Flashback Friday

Fall 2006

Little Mackenzi with her Gma and Gpa (Matt's Grandparents).

Carrying it On...

I've written before about my Grammy.  The bond and closeness we shared, the love she showed, the kind of person she was.  There's no doubt that she was awesome.  She always wanted to do things for others and make everyone happy.  Our happiness made her happy.  She created some family history books before she passed away.  She was already very sick with ppancreatic cancer and new that it would eventually take her life.  As she created our "branch" of the book, she wrote words of wisdom throughout the book that mean a lot to me.  One of the sections is about family vacations.  Before the pages of pictures from our various trips around the United States, she wrote a letter to us all, it said...

"What a tremendous level of trust was granted me in taking my precious grandchildren on trips and vacations.  From weekends to several weeks at a time, I was trusted with their care and well being.  Catalina, Las Vegas, Havasu, Washington, and going up the coast to British Columbia.  Flights and road trips across country seeing sights all the way.  We spent time of the farm and they got to know all the cousins.  Your confidence in my love and caring as a grandma as been inspiring and made my life complete.

Remember with the next generation, the joy it brought me, and continue sharing your precious children with those who love them as much as I loved you.

Grammy"

So, yesterday, I did just that.  Matt and I let a very, VERY excited Grandpa & Grandma (Matt's Parents) pull away with three very, VERY excited children heading for Lake Havasu.  It was a little tough for me to do, but I know that they will be fine.  I know that they will have a blast.  But most importantly, I know that they will make memories to help make their "life complete", just as it completed my Grammy's. 

Wordless Wednesday

Mud Run 2010

On Saturday morning, Matt and some of his friends participated in the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Mud Run.  They had a blast.  Matt said that the 5k kicked his butt, but it was so worth it.  There were helicopters flying overhead, firemen shooting them with their hoses, sirens and loud noises going off and trenches filled with mud.  The kids and I didn't make it to cheer them on because I was feeling a bit under the weather.  Next year we will FOR SURE be there to root the guys on!!! 

5 years later...

On May 20th, Matt and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary.  I seriously cannot believe that it's been five  years since our beautiful wedding day.  In the last 5 years, we have learned so much about each other, loved each other more and more, had more fun than we've ever had, hit some mini-rough patches, created a family filled with three beautiful babies and one adorable pup, and cherished each day.  I am sure a lucky girl to be living the life that I am with Matt by my side.

Here are the flowers that he sent me that day.

That afternoon, we dropped the kids off with Grandpa and Grandma and went to Pasadena for a little shopping and dinner.

Happy Anniversary Matty!!  It's been the best 5 years of my life!

Just Dance!!

In September, Mackenzi started Tap and Ballet class with her cousin, Kelsea.  They've loved going to dance class every week.  Mackenzi had her big dance recital last weekend.  Everyone was looking forward to it.  She had been working so hard since September learning tap and ballet.  The Show was amazing.  The little girls were SO cute.  I was a little (a very tiny bit) worried that she'd get shy when she was on the big stage.  I knew she loves to perform in front of family and friends, but a big show...in an auditorium?  Boy, I had nothing to worry about.  She was a superstar.  She loved every minute of it.  She danced her heart out, smiled her biggest smiles, gave her best facial expressions, and danced like no one was watching! 

The theme of the show was "Back To the Future with the Power of Love".  They did a few numbers for each of the decades (1920's-1980's).   The first song her class performed to was from the 1920's titled "For Tonight you Belong to Me".  ADORABLE!!  Just look at those outfits. 

The next song was from the 1950's titled "Lover's Question".  Those hats were too cute for words.

And, the last song was from the 1980's "True Blue" by Madonna.  My favorite of the whole entire show.

We only got 8 tickets, so we were limited on who we could invite.  We have a video of her performances if anyone wants to come watch!!  Thank you to all of our family who came to support her!!!

And a BIG thank you to Uncle Trevie who watched the boys during the recital. 
Thank you Stephanie for sending me some of the pictures since mine are very, very blurry!!

Wordless Wednesday

It's a Quinn-in-the-box!!

A Lil' Crafty...

My Sis Dana has taught me many things.  Lately, she's taught me how to distress things.  I've been reading a lot of blogs about re-purposing things....so I have.  Here are two projects I've re-done.

This is a cute sign that I got when I was pregnant with Kenzi.  You can't see the 3rd block in this picture, but it says girl.  So, the sign says, "Sweet Baby Girl".  Although she is my sweet baby girl still, I decided I wanted to change this up a bit.  I took it apart, sanded it (my parents got me a sander for Mother's Day), painted it, distressed it, and mod podged some paper on it.  It went from this...

To this...

It will now live in our toy room on a new shelf. 

My next project was a step stool.  My dad bought Mackenzi this step stool when I was preggo with the twins.  She could use it in their pirate room to look at her new baby brothers in their cribs.  It worked well in there for awhile, then it moved to our bathroom  (where it didn't match).  Since we didn't need it in their room anymore, and we did need it in the down stairs bathroom, I decided to change it up a bit.  It went from this...

To this...

Again, a little sander.  A little paint.  A little faux finish. 

I love that I have been a lil' crafty lately.  I'm pretty crafty when it comes to scrapbooks and digital creations, but when it comes to hands on crafts for the house....not so much.  These projects have been fun though.  I think I'll see what other fun crafts I can do....

a RADICAL Time!

You know what??  I L.O.V.E. the 80's! As a little girl, I remember watching my teenage cousins getting all dolled up to go out with their friends.  Bright colors, big headbands, big hair, leggings, leg warmers, man....I just loved it all.  I would watch them put on their eyeshadow (all 3 colors...pink...blue....green) wishing I was a teenager.  Now that bright colors and 80s/90s styles are back in the stores, I get a feeling of excitement.  I wish I could pull it off in my everyday wardrobe...but I can't. 

My friend Shannon turned 30 last month.  To surprise her, her family threw her a party last weekend to celebrate.  The theme:  80's Dress Up!!!  LOVE IT!  I was able to dress how I wanted when I was 7 years old. 

Big Hair: check. 

Big headband: check. 

Bright colors: check. 

Spandex: check. 

 Legwarmers: check. 

Pumps: check.

Man, I was in heaven.  I went by myself and met up with my mom there because Matt wanted to stay home with the kids (he had been out of town and missed them).   It was a rad party!!  Lots of bright colors.  Lots of leggings.  Lots of laughs.  Shannon was super excited and surprised.   It was so good to see her.  We always spread out our visits too far.  I miss this girl.  Love her!!! 

There were two downfalls that night.

1.)  I was missing my man.  I don't like going places with out him.

2.) I had to stop and GET GAS on the way to the party.  All dressed up like that.  All by myself.  Even though I LOVED my outfit....I was a bit embarrassed!! 

Overall, I had a RADICAL time!!

To see more pictures from this night, click here and visit my mom's blog.

Teacher Appreciation!

Last week was Teacher Appreciation week at Mackenzi's school.  I decided that instead of getting her teachers one gift, I would get four small gifts and give them at drop off and pick up times.   I can't take all the credit for the cuteness of these gifts.  I found the ideas online at Skip to My Lou and eighteen25. 

For drop off on Tuesday morning, Mackenzi gave her teachers a Symphony candy bar.  I re-wrapped it with this...

And on the back she wrote her name!!

When I picked her up on Tuesday, we gave the teacher's candles wrapped in a brown box with a lid.  It had a cute oval label on it that said "You Are Scent-sational!" .  I didn't take a picture before we gave them away (darn it).  But trust me, they were super cute.  On Thursday, we gave them flowers.  The pink flower says "Thank you for helping Mackenzi bloom".  I thought these were adorable.  Mackenzi had a FANTASTIC time planting them too.

Lastly, on Thursday at pick up time, we gave the teachers these cards.  In case you can't see it, it says "I have learned so much, as you can see.  A gift of thanks lunch on me!  Love Mackenzi".  When you unwrap the tulle bow on the side, there was a $5.00 In-N-Out gift card inside.  Because, really....who doesn't love In-N-Out?!?!  I take full credit for this one....came up with it all by myself!!  :)

All in all, I think they scored.  I know I would have LOVED these gifts from a student.  A chocolate bar, a candle, potted flowers, and a gift card to In-N-Out.....SCORE!!!

Bubbles, Bubbles EVERYWHERE!!

The kids took a bath in mommy's bath tub last night. 

HUGE mess.

Bubbles everywhere.

And yes, I mean everywhere.

When the bubbles got on the boys' faces, they freaked.

They tried to wipe it off with their bubbly hands, but that made it worse.

So I wiped it.

Then they were happy.

Until it happened again.

Which it did.

A lot.

Mackenzi just plain L.O.V.E.D. it.

She didn't care where the bubbles were.

In her hair, on her body, on her face, the floor, the wall, the windows, the blinds.

Nope, she didn't care.

She wanted to swim.

I wouldn't let her.

I'm mean like that.

I was afraid the boys would get lost under the bubbles.

Did I mention there were LOTS of bubbles?

Well, there were!

After bath time, they got to snuggle in mommy and daddy's bed and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

See our new sheets.

I love them.

I also love those three cuties cuddling under those sheets.

So fresh and clean.

Bath time in Mommy's bath is a LOT of work.  They enjoyed themselves.

So it was worth it.

p.s. This is my 450th post.  Can you believe it???

Look-A-Like

Mackenzi made a craft for Open House at her school.

It made me smile.

What's so funny is that I made one just like this when I was 5 years old. 

The poem is just the same, a hand print and a picture.

Isn't it funny how some things never go out of style?? 

Workin' Hard and Hardly Workin'

While Daddy was workin' hard in the yard this weekend...

The kids and I were hardly workin'.

And, boy did they have fun!!!