The Great Big Mejia Family

The Nursery Reveal- Part 3

2012-02-07T16:03:00.000-08:00

So here are the final pics...

Full Story >>

One Smart Kitten

2012-02-06T20:24:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to click on the post under this for more pics of the nursery.

I'm so embarrassed to even blog about this but it had to be documented!!!! I am sometimes blonde. I sometimes do corny things. I behave like an airhead, sometimes.

Full Story >>

The Nursery Reveal- Part 2

2012-02-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

So here are some more pics that I promised (better late than never).

Sarah showing how hard we're working, haha.

Ben likes to help daddy but loud noises scare him!

Full Story >>

The Misisng Tooth & The Nursery Reveal- Part 1

2012-02-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

Before I start this nursery post, I have to brag about Emily. Such is our life... Emily... always on a constant mission to find a very important something that she has misplaced; something so important, so valuable, that she's hidden somewhere so well that not even she can find it. My very beautiful, easily distracted, very forgetful child is trying her best to make baby steps towards 'change'. And although they are very, very tiny baby steps, she is still taking steps nonetheless. I need to remember this, especially when I start losing my patience! With that said, remember the tooth?

You know, the one from last week?

Well, it turns out that Emily placed the tooth in a little plastic sandwich baggie and put it under her pillow so she wouldn't lose it.

Then... she lost it.

She forgot where she put it twenty minutes prior.

She retraced her steps and still was unsuccessful in finding that damn little yellow tooth.

I gave her 10 different suggestions of where to look. Each time she ventured off to search in said spot, she would return to me even more upset and discouraged than before. Finally, right before I was about to ~~start pulling out my hair~~ give up, I suggested she look under her pillow.

Instantly, she broke out in smile. A very guilty, gosh I feel dumb looking smile. Because, then she remembered she put it there, so she wouldn't forget. She excitedly ran upstairs never to be seen again for the rest of the evening.

I, for one, enjoyed the last few minutes of peace and quiet before I tucked myself into bed. Taking one last sip of my red wine, I re-lived the last thirty minutes of tooth finding chaos and enjoyed a quite moment of boasting. Proud of myself for saving the night. Thinking to myself .... "God, I'm good. No daddy on earth has mommy skills like that. I am a hero. At least for tonight!"

Okay, that' not really what I thought... I really thought to myself, "SH*T (pardon my french), why didn't I think of that damn'd pillow sooner? I'd have saved myself and her a whole lotta crying!"

Okay, on with the nursery reveal....

Full Story >>

Quotes of the Week & the Case of the Missing Tooth

2012-01-26T20:57:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to post something real quick before I go off to bed. It's late and I have to work tomorrow so the rest of the nursery pics will have to wait. For now... I just wanted to share with you the latest and most frequent quotes from each family member this week. It seems that they change as often as our underwear does so I want to blog it before I forget it. With that said, this week, I think I heard at least a kabillion times... (is that even a number?)

Full Story >>

The Nursery is Done

2012-01-23T22:14:00.000-08:00

The nursery we've been working on is DONE!!!! D- O- N- E......DONE!!!!

We finished just a few minutes ago...

Full Story >>

We went to the river

2012-01-18T20:11:00.000-08:00

Full Story >>

What have I done????

2012-01-17T21:48:00.000-08:00

Pardon the grainy cell phone pic.
Full Story >>

Surprise! Riley's Farm

2012-01-12T22:00:00.000-08:00

I LOVE surprises, don' t you? In fact, I'm working on a surprise nursery for my good friend right now. She's given little 'ol me the honor of decorating her baby's nursery. She's expecting a boy and has already picked out the theme for his room. I get full reign in there. I can do ANYTHING I want she says!!!! I'm so excited! I have got sooo many ideas to put to use. Sarah is helping as well. And Miguel even showed up earlier this week to do some work in there too!

Full Story >>

Christmas Eve

2012-01-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas this year was amazing!!!! On Christmas Eve, we went to an evening church service which was indescribably great. Then off we were to Uncle Rigo's. But you'll never believe what happened later on that evening!

I'll tell you the story...

Full Story >>

Mommies and Babies

2011-12-27T08:58:00.000-08:00

While editing some of Diego's Baptism photos (yeah, I'm a procrastinator so I'm still working on those pics, haha)... anyhow... while editing those pics, I came across one of them that quickly became my favorite one. It just shows that beautiful love a mother has for her child. I hope you like it as much as I do, Alexis.

Unconditional Love!

2011 Christmas Card

2011-12-26T15:31:00.000-08:00

This was our Christmas Card for this year. It was soooo much fun!

FRONT

BACK

I hope your Christmas was as special as ours was. Now comes the NOT so fun part of taking down the decorations and disposing of the tree :(

Until....next year.

Diego's Baptism

2011-12-12T22:35:00.000-08:00

This last weekend I had the honor of photographing a friend's baby while he received the sacrament of baptism. I also brought my BFF along since she's got 'an eye' for photography as well. Here's a sneak peak of what we got...

Full Story >>

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T06:15:00.000-08:00

Cruisn' Katalina

2011-12-05T19:16:00.000-08:00

I took the kids to the park the other day to take a Christmas photo for our 2011 Xmas cards. I got brave and took the dog too. And since I was taking the dog... why not take the cat?! If you're thinking of taking a cat to the park.... DON'T.

Full Story >>

Stop Drop and Roll

2011-11-29T21:29:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged in awhile. I mean like 'really' blogged. I'm sure you've noticed. Lately, my posting is short and to the point. While they usually do have pics, they are lacking in other areas... like content. The kinda content that puts you in my shoes and gives you a real good dose of my reality and what it's like to be Mom to Many Mejias. I can blame it on my lack of time and my busy chaotic schedule, but the truth of the matter is, I am a horrible time management person. There you have it. I have finally admitted it, Miguel!!!! Enjoy it, breathe it in baby. Yes, you heard me right! I suck at managing my time efficiently! There. Now don't EVA expect to hear me admit it again. NEVA! On the other hand, I am good at sticking to a routine which is vital to raising half a dozen short people.
Full Story >>

A Message from Santa

2011-11-27T11:21:00.001-08:00

Don't be jealous, but Santa sent Meggie a message all the way from the North Pole. What's that? You want one of your own? Don't worry, he sends adults messages too! Click on Miguel's to see what he said. If you can't contain your jealousy anymore, make one of your own... follow the directions after watching the videos.

Meggie's Message

Daddy's Message

I'm Thankful for...

2011-11-22T18:55:00.000-08:00

I've had curly hair my whole life and around the age of 12 I started HATING it. I've done everything imaginable to get it to look 'pin straight'...flat ironing, blow-drying, and even chemically straightening it! Now, I'm suffering the consequences of all those years of abuse. My hair is so brittle and every day I lose more and more, haha. But still, for some reason, curly, frizzy hair is just not as cute on a 30 year old mommy as it is on a little girl!

Full Story >>

Witch Fingers

2011-11-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

I know we are into mid-November and Halloween is very much over but I wanted to share a cool recipe I made for the boys' birthday party. It was too easy NOT to make so I'm pretty sure it will be on our To Do List every October.

Full Story >>

SARAH SAVES THE holiDAY!

2011-11-16T14:43:00.000-08:00

Daddy may have accidentally deleted our Halloween videos, but Sarah also recorded the evening. She willingly shared it with me...

Halloween 2011 from Mom of Many Mejias on Vimeo.

Mejia Updates

2011-10-29T10:32:00.000-07:00

Brianna had her first Jr. High Dance on Friday night. What a moment that was for me. She went with a group of girlfriends but it was still hard for me to swallow that she was 'old enough' for something like this. It was right after school and only lasted about an hour but it was still a DANCE nonetheless.

Full Story >>

Good News. Bad News.

2011-10-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll give you the GOOD news first...
Full Story >>

Halloween 2011

2011-10-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

It's Daddy's favorite time of year again!

Full Story >>

Every Princess Needs ....

2011-10-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

Every princess needs a prince

Full Story >>

Scratch the Fish Food

2011-10-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't forgotten to post a pic of our haunted graveyard. It's just been very, very hectic around here lately. I'm recovering from the flu and the worst ear infection known to mankind. My ear even drained some yellowish goop but I'll spare you the details. I had bodyaches and fever that lasted a long, tormenting two days. But I'm feeling a lot better until this morning that is... when I was awakened by Emily who was desperately trying to save her bed sheets from being sprayed on by Megan who decided 5:30 am was the perfect time to wake up and barf all over her bed. I bet Emily was surprised to find how easy it was to wake me because I had just fallen back to sleep from being awakened by Ben thirty minutes prior because he had decided at 5:00 am that he wanted to watch cartoons and eat "so-we-all (cereal)."

Full Story >>

To Pee or Not to Pee

2011-09-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a little boy. We'll call him Dangerboy (just because it's been awhile since we've had one of these stories).
Full Story >>

Katalina and Catalina

2011-09-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Meet Katalina

Full Story >>

Inflation?

2011-09-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! Two posts in one week! Aren't you feeln' special?!

We are still waiting for our letters from Africa. I passed the real estate exam. It took me TWO tries just because I thought I was too cool to study the first time around (learn from mom, kids. Don't be a loser. Study for your tests!!!!); but let's just say I passed the first time! It makes me feel better! LOL. I had lunch with my husband, my mom, and my 2 brothers the other day. Life is busy and chaotic; we NEVER make time to just 'hang out'. It was really nice and I think we should do it more often.

Full Story >>

Happy 8th Birthday Emily!

2011-09-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago the 9/11 terrorist attack happened. It's such a sad time, a sad month. I watched the 9/11 Memorial Service on tv this weekend and went through a whole box of Kleenex. Then I went to church that night for another service and cried some more!!! It hurts my heart to think of the families that were broken by this event. This past weekend we also took the kids to the Nixon Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, to see some of the 9/11 wreckage that was put on display. The younger kids don't really 'get it' but Brianna did, and I think Elizabeth is starting to.

Although it's such a sad month, I do have one little piece of goodness during this month that makes me smile! Emily. She's a bright star born during this sad month. Eleven days ago, Emily turned 8 years old! Geez!!! Time flies! It feels like I just had her. Her birth was the most difficult out of all six kids, she had the widest shoulder width (we're talkn' football shoulders), OUCH! But once she was in my arms, I couldn't stop inspecting her and kissing her all over. Fuzz covered her whole body! Papa Bear said I had given birth to a 'real' bear cub!

Happy Birthday, M&M's. I love you! Enjoy your video!

(If the music on the main blog is too loud or distracting,
you can pause it or lower the volume by scrolling to the bottom of the page)

Emilys 8th bday video from christine mejia on Vimeo.

Do Elephants Remember

2011-09-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

My good friend/co-worker sent this to me. I giggled for a good 10 minutes after I read it. I just had to share. Hopefully it's your first time reading it. And I won't torture you by telling you to send to 10 people afterwards, cuz I've done that a million times and I'm STILLwaiting for something AMAZING to happen to me! HAHA!

Full Story >>

I climbed into a trash can tonight

2011-08-31T21:58:00.000-07:00

because I accidentally threw away my cell phone while I was cleaning out the car.
Full Story >>

still alive!

2011-08-30T09:44:00.001-07:00

Just super busy. I will post some blog stories soon. Just checking in and letting you all know that we're still alive!

When nobody is watching...

2011-08-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

This is what Megan does when she thinks nobody is watching....

Full Story >>

Happy Birthday Papa

2011-08-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

So we celebrated my own father's birthday about 2 weeks ago. I'm a little behind in blogging.

Full Story >>

Letters to Africa

2011-07-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

I remember when I was still a young kid, about elementary age, I had a penpal from England. We exchanged a few letters and a few coins from our respective countries. I remember being sooo excited because I had actually received some mail! I felt important! It was fun getting to know another kid, I learned some things about her life and her country. I also learned the art of writing letters. I want my children to experience this too. No emails to be exchanged, just good old fashioned letter writing! Writing letters to a friend far away can enrich a child’s life and at the same time teach them about someone else's culture and traditions.

Full Story >>

Big Time Rush

2011-07-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth and Emily got to go to their very 1st concert this past weekend where they saw the boy band, Big Time Rush. We got invited to go by Elizabeth's BFF and her mom.

Full Story >>

Kids and Chores

2011-07-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Do you have kids? I do, 6 to be exact.
Are they off on summer break, driving you nuts, making messes around the house, complaining that they're bored and there's absolutely nothing to do despite the fact that there's a big whole in the ground coated with pebbletech and filled all the way to the top with water? Mine are!

Full Story >>

Mental Note To Self

2011-07-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you wanna go to the beach to see tidepools, you MUST go during LOW tide.

Full Story >>

Happy Birthday Lynn

2011-07-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

I’ve authored many of birthday posts on a this here blogsite. But I have realized quite some time ago that I have failed to celebrate or even announce the birthday of one very, very important blog reader. So here goes…

Full Story >>

Happy 4th!

2011-07-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

Our annual photo taken on the front lawn.

Couldn't decide which one I liked better, lol.

We spent the day swimming.

Full Story >>

Is This A Dream Come True?

2011-07-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Maybe she's been watching too many fairytales lately, but this is exactly what Megan asked me the other day. As usual, this girl keeps me on my toes with her random comments and questions. Yesterday, she tattle-tailed about a dozen times on her siblings telling me that they "breaked her heart" and they were "hurting her feelwings". Can she be any more precious?

We went to the annual pre-4th of July carnival in our town last weekend. At the end of the night they had about a twenty minute firework display. As beautiful as it was,
Full Story >>

Mejia Madness - A Peek Into Our Week

2011-06-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd do something different this week. I was playing around with a video editing program that I didn't even know we owned. Check out our chaotic week and try not to laugh too hard!

Full Story >>

Stop and Smell the Roses

2011-06-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a week this was! From Monday to Friday we were on the go. I think the only time I sat down was in the car while we were on the road driving to our next destination!!!! We started the week off with Matthew graduating from kindergarten and Elizabeth receiving an Excellent Reader award.

Full Story >>

Speaking of Lemonade...

2011-06-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Before I start this post, I wanna thank everyone for all of the kind comments on my last entry. It meant so very much to me and even brought me to tears. I thank you for that. I needed that. I was having 'one of those days.' You know what I mean? Okay. on with today's post. Where was I.... saying my girls love selling lemonade is such an understatement! They beg me to do it the second after homework is completed. In fact, they are preparing the lemonade to sell as I type. Now that the weather has warmed up, I'm sure I'll be hearing even more ~~nagging~~ begging from them. They've pretty much outgrown their current stand and daddy noticed this the other day. Do you know what that means?

Full Story >>

When Life Gives You Lemons

2011-06-14T21:29:00.000-07:00

When life gives you lemons, do not throw them in your neighbor's face!

We just got a treadmill. I used to have one then I sold it. I quickly regretted it and just bought another one. Now if I can only locate some motivation to get my butt on it. I know it's there somewhere. I just gotta find it.

Megan had a dr. appt yesterday. The day before her appt. Matthew kept teasing her about getting shots and of course she freaked out until she was distracted with whatever was going on in the room at the time. The next day we arrived at the dr. Just her and I. It was a scheduled annual check-up and I really didn't expect any shots to be given. That is until the nurse reminded us that we were behind 4 immunizations!!! Oh yeah, I seemed to have forgotten that I was one of those wacko delayed immunization believers. At least I am when I forget to schedule shots, haha. Anyhow, this upset me because I had just got done telling her she didn't need shots. I don't want my child to lose her trust in me thinking I lied to her. We made the best of it and I promised her an ice cream cone afterwards which she gladly ate up. Her personality has blossomed lately. Some of the stuff that comes out of her mouth leaves me in disbelief. You'd swear she was a ten year old, not three.

Anyhow. during our visit the nurse asked if she was allergic to any medications. Out of habit, I instinctly said "no". But then I immediately remembered she was, I corrected myself. The funny part was, it initiated a conversation about her medical ID bracelet. This is how it went:

Full Story >>

Random Stuff

2011-06-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

This week was the start of Teacher Appreciation Week. Each day of the week has a theme with it. Today, was bring your teacher a flower. Rather than bring real flowers, because I figured all of the other students would do that, we made flower pens. If the teachers are anything like me,
Full Story >>

Sarah Graduates

2011-06-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

My cousin,

Sarah,

graduated from University of LaVerne this past weekend.

Full Story >>

Catch Up

2011-05-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

It's been kinda busy around the Mejia house lately. I'll try to catch you up. I'll be posting some pics but of course I don't have the time or patience right now to put them in order of occurrence so everything will be all mixed up.
Full Story >>

Where did my baby boy go?

2011-05-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Lately, I just can't seem to get over how big this boy is getting! What happened to my sweet little baby Matthew?! He's already 5 and almost done with kindergarten. Time flies by too quick!!!

Beach Bums!

2011-05-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

So here's a loooong post to make up for the lack of blogging lately.

Wasn't the Wordless Wednesday photo hilarious!? That was taken during our beach day last week where the kids and I (daddy had to work) spent some quality time with our cousins. As we were loading the car in the morning to head out, Megan decided it was the perfect time to throw up the contents of her stomach all over the garage floor. I wasnt gonna let that stop us from going, seeing as how I worked so hard for the day off from work. So,

Full Story >>

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

Or alternately titled... "Boys will be Boys"

Happy 3rd Birthday, Megan!

2011-04-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, Megan turned 3! We had a bbq for her at the park.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Megan, right now you have just about mastered potty training. You are a bossy little thing yet you give orders in the most irresistible way. You LOVE taking Ewok for walks all over the house. He HATES it yet puts up with it. You are so stinkin smart it's ridiculous. The other day you had a conversation with Elizabeth and I about races and people of all different colors. You're laugh is infectious and your smile is beautiful. We are so in love with you. Thank you for being our baby girl!

Mudbench and other crafts

2011-04-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

Daddy built mama this mudbench. She's been wanting one for a quite a long time now. It makes organization much easier in such a large family.

He used lots of mouldings to give it character and the feeling like its been there for years. I am loving it! He's so awesome. He did this in 2 days. However, while he was building...Ben was breaking.

Here's the final product. I framed some of our favorite pics and put them at the top. We have baskets for the shoes and each child has their own hook.

I plan on making a seat cushion for it. But its good enough for now.

The girls and I were bored one day so we made these cute flowered hair clips.

We hot glued diamonds in the middle of each one.

We made enough for each girl and even had one leftover. Elizabeth gave it to her teacher.

I made myself a camera strap cover. I don't like the look of the ugly plain old black with the brand "CANON" written on it in big letters. I had envy for the ones I've seen other photographers walking around with. So here's my attempt at making one because I refuse to pay someone to make it for me.

It came out really cute. The best part is that daddy doesnt want to use it because it's a lil

too girly for him. So now the camera is all MINE!

While we have been busy crafting... Ben has found a new place to play!

This kitchen drawer is his favorite new spot to sit in.

A friend at work showed me how to knit and crochet. I've been making baby beanies. This owl one is my favorite one so far.

And for St. Patricks Day, the kids and I made daddy and his coworkers some green cupcakes. We hand delivered them to the hospital.

Aren't the x-ray hands cool?!

That's it for now. We are going off track soon. I've got a list of things to do while we're off to keep the kids busy. But, if you've got any ideas for us- please send them our way. We want to stay busy.

Happy Very Belated Birthday Brianna!

2011-04-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've EVER been this late on birthday post before. I'm sorry Bree. It doesn't mean I don't love you, I promise!!!!

Since you are 12 now (oh, my gosh... one more year and I'll be a parent of a teenager) (I still feel like I'm 12 myself, how can that be?)... where was I???? Since you're 12 now... I thought I'd give you 12 pieces of advice for your birthday post. 12 Statements of advice you can take with you for the rest of your days. So here they are in no particular order:

1. Always wash your hands... you never know what kind of germs are lurking. In fact, you taught me this one when you were in preschool and you were learning about germs. You would literally have crying fits after ten minutes of washing your hands because you swore there were still germs there. I cursed that damn preschool teacher for months. You were totally a germ-a-phob!
2. Always have a good friend and a good book. And you can't go wrong. Your pediatrician told me this the other day and the more I pondered on it the more I realized that she knew what she was talking about. Life just seems so much more manageable when you have these 2 things.
3. Trust your instincts. Especially when it comes to your children. I've learned this one recently too. Sometimes, momma's know better than doctors. I don't care how many years of medical school a doctor has had-- momma knows best. If your instinct tells you something-- listen!
4. Always tell the truth. Especially to your mother!
5. Lead by example. You are already well on your way with this one. You are paving a very rough road for your siblings to follow! LOL
6. Have Faith. I often think to myself that if God would just do it my way, then things would work out fine. But, sometimes I'm wrong (it's rare though). We need to live by faith and not by our ability to understand everything. Because, the truth is... we won't always understand why. Faith has nothing to do with seeing or understanding, it is the evidence of what we don't see.
7. Prioritize your life. Don't forget what or whom the most important things are. Don't let life's struggles blind you of that. My children and my husband are my priorities. Your father and I give up having days off together so that one of us will always be there for you guys. Find your priorities and don't forget what they are.
8. Be confident and love who you are. You are an amazing, smart, and beautiful person. Don't EVER forget that. Know it and own it, girl!
9. Follow your moral compass. Your teacher pointed this one out. He knows you too well since having you for the last 3 years. If you do this, it will keep you honest throughout your life. If you do something wrong, own up to it. If you see someone fall, help them up. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
10. Respect your elders. Hold the door for that pregnant woman or help that little old lady with her groceries. When Nana and Papa are repeating the same old stories you've heard a thousand times, just nod your head and smile like you've never heard it before.
11. It's okay to pamper yourself every now and then. In fact, it's healthy for your mind and soul. Take a girl's day and go get that massage (especially if you have six kids)!

12. No matter what you think, mom is usually right (99.9% of the time). Remember that one. It's probably the most important of them all! Nana taught it to me, and I'm teaching it to you. You will have the honor one day of teaching your daughter!

Because Brianna is so mature for her age and such a good, responsible kid, I let her get her hair done for her birthday. So, now my grown-up daughter has highlights!!!!

Thank you Brianna, for being you. Your father and I love you sooooooooooooooooooooo very much. Don't ever stop being just you! We are proud of who you are.

On Strike!

2011-03-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

I'm soooo tired of laundry and cleaning house. Sometimes, I do 5 loads a day and the mountains of laundry look like they've barely been touched. And making beds? Psshhh. Forget about it. I gave that up a very, long time ago. It makes no sense to make a bed (especially when you have as many kids as I do) only to get back into it the same day! Really-- think about it? That's a waste of a very valuable 10 minutes I can use somewhere else in my day like hiding from the kids in a coat closet or on better days maybe even reading to my children because we all know how important that is. And the dirty dishes are killing me!!!! There's always a mess somewhere. When I'm busy cleaning up one mess, I turn around to find my sweet Ben or another one of my children has made another! Why do I even try? I'm officially going on strike! As of right now!

This morning, I came across a quote by a woman I have grown to idolize, Erma Bombeck:

"Housework, if you do it right, will kill you. No one ever died from sleeping in an unmade bed. I have known mothers who remake the bed after their children do it because there is wrinkle in the spread or the blanket is on crooked. This is sick. There’s something wrong with a mother who washes out a measuring cup with soap and water after she’s only measured water in it."

My response to her:

"AMEN SISTA!!!"

A little early for a NOT ME MONDAY

2011-03-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

but I had to share!

I was NOT getting ready for bed the other night and excitedly pulling back the covers on my bed with a devious grin because alas the most favorite time of my day had arrived! I did NOT pull back my sheets to find a whole weenie waiting for me! And it was NOT the kind of weenie you all are thinking of!!! Get your dirty little minds out of the gutter, bloggie readers!!! (I'm talking about a hot dog weenie.) I still am NOT sure how that got there or even how long it sat there. I surely do NOT remember it from the night before, but then again by the time bedtime arrives I can hardly see so by all means it could have been there for a whole week. But no worries, it did NOT have fuzz on it.

Yesterday, I did NOT decide that Matthew's hair was looking kinda bushy and could undergo a cut of some kind. I did NOT decide that I was NOT gonna waste my hard earned money on a haircut in a fancy shmancy salon or barber shop when surely I could do it myself at home! Mind you, I have NEVER taken haircutting/cosmetology course of any kind. Mind you that I have mostly girls and am NOT sure how hair clippers even work. I'm sure you know where this is going... I did NOT almost make my kid bald by accidentally using a 1 instead of a 4 when cutting his hair!

before

I did NOT start crying! I did NOT repeat to him and myself, "Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God. What have I done?!!!! Get a hat and get in the car, QUICK!" I did NOT drive like a bat out of hell to SuperCuts. The haircut lady did NOT laugh at me and she did NOT have to fix my attempts. I did NOT feel like the worst mommy ever. I could NOT resist imagining him getting made fun of by cruel, mean kids at school the next day and how that might screw up my kids self-confidence and surely damage him for LIFE! I did NOT make both him and myself feel better by buying him NOT one but TWO new pairs of shoes so that at least his feet would look decent! HE most surely does NOT look like an army recruit right now.

After

I was NOT running behind schedule last night with dinner and baths. It was NOT 9:00 when the little ones finally got into the bath. Benjamin did NOT sneak a mini stapler into the bathtub last night. Megan did NOT find it and pinch her little pinky with it. She did NOT need a band-aid at almost 10:00 pm because surely she was fast asleep in her warm bed. I was NOT thinking, "where the hell is my husband when I need him? I do NOT feel like a single mother when daddy's at work or worse - like the little old lady who lived in a shoe she had so many kids she didn't know what to do!" Her pinky looks fine by the way so stop worrying. I did NOT come downstairs after the kids were in bed to find Ewok on top of the dinner table munching their uneaten dinner. I did NOT picture my foot on his rear and his little doggy body flying through the air like this...

Okay, I did. But don't worry. I didn't really do that! I love that damn loyal dog. I did NOT ditch the gym last night and instead have a nice chilled glass of wine prior to going to bed.

Megs did NOT just remind me that she got a boo-boo last night in the shower and the ONLY thing that would make her feel better was a piece of chocolate (smart girl, eh? Takes after her mommy). She did NOT just bring me this Easter decoration that my father bought me last year and tell me to "open please."

Something tells me she's thinking it's one of these chocolate candies!

I am NOT 13 days late on Brianna's birthday post!

Sigh. I need another glass of wine. And thanks to Meggies I'm craving some chocolate now, too-

So I'm about 3 weeks behind in posting...

2011-03-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

But this one post is very important to me so although it's late, it still holds its value.
Happy Birthday, Papa Bear.

Without you, the Great Big Mejia Family wouldn't have been possible :p

Without you, I would have never learned the important lesson that the world will still continue to turn even if a child falls asleep without brushing his teeth, with sticky hands, a dirty face, and/or mismatched clothes.

Without you, I would never know what true love is.

Without you, I'd be walking through this hectic, chaotic life all alone.

Without you, I'd have nobody to build me the many things on my Honey Do List. Things like this new project!!!!

I couldn't have found a better partner!

Happy Birthday, Papa Bear!

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip. ~
Author Unknown

Can I vent for a minute?

2011-03-12T21:15:00.000-08:00

No, you say?

Too bad. Here goes...

I'm in a mood. Kinda a grumpy one. I feel so stressed out lately. I feel like I have way tooo much weight on my shoulders. I hate venting. I feel silly venting. Probably because I know that I cause most of this stress myself. I take on too much. I hate saying no to people. I do. Although, I feel silly venting and I know that I probably shouldn't be complaining because I am the cause of it all, I'm still human and I'm allowed to vent. It feels good to get it all out there. I feel like if I would just learn to tell people NO then I could probably reduce my stress and responsibilites by at least 40 percent. So, that's on my list of things to do/learn. Learn to say no. I'm not Superwoman. Some may think I am, and maybe this blog is a big facade and perhaps I make it look easy. But, it's not. It's not easy at all. I have to stop doing favors for other people because it takes me away from my kids and they are my primary concern right now. It's not fun to have a mom around when she's grumpy all the time.

Plus, all the time that I spend doing things for others, I could be spending on my own house too! My bathrooms smell like a dirty men's gas station bathroom. Thanks to Matthew. He cannot aim well at all! Especially, in the middle of the night. I don't even know why I clean it because an hour later there will be pee puddles all around the toilet.

I'm going on very little sleep lately too. That's probably why I'm so irritable lately. Oh, speaking of bathroom issues.... if Megan will just make up her little mind if she's potty trained or not, that would help too! One day she goes potty all day long, the next day it's back in the diaper! Ugh!!!! And another about this girl is her makeup fetish. I have so many makeup items MIA. I have replaced 3 mascaras in the last month. I can't take it anymore! I don't even wear makeup on most days but every now and then when I'm feeling kind blah, I'd like to put on a little something to make me feel a lil feminine. But who knows where it's at! I try buying Megs her own makeup but she loses that too! Now, she's got Ben into this little habit. I found him playing with my blush twice within the last week. BEN... you are a BOY. a B-O-Y. That means NO make-up mister!!!!

My toothbrush. I swear somewhere in the deep dark abyss of this house lies a Bermuda Triangle. Maybe it's in the closet where I hide to eat my chocolate. I'm not sure, but I know when I find it, I will also find the thirty something toothbrushes that I have bought and one of thoses six kids have lost the same day! Stop using my toothbrush in your beautiful plaque filled mouths. You have your own!!!! I don't use your toothbrush and then throw down when I'm done next to the dirty toilet with pee puddles all around it! Yet, you all seem to LOVE to do it to me!!! Leave my stuff alone, pulllleasse!

My wonderful husband bought me a camera lens I have been wanting for a long time. I used it for a whole 30 minutes when Megan dropped it and broke it.

Elizabeth and her refusal to wear any kinda pants BUT skinny jeans! It's killing me! You should see our laundry baskets. It's scary. I can't keep up with all the dirty clothes these kids or husband create. That means skinny jeans will NOT be available everyday, child!

Gosh, is it too much to ask for a clean house and my clean car! I'm tired of vaccuming the car to just find goldfish crumbs all over it seconds later. I'm tired of vaccuming the family room 3x a day. Just remember this children, next time you want a nice warm meal!

Oh, and just so you know... I complain, but I LOVE my children. All six of them. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I Just needed to vent.

And I feel much better now!

Goodnight.

P.S. Ewok- stop eating our shoes!!!!

Father Daughter Dance- 2011

2011-03-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

This year's Father Daughter Dance had a sock hop theme. Mama whipped up some poodle skirts. I found a pattern online and seeing that I was not in a sewing mood, I put it off til the last possible minute. Boy, was I surprised when the skirts took only about 15 minutes each to make. I was procrastinating for nothing. I felt like a fool! The best part is... they cost me only $12 total to make.

In the days leading up to the dance, the girls were so giddy. Especially, Emily. On the day she received the flyer, I picked the kids up after school and she ran as fast as she possibly could up to the car holding the hot pink paper and shouting out, "This is it! This is it! This is the day DADDY's been waiting for!!!!! "

What on earth was she talking about?!!!

Daddy?!!!

Judging by the past conversations about this long awaited day and the look on her face, I think this is the day that EMILY's been waiting for. But I wasn't gonna bust her chops!

"You bet your bottom dollar that this is the day your daddy's been waiting for. We gotta call him at work as soon as we get home. He's gonna be soooooo excited!"

Once we got home, Emily decided to write him a letter instead. She left it out for daddy to find when he got home from work. Being the mommy that I am, I called daddy up and gave him fair warning that he MUST be on the lookout for an important memo!

Here's what it read:

To: Daddy From: Emily
Dear Daddy, We have ben (been) waiting for this day. The year went by so fast. Open this note and you will be exided (excited) just like me. I hope you like it. And I hope we can go.

Who could say no to that! Daddy worked his charm on the boss and was given some time off to attend this very important event. When he asked Brianna if she was coming too because after all, this is her last year in elementary school and she would never get to do this with him again, her reply was, "no thanks, dad." He tried putting the guilt on her but it wasn't working. Apparently this just isn't cool anymore when you're a 6th grader. Elizabeth was in between wanting to go with daddy and being embarrassed. She told daddy that she would go but only because her friends were going! Poor Daddy. He's losing his little ladies already. But alas, he still has Emily (for hopefully awhile longer) and Megan too!

Can you tell by this pic here that Emily still loves her daddy. Ahem (Brianna, if you're reading this.) Ahem.

Somebody was getting a little jealous and didn't want to share his daddy.

Gotta give Ben some love too!

Don't worry Ben, just wait for our Mommy/Son dance. We'll make daddy jealous!

I LOVE daddy's face in this one!

You didn't think that was the end, did you? You know me better than that! Of course, I waited a half hour before sneaking over to the school and stealing a sneak peak of daddy with his girls. I was very stealthy and hid behind some of the extra large daddies that were there. I didn't take any physical pics of them together only some mental ones. I wouldn't want the girls to find out later and get mad.

But I did get a few pics of the decor.

They had a blast and ~~Emily~~ Daddy was overjoyed that the day finally arrived!

Em's Wedding

2011-03-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

A peek of my fav's from yesterday's wedding...

Playtime

2011-03-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

Today, in between cleaning my camera, making dinner, and reading my emails, I tried my best to entertain DangerBoy but it just wasn't enough. He wanted more than that. So, I opened up the back door and followed him around the backyard while he looked for something to ~~destroy~~ play with. It took only about 3 seconds to find something interesting...

Dangerboy decided to see if there was a way he could squeeze himself under the pool fence; then he realized he was being watched by his momma.

He followed his Momma into the house to check on dinner and grab a better camera.

After that, he found Ewok's doggie leash and spent a good five minutes trying to figure out how to hook it up to his overalls. This gave his momma a pretty good idea of how to control this kid in public settings. I just might be in the market for a ~~doggie~~ kiddo leash.

The sun was starting to set and momma knew it would make for some pretty sunkissed pics. While he played with the leash, momma played with her camera.

I often wonder what's goes through this kid's head sometimes. He does the funniest things. Like eating the Yankee Candle Potpourri Tarts that his momma thought she hid from him hours earlier.

He loves to munch on those. Those damn things are expensive! I can't imagine they taste any good either. He makes yucky faces but yet continues to eat them. I don't get it.

He managed to wiggle out of his overalls and then ate some more.

Until his momma took it away, again.

Hmmmm....what does this door behind the fireplace lead to? A secret passage way, perhaps? Maybe some hidden treasure?

Nope. Just some boring firewood logs. Oh, and my sissy's make-up mirror.

You'd of thought he discovered the jackpot by the look on his face when he found that. Okay, enough playtime. Dinner is finally ready and both Dangerboy and his momma have to go.

But before we do, Dangerboy squeezes in a few push-ups to impress the lady behind the lens and to win a kiss or two. It didn't take much. He already owns her heart. But, shhh... don't tell him!

Emily's Engagement

2011-03-06T21:34:00.000-08:00

She's sooo gonna kill me for posting these on here because she's such a private person. But I don't care because I want the world to see what a beautiful bride she'll be and let's not forget that it's MY blog so I can do whatever I want. Haha, Em! This is my friend Emily. She and her fiance just bought a new home together. They have 3 cute kids and with the wedding around the corner, their family will be complete! I was sooo excited when she asked me to take a few pictures of her and Dan before they take the plunge. I can't wait to take some pics on the actual wedding day! I'm so eager to snap her hubby's face when he sees her walk down the aisle! I love weddings and I love you, Em! Congrats, girl!

Ten Stitches Are Plenty. Ten Stitches Too Many.

2011-02-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

Can you guess where DangerBoy spent last Friday morning? No, he wasn't in the street, or in a boat, not out in the heat. He wasn't in a museum, not even in an arboretum.

"What?"

"What's that? You think he was in a hospital?!"

"Silly readers, what ever would make you think that?!"

I'm embarassed to admit it, but you are right!!! And so the saga continues...

One Friday morning, while momma was at work and ahem* daddy* was in charge, DangerBoy decided that his recent battle wound was looking a little small. It just wasn't the size he wanted it to be. He wanted one much bigger and more dangerous-looking. And so he thought. And he plotted. He waited ever so patiently for the moment to make his move. Moments later, daddy started getting ready for the day. Daddy showered, changed his clothes, and began to shave his face. DangerBoy knew his moment was fast approaching. He excitedly studied his momma's bedroom for the biggest piece of furniture he could climb.

Hmmmmm..... he thought.

"What could I jump on that would bring me the most delight?"
"Daddy's dresser? No, that was too hard."
"Mama's nighstand? No, too square."
"The Big Soft Bed in the middle of the room? Yes, that would be juuuuuust right!"

So DangerBoy climbed the bed. He climbed and climbed all morning long. His daddy took him down several times. But DangerBoy would get right back up on that big mountain of down comforter. It was just too tempting not to. Daddy was getting frustrated and he yelled at DangerBoy to stay off. His daddy's arms were soooo tired of taking DangerBoy off the bed that he finally just gave up altogether. That's when Dangerboy seized the opportunity to climb once more onto that big, brown bed. He climbed up all the way to the highest pillow and when he got there he took one long look at his daddy in the bathroom and flashed him the biggest smile he could. He was quite proud of himself for getting all the way up there. He was even more proud of the fact that he technically outlasted daddy and won the war to keep the baby off the bed. But that only lasted for so long because we all know Dangerboy and how quickly he gets bored. Not a minute later he decided JUMPING would be much more fun than climbing and even more fun than torturing daddy with his mischeivous grin. So Dangerboy JUMPED up. And Dangerboy JUMPED down. He giggled and giggled and tumbled and tumbled and JUMPED and JUMPED. And just when he couldn't jump anymore, his big sister climbed up and joined in on the fun. Now, there were two little ~~monkeys~~ siblings jumping on the bed!

Go ahead. Sing it. You know you want to!

Two Little ~~Siblings~~ Monkeys Jumping on the Bed...
(Come on.You know the words.)
One falls off and bumps his head.
Daddy calls the Dr. and the Dr. says...
"Three More Stiches On Ben's Head."

When daddy heard the THUD he figured it was probably just the average everyday boo-boo for Ben. What's new? It was the sight of blood dripping down Dangerboy's nose that caught daddy's attention. He cleaned up DangerBoy's face and was horrified to see that he had split open the same wound from his adventure at Knott's. Daddy rushed poor junior off to the Dr. His momma left work and met the boys there. The kind doctor worked his magic on little Dangerboy's face. He consoled the boy's parents and reminded them that 'boys will be boys.'

The doctor's words didn't do much to make his mommy feel happy. Although her son got his wish; his daddy felt crappy. Ben's wound is now bigger than ever before. His once 7 stitches turned into 3 more!

Ten stitches are plenty. Ten Stitches too many.

Troublesome Trashcan Trauma

2011-02-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

We all know how bad I am about following through with my promises to post pics at a later date...(i.e.- the girls' bedroom re-do.) Trust me, I haven't forgotten about that. I know, I'm a bad blogger but I can't help it if it hasn't made it's way up to the top of my To Do List. I promise it's on the list but at the very, very, bottom of the bottomless list of CRAP to get done.

But I definitely made sure that pictures of Ben's... ooops... I mean Dangerboy's little fiasco were at the top of said list. I mean how can I not remember to do that; everytime I look at that kid I'm reminded about it! It's written all over his face! HA! (pun intended).

Sooo without further ado, let me introduce you to Destruct-O-Boy's archnemesis (AKA- the trashcan).

Please excuse the poor quality of the pics. A camera phone is no comparison to a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi. And here is DangerBoy moments after the damage was repaired. See the sleepy look in his eyes??? Yeah, that's good stuff baby!

The following morning when I went to rescue him from his crib, he had already taken off his bandage and it looked like this. I changed his diaper, walked over to the trashcan and threw it out which gave him just enough time to climb on top of the dinner table. I swear God heard my prayer for a lil boy and said to Himself, "you wanna boy, well here ya go!"

The following ones were taken about 5 minutes ago.

Daddy took some hilarious video of him just after he was sedated. I think being heavily medicated is the only way to calm this child. Much to daddy's frustration and despite mommy's begging and pleading that damn doctor wouldn't send us home with a prescription of that stuff.

What???!!!

I don't see what the problem is? In my book, it's very similar to an adult soothing a hectic day with an nice glass of wine to unwind. Whenever he starts acting up, all I have to do is walk over to the medicine cabinet... "Here sweet boy, open up and swallow 'Mommy's Little Helper'. This will take all of ~~mommy's~~ your troubles away.

A mommy can dream!

Oh, and just for kicks and giggles.... here's Ewok's face. He was watching me take pictures of Ben and apparently felt like it was his turn! I swear he's like my 7th kid sometimes! In case you couldn't tell, that's him smiling.

The Adventures of DangerBoy!

2011-02-22T21:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, I got all the kids down and it's only 7:17pm! YESSSSSS-- they are DOWN. Down as in down for bed! Can you believe it? I barely can!!! I bet you're wondering how on earth I managed to get my crew of six monkeys down before 8 o'clock. Ask me. You know you want to.

Okay, you don't have to twist my arm. I'll tell you. But, shhhh... don't tell the kids. They'll be sooo mad at me.

Promise? Pinky Promise? Cross you heart? Okay, good. You're sooo gonna love this!!!!

I set all the clocks in the whole house forward 45 minutes.

WHAT?!!!

You think that's wrong?!!

Is tricking my children into bed at such an early hour just so I can ~~maintain my sanity~~ have some peace and quiet all to myself wrong? I guess it is kinda cruel. But what they don't know won't hurt them, right? It helps that it's winter right now too. There's no daylight out. It's gonna be awfully hard to keep this lie going come summer. I guess I'll just have to enjoy it while I can (insert evil laugh----muuuuahhhhhh!). But seriously, help me out here. I'm trying to make myself feel better about doing this! Besides, daddy works nights and I have all the responsibilities of homework, cheer, karate, dinner, cleanup, oh and safety too (that's a whole nuther story I'll tell you about in a bit) all on poor lil 'ol me. So the question is...why didn't I think about this sooner???!!!

The reason I needed them down so early is because I have so much CRAP to do!!!! I'm overwhelmed. Luckily, cheer practice got canceled today. As sad as I was that it was canceled (I say that sarcastically), I managed to get some really important stuff done (like laundry) that ordinarily would have been pushed back to the end of my day. I also saved some time by making them a quick dinner. Hot dogs, fries, and fruit cups. Every kid likes that which meant no complaints or long fights with a certain particular, picky child ahem* cough*Elizabeth to eat her food. I had just enough hot dogs to feed each of the six kids and myself until I remembered that I had an extra mouth to feed because Elizabeth brought a friend home from school today. I can't make that child watch us all eat in front of her. That would be wrong. Wronger than tricking your kids. So being the kind person that I am (and the fact that I remembered I had just bought some Snickers Ice Cream Bars today at Target... Did you know Target sold those?... I didn't!... But as soon as I saw them I threw a box [thought about taking 3 boxes] into the cart)...but, I digress.... Remembering those Snickers Bars in the garage freezer, I grudgingly gave up my hot dog to the poor starving friend of my dear Elizabeth.

I could hear those Snickers Bars calling my name the whole time I was serving the kids their dinner. They wouldn't stop screaming for me even while the kids were brushing their teeth. So that's when I did it... that's when the idea hit me to set the clocks forward almost a whole hour.

One hour closer to my ice cream dinner.

Then, while they were getting their PJ's on, I heard those damn Snickers yell out, "if you don't eat me right now, I'll tell the kids that I'm in here."

I called out to the Snickers, "SHUTUP! Those darn kids are gonna hear you. They don't know you're in there yet!"

But apparently, they didn't listen. The screaming got louder and louder until I just couldn't take it anymore. I caved. I yelled at the kids to get upstairs, "Go upstairs. Go NOW. And STAY UP THERE. And while you're up there, keep an eye on Ben too." I used the excuse that I had to clean the kitchen. But we both know that 'clean the kitchen' was really code for 'sneak into the garage and grab myself my long awaited dinner.' I admit it. I'm not going to lie. I ate my ice cream bar inside the downstairs closet. I hid in between all the hanging coats, the basket full of diapers, a vacuum cleaner (I think the vacuum was jealous), and five umbrellas. I made sure to keep the lights off so that I couldn't accidentally be discovered by any of those six kids. Sometimes they like to sneak downstairs even after I tell them to stay up there. So I made sure to really stay hidden until each and every last bite of that caramel goodness was gone. And I will also admit that I almost thought about grabbing myself another one. Almost.

Anyways, that's what I ate for dinner.

Now where was I before I went off on that tangent about dinner? Oh.....yes... I have sooo much CRAP to get done tonight. I really do need to clean my kitchen and that's not code for anything. I have to keep at the dent I've made in the mountains of laundry we have right now. And I have to sew some poodle skirts for the Father/Daughter Sock Hop Dance next week.

Sigh. Such is life with six kids and no daddy home. I'm not feeling sorry for myself. Really, I'm not. Okay, maybe just a little.

Anyways. Back to the chores.

Sigh!

But, blogging is sooo much more entertaining. Don't you think? Plus, it doesn't take as much energy cuz the only thing moving is my fingers. I just don't have the energy in me to move anything else right now. Besides, I got some stuff to catch you up on. The chores are there and they aren't going anywhere, right?

Still blogging.

Just blogging.

Heyyyyy... that reminds me of the part in the movie, Nemo. "Just keep ~~swimming~~ blogging, just keep ~~swimming~~ blogging... I love that movie! Don't you remember the part where Dory says to.... okay ... I know.. I know...I watch too many kid movies... Nevermind.

Hmmmm.... what else can we talk about since I just seemed to have made up my mind to blog instead of clean, launder, or sew. That's your fault cuz I know you're reading this. I definitely would be doing chores instead of blogging if I knew this blog wasn't getting read. See... it's your fault.

Oh, yes I know what we can talk about! Actually, I'll do the talking (or typing, rather). Because I'd like to tell you a story. A story I named-- The Adventures of DangerBoy! Daddy likes the name-- Destruct-O-Boy better, so I'll entertain you by alternating between the two names. You pick whichever one you want, I really don't care. Just pay attention to my story, okay?

Ready? Got your popcorn? Okay, here we go....

Once upon a time, there lived an adorable *wink* little boy who loved to climb (hmmm, bet you know exactly which kid this is about). He loved heights. He loved danger. He feared nothing. (I bet you know where this is going too...) So anyways, this boy we'll call, DangerBoy, went to an amusement park we'll call Knotts Berry Farm to enjoy the day with his family and watch his three eldest sisters compete in a State Cheer Competition which just so happened to be held at the same park. Now, while Desctruct-O-Boy's mommy went into the competition auditorium to collect his three cheer sisters and to bring them down to where DangerBoy himself, his daddy and other siblings were waiting, Destruct-O-Boy decided to see what kind of trouble he could get into. What's new, right?! Apparently, Dangerboy found some trouble lurking in a nearby trashcan. (or just maybe... there were ice cream bars in there calling his name, Beeeeennnnnnn. Okay, probably not. That only happens to me.) Where was I.... there was trouble lurking in the trash can and DangerBoy decided to see what it was all about. Daddy happened to turn his back for one quick second. DangerBoy knew this was his only chance. WHOOOOSHHH!!!! As speedy as a lightning bolt, Destruct-O-Boy darted to the can and pulled himself up with all his might.

Now, here's where the story gets good.

Are you listening????

DangerBoy didn't make it into the can as planned. Not even a little bit. Instead, the not bolted to the ground fiberglass trashcan came toppling down onto DangerBoy's beautiful untouched, unmarked face.

DUN. DUN. DUN.

Did this stop him? Well, yes... for the moment.

DangerBoy's daddy ran over to the can as fast as he possibly could to rescue the trouble seeking boy. He pulled the can off DangerBoy's body expecting a bruise or maybe just a frightened little expression on his face. But instead... Daddy was met with an ugly laceration and a large amount of blood pooling onto Dangerboy's little babyface. Unscarred he was no more. Because of that incident, DangerBoy's face will forever be evidence of his day wrestling with the big, red can.

As you can imagine, Destruct-O-Boy's mommy was quite shocked when she arrived down in the food court to see Daddy holding a cloth to DangerBoy's forehead and staring back at her with an 'OH SH*T, YOU'RE SO GONNA KILL ME FOR NOT WATCHING HIM' look on his face. Now so many thoughts were going thru DangerBoys momma's head at that very moment. And yes, she will admit, that was definitely one of them. But she was a remarkable, young woman and an honorable wife. In those few seconds of seeing her bloody son, she decided that because of this little boy's hyperactivity, surely, this was something that could have happened in her care as well. She desired to be the most enviable marriage partner and to not mention anything to Destruct-O-Boy's father about those horrible 'how could you' thoughts that entered her mind for a millisecond. Instead, she concentrated on what's more important at the moment, which was not passing out everytime his daddy moved the cloth to check the bleeding.

Both his momma and Knott's associates called 9-1-1. And very shortly after, daddy and Destruct-O-Boy were wisked via ambulance to the nearest hospital. It was there, at that very hospital, where DangerBoy woo'ed the hearts of a nurse, or two, maaaaybe even three, all the while braving his injury and being stitched up 7x.

Wow!

WHAT. A. DAY!

Sadly, Destruct-O-Boy only got to take a spin on ONE whole ride before his trashcan debacle. And Sadly, because of his rambunctiousness, the plans to spend the rest of the day after competition riding all the amusement park rides as a family never happened. Rather, the lovely three cheer girls won their trophies (1st place in cheer and 2nd for Hip Hop) and the bandaged up DangerBoy and his family went on their merry way home.

DangerBoy lived the rest of his life with the female attracting scar across his face. In fact, the very next day he was searching for the next adventure to tackle. Joyfully though, he and the rest of his family lived happily ever after.

To Be Continued...

(pics will be posted later)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahhh....I hope you enjoyed this non-fictional story. Yes, this just happened this past weekend. I'd post some pictures but it's getting awfully late and..... sigh.......back to reality. Or at least my reality. It seems that just as I guessed they would, just now, four of those disobeying children seemed to have found their way out of their nice warm beds. I hear much laughter up there as they entertain themselves in the upstairs hallway, thinking that mommy is too busy or too tired to even care. HA! I'll show them! Those darn kids should be in bed sleeping, cuz it's ~~9:45~~ 10:45 already! I just screamed up there, "just wait til I tell your father you're still awake." But I only heard 1 pair of feet go running. Those darn kids are getting too smart! I bet that one pair of running feet was from the youngest of the four. That child hasn't lived long enough to know that mommy doesn't usually follow thru with her little threats. So, unfortunately, I'm sorry, but you will have to excuse me now while I ~~go spank my kids, pull out my hair, and maybe eat another Snickers Bar~~ tuck my sweet lil angels back into their fluffy warm beds.

Goodnight. Sweet Dreams, Bloggy Readers.

Meet Hillary

2011-02-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

I'd like you to meet someone pretty special. This is my cousin, Hillary. She's a BEAUTIFUL young college student who has overcome some pretty amazing trials sent her way. Like most typical teenagers, Hillary worried about her studies, sports and her social life. Something distracted her though. Something in addition to normal high school issues. Something got in her way of just being a 'normal' kid. At 14, she was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. Imagine dealing with this at fourteen years old! All the while going to school and trying to keep up with tests and assignments and basketball and volleyball and friends and just every day teenager stuff. Imagine that. Really imagine how little "normalcy" she had being interrupted by doctor appointments and hospital stays. Chemotherapy and the like. Because that was her life. And despite all of the yuckiness that goes along with this disease, she didn't falter. She didn't stumble. She was so brave and she fought so long and so hard. In my book, she's famous. Google her and you will see. You will see what an extraordinary woman she has become. She can sing, play the guitar, and can speak Chinese. Hello!!!! Do you know anyone like that?!

With God's amazing grace, she won her battle with cancer and because of it has become the strong woman she is today.

I'm so very proud of her. I'm so proud to tell people that I not only know her, but (even better) we are related. Her story is truly one of hope for those who may be experiencing the same or similar circumstances. I'd like to say that she gets her brains from her father's side of the family (obviously, that's how we are related) and that smart kids just seem to run in our blood. But... (there's always a but)... but, unfortunately I think this is not the case with her. Because Hillary is different. She's just so very different. She's not your typical college kid you'd meet on the street. She is a hero of sorts. A role model for me and also for my children. She stands out in a crowd.

After her fight with cancer, she mentioned that one of the things she learned through it all was to "enjoy the time you have here and now because you never know when things will be going wrong. And the other thing is you need to give back in life. Now I want to leave the world a little better than when I came in." Ummmm.... Hello AGAIN!!!!!......I don't know about you, but there's not many teenagers I know who have the wisdom and insight that this girl has!

What I admire most about her is that she knows what she wants in life and she goes after it, all the while jumping over the hurdles thrown her way. As a child, her dream was to grow up and become a doctor. Something got in her way BIG TIME. And instead of easily giving up like I probably would have, she weathered the storm. ONE. DAY. AT. A. TIME. And when the storm was all over she was left weak. But weakness was piddly compared to what she had just been through. Did she take time to recoup and gain her strength back? Perhaps. I can only hope so. But when she felt better she stood up and accepted her next challenge.

So the next time I'm feeling sorry for myself or the next time I find myself acting selfish and bitter because something didn't turn out the way I planned it (case in point: my 911 call, or my bidding wars over a house), I will remember her story. I will remind myself that life is not easy. Life is full of struggles and hardships. Sometimes God throws us a curve ball. But that shouldn't stop me (or us) from fighting for our dreams. I want my children to know this too. They read this blog very often. So children- Take Note: Sometimes we fall on our own and other times we're pushed down. But when you are faced with hardship, please remember Hillary. Hillary stood up. Hillary brushed herself off. Hillary accepted the challenge sent her way and even fought through it with a "bring it on" type of attitude. My beautiful children- sometimes we'll win and other times we may lose. But when we win.... remember.... give the glory to God. Thank Him for what He has done in your life and what it has taught you. Take your experience with you and continue on your journey. Fight for your dreams. It will be worth it. And remember those who helped you along the way. Let that touch you and encourage you to pay it forward, give back to others. I pray that you, my children, will never have to experience such an ordeal as hers. But... if you do... remember, I will be there to help you every step of the way and to remind you of Hillary's bravery and determination.

I'm happy to share that Hillary was just accepted into medical school!

Hillary, congratulations. I am sooo very honored to be your cousin. You are an inconceivably amazing woman. And you deserve this more than any other person I know.

PATIENCE

2011-02-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

Out of all my children this one is definitely the most difficult! God, give me patience in raising this child!

Wordless, Toofless Wednesday

2011-02-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

Vivian on Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T23:11:00.000-08:00

My sister in law called me up and asked me to shoot a few pics of my niece, Vivian. Knowing that Vivian is much like Emily and loves clothes, fashion, and shopping.... what better place to take her than Victoria Gardens (an outdoor mall)! Here are my favorite shots of the day...

Say Cheese!

2011-02-09T15:40:00.000-08:00

For Elizabeth's 9th bday, she wanted a slumber party. So, a slumber party was had. We invited a few girls over from the cheer squad and from her class. To keep them busy, I borrowed an idea I've seen from another (adult) party I've been to where they converted a downstairs closet into a photo booth.

Daddy and I had such a fun time at that party because of that photo booth; I'm sure the fact that we had a lil booze and we were minus our children helped a little too.

Sigh.

But, I digress.

Anywho, that's what we did for Elizabeth. The photo booth that is; not the booze! Here are a few of the snapshots captured in the closet...

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away. ~Eudora Welty

Happy Birthday Elizabeth

2011-02-04T01:15:00.000-08:00

Today you are nine years old! When did my little newborn baby with the creamy skin and jet black curls turn into a little lady? Stop growing so quickly please! I want you to stay this way forever. Right now you are full of attitude; even a good spunky kinda attitude. You still love babies and you help me out so much with Megan and Ben. My skinny lil Elizabeth hates to eat most any food unless it has been thoroughly inspected by you alone or unless it's a Toaster Streudel. You love fuzzy, furry animals. Especially bunnies and chinchillas. You have been in competitive cheerleading for about 9 months now and you are loving it. Your favorite friends are Arianna, Natalie, and Alexa. Your deep set eyes are absolutely gorgeous. You are one of the brightest students in your class and you know it. You carry yourself with the utmost,modest confidence (if that's even possible) I've ever seen anyone have. I have so much to learn from you. From your springy black curls all the way down to your turned in feet, you are PERFECT!

Perfect in every way.

The lyrics of this song may sound familiar to you. Silly girl, you probably thought that Bruno Marx wrote them about some cute girl he was dating. But I swear that man wrote them about you! Cuz these are your words and they are all about YOU!

Oh her eyes, her eyes

Make the stars look like they're not shining

Her hair, her hair

Falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful

each and every day

Yeah I know, I know

When I compliment her

She wont believe me

And its so, its so

Sad to think she don't see what I see

But every time she asks me do I look okay

I"ll say...

When I see your face

There's not a thing that I would change

Cause you're amazing

Just the way you are

And when you smile,

The whole world stops and stares for awhile

Cause girl you're amazing

Just the way you are

Her nails, her nails

I could kiss them all day if she'd let me

Her laugh, her laugh

She hates but I think its so lovely

She's so beautiful

Each and every day

Oh you know, you know, you know

I'd never ask you to change

If perfect is what you're searching for

Then just stay the same

So don't even bother asking

If you look okay

You know what I'll say

When I see your face

There's not a thing that I would change

Cause you're amazing

Just the way you are

And when you smile,

The whole world stops and stares for awhile

Cause girl you're amazing

Just the way you are

The way you are

Girl you're amazing

Just the way you are!

Happy 9th Birthday to Our Beautiful Elizabeth Ann!

Batman's Dirty Little Secret

2011-02-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

Bet you didn't know that Batman likes to pick his nose when nobody is looking!

The Reason For My Absence

2011-01-25T23:32:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've posted. Some of you have even emailed me asking if all was okay. Thank you for those emails. I appreciate your concern.

Yes, I've been absent in blogland. And yes, there is a reason for this.

You see... not all is great at the moment. Most of you know that besides my full-time mommy job, I also hold down another full time job. One that I don't like to talk about too much because it does not define me. Nor is it what this blog is all about. I am first and foremost a mom. And this blog is all about the adventures of the Great Big Mejia Family. It is not about work or careers. But sometimes the two get jumbled up and one weaves into the other. In other words, sometimes my work affects my family. It's rare; but it happens. As hard as I try to leave work at the workplace, it doesn't always stay there. It follows me home and in some circumstances leaves me feeling very sad. Hence, my non(blog)existence lately.

You see...
I am a 911 operator.
Or police dispatcher.
Whatever you may wish to call it.
We have many names, different titles, but our role is all the same.
We help save lives.
Sometimes some lives cannot be saved.
I understand that this is a sad part of our humanity. Yet, it still bothers me.
I'm trained to handle critical calls, possibly deal with death, and to accept it.
BUT. SOMETIMES. IT'S. HARD.
Really. Hard.

Hopefully, I will one day be able to blog (or just tell you) more about this later.
In more detail.
But that will have to wait.

I'll be back to myself and my more frequent blogging in no time at all.
I promise.
In the meantime,
I'm learning to accept the fact that...
Sometimes those who help others, need help too.

12 Days of Christmas

2010-12-23T07:51:00.000-08:00

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

a santa hat wearing juicy bay..beee!

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

a notable mommy melting heart specialty!

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

a colicky toddler as grumpy as can be!

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

two sticky hands n some eyelashes to stir some jealousy!

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

another pathetic grum-py baaaay-by!

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love sent to me..

a wacky eyed glare as goofy as can be!

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

some lips that's meant for kissing mommy!

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

his crabby person-a-lity!

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

a booger diving ex-tre-mity!

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

his new favorite ac-ti-vi-ty!

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

a sneeze to make him entertainingly dizzy.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

a smile worth a gazillion pe-nnies!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-22T06:08:00.000-08:00

This should be a CRIME!!! If the suspect is a baby, is that forgivable? Will he still make it into heaven?

Do You See What I See?

2010-12-17T21:12:00.000-08:00

It didn't finally hit me until earlier this week when I was face to face with my mother listening to her talk about whatever it was she was talking about at that moment. But, I was soooo relieved when I finally figured it out because it was truly driving me mad! Finally, I solved the puzzle as to who the future Princess, Kate Middleton, reminds me of.

She's a younger version of my mother!!! I see it! Do you?

(By the way, I just LOVE these older pics of my mom. They bring a smile to my face.
She looks so happy and carefree. And her clothes are sooo hip and vintage.)

In the middle of our conversation, I yelled out, "It's YOU!", that's who she reminds me of. "You have a very strong resemblance to Kate Middleton!"

It was bugging me but I finally figured it out.

She laughed at me; doesn't agree at all. But check it out for yourself. Here are some pics of my mother around the same age. Call me crazy, but I really see it. Do you see what I see?

Well, I say... if Kate Middleton wants to know what she'll look like when she becomes a Nana one day, someone please direct her over to this here blog, will ya?!

On a side note.... There's a horrible stomach flu working its way through our family. It started with Emily, then me. Megan was next, then Ben. Matthew had it 2 days ago. Today, I got a text from Sarah who babysat on Wednesday. Guess who she's kissing today? It's not Ryan. It's the same object Brianna and Elizabeth are listening to their echos yelling back at them from while their faces are planted in it. THE TOILET BOWL. What's worse, Nana was babysitting!!! Sorry Nana! If you deserve any title at all, it's definitely NOT the future princess. Instead... we crown you Queen. Queen Nana of the Sickies. You will always have a throne to sit on in this house. (And I don't mean the toilet, But yes, there's that too!) That's way better than some odd nobody chic, getting lucky and striking it filthy rich by marrying some Prince. Pshhh!!! Puulllease. Who needs the Prince of Wales when you could have these six kids to clean up after! Queen Nana is totally more honorable than a prince's wife! The Future Princess, Kate Middleton, has nothing on you!!!

Oh, and daddy is the ONLY one in this house who has not gotten sick! Something tells me he may be the next victim!

(cue the music....DUN. DUN. DUN!!! )

To Be Continued...

Sarah & Ryan

2010-12-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

In a secret little place where I often long to go but can never seem to find the time, lies a hidden gem of a park. It’s only a stone’s throw from our house and the perfect little spot for little boys to look for frogs, little girls to write in the sand, or for boyfriends and girlfriends to get lost in each other’s arms. I wish I took my kids here more often. It’s a dreamy little place for lovers, or a little boy’s perfect playground, or ‘just the right spot’ for a family to picnic and pretend that they are miles away from home. I don’t even want to really blog about it because I don’t want others to discover it. It won’t be the same if we go next time and ‘others’ have found it out!

I managed to sneak in a little photo shoot for my cousin Sarah and her boyfriend Ryan. It was a little thank you for all the free babysitting she does for me! You two are cute together, and I love the ‘tale’ behind your romance! It reminds me of the innocent childhood love of that little girl and little boy on all of those cards you see in Hallmark.

Ryan, you survived! It wasn’t that bad, was it? Sarah, I loved taking your pics and can’ t wait to do it again someday.

Grand Canyon Or Bust...

2010-12-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

A surprise trip to the Grand Canyon and the Polar Express was just what we needed to get into the Christmas spirit. We had the trip planned for a few short weeks and surprised the kids early one morning by waking them up and having them get into the fully packed van. They thought we were going to the store. But after one hour turned into two and two turned into three, they eventually got the idea that this was no quick trip. But with ~~Sir Speedy~~ daddy at the wheel, we did get there in about 5 hours. Here are the kids outside the cabin we stayed in. We made good friends with the grandchildless lady in the campground office (who fell in love with all the kids) and the maintenance worker who had to fix the doorknob that mommy broke and the heater that Megan broke. Speaking of heaters.... the last night we were there was 14 degrees and windy! But I digress. By the end of the weekend they felt like family to us!

After checking out our cabin we headed on over to a new attraction in Williams, Az. Bearizona! The kids love animals so this was probably more memorable than the hole in the ground we call the Grand Canyon! But I'll pretend that's not the case!

Sunday morning when we woke up and opened the cabin door, we found a blanket of white snow had fallen while we slept. How exciting that was for all of us! We hopped in the van and headed on over to check out the Grand Canyon. I couldn't wait for Elizabeth to see it because not too long ago she did a report about it and even made a life-like model. She asked me afterwards when and if we would ever take her there, so I was excited to see her reaction. But after watching this video, I think Emily enjoyed it more!

It started snowing on us. Can you see the snowflakes in this pic of Ben?

I'd like to show you pics of the Polar Express Train ride but we didn't bring the camera with the built in flash. But, maybe it's better that way. Better left to your imagination. Better left to what only your brain brings to life when I describe how truly phenomenal it was. Because I honestly don't think that any pics we could have taken would do it justice. It's something that had to be lived and experienced by you alone. If I had to describe it, I'd say that it was like the book and movie- The Polar Express - come to life. It felt like the train took us to another world. Take your most favorite, cherished childish dream, and imagine it REAL. Imagine it really coming to life. Imagine walking through it and smelling the cookies that were baked and the hot cocoa sipped just like in the movie. Imagine feeling and touching the snow, moments before boarding the train. The same white snow that lies miles ahead in the "North Pole". Imagine wiping the vapor on the windows of the train to get a clearer picture of Santa standing there waving back at you as he held is belly and yelled out in his deepest, happiest, "ho, ho, ho." Cause that's what happened to us that night. I think I can speak for bothy daddy and I when I say that even we felt like little kids again. Kids that woke up in the middle of the night and boarded a train full of mystery and powers unimaginable. I'm so very glad that ~~daddy and I~~ our kids got to experience this. I hope it preserves their innocence, stirs up their imagination, sustains their Christmas spirits, encourages them to believe in magic, and curbs their desires to want to grow up and be adults. I was a kid again if only for a mere 55 minutes. Sigh....

If I could use only 1 word to describe this whole trip, it would be ~MAGICAL~.

Emily Update and Halloween Videos

2010-11-18T09:34:00.001-08:00

Emily's surgery was a breeze for her and mommy. Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. Thanks to Nana and Nina for holding down the fort and Uncle Joseph for keeping mom and dad company at the hospital. I've never seen a child so excited to undergo a surgical procedure, but Emily was. Perhaps it was because she was the focus of attention for the day. It was HER day. While driving to the hospital, I glanced over at her expecting to see some signs of nervousness, rather, she was applying lip gloss and checking herself out in the mirror. She was totally "getting ready" for the doctors. I sometimes wonder where this child came from because I rarely wear makeup and I'm perfectly happy wearing jeans, an old t-shirt and my Vans. But Emily loves being all glammed out. I love that about her!

She is recovering nicely. In fact, she's doing so amazing that I'm starting to think they didn't really take out the tonsils or adenoids! She had a very loose tooth right before surgery, when she woke up after surgery she found her tooth in a container sitting next to her pillow. Also, inside the container was a dollar. I guess the tooth fairy can fly into operating rooms too! We are thanking Jesus that she is doing as well as she is. She even made it to cheer practice today!

The kids are in bed and before I join them, I thought I'd post 2 quick videos from Halloween.I don't want to move on to another holiday without completing my Halloween posts.

Surgery Today

2010-11-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

Emily is having her adenoids removed today. Please pray for her and for mommy too! This should take care of her sleep apnea and her snoring. My hopes are that she'll be sleeping like a baby in no time.

Fun was had by all

2010-11-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

at the boys' birthday bash. And now we have a five year old and a one year old! We started getting ready really early in the day since there was sooo much to do. Mommy straightened Elizabeth's hair and put a lil makeup on her. Then she threw on her Dorothy dress. I scored with this dress on Ebay. Because I HATE paying full price for anything and I LOVE to help out another mom who loves to sew, I immediately bought it. And paid much less for it than I would have in any store might I add! It was a homeade dress sewn by another mom; what a timesaver for me it was! Elizabeth wanted it a lil bit 'fancier' so we added on a lace trim at the bottom of the dress. Ewok makes the perfect Toto, doesn't he?

Next up, Emily. She wanted to be a gypsy, but I was determined not to spend the amount that they were asking for on gypsy costumes. See her top? I found a white sheet in the back of the linen closet that hasn't seen the light of day for the last several years. With a few snips and stitches, it became her pheasant top. I made the skirt and the sash and we accessorized her with gold costume jewelry. To see the smile on her face when she threw on her costume made it worth all the time and effort that was put into it.

Not sure how Yoda and a gypsy relate to each other in real life, but it sure makes for a cute pic.

Yoda wasn't too sure of his costume and kept turning his back on the camera. Mommys begging and pleading to "turn around and smile, Ben" seemed to make him want to keep his back on the camera even more!

Finally, he turned around for a quick snap.

Here are my kids and the neighborhood kids posing for a few more snapshots.

Dad's decor...

When Ariel, the Little Mermaid, was dressed and ready for her debut, she came out to take a few pics with Dorothy.

And some with mommy, errrr... I mean Princess Leia and Yoda.

Leia and her lil Yoda man.

The Star Wars crew. That's Matthew as Darth Vader. And I'm not sure who Daddy is here because I've never seen the whole movie from start to finish, don't tell anyone I admitted that, haha. Daddy claims he's a character from in the movie, so I just took it for what it was and believed him.

Again, not sure how Little Mermaid relates to Star Wars characters, but in my perfect world they do and they are all walking around together and get along just fine.

Meggie's costume is a long bodysuit with a handmade seashell top glued with No Sew Fabric Glue. The skirt was soooo easy to make. I think this was the funnest and easiest costume I've ever made!

And it made her very, very happy too.

Mommy even put a lil mascara on her eyelashes!

Here's the back. It cracked me up the way she held it up like a 'real' princess.

More neighborhood kids. I can't seem to escape them. Children! Children! Children Everywhere! I locked them outside so we could finish getting things ready for the party inside!

Brianna threw on a thrift store find, I was so excited when we spotted this renaissance maiden dress because I've ALWAYS wanted to go to a renaissance fair. So, when we finally do go to one someday, one of us will throw this on. After snapping her pic, it occurred to me that each of the costumes we donned that evening could classify as being part of different movies. This was not intentionally done but I was excited when I realized this. Soooo... Daddy and Mommy and Matthew and Ben were from Star Wars. Elizabeth and Ewok from The Wizard of Oz. Megan from The Little Mermaid. Brianna and Emily looked like they came off the set of the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Ben's favorite thing to do lately is to raise his hands when asked a question. The question has to be said in a certain tone and voice inflection. It's the cutest thing and I'll have to post a video of it later. But, here's whats going on in this pic. Emily was ticked off for some reason or other but Mommy was determined to get a picture of this lil group. I threatened her to smile "or else"!!!! Then I asked Ben, "who thinks Emily needs to go to her rooooom?"

He raises his hands and smiled, which ticked Emily off even more!!!! Hahaha. What a mean mommy, huh!

The party eventually got started and our guests started arriving. Elvis, or rather his ghost, was a one of the best costumes there! This was another handmade costume by another homemaker mommy. I was messing with the settings on the camera when I took this pic but I decided not to delete it because Elvis' ghost is even cooler and creepier than just Elvis, right? Haha.

This is our neighbor Dylan, dressed up as Indiana Jones. We call him Dilly Doo.

Brianna, Iliana, and Kirby.

Another neighbor, Vanessa. She ended up being my lil photographer for the rest of the night! Loved it!

Waiting for the bug show.

Princess Leia's mom.

Kenzi and Nana.

Here's the cake. I sooo badly wanted to cut Ben a piece, stick it in front of him, and let him go to town. But.... he was soooo OVER IT. He wanted nothing but his blankie, bear, and BED! So, it didn't happen but hopefully next year it will.

Some more decor before we go...

Lastly, one of the hottest snacks we made. Boo Cups! Soooo easy to make and the kids loved them!

Sew, Sew Busy

2010-10-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for the boys' birthday party. In between making banners

and entertaining these two...

Speaking of which, I've found that when this lil guy is doing his usual whining,

I can put Ewok in the backyard and that usually does the trick. Ben likes to knock on the sliding glass door and wave to him. While Ewok HATES this, Ben LOVES it, which gives mommy 10 more minutes to do what I need to do.

But I digress... As I was saying, in between making banners, entertaining children, doctor's appointments, homework, and just keeping up with the demands of a hectic, crazy household, we're sewing some more costumes, oh.. and tablecloths for the neighbors, and making alterations to my cousin's new jacket, and, and, and, haha. I digress again. We are making MORE costumes!!!!

This time not for Halloween, just for pretend play throughout the year.

Any guess on who or what we are making???

Here's a hint...

Remember, Megan's favorite princess?

Why... Princess Tiana of course!

I jumped for joy when I found this sewing pattern at JoAnn's. I've been looking for this for sew, sew (pun intended) long. It must have just come out because 2 months ago I swear it didn't exist. I wanted Megan to have a Princess Tiana costume but not like the generic ones they sell in stores. I wanted hers to be a lil bit more than just that. Sewwww, with a lil bit of mama's time and effort, and a few minor changes from the one pictured above, Meggies will have a dress to pretend play all year long!

I've finished Emily's gypsy costume and Elizabeth's Dorothy costume too. I still need to post those, don't I?! And I didn't forget to post some video of the cemetery in the front yard, that's coming up soon too. I promise.

Oh, and someone's getting their tonsils out next month...

"Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story." ~Mason Cooley

Happy Birthday Ben!

2010-10-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

My baby is 1 today!!!! He's NOT an infant anymore. I think I'm gonna cry! He doesn't drink baby formula anymore. He's walking, crying, saying "mama", "dada", and "nana". His favorite is "caca" when I tell him something is gross and he shouldn't be putting it in his mouth. Benjamin, if I could have had my pick from all the babies in heaven waiting to be born, I would have chosen you! I cried and laughed with joy the day I found out I was pregnant with you. One of my most favorite days was the day you were born. I will never forget those precious moments when you entered the world. Thank you Lord Jesus for my last lil monkey, this precious boy!

"Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it." ~Not Your Average Dictionary

Happy Birthday Matthew!

2010-10-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

Today is this lil guy's birthday! Five years ago today I became mother to my firstborn son! What a beautiful day that was. I remember it like it was yesterday. I want to cry when I think about how fast the time has gone by. Before I know it, he'll be wishing his son a happy 5th birthday.

Matthew- you've absolutely no idea what you mean to me. I prayed for the opportunity to buy blue blankies and Tonka trucks. I prayed so very hard for you. God answered my prayers the day you arrived. Thank you for being mama's sweet, sweet boy.

"I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring." ~Liz Armbruster, on robertbrault.com

Look-a-Like Survey

2010-10-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since we've had a quiz or survey here on this blog. In fact, I think the last one was around the time we were guessing the gender of Ben or choosing the perfect baby name. This post is one I've been wanting to do for such a long time. I just never have the time to scan old pics. Today, I MADE time. I'm always hearing different opinions from different people on which one of my daughters looks the most like me. I have my own opinion but I thought it would be fun to post a pic of me around their age and let you once again choose for yourself.

I am in 4th grade in this picture here.

Brianna- 6th
Elizabeth- 3rd
Emily- 2nd
Megan- 2 yrs.

Double Click on the picture to get a closer view.

I do have to say... My girls are much prettier than their mommy!

So... what's your say? Who looks the most like mommy?

Not Me Monday

2010-10-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

I went to Target last week and I bought two jars of spaghetti sauce. I intended on making spaghetti for dinner that night. When packing the car full of kids and groceries, I did NOT accidentally drop my jars of sauce in the parking lot. It did NOT splatter sauce all over me, the car, and the kids! Nope, this did NOT happen. I did NOT pretend like it wasn't me who did it. I did NOT drive away feeling like a stressed out, frazzled mother who wanted to cry all the way home.

I did NOT leave Ben to play on the bathroom floor and dig thru momma's bathroom cabinets just for 20 minutes of peace while I showered. I did NOT get out of the shower to find my beautiful little boy sucking on an open (UNUSED) tampon like it was a lollipop. NO! This did not happen. He did NOT kick and scream when I took his tampon pop away! Not, my Ben.

I did not let Megan and Ben play with a box of Apple Jacks cereal to keep them occupied while mommy blogged her little heart away. This is NOT what they did to the last box of cereal we had left.

I did NOT fall in love with a house down the street and I most certainly did NOT drive by it almost everyday for a month. I did NOT lie awake in bed at night dreaming about how I would decorate each of the kids' bedrooms in this house. Certainly, I did NOT wake up the other day to find that MY HOUSE was sold. I did NOT shed a tear. Nope, not one tear!

We are NOT planning another birthday party right now! Because my lil man will NOT be turning 5 and my precious baby boy will NOT be the big 1 already!!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

2010-10-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

HALLOWEEN!!!

Oh, the irony! On the day daddy started putting out the decorations, another rainbow filled the sky.

Matthew and the neighborhood boys had fun helping daddy put out the tombstones. I'll post some more pics of the yard this week!

"When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, ‘tis near Halloween." ~Author Unknown

City Parade

2010-10-13T18:47:00.001-07:00

A few weekends ago, the girls participated in a city parade with their cheerleading team. It was so much fun to go and watch them march through our city's first parade ever. Ben was just as excited as mommy, can you tell?

He even got Uncle Joseph to smile.

Matthew, Megan, and Mackenzie snuck in a quick jump in the bounce house before the parade started.

Here's Elizabeth and a few of the other cheer girls getting ready for the march.

Sisters & Best Friends... Emily & Elizabeth.

We had front row seats.

Proud Parents.

Three of the cutest kids in the audience.

Entertaining herself by climbing on the bleachers.

Brianna on her way to the starting line.

Another cute picture of Ben- just because it's my blog and I can't get enough of this yummy boy.

Who needs a parade for entertainment when you can climb like a monkey on these ~~bars~~ bleachers.

A rainbow in the sky on the night of the parade. A sign of good luck perhaps?

The high school flag team and band were the first in line. Hearing the live music was a highlight of the evening. Now I'd love to show you pictures of the girls actually marching in the parade. BUT, it turns out that I was so into my screaming, chanting, and cheering them on when they walked by that I completely forgot about the camera sitting on my lap! I was soooo angry with myself. Oh well, it is what it is.

Hospitalized

2010-10-11T19:05:00.001-07:00

The title says it all!!! Megan got worse before she got better. Her symptoms were severe enough to require hospitalization. When they told me they were admitting her I was overwhelmed with relief! I felt so helpless; It was such a long, miserable night. No matter what I did or how hard I tried to help her, it just wasn't enough for her. Prior to the day of hospitalization she was crying out in pain all night. Her ears were red, hot, and swollen. She complained of her ankles hurting. They were so swollen that the only relief she got was when I had ice packs on them and her silence only lasted a few moments. If she wasn't crying about her ankles then it was her tummy that was hurting her. She kept burping then crying, burping then crying. Then, she started wheezing. Daddy, mommy, and Megan were all sleep deprived. We ended up in the E.R. again that night and were sent home with Ibuprofen for her joint pain. We got home and maybe rested an hour when she started crying again because of the same symptoms. Her hives weren't any better and the itching was ever so present. By 8 o'clock in the morning we had maybe slept 2 hours total! She started vomiting and wasn't keeping down any food or meds.

We went to her pediatrician's office. Megan had a breathing treatment while her doctor called 911. She got her first ambulance ride and hopefully her last! Several tests were ran and lots of meds were pumped into my little baby. Little by little she improved.I'm overjoyed to have my Meggies feeling normal again. The overnight stay in the hospital was bittersweet. As much as I don't want my baby feeling ill, I enjoyed the alone time I had with her. I was ALL hers and there weren't any siblings competing for mommy's attention. No interuptions. Just quiet time to hold her and rock her and sing to her. It made me fall in love with my little girl all over again.

By morning, she did a complete turnaround. She woke up singing nursery rhymes to herself and talking the nurses' ears off. They fell in love with her too. We learned that she is now allergic to Amoxicillin. The doctor overseeing her care said it was one on of the worst allergic reactions he has ever seen. He called it Serum Sickness. He said that the burping and the tummy aches was because everything she was experiencing on the outside was also going on in the inside of her. In other words, her whole GI tract was swollen too!

Thank you Lord, Jesus for keeping my baby safe!!! Thank you everyone for all of the prayers that were said. Thank you Mimi, Alarick, and Brandon for the big pink bear (Megan named it: Big Pink Bear) and the balloons. She kept telling the nurses that it was her birthday party because she had balloons. Thank you Uncle Rigo and Auntie Aracely for visiting her in the hospital. Thank you Smith's for watching the kids. Thank you mom and Lety for keeping me sane! I have such an amazing support group. Megan smiling waiting to go home.

Not the Chicken Pox!

2010-10-06T11:07:00.001-07:00

Here's Meggie in the ER yesterday, fast asleep from the meds they gave her. Wish they'd give me some extra for the other kids, haha. Megan is much better! After watching her bumps get worse yesterday as the day went on, I started really thinking it WAS chickenpox. Then, after picking up the older kids from school, I noticed her ears were really red and swollen. I could feel the heat coming from them. Soon after she started complaining that she couldn't walk. I took one look at her feet and was horrified at how swollen those were too. I've seen this happen to Brianna before and had a pretty good feeling she was having an allergic reaction. I threw her back into the car and took her to urgent care. They sent us to the emergency room where it was confirmed that that's exactly what was happening. She got a shot of Benadryl and was given an oral steroid. She fell asleep from the Benadryl and didn't wake up til morning! She even got to sleep between mommy and daddy last night! We still aren't sure what caused this because she had nothing out of the ordinary to eat or drink yesterday morning. The Dr in the ER suggested we follow up with her pediatrician and schedule some allergy testing. Thank you everyone for your prayers and concern! Life is good again, at least for the moment :)

Please tell me Meggies does NOT have CHICKENPOX!!!

2010-10-05T14:00:00.001-07:00

tell me this is just a rash, pulllleeeeease!

Halloween Costumes

2010-10-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

Momma's been busy with sewing projects lately. Here's a preview of a little mermaid costume I've made for Megan and her cousin Mackenzie.

Emily wants to be a gypsy this year and so I'm working on that one now. I'll post some pics of it this week. Daddy was excited to start decorating and couldn't wait til Oct. 1st, so out came the tombstones and the zombies the night before. I'll post those pics too this week.

Big Bear Pics

2010-09-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

We went to Big Bear a few weeks ago but I just now realized I never posted some of the good pics we got. Here's my FAVORITE pic!I left my camera at home so these images were from Bri's camera. Here are some funny pics of Bri and Elizabeth goofing off.

And Bri taking silly ones of Ben too.Eating ice cream in the village. For the first time, we rode the ski lift up to the top of the mountain and had lunch. It was sooo cool. We'd like to do it again in the snow. Papa dropped his expensive jacket while on the ski lift. After the ride he and daddy went on a lil hike to find it. A few minutes and a lot of sweat later, they got it back.

I'm 7 Now!

2010-09-20T15:47:00.001-07:00

You're looking at a 7 year old in this pic!

Emily turned 7 at the beginning of September and she wanted a Taylor Swift party and so that's what we did. We also had a "movies in the park" theme that we went with.Daddy brought the movie projector down from the movie room and put it in the front yard. The kids watched Hannah Montana the Movie since that's the only movie I could think of that Taylor Swift plays in. We also rented a hot dog machine and cotton candy machine. Ben got his first taste of that stuff. He had a fit when he realized he ate it all. Daddy brought his popcorn machine outside and we had a blast! The older girls put makeup on the younger ones.Nana was a server, too.Happy Birthday Beautiful, Emily!

Disneyland

2010-09-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

I've been a slacker lately when it comes to blogging, but the good news is I am about 2 weeks away from completing all my required real estate classes in order to take the exam. We've also recently celebrated Emily's 7th birthday and snuck in a weekend to Big Bear. But today's post is about Disneyland! We started our day eating at the Rainforest Cafe in downtown disney. This was the first time to Disneyland for both Megan and Ben. Matthew has been there kinda recently with his Aunt Jane and Uncle Joseph. We had a great time and got to visit Uncle Peter, oops I mean Uncle Mikey. Megan is obsessed with Princess Tiana from Princess and the Frog (I think I secretly am too, just because she sort of represents some cultural roots for my fam) so we BOTH enjoyed this one on one time with her. And who doesn't love Tink?!

This is from the very realistic Nemo ride. Very cool.

And this last pic is just because you know me when it comes to anything houses or house design. This is on one of the walls at Dland right near the entrance. It is my inspiration pic of what Miguel and I are planning on doing on an empty stone wall in our front yard. Except, mine will be better because it will be a climbing rose vine. White roses. Lately, I've fallen in love with white roses.