Sunday, December 26, 2010

cabo

We had A BLAST in Cabo!!  It was THE most perfect way to ring in my 30th birthday!  Heath & Bryan are my bestest friends!  We have so much fun together.  Thanks boys, for such a FABULOUS birthday!!!






eating 24 hour pizza on our balcony


Bryan's ready just in case we sink


the slide ... a SLIDE on  a boat!!??  Very cool!!

THE yummiest drink ... and it's a biggie bank, too! The kids' loved it!


Bry - getting ready for snorkeling

our boat in the background

Lover's Beach





Our crew for our Off Shore excursion ... so fun!  They were doing YMCA!


Getting ready to go Para Sailing!  SOOOOOO AMAZING!!!

presents at grandma jeans and eating dead fish

Addi doing Grandma Jean's present

Grandma Jean's present from Addi

Playing Tic Tac Toe at Grandma Jean's ... the kids' fave game!

Yep! Those are DEAD fish ... fried!!

Addi ... eating the dead fish!

Addi and Uncle Mike

The kiddos eyeing the gifts!
Addi is seriously THE most competitive child I know!  She cannot turn down a challenge!  Uncle Mike came home with "Italian French Fries", which turned out to be fried Smelt.  Heath told Addi she'd pay her $2 if she ate one.  She did.  Popped it in her mouth and got her two bucks!  Then Uncle Mike offered another $2 for another fish.  Of course she did it!  Crazy, crazy gal!

Addi made a super sweet gift for Grandma with all the reasons why she loves her!  Grandma loved it!

decorating the christmas tree and silly pictures

We had such a fun time decorating the Christmas tree then watching Despicable Me and having ice cream and pop corn.  Kaiden and Addi LOVE the camera; taking pictures and using the tripod.  The kids loved telling us how they wanted us posed and snapping away.  Here are some pictures of our fun evening!










talented friends

I have an amazing friend who is a photographer and mother and sooo oober talented.  She has THE coolest creations.  Above is her latest - it's a camera strap cover for digital SLR's!!!  You give her the colors you want and she comes up with an amazing creation, that is totally YOU!!  This one above, is mine! :)  I seriously cannot wait for it to come in the mail and start using it!!

If you'd like your own, you can contact Darby by emailing her at darby@mouritsen.com


Thanks Darby!  I seriously adore you and can't thank you enough! 

choices and consequences

I have always believed that my kiddos should be able to make their own decisions {within reason, of course}, but with their decisions come consequences.  Up until now, the decisions the kids have had to made haven't been "big" ones ... but the time has now come that the kids are faced with more grown up choices.

This past week, Logan was given the choice to spend a few days with us {me, Heath, Kaiden and Addi} to cecelebrate Christmas and Kaiden's birthday or spend those days at his dad's house with his step-cousins.  He chose his step-cousins.  I was crushed!!  We had 4 Christmas' to attend {including our own} AND Kaiden's birthday lunch at Chuck E Cheese and he turned them down.  I was shocked.  Floored.  Sad.  Pissed.  I had so many emotions for those few days, they are indescribable.  Kaiden was crushed ... which made me so disappointed in Logan's choice.  I've never been so disappointed in one of my kiddos.


This morning, we picked up the kids for their week with us.  Kaiden didn't have to leave for Vegas for a few more hours, so it gave us a few hours together; which was sooo important for Kaiden.  Heath and I took Logan aside and had a heart to heart and I feel like we made some progress.

A couple hours later, me and the kids are walking into Kohls and Kaiden asks Logan, "Logan, be honest with me.  Do you like your cousins better or me, as a friend?"  Logan said, "Dude.  I love you as a brother and I'm really sorry I hurt your feelings."  I was sooo proud of my lil man.


I know this is the first of many situations we are going to face and having the "brick wall", known as the kids' father, influencing his decisions.  I am soooo thankful for Heath and the positive influence in Logan & Addi's life.  Kaiden, Logan and Addi are so blessed to have such an amazing father!  


the boys at Mojo's in Tempe {our FAAAAVE yogurt place}