Princess On Ice

We went to Dinsney's Princess's on Ice and had a blast. All the girls dressed up and looked absolutley adorable!! We went with my aunt Jen and her daughter, and Andrea and her kids. Sooo much fun! We will have to start doing it every year, Ivy has not stop talking about it still:) She keeps telling everyone we went to Disneyland... that works for me, at least until we can do the real thing. Here are some pictures, my camera wasn't taking the best of pictures and I couldn't fix the red eye so beware!

We look evil I know... sorry!!

Jen and Hannah

Andrea, Mira, and Addison

Ivy dancing

Kids shoving food in their belly

Posing for pictures:)

They all were in heaven!!

I'm back:)

Okay I know it has been months since I have posted anything, I got out of the habit but now I am back. And I did get a new camera so we have pictures also!! It has just been crazy busy. We have had a lot of fun, Cole is crawling and climbing on everything! Yes he is only 7 months I know, I give him two more months to figure out the walking thing. He has 4 teeth and is in the 10% for his weight. Happiest baby I have ever met! He likes to play rough and loves climbing all over the dog. Ivy has been growing up so fast also. Still very dramatic, and says the funniest things:) The other day she said to me, " Oh my gosh mom! Look, grandpa Steve is on this magazine!" I looked, with a smile already on my face, it was a picture of David Letterman. I tried not to laugh, because she really believed that grandpa was really on this magazine. She pays close attention to the funniest things. Bennett is liking school, (he says he doesn't but I know he does). He did get sick this week and now we all have it... not fun. The poor little boy did not move from our bed for 36 hours, no games or nothing! Sean's work has slowed down a bit- with the weather and all, it has been nice. The gym has also been nice, I am still getting used to working a split shift, but it is getting easier. I have had hardly anytime to workout, so whenever I have a cancellation I do a super hard training. I have definitely have had to tweak my diet accordingly... which sucks. That is what has been going on with us, hopefully some people enjoy reading this long lost blog, I promise to keep it updated more frequently. Thanks to the ones who inspired me to blog again, (Sarah and Carrie:)).

So this morning I am sitting here with sick kids and feel like this house is just contaminated! I myself am not to healthy either. I think I will make us all some homemade chicken noodle soup and watch some movies. This cold weather just makes you want to sleep and eat soup! Hopefully get some cleaning done- if the energy is restored. Anyways I hope you enjoyed reading and I will promise to post pictures from Halloween soon!!

Sorry no pics!!

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last blog. I just have not been motivated to because I no longer have a working camera. I still don't have a camera but I thought I would let everyone know just what has been going on this summer. Since the rain has finally gone away we have been playing in the sun, going to the dino park, swimming, taking long summer night walks, having bbq's, and other fun things.
Sean has been super busy with work, the market is picking up a lot, he has the golf course looking great also. My work has also been crazy! The gym is usually a little slow during the summers but not this year, I really enjoy meeting all these new members, it keeps me fresh and enthusiastic about what I do. Bennett has started guitar lessons and is really quite good at it! It is fun to watch him play. He went to Oregon with his grandma a week ago and had a blast. Ivy has turned into quite the child. So sweet at times and other times..... She is so excited for ballet in September though. Hopefully that will give her an outlet:) This week I had bought this learning system for the little ones, Your baby can read, and am so excited about it. Ivy has watched one of the videos and we read the starter book last night. She is so happy she can "read". If anything else, this will be more productive then watching Spongebob! Cole is getting sooo big and is rolling all over the place. He is the happiest baby, we really have been blessed with these three little kids.
So I think those are the highlights, a little rushed I know but I will stay on top of my blogging from now on. We will be planning many more little adventures along the way. Hopefully I will get a camera soon and make up for lost time. It is absolutely killing me not having pictures to share! I am just so thankful it is summer and that I have my family to spend it with!

Girls vs. Boys

Well I thought I would post something just for the fact that it is raining outside and the kids are asleep. I was thinking about my kids and how their personalities are different. The boys are very easy going, low maintenance, and very cute! Bennett is simply, no "cheese or mustard" kind of boy. He is easy to entertain if you have video games. If you don't, you better have some good toys! He could stay in his jammies all day if you let him, and is not picky about what he wears when he does get dressed. Cole is the best baby ever! He is on a good schedule and only fusses when he is tired, hungry, or just wants to stand up (with parents help). He smiles at you and has the cutest dimples ever! I was worried at first about having boys, how do I play with them, will I be able to relate to Benny, will I be able to pick out cute clothes for them, or do their hair cute? And yes, boys are by far easier to raise than girls, I think. You don't have to worry if they are showing too much skin, wearing too much makeup, kissing too long, or having too much attitude. They just go with the flow. Ivy on the other hand, is a drama queen! She can get loud and hyper, she'll scream and yell if something isn't the way it "should" be, and can use her skills to get you to buy her something. Lately she has done a few things that caught my attention quickly. We were watching tv and she gave me a kiss, not a normal kiss either. It was a "mommy and daddy" kiss, (yes we have a name for it now). I asked her where she saw it, (we don't kiss like that in front of the kids, and it isn't on Sleeping Beauty either!) She said she saw it on Enchanted. So I told her, "only mommys and daddys can kiss like that, not little girls." Problem solved...right?! Well yesterday I get her out of the tub and put the towel over her shoulders. She yells, "no not like that!" and wraps it around her body, underneath her arms. Okay? Then she goes twirling out of the bathroom flipping her hair and falls onto the dog... and giggles. I put it together, if you have ever seen that movie, you know what I am talking about. K , this little girl is 3 and I am already worried! Maybe we shouldn't watch that movie anymore. It amazes me what Ivy picks up on and what she likes, and how dramatic she is about it. She would make a great actress, her emotions are all over the charts! Anyways, kids are little sponges, they retain many things so be careful! Are boys easier than girls? I would love to hear some opinions and suggestions, really, because I think I will need a lot of training tools here shortly!!

Happy Anniversary baby!!

It seems like just yesterday I was putting my wedding gown on... so excited to marry the man of my dreams. Sean and I have been married two years now, and I will say it has been a joyous experience. I wouldn't have wanted to go a day without him by my side. When I married Sean I knew that I loved him, no doubt about that, I didn't know however, that that love would grow in so many other ways than just one. It's not always the romantic love, no it's the love you have for your husband when he is dancing in such a way you cannot help but be embarrassed yourself. You do become one person... even though you may be different in so many other ways. I am blessed to be married to a husband who plays with our kids even when he is tired, who will make me laugh with his insanely odd noices and songs, even when I don't feel like being funny, who will make his family listen to the Phantom of the Opera because we need some "culture"...and who loves me with all of my weird food experiments, my infinite list of pet peeves, and my sometimes ridiculous requests! He prays, and provides for his family; he is an anchor for this family. I am so excited to see what this next year brings our little family! I know there are so many great things to still come! I wouldn't want to share it with anyone else. Sean, I love you babe, and I couldn't have asked for a better husband! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

We had a fun weekend, on Saturday we got a fire pit to put in our backyard. It wasn't the best weather but we made it worked. Next weekend we will be prepared with smores.


My mom's puppy Mia was enjoying herself, she had exausted Meadow and was proud of it.















Ivy picked out a warm outfit... she wanted to wear her "jammy dress" over her pants.











A little gas never hurt in getting things going....

Here are my boys hanging out and eating dinner. Babe,what happened to the fire? More gas?

My husband and I enjoying a nice evening by the fire.

It was very nice, this willl be one of many fires this summer, and you are all invited!!

Happy Birthday!!

Bennett turned eight this last Thursday so we had a party for him this weekend. I can't believe he is that big already.... I remember the first time I met him, it was at the movie theaters and he had just turned five a few weeks before. I was so nervous to meet him! Sean and I had been dating just a couple of weeks and I wanted so bad for Bennett to think I was fun. He was a little shy at first but in the end, Bennett and I have a great relationship and I love him so much!! The past 3 years have been a total blast. I have learned so much from this boy.... I know all about the cool video games, and the ones that are lame; I know how to launch missiles so they will annihilate the opponent's base, and how to make a base that is indestructible, I also know that Spongebob is the funniest cartoon ever! In the 3 years I have known Bennett I have learned that he is a kind-hearted boy and just wants everyone to play and have fun all the time. Well anyways enough with the sentimental stuff, here is what went down this weekend.

We had a party at grandma and grandpa's house with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. Here are some pictures of his birthday.

Bennett and and Ivy, "you know you love your little sis!"

An "ugly stick" fishing pole, can't wait to go this summer!

An awesome helicopter, team "Bennett and dad" will totally destroy the other guys with this baby!

And of course, dad and Kayli had to get a couple games for the PSP. You can tell by his face he already knows what it is.

Happy Birthday!

Here are the girly girls:)

...and Mykell with her little cousin.
After the party the boys had to show off their collection of weapons....

and here is my husband ....... still pretending he is ready for war. You can see Bennett's legs in the background, he is SO over the war picture posing and is onto is PSP playing. You look REALLY tough babe!

Well, I hope you enjoyed your party little man... you totally crack this family up!! Happy 8th birthday Benjo!!

Another great weekend

I cannot believe Cole is six weeks already!! He is getting sooooo big. And I have started work again, so that is why it has been such a long time since the last post. Working 2 hours a day doesn't seem like it would be a huge change, but it is! My husband, the kids , and I had a really fun night this last Saturday! First we went to Petsmart to get an electric fence for Meadow, our neighbors will appreciate it greatly! Then we have a very nice dinner at McDonalds and got the kids happy meals which had CD's for the prize. As we are driving home we are listening to the kids version of "Take you there" and the kids are just loving it! They are jammin' out with their paper microphones, and Sean and I are thinking, "we never thought we would see the day where, on a Saturday night, we would be listening to kids bop music laughing our heads off and enjoying every minute of it. We then got a movie and I went to the store and bought junk food. This was bad! I never buy candy....... ever, but I bought cookies, Swedish fish, M & Ms, Reisins, popcorn, Root boeer, Sour patch kids, it was ridiculous. We moved the couches around and made our own little "movie theater." A very nice family night it was. Bennett told us all the funny parts of the movie and Ivy was way more interested in the treats. S he couldn't decide what to eat first so she shoved several things in her mouth.

It was a very relaxing, entertaining weekend with the kids, I always look forward to time with my family. Sometimes we get so caught up in all the things we have to do, it is nice sometimes to leave the house unkept and just enjoy the memories you are making :)

Which side did Ivy wake up on?

Our daughter Ivy has a very unique personality, she is a very sensitive, dramatic, expressive, sweet, caring, confident little girl. She is very helpful and independent, she loves to do things all by herself. But she has been going through quite the phase lately! Now Ivy is a morning person, more than anyone else in the family. She wakes up very cheerful, she looks forward to her cereal and pineapple juice. After breakfast she watches a little Dora, then it is off to play dress up for the rest of the morning. Later I make her a healthy lunch while we talk about princesses and witches. After that, it is time for her nap. Now I know that most toddlers hate naps, but not Ivy, she likes them. I think most 3 yrs olds' get pretty cranky and fussy before their naps, that is why the nap is needed, because they are tired. But Ivy goes down so easy! This is where the "phase"comes in. I will be cleaning upstairs or feeding Cole or doing something constructive (like always) and all of a sudden I hear this screaming! I ran downstairs the first time I heard it because I thought Ivy had fallen off her bed but now...... now I just wait for her to come to me. She is soooooo moody! Aren't naps supposed to help this behavior? She turns into quite the angry little girl. I don't know what it is, you would think after a nap she would be happy and refreshed, ready to play some more, but noooooooooo.... that is not how it works in this house. It is pretty funny to listen to this mad girl stomping up the stairs screaming... but it is also quite ridiculous! So I am not sure what to do or why this is happening, but I took some pictures to show what I am talking about.This is right before nap time...








And this is right after nap time. Wake up on the wrong side of the bed did we?

Sucks to be sick!

So Wednesday night I felt like I was getting sick, so I drank lots of water took my vitamins and went to bed. I woke up feeling horrible! My mom luckily took Ivy to play at Dawna's house (my moms friend). I did get some rest, Cole sleeps very well during the day! But by that night I felt like I was dying, my neck hurt, my back ached, I had the chills, my chest and throat were on fire... not good. Cole also has his days and nights mixed up, because he wanted to play until about 3:30 am! So on Friday my mom came over to take Ivy for the day and talked me into going to the doctor. I am not usually one who likes to hassle with all that, it is such a pain in the butt to go wait for a doctor to see you, especially with two kids. So she took me and I am glad I went. We waited for two hours, I felt like crying my body hurt so bad!! As luck would have it, I am probably the last one to get influenza this year!! Something about me being pregnant or having babies makes me get sick. I got influenza that turned into pneumonia when I was pregnant with Ivy. So yeah, it really sucks being sick, and trying to take care of kids. The only thing Ivy has done the past two days is watch tv... all day long! I am sorry kids, hopefully mommy will get better soon an can take care of you better. And to my husband, I know I haven't been too much fun, I swear I always get sick over the weekends!! I love you.

Rough Housing

Sometimes it is hard to keep the older kids busy while I am feeding Cole and getting him ready for bed. Thankfully, my husband is in charge of the "rough housing" department! Here is how last night's session went...

The game starts off with a friendly tickle...

But gets serious real quick! Benny, you have to pull harder, Don't let your dad win this one!

Ivy save him, he is losing his pjs!!

Oh no! They are both captured...

Now the kids are moving in on dad, maybe they can pull it off...

Ooops! Game over, I think dad wins this one :(

The vacation is over...it's time to get back into shape!

Well since I had Cole, we have had plenty of meals brought over all this last week, and I am so thankful for all of it! I was not in any mood to cook, and I am still not but the vacation doesn't last forever. In the past 12 days, I have eaten so much crap! Coffee cakes, rolls, ice cream, sugary cereal, fatty meats, absolutley no veggies... It's horrible! I am starting to feel like crap too. So it is time to get serious again, I have taken my break, and now it's back to work. No more junk food or crappy carbs! Time to load up on the fruits, veggies, and fish. Lots of lemon water and protein shakes... summer is going to be here soon, it is time to get back in to shape!

A new mommy

We have a new addition to the family! Cole Carter Rivera was born on March 25th (same as his daddy) and 9:55 pm. He weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz, and is the cutest thing we've have every seen! I absolutely love being a new mommy again, I worked the day I went into labor, and I am enjoying the new change. Don't get me wrong, I love to work, but a day filled with nursing, staying in my pjs 'til 9 am, changing poopy diapers, making breakfast for Ivy, and being home with my kids all day long is much more satisfying. Ivy likes her little brother too, but she definitely has had her moments. Bennett just stares at the little guy in amazement and says, "he's so cute!" Yep, we are so excited Mr. Cole (that's what Ivy calls him) has finally joined the family, we love you!