Goofing Around...

While going through the 455 pictures I had in my camera and are now finally downloaded, I discoverd a few cute one's worth sharring.  First... Valentine's Day, we had heart shaped waffles with Grandma's (my Mom's) home made jam... a household favorite, YUM!!  Maddie's 1st Valentines Day.... it was a sweet day!

Then, out of fresh ideas of ways to occupy the kids while stuck inside all winter... I remembered one of my favorite past times as a kid!  Tearing apart the couch and building a fort out of it!  Complete with a slide, fascilitated by the nylon (slippery) sleeping bags, a trampoline (the base springs of the couch) and the bunker (underneath).  Add it all up, and what you get is HOURS of sheer FUN!!!  Even I had a good time building it, just like the ol' days!  Jeff questioned my motives... he thought perhaps I was hoping the kids would wreck the couch so we could get a new one.  Which was smart, but honestly not my intention.  I was just looking for a good time!  And the fact that I am unemotionally attached to pretty much every "thing" that we own (with the exception of photos and heirlooms of course) .... it was no holds bar!  The photos just don't deliver it fully, it's incomplete with out the sound of their winded squeals and laughter!

And then it was finally warm enough to go out and play in the snow.  It took longer to get them dressed and undressed for the occassion then the time they actually spent playing... but whatever.  The hot cocoa after was good!
Some of you may have already figured this out?  But I'm slow, I just realized if you click on the pictures in the blog, they'll open up in an extra large window so you can see them better - that's cool!

AND, some cute one's.... just because:

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Here I sit, March 9th 2010... ashamed that it has taken me 2 and 1/2 months to update the blog!
There is a direct correlation now between my photos and my blog I notice, because it has been equal amount of time that I have uploaded photos to the computer.  We bought a new desktop after our old one of 6 years went caput and it has taken me a couple months to get around to loading up all the software needed to do the job.  (sigh)  Such is life I guess.  I'm afraid I couldn't blog without the photos as they remind of what we are or have been up to... yep, it's that nuts that I can't recal what I did the day before yesterday!

So, this is the first official blog of the new year, 2010~

So far this year has been fast.  The good news is that winter is already coming to a close!  The snow is melting and the kids were actually able to play outside 3 times last week!  You have no idea what a relief that truly is!  The fresh air has done wonders for us all!

In February, Jeff and I took the kids back to Vegas for 9 days to visit family and to celebrate our 6 years of marriage... back where it all began!  It was a wonderful trip from beginning to end!  Truly! 

The kids were the best ever on the flights to and from!  Tricia was a complete Godsend, as she always is.... helping us with flights and even there to greet us as we arrived!  Amazing!  We could not have taken this trip with out her help and generosity, so Tricia... a HUGE shout out to you!  Thank you SO much!

We really enjoyed the time with friends and family!  It was so important to us that the kids get to see and visit their family back home and it was pretty much everyone's first time meeting Madison.  So needless to say, the photo opportunities were bountiful!  I have more great photos then I have room to post!

I am so grateful that we were able to see as many as we were able to, including our grandparents... the kids Great Grandparents!!  My Dad and Karen drove out with my Grandma from California, Tony and Debra took us in for a few days, Mom and Jay threw us a get together, as did Jeff's Grandparents and Mark and Tricia... it was a whirlwind of a week and so wonderful!
Thanks to you all for giving us such a warm reception! 

We miss you all so much and discussed quite extensively just throwing in the towel and moving back home!  It's really difficult to be so far away!  Austin speaks of his family and Las Vegas now, on pretty much a daily basis!  He and Jack sit in the laundry basket together and pretend to be on a plane heading back to Las Vegas. 

This is heartbreaking for two reasons:
1.  I wish we could be on a plane heading back and
2. That laundry basket they're 'flying' in, was a moment previously full of clean folded clothes which are now playing their role as 'clouds' thrown about the floor.

We think about putting the house on the market pretty much every Spring... but this is the first time I have seriously begun the process!  We may be able to recover some equity and get out while we can.  Rent for a while until we know where we will end up?!  It's becoming increasingly more clear (to me) that our future may not be here, and I'm okay with that... but living in limbo with 3 small children can be daunting at the least!

I guess, really... we are all living in limbo though... we may think we have it all figured out, our plans made.  But life has a way of taking those plans and rearranging them from time to time, so we'll see.  I'm okay with change.  Open, and embracing the outcome... whatever IT is.  I like lemonade, so if life wants to hand me lemons... bring it!  That's the way I look at it!  Jeff on the other hand, well... he's got to have a plan. 

I suppose that's why we are married.  He keeps me grounded and I keep him open.  And somehow I know that as long we're together, we'll be alright!

On a brighter note!  We are all healthy and well!  That's all that really matters anyhow!
Maddie will be 6 months the day after tomorrow and is now sleeping in her crib, eating food, and sitting with assistance!  In addition, she is getting quite the personality!  Smiling, laughing, playing.... really getting to be so cute and so much fun!  Austin and Jack are as sweet as ever, but are SO tired of being inside!  They're climbing the walls.... going crazy and taking me with them!  Thank God the winter is almost over!!!
Here's a few of my favorites from our trip home, enjoy!!  ~ Love.