another trip to the river

I know I have mentioned this before, but I just love walking to the river! It's so peacful and relaxing. The girls had a great time despite the fact that the weather was sooooooo cold... It feels like it should be February, not the end of May! Anyway, our cat Jack loves to take walks with us. He follows us in the stroller and meows at us. He usually stops at the gate on our way out of our neighborhood by the main street, but today he followed us a good 100 feet down the to river. Silly cat.

The best dog ever!

Bailey, at 85 pounds, thinks she is still a puppy and loves to sit in your lap. I love this dog! She is the best!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Lucy and Ava "helped" make Chris' birthday cake... Maddie was supposed to help too, but she was with Chris helping our neighbor change a flat tire. ;-)

Ava and Papa playing "hop on pop" I just wonder how long Chris' abs are going to be able to take this kind of abuse!!!!





Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! We all hope you had a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A new adventure

It's that time of year when koi fish starting laying eggs. I thought it would be fun to collect the eggs and let the girls see how fish develop. We put in a spawning rope in our pond a few days ago and one of the fish laid some eggs in it. We took out the rope, with eggs attached, and now have them in a protective tank while we wait for them to hatch. Chris and I told the girls about how the female fish lays the eggs, then the male fish fertilizes the eggs. Madeline now asks "Momma, who do you think Mocha (one of the fish) did it with?" I just LOL every time she says this.... I never used that terminology at all, and I am not sure where she gets either... "did it?" My best guess? school....

Done!!

I took my final for Microbiology on Monday and I can now officially say, I'm done! Done in many ways... I am done with this class of course, and more importantly, I am done with all my pre-reqs for nursing school! Applications come out this fall, and I will be applying to as many schools as I can. Unfortunately most colleges in this area are on a lottery system, so if I get accepted the first time around I'll be very fortunate.
Below are just some random photos from the last few months.... And yes, I hope to be able to update my blog just a tad more often now!! :-)


Isn't she just soooooooo darn cute!!!!
Good friends Britt and Jason over for a BBQ. Jason was helping Liam with the jeep when Liam grabbed the bottle of beer, LOL Don't worry, it's empty.
Look Britt, no black shirt this time! Miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH MY GOSH, Guess what??????? I AM GOING TO BE AN AUNT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooooohooooooooo!!! Chelsea is now 15 weeks pregnant and still skinnier than most girls in the United States. I swear she has a baby in her belly though.. I've seen the photos! :-)
Big sister
Girls scouts put on a sweet little Mother's day tea for all the moms. Madeline made these sweet cards for me as a gift. She is the sweetest little daughter ever!

This photo of Lucy just cracks me up... She loves sticking her head out the window.. They say "It's like a roller coaster mama!" Too bad they have never even been on a roller coaster! LOL
I don't think Madeline really wanted me to take her picture tonight... hey, I understand, but sometimes kids just have to do what their parents tell them too!

"Well, your'e not faking it...."

This is what my Doctor said to me today at a follow up MRI appointment... As most of you know, since I had the twins in 2006, I have had some bad hip issues. In 2008 I finally got a diagnosis of a labral tear. I had surgery in 2008 to repair it, but I have still had many issues since then. A few weeks ago I decided that I couldn't take the pain anymore and asked my Dr. for another MRI to see why I was still in pain. Fast forward to today, and the answer is, the surgery was unsuccessful... The results show that I still have a tear and that is is detached.. Meaning the stitches that were holding the tear together are no longer holding it together... My doctor said that he would be sending me to a hip specialist sometime next week... or I may just find one on my own. This news is really a bummer, but I look froward to speaking with a specialist and getting this hip issue under control. I miss being able to do so many things that I use to do without being in pain. So today I had a little "retail therapy" as I like to call it and bought some really cute outfits. ;-)

Earth week poster group

To honor earth week in our microbiology class, we were assigned into groups to present on a topic of choice that impacted the environment. Our group decided upon research indicating that we are creating "superbugs" through soil contamination. In brief, this is what happens: Animals that are used for human consumption are given antibiotics for "preventive" measures. These antibiotics are given because these animals live in filth with no room to really roam. The animals urine and feces saturate the soil and 25-75% of the antibiotics that were originally given can be found here. The soil is then used as "fertilizer" for our agricultural crops. Here is where the problem starts. The antibiotics given to the livestock kill off all sensitive bacteria, leaving the stronger ones behind. These bacteria, which are antibiotic resistant, transfer their genetic information through a process called bacterial conjugation, to all sensitive bacteria, making them all antibiotic resistant. These antibiotic resistant microbes, which are in the soil we use for "fertilization" get taken up into our food supply. We, the consumers, then eat the food that contains the antibiotic resistant genes. This subjects our normal sensitive and harmless bacteria to also become antibiotic resistant. So, when you get a bacterial infection, some of the simple antibiotic medications won't work. This us where the term superbugs comes into play: a bacteria that is resistant to three or more antibiotics. Fascinating topic huh? I think so..... Are you wondering what you can do to do your part? Well... not much right now.... I suppose if you really want to eat meat, then I would consider supporting your local farmers, rather than these big commercial meat industries. :-)

I can't do it all.....

I think it is FINALLY starting to sink into my think head that I just can't do it all with three kids. There were so many things around the house that I wanted to do today... Relax a little, clean, plant the garden, give the dogs a bath, etc. But, there was a Kids Art activity at my church where kids come out and do many different art crafts, and I thought the kids would have fun. SO, we got everyone ready, we went to the church... and had a terrible time! The activity was great, but me alone with three kids that ALL need help with their projects created absolute chaos. The twins are also going through a very clingy, not wanting to share mommy phase. And of course, Maddie likes to follow along with that idea. I am going to start going with my gut feeling that we should just not go to events like this. It is just to hard to do it by myself.... Now if my husband were home like most husbands are, then I might have the energy to put up with this kind of whining... But the reality is, all the neediness last for a minimum of 48 hours at any one time, with no break for momma. Anyway, we all would have had so much more fun hanging out at home planting the garden, making cookies, playing outside, etc.

Gosh....As I sit and reflect on life, I can't help but think that my life now is so much different that what I had planned at a younger age! I had great plans to be a paramedic firefighter, have a max of two kids starting when I turned 29 or 30 ... Now, I did get hired at Folsom fire, but then decided to stay home with Maddie who was only a little over a year old. And instead of two kids, I have three... all before the age of 26. Wow... this is quite a difference. I am really looking forward to getting back to work, to do something for myself, and to re-gain some self identity that the kids seem to have taken away. I am looking forward to getting to know who my husband is again, and not just speaking to him for 5 minutes at night after all the kids are in bed and we are both exhausted.. I am looking forward to family outings that don't involve lots of crying, whining, and arguing... I am looking forward to a bit more calmness and quiet days while all the kids are at school....

It's always one of them!

Why is it that there is always at least one kid sick?!?! Does this happen to everyone? It always seem to happen when Chris leaves town too (or when I plan a play date with my good friend Brittany!)....I wonder if he thinks I am over exaggerating about that little fact? LOL Anyway, yesterday morning Lucy woke up with croup... she seems fine today, thank goodness, but today, Ava woke up with pink eye. Pink eye is almost worse than a cold because we are pretty much confined to the house.... I couldn't go to the gym today....I had to cancel a fun night with a girl friend and her kids tonight...... and a play date with my good friend and her cute twins and little baby boy tomorrow morning!!! Oh well... I really wouldn't trade being a mommy to these sweet kids for anything in the world... ever if they are always getting sick. :-) Now I am keeping my fingers crossed that Maddie wakes up fine tomorrow!

The newest addition to the family, baby Abby!

It was just pointed out to me by a friend, that it appears by this post, that this is our baby! Nope, that's not the case! Beautiful baby Abby is the daughter of Sean And Bella, Chris' cousins. :-) She is joined by her big sister Bella! What a sweet family!

Early Easter fun, the Fire Department way!

I usually take the girls to the Park and Recreation Easter egg extravaganza in the park every year for a little fun before Easter day. This year we decided to go the fire departments Easter egg party, and it is so much more fun! The fire department hosts a special event for fire personnel and their families, consisting of a pancake breakfast, bounce house and crafts, followed by a little Easter egg hunt. Oh, and I can't forget, the Easter bunny showed up the fire department way, on the fire engine! The kids had a blast, and I am so thankful that we were able to attend this more intimate Easter gathering. ;-)