Vote Yes on Prop 8

This video really hit home with me since this is such a big issue we are facing here in California right now. So many people see Prop 8 as 'taking away peoples civil rights' yet what about our rights as parents. If prop 8 doesn't pass we loose our rights as parents to have a say in what is taught to our children beginning at KINDERGARTEN! please let me know if the link doesn't work... I can't figure out how to put he video on directly... sorry

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155394344/bctid1822459319

decorating cookies

Ben and I decided to decorate cookies while Landon was taking his nap. Here is how our conversation went.

Ben: we need to count them first
Mom: ok when we are done counting we will put the frosting on

We start decorating the cookies. He is so meticulous. He had to put the smartie on bottom and the M&M directly on top of it. I didn't help at all and went to take a picture at the end but my batteries needed to be recharged...
One time he put the M&M backwords so the letter wasn't showing

Ben: oh no mom its backwords we have to fix it. Here mom clean off his back he is so sad.
Mom:ok,( as I wipe off the frosting)
Ben: he is crying mom you forgot his side and belly oh he is sooooo sad

every time we would use frosting to stick the candy on he would say
Ben: mom you need to put more butter on it
Mom: Ben its frosting not butter
Ben: I told ya its frosting mom
This was repeated quite often.

As he would get a little bit on his finger
Ben: oh no i need to lick this little bit off

He didn't get a drop of frosting on his clothes nor did he have anything over top covering him (remember he is 3!) and every candy was placed with utmost care as to not get any extra frosting on it that made it look 'messy'
It was a fun time. He makes me laugh how particular he is....so don't know where he gets it from... :)

'BATTLE ZONE'

Fernando has deemed a new nickname for Landon. He now calls him 'battle zone' I prefer klutso :) No j/k This kid is crazy I tell ya. He is trying to learn how to run and catch up with big brother... and has been bonking his head A LOT lately. This is the latest. He tripped and fell into the side of the half ajar door. There was a lot of blood all over his face and it scared me but luckily it wasn't deep enough for stitches and the swelling went down. I took the picture today so it looks a lot better than it did on Saturday... He screamed for about 10 min and then decided he was fine and wanted to go run and play again. A couple days before he fell and hit his left side of his forehead our chest and cut it and the SAME DAY ran smack dab into our screen tv. I am starting to think he needs glasses or something... Here are some pictures for you.

notice the nice bruise line all the way across the right face
black eye, luckily no stitches were necessary he got lucky this time...

Where did my baby go??

Landon turned 17 months today Aug 12th! He is looking less like my baby and more like a toddler every day.  He is saying quite a few words and has developed quite the funny personality.  We just love this little guy!
Who ever invented these shopping carts were must have been a mom. :)  My boys doing what they love best DRIVING!  Their obsession with anything with wheels.. now Landon is even saying 'deis' when ever he sees a diesel.

SHOUT OUT TO MIKE ETHINGTON

My really good friend Mike Ethington just released his first cd and it is nothing short of AMAZING! I am so proud of him and so excited for him!! Way to go Mike I knew you would do it! He is one of most talent musicians I have ever met! Mike sang and played the piano at my mission farwell. He is not only a incredibly talents musican but an amazing person. This cd has been a long time coming and a lot of obstacles got in the way, one of which being him loosing his dad to an auto immune disease. His dad was a member of the tabernacle choir. They sang at his funeral.
I just purchased my copy and can't wait until it arrives! It is free shipping! In my opinion every one would do well to own their own copy to have an listen to in those quite moments as the spirit testifies to you through his beautifully inspired notes. At the least you have to listen to the recordings on this link and read the BELIEVE section as he explains how his album got its name. I am truly inspired and brought to tears by the beauty of his music. Thank you Mike for sharing your talent with the world. May you all enjoy it as much as I have and know I will continue to. Mike is someone who truly changes your life for the better no matter who you are. Love your guts man!!

here is the link

http://ldspianohymns.com/
If it doesn't work go to www.michaelethington.com and you can hear it there

Dallas Texas

My amazing husband watched the boys for a WHOLE week while I went to Dallas TX for a Mary Kay Seminar.  The Seminar was amazing and fueled my desire and drive to become a director this year even more!  I got to fly out a few days early and spend some time w/ my good friend Tracy and her boys.  We had such a great time. Thanks Tracy so much for letting me stay with you guys! I just love that girl!!

This picture cracks me up probably because Melissa and Linda STILL don't even know I took it.  I took this as I was getting dropped off at the airport. They flew out of a different airport.  The perfect ending to an incredible week some MUCH needed sleep!

being silly at the manufacture plant. It was a really cool tour!
blowing kisses Amy Clair, Holli Mahoney and I

While in Dallas (staying w/ Tracy) I got my hair cut and highlighted. The best part was it only cost me $35!!! compared to the $150+ I would pay here.  This was the 2nd day I had the hair cut (I cut off 6 1/2 inch) so I was still getting use to doing it.  You know me always spontaneous!

history in the making... this lady is Dalene White (the 1st Mary Kay beauty consultant EVER) She put this hat on my head. I earned a trip with my national area to go to her ranch in San Antonio for a weekend. We were suprised to find that SHE presented the winners of the trip. It is going to be so incredible. I can't wait!
Here is another Mary Kay legend Anne Sullivan. She was also one of the very first Mary Kay beauty consultants. I won a special party in my National Director, Julianne's suite and she was out guest speaker. It was so incredible to hear her speak. She is turning 90 in November! Thanks to faithfully using Mary Kay for  44 yrs she sure doesn't look it!I tell ya Julianne has the hooks ups when it comes to meeting incredible legends. We are so blessed! Julianne is to my right.

my roomies Melissa, Linda and I on awards night

okay I know it has been forever....so sorry....

It has really become a lot of fun lately with these two since they play so cute together now. Yes they know how to fight too....but moments like this make it all worth it. :) Ben is so funny he loves to speak for his brother to get what he wants...e

playing in the sandbox
Landon has turned into quite the daddy's boy
I love this pictures because it shows so much love and admiration

Fernando bought a wii and a wii fit while I was in Oregon... and well the boys have quite taken to it. This is them playing mario cart. Landon always 'thinks' he is playing Ben can't be fooled.

Landon strutting around
a typical day except this happened to be a Sunday right after church... I was getting Landon un dressed but his brother headed outside, and he went right after him
playing in the sand box

In my defense I have tried to post earlier than this but the pictures wouldn't up load and then I didn't want to take the time.... sorry but I will be better. So there ya have it some random pictures from the last 2 months...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIKA!!

I have to give a shout out to my best friend Erika since today is her birthday. It is so great that I get to be here in Oregon celebrating it with her. We are sad to have to leave each other again. :( The boys and I head back home tonight.

I feel so blessed to have Erika in my life. She is so amazing and extremely talented. If you are wondering where all those new cute candid shots on my side bar blog came from now you know. She is an incredible photographer, video augrapher and artist!!! just to name a few of her many talents...
Our friendship started 4 1/2 years ago but I truly believe it started long before then.

It all started when our husbands were in several of the same accounting classes together. We were both pregnant with our firsts and instantly bonded. Our friendship has just continued to blossom as we have shared in each others lives. We use to hang out all the time before we moved to seperate states but the distance hasn't altered our friendship we still talk on the phone almost daily and visit each other. It is fun and a little crazy when we get together because it is like having 2 sets of twins almost... our kids are 3 months and 2 months apart....oh and we hardly get any sleep because we stay up all night talking, laughing and bonding even more. Just the other night we stayed up doing facials and drinking virgin strawberry pina coladas, and pedicures. We laughed until we were crying. In respect for her I won't post our crazy fun pictures of our green masks. :) It just isn't every day you find someone you can totally be yourself with and who knows and understands you so perfectly! I couldn't t ask for a more loyal best friend
Everywhere we go people ask us if we are sisters. I am curious to hear what you think?? We are so a like in so many ways. I couldn't ask for a better best friend. Erika I love your guts and feel so blessed to have you in my life! I treasure the memories we've created and look forward to the many more memories to come. Thank you for ALWAYS being there for EVERYTHING. I hope you have the birthday that you so deserve.

Battle of the Bens

I discovered today that Ben is quite possessive of his name...these two crack me up! It has been so fun to listen to the two of them carry on conversations with each other. They have really kept us laughing this week. :) Three year olds can be tough at times but they are SO MUCH FUN!

Oregon Day 2 ...The Bouncy Place

We had another fun day here in Oregon! We took the kids to the bouncy place and they had SO much fun! Ben was having a hay day seeing exactly how high he could make himself bounce down the slide.

Check out these little climbers! The climb up the the top was kind of steep but didn't phase these two little monkeys.

who hoo here I go!
They went full energy until they just wiped out.... they made me tired just watching. :)Just capturing this moment was worth the nice elbow slide burn...


After the bouncy place we took the kids to Burger King.
And then we went to Goodwill to find some kids books.
ok so my children can sleep anywhere as you have noticed...
ok so don't think of me as totally cruel I did manage to find a 'used' pillow to prop his head up with so he could sleep more 'comfortably'

Ben some how managed to 'share' his friends icecream...more like TAKE OVER both!

Oregon visit Day 1!

The boys and I are currently in Oregon visiting my best friend Erika. We have kids that are the same age. It is kind of crazy when we get together because it is like having 2 sets of twins...but we love the craziness. :) We flew in Monday night. Tuesday morning we headed to the Oregon Zoo. The kids loved it even if it did rain on us...after all we are in Oregon what can ya expect. :) The rain didn't stop us from having fun.

I think the highlight of the zoo visit were the Polar Bears, penguins and Elephants eating their hay.We were all pretty wet and tired by the end but the boys fell asleep in the car with big smiles on their faces. :)
Us moms were glad to have Erika's husband Joseph take the day off of work to be there with us. He was a huge help. Landon and Ben showing us the polar bears. They made them so excited! The 2 polar bears were so active and put on quite the performance for us!
I just love my sweet baby!
As you can see...the Penguins showing off got Ben pretty excited! Here he is laughing at them being 'siwwy'Here is sweet little Landon. Poor little guy is teething again with his bottom molars... so I wasn't able to get as many pictures of him smiling and posing for the camera like he normally does...this was right after his motrin kicked in. :)