Fun in the Sun

I have failed to update my blog every week as I had originally planned. My excuses are usually long and wordy so, I just didn't get to it will have to be the excuse for this time. The past few weeks have been filled with fun in the Arizona sun. Blaine's mom and sister and brother in law came down for a week to see us. Blaine has the most crazy schedule in the summer. I am not really sure why, but he tells me that ice usually sells better in the summer. his family rarely saw him, but we had fun with them. One day we took a tour of Chase Field where the Arizona Diamondbacks play. Lynn (BIL) wanted to go to a game but they were in St. Louis for the week. It was pretty cool to see the locker rooms and all of the behind the scenes stuff and hear the history behind it. We were the only people in the tour so we got to ask lots of questions and take our time. It was cool. Our tour guy took this picture of all of us. Like I said we were the only people in the tour, so he was very accommodating.

Tammy (SIL) wanted to go to the Phoenix Zoo. We knew it was going to be hot, so we decided to go early and avoid the heat. Well, we got there early (8:30) but it was already 102 outside. I should have watched the news the night before because there was a heat advisory out for that day. by the time we left (1:30), it was 114 out. We were all very tired and ready to relax in a nice air conditioned house for the rest of the day. We did have fun at the zoo though. Here is Kayla, she was the only one that did not have fun. She pretty much just drank here juice, cried and sucked on her Binky the entire day.

Cayden got to feed the giraffe while we were there. He thought it was pretty cool. They have a huge long black tongue that scared him a little when the giraffe stuck it out to get the food Cayden was holding. I only took a few pictures the entire week they were here. I know, I was a major slacker!

The week before they came was the fourth of July week. I did not get many pictures of that either. Andrea and I took the kids to the beach pool. They love to swim there. It has a zero entry beach with real sand, so the kids built sand castles and played in the water for a few hours. I then took the kids home for naps before dinner and fireworks. I had to go collect rent from one of my dad's tenants, so I stopped by there on the way home. The kids were sleeping already so I left the car running in the driveway and went to get the rent. I did not realize that the tenant had 2 pitbulls. I am TERRIFIED of dogs.

This is why. I got bit! This is the picture 2 days later. My belly was too swollen to wear regular shorts or capris for a week.

We did have fun watching the fireworks out at my dad's house. We got eaten by mosquitoes, and killed a scorpion, and fought the heat. Despite all of this, it was so much fun. Kayla and Cayden loved watching the different colors explode in the sky in many different shapes. I loved seeing their faces light up. I can not wait to show them so many more things as they grow. I so enjoy being a mother!

Updates...

We have had a very eventful summer this year. For the past few years we have not done much as far as vacations in the summer, but this year I think I made up for it. The older boys go to their dad's house during the summer but I rarely do anything fun with them during the summer. This year we went to my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary party in Mayhill, NM. You all know where that is right? My guess is not. It is a tiny town of lees then 200 people in the middle of nowhere. They have a small cattle ranch and lots of room to explore. The boys love going there. We were able to spend 4 days there this time and they got to run all over, help feed the cows, and Jared learned how to bake. Jared has always been the one that loves to learn in the kitchen and he really learned tons this trip. My grandma is about the best baker that I know, so I would say she is an expert. She instructed us on how to make cinnamon rolls and cakes from scratch. The results were super yummy! We ended up making 4 batches of cinnamon rolls. They would disappear as soon as they were cool enough to get out of the pan. I decided that I HAD to get a bread maker for home so that I could make these yummy treats for Blaine to enjoy too. He was not able to get off work, so he was not able to go with us this time. The wedding party was a hit, lots of family were able to attend, and lots of pictures were taken. I am still editing them but I will post a collage or slide show when they are finished.

The trips there and home were long, but so worth it to see my family that I had not seen for so long. The trip takes about 7 hours if you stop one to two times for gas and a potty break. with 4 kids 14 to 1, it took 9 hours to get there and 8.5 hours to get back. When we got back there was a rush to get the older boys' laundry done and them repacked for their flight at 7 am the next morning. 5 loads of laundry does tent to take a while so I was up late and did not sleep well (I never do when I know they are leaving, I really hate it.) They were on time for the flight and as luck would have it, the flight was delayed one hour. I got to spend one more hour with them! I really enjoyed hanging out with them in the airport, Jared was being super silly from lack of sleep and Josh was having fun on the inside, he just did not want to look silly in case anyone was watching! Teenagers!

My sister was here for the whole next week. I was so excited to spend time with her. We talk at least once every day and I was glad to have her close by for a short time. We let the kids play while we chatted for most of the week. We also took a few shopping trips!

The next week, Cayden, Kayla and I headed up to St. George to Blaine's family reunion. Blaine could not get time off work, so we went without him. Another 8 hour road trip that took 10 hours this time. not really a fun time, but well worth it. We got rained out of going to the lake the first day and instead played at the pool by Grandma Maggie's house. Friday, the family headed to the Grand Canyon minus us. I was not really up for another long car trip, so I stayed in St. George and hung out at my sister's house. The boys played in the backyard, the little girls took very long naps, and we made Kayla lots of pretty hair bows. Then we went out to dinner and the kids played by the water fountain and threw in pennies, each time trying to get the penny into the little bucket the the girl in the fountain sculpture was carrying. Saturday was the reunion part of the get together. I was impressed with how interesting Maggie had made the info. She even made books with family trees and journals of many family members for us to take home. It was really cool. After that, we took the kids to the pool for mare swimming. Ann and I were in charge of the kiddos and we forgot the sunscreen. Jenny brought some later but I forgot about it and needless to say, no one had any one. Fortunately, the only one who got really fried was me. I just feel so bad when the kids get burned and they hurt and it was my fault. If I get burned it was my one fault and I can not complain to anyone about it. Sunday morning we packed up and headed home. I was thankful that our trip lasted only 9 hours and was so happy to be home in my own bed.

That summarizes our last 3 weeks. I have tons of pictures but I have not gotten them all edited yet. I will post pictures soon!

Cute Photo

Birthday Firsts

Here are some really cute pictures of Kayla during her birthday party. She had so much fun, I think she loved her crown, it took a little while for her to figure out to leave it on her head though.

She thought her cake was pretty.

She was not sure of what to do with the cake on her plate.

She never dug into it. She was very careful about not getting too much frosting on her hands.

Cayden said he needed to help Kayla open her presents because she did not know how to yet.

She was having more fun with the paper and the boxes and bags then the toys.

She finally started playing witht he toys and played for about an hour with all the thing she got.

Happy Birthday Princess!

Kayla turns 1

For Kayla's first birthday I was just going to buy a cake until my awesome sister in law suggested that I make it because it would be cheaper. Then she said she had the recipe for a Barbie cake. I thought that it would be really hard to do this since I have never had a girl before and had never even seen a Barbie cake. I researched it on the Internet (thank goodness for technology) that night and found that it is really simple to do. the hard part would be decorating it. The Internet had photos of the Barbie being naked and then the frosting being the entire dress. I have never really decorated a cake with real tools before. I usually just buy the can of writing frosting and use that. This would require a bit more effort the the can would provide. I figured that I would just buy the Barbie and then figure out the decorating later.

The next day I found the perfect Barbie, the top of the dress was painted on already! The design of the dress was very simple. I knew that this would be a fun project for me. Now, do not get me wrong. I love making cakes for the kids' birthdays. I just was really excited to make a girly cake for the first time.
This was the final result. I thought it was really cute! This project took 2 days to finish but I loved it. The cake has to be baked and then let cool totally. Then you stack all of the layers, put a thin coat of frosting on and freeze it. The next day I finished the frosting and decorated it. I put it back in the freezer until 3 hours before the party, then took it out and put it in the refrigerator. The safest place for something in my house is somewhere that it can not be seen. this prevents fingers and mouths from ruining it.

Here is the princess herself. She is already one and I can hardly believe it. So much as happened since I was pregnant with this little girl. We went from a 34 week preemie to a beautiful, healthy little girl. She is still very small for her age but she is healthy and that is the most important thing.

She is usually so happy. She very rarely cries unless she is poopy, hungry or tired. I am so thankful that we were blessed with such a wonderful little girl!

Here is a cake that I made for Memorial day. I founf lots of fruit on sale and thought this would be a fun idea for dessert. This looks great doesn't it? Just be thankful that you did not have to eat it! I tried my hand at making a cake from scratch, not a wonerful idea. I think I will stick with cake mixes from now on!

GRADUATION

Today my little boy became a junior high school graduate. Well, it was last Wednesday really. (I had to work after that actual day so this is the first time I have had a chance to post.) I can not believe that my first little baby is growing up so fast. He is 14, 5'8 1/2" tall and 148 lbs. He looks more and more like his father everyday. I get teary eyed thinking about it! Getting the diploma.

Posing with Grandpa Miraglia

Patiently waiting for his name to be called.

The ceremony is over.

I was so happy that Grandpa Miraglia and Jenny could come and celebrate with us. I am not looking forward to high school stuff though. Dating, driving, and later curfews, not fun for the mom!

Really Horrible, Very Bad Day!

So Friday started at 4:30 am, when I got the wonderful call that I was cancelled for the day. Not really what I wanted to hear, I kinda of need to work to get us out of debt, but I figured there were things I could do so I would make the most of it. I then went back to sleep for 1 hour and was woken up by a small child screaming. Out of bed I tumbled, down the stairs to the kitchen to make that small child a bottle. She is so happy as soon as she sees me, she smiles and puts her hands out for me...NOPE! She just wants the bottle. Oh, well she is 11 months, food is important. Who am I kidding, it is still important to me too! I fed her and then put my running clothes on. I was really motivated to go running today. Kayla is almost 1 and I have 20 pounds to lose. OK, maybe 4 lbs. to be at my pre-pregnancy weight, but 20 to be at my wedding dress goal weight. I then am side tracked by 3 other children, ranging from bigger then me (he is 5'8") to waist high, and their needs before going to school. Progress reports signed, permission slip signed, teeth brushed, clothes matching, hair combed, and off to school they go. OOPS! I can not run with 2 kids! I have only a single stroller! Oh well, I can do an exercise tape, right? Nope, Kayla is hungry again, real food this time, not just milk. Then it is bath time. I decide that exercising is not going to happen today after all. It is now 8:15. I think it would be really fun to take the kids to San Tan Mall and play in the splash pad! Cayden is very excited to go. We get dressed for the water and pack dry clothes and towels and sunscreen. I call my dad and sister in law. We are going to meet there around 10. anyone who knows me, this really means I will try to leave my house by 10, plan on me being at least 45 minutes late. At 10 I have the kids in the car, car is packed, and baby food and formula all ready to go, but lost the keys. Now kids unpacked to find the keys. 10:20, kids repacked in the car, keys found, backing out of the driveway. Phone calls were made to let everyone know I am running late. Surprised they are not. We get to the splash pad and are playing. One running little girl + water on cement= fall with a huge goose egg on the forehead and a bloody nose. Fortunately I do not know this child but, explain to the children that I do know, that we can not run or we will get hurt. OK accident avoided. Oh wait, 2 year olds do not listen well. Cassia fell, started freaking out and made herself pass out! She finally woke up after blowing in her mouth, now tears from her mother (who would not cry?). We are finished at the splash pad for today, there have been enough blood and tears, literally. We decide to go to Sam's Club and eat lunch. Yea for $1.50 lunch, a hot dog and a drink. Perfect for the kiddos. Well we decide to shop and as we are checking out, we are told we can't. WHAT!! I guess that when you bounce a check there, they freeze all of the cards under the account. OOPS! So now my entire family is aware that I screwed up with my bank account. I have to run to the other side of Phoenix to pay the stupid check because you have to pay at the store where you originally wrote the check, not just any store, of course! Thankfully Andrea, the best sister in law ever, says she will take my kids home so they can nap. It is now 2 pm, Kayla is cranky. I go get my car and park behind her car so we can swap the car seats to her car. When out of the entire parking lot a man in a tiny car decides that he needs to turn down our way to try and park. There is plenty of room, but he has to be a jerk and honk his horn and call us stupid cuz we are taking up too much space. I have had enough, so I mention that I was just a dumb girl, but I thought that you could drive both ways down the isle. He was not happy with my comment and used some very colorful language to let me know he was not happy. Now Cayden is asking what it means. GREAT!! I leave to go pay my check, Andrea takes the kids to nap. It takes 30 minutes to get to the store, 25 minutes to pay for the check, and I have 25 minutes to get back where I was in the first place to have my oil changed and tires rotated. Luckily traffic is ok and i get there just in time. Now, I made an appointment so they should get me right in, right? Nope, 35 minutes later they get my car in to look at it. I get the "we need to show you something with your tires" speech. Wonderful, how much will it cost me? I need an alignment and 2 new tires. Grand total, $428. Now, of course, I say I have to talk to my husband about it so I can get out of there. I call around and that is what the price will be just about everywhere. Dang it! I go and pick the kids up, it is now 4:30. I go to the fruit market and get my stuff and head home. I was going to go to girls night out tonight but I think after everything that has happened, I will stay home.
I think I have used up my bad events for the rest of the week just on today. Next week I am hoping will be much better!