Where did the summer go?

Yeah, I know I promised I would post more this summer, but it's gone! Where did the summer go? I always think it will last soooo long but then, before you know it, it's back to school and the Halloween decorations are out! So, I will just have to make up for lost time. :-)

We had a fun summer and have finally gotten back into the school routine. We are enjoying having both boys at the same school at the same time for the first time ever! Whoo hooo! Of course next year Hailey will go to preschool and we'll once again have two different school schedules, but I'm enjoying this year for sure! The boys seem to like their teachers and are happy to have a few good friends in their classes.

Hailey hasn't been left out though, don't you worry. My good friend Donna and her little boy, Oliver, who is just two months older then Hailey, are doing a little home preschool together. Right now it's just once a week and there is probably more playing then teaching, but at least it's something! It's fun just to hang out with each other! My hope is that they will be exposed to school stuff and have a slight advantage next year when they actually go to a real preschool. :-)

Aside from school starting the other big thing around here was the Ry guys 6th birthday party and boy did he have a PAR-TAY! We combined his birthday with his best friend (and neighbor) to have a huge block party! We had two bounce houses, one a giant slide, a Power Wheels race track, sno-cones, popcorn, face painting, all sorts of carnival games, and of course swimming! We shut down part of the street to accommodate the big pirate themed bash and boy was it fun! I think that Ryan and his buddy, Jett, like it too!

Now it's time to figure out costumes and decorate the house for Halloween. They boys' school does a big Fall Festival that I'm helping out with this year, so we are still as busy as ever! The fun never ends around here! I will post pictures later, right now I gotta get to the school to help in the boys classes! I love being able to do that! Talk to you all again soon! :-P

Summer

Okay, so I said I would be updating soon and that was almost two months ago! Time seems to be getting away from me this summer. Only two weeks left until school starts up again, maybe then I'll actually have time to sit down and post some more!!!

I don't even know where to begin. We've celebrated Hailey's 3rd birthday, mine and James' 12th wedding anniversary, a couple of trips here and there - one of the most exciting being a visit to my Gramma Bubba's in L.A. and Disneyland with the kids! James and Jackson got to go to an A's vs. Yankees baseball game for Jackson's birthday. More recently, I got to go visit my other Grandmother, Gram, in Cheyenne, WY with my Dad for the weekend. We've also been busy at home swimming, swimming, swimming in our wonderful pool and we've enjoyed many play dates and parties, too!

All in all it has been a fun, busy summer for the Irvine 5, but it's not over yet!!! My Jackson-bug will be 8 years old this week and we'll be having a little shin-dig for him this weekend. We also have a wedding next month, James' little brother is gettin' hitched and we can't wait for the family to get here to help them celebrate! Then of course is Mr. Ry-guy's birthday at the end of September. We have a GIANT block party planned for him and his best little buddy who happens to live three houses down from us and also has a September birthday.

Yes there is a LOT to look forward to around here and that means (crossing my fingers) lots to blog about, too! Hope you enjoy these pic's from the last few months and there will be

more to come in the days ahead!!!

James and Jackson at the A's vs. Yankees game!

The family and Mickey Mouse!

My crazy kids and Great Gramma Bubba!

I took the boys and Hailey out for frozen yogurt to celebrate the last day of school!

Hailey's 3rd birthday!!!

More pic's to come soon!

Goodbye Sweet Rocky Dog!

I haven't posted in a while and I plan on making up for it very soon. Right now I just wanted to post a little tribute to the beloved 6th member of our family. We had to say goodbye to our Rocky dog last Thursday, June 17, after finding out he had cancer. He was our first "child", with us for nearly 10 years and very much a part of this family. It was very hard for us to see him go but we know that he is in a much better place now and completely pain free. We will miss him everyday! We love you, Rocky dog!

One happy puppy dog!

Hailey loved her big doggy!

That's baby Hailey petting her Rocky

This is the Ry-guy having some tummy time with his puppy dog.

Up close and personal! My sweet puppers!

A very regal looking guard dog! Rocky was a great protector of his family!

Jackson learned very early that if he didn't want to eat his food, Rocky would GLADLY help him out!!!

Easter Eggs!

The kids and I had fun doing the traditional dying of the Easter eggs a few days before Easter. I know that this post should have come before the Easter Day post, but... yeah I have no excuse, I'm just lazy! The kids had fun and I managed to NOT have a heart attack watching them make a mess of their clothes and hands with that dye! Now if only they would eat those eggs....

Still running!!!

That's right, it says 6 and a half miles!!! I've been running about this distance for almost two months but haven't had a chance to update my blog until now. I'm working on my time right now, trying to get under a 10 minute mile, then I'll start to add more distance. I'm almost ready for that 10k, maybe by late spring? Wish me luck!

Easter Fun!

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday last week, despite the horrible weather! The kids loved seeing the loot left by the "Easter Bunny" and enjoyed an indoor egg hunt after attending a packed morning church service. What a great day to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross, that He is risen!!! Amen! Enjoy the pictures of my beautiful family.

Easter pictures take.... 7!!! We didn't get a really great one, but some okay ones and some pretty funny ones!

Ryan was pretty excited!
Hailey is showing off her new princess lipstick!

On the hunt for some eggs!
Mom, I'm trying to find the eggs!
I will find one, I will!

Let the games begin!

Baseball games, that is! The boys had their "Opening Day Ceremonies" for little league last Saturday and got to dress up in their baseball uniforms and join their teams on the field. It was a CRAZY day to say the least, but seeing the boys all done up in their baseball pants, jersey's and hats made them look SO BIG! It almost made me cry at how old they are getting and how these moments are so precious and rare {that they let me take their pictures and were happy to do so!} :-) So here are a few pic's of my big boys and there will be plenty of game day action shots to follow in the next week or so! Stay tuned for the latest, up to the minute info on the Little League Yankees and Mets!

5 Miles

I am usually on here to brag about my kiddos or hubby but today I am bragging about myself. I did something the other day that I am pretty proud of, it's been a goal of mine for some time and I hope to keep at it now that I know I can do it. I ran 5 miles the other day for the first time. I've been running fairly seriously for the past two years or so and have never felt like I was getting any better. I've always had this mindset of "if I can just go 5 miles I'll feel like I've accomplished something" but haven't been able to get there. Well I've worked my way up, very slowly, but I can finally say I did it! It feels pretty good, so good in fact that I did it again two days later! I can't run everyday with James' work schedule but I do run everyday he's home. My new goal is to run a 10k sometime this year which is about 7 - 7.5 miles I think. I'll let you know if, no make that - WHEN I do it! Yeah me!
Just in case anyone didn't believe me here's the proof! I run with my ipod and it has a pedometer app that keeps track of EVERYTHING! I just might have it printed out and framed! :-) Naaa, too cheesy!

I am a fun Mom!

It was one of those days last week, it was just me and the kids (James was working) and they had been trying my patience. They complained about everything, whined, fought, cried, disobeyed - you name it they did it! Then, they actually say to me that I'm not a "fun Mom"!!!

WHAT?

I was flabbergasted (I've always wanted to use that word!)! It actually made me pause and think. Am I really not a fun Mom? I admit I was pretty upset by that remark. Now, I know that they are kids and they think that if they don't get what they want when they want it that it's the end of the world and I've ruined their life...yadda, yadda, yadda! But, it really made me ask myself do I say "no" too much? Can I be more fun? Can I say "yes" a little more?

Well, I decided that I can. I really tried to make a conscious effort to say yes when I could, even if it was a little more inconvenient for me. I tried to be more fun all week and say no only when I had to. After all, I am the Mom and they are the kids so I do have to say no a lot!

Anyway, I guess my point is that if I really think about it and try to pick my battles, so to speak, I can be a fun Mom. I want to be a fun Mom. I think my kids want me to be a fun Mom, too. I also found that it made the times I did have to say no go a little bit smoother then before. It's amazing what you can learn from your kids, even though it's sometimes hard to hear.

So, of course I took some pictures of our fun times together. Enjoy!

My cute kiddos! The boys decided that they don't need to wear a shirt to bed anymore. I said "yes". Hailey didn't want to wear a shirt either. I said "NO"!
Ever since seeing it in Goonies, they've really wanted to spray the canned whipped cream directly into their mouths. So, I said "yes" and it was pretty funny!

Hailey doing push-ups against the wall!
Hailey had her friend over and they played princess dress-up! Don't they look gorgeous!

Family and Friends...

There's nothing better! We got to enjoy the company of both these past two weeks as we went up North for a little New Years vacation. It was tons of fun to spend time with dear family members we don't get to see often enough and an extra special treat to get together with some very dear friends, too! It was tiring, but oh so worth it! Thank you to EVERYONE who put us up at their homes, even if for just a few hours, and put UP with us, again, even if for just a few hours! We love each and every one of you and thank God for your love and friendship!

I didn't get the best pic's, but I got some good ones, hope you like them!

Uncle Kevin and Aunt Michelle (Kerry's Brother)

Papa Dennis (Kerry's Dad)

Great Gramma Gigi and the kiddos! (James' Grandma)

Grumpy and the boys! (James' Dad)

Gramma Donna and Hailey girl at the park and it's FREEZING! (Kerry's Mom)
The kids with one of my oldest and bestest friends kids!
Cousin Tracy took us bowling!
Cousins galore! Our oldest niece Katie, Hailey, Leilani, Jackson, Sebastian and Ryan!
Uncle Rusty and Aunt Laurel opening their present from us! (James' Sister)
One of our dearest, greatest friends, Renee and her niece, Chloe - whose Mom is also one of our dearest and greatest friends!
Stefanie, (Chloe's Mom), Renee and Chloe! It was SOOOOO FUN hanging out with these two awesome girls! Love you guys!
James with Steve and Nick, Renee and Stefanie's hubby's, respectively! Good bro time!
Sweet Stefanie with Hailey!
James got to see one of his old friends (his best man at our wedding) Chris and his little girl, Grace!
The kiddos in a rare moment of getting along long enough to take a picture! Fun!