Back From Vegas

photo taken from plane on the way there. That's the wing if you couldn't tell.
gondola inside the Venetian
New York New York. See the escalators in the street on the left.
Six year wedding anniversary dinner!
under the light show on Fremont street. Our last night there.

We left last sunday for Vegas! We were supposed to leave at just after 11am...we got loaded on the plane and were told there was a 2 1/2 hour delay, because of winds in Vegas. So off th

e plane we went. After about 1 1/2 hours, they announced we were gining the okay to go ahead. Wouldn't you know..we get back on only to be retold that we were delayed yet again! An hour and 20 minutes this time. Nice. So we sat on the plane (they really didn't want us leaving again) and waited. Finally we were able to leave. Geesh! Didn't get there until about 4:30pm, which was a bummer! Got a rental car and checked into the hotel. Headed to In and Out Burger for some food. Love that place!! The weather was chilly the whole time. High 40s, low 50s. It rained a little here and there. Tuesday was our 6 year anniversary. We went out to eat and I got a tattoo. Yes, I actually did it! I didn't freak out as much as I did the first time...though I wanted to ;) I will post pictures of it later. Monday night we saw Carrot Top perform at the Luxor. We had 2nd row seats and were probably about fifteen feet away from him! He was hilarious and it was a great time! We went to the outlet mall there...gambled some...drank some...shopped...and of course missed the kids like crazy!! They did good. The baby did have trouble sleeping though...and Xandria had a meltdown the last night, but otherwise it went pretty good. I hope ;) We arrived home about 11:15am on thursday. I came home and took a nap. Nick picked up Xavier from school, and Ang brought the rest of the kids home around 4pm. I was SO happy to see them!! The baby couldn't stop smiling and the other kids were amped!! So nice to be back at home and in my bed! It was a great break and I came home feeling refreshed :) Well, I'm off to do more laundry...and hope it stops snowing soon!!

Preparing

So we are going to Vegas soon. Yay! And also feeling not prepared. Not prepared to leave my kids...especially the youngest two. Of course it will be hard leaving the older two, but they have been through it before and pretty much know what to expect. We haven't been back there since before Drake was born, so I know it will be lots of fun...but it will be tough. I'm hoping Drake won't be to bad (like he was when we got home from the hospital)...he's been staying the night at my parents more and we won't be coming home with a new family member ;) B ut the baby...ugh...I don't know how he will be. Nighttime is what I worry about the most. He's used to me putting him to bed and telling him goodnight. Sometimes Nick will go put him to bed and he will cry until I go tell him goodnight. So I don't know. And when he goes to Angela's on wednesday...for two hours, he's somewhat clingy after we get home and wants to be cuddled. He's does great when he's being watched...I just don;t know how he will be, being gone from home five nights and four days. I'm getting so emotional about leaving...today has been the worst yet! I even strapped Daxton to me in a carrier today...envisioning that I could take him to Vegas like that. Ha ha! I know it will be nice to have a break...together, just me and Nick...no cleaning, laundry, getting kids ready for bed...and all the other lovely day to day chores. It's a tug of war in my head though. I didn't really plan on going this year, since we just had a new baby, and I had told Nick we would talk about it. Apparently that was all the talking he needed and decided that was a yes. It will be fun...right? Changing the subject...Daxton turned five months on monday! Wish I could push the stop button on my kids for awhile. He rolled over from his back to his tummy the day after. Of course he did it when I walked out of the room...Xavier was in there and yelled at me to come see. Rolled him back on his back and he did it again...of course I had the camera ready and got the shots :) I just got his 4 month pictures mailed out today....yay for me...ha ha! I plan on uploading some pictures later. I hope I can find the time! Fingers crossed that we don't need coats in Vegas!! One more thing...I'm starting to wonder if the kids will even miss me when we go because they keep asking if it's the day they get to go stay at Angela's. Even Drake. Oh well, that's a good sign, right? Right?!

Drake's 3rd Birthday!

Three years old!!

Monday was Drake's birthday. After we picked Xavier up from school, we had to take Xavier and Xandria bowling, when they were done, we headed home for cupcakes and presents! Drake's gifts from us were: Cars sleeping bag (after he was saying "I wish I had a sleeping bag"), Buzz Lightyear gun, power rangers on motorcycles, Cars McQueen remote control car...except it runs with a light... you point the light where you want the car to go, Thomas the Train track, sunglasses (he kept saying he wanted some), couple Cars books, blue McQueen car, and a digital camera. He was SO excited about the camera...he had REALLY been wanting one...he kept saying he wanted it opened and started snapping away! The good thing about his birthday being after Christmas is you can get alot of things cheap...we did at the Disney store! So after cupcakes and presents we headed to Chuck E Cheese. He spent most of the time next to me at Ski Ball. He loves it just as much as I do (so does Toots). That's where you can find the three of us at! drake fell asleep in the car on the way home. He had so much fun and was so excited it was his birthday...I think that's why he kept sticking his tongue out in the pictures :) We're having his birthday party on sunday at the bowling alley since he loves to bowl!

Three Years Old

Three years ago today our Drake Richard aka Gooper, Goo, Bumpy, Drakey Rich, etc was born. Three years. Wow. Time flies. As I've learned having my first baby already be 10 YEARS old!! Trying to hold on to every moment. He's the sweetest little boy you could ever meet. So funny and goofy...he's favorite saying is "You silly goof!" He's also sensitive and when someone has upset him, his bottom lip comes out and he tries to hold back the tears, but they just fall. He's quick to recover and be his happy self though! Anyway...some pictures through his three years. Believe me there is PLENTY in between...but these are the ones I could find the fastest (with a tired baby in my arms). I will post more about his birthday fun and pictures when I get them uploaded. born 1/14/05 @5:19 am after mom was induced due to his size and fluid level. Weighed in at 8lbs 8oz. Lots of dark hair and blue eyes.
Three months old. Still with the dark hair and blue eyes
First birthday...enjoying the frosting, forget the cake! Light hair and blue eyes.
2nd Birthday. Already a whole year ago.
Drake now. This was taken about a month ago...he was counting something. He now has green eyes. Sometimes when he wears blue, they are more blueish. He's our sweetie pie! (you can click on pictures to make them bigger).

The Good Things About Today

Figured I would write down the good things about today, since I had to complain about the bad. Here are the things I can remember...

• My Aunt Judy being so sweet to leave a bag full of book for Xavier in the car! The boy ALWAYS has a book in his hand or next to him...he sits in the shower with a book! Very thoughtful of her!
• Xandria and Drake behaving so well at the doctor's!
• Xavier reading a book to his sister and letting his siblings play with his cherished Legos...though they was some squabbling.
• Finding Daxton's pacifier when I thought it was lost...of course we only have one that he likes.
• "I Would Do Anything For Love" by Meatloaf playing in the car on the way to the doctor's. Love that song...and don't get to hear it very often. Thank God for the 90's channel on XM :)
• Living less than five minutes from the doctor's office, since I was running late.
• The dog finally arriving home before I had to leave for the doctor's...his collar stopped working.
• A new collar for the dog...no more worries about him running off!
• My husband being home...after a looong day!

Well. that's all I can think of...gotta go!

I'm Beginning to HATE Thursdays!

This is the second thursday in a row that the baby has been up WAY early!! He was also up about four or five times during the night being fussy. I don't know if it's teething or what...he does drool quite a bit and is always trying to bite on things (hands being his favorite). Last thursday he was like this and I put baby orajel on his gums thursday night and he was fine. I don't know. Other than that...last night Nick decides to put a new door handle on the mud room door...it's one that has a keypad on it so you don't have to use the key (though you still can). He sent me a text this morning with the code, but I didn't have time to memorize it! I go pick up Toots from school...left the door unlocked...or so I thought, until I came back home and find the door LOCKED! Ok, I will just use my key...nope doesn't fit...apparently there is a different key for it. Try what I thought the code was...nope. Tried to unlock the front door...wouldn't work...think the lock is frozen or something. Ok I will just use my phone to call Nick. Umm where IS my phone?! Can't find it...must of left it in house. Drive to pay phone. Tried to call Nick...phone tells me I need to dial 1 and area code first. Ok. Now I can't get a dial tone. Wait. Wait. Finally a dial tone! Call him and find out I was one number off on the code. Ugh. Find out the door locks even though you can still open it from the inside when it is locked. Would of been nice to know!! Get home...can't find phone still. Decide to call it and where do I find it?? Under Drake's seat in the CAR where I put it when I buckled him in. Ugh. Want. To. Go. To. Bed. But instead have to finish getting ready and take Daxton to the doctor for his 4 month check up. I'm so tired...I don't know how long my eyes will stay open, but there is laundry to finish...food to make...baby to comfort...all that good stuff. So I'm off with my eyes barely open...

The Weather

Thought I'd do a quick post about this freaky weather we are having!! Today it was 60 degrees...in the middle of January!! Not only that but we had thunderstorms and a tornado warning with a tornado TOUCHDOWN in Poplar Grove!! I just watched the news and it said one two story house was flattened and Edward's Apple Orchard (where we picked apples at this year) is pretty much gone!!! It said touchdowns were by Beaverton Road...which is where Nick's cousin Becky just recently moved from. I can't imagine how scary that would be!!! There will be more info available on the 10 o'clock news. I can't get over how crazy this weather is and it's obviously due to global warming. I enjoy warmer weather...but it is winter and it's supposed to be cold!!

2008

Hope it's a good one!

Christmas

It all starts on Christmas Eve. The kids spend the day with Angela and her family. Angela picked them (including the baby) up at about noon. They came home about 6:30pm. I was really missing the baby! It was the first time
nick and I were without the baby! Of course we were busy with last minute shopping and it was the first time we got to go out to eat by ourselves in 4+ months! We ate at Red Robin. After the kids arrived back home with their many cool presents...I swear Angela always finds the coolest/cutest gifts...most of which I have never seen!...Nick's dad came over. We ate Tombstones and Jim played with the kids and their new toys. The kids each got a gift from him plus a $25 gift card to Borders and a $50 bill! Jim stayed until 10pm...then some cookies and milk were left for Santa and the kids put on their new Mickey Mouse pajamas and off to bed!! xandria came in at 9am yelling "get up! It's Christmas!" over and over. They dug in their stockings and saw what Santa left. He left a bunch of smaller things for each and their main gifts...Xavier Spongebob legos and a Mad Science lab, Xandria a snowman and Barbie guitar, Drake some dinosaurs and truck and Daxton a play toolbench and a singing dog. At 3 we headed over to my parents for turkey and other good stuff:) Though I ended up eating my food cold after stupidly sitting on the phone with my sister's idiot boyfriend, trying to make it so my neice could spend Christmas with her family (which still didn't happen!!)! But that's a whole nother story! The kids searched for the pickle on the tree...which for the third year in a row...Xavier lost! He's always so determined to win, I think that's why he never finds it! His sister found it this year, which I'm sure bothered him the most :) We opened gifts and then around 7:30 or so we headed to my cousin's to see my side of the family. It was so nice to see everyone and hopefully we can plan to get together more often :) We left there around 10pm and we beyond wiped out!! Nick and I sat up forever laying in bed talking that night, so that was nice. We all had a great Christmas (minus the drama)...the kids got way too spoiled and on sunday we go to Nick's cousin's to celebrate Christmas with them. It sure is nice to get together with them after Christmas! And the good news is thanks to alot of my husband's help, the house is pretty much back to where it was pre-Christmas :)

Seeing Santa

Xavier asked for legos...Xandria asked for a snowman and a guitar...Drake asked for trucks, race cars, dinosaurs and "that's all." Or little Santa Baby was just happy to have Santa all by himself...so he could tell him what he really wanted :)

Secret Santa and a bit more...

My secret Sante recipient got her package a couple days ago. You can check out Misti's blog and see what I got her. You probably have to scroll down a bit. I'm glad she liked it :) Nick and I went shopping for the kids tonight while my parents watched them. Too bad Nick has been dealing with a cold...plus having to work a TON this week to get things done. I feel bad for him...at least he will be able to sleep in some tomorrow, I know it will help him out alot! Speaking of tomorrow...know what it is? Friday?...yes. Four days before Christmas? Yes. But tomorrow my baby baby turns four months old!! Wish there was a way to prolong it, but I've realized by now there is no way to stop it...all you can do is try to enjoy every minute of it! He really is the sweetest baby and so easy to take care of!! Well I need to run and get him changed...hope to post pics tomorrow. I actually don't have anywhere I need to go to tomorrow! I do hope we finish making something for my grandma though! Goodnight.

Real Quick

Love the big HUGE smiles :) How could you not be happy with those around?
Another hat pic :)
Daxton showing off his name bracelet.

Here's a few pictures I recently took of Daxton. He's growing too fast!!! Tonight was Xavier's school Christmas program. He got to be a wise man. I will put up a picture when I get them uploaded. We sat way up in the dark balcony and of course Xavier spotted Nick while he was taking pictures...yet he couldn't see his grandpa who was sitting about three rows behind Xavier's class when they weren't onstage. At the end the kids even stood up and turned around facing the audience to sing two songs and he still didn't see him! It was a nice program....I don't know why but school programs always make me feel so emotional. Drake was funny because he was saying "look at that big piano!" when it first started (and was quiet). He would also ask me while he sat on my dad's lap, "mom, what are you doing?" (usually when it was quite). He's such a goof. Well, I need to get going to bed...I'm getting my hair colored tomorrow. No more little gray hairs. Yes I have them...don't like them. Noticed not too long ago in a picture and I told Nick "um, why didn't you tell me I have GRAY HAIR?!" Oh well. Anyway...goodnight! P.S. The poop came out of the clothes...Thank God!!

Holy Crap!

Ugh. So here's the story of the day. Yesterday I put Drake's clothes in the washer, when I went to get them out, they smelled like poop. I was wondering why in the world that would be. Then I remember he had an accident the other day...which rarely ever happens...there was a reason...I think he said because Xandria was in bathroom (not that we don't have TWO other bathrooms)...anyway, I thought it had been cleaned up, but apparently not! I got all his clothes out and found a poop in the bottom of the washer. So, I set his clothes in the dryer while I bleached out the washer. After that I just left them sitting in the dryer, because i had to wash the baby's clothes so he would have something to wear today. When the baby's clothes were done, I took out Drake's clothes from the dryer and back in the washer to be rewashed. Well, today I open up the dryer to take out the baby's clothes and it smelled like poop. Now why would that be?? So as I'm pulling out the clothes, I notice they have brown streaks on them. POOP!!! AAAGH!! I could not figure out why they should have poop on them. Finally I come to the bottom of the clothes and low and behold...ANOTHER POOP in there!! It must of fallen out of Drake's clothes when they were in the dryer...I'm guessing. So baby's clothes are back in the washer with Vivid on them and I'm praying it comes out!!! Keeping my fingers crossed!! On a good note...Nick and all the kids (even the baby) are gone right now. He took them Christmas shopping...I wasn't feeling like I wanted to go. Xavier has been with Nick's dad since friday and will be back in awhile. Nick also took Xandria and Drake to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks" last night. Nice to get a break, even though I spend most of the time cleaning and TRYING to get laundry done. Well, I'm off to make the most of my quiet time...wonder if I can get a nap in ;)

I Got A Package...

I decided to join a Blogger Secret Santa that Jess put together. I got my package on saturday and it was from Kari. I recieved from her an assortment of wonderful smelling candles (I was just telling Nick the night before that I needed some Christmasey smelling candles...got 'em), lotion from Bath&Body Works (Japenese Cherry Blossom), shower gel from Bath&Body Works (Midnight Pomegranate) and lip gloss type of stuff that works great for chapped lips and smells so good! Definetly going to have to get some more of the lotion and shower gel...it smells really good! Some ingredients to make hot cocoa (Xavier keeps trying to claim it though). She also included a nice card with her info and such in it. Really thoughtful. It was so nice to recieve something in the mail just for me :) It was funny because Nick brought the box in and said "So what did you order this time?". I was pretty sure I didn't order anything...than I remembered it must be from my secret santa! I'm really enjoying my gifts, so thank you Kari!! P.S. I hope my links work...it's my first time trying to do it ;)

7 Things About Me

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and do the "7 Things About Me" post. Just for the heck of it.

1. I knew Nick was the one for me from the moment I first saw him. Despite the fact that I was only seventeen and that it took three times of seeing him at different places, over a period of four months, before we even met.
2. I hate cooking. It takes too much time and I'm not that good at it. Luckily, my husband enjoys cooking. It's the same scenario with my parents.
3. I used to take Tae Kwon Do. I was two belts away from a black belt when I had to quit. I hope to someday join again.
4. I hate the sound of bags crinkling...please just pour whatever it is out!
5. When I was little I wanted to be a lawyer. I don't even know if I knew what it was...my mom just said you would make alot money doing it.
6. I collected barbies when I was younger and still have them...some of which have never been opened. There are in boxes in the basement...when Xandria is a little older I will share them with her.
7. Someday I would love to work with teenage mothers. I've been there and know what it's like.

Well, there's my seven random things about me. Daxton is ready for bed, so I'm off to put him there!

Nice. Real Nice.

Two times in one day he flips off the camera! Don't worry...I won't take it personal. I guess even though he can't talk, he would like to have his feelings about the camera known. ;) Geez! Notice in the second picture how much hair he has lost? It was taken right after a bath, so it's sticking all up. It does seem to be growing back in now...looks brown...I think. Hope to post more about what we've been up to later!

Hats

Since I didn't have a girl this time, I get to buy hats instead of hair bows :) Too bad he isn't the biggest fan of them...but at least he's not old enough to rip them off his head! I'm always on the lookout for more cute hats!

"One of a Very Few"...

that's what my husband is! I knew that, but it was told to him by the cashier at WalMart. Why would she say that to him? Because he was buying "female products" for me :) He does hide them in the cart with other things, but he does buy them ;) And then the cashier said "and I know you know what I'm talking about." I had to laugh. I'm sure most people that know him can't really imagine him doing it...I usually can't! It used to freak him out, but not so much anymore. I think it's funny she said something to him about it and it makes me smile :)

Day of Thanks

Here are some of the things that I have been thankful for today (even though it's just after midnight):

• My husband for letting me sleep/lay in bed for waaaaay too long today.
• My husband for spending a long time working on/figuring out digital calendars for me, because it was stressing me out!
• My husband because he's getting up EARLY to do the early bird Christmas shopping, because if I got up that early, it wouldn't be a good day ;)
• My Drake for wearing the sweater I wanted him to, even though he hates it and REALLY wanted to wear his truck shirt.
• My baby Daxton for letting me take his picture with him on top a huge pumpkin, even though he didn't want to stay asleep and just lay on it, or really be on it period.
• My Xavier for helping me carry things that I just couldn't grab all at once.
• My Xandria for giving the baby his pacifier in the car on the way home.
• My dad for making the best dinner!
• My family for being there for us and loving my kids so much! I know there is more, but those are the major things for today. I'm so blessed and so lucky to have all I have and such wonderful people in my life!

Bumpy the Clown and other things happening...

I love this pictures! They show what a clown our little Drake is! He's always such a goofball! My favorite is the first one...I love seeing him laugh and it's so contagious! The last two he is snipping his nose off...he kept doing that on Halloween! He would also pluck his nose off and balance it up in his hair! See that lil thing in his hand? It's for his tie that squirted water out! That's what made him love his costume...before I showed him that, he wasn't very into the outfit. Decided to post these pics today because they make me smile. This week has been tough...dealing with the whole pms thing sucks. Especially not having had to for so long. The moods and the exhaustion have been kicking my butt! Also on the way to pick Toots up from school, I ran over a squirrel :( I saw it by the side of the road, it turned and started going the other way and at the last second turned back around and ran under the car :( Ugh, I felt so bad (and still do). Needless to say, I took a different way home and think I will stick to that for awhile. Geez! I had to go clean today and it was nice to get a little break where I could think without voices around. Feeling pretty good now...hopefully it lasts til bedtime. I hope to post more pics of the "baby monkey" later.

Apple Orchard

We had our family phos taken at the park the other week and after we decided to head to to the apple orchard! It was 80 degrees out that day...no coats or red noses needed! It was around 4:30, so it wasn't too hot anymore. This was our first time actually going out and picking the apples ourselves. We loaded up on the tractor and they took us out to the fields...golden delicious first and theb red delicious. It was a big hit, the kids loved it, plus they could eat as many apples as they wanted!! Drake LOVED the golden delicious, when we got to the red ones, he would take a couple bites of one, then throw it on the ground, pick up another one and do the same thing! I guess he thought he would find one that tasted like the golden ones! I only got to eat one of each because of course I was busy trying to take photos AND hold the baby! They expected you to fill the bushel or come close, but our was about half or so. It's normally 30 or 35 dollars, but the lady was nice enough to only charge us 20! That's alot for some apples I think!









S-T-R-E-T-C-H
One red apple
Let me show you the way
Apple orchard 2007...bribed with promises of donuts :)

in the field, eatin those delicious apples
Look, notice anything? Yes, that appears to be lil guy flipping me off. Maybe didn;t like being in the apple basket? Nick loves that picture, men!
I love how you can see Nick behind Drake chomping on an apple :)
Xavier Xandria. And I don't know where the picture of Drake just disappeared to. oh well.

Our Halloween Costumes

xavier as Anakin Skywalker, Xandria the movie star, Drake as Bumpy the Clown and Daxton as a slice of pizza and also a cuddly sweet penguin. Drake was super excited to get "lots and lots of candy"!We trick or treated in my parents neighborhood like we do every year, only thing is there wasn't many trick or treaters like there used to be. Not many at all...kind of a bummer because I like seeing all the different costumes! Guess people do alternative things now or something? The weather was perfect, just a hint of a chill and no rain!

my parents new puppy Sophie
Pizza, get yer pizza!