Early Easter

I was invited to be in a national news show FOX & Friends next weekend in NYC. It was bittersweet. I'm so thrilled for the opportunity but sad that I won't be home on Easter with my family. To ease the sadness we decided to celebrate today.

Last night we dyed and decorated eggs. The Easter Bunny came and hid eggs in our back yard. Gabe and Paisley sure enjoyed their Easter baskets. Paisley had an indoor egg hunt and Gabe's was outside. They had edible Easter grass in their baskets and both kids loves eating it. Yes, we have decided to let Paisley try all of her candy. She loves the marshmallow bunnies, suckers and easter grass. Afterwards we enjoyed a big Easter breakfast. Pancakes, eggs and bacon.

My book has been keeping me very busy lately. I just got back from Arizona and will go to NY, Las Vegas, California and Florida before the month is over. Call me crazy but I don't look forward to my travels because I'd actually rather be home with my kids and husband just taking it easy. I plan to slow things down by the end of May. I'm grateful for all of my opportunities and just as grateful for time spent with my family.

Field Trips, Painting, and Potty Training

This week the kids and I went on a mommy and me field trip to the Tinseltown movie theater. Gabe learned how the movies are played on the big screen, how to make popcorn and got to keep a piece of filmstrip and a chipmunk mask. We watched some short cartoons and they gave us popcorn and sodas. So much fun!

We finished our living room last week. It seems so bare because we got rid of the clutter and decided less is more. Since the painting was a lot of work, time and money, we are afraid to put holes in the wall. One of these days we'll probably put up the mirror and a painting above the couch. The suede paint is so pretty we just don't want to cover it up.

Gabe had quite a few accidents on Monday and Tuesday. When he ran out of underwear it was either be naked or wear sister's bloomers. He didn't want to be naked and pull ups were no longer an option so he wore Paisley's bloomers twice until the laundry was done. The result? Gabe is now 100% potty trained.

Fun Picture Week

What a fun week it has been. We have so many fun pictures that we'll have to save some for next week (such as the ones of us painting our living room).

St. Patrick's Day was a lot of fun. The night before Gabe decorated a small box for the leprechauns to fill with treasures and hide. Gabe woke up to a trail of green candy left by the leprechauns. It led to his box of green treasures. There was green baby food for Paisley and green treats for Gabe. The leprechauns played some tricks on us too. They tipped over all the chairs and turned our milk green. Gabe ate green cereal for breakfast. All day the leprechauns hid in our house and would play more tricks on Gabe if he was naughty such as hide his favorite toys and treats. When he was good his toys and treats would reappear. When Manuel came home we enjoyed a green dinner. Yum!

We painted and redecorated our living room, went to the park, played and enjoyed the warm weather before it turned cold again. What a fun week!

More Birthday Fun

On Thursday we met Grandpa Roger and Grandma Candice at the Mandarin in Bountiful. They wanted to take us out to dinner for my birthday. I have to say that is the yummiest Chinese food I have ever had. It was so fresh and full of flavor. Usually places will overdue it with the sodium, the spices and way too tangy sauces. This was perfect! We had pot stickers, coconut Thai chicken, golden roasted duck with duck sauce, sweet and sour shrimp prawns (the size of my hand) orange beef and vegetable chow mein. I had a raspberry lemonade smoothie and then for desert we had raspberry creme brulee and the waiters brought me ice cream and sang to me. It was fun. Sadly after a nice dinner my car wouldn't start and we had to abandon it there. There were no warnings, before it ran as smooth as butter, then out of the blue it wouldn't start but had power. I believe the alternator is out. Such fun!

On Saturday we celebrated mine and my sister's birthday at Grandma Bev's house. Our friend Jan from California was here visiting. Grandma Bev went all out and decorated for St. Patrick's Day. Everything was green. She gave out cute little shamrock prize bags with chocolate gold coins. I made a yummy layered banana cream pudding (I like it better than banana cream pie) We used it as the birthday cake. Grandma made mexican pizza that we topped with lettuce, avocados, olives, tomatoes, and sour cream. Very good! We went to the park and played games. Gabe accidentally broke a giant lid on Grandma's giant ceramic vase and he was very worried that she would be mad. He confessed and apologized. I have to say that I was proud of him for being honest and making it right. Later that night Manuel accidentally dropped one of my presents when carrying it into the house. It was Lenox crystal from grandma Bev. He felt bad and to make it worse when cleaning it up he cut himself. I felt bad too but I think Grandma Bev was the saddest of all. When I told her it broke she cried. I guess there is no such thing as a perfect day (at least in our family). Despite the many other incidents that happened we had fun.

Lindsey's Birthday

OK - so you'd think that I'd have pictures to share of my birthday. Nope, I completely forgot to get pictures of anything. The camera was sitting right there and of course it never crossed my mind.

Well, Wednesday night my friend (that I go way back with) Jessica, picked me up and took me out to dinner. We went to MacCool's in Layton (to go with the Irish theme for the month). It was so much fun catching up. Then on Thursday Manuel gave me my present in the morning. It was a gift certificate and membership to the spa club. Yes, I was in heaven. He worked from home that day. For dinner he bought take out from our favorite restaurant in Syracuse. It was sushi. So yummy. Then he and Gabe made me a cake. I'm so sad I didn't take pictures. Then on Saturday I went out with my girlfriends to the Olive Garden and to a movie. We celebrated two of our birthdays. Sunday my mom and our friend from Cali paid us a surprise visit after church. They brought dinner and it was so nice. It was a nice week even though we were crazy busy with so many other things going on.

I hired a PR company from Texas for my book and it has been insane (in a good way). I'll be traveling the country on and off throughout the next few months and I'm excited, nervous and sad to be away from my family. Manuel is very supportive and I could not do this without his encouragement and help. Thanks honey!!

Next week we'll be celebrating mine and my sister's birthday with all the family. Should be fun!

March is Here!

I'm excited that March is here but not so excited to be turning 28. I look forward to celebrating though (love a reason to eat yummy food and see family) and I'm looking forward to spring. I can't wait to take Paisley and Gabe on fun outdoor activities. Trust me my list is long this year, we're going to be busy! That's what happens when you spend your winter dreaming about the summer.

A quick update: We are keeping our dog. Those who know her know that she's not a normal dog and has always had a lot of issues. We have to say she has come a long way since we adopted her. During the first year she was very frightened of all people and sounds. She would act out violently by trying to be scary and threatening. The first vet appointment we took her to, the vet told us to put her down. Because of her unknown background and psychological issues the vet didn't think it was safe to have her as a pet. We didn't listen of course and decided to really work with her and give her a good life. Since having children its been hard to give the same amount of attention we used to, to our dog. Then on days when she has more accidents in the house than our two children put together and refuses to come when called, its easy to just want to be done with having a pet. Not to mention the endless amounts of shedding dog hair and the damaged carpet. In reality she is a sweet dog and we feel that no one else would have the patience with her that we have. If we were to give her a new home we know she would end up in the pound or put to sleep. So we have decided she is with us for a reason and we'll stick it out with her.