Day 273

We took the Ryder and Skyler to the Padres {vs. Dodgers} game last night. It was suppose to be Jayden, but he made some bad choices during the day so I took the privilege away..(sometimes it's hard to be consistent as a parent, but I did it!) Other than the fact that Ryder broke my camera, it was a fun, but late night!

Day 272

It's hard turning 5! Ryder was not pleased with his day at the doctors..for obvious reasons!

Day 271

The worst part of going on vacation? Coming home and unpacking! (and realizing that no one is going to turn down my bed and leave me sweet chocolates on my pillow and turn the radio on to soft classical music, or clean my room when I leave the special housekeeping tag on the door, or bring me room service when I pick up the phone). Reality Sucks! But I'm sure my mom and Tella are glad it's no longer their reality! Thanks to the both of them for selflessly watching our boys! If you miss it & I know you will, clear your calendars for the end of October..we have a Vegas trip!

Day 270

Good-bye BroAdmoor!

I will miss being greeted by everyone, including the gardeners. I will miss the pampering, the service, the warm soft bed, the chocolates on my pillow at night, the beautiful views, the endless hot cocoa!! It was great while it lasted...back to reality!

Flying home. Jim is nearly finished with his latest Dan Brown book: The Lost Symbol. I was happy with my People, Star, and Life&Style.

Day 269

Jim's younger brother Justin and his family and his brother Joel all live in Denver, so they drove down to meet us!  We decided to take the train: Cogs Railroad up to the summit of Pikes Peak.  It was absolutely GORGEOUS with all the trees starting to change colors! It was about 79 degrees at the bottom, but when we got to the top 14, 110 ft., it was probably closer to 25- 30! It was COLD, especially with the wind. It was an amazing site! Here's a bit of trivia I learned:

The women who wrote "AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL" Katherine Lee Bates, penned the words to the song after taking a train to Pikes Peak. (click to read more). It truly is a majestic sight!

Day 268

Today was play, play, play! We went river rafting down a very COLD river {thankfully we were able to rent full wetsuits}, had a "gourmet" BBQ {lobster, scallops, shrimp as big as the lobsters, filet mignon}, Jim's region put on a hilarious skit, afterwards, for game night, they rented a rock climbing wall!  By nights end, I was EXHAUSTED! Play, Eat, Play..not a bad way to go through life!

Day 267

After a glorious day at the spa {did I happen to mention they had HEATED toilet seats..a nice surprise when you sit down} and a trip to the outlet mall, our group had game night in the ballroom where we raced segways. Incredibly fun, but a little tricky to figure out at first..it's all about body position.  No throttle or brakes, just movements.

Day 266

This is the view from our hotel room window! 

{The BroAdmoor, Colorado Springs}

What a great relief this place was from the scorching california heat!! It was a welcoming 45 degrees when we arrived with light sprinkles (which only lasted our first day). This resort was beyond fabulous..I felt extremely pampered and spoiled!

Day 265 {happy 5th birthday Ryder}

I can't believe my baby is 5 today!! Where has the time gone?

Day 264

My sister was selected to be on the ELLEN show today for having a "Bad, Paid for Photo"! We call this one, JAZZ HANDS! (by the way Laura, did they let you keep the life size photo? and #2, permed hair man was pretty rad. you were pretty brave to put on those glasses..trendy, I don't think so.)

After months of a loose, top tooth, Jayden finally pulled it out!! 

Day 263

I finally got around to setting up our new phone! And yes...we need 5 headsets. I guarantee we will still lose them all and not be able to answer the phone on time!

Day 262

Jim and I had Skyler babysit so we could go to the adult session of stake conference. This is how we found the babysitter..at least he had the phone {that he never answered} close by. We came home to all 3 boys sound asleep on the couch with the t.v. blaring!

Day 261

This was me getting an EKG {a follow up to day 209 and the marathon of dr. appts.} Apparently I'm not finished. They want me to come in again for an ecocardiogram {ultrasound of the heart}, an ultrasound of my kidney, and lots more 'fasting' blood work. I feel totally fine, but better safe than sorry.  

Day 260

Rite Aid {previously called Thriftys} is my favorite ice cream store!  I've been going their since the single cones were 30 cents! Favorite combo: rainbow sherbet/rocky road. After a very long day and a cub scout pack meeting, I treated myself to a cone, however, they were out of rainbow which took away the complete joy of the experience. Kinda funny..I ran into 2 friends and their families on my way in. I guess everyone had ice cream on the brain!

Day 259

The above photo is what I want to remember of day 259..my family's annual tradition of going to the L.A. County fair. {they've added a new delicacy to the countless food courts at the fair, chocolate covered bacon}

This was the reality of my day!  Note to self:  do not ignore LOW FUEL LEVEL warning. I thought I had enough to get to the gas station. Apparently, I did not! Ryder and I coasted to a stop in front of Pet Smart {about 200 yds from gas station} and walked to the gas station. No one had a can for me to use, so I had to purchase one. It was hot! I was running late picking up the kids! It was miserable. Lesson Learned!

Day 258

This beauty has been sitting in my garage for 6 years! It was Jim's grandparents. It was finally time to do something with it. I've cleaned, liquid sanded, and primed. Now it's just waiting for some paint and new hardware. Can't promise when that's going to happen..but stay tune for an "AFTER" photo!

Day 257

It actually felt like a FALL day today, so I got out our front door wreath. It seemed to be missing something so I painted this "G" I had sitting around.  I think it gave it just what it needed.

Day 256

Another project finished! I was having the hardest time finding non-cutesy, non-juvenile, animal art for Ryder's room. I wanted a more grown-up, modern feel. I found these great vinyl decals on an ETSY shop. I decided that since I change my mind a lot and move the furniture around a lot, I probably shouldn't put it right on the wall..plus I didn't want the cutouts to be green. So I cut 3 boards to 19x19, primed and painted, then put the decals on. I loved how they turned out and I think I got great ART for about $50. {now I just need to hang them}

Day 255

Ryder's first soccer game!  We had some highs...we had some lows! Jim was the "sub" coach for the game and it was boiling hot by 10:00 a.m.  The little Kung Fu Pandas were a tired bunch but had so much fun playing together. Here's hoping that when Jim is not on the field, the tantrums will stop!

Day 254

The FRUITS of my day of crafting!! {actually started the shower curtain last night}

a.) shower curtain with my Amy Butler leftover fabrics (and the bottom of a premade, cheapy wal-mart curtain)

b.) Ryder's room is starting to take shape..it's amazing what a few stripes can do for a room. {for you sewers out there..I'm trying to think up a valance using the round placemats on the dresser..any ideas??}

c.) Somehow I have become TEAM mom, again, for Ryder's soccer team. This is our quarter can-we are the Kung Fu Pandas.

I'm tired and now going to BED!

Day 253

For some strange reason I have been feeling very crafty lately.  I blew the dust off  this relic, sat down and sewed a shower curtain for my "craft" room bathroom! (the fabric has only been sitting in my office for nearly a year... or maybe it's because jim compared my sewing machine to his bowflex and I needed to prove him wrong!)

Day 252

09-09-09:  what a great day to start pre-school!

Day 251

This is what accumulates on our floors after only 1 day!! DISGUSTING! I loathe filth! {a straw from smoothies, cheerios from breakfast, dead flower pedals, trash..because my boys don't seem to know where the trash can is!}

Day 250

This is how we chose to labor this Labor day!  {and boy was it laborious!}

Day 249

Is it just that the golf cart is so much fun, or is it, we have the laziest kids ever? I'm voting for: the laziest kids ever! They moaned and groaned if we had to walk {a block} to the beach.

Day 248

Went to Catalina for the Labor Day weekend and brought the Bray family with us! The kids all had a great time together and thanks to Riley, we enjoyed a little adult time. Went to Antonio's for dinner and capped off the night with a trip to Big Olaf's! 

Day 247

I was just finishing up at the gym and I got a surprise phone call from Jenniffer..she was coming to Temecula for the weekend. Sadly, I was going out of town for the weekend, but we were still able to squeeze in a pedicure and yogurt! Sadly again, because I was so rushed for time, I got the crappy pedicure-no massage, no sea salt scrub, no warm towel, but still paid the same! A little irritating but it was a good visit so I won't complain.

Day 246 Happy "Birth"day Leyla

Mari and I were suppose to go to lunch and have pedicures today, but someone else had other plans! Baby Leyla was born at 3:40 a.m. 2 weeks early and still weighing in at an even 7lbs. I had to rush down to the hospital and check her out for myself. What sweetness a brand new baby is! She is only hours old in this picture. {as of 12:30p.m. they still hadn't decided if they were going to spell it Leyla or Leila. my vote is obviously the "ey"}

Day 245

The weather has been so blistery HOT this past week!! These clouds gave us a few raindrops and a faint rainbow, but no relief from the heat.

Day 244

Our Relief Society put on a great enrichment activity:  The Amazing Race!  Spouses were invited to come with us.  We had a great dinner, then it was time to race. They had different tasks in each room of the church: run across a balance beam 3 time-retrieve scrabble tiles-put the word together, blindfolded eating, tangram puzzle (that no one could solve), blindfolded box race, obstacle of sticks, and my favorite:  the dune buggy race (one person drive, the other try and keep a bowl of water full).  The night was to help us realize how important it is to COMMUNICATE with one another. There could have been so many better pictures...but we were highly focused and in competitive mode that I didn't even think of taking any!