"Huh-uh"

In his short little life so far Aiden has been a boy of few words. He has learned to communicate with hand pointing, and "Uh, Uh, Uh" sounds. Right now he says, "Ma, Da, Bye Bye, and Uh oh." Last week he learned a new word "huh-uh" (no) and that is all he wants to say. He seems to understand when I ask him a question, and gives me the smart answer, "huh-uh," for everything he doesn't want to do. He is growing up so fast and makes me feel sad that my baby will be two in November. Time seems to go by a lot faster when you are "older" and not wanting time to go by so quick. The days of being young, and WANTING to get older seemed to take FOREVER. Aiden has definitely been my most curious boy, and is determined to do everything his older brothers do. If they are working on homework, he sitting right next them, pencil in hand, writing on their papers. He's fearless, but such a mommy's boy!

Labor Day- Pine Valley

Over the Labor day holiday weekend, our family, my parents, all three brothers, and a cousin went camping at Pine Valley. It was a really nice get away. We used to camp at Pine Valley when I was a little girl, and haven't been back since. It was fun to re-explore from my childhood. Plus, it's so close to Vegas, only takes about 2 1/2 hours to get there. The youngest kids; Matt, Zach and Jenna, played on this rock all weekend. They called it Coyote Rock and would sit and all howl all day.

We took some of the boys cousins and went "Geo-caching". Geo-caching is where you use a GPS to find a "hidden" treasure. They are located all over the world. www.geocaching.com. We found two caches around the campsite.

My little MONKEY Man

Zach showing off his Acorn collection

Jared and Zach picking "acorns"

All the cousins and my little brother Jared, and his friend Hillary.

Update- First day of school

I have been terrible keeping up on the blog this summer. My new goal is to blog once a week. I don't know if anyone follows the blog anymore but figure its a good way for me to keep a "journal" of what is going in our lives.

Matt and Zach both started school a few weeks ago. I just downloaded the pictures from my camera today. ( I notice I blog more when I have recent photos). Matt started first grade and has Mrs. Lopez for his teacher. He has had a rough first two weeks of school, he gets sad during the day or in the morning and crys. He says it's because he misses his family. I have sent three pictures of the family to school with him to keep in his desk. When he is feeling sad, he can get them out and look at them. Zachary started kindergarten and is LOVING it. He has Mrs. Combado and goes to ALL day kindergarten. His best friend, Dominic, is in the class with him. I am sure they are wild together, but thankfully, he has brought home a "good behavior" card everyday. I am sure they will have their mischievous moments when it's not so new.

Aiden is keeping busy as the family "tornado." He loves to make messes, more messes, and lots of messes. I clean up after him ALL day long. He loves to brush his teeth and is known to walk around the house with a toothbrush and toothpaste. His favorite thing is being a "baseball" player. He finds the glove, Matt's shoes, Matt's hat, and balls and walks around the house looking for someone to throw the ball to him. He is definitely Jared's boy. He looks like Jared and is built just like him. He will be our linebacker for sure!

Zach's 5th Birthday Party

Singing to the birthday boy

A Horse Pinata!

My good friend made this cake for Zach, she is an amazing cake maker.. it was yummy!

We had a "shooting range" shooting water at the soda cans to knock them over.

We had a "pillow-sack" race, the kids loved it.

Mustache Men

I have always told my boys that they can have birthday parties up until they turn five. After that, each year on their birthday, they get to go do something "special" with dad, like pick a few friends and go to the movies, or car racing. So since this was Zach's last birthday, we let him have a COWBOY party and invite about 17 kids over. Yes, it was CRAZY for the two hours it lasted, but the kids and Zach had tons of fun. HAPPY 5th Birthday sweet Zachy!

Chicago

Matthew and I took a special trip to Chicago the first weekend of April. We went to see one of my oldest friends from high school, Natalie. She has been living in Chicago for 5 years, and I wanted to go visit her before she moves away this summer. I decided to take Matt with me because I wanted to do something special with him, just he and I, before he gets too old to want to hang out with mom. We stayed for three nights and had the best time. We went to Lincoln Park Zoo, which is right by Michigan Lake, and it's a free zoo, which was even better.

Matt picked out some souvenirs for Zach, and got this lizard for himself. We went to eat right after the zoo at a famous Chicago pizza restaurant and he used his lizard to help him eat.

This was some statue in the park that kids were climbing.

We also went and got pedicures. Matt was excited to soak his feet and get them massaged, but DID NOT want his toes painted. He picked out green paint for Natalie's toes, and she willingly got them painted green.

We also went to Navy Pier and rode on the highest Ferris wheel I have ever seen. I will admit I was terrified and didn't want to move an inch. Taking this photo was terrifying. Matt on the other hand, thought it was great. No fear.

Matt's favorite part of this entire trip was....... Riding the "L" train. He just wanted to ride and ride. Sometimes we had no destination, we just rode the train for a while and then got off and went back the other way. I guess boys just love trains.

This was right before we got on the train, waiting on the platform. He was so excited, he just keep asking when will it be here??

We had such a great time. It was really wonderful to be able to go away for the weekend with him. As a parent, I would recommend little one-on-one trips with your kids. It will make memories that will last a life time for both of you, and as they get older they won't want to spend that kind of time with you. I can't wait until next summer when Zach and I go somewhere special.

Newest Member of our Family

" Little Joe" was the name from the breeder, and we all liked it so much, we kept it.

Little JOE and Matt Our boys would like to proudly announce the newest member of our family. Yup... Jared and I finally gave in... the Easter Bunny brought the boys quite a surprise this year... a new puppy. He is a Corgi and and of course he is a boy, you think I would get a girl anything? Haven't had to deal with a puppy before but its like having another kid. The boys are having a blast with him.

My Lucky Life

Note to readers** in no way in this post a complaint, more I have to write so that I can laugh about all the random funny injuries our family has sustained in the last two months.

Feb 2009: Jared tears his Achilles tendon . He was playing basketball at work, and went to sprint and tore his tendon. He had to have surgery the next day to repair the injury. Outcome: In a cast for two month, now in a walking boot, a swollen foot every night, nasty scar, and out of work on light duty until at least July.

April 2009: Jen falls while carry Aiden. I tripped over Matthew and to avoid landing on Aiden, I twist my body to take the fall, and land on my shoulder, dislocating it. End up spending 7 hours in the ER, and now addicted to Loritab. (Not really) Outcome: Shoulder aches everyday, and might possibly have to have surgery to repair the tear to my cartilage, and if I don 't have surgery there is an 80% chance I will re dislocate the shoulder at some point.

April 2009: Carma (jared's mom) breaks her arm. She is my babysitter three days a week while Jared is out on light duty due to his injury. She goes to Phoenix for the weekend, gets hit by a grandson riding a bike and falls and breaks her arm. Outcome: No sitter for me

April 2009: Kathy (my mom) trips and sprains her ankle. My mom went to Prom on Saturday, trips on her way to the door, and sprains her ankle. Outcome: Swollen ankle and can't walk.

So, anyone close to use... you might want to stay clear from us. We got some bad luck or we are seriously the most clumsy family ever.

Loves!