Catching up. Why ?

I haven't posted here in a long time. It makes me sad. I have the application on my phone because truth is I am never near a computer for personal use these days. I still don't post. I think I always think I have to catch up, and my brain shuts off.

Why do I care if I don't post?

This blog has been a diary of sorts for me. It recorded the last (gulp) seven years of our life. I have visited it countless times to check on facts, to see what we were doing a year or two ago. It's been our baby book, our life documentation. So I want to get back to it. One post at a time..

A fun girls day..

Saturday I went wine tasting with some of my favorite ladies. We were once lucky enough to work together, and we've been blessed to keep our friendship going. I look forward to our time together. It's always filled
with lots of laughs, good for the soul.

We went time tasting in Livermore, I have never been. It was pretty and the wines were really good. It was a great time. I'd also like to give a big thank you to Keith for holding it down at home so I can enjoy my friends for a day! He's the best.

Winter days..

So winter finally rolled into town. I won't complain, not because I don't want to, but because every time I start someone reminds me that it's been a seasonally easy winter. Whatever. I was so excited to see the sun by the weekend I bundled the kids up and rushed outside. Who cares that it was barely 50 degrees out and wind gust up to 20 mph. When life hands you lemons people.. Or windy days with no rain, you fly a kite.

We survived a week of rain, a little wind wouldn't stop us. Natalie also visited us this week, met the twins for the first time. It was short and chaotic but I'm glad it happened. St. Patty's day came and went, we didn't celebrate really. Darrian celebrated at school, and I shared a Guinness and nail polish painting with my girlfriends that night.

Sunday was church. I am really enjoying church again. It's been awhile. It's quiet time, and my church is so welcoming. Don't worry I won't be turning into my Mom anytime soon, just kidding. Sunday though they talked about how religion divides people so often, when at the end of the day all religion base is about love. Without it there is no belief system, and at the end of the day we all bleed the same. Anyways all good stuff.

A pretty good week despite a time change and rain. There I said it.

Weekend fun

We had a good weekend, we went to a park near Auntie Niki's house and played. The boys had fun.
Sunday was filled with church, a hike with Darrian, and a NAP for the kids and me! Then I went to a Sol's house with Kelly and we watched the Oscars. I hardly saw any of the movies, but it is fun to watch and gab about the outfits.

Lent

For the first time in a long time, I am taking part in Lent. I grew up participating and I think I gave up the same thing every year for 7 years or so {Chocolate}, and although I participated on my own I did not go to mass or engage in those activities.i have however really found a community I enjoy and it has brought me back in a bit.

For Lent I am giving up soda. I am hoping that this carries on past Lent, it's no good for me but I get bored drinking water all the time. I am also DOING something for lent. I am going to do several random acts of kindness over the 40 day period.

I started ash Wednesday off with mass and then donated 8 or 9 boxes/bags of baby clothes to the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. Paying in forward a bit. Hopefully I can stick to these two obligations over the next 40 days.

Happy Three Day weekend!

Four days for me! I'm taking Tuesday off, no big plans just park dates and relaxing. Tonight I am headed out with some ladies (one friend wanted to get together for my Bday and we added on a few more) gonna try Burmese food. :)

Here are pics of the twins from today. Quincy eating a plum, and Miles being the ham he is. Darrian learned L in school today so we are going over EVERY WORD that begins with a L. It's fun to see his mind work.

Gonna put babies to bed so I can head out in a bit, happy weekend everyone!

Trying out new iPhone application

So much of my life is through the iPhone. It really is my lifeline, If I could blog from here I think I could do it more often. This is my trial run.. Today I got my birthday present in the mail. A new iPhone case with my lovelies picture on it AND I got to wave to the President who drove by job today. So far so good.

Cathching up November recap

Here I am playing catch up again, story of my life these days. At some point I will get it under control, someday right??


Here we go, November was filled with a lot of fun, and new things for the kids. The babies turned 11 months old, and started taking a bath in the big bathtub.

Quincy started taking steps about 4-5 at a time. He LOVES to climb. The couch, a box, a stool... it gives me heart attacks, but thankfully in Nov he also mastered getting down feet first and not head first. That is a huge milestone! He loves to eat, not picky at all. He has a great sense of humor and crinkles his nose when he smiles or laughs. He loves to sing and dance, currently obsessed with a Santa that sings silent night. His favorite toy is a ball. He loves to chase them, throw them, or carry them around.

Darrian is working on his numbers and letters at school and is pretty close to spelling his name on his own. He talks all the time, and has a imagination. He is in love with all things superhero. He is really into Christmas and hoping Santa will bring him a batman cave and scooter. He learned about what being "thankful" means, and on his list of things he was thankful for included his family, his toys, and spider man.
Miles became a full fledged walker this month, going all around the house toddling about. He is the snuggle bug of the bunch, comes over to get hugs and kisses then he is off. He is more picky in his eating habits, and finds lots of laughs in his brothers. He waves hi, and makes the "all done" sign. He does not like shoes, refuses to walk or crawl even in them. He doesn't really like socks either, he takes them off right after I put them on then goes over to Quincy and tries to take his off too. He thinks everyone should be barefoot.

We spent our thanksgiving at Chris and Julie's house. Julie cooked a turkey, we added some sides. We had a lot of fun and kids had fun playing.

trying to get a picture of all six kids was pretty impossible:

Bucket list revisted..

The other day I was thinking about my bucket list, and thinking that two years almost two years have gone by since I came up with the list and said on my 30th birthday that I was going to accomplish these things in the next 10 years. 8 years to go and I don't think I am doing so great. I need to break this up and get going. I have some traveling to do, which with three kids I don't know how I will get it all done. I am going to aim high though and hope that my 40th birthday will be spent in Italy. :) Who wants to come ?


Travel to Lake Como
Take a gondola ride in Venice
Take Baby D to Disney world
Give a stranger $100
Volunteer at a shelter on a holiday
Give a jacket to a homeless person
Drive across country
Go to New England in the fall
See a sporting event in box seats
Take a cooking Course
Take a photography class
Get in contact with my Dad's family
Call a old friend and catch up
Go back to FL
Visit my grandparents graves
Volunteer in an election
Be a big sister or mentor to a child
Eat at French laundry in Napa
Sit front row at a concert
Go to the Oprah
See a show on Broadway
Volunteer at church
Marry a couple
Go back to school
Have a bonfire on a beach
Do something drastic with my hair
See the grand canyon
Go to Yosemite
Go on vacation without a phone or laptop
Walk in a marathon for a cure
Take an Alaskan cruise
Make something useful with my wedding dress
Volunteer in Ds classroom
Escort on a field trip
Own a home with a pool-(this one I don't see doing in the next decade)
live abroad for a year --(this one I don't plan to do in the next decade maybe in my 50's)

Updates..

Where has the time gone, I know I know.. If I look back over this blog the past TEN months I am going to see one theme. I am dead tired all the time. It is getting better.. but having three small one's doesn't make it easy to sleep, focus on myself, or get things done in a timely manner.

The boys are all doing great. Miles and Quincy are 10 months (pictures soon) and Miles is standing on his own, trying out a few steps here and there. Darrian is doing great in school, he is the MOST outgoing person I have ever met. He enjoys his three days a week, and the teacher raves about what a great helper he is. He also started Sunday school and really likes that too, we choose a new parish and I really like it. Lots of young families, and great sense of community. The boys will be baptized there this coming Sunday. Miles standing on his own:




Our biggest event over the past month was our first ER visit with the twins. Honestly with Darrian he was in ER once for a stomach bug. Thus far in my mommy-career I had not had a "injury" ER visit *knock on wood. Well that record came to a quick end on 10/1. I had the boys in the living room getting ready to go for a walk, and I went to get Darrian water. Coming back from the kitchen I see Miles standing near a side table in the living room. He falls and hits the table with at the bottom with his mouth. I scoop him up.. blood. Lots. I try to locate where it is coming from and see his front tooth is pointing out at me in a 90 degree angle. We quickly pack all the boys in the car and head to the ER. A horrible x-ray (trying to get a 9 month old to hold still is not easy), and lots of talk later (5 hours later) the Drs. made the call to pull the tooth. This required putting Miles under, then waiting for him to wake up. I was/am totally bummed. Also having Quincy and Darrian in the ER was horrible, I need to really find a babysitter who can help us out. I am thankful it is just a tooth, thankful it is a baby tooth.. but I am bummed he won't have a tooth until either at 4 we put a bridge in or wait for the adult tooth to come in. He is fine, we are ok.. just not a great moment.



One thing I have noticed about Quincy this month. He has a song in his heart, and he loves Adele. Put some Adele in, he is quiet, sings along and dances a long. It makes my heart melt a bit every.single.time.



I spend most of my evenings with the kids, trying to get them outside riding a bike, walking, going to parks. When the babies are asleep Darrian, Keith and I play board games (candyland is a favorite right now) or Darrian and I have special talks where we lay in my bed and talk about the day, life. I love the special time with him. This Friday I told him we are going to have a slumber party! We are going to make popcorn, watch a movie, play board games, and then he can sleep in our bed. We will talk till we fall asleep. It is special treat, that I am using like a carrot on a string for him. I hope we get to do it because I think I am *almost* as excited as he is. :)




As for me I am doing ok. I often wish I had a "boring" life, where there was not a lot of stress going on. However it seems like there is always something coming up, I just have to know it is going to all work out. This year I wanted to worry less, and I have not been successful at all times, but I am trying. I have lots of great people in my life reminding me to stay calm, stay hopeful, and know that it will work out. Their constant voice has been my strength so many times. At the end of the day I am so blessed, I have a amazing little family. Keith and I have created so much in our relationship and I am thankful for all that keeps me grounded. On that note I went to Apple Hill this past weekend and got to see a good friend Debbie, and go with Chris and Julie and the girls. I love it up there, and I swear it brings me some clarity. And lots of baked goods.. can't be bad right? I will update again soon.. hope your all blessed and having great days!

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 :)

A year older ..

I am a year older. A year wiser? Maybe. I celebrated my 31st birthday on Feb. 4th. What a year it has been. I celebrated my birthday by getting this.

A fancy new Mini-van. I don't have a same feelings towards mini-vans that others do, I guess because I never thought a car made me cool. It is practical, and really I have ALWAYS wanted to be a "soccer Mom" and this is just a step in the right direction. Lol. I love that the seats fold into the floor, and I love the storage, and I love the sliding doors, and well I love it...

I also celebrated my birthday by going out to lunch with all my boys. I was worried that we were making a huge mistake but I think overall I call it a success. The plus side to having a big family is that by the time you have lifted the strollers, car seats, buckled, put away left overs, gotten in the car yourself, buckled.. well you have worked off any lunch you may eaten. It was a good day.

I also wanted a van because I wanted to get out of the house with all three kids. What? you call me crazy.. well I might be. I have always been an on the go type person and did not want the fact that we had twins to limit that. In the week we have had the van I have been to target on my own with three kids, but I met friends there so I cheated a bit. I went and ran a bunch of errands with Darrian and Quincy, and then went to the outlets and target with all three, then went to a birthday party with Darrian and Quincy. It's been good to be able to get out and I look forward to actually going some places when the weather gets better.

The boys have been doing great. Darrian likes to tell people he loves them, like random strangers. He also is very friendly. We were waiting for the car the other day, he had his football with him and he asked a woman passing by if she wanted to play. Then asked her where she was going, then proceeded to tell her he loved her and have a good day. Goodness. I am in trouble.

Miles is smiley. The other day when I walked into the room he let out this squeal and a huge smile when he saw me. Quincy is smiley too, he just makes you work for it a bit. He has the sweetest face, these big brown eyes. Melt my heart. Both boys are laughing out loud, cooing lots, Quincy doesn't cry as much as he kinda yells out when he wants something. Both have good head control. Darrian is great with them, and very protective.

I got these pictures of Quincy the other day when he was in the swing. He looked up at me and I ran to get the camera.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! hope your day and heart is filled with love xoxox

I have bags under my eyes...

Seriously. I just looked in the mirror and I have bags under my eyes. In my almost 31 years of life I have never had bags under my eyes. Ever. I posted this on facebook last week :
is having one of those nights. Darrian down, Quincy down, Miles still up... Miles down, Quincy up, Darrian up... Darrian down, and both Miles and Quincy up.

This about sums up the last 7 weeks. Twins and a toddler are hard work, and I will be honest and say that there are moments where my patience is so thin. Often I feel like Darrian has to deal with it the most because he is able to verbally say what he needs and to hear a 3 year old say please please please please please please about a million times when one or both babies are crying is a test. However I only set ONE goal for myself this year and that was to think more positive. Not about my kids, but life in general. However, I see that I can apply it to my day to day easily. This is going to get better, really all it is going to take is sleep. I know we will get there, I just don't know when and that is hard.

I took Miles and Quincy to their 6 week (they bump the 2 mo. visit up so they get get vax in them sooner for whooping cough) appointment by myself. I know that sounds nuts. However, I am working part-time from home from 5 am to 10 am (turns into 11am and more.. again nuts) each day, and Keith trying to get himself and three boys ready and out the door on time with me has not been successful. So I thought I would try it on my own. Also Darrian is very protective of his brothers, and I thought I would try and save the nurse who is just doing her job from getting the evil eye and some words about giving his brother shots. So I decided I would go alone. In the middle of parking the HUGE stroller in the hallway, trying to figure out how to get both boys out of carseats and not leave one unattended on the table to roll off while getting the other out... then both undressed, weighed , dressed again..I made the comment "Well this is proving to have been a cake walk with one". The nurse said "oh you have another child" .To which I replied "Yes a 3 year old". She then said "Wow your lucky, I can't even have one". Yep. About an inch big is how I felt. Snap back to reality. I had no words to give her, and I felt so selfish. I know I am blessed, and I am thankful. I need to remember that when I am in the throws of hard work that parenting brings. I can't imagine my life without my children in it, and I had moments of loss where I thought maybe I would not have the blessings I do have. Reminders of how blessed I really am.

Both boys are doing great, all three really. I will fill in on weights and such soon. I need to keep this blog up to date because it is so precious to me to look back on for Darrian and I want that for Quincy and Miles too.

Hopefully someday (soon) I will have no bags under my eyes and be getting sleep. Throw your good thoughts my way.

Sprinkle for the Twins A Perfect Pair

I was able to get another trial of my photo editing program so I finally updated pictures! I am going to try and catch up on what we have been doing the past month and a half.
First up.. My Sprinkle. A sprinkle is like a shower but you don't register and it is sort of potluck style. It is a chance to sprinkle the soon to be Mama with some well wishes and love. I feel very blessed to have the friends I do. I have said many times that I met new Mom's hoping Darrian would have some friends, and it ended up being so much more for me than I thought it would be. The advice, the friendships are all things I am thankful for. I of course have been very blessed by many friendships in my life, and it meant a lot to me that several friends outside of the "mom group" showed up to support and celebrate with me. Thank you just doesn't seem enough to express my gratitude. Kelly and Laura hosted and they did such a great job, I loved all the decorations and was humbled by all they put into it.