Winter Snow Storm

Okay, so maybe "Winter Snow Storm" is exaggerating a bit, but we did have a very cold storm come through Southern California this weekend.  It brought rain and very cold temperatures.  On Saturday, snow began to fall at our house.  It only lasted for about 3 minutes, and of course it didn't stick, but it did snow.  Here are a few pictures of the *snow* in our backyard.  Look closely!!

 Big snow storm or barely any snow...Mackenzi didn't care.  She was super excited that it was snowing in our backyard!!  (The boys were napping when it snowed, so they didn't get to enjoy it).

Patiently Watiting to Clean

I like a clean home.  I would LOVE a cleaning service to clean my home, but that is just not in the cards.  So I clean my home.  I have a pretty good routine down for cleaning my home.  I have my favorite products (Windex, Fantastic, Clorox wipes, some type of tile cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, Mr. Clean bathroom cleaner, and the list goes on).  It seems that I run out of ALL my supplies at the same time.  UGH! I hate that!! By the time I get done shopping for all my supplies, it usually costs about $35-50 bucks (Remember, they all run out at the SAME time)!

Recently, I have been into reading home organizing/decorating blogs.  A few of the blogs I read have talked about a line of cleaning supplies called Shaklee Get Clean. 

It is "a selection of our most popular household products to help you make your home cleaner for your family and the planet.  Get Clean offers nontoxic and natural cleaning choices that are SAFE, POWERFUL, GREEN, and SMART"

The good thing about these products is that they are  SUPER concentrated.  This is what their website says about the GET CLEAN STARTER KIT.
     
You'd have to spend more than $3,400 to get the same amount of clean found in the Get Clean Starter Kit!*

I talked Matt into trying these out.  I was getting ready to buy when I told a friend of mine about the products.  She actually uses the products, loves them, AND her in-laws are independent distributors.  So, we bought some cleaning supplies through them.  I am waiting, so excited for the UPS driver to deliver my new products so I can give them a whirl.  They are supposed to arrive on Monday, but I'm crossing my fingers that they come sooner.  We bought the smaller Get Clean Kit and a few other products.  I spent about the same amount that I would have with my old supplies.  I'm super excited to try them out!!!  I'll keep you posted about them!!

If you're interested in visiting the distributor I used, click here.

Sneezing, Coughing, and Fevers...

OH MY!!

We just can't seem to be able to catch a break this cold/flu season.   For the better part of January and all of February we have been battling the sickies.  It started with the stomached flu...which was a beast.  A few days later, we all seemed to catch a cold.  Coughing & runny noses...nothing too serious.  Just enough to keep us all from sleeping through the night and meeting Camden (my sister's new baby boy).  Only a short week after we were all 100% well, it struck again.  Luckily, we were all feeling great for the boys birthday party. It started on Monday.  Everyone but Mackenzi is sick.  I have a terrible cough and my chest feels like an elephant is sitting on it.  Matt seemed to have the flu yesterday yesterday.  He had a runny nose/sneezing/coughing/body aches/fever.  The boys have noses that are running like faucets, fevers, and coughing.  We are all taking lots of medicine and Matt and I are on antibiotics.

Y.U.C.K.

At least it's nothing too serious, but man oh man...can we just get healthy?

Please??

I'm hoping that this round wont last very long.

Cross your fingers for us!!!

Love at First Sight!

Cousins meeting...

 ...for the first time...

 ...with lots of cuddles...

 ...and lots of smiles...

It was love at first sight...

We just love Baby Camden!!

Calling All Firefighters...It's BIRTHDAY Time!!

We had big plans on having a birthday party at a local park to celebrate the twin's 3rd birthday.  However, Mother Nature had other plans.

So, about a week before the party, we had to change our plans.  We celebrated at Jumping Jacks.  It's an indoor playground with lots and lots of inflatable jumpers, bounce houses, and slides. 

The kids had a blast (who am I kidding, the parents had a blast too)!  Here are a few pictures from our day.  Not too many pictures came out, but here are a few that did.

The last hour of the party is spent in the cake room.  We had sack-lunches for the kids and some munchies for the adults.  The boys opened up all their wonderful presents.  I swear, they were spoiled to pieces.  Thank you to all of our wonderful friends and family members who made their day so special!!

We sang "Happy Birthday" and they blew out there candles.  Quinn blew his out in a flash, Jace had a little harder of a time.  But eventually he did it!!

For favors, the kids got bubbles and suckers.  Jace was so excited to give them to all his friends and tell them thank you.  I created the cupcake toppers, banner, bubble labels, and sucker stands.  I just love the little things like that!!

We had a wonderful day celebrating the birth of our two special boys!! 

Happy 3rd Birthday Jace & Quinn

On Saturday, February 19th, Jace and Quinn turned three years old.  My goodness, I just cannot believe that they are already three. Jace & Quinn have brought us so much happiness.  They are such a joy.  Matt and I are so blessed to be their parents.  There isn't a day that I don't look at them and think about just how much I love them and how lucky I am to be their mommy.  They are total mommy's boys, they are silly and funny, their imagination is growing more and more each day.  They keep us on our toes, make us question our parenting techniques, but most of all, they keep us HAPPY!  We just love these two to pieces!!  Here are their three year stats:

Jace Matthew

 *31.8 lbs.  37.5 inches tall

* 50th percentile for weight and height

*wears his heart on his sleeve

*cuddle bug

*happy go lucky

* friendly & compassionate

Favorites:

*Special Agent Oso

*Buzz Lightyear

* Thomas the Train

* Pancakes

*yogurt

*ketchup

* apple juice

* Blue blankie and thumb at nap time/bedtime

*Jace is 100% potty trained during the day and at nap time.  He still wears a pull up to bed.

*He can accurately count to 15 then gets a little silly.  His counting goes a little something like this (13, 14, 15, ocho, ocho, ocho, ocho). 

*Jace knows all of his colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, white, black, brown)

*Jace can identify a square, triangle, circle, star, heart, and rectangle

*He is starting to stand up for himself when others take his toys.  He still gets very sensitive when he gets pushed around.

*Loves to sing songs

Quinn Richard

 *32 lbs.  37.5 inches tall

* 50th percentile for weight and height

*Very passionate and protective about the things/people he loves

*Likes to be the boss/tell people what to do

*loves cuddling with mommy

*Loves babies & smaller children

*Silly,silly, silly...he loves to make silly noises and voices

Favorites:

*Lightning McQueen

*Buzz Lightyear and Jessie

*Race Cars

*Chicken Nuggets

*Milk

*peanut butter sandwiches

*Blue blankie and thumb at nap time/bedtime

*Quinn is 100% potty trained during the day and at nap time.  He still wears a pull up to bed. 

*He can accurately count to 20.

*Quinn knows all of his colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, white, black, brown)

*He can identify a square, triangle, circle, star, heart, and rectangle

*Quinn is very possessive of his favorite toys (Rocket & Leo, Jessie, certain hot wheels)

*He L.O.V.E.S. to wear ja-whammies (Jammies), he would wear them 24/7 if we let him

*Quinn can be a little aggressive toward others, he doesn't like to be pushed around and sticks up for himself when others push him (or Jace) around.

Happy 3rd Birthday Big Boys!!  We love you So so So much!!!

 

Flashback Friday

Three years ago today I was pregnant with twins.  I had two babies kicking, pushing, twisting, and hiccuping inside of my big huge belly.  I was unaware of what they would look like, how my delivery would go,  or how our life would change.  I was nervous and excited.  I was tired, achy, and puffy.  Three years ago, I didn't know that it was going to be the last day of my pregnancy with Baby A and Baby B.

 For on the following day, I delivered Jace and Quinn.  Our life definitely changed.  It became sweeter & even better than we could have ever imagined.  We have more on our plate, sure.  Life is more hectic, definitely.  But, our life is filled with much more love.  We have more hugs to receive, more cuddles to join in, more kisses to give, more hands to hold, more nighttime stories to read, more joy in our lives...all because of the two sweet babies that were in my tummy three years ago. 

I L.O.V.E.D. being pregnant, LOVED it.  But what I love more is spending my days with these two little boys.  I love to see them grow, learn, and change.  I love to watch them play, sleep, and hear their sweet giggles.  I love these two boys.  My sweet baby boys... who will celebrate their third birthday tomorrow. 

Puppy Poop

I just had to take a picture of my three little ones with their new outfits on.  We got them these for Valentine's day, I thought it was adorable that they all match!!  Quinn and Kenzi were happy and smiling, but Jace was not having it.  I even bribed them with a conversation heart candy, but he would not budge.

 I tried all my normal funny sayings to make them laugh.  Quinn and Mackenzi thought "puppy poopy" was super funny, but not Jace man! 

Oh well, they still looked adorable, frown and all!!

Valentine Perfection

We had the most perfect Valentine's day yesterday. We had a busy day filled with some favorite things, lots of fun, and a few surprises!!  Here's how our day played out...

Valentine Hearts hanging from the kid's bedrooms...

a special surprise when they opened their doors in the morning!

 Three little gifts for our special valentines!

 Three Valentine's made by mommy

 Mackenzi was THRILLED with hers!

 8:00 a.m.:  Nana came with a special surprise...DONUTS!  The kids were SO happy!

 11:00a.m.: Surprise my main squeeze with some love notes on his car. 

 12:00: Pick up Mackenzi from school and meet Daddy at In-N-Out for lunch!!

1:00 Surprise at the door for mommy!  Daddy sent flowers!

 2:00: Dance time with these two little love bugs!  Nothing cuter than cute girls dancing their hearts out!

 5:00: Dinner is Served!  On the Valentine's day menu,

 Balsamic Chicken with crushed tomatoes over a bed of wilted lettuce and couscous. 

YUM!

 6:00 Surprise the kids with a family date.  BOWLING!!  It was the first time any of them had been bowling.  They even had shoes to fit them all (so cute).  We played two games, Daddy beat Mommy and Jace beat the other kids. 

8:00: three T.I.R.E.D. kids (no naps).  The quickest bedtime ever. 

8:15: Relaxation and Cuddles with my favorite Valentine!!

See, I told you it was a PERFECT Valentine's day!!!

Chores ARE Fun!

We have been talking to Mackenzi lately about being responsible.   I talked to her about chores and we brainstormed what jobs she should have.  She helped me decide what jobs are perfect for her to do.  I had been meaning to create a job chart, but hadn't gotten around to it yet.  Yesterday I found this chart on CreativeMamma and decided it was perfect.  She was so excited to fill  it out with me yesterday and put her stickers on the chart. 

Last night, she even wanted to wash dishes for me after dinner.  Gosh I love this age...when kids think chores are really fun.  She washed about 6 different dishes/bowls from dinner and even put a towel out on the counter to dry them.  She was really a big helper, I didn't even have to re-wash them.    Man, I've got to teach her some more jobs while she's so excited about them.  I think I'll teach her how to mop the floor today *wink*. 

DIVA in the Making

I walked into Mackenzi's room a couple of nights ago to check on her before I went to bed.   

I found her like this...

She didn't have the beauty mask on when I put her to bed earlier that night.

Oh this girl.  She's just so fancy.

Seriously, are some little girls just born destined to be a diva or do we create little divas?

One thing is for sure, Little Miss Mackenzi loves everything girly and fancy. 

She is definitely a diva in the making!!

I'm an Auntie Again!!

Last Friday, my sister gave birth to her third child.  I was able to zoom out to San Dimas and meet them at the hospital just in time.  I got there at 6:00 a.m. and she delivered at 6:30 a.m.  My sister has always been someone I have looked up to.  Of course, because she's my big sister.  There are many, many reasons I look up to her, now I get to add one more reason to that list.  She decided to deliver Camden with absolutely no pain medication.  What a champ.  She did a wonderful job.  We are all so proud of her.  I have been lucky enough to be in the delivery room to watch all three of Kevin and Dana's children's births. It is such a wonderful experience, I am so thankful that they let me stay and photograph Camden's birth.

I have been emotional with all births. I tear up at birth stories told by my friends, my family, even at t.v. shows.  This time was different.  I was SUPER emotional.  The drive out to the hospital I was emotional.  When I saw Dana breathing through contractions, I was emotional.  When I heard Camden's first cry, I was emotional.  Man!!!  I think it's because this was the first time I've seen a delivery since my own children were born.  It's such a different feeling since I've experienced welcoming my own babies into the world.

Introducing my newest nephew...

Camden William Gustafson

2/4/2011

8 lbs. 1 oz.

20.5 inches long

Stash Bash

Last weekend, we went to a birthday party to celebrate our good friend Monique's birthday.  It was a Stash Bash!  That meant that you couldn't get in unless you were sportin' a mustache! I bought a super cute mustache necklace online, but it didn't come in time.  Good thing I picked up a back up stash from the dollar store.  Matt wanted a big mustache.  This picture looks kind of like a mug shot of him...hahaha.  It cracks me up.  I'm smiling under my mustache, but you can't tell!!

 Here is me and the birthday girl.  Darn blurry picture.  I had to add it anyways, her stash is too nice not to show!!

Thanks for the great night Monique.  I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!

Nurse Mackenzi

January was community helper month at Mackenzi's preschool.  They talked about all kinds of different occupations.  Parents volunteered to come to school and talk about their jobs.  Mackenzi was able to learn about all types of community helpers.  She got to see a police car (and climb in it), a fire truck, hear from a nurse, and a few more.  She went on two (semi) field trips, one to buy a donut and one to the mail box to send a letter home.  As a culminating activity, they were asked to dress up like their favorite community helper.  First, Mackenzi wanted to dress like a chef (she loves to bake), then a teacher, then I had an idea.  I remembered that I had a nurse costume that my mom made me for Halloween when I was 4.  I told her about that and she was thrilled.  She had made a doctor's bag at school earlier that week and worked hard to make herself some gloves.  She was so excited for school that day!!

On Saturday, we got the letter she mailed home.  She was thrilled to get her own mail from the mailbox.  Here is what she sent...

She said this is her and Hurley (our dog) when she is grown up.
I am eager to see what she will grow up to be, but I sure can wait.  I definitely don't want to rush that!