I HAVE BEEN TAGGED!!!

Stephanie, one of THE sweetest people that I know tagged me long time ago. LOL Sorry Mrs. Huntley! lol


8 THINGS I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT (except for #1, no particular order):

1)My children.....Dominique, Jayden & Kayla

2)Jason

3)My family (immediate, extended, yada, yada, yada)

4)God

5)SHOPPING

6)Food (cooking, eating out, tv shoes, etc)

7)Being a SAHM (even though on most days, I suck at it)

8)Holidays & Birthdays (if you REALLY know me, then you KNOW what I am talking about)

IF, I had a #9, It would DISNEY & Target. LMBO


8 BOOKS I HAVE READ & ENJOYED:

I am NOT much of a reader. lol

AGAIN, NO ORDER!

1)To Kill a Mockingbird

2)Twilight

3)The Color Purple

4)The Bluest Eyes

5)The Giving Tree

6) Pinkalicious

7)Fall on Your Knees

8)Love You Forever


8 WORDS OR PHRASES I SAY OFTEN:

1) "I LOVE YOU"

2) "LEAVE YOUR BROTHER/SISTER ALONE!"

3) "STOP IT!"

4) "IF YOU DON'T STOP IT, I AM GOING TO CALL YOUR FATHER!"

5) "I BETTER NOT GET TO 3.............1...........2..........."

6) "SHIT!"

7) "STOP IT BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT!"

8) "DID YOU WASH YOUR HANDS?"


8 THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE (In no particular order):

1) Move closer to family

2) Open my own boutique

3) See my kids graduate from college & be successful adults

4) Get skinny

5) Truly be happy with MYSELF

6) Plan my kids weddings.

7) Live a more Christian life

8) Buy a nice piece of property and build our own custom house.


8 THINGS I LEARNED IN THIS PAST YEAR

1) No matter how "great" your medical insurance is, it still SUCKS!

2) That I am TRULY blessed.

3) That being a mom is TOUGH! ( I already knew this, but I have been reminded on a daily basis)

4) That I will NEVER, EVER stop missing grans.

5) That some people will NEVER, EVER change..........PERIOD!

6) Who my REAL family is AND who is NOT

7) What it is like to REALLY be fearful of the safety of a loved one.

8) It IS WHAT IT IS............... Deal with it. Curse it. But ultimately, embrace it.


8 PEOPLE I WANT TO TAG

WELL, SINCE I AM SO LATE, EVERYONE HAS BEEN TAGGED. LMBO

BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

Dom started HIGH SCHOOL yesterday. I am still in shock that I actually have a kid in high school. Where has all the time gone???? I was a lot more nervous than she was. I think I cried more sending her off to high school then when our baby Kayla started preschool. I thought with time it gets easier. YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!! Jason is afraid that I with have to be committed when our last one starts college. AND he is NOT joking.

Dom said everything was great. I hope it continues to be good for her. She goes to the Catholic High school in town. It is a small school. It is just what she needs. The teachers and principal are amazing.

Then Jayden started 3rd grad today. He was SUPER excited to be back with his friends. He has a new teacher. It is her first year as a full time teacher. She is just as stoked (if not more) than the kids. I can tell that she will be awesome.

After I picked up Dom, we headed over to Jaydens school. Dom was excited to go back to her "old" school. She felt so "old and mature". She went and visited her old teachers. Again, something she needed. :)

Kayla does not start school for 2 more weeks. So, I will update when she starts.

Her are some pics!


Dom's 1st Day!


Jayden "NEEDING" to be in the picture!


Kayla "NEEDING" to be in her OWN picture!


Jayden's 1st day!

MINI CARAMEL APPLES

A few days ago, the kids and I made MINI caramel apples. Well, actually...caramel, chocolate and peanut butter. We decorated with sprinkles, coconut, and nuts. We each made 6. The kids picked their flavors and toppings

They were quick and easy. The kids had a blast. AND unlike regular sized apples, where the kids eat the "GOOD" stuff and throw out the apple....they ate the whole thing.







RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
4-inch lollipop sticks
Melon baller
Granny Smith apples (one apple makes about 8 mini apples)
Butterscotch or peanut butter chips
Chopped nuts, nonpareils, sprinkles, shredded coconut (optional)
Small paper candy cups
Step 1 - Mini Caramel Apples 1. First, cut the lollipop sticks in half at an angle (the pointy end will go into the apple pieces easier). With the melon baller, scoop little balls out of the apple. Each ball should have a section of apple peel. Push half of a lollipop stick into the peel of each ball. Pat the apple pieces dry.

Mini Caramel Apples: Variations 2. Melt the chips according to the package directions. Dip and swirl the mini apples in the melted chips, then roll the apples in nuts, sprinkles, nonpareils, or coconut, if desired. Place the mini apples in paper candy cups to set.

We are still ALIVE!!

Okay, so it has been 2 months since my last bog. NO, I did not give up. lol It is summer time and well....ummmmmm.......life is CRAZY hectic. The kids do not give me 2 minutes to pee let alone sit and write about our crazy arse life. lol

The good news is, school starts in ONE WEEK!!!! I know I should be a good mommy and be sad. But, even if I am not a good mommy, at least I am an honest one. I am VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY excited that school is starting. I love my kids. I love them being around me. BUT, I HATE their constant arguing and fussing during the summer. They need a break from each other. Shoot, I need a break from them. I think the start of school will be good for everyone. No more wild children, no more cranky mommy, a decent schedule, early bedtimes, yada, yada, yada. YEAH right! Okay, at least a little better.

So with the start of school, I will get back to my blog. I need it. YOU need it. Humor me...please.

Not only will I be able to fill you in on what is going on this fall, BUT everything we did this summer. I will even upload my 500 pics from our Cali vacation after 2 months. lol Check back often. You KNOW you miss me......I mean us!

JUNE 2, 1994

Yes, the story continues. Well, I will spare you all the painful details. Just know that about 24 hours after that initial cramp at Toys R Us, I, received the most precious gift EVER! At 7:36 pm weighing 5lbs 15oz, and 20 inches long, Miss Dominique Aliyah was born! Some days, I think wow, it has been a LONG 14 years. Then on days, like today, I just cry because actually, they have been the quickest 14 years of my life. My little girl will be starting high school in just a couple of months. WOW, where does the time go........here are a few pics to let you know!











HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOOBIE!!!

JUNE 1, 1994

Fourteen years ago this evening, I was at TRU in Fairfield, looking at Little Tikes slides and playhouses for my 2 year old Nick (for those that do not know, Nick is my nephew that my parents have raised since he was an infant). We had just found the perfect set when.........BAM.........

What the heck? cramping??? gas??? poop cramping??? NO......CRAMPING??????Is it time???

My mother said, "NO, it is just indigestion". Umm...okay.....although, we have NOT eaten yet!

So, we drive back to Vallejo. Oh, let me rephrase that........I drive back to Vallejo, all the while not feeling too good. Maybe she is right.....indigestion.

I get back to my dads and start decorating the kitchen like I always did the night before someones birthday. I remember this SO vividly, I was standing on one of our ugly arse "wicker" 80's, maybe it was a 70's chair when........

OH SHIT....... I start to........... pee my pants??? I jump, okay, almost fall off the chair and waddle my way up the stairs and "finish" peeing. Ummm....I have indigestion and I can NOT hold the pee. OKAY?????

YELLING from upstairs........."DAD....I think I "might" have peed my pants"......................................................................


to be continued........................

DOMINIQUE'S GRADUATION

SO, my "baby" graduated from 8th grade last week. I have not stopped crying. It really is hard to believe that she will be starting high school in the fall. As we all know, Catholic schools treat 8th graduations like high school graduations. lol The graduation consisted of a full Mass, graduation and awards ceremony. It lasted almost 2 hours. Dominique received "B" honor roll for her entire 8th grade year. Following the graduation, there was a reception with a slide show of the kids. After that, they had a party just for the kids. Dom skipped that party. Instead, we headed to AppleBees for dinner. It was a nice LONG evening.

Here are some pics of the ceremony, and a pic of Dom with her favorite teacher, Mrs. Walker. Mrs. Walker has LOVED Dom since the day Dom arrived at St. Francis School.