Time Crunch

With football season over for Edison, I thought my schedule would free up a little bit. Even though my kids play so many sports & they always overlap...football seems to demand most of my time (I took all the pictures for the Freshman A & B team this year).

This weekend continued to be jam packed with must do's. I had to laugh at my friend Debbie who has moved back here from Chicago and is staying with us until she's able to get back on her feet. I dragged her around with me and my never ending schedule. We were driving home from a dinner party that my boss had on Saturday night and she was wiped out. We spent Friday & Saturday rushing around ALL day. She said, "Man I can hardly wait until Monday so I can relax!" I was cracking up...I was exhausted too and I'm used to being constantly on the go.

Today we went to church in the morning, I had a photography shoot for a family's Christmas pictures right after and then straight to the kids basketball game (they lost by 4). Back to the family's house to review the pictures and then dinner at 8:00. I'm not looking forward to Monday...I'M TIRED!

In the mix of everything else, I've been planning our 10 year anniversary trip. I finally found a really cool place in Mendocino County. I've never been there but the pictures look gorgeous. I found a cabin overlooking the ocean, in the middle of huge Redwood trees (it's been featured on E!, Eye on LA & Channel 2 travel). We'll stay there 3 days and then explore after that.

I always need adventure on every trip, so on the way back we're just going to wing it. Going through little towns, exploring, visiting state parks (Pfeiffer Falls, etc.) and staying wherever we end up. I love just winging it! My husband is a planner & a scheduler, but I think after 2 years of dating & 10 years of marriage, my crazy "lets just go and see what happens" attitude has rubbed off on him. It's so much better not having a plan. When you have preconceived expectations, you always seem to get let down when things don't go exactly as planned.

Even though I'll be stressed the next 4 days...I'll finally be able to relax on our big getaway.

Cleaning, Schedules...AND SLEEP!

Elijah & Donald called up together as OUTSTANDING Linebackers!

Da Boys-Ryan, Cooper, Donald, Elijah & Trenton

Ryan, Cooper, Donald & Elijah (STUDS)

Chowing Down at Edison's Freshman Football Banquet

Wow, I haven’t updated my Blog since the weekend. So here’s what’s been going on, Sunday we had Elijah’s end of the year Football banquet. They made a really cool video for each of the boys. At the end they added outtakes. We were all cracking up! It was really well done and I loved it because the showed all of Elijah’s touchdowns and interceptions.

Monday I had the day off because my boss was on vacation. I had a lot of stuff planned to take care of because my good friend Debbie is coming to stay with us for a while. But of course nothing ever goes as planned. I got up, ate some oatmeal, laid down to read my morning devotional and fell asleep until 1:00 P.M.!!

Then I spent the rest of the day cleaning Jullien’s room for Debbie to stay in while he’s gone. What a nightmare! I can’t believe how kids can find so many hiding places for all their crap when you tell them to clean their room! I even found clothes that he’s had since he was 12. That took me the rest off the day, but I finally got it all done. If Juj’s was that bad I’m afraid to see what is hiding in Elijah & Adams room. That will be a project for another day.

Josh has been staying in Juj’s room since he’s been gone. I told him he could move into Elijah & Adam’s room while Debbie is here, but I think he got mad that I asked him to move and said, “NO, I’ll just stay with friends for a while.”

Whatever...I’m not going to stress about it, he’s a big boy and if he wants to act like a baby I’m not going to let it get to me.

On a positive note, I fell asleep at 10:00 p.m. last night. I’ve been so worn out from going to sleep at 2:00 a.m. every night, (insomnia). I feel really good today...sleep is AMAZING!

Back On My Feet

I was finally able to go back to work today...I guess that's a good thing?! You don't realize how sick of being sick I am! I hope this is my last one for a long time. Elijah was able to go to football practice too.

Now that I'm up its back to the crazy summer schedules. I just got back from picking Elijah up from practice (with his bike), and then went and picked up Josh from work (with his bike), it was pretty tricky trying to squeeze two beach cruiser's in the back of my car. After a few minutes of yelling at the boys to BE CAREFUL...didn't want the spokes broken or my car scratched up, it was off to pick up some food.

I called ahead to order the Pizza Hut Meaty Marinara Pasta (love it!), and when I got there it was supposed to be ready. Of course they couldn't find my order so we sat there for 25 min. I don't know what is going on lately but every time I go to a fast food place lately I end up having to wait FOREVER...guess my patience is being tested and I'm not passing.

Finally get home, ready to relax...nope, my ENTIRE house wreaks of ammonia (DOG PEE!) I swear it was so strong it burned my nose hair! Back out to the store to get carpet cleaner, powder, air freshener...and it still smells.

HAPPY MONDAY TO ME! Hope yours was better.

Paris and More...

June has been a whirlwind month for me. First Elijah's meningitis scare, high school graduation, visiting family, trip to Lake Arrowhead, jr. high graduation, Jullien's trip back to New York and now his trip to Paris for fashion week (This Sunday-July 8th). He got signed with the #1 modeling agency in Paris-Marilyn (MGM) and they posted his pic in their show package MODELS.COM.

Yesterday I was in an exceptionally good mood and my husband asked, "What's up with you, why are you so happy?" That made me stop and think, "I guess I haven't been the most pleasant person to be around this month!" I realized that my good mood was due to the fact that Elijah's Jr. High graduation signaled the end of my BUSY June! It was a come down of emotions of sorts. Without even realizing it, I was feeling a relief. Funny how we can get so bunched up.

It's Friday and after work I have NOTHING!

Here's a few picture recaps:


Jullien picking up a teacher as he heads up to get diploma



Elijah, My stepdad and Sister Amy

My mom and Jullien

Me & my childhood friend Tierna

Elijah, Jullien and Christian (his girlfriends brother)
Jullien (with new laptop) & Joshy

The boys and my dad

The cake my sister Stacy had made for party

Family visiting Grandpa in Lake Arrowhead


My stepmom and sister Stacy (girls day out in Balboa)

Elijah's 8th grade graduation





La Familia

Graduation lunch at Claim Jumper

Christmas Card Pictures

Sunday we scheduled a day with all of our kids to take our Christmas card pictures (they even brought their girlfriends and boyfriend for a couple of pictures).

The little guys making fun of the couples

This is quite a task, having teenagers means BUSY schedules. We had my two sister-in-laws and their kids meet us down at the beach and we took some pictures of their kids too. As you can see...LOTS of boys!

(The boys & the cousins)

It was very hectic, not to mention crowded with other people coming up with the same idea. This meant trying to find a spot that random people wouldn't be in the background, roaming around. Between finding the perfect area and avoiding the direct sunlight of the day (1:00 p.m.), there was a lot of shadows that I've been trying to correct with Photoshop. I don't know what I'm doing yet, so I'm trying to wing it! I hate reading directions, but I think I'm going to have to break down and do it.

Me & My Honey

My boys

My second group of amazing kids

We also decided to bring our husky, Allie. I left her treats in the car so of course she wouldn't listen. During the family picture we were all trying to hold her and make her look towards the camera, while we tried to pose and smile. We came up with only 1 picture that everyone looks somewhat normal, even though Elijah is choking the dog. Let's just say it was comedy...(picture the Brady Bunch vacation episode!) Never a dull moment in our family.

(Our family-Anthony punching, the boys struggling with Allie-Tasha was ready...LOL!)

After we finished, Allie decided to go chase after and stalk a little poodle. Dillon went to try to get her away, she slipped out of her collar, while my husband ran over to help. They were running around yelling at the dog and Allie took off straight towards a family and pooped right next to the mom's chair. Then I had to listen to everyone saying, "Why did we have to bring her!"

You would think since the kids are older it would be easier to get them to pose. Nope...now they think they are so funny, making faces, wrestling, pushing and shoving. I would say, "1,2,3!" Right when I was ready to snap...I would get some crazy pose...I yigh yigh!!" I screamed, "KNOCK IT OFF! I have a lot of pictures to take and I don't want to be here all day!" They just laughed at me and wondered off to explore on the rocks...getting in the background as I was taking my sister-in-laws pictures. I think people just stood there staring at us thinking, "They're all crazy." It's like a three ring circus when we all get together!

1...2...3....WHAT?!


1...2...3...tough guys

1...2...3...Real cute guys!

1...2...3...EWE STOP IT...not you too...LOL!

Finally...the one and only decent family shot...

I guess I would have to say...Christmas card pictures=lots of drama!