Back in Time

I have had a nasty head cold (ie. sinus headache) this past week and it has kept me away from the gym. So I have decided to use my time finishing off Tyson's baby book...since he is going to be SIX next month!! Anyways, it just felt like I jumped back 10 years sitting on the floor watching Friends and scrapbooking. Tyson's book is almost done, just about 6 or so pages to go, then I will have all 3 baby books finished. I looked through them all thinking about how different each one of my kids is, and how different I was when I made their books.


Jordan's book is the smallest. Most of the pages are filled with blurry (non digital) pictures and my own less-than-perfect hand writing. My scrapbooking skills were not great, and I didn't have much money to buy cute embellishments. I remember spending weeks searching for the perfect book to put the pages in. My sister (Lisa) even reminded me that I had sent her a package using the box from Jordan's baby book and I asked her to save it for me (and about 8 years later she still has it...saved for me). And Jordan's book was completely finished before her sister was born.

Kya's book was done at the height of my scrapbooking frenzy. This is probably one of the reasons Kya's book is the longest and most intricate. Another reason Kya's book is so big is that I got my first digital camera shortly after she was born, and who could resist making pages of multiple pictures in the same outfit:)! Another great thing about Kya's book is it has pictures of her with her big sister. When I bought the book to put Kya's pages in, I didn't anticipate it's enormous size! After trying to shove all the pages it, her book busted at the seam!! I scrambled to finish Kya's book before her little brother was born:)

Tyson's book is in between Kya and Jordan's in length. The pages are embellished with a lot of stickers and cutouts that are quick and easy. A lot of the spaces left for writing are empty because I can't quite remember what Tyson was like at 4 months or 6 months (I dropped the ball there, but some I wrote long ago). I think it is a little more fancy than Jordan's, but not as "busy" as Kya's (a perfect balance, in my opinion). Tyson's book was bought for about $5 and has been weathered by the sun (as I finish up his book, I'm a little worried it's not all going to fit).

Regardless of the differences between each book (hopefully the kids won't compare), they war each priceless. I am glad I made them...even though Tyson's has took me until his 6th birthday. I LOVE pictures. They are one of my favorite things, but mostly I just love my babies and the amazing people they are becoming!!!

(I typed the names on the books and saved it before I enlarged the font, so if you can't read it: Jordan's is top left, Kya's is top right, and Tyson's is on the bottom)

I didn't sign up for this

As a mom, I have a WIDE range of responsibilities, some I expected and others I've just had to accept. But there are still some things that I refuse to do.

Expected:

Regular house hold chores (dishes, vacuuming, sweeping, laundry etc.)

Making meals

Helping with homework, packing lunches, helping out at school.

Taking care of the kids

Accepted:

Paying the bills

Taking out the trash

Fixing clothes

Driving everyone everywhere

Resolving conflict

Refuse:

Ironing Mike's shirts (I do it sometimes, but it is HIS job)

Taking the car through emissions tests or to get fixed (I do take it to get the oil changed)

Cleaning the garage

Cleaning out poopy underwear (that's right, it goes in the garbage!!)

Cleaning out moldy Tupperware (I just can't do it)

Going anywhere near canned re fried beans!!! (Mike buys them and uses them to make burritos. I can't even be in the kitchen when he opens them or I will gag)

Just to let you know, there is a Tupperware sitting on my counter with moldy re fried beans in it. It is one of my nice Tupperware containers. I wonder how long it will sit there...

Me and the kiddos at SeaWorld
(love the way Tys is posing with the spray cheese)

So, here it is...

I try not to post things that are TOO personal on here, but what the heck.

Anyone who has had multiple conversations with me probably has heard me talk about wanting another baby. I have gone back and forth about having #4 for about 3+ years now (not my hubby though, he has been content with 3 since Tyson was born). There are times when I am 100% convinced that I HAVE to have another, and other times when I think I would be crazy to even entertain the idea (but, let it be known, if the decision was entirely up to me--not my hubby AND me--we would have 4 already). The bottom line is, I am really having a hard time leaving my "baby days" behind me. How do you move on? How do I know that when I'm 50, I won't completely regret not having more kids--and then it won't be an option? This is a hard one for me. I see all the reasons why not to have another, but yet it's still so hard to accept and move on!!

Anyways, there is a glimpse into what has been going on in my heart these past few months/years.

Me and baby Jordan 2001
(why the heck was I wearing overalls?!)

Me and baby Kya

February 2004Me and Toddler Tyson 2007

(excuse my striped hair!!)

He's Back!!

Guess who scored the first goal of the season?! That's right, Tyson is back on the soccer field and better than ever. I absolutely love watching that kid in his element...what a little athlete.

And so it goes...

Another school year has begun. Jordan is in 5th grade (her last year of elementary school!!), Kya is in 3rd and Tyson is in 1st. I honestly can't believe this is my life. How did those little chubby babies grow up so quickly?! Well, here they are...the first day of school:

Happy Birthday Grandma (Kurki)

Photo Shoot

I took my kids to the park Sunday with the hopes of getting some good pictures. It's funny how much their unique personalities shine through the lens:

Jordan
I could not stop laughing at this one!!
Always modelling!
And, of course the beautiful girl pose:)Kya
My little gymnast...any chance to show off her splits:)
This is the crazy Kya we know and love.
Sweet girl!Tyson
Making a face...as usual
This is what he does when you say make a "nice" face.
This is probably the best one I got.The 3 of them together
Cute, but Tyson still looks a little goofy;)My Favorite!!

I {heart} my family

I am having a hard time putting together a post about my Canada trip. I'm not sure if it's because I can't pick which pictures to use, or because I'm not ready for it to be over yet. We had such a great trip (minus Tyson's GIANT mosquito bites and my sliced up foot...oh and the "rash"). I seriously couldn't ask for a better family. My sisters, brothers in law, parents, nieces and nephews...they are just the BEST. I miss them all so much and really wished we lived closer. Luckily soon after I got home, I got to go to a baby shower with a lot of my California friends, which reminded me that I really do love living here too:) So here's why my family is so awesome and why we always have such a great time in Canada:

1. They live in the raspberry capital of Canada (hence the giant raspberry statue on Clearbrook Road).

2. My mom is always willing to bake for us (blueberry pies, banana bread, muffins, trifle and of course, raspberry jam).

3. There's always someone willing to play chess (especially grandpa).

4. Grandma and Grandpa have tons of blueberry bushes (hence the blueberry pie--yum).

5. My sisters are always willing to see the sites (Othello tunnels, Stanley Park, Hayward Lake, White Rock....).

6. My parents have a sauna...in their house!!! (usually it's too hot outside in the summer, but this time their were some rainy days and we heated it up--I forgot how much I LOVE it).


7. Everyone came to celebrate Kya's birthday (even though she turned 8 two weeks before we got there)!

8. A trip to the dairy is enough to make everyone happy (especially when ice cream is involved).

9. We are all crazy enough to take 11 kids to the movies (Zookeeper (lame) and Smurfs).

10. We can have fun in spite of mosquitoes, rainy weather, heat waves, no money, cranky kids, bad sunburns, head aches, and a sliced up foot!!


Remind me again why we don't live closer...sniff, sniff.