Summer Days

I have actually felt a little guilty becuase we have not done a whole lot lately! We have been so lazy and low key. The only running we have done is to take Tate to gymnastics or her writing class or to go to the YMCA which we do a few times a week. That is it my friends.

If we did anything else we would just spend $$. Which being on a budget doesn't really allow and life with an 18 month old is never boring and you never want to be in public! Forgot how much I do not like this into everything stage and the point and grunt stage! WORDS PLEASE!

My friend Cris and her son Evan came over last Monday and we all hung out! Jacob wanted "E" to spend the night right then! He adored him!!

Other than that "low key" is our mantra for the summer. Plus, it is just to blasted hot!

***How many days until school starts...no one here is counting:)

*Here are some pictures of the kids..Caden wanting to eat liek a big boy at the table (he ends up on it most of the time). Caden carrying around my box of snacks...he does this everyday a million times. Tate and me jammin out to the Hannah Montana 3D concert!

****Will post pictures later having major problems uploading them:(

Last Weekend

Last weekend Michael's best friends and Jake's godfather, Jason, came to take Jakey shopping for his birthday! They went to Toys r us (brave man). Jas and Lisa do not have kids of their own YET and this was a new experience for him. Jake was beyond excited to ride in his gray car and just to be with him.

Jake talked Jason into going under the underpass of the freeway (it is dark and from where we live you have to turn down 1960...drive a while...u-turn around...then make your way back) needless to say mommy never does that so Uncle Jason was way cool for that.

Jason quickly learned kids want everything in the store within their vision and he also learned it is OK to say NO!

I had given him the hint to buy NO MORE TRAINS...I wasn't going to let him in the house if he bought anymore trans...and that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are his next fave thing. Jake told him he wanted a "hobidoctor" and Jas had no idea what that was until they turned down the turtle aisle and Jake was beyond excited wanting the ninja turtle "hobidoctor" HELICOPTER!!!!

So, they made it back with the helicopter and two new turtles. He even stayed and put it all together!!!!

Thank you Uncle Jason!

Taylor "The Fearful Gymnast"

So...we have discovered though Tate loves gymnastics...in some events she is very fearful. On the bars right now they are doing this thing where she has to be pushed up with elbows locked on the bar, then extend one leg straight and have it then hang over the bar and the final thing is then she has to flip all the way over and back up (that is the scary part for her). Second scary event is on the beam (this scares me to death just looking at the thing) she has learned to do a handstand on the beam and then dismount (go from a handstand and jump to the ground to land) all on her own. Coach April use to spot her but says she is ready to do this on her own.

Yesterday I dropped the girls off and then went and worked out. I got back to watch about 30 minutes of practice and they were on the beam. April had a big talk with Tate AND SHE DID THE BEAM HANDSTAND WITH DISMOUNT ON HER OWN. Major accomplishment that she did this all on her own. April was with her the whole time of course but she refused to help her. I love how she was encouraging her the whole time and never let Tate back down from her fears. So, yesterday after practice Coach April talked to me about being a fearful gymnast and how she was like that and had several on the team like that. She has a saying for them that helps them pump themselves up and overcome their fears but it is to over Tate's head. So, she said we needed to find something for Tate to tell herself. She also explained to Taylor how fear was the enemy. The fear we have makes our mind tell us things that are not true....example.....I am going to fall off the bars and the mats will not be soft when they catch me and I will get hurt(Tate's exact fear).

Last night we came up with the scripture from Philipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". We talked about having God help us overcome our fears. I talked with Coach April this morning when I dropped Taylor off and told her we found a scripture verse for Taylor to say to herself. I told her she was having a little trouble remembering the whole thing so we would work on memorizing it. She asked what scripture and I started telling her and she was like "Oh, Philipians 4:13 not a problem I will help her with it don't worry." I wanted to cry I was so excited that her coach one, new the scripture and two, was excited about encouraging Tate to say it to herself to overcome her fears!

PRAISE GOD!

New hair-do

OK~

So...I tried a new hair place today. After 25 years of the same person cutting my hair...ask Cyn and Kimmy this has been a hard choice. BUT, for too many long reasons I went and gave this new girl a shot and most importantly $50 cheaper WOW! That spoke to my husband big time and me who is trying to keep my cleaning lady in the fall after my $$ from the bet Michael won runs out (another long story).

Another biggie......new hair color...yes drastic for me. I have so much gray it is not even funny and have been coloring my hair "safe" for awhile. Not anymore man I have some fun color and new haircut as well. I have been wanting to try both of these styles for awhile and I am beyond thrilled. From the pictures it is hard to tell the color but be warned there is blond streaks in there. Kimmy and Cyn it may you just may not recognize me JJ. Michael is just glad I don't look like "Tommy" anymore. Yes, he calls me Tommy Bradford when me and my curls get out of hand and begin to get crazy and half resemble a mullet.

Some it up....I am excited and yet it is going to take the whole family a while to get used to it. Tate was overtired when I got home and started balling that I would never look the same again! DRAMA!

Anyway..be honest in your comments I don't want to go around looking to much like a freak!

4th of July Weekend

We had such a crazy and great weekend. The older two and Michael went to Carmine on Friday for the day (I stayed behind with wee pupp and shopped for my mom's day gift from my mom). Then my niece and nephew spent the night. We were still sitting the other two puppies so we had two adults, 5 kids and three dogs. CRAZY!!! Chris and Jess LOVED the pupps and wanted one for Christmas but I don't see that happening.

That night we all cuddled up and watched The Chronicles of Narnia. My two had not seen it yet...jake just loved the snow parts but he did watch the whole thing....Tate LOVED it and I loved watching her cousins get so excited about explaining the connection betweet Aslan and Christ and just all the Christian overtomes to her and her get it and love it and get excited about it!!

Then we hung outSaturday with my uncle Randy and Aunt Juday and my cousin Ryan and his girlfriend Abby (who my kids adored). Sunday we slept in and just hung low!

Happy 4th everybody!

Taylor's Gymnastics Mini-Olympic Show

Girls with their medals

Flipping on the bar

Getting her medal
Jake so interested
Tate, Coach April and the Hot Shot Team

Brooke and Tate
Daddy and Tate
Entering the floor
Kevin mazeika (Men's Olympic Coach)
Bar work


Today Tate had her first gymnastics show. She takes with her best friend Brooke and they just recently made the team and will actually be competing starting in the fall. They have so much fun together and are actually really improving. When they compete it is really not against anyone yet and they get ribbons according to their score. Good lessons to come I am sure. There gym is wonderful and so positive. The owner Kevin Mazieka is actually the Men's Olympic coach for this summer Olympics. Way cool!

Anyway..Tate and Brookie's bodies are changing and my daughter (I have to say) has some ripped shoulder muscles WOW! Brooke's calves are becoming these little balls. IT is crazy. Cynthia and I keep saying if we just did all that conditioning at home we would be in good shape!

So..my action shots suck! Go to Cyn's blog her fancy lens will for sure capture much more than I did. We were so proud of the girls today! They did all four events and as they moved from station to station they played the Olympic music WOW! Teaching them to dream big I tell ya! It was way cool I must say!

Jacob's 4th Birthday

Jakey in his King Chair
Jake's train cookie cake
Sis and bubba
Jake and his bride to be Maddie
Saturday morning cinnamon rolls
WOW! My little guy turned 4 today! He informed he wants to stay three and I screamed NO WAY! I am ready for a little maturing here. He celebrated his birthday Thursday night at a bounce house (his first not at home party). We had a blast and he was blessed by all his friends and family. He/We had a rough week. He has had some funky virus and he would just run really high fever and he did this for several days. He got it from Caden who had it last weekend. Thanks for sharing man! He then threw up in my bed yesterday morning FUN! After that he was great though!

Today is his actual birthday and he woke up to have cinnamon rolls with his family. Tonight we are going to eat at red Robbins. Tate had her gymnastics show today (will blog that later). Busy day. She woke up last night with fever but has been fine all day.

In the pictures you will also see two extra dogs in the house because we are dog sitting our sweet friends two Yorkies for a week. So 5 adults and three dogs...my life wasn't crazy enough right?? They are super sweet puppies and I actually now have the yearning for another puppy. Maci does great with them and the kids LOVE them. I think I am certifiable!

Fav gifts (yes he loved them all but these ranked high):

Remote control geo trax train (we only have 5)

Fort that is camo and put up in the game room (very cool)

Butterfly Habitat (mailed out for our larvae today)

New Spider Man Bike