I can't believe...

I can't believe how handsome my little guy is underneath all this hair!! I have been thinking about cutting Malak's hair for quite some time now because he cries every time I have to comb it and it breaks my heart! I have been scared to do it because there is just so much hair, I knew he would look so different! But today I had to do my girlfriend's hair and she helped me decide to just do it!! So I gave him a very short haircut that he cried the whole way through-but we got through it and he emerged a handsome little boy! He looks so grown up and big! You can really see his adorable little face now that he doesn't have a huge afro. I guess with spring coming it was as good of time as any....
Everybody freaked out when they saw it--they couldn't believe I actually did it! I think he looks great-I instantly loved it.

Overnighter…

I surprised James Saturday night with a night away from the kids. I have a great friend/client that helped get me a room at Planet Hollywood so we could spend some quality time together. I wanted James to know how much I appreciated his hard work studying for his test and just always supporting me and being a great husband. We went and saw Tony and Tina’s Wedding which is a fun interactive dinner show. It’s an all-out Italian Wedding with crazy antics and fun charades. Everyone gets in on the fun and you don’t know who the actors are or who’s just really drunk! We had a lot of fun. James’ highlight was when we were able to chat with “Rowdy Roddy Piper”. He was part of the show and James was so excited—he worshipped him when he was little. I remember watching him in the WWF when we were little but I wasn’t quite as awe struck as my husband was….it was cute. I got my picture taken with him so James could put his two favorite people up in his office….ha ha! The room that we got was actually a suite and it was so nice—we were able to VIP check-in and didn’t have to check out until 4:00 pm the next day. It pays to know people! It was a very enjoyable time with my sweet hubby—I can’t believe we’ve been married almost 10 years! It just keeps getting better.

Dinosaurs

Kai made this cute little hat in preschool this week. I thought it was so cute because he’s been obsessed with dinosaurs since he was little. He’s kind of growing out of the fascination now but I wanted to remember this hat-even though it’s not a very good picture, the hat was so cute! Kai is almost reading these days…I can’t believe how smart he is and how much he loves preschool. Everywhere we go he’s asking what this spells and how to spell certain words. He brought his first “book” home from preschool this week. Miss Kathy says he’ll be reading in no time.

Sunday in St. George

We drove up to St. George to visit Carl and Danielle after church on Sunday. Doug and Stasha were there visiting so we wanted to go and see them. It was nice to catch up with them since we don’t see them very often. We had a yummy lunch and just hung out playing with the kids and catching up. Stasha’s belly is getting big and adorable—she is due in April with their first baby boy and we are so excited to add another nephew to the mix. Malak just loves McKay and they have so much fun together. Malak really enjoyed his football and helmet although he couldn't figure out how to wear it the right way. Every time we tried to change it around he would scream at us—so we just watched and laughed while he tried to figure it out. We always love spending time with family!

Spoiled Rotten!

What other 7 year old gets to have a deep conditioner put on her head once a week before she gets it blown out straight? She better thank me later….

Jamie's Car

We had been trying to figure out what to do about having this teenager without a car and we’ve realized that we really needed a 3rd vehicle to help alleviate some of my stress! He is such a busy kid and always has to be somewhere –and I always have to be somewhere different which usually means that Jamie is on the losing end of things. He is such a great kid and we felt like he needed his independence so we started hunting for a car. This vehicle just landed right in my lap and it was too good of a deal to pass up so we bought it for him! He doesn’t even have his official license yet just his permit, but I couldn’t let this deal go. We bought this Honda Accord from a client of mine that just needed to get rid of it and she came down a lot on her price…like 700 dollars lower! So we picked up the car on Valentine’s Day and gave it to Jamie when we got home. He couldn’t believe it!! He was in total shock and disbelief—he thought we were kidding and playing some kind of joke on him! I really thought he was going to cry..it was so cute!! We all piled in the car and he drove us around the block with the biggest smile he’s ever had on his face! He told me I was the best stepmom in the whole world—which of course made me feel great!! I’m so grateful for our relationship and so glad that I get to raise this amazing young man—I just love him!

Valentine's Day

I had to work all day on Valentine’s Day so I wasn’t expecting much and we had actually agreed to keep it simple because we were both sick and exhausted. I knew that I was planning something for him the next week so I wanted to keep that surprise. But while I was at the salon, James and all the kids surprised me at work with these beautiful flowers!! I was so shocked and happy to see them—it really made my day! Then when I got home they had cleaned the whole house and done all their chores!! That was the best present of all! I love my husband and kids!

Kai's Playgroup

Every Tuesday these cute kids get together for a playgroup before preschool. They all get along so well and have so much fun together. They always want macaroni and cheese for lunch with hot dogs and they want to watch cartoons while they eat it! I just had to capture this picture to show what great friends they are. Tylee is always a trooper hanging out with all these boys—don’t let it fool you though—she runs those boys!! (And they love it!)

Conversation Hearts

Have any of you moms taken the time lately to read what "conversation hearts" say these days?? Text me, fax me--how does this apply to conversation?? I'm just trying to figure it out... Maybe this is why my teenager has over 6,000 text messages on his phone every month??

Patience...

I finally went to a new doctor today that specializes in Bio-identical Harmones and was so grateful that I did. I wonder how I've been living with myself lately when the doc told me what has been happening in my body since my hysterectomy. My Adrenal system has pretty much shut down and I have NO progesterone in my body. My level was .4 and the range they would like to see me in is between 200-300. And my thyroid and testosterone levels are almost as bad. Great huh? So--if I've been a complete %@!&$ to anybody over the last 6 months--I'm blaming the harmones!!
Hopefully over the next few months--I will be feeling better with some help from Harmone Replacement Therapy and a positive attitude. I'm glad I'm not crazy--cuz I sure was feeling like it....

Finally Over!

James has been preparing to test for his rank advancement for months now--and he finally took his test this morning!! Hooray--no more long nights of studying, no more single mom, no more cranky James or Ana--and no more stress! He thinks he did pretty good but we don't find out if he made it or not until June.
When he's promoted he will advance to the rank of Master Sargeant and get a nice pay increase-which won't hurt during these fun economic times! I am very proud of his hard work and dedication to our family, and I appreciate his efforts way more than I tell him. He is such a GREAT husband--I just love him.
Not to mention.....he looked pretty handsome in his uniform when he came home today--I had to take a picture--no drooling ladies--He's MINE!!!:)

This Week...

I took Kai and Malak to a playgroup that I've been involved with since Malak was born. It consists of all of my hairdresser friends that were pregnant at the same time. We all work right next to each other in the salon and one by one all ended up pregnant. Malak is the oldest, then Meera, then Gabe and Elizabeth. It's been so fun to watch them all grow up and watch their mommies turn into different people! Malak is my 3rd baby but Meera and Gabe are firsts--so fun!!! I love the picture of Malak and Meera. They are only 6 weeks apart but he is so much bigger than her. She is so petite and dainty and he's so rough and clumsy!! The last pic is my favorite--he's posing for the camera! That's his latest face he's been giving me!! He looks so grown up!

Jamie had Spirit Week at school and this was his hippy costume! He put alot of time into getting those pants just right...and the shirt is his Dad's. James owned this shirt when we first got married and I haven't been able to get rid of it in 10 years!! I guess James knew it would come in handy one day! Are we getting old or what?? And no...Malak's not wearing a wig--that's really his hair:)

These boys are 3 peas in a pod. I watch Tony on Wednesdays and it's never boring!! Tony and Kai are best friends and they are so fun to have around. Malak is always getting in the middle of them and wanting to be grown up just like they are. Occasionally they will let him play and this was one of those times---can you see the smile on Malak's face?

Sadie Hawkins

I didn't think the time would come when I would be posting about Jamie's dating life--but it's so fun--I have to share!!
He got asked to Sadie Hawkins by the cutest girl named Madi Schraft. She is his age and they met at EFY a few years ago. She recognized him and realized that they were in the same stake so they became buddies and have just gotten to be better friends over time--now I think they like each other...!
She made him a poster with Tootsie Rolls all over it and said something about "rolling with her to Sadies". It was cute. We answered her by baking her favorite cake and putting icing on the top that said yes. We also bought her a dozen red roses and dropped it off at her work before she got there.
She picked Jamie up this morning at 7:45 am to start their date--I think they are going to "Jump on It" for the morning and then doing a Scavenger Hunt on the Strip during the day. Then drop him off to get dressed and back to her house for a BBQ and pictures. Then the dance and roasting marshmellows at a friends house afterwards. She gave me all the details earlier and it sounds like so much fun! Although the weather here is horrible today--it's been raining all morning! Madi has been hanging out with us a little bit and she is really cute! I like her personality alot and she seems very grounded--a good pick!! I'll update more when I get James' side of the date!! And pics to come...

Baaaad Morning!

It was one of those mornings on Friday when you just want to crawl back into bed!! I decided to sleep in a little because I didn't have to be into work until 9:30...I will take any chance to sleep a little more but it generally screws up the rest of my day. Friday was no exception...instead of getting out of bed on my own--my little alarm clock named Kai decided to get me up with his constant whining about wanting to take a shower with me. This is our morning ritual generally because he loves to take a shower in the morning and just lay there for as long as I'll let him. So I agreed this morning and we jumped into the shower but on the other side of the wall--all I can hear is '"MOM" over and over again coming from Malak. So I rush through my shower and get half dressed and try to get him up to change his poopy stinky diaper. He won't let me pick him up--he keeps dropping to his knees and dodging me in his crib--fine whatever I walk out and he bursts into screams again!! So finally he'll let me get him out and put him on his changing table but will not let me unzip his pj's...what is wrong with this kid? So I let him run around and play while I try to finish getting ready for work. Then he starts walking funny...uh oh! All you moms know that the diaper is releasing its contents when they start walking funny. Sure enough--EVERYWHERE!! So I dump him into the bathtub to hurry and clean him up and of course he wants to play...I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!!!
So then finally he's dressed and we go downstairs to start breakfast before I have to rush off to work and he decides to open my pantry (which happens at least 20 times a day). This time I was in la la land and not paying attention while he grabs the syrup and tips it upside down and decides to take a walk with it all over my kitchen!! Have you ever tried to get syrup off the floor? I was down on my hands and knees for a long time and I'm still walking on a sticky floor after mopping it at least twice!!
Being a working mom sucks sometimes.....I think these things would probably be funny to me if I wasn't so stressed to get to work on time and focus on what I need to do. I wish sometimes I could learn to just focus on the kids and what they need....ohhhh the joy of balancing everything all by yourself! Sorry no pics--no time!

Look-a-likes...

James loves to comb Malak's hair down the middle when he's in the bath...then he goes to sleep on it and it looks like this when he wakes up!! Do you see any similarities with Mayor Augustus from Who-ville???

One of my friends at church has called Malak "Kramer" ever since he was little. He had a full head of hair when he was born but lost everything except a little tuft on the top...thus Kramer. I have to admit this kid has the craziest hair of them all....he just cries when I have to comb it out!