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!

The things they say... Part II

One of my first blog postings was on some of the funny things the boys have said lately. Everyday they crack me up with something they say that is so random or just out there. I try to write them down, but figure maybe I should blog them too.

Matt and I went to Chicago over the weekend (will post that later) Matt was talking to my friend Natalie and was telling her a story. After the story was over, she told him how smart he was, and he said, " I know I am smart, I have the best remembery."


Matt and Zach are really into playing "mommy and daddy" with their toys. They will get cars, or animals and sit at the table and play. Today they were playing "Jared and honey" (mommy and daddy) Here is how the conversation went. They were playing with a snake and lizard.

Zach: "Jared, come over here, I miss you"
Matt: "Honey, I am coming, I am walking slow because I have a baby in my tummy"

Me: "Matt, how did your honey get a baby in her tummy?"
Matt: " Duh, mom. She went to a wedding, and that is how you get babies in your tummy."

Oh, if they only knew!

Family Update

I haven't posted in a while because I have been so busy. Right after Presidents day weekend, Jared tore his Achilles tendon at working playing basketball. He had to have surgery two days after, and has been in a cast since the 20th of February. And to make the traumatic incident worse, Jared's dad passed away the same day of his surgery. He has been sick for several months, and finally died of a massive infection in his body that started from his lungs.
Jared is now on light duty at work, and is on a 40 hour work week. Thank goodness for his mom Carma, who has stepped up and is helping to watch the kids three days a week so I can continue to work. Matthew started baseball again last week, the boys are in swim lessons, and I just finished taking another online Math class. Needless to say, I am not complaining, but I am finding that I don't have a lot of extra spare time to spend on the computer. I do still try to read everyones blog.. so keep on blogging!

More family photos

My cousin Britney took some more family photos in late January. We didn't go at the right time of day, went in the early morning, and the sun was beating down on us. But, we got a few good shots. We went to Calico Basin, right before the entrance to Red Rock, and the kids had a great time walking around and exploring together.