The Mediterranean

We Just got back late last night from our trip. So these are the exclusive photos. please ignore my snickery face in most of them. as i am not photogenic. but it was an AMAZING trip. the trip of a lifetime. I celebrated my birthday in Venice. and it was the best birthday ever.

FOr those who dont know, Jason and i took a mediterranean cruise to Italy and greece for my 30th birthday ( and our 10th anniversary celebration). we have never travelled without kids since we had them. it was quite a treat. thanks Errol and Elaine for making this possible!!

this is the Parthenon.

City of Athens in the background of the site of the Acropolis

More Parthenon---- its just too awesome!!

This is the NIKE temple at the Acropolis. the Ladies are so beautiful that hold it up

This is an ancient city on the Isle of Delos. ( birthplace of appolo) this city, and some of its remains date 3,000 years back. this was someones formal living room. look at the beautiful mosaic floor. you cant see the art work in the middle, but it was a god riding a tiger. one of the only peices of "tiger art" in greece.

This is Mykonos---just breathtaking

Jason just stripped down and had to go for a dip. he couldnt help himself the water was just too beautiful and warm :)

Its very humble, but this is where the light the torch for every olympics. this was taken in ancient olympia.

Taking a picture with this statue was not allowed. i got in trouble for it. but it was worth it. this was the ancient archeological museum of olympia. its where they keep all the original carved statues.

This was a beach in Katakolon ( where olympia is) . i must admit. it was a great experience. Jason was frolicking in the ocean , and i forgot my bathing suit---i had to sit around and wait for him to get his ocean time in. ahhhh--some of the ladies were topless!!

We ended our trip in venice. that place is so freakin cool!! i reccommend everyone go to venice before they die. or if you take any trips to italy----be sure to go there. they say its sinking. so ya better hurry!!

eating gelato

view of the grand canal

ALAS, one of my big regrets is not taking a gondola ride.

next time ill bring more money :)

May update #2

Im finally getting a REAL wedding ring. my original one got stolen from our move 5 years ago. i took it off to help the movers and never saw it again. its my 30th birthday, and our 10th anniversary this year. and when we get back from our trip to greece, and italy, ill get to see it!! this was part of the may update i forgot .... my husband spoils me :)

May Update

THE MONTH OF MAY............

Finally after 5 years of living here. i bit the bullet and decorated my kids rooms. Lucilles is a pink baby fantasy , and Ruby's /Ezra's room is a rainbow happy land. 

Here are some pictures. the other rainbow now has clouds on it. ( but in the picture it doesnt.) 

i also have some really cute fabric for curtains. and more clouds/birds to put up. but this is how it is thus far. just need to find a rug that looks like grass ---ha ha 

Lucille LOOOOOVES stuff animals. and whenever she sees them, she just hugs and kisses them.

still hugging---perfect picture opportunities.

little miss bossy pants has also decided that now she has to eat all of her food with utensils. she thinks she is so grown up. and she is too proper to get food on her hands now.

Here is a picture of my little happy cooperative boy Ezra. he is always aiming to please. we potty trained him finally this month. and he has been so eager!! which was a surprise. 

here he is in his new swimsuit ensemble. 

Ruby continues to have bad hair days. 
This one was a little worse than normal. but sometimes she will go to school with hair like this. its such a shame that i am a hair dresser and my child will not allow me to style her hair!!
sometimes i remind her that i have a special education on how to style hair, but she doesnt believe me. 

Jasons B day, April, and Easter fun

This is a picture of Jasons humble birthday party. i asked him if i could make him a red velvet cake ( the only cake he currently likes ) , but he loves doughnuts more than anything, and so he just got a bunch. its kinda pathetic. but thats what the man likes--doughnuts and bacon. 

this was just a funny happenstance. i found this in rubys back pack one day ( i think it had been there for a couple of days, because i had noticed how heavy her back pack was. she told me that it was her school assignment---and she made grandpa. i wish that i had more pictures of this, it is truly hilarious. she made grandpa with hair plugs.

Lucille and Ezra successfully took a bath together. which is amazing.

Lucille is pretty hard to keep up with these days. she gets into everything under the sun---the house is torn apart constantly by her.

EASTER

Rubys basket was hidden in the coat closet in my coat!! she needed lots of clues.

Ezras basket was hidden on the side of his bunk bed under Lucilles play table. he pulled it out so hard it almost went to pieces. 

Lucille got a baby alive. and the first thing she did when she saw her basket was pull out the baby and the bottle and started feeding. she is such a little mommy.

too cute with the bunny ears. 

So that is the best i could do for this month of april.  for a little update, its a pity that i didnt get more pictures. my mom and dad were visiting, along with Samantha my sister, her husband Adam, Hazel ( only 5 months younger than Lucy) and their doggie---Toast. it was a really fun easter. i was so grateful for the opportunity to have family on Easter. 

Sami just left today. it was fun to have two cute little toddlers running around. Lucy and Hazel would randomly play together, share toys, kiss and hug eachother. it was adorable. looking forward to the days of them having sleepovers---running around playing together, and all that fun girly stuff. they are the closest Grandkids in age on my side!! actually on either of our sides. 

peace out

NO DOG!!

Ruby had a playdate with her friend Tabitha today. Tabitha just got a new puppy. and has a really cute chihuahua, and italian greyhound already. instead of praising her mom for letting her play so long, or comment on how much fun she had or how cute Tabitha's dogs are, all i get is--

"WAAAA----i need a dog---tear, sob, we have to get a dog!! im lonely , i cant live my whole life without one---etc, etc. 

ENOUGH ALREADY!!

oh the drama........what is up with this newfound 7 year old drama? she is totally acting like a teenager all of the sudden. with ultimatums, guilting, Bratty tactics. i am in disbelief. and i know what your thinking........probably that im too indulgent of a parent, or that i have been spoiling her or else she would not act like this. 

i promise----i have tried her entire life to NOT spoil her. to have limits, and discipline. 

im sure that im not perfect. but can someone tell me----is this just normal 7 year old behavior? 

i have heard a lot of other parents say that it is. but wow!! i need a plan people. 

someone tell me how i can emerge from this in a positive way?

Irish Princess turns 7

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY!

WE THREW AN ALL IRISH, ALL GREEN, ST PATRICKS DAY EXTRAVAGANZA FOR OUR LITTLE RUBY!!

When I first gave birth to ruby, and we were in the hospital, all the nurses and family members said that she would get tired of all the green birthdays ( being born on st patricks day) but we have NEVER had anything green on any of her birthdays. except this one. it was her idea to do an irish birthday party with a leprechaun treasure hunt. she was very proud of herself for thinking of it. ( and boy am i glad she did, or else i would have had to do a "jungle" theme---i was not looking forward to that) 

Here she is opening her presents. i asked her what her favorite part of the party was , and she said it was opening presents.

here she is reading a clue from the treasure hunt. sure glad the kids can read!!

bit o "blarney" rocks that we made 

we decorated the house with shamrocks everywhere.

found the treasure!!

i made an irish treasure cake for her.---i know, its a little over the top.

had to remember these invitations. they were so cute. 

Beloved Taco casserole

The first time i ever heard of Taco Casserole was from one of the acheivement days girls that i used to teach. she came over for the activity that night and was totally devastated that she had to go home because it was "taco casserole night" at her house. i laughed and wondered HMMMM what IS taco casserole? how i finally found out was that i went to the halloween party at my ward and someone made it for their "chili". Ruby rarely likes anything, but she has just recently gotten on a taco kick. so i thought---i must make this!!

the only reason i am posting this is because i made it tonight yet again and it was SOOO delectable. maybe i am just deprived of really good cooking that is wholesome and healthy --instead of super greasy and oversalted.

but here is my recipe. its simple and easy to put together. i just think its a really easy meal---LIKE TACOS!!! it seems like everyone has stuff to make tacos right?

1 box of taco shells ( you can use tortilla chips if you like) 

1 lb of lean ground beef--or turkey 

1 tbs and 1 teaspoon taco seasoning ( or a packet) + bay leaf

1/2 an onion diced ( or more if you like) 

1 bell pepper ( optional) 

1 small can of tomato sauce 

pace picante sauce or salsa of choice 

1 can of black beans 

corn, olives---or anything else you would like to add. 

 grated colby jack or cheddar cheese

sautee onions and beef together, drain, return to pan. 

add seasonings, beans , bell peppers, tomato sauce, &corn. 

sautee for about 3 minutes on med-high. stirring. 

then pull apart taco shells ( so they are flat) and place them in a 

13x9 pan on the bottom. put spoonfulls of  salsa on them. put your 

beef mixture in a layer on top of the flat taco shells. and continue to layer 

in this order: tacoshells, tiny bit of salsa on the taco shells, beef mixture, cheese---and so on. 

until you run out of mixture and or everything else. 

bake in an oven at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes. 

scoop out casserole onto a bed of shredded lettuce and add sliced avo 

and sour cream. i like a little spice, so i add El-PATO sauce drizzled over top. 

its SOOOOO yummy. 

your kids will love it if they like tacos.

CRAFTINESS OF AMERICA!!

These are the auction pieces for the school auction

I made that little fused glass beauty------made it in the schools Kiln--seemed only fitting that i sell it at the school fundraiser---its so cute and funky!!

This one is really fun-- you cant see , but in the middle the flower sparkles. 

wonder how much these pieces will get at the auction? me too!

these are the cute crafts/fused glass things i made while katie was at my house watching my kids.---thanks katie!! wish i could do this ALL the time.

ill post more crafts soon---because i love to make them!! 

hey......thats my husband!

i was surfing my sister -in- laws blog, and i saw this awesome picture that i would like to share with the public. 

no---it was not halloween. it was new years. and the theme was "the distant future". 

so prepare yourselves men-----my husband is quite the trend setter. this is going to be the new tuxedo. 

watch out red carpet people. i hope you all look good in fuchsia.