Thankful for a day...

The month of November always strikes me as odd. It may because I wasn't raised celebrating holidays so there was no hype to behave for presents or to spend a day saying why I was thankful. Now a days with social media being so prevalent we have these new traditions of stating why we are thankful each day, building up to Thanksgiving...This is beyond weird to me but again I think it's because of how I was raised. My parents did not teach me the traditions of Christmas in fact I am still learning most of it myself but they did teach me about Christ and what he stood for and how we should be thankful everyday for his sacrifice. I was taught to pray everyday, before every meal and before bed. This was not an option, this was life. This was the way we showed thankfulness and strived to be good people. Even though I do not follow in my parents belief system anymore I still see the validity of what they did for me. I may not know all the words to ANY Christmas song but I know that there are greater things out there than a new toy and then when it comes down to it, family is what matters. I know that being thankful everyday is a way of life not something you do on Facebook in November. I know that having a family BBQ when Grandma comes down is treasured just as much as a Thursday in November. I know that receiving a surprise toy for no reason at all is just as exciting as finding one under a tree. I know that I am not perfect and that I make mistakes everyday but that despite any choice I make whether or not my parents agree, they love me... I don't need to say out loud why I am thankful for a few weeks prior to Thanksgiving because I know that although it is good to reflect and state out-loud thankfulness, that my family and friends already know I am thankful because I show them everyday of every year...That's how I was raised. In fact I think sometimes I was taught too well! I say this because I am the girl who turns to mush when I think of those I love. Monday driving home at 4am a song came on the radio. It's a song I've loved for years but it seems the older I get the more it fits my life, " The kids screaming, phones ringing, dog barking at the mailman bringing a stack of bills that are -over due......" Well ya that hits home.., "Friday, you're late, guess we'll never make our dinner date-at the restaurant, you start to cry. Baby we'll just improvise. Well, plan B looks like Domino's pizza in the candlelight. then we'll tippy toe to our room, make a little love that's over due. But somebody had a bad dream, Momma and Daddy can me and my teddy come sleep in between? Yeah it's OK , so nice It's just another day in paradise. Well there's no place I'd rather be. We'll its two hearts, one dream, I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I ask the lord every night for just another day in paradise."......Half way through the song I am crying like a baby, full on tears pouring, can't even sing along. That's me, emotional I guess to a fault. I will cry every time I watch Beaches because I think of my best friend and loose it. I ugly cry, yeah I mean red face, runny nose sob when I see two seconds of Steele Magnolias because I think of my little sister.  I cry at the beginning of UP and even more at the end. Father of the Bride 1 and 2 will have me surrounded in tissues when I think of my parents and being a parent. Don't even bring up the commercials! I, on a way to often basis cry... Pathetic I'm sure but the older I get the more thankful I am and the more thankful I am the more I realize how much I have to loose and I spassssss out! For that I am thankful for anxiety meds! I really hope that my children see this quality in me and I hope even more that they possess it. Although I can be an emotional mess it also makes me extremely passionate. When I give you my heart, I give my whole heart and I don't ask for it back. I give you my all and will still try to give more. I hope my children see that. I hope that one day my kids will look back and see that I gave them my all and I did the best I knew how and that my love is never-ending just as  my parents taught me. I hope that my kids will be thankful everyday because thankful people are happy. I desperately want good for my children but even more so I want my children to just be good. I want them to have a serving heart and appreciate the little things in life like cuddles on the couch, tickles in the kitchen, concerts in the car and knowing in these four walls they are safe from the world. I am thankful I have this opportunity to give them the tools to survive this world and thrive... and now I'm crying... damn you emotions!!!On a lighter note here are some pictures of my many blessings (yes I am totally bragging).

Awe the family. This is Josh's side of the family but I love them all dearly. Papa Don and Grandma Jackie took me and Ty as their own ten years ago and continue to amaze me. My mother in law is there next to Josh, she is absolutely crazy and fun. The kids climb all over her and beg to go camping when she goes but I just like to sit back and have a cocktail with her because you never know what stories she will tell. Then there are aunts, uncles and cousins who are all special to us in different ways but mostly just because of who they are. We had a wonderful day with them but still missed quite a few. As all of the grand kids grow up everyone is starting their own traditions and moving away so we are just thankful we have had so many amazing times with each of them.

It is virtually impossible to get a picture of all of us...This is the best we got but I think it says a lot about who we are. Ty so responsible trying to keep Penny straight. Paris so care free. Gianna so light hearted and Charlie trying to see everything else going on while Penny is trying to figure out whats happening in front of her.

I am thankful Ty got some of my good qualities and none of my bad.

Thankful this little monster is a fighter because I know she will conquer anything her heart desires.

Thankful that this one cares so hard and so deep for so much...She really is like me.

Here are some pictures from their one year session. I love that they are so different yet still so amazingly the same.

These babies are best friends and watching them interact with one another is a great gift.

Charlotte

Penelope

Love

This pictures is a copy cat of one taken when the twins were born. I will continue to do this every year. I treasure these moments...

This is me..My life full of what if"s, what then's, how's, why's, stress, work, school, tired, happy, love, laughter, crying, yelling, singing....family.....

This is my life... I am thankful

Well my friends, I hope you all did take a moment or day or even the month to state why you are thankful but I hope even more that you live it. I hope that each day, each of you can find something to be utterly thankful for. You don't have to say out loud why you're thankful but if you show your thankfulness in your everyday I life I guarantee you the rewards of it will be evident. 

Much love and thankfulness from my heart to yours!

Ten ways to be perfect....

Yeah, not really... I just think it's hilarious when I scroll down Facebook or Pinterest and see:

Top Ten Ways to be THINNER, COOLER, SMARTER, have a happier marriage, better children, what????

If it were only that easy, right?
Let me save you some trouble, you want to be thinner? PUT DOWN THE COOKIE AND RUN!
You want to be cooler? Stop caring what others think and do what makes YOU happy.
You want to be smarter? Stop making excuses and go back to school.
You want a happier marriage, better children? Get off the Internet and pay some attention to the people who matter.. There, problems solved! Do any of these statements help you? Nope, probably not because the answers are not on a list. The answers aren't going to come to us while we read an article written by someone who doesn't know us, our lives, our jobs, our worries, our strengths. The answers to making life better is all found within. We have to look within ourselves, our families, our truth. Each of us has a very different list of what makes us better and if we can remember that, I think we're solid... I have been remembering that and that's why I have been MIA for a bit. As much as I love documenting our lives and I think I've said this before, I LOVE living it more! So here is a catch up since my last entry with some pictures I always want to remember.

Josh and I at our buddies 30th bash. It was a complete blast and very fitting for us as far as memories go. Josh and I met 10 years ago November 7th! Wow, right? This date is very important to me because in my mind it marks the beginning of something amazing for me. We met in a crappy bar in Merced while an awesome band played. That same band played at this memorable party and I have to say it was a walk down memory lane that I didn't want to leave! 

Krisha and I all these years later still partying it up just like we use to. We drank, ate and danced by ourselves. We didn't care if we were the only ones on the dance floor (many times we were). There was no swaying side to side dancing, HECK NO! We rocked it like it was 1999! Every time I spend time with Krisha I am reminded why I love her so. I am fortunate... I have always believed it doesn't matter about the quantity of friends but the QUALITY and quality is all I have.

October was a busy month with birthdays! The twins turned 1 and Gigi turned 5. It is completely amazing to me that our family has not only survived but thrived in the chaos two babies bring to the table. Sadly the girls were sick for the birthday but we still made them cake and let them tear in to it.

Charlie was just happy to be out of the house after being cooped up and sick all week.

Penny as usual wasn't as into it.

I love this shot because I think Penny looks like Popey!

Paris tried to get her interested but she just wasn't loving it.

Charlie aka Fat Girl of course dug right in.

enough said...

Penny finally joined in.

The twins birthday is the day before Gianna's so of course Josh just wanted to do one quick cake and be done but I insisted Gigi continue to have her day; after all, its bad enough the twins have to share their day.

Gianna followed our traditional birthday which includes: breakfast of choice, dinner of choice (restaurant or moms cooking), one present from mom and dad, one present from each sibling and a homemade cake with candles and singing. I realize birthday parties are very important to some families and they enjoy having the whole kit and caboodle but that's just not us. We are much more low key and spend the day more thankful for another year with each beautiful child..cheesy I know but it works for us. 

So Miss. Gianna at the ripe ol' age of 5 requested chocolate chip pancakes and bacon for breakfast. She had several phone calls from friends and family singing to her which she just ate up! Then we headed to the park and even let her drive her ridiculously slow battery operated car because she said, "it's my birthday so you have to let me drive my car"....that's the kind of logic we always get from Gigi...

Gigi didn't want to go to a restaurant this year but instead wanted Mom's Taco's with extra avocado, which she had more than usual of.

This year Gianna kept saying she wanted a Marshmallow cake so I surrounded her cake with them and used them as candle keepers. It actually was a brilliant idea, I may use again since no wax actually drips on the cake.

Sweet girl can always make me laugh and be utterly frustrated at the same time but I wouldn't know what to do without her.

Halloween last year was miserable. Penelope came home from the hospital on Halloween but Charlotte was still in the NICU. I had to miss out on the festivities and leave 4 babies at home while visiting one in the hospital. This year was a million times better.

Penelope and Charlotte were Max and the Monster from Where The Wild Things Are

Ty was Neptune, as he is still heavily intrigued with Mythology.

We went to Clovis Police Dept. to trick or treat and on the way Ty caught me staring at him.

Ty says, "What's wrong mom?"

I looked at him in his costume which is so different than typical boys his age and said, "Ty, I can't believe you don't get beat up at school."

Ty, "Mom, I'm a geek and geeks rule the world."

I couldn't help but laugh and agree, he is amazing.

The big girls were Cat Woman and a Cowgirl riding a horse but they didn't sit still long enough to get a single picture.

A few pictures from the month

Already causing trouble together

Oddly this is exactly how they were on every ultrasound picture.

This is my favorite picture in quite some time. It is so rare anyone takes a picture of me with any of the kids so I really cherish it when I get one. My sweet babies may be growing like weeds but they still allow me to cuddle them every single day. It may not be for long but they certainly now show "love" back. They give kisses, hugs, wave and laugh all the time.

What?!?!? Girls night! Yep, I made some time with some special friends this month while Josh was out of town on business. We laughed, drank, ate and talked about everything inappropriate that needed to be said.. it was great and I came home refreshed.

Vanessa, Me, Karen

Taylor, Kathryn, Me

Love those ladies...

Mini me is trying hard to grow up. She now has plans and parties and things to do... boooo to growing up!

Ty...

Sweet baby Penelope is finally released from Physical Therapy and her helmet therapy should be complete in about three months. She now has 4 teeth and 4 more trying to break through. She is SMART. She figures everything out. Penny is incredibly cuddly...

Sweet Charlotte also has 4 teeth and a few more ready to make their entrance. Charlie is demanding when it comes to attention, she wants to play in my lap and snuggled as much as possible. Even though Charlie has the bigger body she has the smallest voice. She almost whispers when she talks which is pretty darn cute.

loves bath time

They attempt to wash each others hair every time 

Charlie is now saying "sit" because I am constantly saying it when they are in the tub.

She shakes her finger at Penny and says, "SIT!"

My mom recently witnessed the twins connection. We were looking at a model home, (still searching for the perfect house). I sat them down in a walk-in closet a few feet apart from each other before my arms broke off. Charlie instantly crawled over to Penny and backed up into her lap just as Penny is in this picture and just sat. They both just looked around until they felt comfortable I guess. This is there "thing" I suppose because I see them do it often, especially if something has happened they are unsure about.

A week after their birthday we cut out bottles cold turkey but I haven't had the heart to take the binkies yet.

Crazy Gi

A common site in our house. The babies cry for Ty as much as they do for me. 

Possibly up to no good..

Exhausted obviously but happy to have a picture with the girls

Night time routine is the same nearly every night with dinner, baths, books and bed but Gianna always seems to squeeze in some time playing with her babies as she calls them...

Well I hope that the next post isn't so far off but it very well might be. School is taking up the time in which I use to have to Blog or sew but it's a sacrifice that I know is worth it and I rather take away from my hobbies than the kids time. So till we meet again much love from our family to yours!