Baby Blooms

My friend Lenore and I have just officially started up a business together. We specifically sell what we call "Baby Blooms", which are adhesive flower hair accessories.






The adhesive is truly a wonderful thing for the fact that it actually stays on the baby's head. Also, because these "blooms" are so lightweight, the baby doesn't even notice they're there. We are also selling what we call "Paci Lassos". These are sparkly beaded pacifier holders to add a little extra bling to your baby, while serving the functional purpose of keeping the pacifier from falling on the ground and getting dirty or lost. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of these to post, and it's too late at night for me to try and get one, but they are super cute! Check out our website www.mybabyblooms.com and do tell all your friends with baby girls about it! You can order directly from our website. These also make great Baby Shower or Christmas gifts. :)

PATHETIC!

Yes, I have now been home from my vacation to Vegas for a week. I've done many things since coming back, most of which has been my normal routine--kids stuff, cleaning house, carpooling, seeing friends etc. Even though I have a certain level of organization in my life, there's also that side of me that puts certain things off til I just can't stand it anymore. Yesterday I was in the kitchen doing dishes, and Izzy was in the living room playing with her toys--so I thought. I came out to check on her and, lo and behold, she was in the suitcase that had been sitting by the couch and that I had been rummaging through for the girls' and my clothes everyday since I got home a week ago. This procrastination to unpack has happened on numerous occasions. I hate unpacking my suitcase! Although it was adorable and hilarious, Isabella’s adventure in the suitcase made me realize it was time to unpack. Maybe one day I’ll actually unpack the very day I get home from vacation.

Deja Vu

Since we've moved to Walnut Creek, Rory has made a new best friend--Maren Isom. Maren has a twin brother named Wells. They are both so adorable! It has been really fun to see these kids play together. It brings back so many good memories of my childhood with my best friend Mindy and her twin brother Eric.


Maren, Wells, and Rory

Me, Mindy, and Eric

I don't think my mom brushed my hair the day she took this picture. :) In contrast, Rory and the Isom twins had school pictures in the photo above, hence the well-groomed appearance of all three of them.

P.S. For those of you who may be worried that Rory might be reliving my childhood, Maren doesn't have a manipulative bone in her body, and most importantly, Tanya (Maren's mother) is nothing like you know who. :)

Stirring and Stirring and Stirring our Brew, Whooo!...Whooo!

The title of this post is a line from one of the Halloween songs that Rory and her class sang at their Halloween sing-a-long yesterday. I was very impressed at how well the children knew those songs. I was a proud mommy! The one bad thing about it was that we discovered that our video camera's battery needs to be replaced. Unfortunately we were unable to record the preschool show, but we got pictures.

We had the opportunity to spend Halloween night in Danville--where people only give out GOOD candy! Rory's bucket was full by the end of the night, and there was no gross candy. It was all good--except for maybe the rock hard popcorn ball. :) There was also a small yet spooky haunted house, which Rory conquered. I was more scared than she was. After we went through, she kept asking me if I was proud that she didn't get scared. :)













These girls are just too cute! I am such a proud mommy! And Mimi, Izzy's little best friend, was the cutest little skunk I've ever seen. Her mom, Nor was little red riding hood. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of her cute costume. Dax was the big bad wolf. I didn't dress up. I know--boring! Glen's costume was him in normal dress holding a skull. He wanted to see if everyone could guess who he was. Have you guessed yet? Yep, he was Hamlet.

Our Trip to Boulder City

We just got back from Boulder City yesterday. We were there for a week, and we could have stayed longer. We did so many fun things. It was such an eventful week for us to be there.

Rodney's wife Leslie birthed her seventh baby (a girl) on Tuesday the 22nd. They named her Naomi Clarice, and she is soooo cute! Rodney got to name her because he won their family bet by guessing most closely what she would weigh. She was 9 lbs 2 oz even though
she was two weeks early!

Ashley and Izzy

Another fun thing was Ashley's birthday on the 27th. She had some wonderful birthday news. Yes, Ashley is pregnant! And I was the very first person to know--even before Jordan. I dreamt that she had a boy. My dreams are always right when it comes to my own pregnancies, but I've never had a dream for someone else. We'll see if I'm right. We had a Woodbury famiy party at my parents house and went out another night to the cheesecake factory--both in celebration of Ashley's birthday. She is eating for two now you know. :) One of Ashley's favorite things to do is watch scary movies, so she talked me and Jordan into watching "1408" with her. That was my birthday present to her. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.

Ashley and Izzy at the Cheesecake Factory

Mom (Rose) and Benj

Benj, Dad (Bruce) and Rory

Jordan, Ash, and Izzy

Me and Izzy

Isabella chowing down

Benjiman had surgery on the 26th, so we were all praying and worrying over him. He's had a recurring ear infection over the past 3 years, and finally they realized that the infection had spread to the bones in his ear. They had to go inside his ear and grind the infection out of the bone (not a pretty picture--I know). When they got inside his ear, they realized that there was a tumor that was not malignant, and so they were able to take care of that as well. Everything went well, and hopefully Benj won't be in pain anymore. His pain medication was working really well for him--so well that he stayed up all night laughing rather than sleeping. I woke up a couple times in the middle of the night to hear giggling coming from his room. It was a riot!

We went to the Clark County Heritage Museum for trick-or-treating, and Rory had a blast with all of her cousins. Isabella didn't know what to make of all the costumes. She just looked around with a puzzled look on her face the whole night. After the festivities at the museum we were able to continue the fun at the Leavitt family costume party.

Little miss Rory as "pink" tinkerbell

Conner, Rory, Isabella, Wyatt, and Olivia (uncle Chris is hiding behind Izzy) :)

Grandpa Charlie and baby "pink" tinkerbell

Grandma Peggy, Leanna, and Conner

Garrett, Delaney and Tami

Delaney and Izzy

It's always so hard to leave good old Boulder City. What a fun family I have been blessed with!

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate...

"Beauty is Truth, Truth Chocolate" - that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know.

Ode on a Chocolate Urn
John Keats and Peter Mansbach

For those of us not from the bay area, here’s a little bit of history. In 1852, Domingo Ghirardelli established his first chocolate factory in San Francisco. I had felt pleased to live in the bay area already, but now that I know this tidbit of history I am PROUD! I really didn’t know.

About two weeks ago we went with some friends (Nor, Dax and Mimi) to Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. It was very chocolaty! Now all can share in my true feelings about chocolate. I love it. And who doesn’t? I suppose there are some that don’t (I'll never understand). This is from an article that I recently read that explains everything:

“Now you know why they're called "munchies": Scientists in today's edition of "Nature" magazine think that chocolate, the dusky brown substance of our dreams, harbors a chemical within it that mimics the effects of cannabis. Which is to say, pot, grass, wacky tabacky -- marijuana. You may never look at a brownie the same way again. So when you eat chocolate, your brain gets more or less the same sensations it would get if you were locked in a closet, breathing in the second-hand smoke of a guy nicknamed "Reefer Bob." (John Scalzi)

Ha! This is really true. Now it’s clear why Mormons consume so much chocolate! :)

I know we've all heard it before, but it's important not to forget the HIGHLY POSITIVE ASPECTS OF CHOCOLATE CONSUMPTION (YOU MUST READ THESE REALLY INTERESTING STATISTICS!):

Chocolate consumption has been scientifically linked to longer life. A few pieces of chocolate every month may make your life both sweeter and longer, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. A survey of healthy 65-year-old men revealed that those who ate sweets containing chocolate reportedly lived longer. Surprisingly non-consumers had the highest mortality of all. As with most things in life, moderation seems to be paramount. Chocolate is considered a major source of dietary copper, which is required for a healthy lifestyle. Cocoa and chocolate are also rich in minerals, such as magnesium and iron. Chocolate is a short-term source for energy due to antioxidants and phenolics it contains. This energy source was even utilized by soldiers during heavy combat situations. A 40 gram chocolate bar contains the same amount of phenol as a glass of red wine and can be a positive source of dietary antioxidants. These anti-oxidants have been proven to reduce the risk of developing cancer or heart disease.

“Hickory, chicory, choc, the mousse was in the wok, the brownies rose, the ice cream froze, Hickory chicory choc.”
Nursery Rhyme and Peter Mansbach

Four Year Olds: the Hard and the Easy

Rory at soccer practice in Walnut Creek, CA (Fall 2007)

Things I find hard about four year olds:

1. It’s hard to be a human encyclopedia. They ask tons of questions. And “Why?” accompanies each and every thing you say.

2. It’s hard being the “ok” and “mmhmm” mommy auto response robot. They need a response for everything! Example: Rory has to tell me every time she needs to go potty, and I must give her my “o.k.” before she will go.

3. It’s hard feeling like you need your ears checked because you can’t hear anything above the noise they create.

4. It’s hard hearing the frequent nagging that is coming from your own mouth because they need to be told to do something at least ten times before they’ll actually do it.

5. It’s REALLY hard to wake from a dreamy sleep at 6am to hear, “I need help wiping the poo!”

6. It’s hard to feel the remorse that comes after scolding them for things that they didn’t purposefully do. (Examples: going #1 and/or #2 in their pants and on the floor because they couldn't make it to the potty on time , big spills, etc.)


Things I find easy about four year olds:

1. It’s easy to listen to the tender lullabies they sing to their baby dolls and baby sister.

2. It’s easy to peak in their rooms and watch them acting out parts in their little fantasy worlds.

3. It’s easy to feel their loving little arms wrap around you as they say, “I love you mommy.”

4. It’s easy to proudly watch their delightful sports/dance/music performances and witness your little ones' growing talents.

5. It’s easy to laugh at all the funny and adorable little things they do and say. Example: the other day Rory was flossing (with what appeared to be floss), then brushed her teeth and got in bed. Later, as I was cleaning the bathroom, I found the used floss, which just so happened to be a strand from her pink hula skirt. :)

6. It’s easy to have your little princess give you regular spa treatments: brush your hair, help you put your lip gloss on (and then help herself to some), bejewel your face with her special sparkle star stickers, and give you back rubs and/or scratch your back.

Isabella and Mommy with her dazzling star facial! (Fall 2007)

Here's some Total Momsense

This clip is so funny! The lady can't sing, but I got a kick out of it.

Gun Shots in the Night

The night before last, Glen and I awoke to the sound of gun fire right outside our window. There were two shots fired. I was freaking out and told Glen to call the police. He went to the window to try and see what was going on. He saw a Latino man walking away from our complex. The police arrived before he even had a chance to call. They were looking around the complex, and Glen had seen the guy leave so he wanted to go out and talk to the police. I wouldn’t let him! So, he yelled down from our window to the police what he had seen. We have no idea what exactly happened--if someone was actually shot or what? The guy was probably drunk and decided to fire off some shots for fun. We’ve joked about this apartment complex being the ghetto. Well, it’s officially GHETTOVILLE! No wonder the sign always says "NOW LEASING". Hopefully we’ll be able to find a nicer place that’s comparable in price once our contract is up. Aahhh, a day in the life at Kingston Place Apartments, the Hood of Walnut Creek.

Granny Rose

This last week granny Rose came to visit us. It was so fun! We wished that she could stay forever. It always takes me a while to adjust to not having my mommy around after she leaves. Why do we have to grow up! Unfortunately she was only here for two days, one of those days being my birthday (Oct. 3rd). We did lots of fun things. We ate out, shopped, ate out, shopped and ate out some more. Isabella loves her grandma! They really bonded. Rory loved all the extra attention she got. Rory found a friend at the fountain downtown near the "Betsy Johnson" shop. The fountain is one of her favorite places to play. She was doing some ballet moves and this cute little boy began dancing with her. Several people commented on how coordinated she was and that I should definitely get her in dance lessons. I haven't enrolled her yet this year. One memorable event was that she actually fell in the fountain and was absolutely drenched from head to toe. She kept jumping back in the fountain since she was already wet. It was definitely a fun time for her, and a great laugh for me and grandma. We went to the Creamery for ice cream both nights grandma was here. We've become quite the regulars there and the staff knows us now. This is not a good thing for dropping baby weight! Anyhow, mom, we miss and love you. Come back soon!

The Kids Get an "F"

The other night we went out to eat with Nor and Mimi while Dax (Nor's husband) was out of town--sorry Dax. However, Dax didn't miss much, despite these pictures that deceive one into thinking the dinner was all smiles and totally easy going. Ha! The kids definitely got an "F" as Nor put it. Both babies were totally fussy and would not be consoled. Izzy was grabbing my hair, my water, my plate and anything else that was NOT baby friendly. Rory was crying and whining and definitely did not have her listening ears on. And Mimi wouldn't let Nor eat until Glen took her on a little walk after he was done with his food. Well, we tried to have an enjoyable dinner, but there was one word that kept coming to my mind that night--Babysitters!

Little Crawler

Here's a couple of cute pics of Isabella trying to crawl. She's also now starting to get up into sitting position all by herself.

Girls and Boys

Last night Rory's friends Owen and Aven came over to play. Their parents went to a football game and also left their baby girl Vila with us. While Glen and I were taking care of Vila and Isabella, the other kids were playing (unsupervised, as you can see) in Rory's room. Glen went to check on them and they had all put Rory's princess dresses on. Luckily the boys' parents didn't care that we let them play dress-ups. It's totally normal and natural for little boys to want to play with girl stuff, but in this day and age people are a little more cautious. This reminded me of the time when Seth, Rory's cousin, wanted to dress up in one of her princess costumes and Rory said, "you're not a princess, you're a boy." And Seth heatedly replied (yelled), "I am a princess!" I couldn't stop laughing. Ashley told me a story about Joseph when he was little. Whenever she would paint her nails, Joseph would want her to paint his too--he must have been about 2 or 3 years old at this time. After a couple times of Ashley painting his nails, Leslie (his mom) made him take it off and explained that nail polish is only for girls. He was in tears and wailed, "Girls are sooo lucky!" Well it's true, girls are so lucky. We get to spend so much time (that we don't have) painting our nails and faces, shaving legs and underarms, and fixing our hair. How fun! I'm speaking for myself when I say that I would much rather be able to jump in the shower, jump out, run my hands through my hair and come out looking hot without having to do all that other stuff! But I will say, we do get to wear very pretty clothes (clothes that remind some of us that we've carried and born children). Wait, maybe I'd rather wear loose pants and baggy t-shirts. Boys are sooo lucky!

Izzy and Mimi

Isabella has a new best friend named Miranda--Mimi for short. My friend Lenore is holding them in the pool of balls at this kids play place called the Jungle where we went a couple days ago. Nore always tells people that they're twins cuz they kind of look alike. They both have asian blood. Izzy, Rory and I love to go on excursions with Nore and Mimi. In the other picture Rory is playing with Nore's niece. She's a cutie. They had a lot of fun.

Changing

We've lived in Walnut Creek for 2 months now and the girls are changing so much. Rory decided that she wanted to get her hair cut about shoulder length. She will every now and then say "I'm a girl that loves her hair!" It's so funny. Most kids freak out when they get their hair cut, but not Rory. She was telling the hair dresser to cut it shorter, but I stopped her from cutting it too short. Rory's made quite a few new friends, so it's been a lot easier for her to adjust to the move.
Isabella is getting so big and has lots of personality. She is so smiley and is making lots of fun noises. She is also beginning to try to crawl. She can scoot herself around somewhat, but she's not all over the place YET. I'm in for it really soon. She loves her big sister, and is easily drawn to laughter by the silly faces and noises Rory makes when trying to entertain her. She is also eating solid foods and loves it! We can't eat anything without having to include her too.
I took the picture above at Civic Park here in Walnut Creek. The parks are much prettier here than in Southern Nevada.