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!