* California Rigbys * Mike, Kathy, Konner, Kaylin, Kylie

Five!

2011-12-11T19:33:00.001-08:00

Kaylin Elizabeth Rigby. 5. Loves to dance. Loves to sing. Loves to look cute. Loves to be independent. And loves her mom and dad. Can she really be 5?? How is that possible?

Toothless. Finally!!

2011-11-26T22:18:00.000-08:00

Konner has been waiting for so long to lose a tooth. ALL of his friends have lost teeth, but not my little Konner. And finally it happened. At Michael's. After I told him to wait until we got home he yanked the tooth out in line to pay!

He was so happy! And even happier when he woke up in the morning to see that the tooth fairy left him a dollar!

Rock Star outfit for a Rock Star party!

2011-11-16T21:34:00.000-08:00

Kaylin wants to have a rock star party for her birthday. And a rock star needs a rock star outfit. I love that I can make these things for my girls. It cost a whole lot less to make this outfit then it would to buy it! And I totally enjoy it!

Make new friends, but keep the old!!

2011-11-01T23:18:00.001-07:00

Raquelle and I have been friends forever! Since preschool. My preschool. We've played jokes together, double teamed boys together, watched loooooooooads of movies together, been loyal to Friends together, and gone through pain together. I miss you Raquelle!!!

Grandma

2011-11-01T23:14:00.001-07:00

I have to give my mom so much credit for the grandma she is. She spends time with my kids, reads to them, colors with them, takes them to the park. And they adore her and tell me often that they miss grandma. Warms my heart!!

Kaylin

2011-11-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

I just had to share pictures of this humble little diva. And I mean humble in the most sarcastic way! If her time with the mirror and make up now is any indication, I'm in serious trouble when her teen age years hit!!

Green Dragons

2011-10-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

Konner's soccer team this year is the Green Dragons. We have a great team this year! We love it!

Konner reminds me so much of his dad when I watch him play. Like his dad, defense is Konner's strength.

Going private...

2011-09-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

I'm going to set my blog to private in a few days. Send me your email if you want to be able to visit my blog.

Watch out Hillcrest!! Here comes Kaylin!

2011-09-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

Kaylin has been so anxious to start school! And finally the day arrived. Today was her first day of preschool. She loved it.

Kaylin Elizabeth Rigby came into our lives 4 years ago, and there has never been a dull moment since with this girl! She's sassy, she's stylish, she knows what she wants and doesn't want, she's quite the little beauty, and she is NOT afraid to express that! I don't think I would have her any other way....

Itsa Girl Thing

2011-09-08T22:34:00.000-07:00

My newest bow holder. I love this one!!! I made this one for Kay and Kylie. To see more of what I make you can check out my Itsa Girl Thing blog ..... glamourousgirls4.blogspot.com

Is 1st grade ready for my buddy?

2011-08-29T23:22:00.000-07:00

On our way to the car!

New back pack for a new school year!!

Konner was nervous about going to a new class with a new teacher.

Luckily he had his best friend with him!! Although, the teacher may want to rethink this seating arrangement!

7 Years

2011-08-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

18 years ago I met the love of my life, and 7 years ago I married him! I love you, my love. Happy anniverary!!

Another Vacation?

2011-06-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

4 days after I got back from Hawaii, we headed down south to Oceanside for a week. The kids had a fantastic time playing with their cousins.

Kaylin and Lyndee

Hanging out on the rocks watching the crazy boys play in the water! And by crazy boys I mean Mike's brothers! Mike joined in shortly after this....

Mike and Jay playing in the water. Mike and Jay's wives were a tad nervous, seein as how the waves were crashing hard on the rocks and pulling back making it difficult to get out. But the boys had fun!!

Konner watching daddy playing in the waves. Konner is content to watch from land.

This is what the kids did while hanging out in the hotel we stayed in. Lots of bed jumping, wrestling, and cars.

Watching a movie.......
London, Kaylin, Ollie, Konner, Dylan, Kylie, and Rylee.
So thankful for how sweet Rylee was with my kids. They had so much fun playing with her. Especially Konner! Thanks, Rylee!!

Konner and James hanging out in the jacuzzi. Konner's favorite place at the beach house. Thank you for sharing your scooter, James! It made Konner's evening!

The kids wanted so badly to swim in the pool at the hotel. Lucky for them they have their daddy! Cuz mommy is too paranoid to let them in a pool that size without their life vests!!

Konner had to warm up after almost giving mommy a heart attack with his jumping into the pool without his vest.

Kaylin was more low key in the pool. Thank goodness!

Even Kylie had a good time! She may just be ready for some swim lessons herself.

My most favorite people in the world.....

Rigby Week is always a bit stressful for me, because Mike works and I am down there alone with all 3 kids. At a beach house. With a beach! But my kids had so much fun and loved their time there that it was totally worth it! Hopefully next year Rigby Week will be after Mike is out of school!!! Thanks for the fun, Rigbys!!

Kindergarten graduate

2011-06-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

Onward on to 1st grade! Konner is so excited to go to 1st grade. Me? Not so much. He's going to be 6 next month, and each birthday is a sad reminder to me of just how big my buddy is getting. He's in such a rush to grow up, and I want him to stay my buddy forever.

My mom

2011-06-17T23:54:00.000-07:00

Growing up in my family wasn't exactly what I would call easy. And neither were the relationships. My father was a total abusive alcoholic, and without going into detail my mother and I didn't have much of a relationship for quite awhile. I was close to my grandmother and believed that she was the only one who loved me. I was lost without her for a long time after she passed away.

My father passed away in my early 20s, he was only 42, of severe Cirrhosis of the liver. And it wasn't until a couple of years after that that I worked through serious issues from my childhood. I had a lot of anger and resentment, and with my father gone, I took it all out on my mother. I held her responsible for a lot, and maybe I still do a little, but I understand her and her choices better now. And I've lost the anger.

I grew up believing that my mother and I couldn't ever have a bond or connection. But ironically now, as a mature adult and wife and mother, my mom is who I can count on the most. My mom is the one I can count on for compassion when I need it. My mom is the one who will do her best to try to help me when I need it. That isn't saying that there isn't another person who would help me in my time of need, but my mom tries the hardest. If I need help with anything, I don't have to plead my case to her or beg. If I need to money or I need help with my kids, she doesn't make me plead my case or beg, and she typically has less than we do. She just does what she can.

My cousin, who I love very much decided to get married in Hawaii this month. She's my Jessie. I took care of her when she was little. The thought of her getting married without me made me very sad. So after discussing it with my husband, we decided I should go. I needed help with my kids, because I couldn't take them with and my husband had to work. He couldn't take the time off to go with me, and he needed help with our kids while I was gone.

I asked a few people for help. My sister was willing to do it, but it was a big inconvenience for her, and I really needed someone who could come to our home. So I called my mom. She has a full time job. She lives paycheck to paycheck. Money is always tight for her. She didn't make me plead my case. She didn't make me beg. She didn't give me excuses. She just said yes. She took a week off work and came down to stay with my kids while I went off to Hawaii. In doing that, she relieved me of a great deal of stress, and she made me realize even more how much I can count on her. And that is what family really is about. Being there for each other.

My kids had a great time with grandma and they even miss her now that she is gone. She has grown so much as a grandmother and even as a mother. I really appreciate her and the sacrifices she made to help me out. We've come a long way, mom. I love you.

Hawaii baby!!

2011-06-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to spend a week in Hawaii, and I took it! It was a no kids trip, and my husband had to work, so off I went and vacationed for a week where the only stress was getting lost while trying to get somewhere!

My cousin Jess got married while I was in Hawaii. And she announced that she is having a girl. Jaycee Hutton Mae Caldwell.

I love to do touristy things, and I absolutely love the ocean. The only thing that would have made my trip even better was if my husband could have experienced it with me!

I also got to spend some time with my life long time friend Dani Wani, who lives in Koneohe.

Glamourous Girls

2011-05-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

Our first Vendor Fair was kinda cool. We made fans out of the Booster Club at Colony High School!

Happiness is....

2011-05-12T00:03:00.000-07:00

Happiness is being Konner, Kaylin, and Kylie's mommy!

Moments like this make me forget all the about those moments when I want to rip my hair out!!

My beautiful ballerinas

2011-05-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

I love that my girls dance. I love that my girls love to dance!!!

Like Father Like Son..

2011-05-11T23:53:00.000-07:00

Konner has inherited his dad's talent for soccer. It's so heart warming to watch.

Vasaline be gone!!!

2011-05-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

From the time Kaylin could reach things she was getting into stuff. Anything! Especially my lotions, perfumes, and make-up. It's been a losing battle (for me) with her for 3 years! But finally, FINALLY, she's growing out of it. Thank goodness!! She's got her own lip glosses, her own (kids) make-up, and her own lotion.

Enter Kylie!!! Kylie is 2 now, and she has taken over Kay's job of geting into EVEYTHING messy! She's after lip gloss, it doesn't matter whose, lotions, whatever she can get her little mits on. The funniest part about that is she typically gets Kay's stuff and not mine!!! Karma is wicked, isn't it???!!! But last week, she got a hold of my large jar of Vasaline. And she slathered it all over her body. From head to toe!! Did you know that Vasaline is near impossible to get out of hair???? It is. I washed it 4 times with shampoo. Nothing. I washed it twice with 2 different dish soaps, hardly a difference. So annoying! I was so frustrated. She looked like a dirty wet head. So if you happen to have a kid who happens to fill their head with Vasaline............I'm going to let you in on a little secret, because I searched the internet for a solution, and I found one!!

Baking Powder and Dawn dish soap. Seriously. Massage Baking Powder into their head and then wash it with Dawn dish soap.

Wa-la! Kylie's hair is back!!! Vasaline is all gone. Don't think I'll have any again any time soon. And maybe, just maybe, I'll actually learn my lesson this time and get a box with a lock!!!

Chater Bater

2011-03-16T10:32:00.000-07:00

This is my cutie patootie niecy, Macie Nicole Tucker. She is such a doll!

I'm so proud of you and the choices you are making, Chase. You've married the best girl for you (we totally love Kristina), and you're turning into quite the family man! I love you!

My little athlete

2011-03-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

I'm one of those mom's who is ALWAYS so proud and excited when it comes to my kids' accomplishments, and I really love to share. So if bragging mamas bug you, don't read this post! :)
Konner is 5 now, and he has played two fall seasons with AYSO. This past fall we had a pretty awesome team. And two boys carried our team, Konner and his buddy Austin. So this spring, Konner and Austin get to play in Spring Select! It's so exciting because Spring is competitive and only the best from each team get invited to play! Having a love of soccer myself, I am so thrilled that my son is not only talented in the sport, but he loves it too!!

Good job, buddy, in making the spring season!!

Disneyland

2011-03-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

The kids and I were so lucky to get annual Disney passes for Christmas this year. We love it.

Thank you so much for the wonderful gift! You know who you are. Best gift!

Kindergarten? Really??

2011-03-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten sure is different now from what it was when I went! When I went to Kindergarten we played, took a nap, sat in a circle on the floor and learned the alphabet and numbers, we did projects, crafts.............. Now? It's like second grade!!! Konner has 2 recesses and a lunch. He reads and writes sentences. He's adding and subtracting. He's doing word searches and word unscrambles. He learns history. And he even has projects. He is way smarter than I was at his age!!

This week Konner's class is working on capturing the Leprechaun that is terrorizing his class. This wily little stinker has stolen their class flag and their class roller chair. And he has left taunting little notes! So each kid had to build a trap to catch him (Konner's trap pictured above). And do you know what the kid who catches the Leprechaun gets for catching him? They get to take him home and keep him. Thanks so much, Mrs. Whalen.

Four? Yes..... No............?

2011-03-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

To have number four or not to have number four?
That seems to be the big question........

New Year's Resolution

2011-01-20T01:17:00.000-08:00

Friendships come and go, but family is forever....

My New Year's resolution this year is to focus my time, emotion, and energy on my family.

I have always been that girl who has needed that closeness with a girl-friend. I've always needed friends. And I've always placed more importance on those friendships than maybe I should have. I don't get close to others easily and when I do, I get too close. In the past I've become a little too dependent on those friendships, and every single time it has caused me heart ache in the end.

I love and appreciate my friendships, past and present. But so many of them have come and gone, even those that I have been closest to and thought would be forever, those who I believed were as close to me and as attached to me as I was to them. It's got to be unhealthy to invest so much in a friendship that can so easily crumble? And it has got to be unhealthy to hurt so badly when it does crumble.

After a few months of great pondering, I realized something so very important......I need to stop crying and hurting over things that cannot be changed and focus on my family! I need to not let others lack of feelings for me weigh so heavily on me. I need to be happy with the love and devotion I have from the most important people. My family!!

I have 3 wonderful, beautiful children. I have the love of a man that I have loved most of my adult life. They are my focus. I have spent less time over the past couple of months focusing on friendships and more time hanging out with my kids and focusing on my relationship with my husband. And I have to say that life is so much better. I am happier. I am loving the time I spend with my husband, and I am having fun with him again. With 3 kids, financial stresses, and different jobs, it's so easy to grow apart. We laugh together again, and chat again, and cuddle again. I didn't realize how much I missed my husband! He's my best friend and always will be. I'm thankful to remember that.

I may not have a desire to get too close to anyone else anymore, but I am making new friendships, and enjoying those friendships. And I am in love with my husband all over again!

So my New Year's resolution is to focus on my family. I can't and won't go wrong there!

Soooooooooooo grateful for little friends!

2011-01-20T00:59:00.001-08:00

It's so wonderful to see my kids making friends!

Kylie's BFF is Riley. They are so adorable together, and get so excited to see each other. It helps that Riley's mom Kelly is a good friend of mine!

Kaylin loves her friend Keira. And I love seeing Kaylin have a friend of her own to play with and connect with. And lucky for me, I am getting to know Keira's mom too!

Konner and Austin became friends during our soccer season. Austin has become one of Konner's best pals. Austin's mom, Jane, and I bonded over soccer winning! :)

Not only has it been good for my kids to make good friendships, it's been good for me too!

My baby isn't a baby anymore?

2011-01-20T00:41:00.001-08:00

Kylie turned 2!

I cannot believe my baby is no longer a baby. She's a big girl now, who loves Barbis, baby dolls, singing, dancing, and just playing! Happy birthday, baby girl!

It's her birthday, she can cry if she wants to! Daddy didn't understand that when you put a princess skirt on you HAVE to take the regular skirt off!!!!

Not one bite of that cake went into her mouth.....

Goodbye 2010

2011-01-01T23:41:00.000-08:00

2010.......
Konner turned 5 and started Kindergarten.
Kaylin performed in her 1st dance recital and turned 4.
Kylie grew into quite the personality!
Daddy was rehired at Dana Hills High School and started the Masters Program.
And mommy coached Konner's soccer team.

Happy New Year! Hopefully I will get out an actual New year card and letter!

The Princess turns 4

2010-12-09T22:57:00.000-08:00

Kaylin turned 4 Tuesday. It's hard to believe my little girl is getting so big and so beautiful! She is so ready to start school and just can't wait to grow up.

We had a princess party with her friends from dance. She loved it. Any excuse to be a princess!

December 7th started bright and early for this girl! She started her day with chocolate chip pancakes, her absolute fave rave! Then on to drop Konner off at school, and then to the mall for lunch and playground play. After picking Konner up from school, we went home and opened a couple of presents. She was pleased with her Polly Pockets.

Love this girl!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

We had a great Halloween this year! We had a mom's group party, Konner's school party, ward party, pumpkin patch, and trick or treating. My kids love this holiday!

Konner was going to be superman, but the costume was sooooooo huge that I had to return it. So he got to be Darth Vador. He was thrilled.

Kay Kay was a spiderwitch, complete with spider clips on her hat, spiders on her gloves, spider hanging around her neck and spider web tights! She loved it!

Lee Lees was a fairy princess. She is a perfect princess too!! She has the princess attitude and is even on the prissy side with her "eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwe. Nassy." saying that she frequently says.

Fantastic Pumpkin Patch!

Whose really in charge

2010-10-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

My darling little Kylie is very attached to mommy. She wants mommy to hold her whenever she wants mommy to hold her. No one else will do. It must be mommy. It doesn't matter what mommy is doing. Mommy must drop whatever it is and just devote time to holding Kylie, and nothing else, whenever Kylie wants it. And if mommy does not do as Kylie demands than we get treated to this musical little tirade. And in the throes of her tantrums, nothing and I mean NOTHING will bring her out of it short of mommy picking her pick.

We love daddy time

2010-10-13T00:55:00.000-07:00

Life and all it's rewards

2010-10-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

I love these people. And it is times like this that makes me appreciate living in So Cal. Where else can daddy and the little ones play in the sprinklers at 7:00 in the evening? Well other than Nevada and Arizona, of course!!

Life has been crazy hectic. Mike is back at school. And when I say back at school, I mean back at work and back at taking classes. He started the Masters program in August and will have completed his Masters in a year. Will totally benefit us in about a year, but totally stresses us out right now!! He's been working so hard!

Konner turned 5 in July and started Kindergarten in August. He's doing fantastic! I know this is bragging, but he is in the highest group in his class. Yay. He loves having new friends, and really likes his teacher. I just love his teacher. She is perfect for him, and we really feel she goes above and beyond. She reminds me so much of my beloved 2nd grade teacher. Konner also started soccer in August. He is definitely his father's son! Soccer is his sport for sure.

Kaylin will be 4 in December. She has a list a mile long of what she wants for her birthday and is soooooooooooo eager to go to school "like Konner does". She's been in a dance class for a year now and loves it. She just experienced her first dance recital in August. I am not ashamed to say that I bribed her with a new baby doll to stay on stage! Turns out the bribe was unnecessary, she has been bitten by the bug!! She has developed her own style and doesn't want me picking out her clothes anymore. Her latest loves are leggings and the frilled tutu like skirts. And at 3 she is even more in love with mommy's make up than she was a year ago!!

Kylie will be 2 in January. Hard to believe this littlest of our lot is so big now. She has quite the personalitly. She is very attached to mommy and doesn't allow me to go anywhere without her, including the bathroom. We fairly recently learned that she is allergic to milk and wheat - cause of some of the problems she has had. Since working on controlling her food issues her health has seemed to improve. Yay. She's a silly little girl who loves to sing and dance. And I am sooooooooo not kidding, she really sings and dances. She now is in her own dance class. She gets excited each week to get dressed in her dance clothes and go to dance and says to me "I dance mommy?" She loves the Wiggles and just "wants to pay (play)".

Even with all the ups and downs life offers, life really is rewarding. I have the best kids, who love to push my buttons, but are still the best none the less!! And I have a man that I totally love. Everyone should be so lucky!

Dancing is for babies too!

2010-10-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Kylie is now taking dance as well as Kaylin. Her class is right before Kay's class, and at the end of Kay's class they freeze dance. Kylie gets to participate in her big sister's freeze dance. She looooooves it!! And she loves dancing with her big sister and her friends.

What we've been up to.....

2010-09-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

Summer really sped right by us this year. We played hard and had a good time!! My niece Chelsea spent 3 weeks with us, and we really loved having her! We still miss her. We also got a lot of twin time too. Now summer break is over and we are finding our groove.

We spent a lot of time at the zoos...

Enjoyed some swim time....

Played at home...

Had a dance recital with good friends...

Now with summer break over and school started, mom is learning how to entertain a couple of little girls without the big brother, get the big brother out of the house in the morning and to school on time (not an easy feat), and get homework and reading done.

Along with school, soccer has started. Woo hoo. And did I mention that I am coaching Konner's team? It's crazy I know, but I am actually enjoying it!!

Could this girl be any cuter??

And this one? Well she's a big girl now!! And she too is in her own dance class. She loves it!

Baby girl Macie

2010-08-20T19:17:00.000-07:00

On July 24th, 2010 my baby brother's baby girl Macie Nicole Tucker was born. She weighed 9lbs and 6 oz. Wowzers, right???? She now holds the title of largest baby in our family!

Macie makes Chase's first child, my 9th niece/nephew (on my side), and my mom's 12th grandchild.

Macie's first bath. She did NOT like it. At all.

She does really like being held though....

The happy little family...

My baby brother is all grown up!!! And bigger than me too.

One, two, three, four, FIVE!!

2010-07-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

Friends + cake + plus turning 5 = Equals the happiest day of Konner's life so far!!

Konner has been looking forward to this day all year long, especially since all of his friends from school had already turned 5.  He was not disappointed.

Happy birthday, buddy! We love you.

Pretty Ballerina

2010-06-27T01:52:00.000-07:00

I love this girl!

Friends!

2010-06-27T01:41:00.001-07:00

This is Patrick. He's Konner's best bud. We love Parick!

Rigby Week

2010-06-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

Every summer the whole Rigby clan gets together for a week at the beach in So Cal. It's a week of sun, sand, surf, games, and a whole lotta driving for me!

Uncle Doug and Daddy just love to dig holes and forts and tunnels and rivers and apparently thrones too! Uncle Doug sitting in his throne......

Konner was cold..... after about 5 minutes on the beach!

Kaylin loves to play in the water. Especially with daddy!!

Daddy happily digging the fortress that the kids love so much!!!

Daddy happily playing in the water!! See his head popping out from the wave?

Konner doing what Konner does at the beach. Running from the water!!!

Kylie isn't sure what she thinks of the water......

She's nervous!

She is such a doll!!!

Playing in the fortress with Uncle Doug....

Konner really loved playing with the boys. He was in heaven!

Cousins Ollie and Brock

I think London must be a good big sister because she was so sweet to Kylie.

Kaylin and Hazel hanging out with grandma....

James was just hanging around....

And so was Kay Kays.

Kylie trying to escape from Aunt Becky!

Lyndee and Konner playing with Uncle Rick's phone. Must be some fantastic phone.

Pretty exciting week. My kids already want to know when it'll be back.

Father's Day!

2010-06-26T23:24:00.001-07:00

This year has been an exciting parent's Day for both Mike and I! We have 3 great kids who just love to make us gifts and do sweet things for us.

This year Konner made his dad a picture and Kaylin made her dad a butterfly. They picked out their cards for daddy, Kaylin picked out a cute from princess to daddy card, and Konner picked out a grad card that had "In the Jungle" playing every time you open the card. No matter how many times I tried to explain to him that the card was for a graduate, he was absolutely determined that that was the card! It was sweet. Daddy loved it! And we love daddy!!!

Is it really so?????

2010-06-07T23:21:00.000-07:00

Kylie will be 17 months on Wednesday. And Mike and I have worried just a little that she hasn't walked or even tried. Finally she is trying to walk! We are so happy!!!!

Summer is here!

2010-06-07T00:16:00.000-07:00

My kids LOOOOOVE to play in the water.

They take turns jumping in....

And they love to splash!

Kylie does not yet enjoy the pool, but she does love to play.

Konner has 2 more weeks of preschool. He starts Kindergarten in August and soccer in September. He's such a big boy now!

Kaylin is getting so big! She is 3 1/2 today. She's been taking a ballet/tap class for almost a year and has a dance recital in a few weeks.

Kylie will be 17 months in 2 days. She is finally trying to walk. She walks from the coffee table to the sofa and back. We clap and praise her every time!!

We've been super busy. We joined a mom's group and have made a few friends, and we frequent the LA Zoo and the Children's Museum. The kids love being busy and ask me daily "Where are we going today, mom?" While that question gets old, I do love making them happy!!!

Mother's Day

2010-05-12T00:03:00.000-07:00

Such a wonderful day. My sweet husband and children made it so special! They let me sleep in while they made me ecards online and decorated my spa gift cards that my hubby gave me. I get to go to Glen Ivy and enjoy a relaxing, stress free day. Heaven!

We went to church, and I got to experience my children singing to me with the rest of primary for the first time! Konner stood and sang with a serious look on his face. Kaylin searched out daddy and then mommy and waved to each of us. And when they were done singing and all the children filed back down to their parents, my little Kaylin stayed right there and asked in a very loud stage whisper "Is it my turn now, mommy???" She wanted to say prayer at the pulpit in front of all of sacrament.

Then off to home, where I made dinner and cleaned the kitchen. Kylie was soooooooooooo very helpful!!

Then Konner gave me his present that he made me at school. It's a picture of himself in a frame that he made himself! Love it!

Then Konner and Kaylin gave me the pot holders that they made in Primary. So cute!

I love this being a mom thing!!! It is so rewarding to receive these precious little gifts from my children. I will cherish them always.

This is happiness...

2010-05-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

Bath + Toys = Good time had by all!

Salt Creek

2010-04-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

Mike teaches so close to the ocean that we were able to meet him after work and spend some fun family time together. The kids had such a blast digging a huge hole in the sand with daddy.

I got to sit and enjoy the views - both watching my loves all play together and the ocean. I think sunset is the most beautiful time of day.

And it was wonderful to spend some time with my husband!

Wonderful day. I need another!

Easter 2010

2010-04-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

Easter was super dee dooper fun this year! Kylie and I got home Saturday, late afternoon. Just in time for me to do a few last minute Easter things. I didn't get to do all that I wanted to do for Easter, since I spent almost a week in the hospital with miss Kylie, but that's ok. The kids were thrilled with what the "Easter Bunny" brought them, and we're working on the true meaning of Easter. Not entirely there yet, but Konner knows the prophet is Thomas S Monson!!!

We got up and checked out the baskets and loot. Konner was thrilled with his skates and Batmobile. Kaylin immediately paid all of her attention to her new puppy and carry case. And Kylie just sat on her dad's lap with her egg of candy in one hand and devoured her granola bars with the other hand.

Watched some Conference and then had dinner. After dinner the kids went on an Easter egg hunt and found plastic eggs with money in them. They love money!! Then they tried out their new skates and then colored Easter eggs.

It was a great day. I had a blast with friends and family. Played some Sequence. And got to chat my brother's girl up about their little girl who will be arriving in July. Fun times!

Poor Baby

2010-04-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

So Kylie found her way back to the hospital again. This time it was cellulitis, which started with pink eye and turned into strep. This kid is forever sick!! But she is loads better now, and we are finally home again.

She is getting her breathing treatment, and actually didn't mind this one....

But she did mind when the other nurse came in and put a flush through her IV!!!

Oh my gosh, she finally fell asleep! She slept on me the whole time were were there. And finally Thursday night I got her to sleep in the crib. Though she still slept on me during they day....

After a few days we got bored. So we started watching TV.

This kid would NOT eat!! Seriously, this is what food time was like every day there. She either handed the food back to me or she threw it at me.

Finally go home day has arrived! I don't love Queens. But I do love Queens Pediatric ward. Arlene and Angelita were two of Kylie's nurses this time. Angelita was also one of Kylie's nurses last year. Great nurses!!

Thank you mom and Becky for helping me with Konner and Kaylin. And thank you Dave and Annie for being willing to help with Konner and Kylie. I really appreciate you guys, and I don't know what I would have done without you! And I very special thanks to Kylie's Dr, who helped me out with Konner (who was up at my mom's) with a prescription (because Konner is now sick) when Konner's Dr wouldn't help. The best pediatrician for sure!!

Really? AGAIN??!!!

2010-03-29T23:56:00.000-07:00

This poor little girl has had a bit of a rough time. And right now is some rough time for her. She has serious constipation - she cannot poop without help. She is sick again. Today and tonight has been a yucky battle with a yucky fever that is determined to stay with her. And she has pink eye. All at the same time! Woo hoo!!

This is a picture of her in the throes of trying to poop. She laid on the floor and kicked her feet and cried until it came out. Sad, but a little amusing to watch.....

Is it Easter yet?

2010-03-29T22:52:00.001-07:00

Since General Conference falls on Easter this year I dressed my little dolls up this past Sunday. I think I'll dress them up again the Sunday following Easter as well!

My two favorite boys. And they are both so handsome!!!

I swear this man gets cuter as the years go by! And he makes mighty cute kids too.

I just love having two girls to play dress up with! And lucky for me, Kay loves playing dress up!

Kylie love - she's such a sweetheart. I just adore her. She doesn't like grass. She doesn't like it to touch her. At all. When we first put her down to take her picture she tried crawling to us to get off the grass, but then gave up when she realized that the more she tried to get away from it the more it touched her.

Kay Kays - Our very own princess. She is turning into such a big girl. This year she got to pick out her Easter dress. That was so exciting for her. We love this girl!

And then there is our buddy - When he is in the mood to be helpful he is an excellent big brother! Quite inquisitive as well. He NEVER stops talking and asking questions! And we really do love that about him.

Newfound love

2010-03-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

Kylie had such a blast in the swing. She didn't want to get out.

We Love Cousins!!!

2010-03-15T20:41:00.001-07:00

My kids love their cousins. They look forward to going for visits. They get so excited to play with them. I love to watch them together.

Here are all of them with the exception of Kylie. She stayed home with daddy.

Jc, Austin, Anthony, Jr, Chelsea, Alexya, Della, Kaylin, Logan, and Konner

For almost 4 years there were only 6 of them. They are now the "big cousins".

Then Konner came along. And then almost a year and a half later 3 more cousins came!! We call them the "little cousins", with Konner being the oldest of the little cousins, and Kylie being the youngest.

These kids are so dang cute!!!

Kylie

2010-03-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

So much personality in such a little package!

Kaylin got this cute baby bed for her dolls for Christmas, and little miss Kylie is determined that this bed is for her. When Kay brings it out to play with, Kylie immediately climbs on! When Kay gets upset and tries to get her baby bed back, Kylie gets upset back at her and yells and hangs on. When mommy takes pity on Kaylin and removes Kylie from the baby bed, Kylie screams and cries at mommy. When mommy moves the baby bed out of Kylie's reach, Kylie races for the baby bed while still screaming and crying. In Kylie world EVERYTHING belongs to Kylie!

Kylie is a very impatient, no nonesense eater. She does NOT tolerate waiting around for dinner to finish being made. She does not tolerate anything she doesn't like (that food tends to fly around the kitchen!). But when she loves it, you know!!!

Our family would not be complete without this little doll!

Future Derby skater?

2010-03-01T21:20:00.000-08:00

This is Konner's first experience with skating. He really liked it, even though he fell A LOT. I think I might get him his own skates!

Dancing Girl

2010-03-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Kaylin just loves dance class. She has such a good time. I'm so proud of her for trying so hard to do what her teacher tells her to do!! She even practices at home and teaches her brother tondu, sutzu, chasse, and shuffle step.

Four of the kids in Kay's dance class. Daniel, Clara, Kaylin, and Andrea.

My Favorite Person

2010-03-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

M - mathematician

I - incredible

C - clever

H - hot!!!

A - amusing

E - eternal

L - love of my life

The best uncle there ever was!

2010-03-01T19:54:00.000-08:00

This is my great uncle Leo. He is my grandma's brother. And he's seriously German!! I love this man. He has always been like a grandpa to me. And lucky me, he loves me too! My official title is "favorite niece Kathy". And nope, I'm not kidding. Almost a year ago he was given 6 months to live, and look at him! He just turned 95 and he is still going strong.

Uncle Leo and I used to hang out (back when they lived in Whittier) and watch old movies late into the night. He introduced me to the good old oldies "Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers". He used to pick me up when I was a teenager so that I could spend the weekend with them. He used to teach me phrases in German and discuss the Holocaust with me (and remind me that he wasn't actually in Germany during that time whenever I would get upset!) He used to give me quarters before I would go to a school formal and tell me to call him if I needed him to come pick me up because some boy wasn't behaving. And he has always watched out for me. I love him dearly.

His 95th birthday cake. Chocolate. Yummy.

Aunt Peggy and Uncle Leo

Happy Baby

2010-03-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

Kylie saw the camera and immediately scrunched up her little face and grinned.

She loves her "ditty" (stuffed kitty). She gives it hugs and gets mad at her sister whenever she picks it up. It's cute.

Post Partum is real - no matter what Tom Cruise says!

2010-01-28T21:51:00.000-08:00

2009 was a rough year for me and my family. You've seen those depression commercials that say depression affects the whole family, right? Well it is so true. It especially affects the spouse.

January 8th, 2009 I had just reached 37 weeks in my pregnancy when I was in a car accident. I was stopped at a light and was hit from behind when a truck didn't stop. Immediately contractions started, and an hour later in the hospital my water broke. I had Kylie several hours later. After a few days in the hospital, Kylie and I went home to pack up and move! 3 weeks after Kylie was born she was hospitalized with pneumonia. While in the hospital, she came down with colic. And that lasted for 5 months!!!

When Kylie was released from the hospital she was still wheezing. The Dr told me that her lungs were scarred and she would grow out of the wheezing by the time she reached 6 months. At 6 months she was still struggling with wheezing and was diagnosed with asthma. And a couple of months ago was sent home with a nebulizer for breathing treatments. She's had a rough life so far, but has been such a sweetheart and good baby.

When Kylie reached 4 weeks old, I thought I was pretty dang lucky for escaping Post Partum. My friend Stephanie pointed out to me that I may have just been so busy and preoccupied with taking care of Kylie and her needs that it just hadn't hit me yet. When Kylie was about 5 1/2 weeks old I started crying. I was stressed. I couldn't function with 3 kids!! Konner and Kaylin were so busy and so active, and Kylie was so cranky with colic and she kept wheezing. I was so tired. I would lay down on the sofa and Konner and Kaylin would get into EVERYTHING. They ruined most of my make up and ground it into the carpet. They covered themselves in my lotions and soaps. Kaylin colored on multiple walls. And they weren't listening to me at all.

By mid February I was crying regularly and yelling at my kids daily. By the end of February I was crying and yelling at Mike. Anything that upset me caused me to be angry with Mike. If my kids were difficult and out of control I was angry with Mike. If someone hurt me, I was angry with Mike. The more time that went by the more I cried, the more I yelled, and the angrier I got with Mike. By March, just looking at Mike made me angry. I was miserable and I hated my life. I wanted to escape somehow. I dreaded each day.

By May, I went to see my Dr and told him that I thought I might be experiencing some post partum. He put me on Prozac and Xanax, and when I told him how angry I was with my husband he put a rush on an authorization to get me in to see a psychiatrist. I had never seen a psychiatrist before so it was a new experience for me. He asked me why I was there. I told him "Because I think something is wrong with me. I have always loved my husband, but I can't look at him anymore without feeling hate and anger." The psychiatrist changed my meds to Zoloft and Activan. I used to fear the thought of losing him, but all of a sudden I no longer cared if we were together or not. I started sleeping on the sofa and suggesting that he leave me. And through it all I cried and cried. I started resenting my children and just wanted to die. The only thing that kept me from hurting myself was my children. I was so mixed up.

By August I was having multiple dizzy spells a day and taking 3 or 4 Activan a day, but crying even more and feeling like I was going to jump out of my skin. So the Dr changed my meds to Lexapro. Now that stuff made me crazy. I was screaming at my kids and screaming at my husband. I wanted a divorce. The more I screamed at these people that deep down I knew I loved, the worse I felt. Every day was a chore to get through. In July we had moved in with a couple that I have known all my life and she has always been like an aunt to me. Mike had lost another job due to budget cuts and we couldn't support ourselves. Our bills weren't being paid. Mike was stressed over money. And I was...............crazy. I couldn't hurt myself because of my kids but I wanted to just not be alive anymore. I started taking diet pills again. And I was screaming mean hurtful things at my poor husband, who no matter what didn't deserve such hate and anger. I just couldn't shake the feelings of being sad and hating my life. I felt like I was drowning and there didn't seem to be anything I could do. I didn't have any energy. I wasn't motivated. I couldn't bring myself to do anything productive. All I wanted to do was cry. It caused tension in the house with the couple we live with. The more I sensed they were unhappy with us and me, the more depressed I got, and the more I cried. I felt all the more alone, because I was distant and angry with my husband, my friendships seemed to no longer exist so much, and there was so much tension with the one woman who has always been there for me and has meant almost as much to me as my grandma did. I started hoping I would have some kind of break down and put in a hospital (for those of you who know me well know how much I hate hospitals!). All I wanted to do was be left alone to sleep and cry.

By Novemeber the Dr changed my meds back to Prozac and Xanax. By December I was starting to have desires again, and I started to care more. I started to want to be more positive. I wasn't crying as much and I seemed to have a handle on my anxiety a little bit better. By January 2010 I am not yelling at my kids so much, we use a sticker chart system now. We are back on a schedule. I'm not yelling at my husaband, and I am so grateful he didn't leave me. I love him so much. I enjoy being with him again, I enjoy cuddling with him again. I can't imagine my life without him, and I don't want to ever experience it. He's a good man and wonderful father. And I am so thankful that he stuck by me through this past year. It makes me love him so much more. And it makes me so grateful to my heavenly Father who watched out for me in that dark time and somehow kept my husband with me.

Post partum is real, and it can be scary. This past year was so scary for me. I felt so out of control and so lost. And now that I am feeling better I can look back and see that time for what it was. I am trying to be a better mother, and wife, and friend. Hopefully I am. I just want to give some insight to those of you who have seen the change in me this past year. I hope you can now see that I am on my way back to being the real me.

Steph, I want to thank you for being the only friend who saw that I was drowning and needed someone. I want to thank you for loving me enough to not desert me when I needed someone. I love you. Where would I be without you?

Full House

2010-01-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

I usually enjoy hanging out with my sister. We have fun. She is the one person I can be my true silly self with! Man I miss her!

So while I enjoy my time with my sister, my baby did not enjoy any of her time at aunt Paula's. She cried every time I put her down, every time someone else held her, and she followed me around and stayed at my feet between my legs.

Kay and cousin Della. Great pals!

They have fun playing together!

My sister Paula's kids with mine: Anthony, Daniella, Jr (picking his nose!!), Kaylin, Alexya, Kylie, and Konner

Just being silly

It's so fun to have cousins to play with. I remember when I was a kid I loved it when cousins were around to play with. And my kids are no different. They love to play with their cousins.

Crazy snowy

2010-01-28T20:50:00.000-08:00

So Kaylin was visting aunt Paula for a week. Last week I went up to go get her. While there we got stranded due to weather! All three routes back home were either closed or crazy with ellements. After almost a week I found a break in the weather and loaded to kids up and made a run for it!

And we ran right into this.......

Driving up into the mountain was wild. It was dark and snowing.

But once we made it to the top it wasn't so bad anymore. It was still snowing, but it was white and pretty and the kids wanted to get out and play.

Konner and Kaylin loved it! They have been begging to go back and play in the snow again.

Kylie stayed in the car and watched her brother and sister play!

Happy birthday to my baby girl!

2010-01-10T00:35:00.000-08:00

One year ago from Thursday we had a very unexpected surprise! I was in a hospital 3 weeks before our baby was due to be born in labor, water broken (such a weird experience), and experiencing contractions (Yuck!). Several hours later my littlest cutie pie was born! She came out screaming, in a total mad, but she was perfect. And she has been such a good little girl ever since.

A very happy birthday, Lee Lees!

My beautiful family

2009-12-31T01:25:00.000-08:00

I am so blessed and so grateful to have my family. I love them so much.

Konner....
He's such a good boy. He loves to help and he loves being a big brother.

Kaylin...
She is such a cutie. I love listening to her sing. She may be off key ALL the time, but she sings with such heart!

Kylie...
She's such a happy girl. Even when she isn't feeling well she is always good for a laugh!

My family...
I love my husband and children.

I'm so blessed.

Seriously, 25 again!

2009-12-10T00:13:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year again. That one day every stinking year that I turn 25 yet again. After turning 25 enough times, you are no longer dying your hair out of want and more out of need to cover those wretched stray white strands!!!! But, if you're lucky you have a sweet husband and sweet children who take the greatest pleasure in giving you little gifts and roses!!!

Tuesday night we went to dinner at the Olive Garden with Dee, Chester, Jess, Katherine, Aron, and the twins, and Chuck. It was yummy!

3 short years!

2009-12-09T23:58:00.000-08:00

We had our first little girl. And she was so beautiful!

And a year went by - She turned 1.

And another year went by - She turned 2.

And now she's 3.......

Oh, how time flies.

Can she really be 3?

2009-12-09T23:39:00.001-08:00

My sweet little princess turned 3 on Monday. We had a princess tea party for her, with make overs and little girl socializing. She loved it!

Above is the teapot cake Steph made for her and the princess cupcakes I made.

Monday (her actual birthday) we went to Chuck E Cheese and then home to have cupcakes and open her presents from mommy and daddy.

Kaylin loves lip gloss and jewelry

Happy birthday, baby girl!!! We love you!

I am just too old for some things!

2009-11-29T23:27:00.000-08:00

We went to Magic Mountain last week. Becky, Katherine, Jess, and Me. We had a blast, but I just can't take the rides like I used to. Tatsu was too much for me. I kept my eyes closed through the whole ride. I won't ride that one again!

Thank you, Katherine, for the ticket. I always love hanging out with you. My sis and cous are fun too!!!

Bye bye soccer, atleast for a year.....

2009-11-29T23:19:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday was Konner's last soccer game this season. He already misses it!

Kylie and daddy cheering Konner on.

Now that soccer is over, I have to find something else for Konner to do!

40 is still hot!

2009-11-29T22:57:00.000-08:00

So Mike turned 40 today. I really wanted his birthday to be special, so I surprised him with dinner Saturday and invited his brothers (Dave and Doug) and family, and his friend Allen Fisher.

After dinner, we sang to him and ate cupcakes.

And after cupcakes, there was play. Mike and Ollie played some fish game on the computer, and Dave and Allen Chatted.

And the kids and Uncle Doug played.

Kylie played too!

And then today, Mike's actual birthday, we had dinner AGAIN. This time with my family.

Konner, Kaylin, and Kylie are helping him blow out his candles. Hannah is supporting Konner?

No!!!! Not Jane Austen!!

2009-11-06T21:18:00.000-08:00

I love Target. Everyone and anyone who knows me knows this. And I looooooove to read. Again everyone and anyone who knows me most definitely knows this. I love classics. I love classics so much, that I don't want them touched by another writer. And I love Jane Austin. My absolute all time fave rave classic is Pride and Prejudice. My second favorite of Jane Austen's is Sense and Sensibility. So imagine my horror when I walked down the book isle in Target and saw this....

Sense and Sensebility and Sea Monsters!

and

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!

Both novels were rewritten by someone named Seth Grahame-Smith. Why would someone do that? Why would someone take such a loved classic and turn it into such a monstrosity??!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trick or Treat

2009-11-06T01:08:00.001-08:00

My little bee...

The Princess Kitty Kat...

Spiderman...

Making the rounds...

Going through her stash!

Move it!

2009-11-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

To see the videos, click on the bottom left arrow and wait for it to load.

Fashionista? Or just plain nuts?

2009-10-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

Kaylin is a funny girl. She knows what she likes and what she doesn't like. And she likes her legwarmers!
We had two cold days this past week. I was in heaven. Kaylin and Konner, on the other hand, were not! They wanted to go outside and play. So I told them both to put on sweaters, pants, and shoes and socks. Konner argued with me. So I told him to put it all on or stay in the house. He opted to stay inside. Kay, though, went up the stairs to her room while Konner was arguing. A few minutes later, she came down the stairs in this......

She seems to think that legwarmers can take the place of pants and a pj top works as a sweater!!

Today we were getting ready to leave to meet a friend of mine for lunch. I laid Kaylin's clothes out on her bed and told her to get dressed. I then went downstairs to get the bag ready to go. And this fashionista child of mine comes down the stairs in this get up saying in her little mouse voice "I ready to go, mom!"

Oh goodness. She's starting to scare me now.

Win or lose.....?

2009-10-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

Konner's team lost 2 - 3 this last Saturday. Or did they? Is it really a loss when they made 2 of the other team's 3 goals? I'm not kidding. The other team made 1 of their goals. Their first goal was made by our own Tonia, who kicked the ball straight into the other team's goal. And their second goal was made by our own Bryant when the other team threw the ball in and it hit Bryant in the head and bounced into the goal. So the final score ended up being 2 - 3 in their favor.

This video clip is of Konner kicking the ball in to his team.

Konner's school picnic

2009-10-07T02:20:00.000-07:00

Konner's class had a picnic at the park on Monday. It was fun to watch Konner playing with kids from his class.

Kylie wanted to eat Aunt Becky's necklace. Real bad.

Kaylin was so thrilled that she made it across the turning balance circles.

Patrick, Konner, and Ryan

Lagan saying cheese

She was so ready to be picked up.

Ballerina Girl

2009-10-07T01:12:00.000-07:00

Kaylin was feeling a bit left out that Konner gets to play soccer and go to school and she doesn't. So Mike and I decided to put her in a dance class. And she is LOVING it!

It's a half hour class. The first 15 minutes is ballet. Colleen is an awesome teacher for little girls. She has great patience with them, and she continues to teach and do even when sometimes the girls would rather be butterflies!

The last 15 minutes is tap. The girls love the sound of their shoes clomping around on the floor.

Below are videos of Kaylin dancing. She's such a cutie in her little outfit and legwarmers!

A Little Dancer

2009-09-30T23:24:00.000-07:00

Kaylin loves to sing and dance, so we signed her up for a dance class. It's a ballet/tap class at a studio I danced at for a little while years ago. Plus the owner's daughters are friends of mine.

This past Tuesday night would have been Kay's second class, but her crazy mom thought she could make it to San Dimas from Fullerton on an empty tank. Fact: Can't be done. We ran out of gas on the freeway right before the exit to get to dance. So Poor Kays missed her second class. Oh well, there's always next week.

Something to be thankful for

2009-09-27T22:49:00.001-07:00

I love the beach. Just love it. I am so thankful that I get to live in a state where I can experience this kind of unique beauty.

And I am so thankful to have these beautiful kids. They are such a blessing.

We won!!!

2009-09-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

We won! Yay yay yay!!! The score was 4 - 3. If you look closely or click on this picture to make it larger, you will see the back of Konner (#4) in the goal. He made one of the goals! He was so proud.

LA County Fair * We love this fair!

2009-09-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

We went to the fair with the Bradleys and the Brennans. It was so hot, but the kids had such a great time and that is what is important!

Riding on the train ride. Always an important ride.

My kids love to feed the goats in any petting zoo. It's so dirty, but I do remember how much I loved the animals as a kid.

Riding the rides. Konner, Kaylin, McKayla, and Emily

Kaylin and Kayla - Great buds! And the same size too!!

Thanks for the fun, guys. We miss you already!

The Krazy 8s

2009-09-18T23:03:00.001-07:00

Konner's soccer team is The Krazy 8s. These kids are fun!

There are 8 kids on the team. 4 girls and 4 boys.

The girls....

The boys....

I love being the mini van driving soccer mom. I never thought that would ever be me, but I sure am loving it now! I am even the assistant coach on Konner's team. I'm so sad that Konner won't be able to play with these kids next year.

First Day of School!

2009-09-18T22:42:00.001-07:00

Konner started pre school this past Monday, September 14th. He was so excited to go. But before we could leave he had to have the shoe meltdown.

Konner lives in flip flops. I let him because he has some strange need to have his shoes tight. And when I say tight, I mean they are never tight enough. And so every time I try to get shoes on him he has this HUGE crying meltdown. And since the school doesn't allow flip flops, we have this meltdown EVERY SINGLE morning.

But once we got to school, he remembered how excited he was and calmly asked me "Will you tighten my shoes one more time, mommy?"

And then off he went!

This is Mrs Jones. She is one of Konner's teacher. There are two.

He had a great time. He is loving school. He goes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, and he gets to stay for lunch on Wednesdays. My baby will be going to Kindergarden next year!! Oh my...

Here sishy sishy sishy....

2009-09-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

"I want to hold the sishie!!"

Ok, seriously, my daughter is a fish murdering frog napper! Should I be worried? Yesterday Konner came and got me upstairs telling me that Kaylin got his "srogs". I asked him what frogs. And he said "My srogs, mom! Kaylin got them! Come here, I'll show you." I followed him, and sure enough one of my little aquarium frogs was on the floor in the corner behind a cabinet. Konner then said "And she has the ozzer one in her room! I'll go get it." And off he ran. He came back seconds later with my second frog! I took both frogs and put them back in the water. I then turned to my little doll, who was standing there watching Konner and I with her right hand fisted, not saying a word. Konner then says "And she has my sish too, mom!" What???!!!!!!

I asked her what she did with the fish. She said "In the sishie tank. So I looked and found one of my orange mollies floating dead, and only 2 live fish huddled in a corner looking traumatized. I asked her where my fish were and she says (totally irritated) "In the sishie tank!!". I looked at her hand and asked what was in her hand, and she just looked at me. I pried her hand open and found my black molly DEAD in her hand! I asked again "Where are my fish Kaylin???" "In the sishie tank!!! I then looked at her and noticed the scratches on her chest and tummy and I asked her where they came from. She grinned and said "The sishie tank." That's when I noticed that her face and hair were wet! What did she do???? Go bobbing for fish??? She got her bottom swatted and sent to her room. I searched for the other fish and found them hiding in the decorations. But two were dead. My 2 year old seriously killed 2 of my fish. Again, should I be worried? She fell asleep in her room and after she woke up I decided to have a talk with her. It went something like this.......

Me - Kaylin, you CANNOT take the fish and the frogs out of the water. They'll die.
Kaylin - I want to hold them.
Me - I know, but they have to stay in the water or they will die.
Kaylin - I want to hold them.
Me - Kaylin, fish have to live in the water. People breathe air, but fish breathe water. If you take fish out of the water they will die because they can't breathe.
Kaylin - I want to play with them and hold them and pet them and kiss them.
Ewe
Me - You can play with the dog and cat. You can pet the dog and cat, but you can't play with the fish.
Kaylin - I want to hold them!!
Me - KAYLIN!!! YOU CANNOT TAKE THE FISH OUT OF THE WATER! THEY WILL DIE! TWO FISH ALREADY DIED BECAUSE YOU TOOK THEM OUT OF THE WATER, DO NOT TAKE ANYMORE FISH OUT OF THE WATER! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Kaylin - I WANT TO HOLD THEM!!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Me - Do not take the fish out of water, Kaylin Elizabeth or I will take them away!

I went into the kitchen, and after a few minutes Konner was back telling me that Kaylin was after the fish again. I go and check and sure enough, she is on the table at the tank again.

Me - Kaylin!!!! I said do not take the fish out of the water!
Kaylin - I want to hold them!

Today....
We were gone most of the day and when we came home she went straight for the fish tank.

Me - Kaylin, do you not understand me? I said you cannot hold the fish or play with them.
Kaylin - I want to hold them!
Me - Ok, if you touch the tank at all, even just touch it with your finger, you will get a bottom
swap and you will go to bed for the rest of the night.
Kaylin - I just want to hold them, mommy

Is she kidding me?! And again, should I be worried???

Growing Up

2009-09-11T22:44:00.000-07:00

Look at this face.....

Don't you just love that face? I do!!

I can't believe my baby is growing up. It seems like only yesterday a nurse handed him to me in the hospital.

He was such a sweet baby. The best baby really. He was so calm and so easy and so cuddly.

He is growing up so fast! He's such a big boy.

His first day of pre-school is Monday. We went to orientation today and met his teachers, got a tour, and learned the schedule. He is so excited. After orientation we went to Target, and Konner got to pick out a new back pack, lunch box/bag, a folder, and new "school shoes" (tennis shoes). The new shoes are because my son lives in flip flops and no flips flops allowed at school! I can't believe my baby is growing up!

I just love that face!

My big girl!!!

2009-09-01T23:46:00.000-07:00

Mike and I do not have the same idea of when it is a good time to get our daughter's ears pierced. He feels that when she turns 8 is a good time. I feel when she asks is a good time. Well that time (my time) has come! Last week Kaylin asked me if she can wear earrings like mommy does. So I asked her if she wanted to get her ears pierced, and she said yes. I explained to her that it will only hurt when her ears are being pierced, but then the pain goes away. And I gave her ear lobe a little pinch. I also told her that it will hurt more when she is older than it will now. And I promised her a prize if she made it through getting them pierced. And she still said she wanted them done.

So I took her to the mall today and got them done! I made sure that I went when 2 girls would be there to do both ears at the same time. The girls were great with Kay. They told her what they were going to do before they did it. And they talked to her about her. After they were done, Kay smiled and giggled and looked at her new earrings. No meltdown, no crying, no whining, no complaining, nothing. She never once mentioned that it hurt. As soon as we got home she showed Papa her new earrings. As soon as daddy walked in the door she showed him her new earrings. She loves them!

Before

And after

A Typical Dinner in this Rigby Household!

2009-09-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

Just watch the videos.

Do I need to say more?

Knott's Berry Farm

2009-09-01T23:07:00.001-07:00

Saturday was my nephew's birthday. So we went to Knott's to celebrate. It was such a hot day, but we had fun anyway.

This truck ride right here was the only ride Konner liked and went on willingly. Kylie even enjoyed this ride!

Kaylin having one of her meltdowns. I borrowed MY water sprayer from her. Made her mad.

Kylie would not go to sleep! Dee gave her a wet cloth and Lee Lees latched and went to sleep!

Getting ready to watch the bike, skateboard, dancing show. Awesome show!! The kids loved it.

Kaylin got to meet the cast!

Has it reallybeen that long?!

2009-08-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe that it has been 7 months since I had this little doll. She is the sweetest baby. She smiles when I walk into a room. She cries when I leave a room. She says "mamamamamamamamamamama". She coos when I cuddle her. She smiles when I look at her. She smiles when she sees herself in the mirror. She snuggles. She's just so perfect! I love her so!

She really likes her cookies. She also likes to wear them....

Just chillin

Jumping in her jumper. She loves this thing!

On his way......

2009-08-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

Konner has longed to be on a soccer team like his dad. I have been searching for a year for some soccer class or club or something to get him into. Finally, I found something! Whittier's chapter of AYSO starts at age 4. Konner made the cut off by 4 days. He had been 4 for 2 weeks when we finally started practices.

Here's his team in their end of practice huddle. So cute!!

The next two are videos of Konner dribbling the ball in a drill and then of a little scrimage.

It's so funny to look at my life now. I'm something I never thought I would EVER be! A mini van driving soccer mom! And I have to say I love it!!

Oh Konner...

2009-08-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, can anyone tell me what possesses children to just say whatever pops into their heads? I remember years ago teaching my girls in Primary, and they would tell me the most randome things about their parents. I used to laugh at all the funny things they would say, especially since one of the girls in my class's mother was a good friend of mine. But it's not so funny when the shoe is one the other foot!

So this morning I was in the shower and Konner comes into the bathroom to tell me that someone is at the door. I told him that was fine and to ignore the person at the door. To which Konner says "But it's a guy. He's our neighbor. He needs to talk to you." I again told him to go back to playing in his room and I will be out in a minute. He left. I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around me. I could hear Konner clearly shouting "My mom's upstairs......(pause).....She's in the bathroom.....(pause).....She doesn't have any clothes on!" He was sitting on the stairs and little Kaylin was down at the door trying to figure out how to unlock the door!

Time for the Stranger Danger conversation!!

Birthday + kids + summer = water fun!!!!

2009-08-03T00:57:00.000-07:00

We all had a great time at Konner's birthday party. Even Kylie!

Happy birthday Konner love!

2009-08-03T00:27:00.001-07:00

July 27th, 2005 Mr Konner Anderson Rigby was born! And for the past 4 years he has been quite the addition to our family. We love this kid, with his teen aged wit and his mom's strong will. It is most definitely NEVER a dull moment with this kid.

Ask a 4 year old what he wants for his birthday dinner, and this is what the answer is!

After the birthday dinner, we had birthday cupcakes.

We had cousins Bel and Austin down with us this past week, so they got to join in the birthday fun. It's always so much fun with cousins!!!

After dinner Konner opened his presents from mom and dad. He got a dinosour race track, Cars movie, and these Cars rainboots that he does NOT need here in So Cal, but so badly wanted. He wears them around the house all the time.

But before dinner, we had birthday fun at the water park. They had a blast!

Happy birthday, baby! I love you!!!!

5 Magical Years

2009-08-03T00:09:00.000-07:00

July 31st, 2004
Los Angeles Temple

Five years..... And I love you more today than I did yesterday. And the day before that, and the day before that, and the day before that, and the day before that.....

Calgon? What happened?????

2009-07-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

We had a deal!!

So I called for Calgon to come and take me away. It seems to work in those old school commercials! But something went seriously awry. Calgon dropped me into a parallel universe!! I left my house of disobedience, screaming, tantrums, and meltdown and landed in another house of disobedience, screaming, tantrums, and meltdowns!!

So I needed a break. My kids are driving me crazy. I often ask myself "Am I speaking English here?" because I might as well not be for all the listening to me that my kids and husband do. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and husband. But oh to be appreciated!!!!!!!!! Is it too much to ask to get a "You're a great mom. We're so thankful for everything you do for us." and "Thank you for all that you do for our family, sweetie. I couldn't do half of what you do. Oh and have I mentioned how beautiful you are?"???? I don't think so. My husband's idea of a compliment has gone from "You're the hottest girl I've ever gone out with" back when we were dating to "Is that a new shirt?". And my children use "You're so pretty mom" when they're in trouble. But I digress....

So. Every single day is hitting, kicking, pushing, screaming, bawling, yelling, totally ignoring me as though no words come out of my mouth, making huge messes, getting into anything and everything, waking up at the crack of dawn (Sleep little monsters!!!) and just stressing me out. So I got away for the weekend. Oh I had plans for my weekend away. I was going to sleep in until I felt like getting up, relax, and hang out with my bestie!

Meet Kennedy........

Look how little she is. Such a little cutie. Don't you just want to cuddle her? THE LOUDEST NOISES I HAVE EVER HEARD COME FROM THAT LITTLE CUTIE!!! She screams like no scream you have every heard. She whines her demand over and over and over and over and over and over. And she stamps that tiny little foot in pure pissed off fashion while balling up her little fists.

Then there is Miss Mckayla. She's not afraid of angering the little beast. And does so. Frequently!

So in my ridiculous hopeful state I tried to turn sleeping in in the morning into a game with a prize, so that it would be quiet and I could sleep in of course. Kayla eagerly agreed and even wanted to know what her prize would be. I reminded her that she had to sleep in later than me to get her prize. She giggled and said "Ok!!!".

Ha!!! Saturday I was awakened by the longest screaming meltdown by one and "Where's Kathy? I want Kathy!" by the other. And it wasn't even 7 yet!!! And do you know what McKayla did when I got up? Immediately walked over to me and handed me her prize. She didn't care that she lost.

Even though I was treated to the pleasures of home a few hundred miles from home, I do love those girls. And I did get to have my girls day! Woo hoo!! Steph and I spent the day shopping, had lunch at the yummy Red Robin, more shopping, then we saw the Proposal (loved it), and we even made crafts. So while my break ended up not being a break so much, I sure did have fun!!

Thank you for the break away from home, Steph! And I really mean it. From the bottom of my heart! Love ya!

Beach Bums

2009-06-23T02:09:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. The Rigby clan are all down at the beach for the week. Our family joined the rest on Saturday and stayed in this cute little hotel. We had the most amazing view right out of our window. Loved it!

Konner and Kaylin enjoyed play with the cousins and play on the beach. Fearless Kaylin ran right into the water and I had to rescue her twice from the clutches of waves. Konner dug holes and boogie boarded on the sand close to the water. Kylie hung out with Aunt Amanda and mommy. And me? Never really had a second to myself! But my kids sure did have fun. Woo - hoo!

Girls' Night * Pedicures and Movie

2009-06-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

Since tonight is my last night with my nieces and nephew, we had a little girls' night. I gave the girls and myself a pedicure, and then we watched 27 Dresses. Anthony hung out with Mike while we enjoyed the pedicure portion of our girls night. And then he complained about our movie choice through the whole movie with us!

I'm going to miss you guys! I've loved having you here.
Bel, I'm going to miss our tickle nights. Really, I will. I promise.
Lexy, I am going to miss your sweetness with my girls.
Boo Boo, I am going to miss your funny sense of humor. You remind me so much of your mom and some of the silly things she and I used to do!
Love you guys! Kisses.

Corona Del Mar

2009-06-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

I love the ocean. Absolutely. I love the sight, sound, and smell. If I could live on the beach, I would. To me, this is nature's beauty at its best. How could I ever leave California?

The kids have been begging to go to the beach. Living in California you would think we go frequently. But with 3 kids, especially 1 being a baby, I just can't get out there. And then there's the fact that beach + kids = dirty, sandy car. And who likes a dirty car? But today, I sucked it up and took my kids and nieces and nephew and met the twin cousins and their mother, and off we went to the beach. And it was fun.

Water play and cousins

2009-06-14T20:07:00.001-07:00

We have this awesome park near us that has everything, including this little water park. It's so much fun!!

Even Kylie got to enjoy herself. And as bad as this looks, Kylie didn't get upset at all and went down the slide with her cousins a few times!

Kaylin was "swimming".

Even us big kids get to play! I haven't been on a water slide in years. When I was 10 I was flipped over and banged my head on the side of the CEMENT water slide. The result was 9 stitches and a scar over my eyebrow. I have been too afraid of these slides ever since, but I went down the green slide twice!