YAY BABIES!!! MY NIECE IS HERE!!!!!

My sweet baby niece was born yesterday (Nov 18th), at 10:18am. I'm SO excited!! i have another niece to love and spoil! :) I cannot wait to go see her precious little face in person. My sister is doing well, and Bella is too. My nephew Leif is a very happy big brother!! OH her name- Isabella Kayann.

Isabella Kayann

 Yes I realize Isabella is like THE most popular name right now, but I know my sister better than anyone on the planet, and I can bet on the fact that she has never EVER looked at a baby name book, site, or the 'most popular' lists....ever. This is a name they picked out because they truly loved it. She doesn't CARE that it's popular, and that's fine with me I guess. LOL well everyone that knows me, knows that I wouldn't use a popular name myself (having one myself is why), but anyone that knows me ALSO knows how well I can shut my damn mouth with my opinions or feelings if you HAPPEN to be related to me, or very special to me. I would NEVER EVER say a bad thing about my sister's, my sister-in-law's, or a good friend's name choices. THAT is off limits IMHO. I keep it to myself, smile, fawn over their names etc. Call that two-faced, or whatever I really don't give a fuck....my friends and family gave me the same courtesy when I announced my children's names too. *shrug* I see no need to hurt anyones feelings over this when they are FAMILY.

Bella and big brother Leif

((Strangers on the Internet ASKING for my opinion...that's a different story! HAHA))
Anyways- Kayann.
My mother's middle name is Kay. My brother-in-law's mother's middle name is Ann. thus- Kayann. Again. i get the sentiments, so i will shut my mouth. :)

Honestly though- just look at her face and tell me you could say ANYTHING about her name accept....OMG she's gorgeous!! :P haha.

Jaesus.

And Time Marches on...and on.

I was going through some old photos for Kyle today. He has a project in art class. They are making a book about themselves and need to bring pictures to class for it. After going through tons and printing out dozens....I had to stop and look at a couple.

 My boys (the older 2) are just so grown up now. I can't believe it. Yet there in front of me in Kodak color was proof of how grown up they are now. *sigh*.

 I miss those young goofy guys so much! I guess that's how it goes. They grow up so fast, and it really doesn't seem that long ago that they were chubby cheeked and bright eyed. They are still bright eyed, but no more chub. They are practically grown! How did the time pass so fast?

Jaesus.

Is April over yet?

Wow it's been a long month. It's not even over yet. Why do the longest months always have the most stress involved? It's been crazy around here. I've been bustin' my butt fixing up the house and redecorating, painting, cleaning, etc, etc, etc. I've repainted every room of the house (save the closets) and boy I'm sick of paint rollers, painters tape, primer and trim! Well let's see what have I changed...oh everything! The living room was repainted a really pretty color called Adobe Sand. I used my carpet shampooer on the carpets, and found an awesome rug at a tent sale outside in the mall parking lot. It matched everything I was going for in the living room perfectly. We bought a new couch and recliners months ago and it was high time I got the rest of the living room up to par.

I found a great pair of floating shelves at Bed, Bath and Beyond and framed artwork print there that matched the carpet and furniture too. I found some great accessories at Pier 1 Imports and got new faux wood blinds for all the windows. I repainted the kitchen too, and put up a tiled backsplash. It wasn't too hard to do the tile work myself. I was so much easier than I thought it would be. I worked mine and Shaggy's bedroom next.

I kept the wall color we already have because I just love it. It's a really pretty pale green, but I did repaint the trim and the doors a nice bright white, hung blinds, bought new bedding, and shelving, decor and printed out some cute photos of my favorite animal (gorillas) and hung them. I repainted the trim and doors in my bathroom too, but I've not bought new bathroom accessories yet....I am still looking for something I like to sort of match the bedroom. I'm not sure what I'll find in a light pale green, but I still want to keep a beachy theme. I know that may be a bit corny/cliche- beachy in a bathroom but I like it anyways. lol. I worked on the kid's bedrooms too. I got Laney and Hayden's room all

finished up, and decorated. I bought them new bedding and shampooed th carpets and then printed out some paintings of children and hung them up along with two floating shelves. I am still working on little accessories for the shelves, but so far I have some whimsical things on there. A frog prince figurine and a teddy bear treasure box on Hayden's shelf and a fairy treasure box, Turkish decorative box and a purple candle on Laney's shelf. I did Kyle's room next, I painted it a light grey color and found a great rug in black, white and grey. It has Chinese characters on it that say: Wealth, Happiness and Love. I printed out some great pictures and hung them on the wall and there were already floating shelves in that room so I just rehung them and added accessories, then bought black and white bedding for Kyle's new full sized bed. I can't believe he's too big for a twin! He's so tall now! I found the cutest hall table too at Pier 1 Imports for the living room. It fits perfectly at the little entrance hallway near the garage door and laundry room. It has a TON of shelves and its a great place for my purse...(instead of my kitchen counter like usual).

We also found a great gazebo for our front porch. Stupid storm the other day had major winds and we had to take the top canopy down, but we should be putting it back up today, and anchoring it better so that the wind can't do that again! The last thing I need the next time Kevin is deployed is for a rouge wind to knock down that sucker! It's super heavy. There is no way I could pick that thing up by myself. We had a yard crew out to clean out my flowerbeds, and I can't wait to get some new flowers planted. I want to get some new wind chimes too. Something whimsical and fun. I repainted the playroom, and bought a new toy shelf. I will try to find some fun artwork for that room too...there are some things I'm still working on, but I'm almost done.

I'm so exhausted! The day I was finished with all the painting and decorating I totally crashed. I slept almost the whole day away and all that night. I woke up feeling like I was in a time warp! The day went so slow when I woke up and I felt like a slug. I'm so glad to have all this done. I know I still have some work to do but for the most part it's finished. Now I get to kick back and relax under my canopy! :) Have a great weekend everyone. 

Jaesus. 

Lions and Tigers and Darth Pandas?

Our trip to Austin was tons of fun. We did a lot, and visited with family. The kids had a blast. One little trip we made was to one of the malls in Ceder Park. We went to the Build-a-Bear store and the kids got to pick and make their own stuffed animals. :) FUN!!! Brandon even got in on the fun. Laney picked a Hello Kitty doll, and of course dressed her up like a princess. She picked out a cute little purple

and pink dress with matching princess shoes and a cute little Hello Kitty purse. She named her new doll...Kitty of course. She's just too cute. Next she picked a sound to put in her Kitty. You guessed it, a meow sound. And we also put in a heart button that when pressed makes a heartbeat sound. Hayden picked his out next. He looked at each and every choice twice....thought about it very hard and settled on a pink teddy bear. Yes I know some people might have a knee jerk reaction to their little boy picking out a pink...anything....but I honestly wasn't surprised or freaked by it. He likes pink....so what? So the morons that gave me dirty looks for letting my son have a pink teddy bear can just shove it! The bear is adorable. He picked out a UT (University of Texas) basketball uniform, complete w/basketball socks, shoes, and a basket ball. It's just adorable, and Hayden loves his bear. He named his bear

Pinkie. I added the last name McDribble. Pinkie McDribble is the cutest little thing. That bear is SOFT too, and fluffy! The shoes look a bit alien on him...they are huge! Hayden picked out the "I love you" sound and he got a heart inside his bear too. Hayden smiled from ear to ear for hours! Brandon decided to get in on the fun as well and he picked out a panda bear. Brandon of course had to 'cool him out' by picking the Star Wars sound for his panda, and (giggles) dressing him up as Darth Vadar! This is the funniest damn thing I've seen in a

in a long time! It comes complete with Darth Vadar's outfit, cape, and boots...and even a bear sized lightsabar! I mean how adorable is that? The funny thing...that you can't see in the picture is that because it's a panda bear, his ears poking out of the helmet are black, but his tail is white. It's just SO funny pokin' out through the tail hole. ~~In a galaxy far, far away....a Panda rose in the ranks to become the new master of the evil empire. His name was Anakin Skypanda, but he is now known as Darth Panda!~~ [cue Star Wars theme here]. Yes we had TONS of fun. :) I really enjoy hanging out with my family, with my kids, with my hubs. We always have a blast. I hope to go back to Austin again this summer. Next time I want a Build-a-Bear of my own! Maybe a puppy....or a tie-dye bunny with huge floppy ears, or one of their fancy ones like the 'real' looking wolf, or bear, or owl. Who knows! I think a puppy, dressed as a rocker, or a biker! LOL I love that store, and I'll be getting little outfits for the kiddos to change their dolls into and play and make up all kinds of fun stories and adventures! Hope everyone has a great rest-of-spring-break!

Jaesus.

Vlog!! What's going on!

Here are the pics from Kyle's 15th bday! :) I cannot believe he's 15! that's nuts.
Jaesus.

I love goofy kids

I do...I really love goofy kids. Kids say and do some of the funniest crap. Mine are champs at being goofy. I do have some photographic proof of this. Oh yes, mama has blackmail photos ready and waiting to show off too! Evil huh? I think Hayden and Brandon are the goofiest of the



Hayden doing the spoon trick.

bunch. I have no idea where they get that silliness from...no really, NO idea at all [sarcasm]. I think goofy kids are the ones with the biggest imaginations. They are the ones that go on to create fantastic stuff. I mean...can you imagine how goofy and imaginative George Lucas was as a kid? Course they could think up other things than hugely famous iconic movies. There are lots of fun creative stuff out there that goofy people probably thought up: the slinky, silly putty, Nerf footballs, silly string....PEZ. Seriously. :) 

Brandon riding the kiddie merry-go-round.

At any rate, I think it will be pretty awesome to see what kind of things my goofy kids think up as they get older. I honestly can imagine quite a few things that Hayden and Brandon might grow up to be...yes all goofy things mind you. Hayden I can see being a stunt double or dare devil, a rodeo clown, a big wave surfer, a snake charmer, or perhaps a wrestler for the WWF. Brandon I can see being a mad scientist, an evil genius (or is that the same as the first?), an architect that builds things solely out of legos, an adventure novelist, and a space and/or time traveler. Course there is plenty of time for them to figure out the best career move...but ya know, a mom can dream right? Especially if that mom is just as goofy as her kiddos.

Jaesus.

Just Another Day in Paradise.



Hayden sporting his fire Cheetos face.



Today was a normal day. A pretty lazy day really. Did laundry and hung out with Laney and Hayden watching movies. Kevin went and got us some snacks (yums). :) Hayden enjoyed his fire Cheetos and Laney had gummy worms. We watched about every Pixar film known to man. Well maybe not 'every' film, but pretty close. I love hanging out with my kiddos. They make the day so very interesting. The funny things they say, the faces they make, hugs, snuggles and giggles. I love it. Kyle didn't feel very well after he got home from school. This is the 4th time he's come home with an upset stomach. If this keeps up I think I'll have to see a doctor about it. I'm not too worried, but I do find it odd that this has been happening quite frequently lately. I will never again let anything just 'roll off' about the kids' health. Not after the mess and run around the morons (jokingly called doctors) on base kept telling me "It's nothing" when Laney had her hernia. I cannot believe a person who wears a name tag w/DOCTOR on it didn't realize she had a hernia. It took the specialist 2 seconds to say -hernia, she needs surgery-. So I'll make sure they don't do the same bull to Kyle. Laney tried to help make Kyle feel better by rubbing his back and saying "It be okay Bubba, it be okay." She's a sweetheart. I tried to get a picture of that but she kept sticking her little finger in my lens. Laney sure is a stinker. She's a bit bossy. I have no idea where she gets that from at all [end sarcasm]. I think this weekend I'll take them to see a movie, or the park and a picnic if it's not too cold. I'm not sure yet. I guess we'll see how the weather is. It was a long day for sure. 

No Mommy, you can't take my picture.

Later we played outside for a bit with the dogs. I think we wore them out actually. Laney and Hayden ran back and forth around the backyard till the dogs got dizzy. Then the sat on the porch and giggled as they watched Shaggy toss the ball around for Angel and Patch to chase after. Peggy made herself at home right between Laney and Hayden on the porch, and just watched. Dodger...I'm not really sure where he was or what the heck he was doing at the time. I think he might have been nosing around somewhere for bugs. Lord knows that dog loves to kill things and leave me nicely stacked little piles of dead bodies on the back porch. He's proud of his work. After we came back inside the kiddos helped me put away about a thousand pounds of laundry and then we got dinner- left over s'ghetti (as they call it). It was yums. The kids were pretty tired after that and just about crashed, but we managed to keep them up long enough to not disrupt normal bedtime. The kids crashed and Shags and I watched some old Eddie Murphy specials (Raw and Delirious). I've not watched those in forever! If you've not seen them you have to. Classic.

Hope this is as good as it looks

I think I love those two specials so much because my best friend from HS and I used to watch those two specials all the time. We were always over at her grandmother's house on the weekends, and she would make us cheeseburgers, homemade fries and chocolate shakes and we'd spend the whole night watching Eddie Murphy movies and his comedy specials and laugh for hours and hours. I probably know both of those specials word for word. hmm...I'm sure that drove Shags a bit bonkers, because I cannot help but blurt out some of the lines with Eddie. Well he didn't seem to mind, just shook his head and giggled at me. We decided to stay up late and ended up getting chips and salsa and a movie from Red Box. :P Well...Shags is back w/the chips, salsa and movie so I'm off. Oh the movie- I've been waiting for it to be released to Red Box- it's called RED. Retired hit-men, kind of a dark comedy action movie. Let'cha know if it's any good. :) Night all.


Jaesus.