Now this is more like it!

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/17576601/detail.html

Have you ever........

......completely forgot your own address?

I was paying bills tonight and couldn't for the life of me remember our address! Ended up looking up MYSELF in my own palm pilot.

Shameful and very embarrassing!

2 Girls Out For A Ride

It's a good thing our diapers came in over the weekend.......the shipping box provided the girls with MUCH fun! It's the little things......

After their "magic box ride" we headed outdoor with the pups. Kaitlin just couldn't get enough of Xena......they have a very special love for each other. Makes me kindof jealous!!!

Birthday Fun

This weekend we joined our good friends (Jamie and Curtis) to celebrate their little boy's (Clayton) 2nd birthday. It's been so fun watching him grow up into the little cutie-pie that he is!



The venue was this REALLY awesome park in town, loaded with a playground on steriods and a really fun water feature. The girls had a blast but I'm thinking after looking at the pictures, that the birthday cake was their favorite part! What do you think?

Horrific!!

Did anyone see Oprah today? UNBELIEVABLE!! If you Tivo'd it.......WATCH IT!

The show was dedicated to the issue of child predators on the Internet and both Jim and I were just speechless. I'm begging you all (parents or not) to educate yourself on exactly what we are dealing with here in America and worldwide. Is it disturbing? ABSOLUTELY! But you owe it to these children (and your own) to know the truth so that you can do everything in YOUR power to fight for them. They have nobody else. Many of these victims are babies and toddlers (completely disgusting) and couldn't even communicate their fears to us if they wanted.

One of the federal agents from the cybercrime division of Homeland Security stated that he's seen just about everything you could imagine that is disturbing, but what stood out in his mind the most was a live video feed of a newborn infant being vaginally raped with the umbilical stump still attached.

I'm BEGGING YOU, educate yourself and ACT NOW

Don't close your eyes and cover your ears and pretend it's not out there. It is and it's all around us!!!! Let's do something about it!!!

Our weekend

We started out strong..........going to local fair for good food and fun! Kellyn was in overdrive with all the rides. We could have stayed there all night if it was up to her!!

Both her and Kaitlin were all fired up for the pony rides, but as soon as those little creatures started moving........Kaitling quickly lost interest and just wanted her Mom!! Kellyn on the other hand, LOVED every minute of it!

Lastly, Kellyn really wanted to ride the "dinosaurs". She put the "big girl" face on well at first, but once that beast started rearing back and letting out it's dinosaur roars, she didn't want much more to do with that ride!! :-) They still gave her a little toy and at least it was a good photo opt, right?

On our way out the door, we finished the night off with a hot cinnamon roll (fat free I'm sure) and a refreshing lemonade.......it's a good thing we at least walked there!!

Saturday was one of those days where I had Grandiose ideas that pretty much fizzled out in the day. BUMMER! Started with the grand idea of going over to Reno to see the Great Hot Air Balloon Race........but by the time we got there, all the balloons were out of the sky for the day! TOTALLY STINKS since that was quite a little drive but luckily, I packed a big picnic lunch so we just made a day of it. We headed back to Truckee (North Lake Tahoe area) and found a great park and just played and played.

After they were all fed and worn out, we headed back home to wind up the day with some bike riding, bath time and lots of bedtime stories. All in all...........a good day, despite not getting to see any of the balloons. Next year!

We winded up the weekend with a fun day at The Fountains........this really awesome shopping complex that has a cool fountain feature that mimics the one outside the Bellagio in Vegas. The girls could watch the water all day long! After getting a bit drenched at the fountains, we treated ourselves to ice cream and then a ride on the Choo Choo Train. Wet look and all......my girls are just adorable. Point in case, there were photographers there getting footage for their website (to advertise what a family friendly shopping place it is) and they asked to get some shots of my girls eating their ice cream. Kellyn just ATE that up and gave me fair warning that a career on screen may be in her future! EEKS!!

What have we been up to?

You ask?

WORK WORK WORK and more WORK!!!

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind but amidst all the craziness, we did manage to get some fun times in there too.

Every evening after work.....the girls can't wait to hit the asphalt (literally sometimes) on their bikes, big wheels, or wagon. They just LOOOVE being outside in our cul-de-sac no matter how hot it may be. We have to get real creative when it comes to going indoors for bath time b/c they are smart cookies and know bedtime is right after that.

Kellyn and her purple trike. She has a bigger bike but just isn't quite ready for it yet (mentally).

Kaitlin just goes bonkers when Chase and X enter the room......I hope they love her as much as she loves them. I THINK they do!

Last Sabbath, I got the girls dolled up and we went to Sabbath School.

Afterwards, I took them to lunch at a little grill located right on our little city airports runway. The girls were just in awe at all the planes taking off and landing...........they barely ate a bite! Definitely their favorite place to eat and I'm hoping to make this a little mommy/daughter weekend tradition! This was our 3rd time in the past 6 months coming to the restaurant and as we were leaving, the waitress told me how happy she is when she sees me come in with the girls.....stating they were her favorite "kid customers" and so well behaved and just adorable. Yes....this made me ONE PROUD MOMMY!!!

Later that night, after bath time, I spoiled the girls and let them watch a quick "show" before bed. Why are they so cute?

Sunday night, in a last minute scurry, Lisa rounded us up some tickets (and a babysitter for the little ones) for the minor league baseball game. So while Merrick and Kaitlin were in dreamland, we took the older kids to the ballgame. Kellyn was in HEAVEN being on an outing with Tryg, Matt and Aunt "Sisa" - 3 of her favorite people.

On the way there, I just couldn't help snapping a shot of our 3 "older" kids. How did this happen. I swear.....it was JUST yesterday Lisa was telling me she was pregnant with Tryg!!!

Tryg being the "big" nephew and helping Kellyn to the ballpark from the parking lot! LOVE THEM!!!

Me and my girl.......it was SO awesome having this one-on-one time with her!!

During the game, they announced that when it was over, they would let kids "run the bases" with a signed waiver from their parents. Tryg and Matt were all over this idea so of course, Kellyn was all excited about it too. But I knew better.........she's still little......and to be out on that field by herself with all those bigger kids would freak her out. But still, I wanted to give her the chance!

So we waited our turn and when we finally got down to the field, I could see that questionable look in her eyes. Tryg said he would hold her hands around the bases since they wouldn't let parents on the field with the kids. This seemed OK with her at first........but as soon as she got b/t 1st and 2nd base, she looked around in circles with tears in her eyes for her mommy! It broke my heart. The staff let me go out to her and hold her hand while we finished running the bases.

But the story doesn't end there. The boys wanted to do it again.......so we walked back around. This time, I was under the impression that Kellyn would just stay back with me but when we got to the starting point.........she just took off. For ONE MOMENT, she looked back at me at which point, I told her she could do it.......and she stepped foot on that dirt and just took off. At full throttle, my little girls ran all 4 bases at top speed w/out stopping once - ALL BY HERSELF!!

I was cheering from the stands, feeling so much pride yet so much sadness at the same time. I couldn't help but well up with tears as I watched my little girl exercise her confidence in doing something w/out her mommy by her side. To see that little 2 year old out there with all those big kids was amazing but at the same time, it was more difficult then I ever thought it would be. I've always said I hoped to raise strong, independent women.......and I'm obviously succeeding. So why does it hurt so much? Guess that's just part of being a parent!!

This is a poor shot since it was dark outside, but you can kindof see her just passing 3rd and heading into home base! GO KELLYN!!!

They kids proudly displaying their free ice cream vouchers they got after running the bases.