rudy and Jackie...still kinda funny to be able to say that...hehe) and we all enjoyed burgers, dessert and singing me happy birthday (totally on key of course) and just catching up. It was sad that it was such a short trip but it was totally jam packed with fun.







Sunday we left around 9am and headed off for our trip. The kids did so stinking good, so much better than the way down, and so at the grapevine we decided to stop for Starbucks...and not to long after they were all hopped up on sugar (rian's cup was empty...but he LOVES it anyways)...





They quickly ended up crashing out. So cute.



The trip was fun, but that is the LAST road trip I take without RC for A LONGGGGGG time.

Ashley is a Graduate!!

Sissy Ashley:

We are so proud of you, what a terrific young woman you have grown into. You have made some big choices, grown up a lot, and even held a job all while working towards your High School Graduation, and of course that one very special "award", your Diploma. Don't rush life to quickly, and make sure you are doing what makes you happy and not whats pays your bills ;)

I cannot say enough how happy I was that I could be there with you to share in your special day!!!

We love you Binky!!!

Ashley is a Graduate!!!

Me and Ash

The 3 Sisters: Andie, Ashley and Amy

Ash and her man Brandon

Sissies: Ash and Amy

Never say never...

I said I would never buy Rian a hat, as I am not an accessory mom when it comes to babies, but as we were in NV recently it was FUH-REEZING! So I had to get SOMETHIING to cover his newly shaved head (he now has the cutest mohawk!). So here it is...the pic that proves, you should never say never...and what is next...sunglasses...bling...oh goodness!

Longest Drive to Nevada

So we went on a road trip to Nevada after Rian's last doctor appt. on Wednesday. By the way, he is 22 lbs 4 oz and is 28.25 inches long. He is doing great and they doc even told us his previously abnormally huge head is now the right size for his body. Haha. So now its just his cheeks that make him look huge. hehe.

Anyways, we went on our drive and the normal 11 to MAYBE 12 hour drive took me 16 hours and I nearly passed out once all was said and done. LOL. I got to my mom's house and slept for a whopping 3 hours. I know what you're thinking...

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO YOURSELF...

The answer is that it is for my sisters High School graduation which I wouldn't have missed for anything in the world.

The kids were actually amazing, we just took a long stop for dinner (which all the kids fell asleep after and continued to sleep all the way to our destination), and we also hit a HUGE hail/rain storm in Barstow which I wanted to wait out. I know. Paranoid mom, it's not like no one has ever driven in the hail before, but I figure better safe than sorry.

The great part is we made it, the kids were swell and we are now just enjoying a great time with my fam up here in Nevada. Can't wait for my sis to graduate tomorrow...here are a few pics until then.

Traveling

When I had the girls we traveled a lot. I would be back and forth to CA quite often, from the time Neya was about 4 months old. She loved her carseat, was patient and well, just not as hyper as Rian can be.

The deal. I am traveling to Gardnerville, NV (close to Carson City), with our three kids...ALONE. RC has to work, so I must brave this all on my own, for good reason though, my sister is graduating.

So now I ask. What is some good parenting advice that you guys may know of to help me get through this REALLY LONG 10-16 hrs (yes I bet it could actually take that long with Rian's fussy butt).

NO tranquilizers will not be an option at this time ;)

Must See!!

So I told you all I would post after I watched UP! on Friday and let me just tell ya! It was SUCH a good movie. One of the best kid movies I have seen in a while. It was also the first movie the kids watched ALL THE WAY THROUGH without getting bored, falling asleep or just flat out begging to leave early from.

So here is a link to watch it on YouTube...it has a few quick blurbs about other PIXAR movies...but watch it anyways :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uuUXzV9mXk

Here is the Plot:

From Disney*Pixar comes “Up,” a comedy adventure about 78 year old balloon salesman Carl Fredericksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. From the Academy Award(r)-nominated director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.), Disney*Pixar’s Up invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth.

Botanical Garden

Typically I would not just BLOG and post a ton of pics(By ton I mean more than my normal 5 per post...Haha), but this weekend we went to the Botanical Gardens out in Phoenix with some really good friends and we got some REALLY good pics, so I figured...shoot...I'll just post them ALL...and there are A LOT!

The exhibit we went to see was a blown glass exhibit. Each colorful creation was hand blown by a gentleman who is OBVIOUSLY very talented. It was very fun, and during that we ALSO went to the Butterfly exhibit. In the pic of Rian sitting in dirt...LOL...if you look really close on the right side of the pic next to his shirt sleeve, there is butterfly sitting peacefully right next to him.

Hopefully you all enjoy!