Ivy's 8th Birthday

Ivy turned 8 years old this past weekend. 8 years. {SIGH} I think it seems like just yesterday Julie was pregnant with her and I was planning my wedding. I know I say time goes by so fast too often, but it really does. Ivy is such a special little girl. I love her lots and I love watching who she is becoming. She is pretty carefree, and the kind of girl who looks on the positive sides of most things and people. She is caring, and has a cute quirky sense of humor. I see her evolving and can picture the young lady she is becoming, she is headed on the right path. I guess the only good thing about seeing them get older, is getting to see who they become.

We had a great time, Quincy and Miles I think were snuggled by everyone at the party. Such a huge help for me to have the extra hands.

Quincy and his Godsister's Malia and Lily. Doesn't Lily look just like Julie here? Total mini-me.

This girl is turning double digits this year, which she reminded me of several times during Ivy's party. I think she likes to see me cringe :). She is always asking about the babies, doting on them, and she asked to hold Quincy. She was in the back room with me when I was changing them into PJs and she tells me "Ivy was born in the morning." I told her I know I remember :). She proceeded to tell me she was really happy to have a little sister, because she didn't have a younger sibling at the time. I told her I know one of my favorite memories is soon after Ivy was born, and she was taking a nap and woke up and Malia went running down the hall yelling "Don't worry Ivy I'm coming!!". That was just yesterday right?? geesh.

Such a little girl now.

Ivy has always given the best reactions when opening presents, she makes each one feel like it is THE best gift. I think that's a talent.

Notice Darrian blowing in the background, I warned him ahead of time not to blow them out like he did last year. It makes me feel a little better to see Maria is blowing too. :) Maybe it is just something we do when we see someone blowing out candles.

Malia wanted to wear the pinata after it was broken open.

Grandma and Quincy

Ivy and her girlfriends.

Quincy hanging with his love Ju-ju.

and hanging out with his godfather.

Miles watching gifts being opened

hanging out with Grandma.

The ABC's of Me

So I realize that this blog is mainly about the kids now, and even more so photo dumbs in my rush to get photo's out. I saw this on my friend Heather's blog and I thought I would shamelessly steal it as a easy way to post about something other than the kids. :)

The ABC's of Me

1. Age – 31

2. Bed size – Queen, I dream of having a King someday.

3. Chore you dislike the most – folding laundry and putting it away.

4. Dog? Nope.

5. Essential start to your day – taking a shower. I do some of my best thinking in the shower.

6. Favorite color- Red

7. Gold or Silver- Silver

8. Height- 5’6

9. Instruments you have played – nothing, how sad **rushing off to sign the boys up for piano lessons**

10. Job Life – Team Leader for a sustainably green paper company **sounds much more glamorous than it really is**

11. Kids- Yup.. Darrian (3 1/2 going on 16) and Quincy & Miles (4 Months and 1 day)

12. Live – Northern California

13. Mom’s name – Karen

14. Nicknames – Shell, Michie, Kat

15. Overnight hospital stays – When I broke my ankle and had to have surgery when I was 14 and then once with Darrian, and one with the twins.

16. Pet Peeves – oh I think I have many.. a top few.. people who complain but do nothing to change anything, injustice, dirty dishes in the sink.

17. Quote from a movie – If this were quotes from a book I would have a ton. I am not a big movie watcher.. (calm down Julie) so I can't think of a great quote from a movie. But I was watching Maya Angelou the other day and she said so many great quotes I will take one of those, and I think it counts because I saw it on a TV and not in a book.

"I am grateful to have been loved and to be loved now and to be able to
love, because that liberates. Love liberates. It doesn't just
hold—that's ego. Love liberates. It doesn't bind. Love says, 'I love
you. I love you if you're in China. I love you if you're across town. I
love you if you're in Harlem. I love you. I would like to be near you.
I'd like to have your arms around me. I'd like to hear your voice in my
ear. But that's not possible now, so I love you. Go.'" — Dr. Maya
Angelou

"If a human being dreams a great dream, dares to love somebody; if a
human being dares to be Martin King, or Mahatma Gandhi, or Mother
Theresa, or Malcolm X; if a human being dares to be bigger than the
condition into which she or he was born—it means so can you. And so you
can try to stretch, stretch, stretch yourself so you can internalize, 'Homo sum, humani nil a me alienum puto. I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me.' That's one thing I'm learning." — Dr. Maya Angelou

18.Righty or Lefty or Politics- I am pretty Lefty, sometimes center but you will never catch me on the Right :)

19, Siblings – 1 brother Antonio (34)

20. Time you wake up on weekdays – well several times.. but for good at 4:45 am

21. Underwear – yes. mostly cute but comfy.

22. vegetable you don’t like – I can't really think of one.. I don't always love eggplant it has to be cooked a certain way. (and drowning it in sauce doesn't hurt)

23. What makes you late – my kids and husband, in opposite order.

24. Xray you have had – I have had several. Last one was after I had the boys.

25. Yummy good food you make – i am a recipe follower to a T, Keith loves my enchilada's. They have cream cheese in them what is not to love.

26. Zoo animal favorite – Tigers and Lions.

Happy Monday Peeps.. More photo dumps coming soon :)

Throwing Paint..

Darrian and I went to a birthday party the other weekend that was different than any party we have ever been to. Maite turned 3 and her Mom always throws a great party. It was at a art studio in San Francisco and the kids got to go into this room and literally throw paint at a canvas. It was lots of fun for them, and it was great to celebrate with Maite. They did other arts and crafts and they even had cupcakes on easels to decorate.

good buds..Greyson and Darrian

Art in motion

Caden making a masterpiece..

Darrian's artwork..

J the star.. :)