Barf is gross

Enough said.

A cover for the SI Swimsuit Issue

She is so cute it drives me crazy. I could eat her up... even covered in sunscreen.

We enjoyed Memorial Day with a trip to Carlsbad to visit with Grandma and Papa and visit the pool. The kids had a blast doing cannonballs and creating a synchronized swimming routine to wow Grandma. The best part was the grand finale, complete with spitting water, spinning in a circle and doing "jazz hands." We completed the day with burritos from Berto's and VG donuts. And the maple bars were still warm. mmmmmmmm....

Our Summer Wish List

A few weeks ago, Benjamin, Sofia, and I (the brains behind the operation) started thinking of things we really wanted to do this Summer. Thank you Groupon for starting the whole idea with a deal that we decided to pass on. But really, we kept getting all of these emails for discounted outings and one thing led to another. We should come up with ways to fill our Summer. And I decided, we should come up with ways to fill our Summer getting to know our community better. So here it is, our summer wish list:

Movie morning at the mall
Ortega Falls
Lake Skinner splash pad
Hockey at the sports park in Temecula
pool with Grandma & Papa
Beach day (with Bertos and VG)
Make homemade ice cream
Make homemade ice cream in the ice cream ball
Get the slushy maker they advertise on Nickelodeon
Play water balloon games
Slip-n-slide
Learn to swim without floaties
Go to a drive-in movie
Make lemonade from scratch
Buy a coconut and drink from it
Eat Hawaiian french toast
Make Hawaii pancakes
(The last three are in lieu of a trip to Hawaii)
Go fishing with Grandpa
Go to the temple and see the seals in La Jolla
Go to see Taylor at the rodeo in July
Dinosaur museum

I'm sure this list will grow more, since it did this weekend. We are excited to find fun things to do closer to home. We still love Cardiff, but we are loving Menifee and are looking forward to getting to know it better!

I guess it's not insomnia

I can't call it insomnia because it's just barely 10:15. But it's that feeling that I better get my tush in bed since the countdown has begun for Lil' waking up. She rises sometime between 6 and 6:45 in the morning, so the countdown goes something like this... "if I want to get 8 hours of sleep, I better be in by 10. If I want to get 7 hours of sleep I should go to bed at 11." Soooo. I am sitting here, the boys in the family tucked in safely (I assume) at Lake Perris. And I am tired. My eyes hurt. And I am not guaranteed 8 hours of sleep at this point, and though I am depressed, I feel like I might as well stay up until 11 and get 7 hours, because I like round numbers like that.

I'll leave you for the night with a cute story. Ben's friend Brent was not going to go to the Father & Sons campout, but THANKFULLY, he was able to go. When Ben heard the news, he and Brent did a hug and jump in circles move that was quite splendid and shouted out, "We're going to Perris!" Only, really, the way they said it, they were going to Paris. One day, I will be as excited to go to Perris, California! Good night. Keep your fingers crossed that all three girlies sleep well without the men here to protect us and snore us to sleep.

A rant and a dirty little secret

First the rant...

I used to LOVE dogs. My first dog in my childhood was as perfect as a dog can get, aside from the digging, the daily escaping and the hip dysplacia(which I'm sure I spelled wrong). My Mom's dog turned me off of dogs. Sorry Mom. Then I thought, well, maybe it's just THIS particular dog - who spent an entire lifetime not toilet trained and experienced that "time of the month" all over my bed and chewed and ate the contents of the litter box, and, and, and. But then I was around more and more dogs and well, now I'm just turned off in general. Dogs smell. And I could forgive the smell if they were toilet trained and didn't bark. And for some reason, I moved into a neighborhood and a neighborhood blossomed around me that has TONS of dogs. Loud dogs. That bark incessantly and wake up my baby. And forgive me, but it is crazy hot here during the day and if the climate is cool at night and I want to have my windows open and a fan blowing, I shouldn't have to hear your dogs at all hours of the night - especially you guy across the street who has at least 3 dogs! Also, the screech owls can stop mating any day now. The end.

And a dirty little secret...

Ben likes Barbie. I should have known a few years ago when his giant Wayne Gretzky action figure was giving skating lessons to Barbie. The following conversation actually took place in this very loft on Monday:

Ben: (whiny voice) I want to pick the show!

Sofia: You picked last time, it's my pick. I want Nemo.

Ben: Are you sure you don't want Barbie?

Sofia: OK, Barbie.

Ben: The one where she goes to Paris.

At this point I look at Ben and ask, "are you serious?" To which he replies, "I like the dogs."

And then today in the bath the two kiddos are singing songs from "Barbie and the Perfect Christmas." Hmmmmmm...

She has blessed us with Grace

How do I write about Lily without sounding puffed-up or prideful??

Always alert, but mellow

Charles and I were married almost 13 years ago! Can you believe it? I hardly can. Together, we were two complimentary ice cream flavors. I like to believe we were my favorite Bubby's combo... chocolate hazelut(me) and pistachio(charles). We were good together, but we wanted kids. So desperately. We waited, and waited, and tried and tried and visited too many doctors and I gave myself too many shots in my abdomen and then we prepared for IVF. And then, on our anniversary weekend 6 years ago we found out a baby was on the way. Ben arrived and then all too quickly, Sofia joined the mix helping us to create our sundae that frankly, had too many nuts! I wondered, prayed and then prayed some more. Perhaps Sofia came so quickly because it was the only way. Maybe two was all that we could get, and I would have been happy with that because I already got double my wish. And then, Lily came.

Lily amid the chaos. They ADORE her!

Throughout my entire pregnancy, I almost never felt Lily move. At 20 weeks, I broke down. My poor Bishop came over and asked how things were and I just started crying. I think at that point I became a psycho relief society president, but after a sweet blessing I realized I needed to take more time to get to know Lily, and I have always liked what I found. I hardly felt Lily because Lily has and is just happy to go along with the ride. She tends to not make waves, she is happy to watch her crazy brother and sister. She'll play in her high chair with a spoon for 20 minutes while I make breakfast. And she makes us all melt. Hence, Lily is the hot fudge on top of our nutty sundae.

Our nutty, melty sundae of a family.

If I have to confess a weakness in this angel it is that she pulls hair. But I will take it. A million times to get to have Lily in my arms and be able to give her hugs and cuddles and kisses. I am forever grateful that she has shared her Grace with us all.

Guess what size shoes I just bought for this cutie?

Size 1!!! Yes, she just turned 4! Isn't she the cutest thing ever? I am in love with her freckled nose.