A day at the beach.....

Mazatlan was our beach day. We scheduled a tour with a tour company before we left for the cruise. It included a fairy ride, transportation to the beach, lunch and two activities. Nice huh? The kids thought it was amazing, and these picture represent what they thought of the trip...




Live starfish and coloring on the beach.......
The little dots in the water are Lindsey and Jacob.... the kids loved the ocean.

All of us on the boat ride (except Dave who took the picture)

Jacob always takes care of his sisters, its really awesome.

It looks like a resort or like an amazing day. The real story was...

We lost my Mom exiting the boat. She got confused on our meeting place. It was horrible. We had to have new cruise cards printed because you can't exit without them and she had the twins cards. Luckily after an hour of frustration we verified she had left the boat. We almost missed our prepaid tour (which we later know might have been a blessing).

The tour guy then tells us he is getting taxi's to take us to the boat. The "taxi's" where actually pick up trucks with benches in the back. Then we get to the boat. It was horrid. The drive around the bay was totally long and there was nothing to see at all. Then we arrive at a little dumpy dock where they take you on tractor pulls to the beach area. Around you is poverty. Huts and shacks and trash. It was sad. We got to the beach, which was beautiful, and began unloading. Quickly we are attacked by vagrants agressively selling stuff. Not a moments peace. I felt panicked all day trying to watch my kids in the water, watch my stuff from people surrounding me, constantly saying no to all these people selling stuff. The restaurant was dirty. I could not eat a single thing, nor could I feed my kids. Then Sydney had an accident so I had to use the nasty bathroom. While running my screaming child to the bathroom some man is following me agressively trying to sell silver jewlery! Seriously. Not a good time! Screaming translates in spanish to mean leave us alone, right- apparently not?

Then at the last moment without warning they tell us our boat is leaving. We are running everyone and all our belongings on the tractor. My mom is missing and in the bathroom. Jacob is covered in sand from head to toe because we literally pulled them out of the ocean and my sister literally ran up and jumped on as it was driving off. It was crazy! I think the day took ten years off my life. Later back on the boat, kids bathed and me getting my diet coke with lime by the pool I wondered why we ever left. Heavenly. I had never appreciated the food and drink and clean surroundings so much!

Atleast we got good memories and pictures and a story we will not soon forget!

A conversation....

The other day I took Hailey to Walgreen's to pick up medicine for Sydney. Hailey was on cloud 9 to be all alone. She wanted to load the cart and unload it at the register. There she told the lady "my sister has the same voice and face as me, were twins". On the way home we had the following conversation.

H-Mom what will I look like when I am dead and in heaven?
M-The most beautiful you ever looked.
H-Oh like a Mom then.
H-How do I get a Daddy?
M- Well I met Daddy in a class in college, we fell in love, and got married. Thats how you do it.
H- Who will I find?
H-I want a boy and girl one.
M-What?
H- I want a boy and girl kid like Lindsey and Jacob cept I won't call them Lindsey and Jacob I will have my own names. Then I want twins. How do you get twins?
M- You have to be lucky to get twins.
H-I am going to name my twins Sydney and Hailey though. Just like you did.
M-What are you going to do with your kids.
H-Drive them to school. That's what Mom's do.

She is so funny. Unfortunately I got to take Sydney back to Walgreen's because Hailey left the medicine in the cart during her unloading.

Spring fever.........

I had spring fever. You know where its warm and all the windows are open and all you want to do is play? Then it snowed. All last week was cold, wet, even snowy! I am over it!

I slept with the wind howling and woke up to more snow flying. It doesn't look like its leaving soon either. BOO!

Mama's loosing it...

Yesterday was one of those days. It started out amazing. Went out to breakfast with my little sister for her birthday. My Mom even took the girls home so we could do some birthday shopping. She even let me go to Costco alone. Bliss.

Then everything started going bad. After spending 2 hrs at the doctors with three children I was rushing home to pick Jacob up from a play date. I was tired and stressed and everyone was hungry. Sheesh the Costco was still in the back of the car (not to worry its been freezing and snowing around here). So I pulled up to get Jacob. Go to the door wait while the little guy screams "Mom someone is at the door". She is slow and isn't coming. I wait and I wait and then my mind turns on. Jacob's friend doesn't have a older brother. His house doesn't look like this. Still no Mom. So what do I do. I tell the kid I have the wrong house and hurry to escape further humiliation. My kids are confused, "where is Jacob". I admit the truth. Drive three courts up and pick up my kid. Yeah I am loosing my mind.

Swinging in the trees...

We had a great time in Puerto Vallarta. We got off the boat early in the morning. The plan was to go zip lining which meant the twins stayed on the boat with my Mom. Zip Lining was absolutely wonderful. The company we used was safe,professional and fun. The views were awesome and the rush was amazing. I was so proud that both Lindsey and Jacob did it with us and had such a good time!

My Dad and sister Holly.

My sister Diana and her husband Dave.

Saturday morning...

Weekends around here are brutal at times. There is sports to do to all.the.time. Then there is the mess. Does anyone else live in a bomb that can only be recovered on Monday's?

So I am telling all the kids to go up and clean their rooms. Distracted by the cereal all over the floor I don't follow up (because no one is listening to me). A half hour passes I head upstairs to get kids dressed only to find Hailey in her room. "What are you doing I ask"? Forgetting my earlier orders. "I am cleaning my room. I like to clean my room. It makes me happy". I get her dressed. She tells me she loves to get her hair done (which isn't really true). She is all smiles and kisses. "she tells me her favorite color is pink, but not hot pink". I love these unexpected moments. When you feel like someone is listening to you and you find time to stop and listen back.

Thursdays thirteen...

1- Time for a new blog look. If I see winter another minute, I'll scream. I have spring fever. We had a peek of warm weather and spring and its amazing. Stay tuned for a change soon.
2-Spring reminds me of Jacob's birth. He was born on April 11th. I left the house to go to the hospital and it was cold and when I came home I remember so clearly flowers and sunshine. Every time spring peeks I think of Jacob and his birth. What and amazing memory it all creates.
3- Hailey returned from being downstairs yesterday. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was watching a show. A show where "the lady smiled real big and lots and they have lots of 2's and 4's and they jumped and clapped". I guess she experienced her first game show. LOL.
4-Do not rent The boy in the striped pajama's. The ending, awful.
5-Soccer is officially back on. See spring is coming I can feel it.
6-I volunteered at the hospital today. I was taking pictures of tiny babies. 25 weekers kind of tiny. Thinking what miracles. What is their journey going to be like? So amazing to see life so fragile yet fighting so strong. It can put things in perspective to see that. It's beautiful and complex.
7-Stayed up till 2am and got up at 7am. Not fun. Girls night was apparently too much fun.
8-Finished two good books to share.
9-Hole still in my ceiling. Need to get working on repair (stopped my post to call for a bid).
10-Life is so busy. Somehow with sports, cleaning, and everything I just never stop going.
11-Birthday season coming up around here. We have Jacob in April (as mentioned), Lindsey in May and Alan in the end of May.
12-Finishing last of ebay. Doesn't it seem like I have been ebaying for the last month straight. Lol.
13-More vacation posts tomorrow.

So what are all of you up to?

At Sea...

Before leaving on our cruise I admit to having some concerns about the days at sea. I was most looking forward to our shore excursions and seeing the sights. Being stuck in the middle of ocean seemed well boring. Boy was I wrong. It was pure bliss. I never expected to love that part so much. I was actually a bit sad when we hit a port. I was then required to get up and do something. Next cruise, we all agree more days at sea. LOL.

Top five things about being at sea...
Free food all day.
Clean and comfy.
No need to pack or lug anything (mom's appreciate this).
No deadlines (that's bliss)
Here are a few shots from day 1 and 2....

Crafts at kids club. Oh and notice that Lindsey is missing in most photos. She never would leave the kids program. She was there as much as it was open.

Kids club. They had special things planned every day.

The girls lived in the hot tub. As much as possible!

The pool area... outside.

Fine dining. Serious. Alan ate frog legs.

Ice cream. YUM! The gals gave the girls all the free toppings and extras they could allow.

Alan and my little brother Stephen, Shuffle board.

Apparently the twins can sleep anywhere. And they did at dinner, at the pool, on the beach.

Buffet was great for Jacob. All bacon and a donut. Sounds healthy huh.

a rare view of Lindsey before she ran off to kids club.

Little fish.

The girls in front of the grand staircase... notice the upside down sunglasses.

More to come when we hit port. First stop Puerto Vallarta.

Highlights...

Our cruise to Mexico was a gift from my Mom. All of my siblings and my brother in law came (no other children to bring). 13 of us in all. The cruise was with Princess and went from LA to Puerto Vallarta , Mazatlan, and Cabo. Seven days.

Highlights

1-All meals prepared and free. What mother doesn't think that's heaven?
2-Warm Weather.
3-Zip lining and watching my kids push themselves and love it.
4-Swimming and watching my kids swim. I thought Jacob would grow fins.
5-Babysitting. It was amazing to have a vacation where we had some kid free adult time yet still could share the fun with our kids. Alan and I did not have to stress over who got time away, we got to have some time together. Oh and they loved the kids club!
6-Time with my sisters and Mom.
7-Reading in the sun and watching pretty scenery.
8- Reading on the deck while listening to ocean at night.
9-Power walks with my sisters every night (we had to get the calories off). Lots of laughing. Thanks Alan.
10- No technology to distract. Phones, computers.
11- Seeing stuff I have never seen.
12- New Jewelry. Something I never buy myself, ever.
13-The twins were celebrities as there were no other twins on the boat. They were well known and were given lots of perks (which were shared with Lindsey and Jacob).
14- Amazing service.
15- Our boat ride in Cabo.

Low lights
1- Day two- the croup. First Sydney, then Hailey.
2- Bathroom accidents. No vacation from my dirty work.
3- Some parts of Mexico are not nice. Mazatlan was quite a story.
4- Packing two little clothes for the kids. They got mighty dirty.
5- My beloved Rebel betraying me. It's acting up. Only works when it wants to. Thank goodness I have two camera's.
6- Coming home, all of it.STUNK!

I highly recommend cruises. I loved every minute. I can hardly wait to go on another.

Today....

Today I....

Found 12 cookies hidden in the girls dress up box in the room. Upon questioning they said, when they ask I only will give them one cookie.

Searched for beloved blankies while tears flowed.

Found that someone dumped tide powder all over the laundry room. Seriously why?

Fed my kids 100 calorie pack cookies for breakfast. Apparently I left the box in open view and did not know till I caught the girls eating their third pack. Waffles are untouched on the table.

Found an entire roll of toilet paper unrolled on the nightstand in the girls room. Why I ask. Because she needs it to wipe her nose or tears. Don't we all get caught of guard with those unplanned crying fits and don't we all need a whole roll of toilet paper?

Off to neverland....

So I had to document this conversation from the girls today.


H-Mom can you leave my window open?

Me- Why?

H-because I want Peter Pan to come take me to neverland. Wait what if I can't get home? Oh year I just need Tinkerbell's fairy dust, then I can fly back when I want.

S-I don't want to see Peter Pan EVER.

H- Well I do.

S-I don't want to go to Neverland. So then you will be alone.

H-I won't be alone I will be with Peter Pan.

S-I don't even want to see Peter Pan.

H- Well then you better sleep in another room cuz he is coming for me.

I just about cried I was laughing so hard.... I love this age. The whimsical innocence and total magic of it all.