Emotions and green stuff

I have been super emotional lately. I am emulating my mom's side of the family in full force, and I don't know why. Maybe it's because my mind is a little clearer these days, maybe it's the toxins leaving my body (more about that later), maybe it's because the summer has begun, maybe it's because I have been taking more time lately to just sit, in silence, and really reflect on my life and the things in it. The emotions are good. They are a reflection of the growth that has occured in our life.



This past Friday was Quincy's last day of his first year of preschool at Shadow Rock.

I have written before about how AMAZING this little school is, but let me say it again. Shadow Rock Preschool is amazing. I chose this school because it reminded me of my kindergarten classroom at Phoenix Country Day School, the first time I toured it. I even saw a roll of fabric in one of their closets (the door was opened slightly) that was the same fabric that was used on the pillow I used for naptime in kindergarten. It was bright blue with rainbows on it. The director joked that they probably had that fabric since 1985. But there was something about it that just felt right. So we signed him up, and the open house was great, and then the 1st week and half were disastrous, because of Quincy's daily freak-outs, and my feeling like a failure as a mom who didn't prepare her kid for preschool the right way. But somehow, between mid-September, and today, this magical place has turned my boy into one remarkable child. I am blown away by the things he knows. I felt like Solon and I were doing a pretty good job of teaching him things, but it's like his knowledge has been amplified. He has friends who love him, and are excited when he gets there in the morning, and he is so happy when he's there.




What the heck am I going to do with 8 weeks of summer??? I will have to find ways to keep him learning and entertained, and hopefully we can rendezvous with some of his SRPS homies so we stays excited until the fall gets here.


Our friends Mimi & Dan announced they were moving to Denver this last month. This made me very sad. Although our families' lives are both very busy, when we are able to spend time together, we have a wonderful time. It always seems to be so short. I know it's not forever, but I will miss having her nearby.


Quincy as Batman at Garrett's 4th birthday party. Charissa's mom made capes for all the kids, and they were fabulous!

His only super power was consuming an entire bowl of Cheetos in mere seconds



The next day we celebrated our nephew Kellan's 5th birthday at the Play Factory -the kids had a blast

We got to spend some quality time with Violet & Lily-Kate

Solon almost made it to the top of the rock wall on his first try!

Kellan was surrounded by so many friends!


Clearly, the cake was delicious


Paloma...

Being silly

Hanging (literally) with Daddy

Riding Thomas the Tank Engine


And...

WALKING (finally)

The kids playing together

Quincy reading a book to our friend Joan


For weeks now, I have been trying to figure out how to shed these last 10 pounds of (pre-Quincy) baby weight, and the 5 pounds I gained since my wedding day, you know the we-are-fat-and-happy pounds that we put on while watching TV with our spouse on the couch (with late-night snacks)? I have been working out 2-3 times a week, and for a while wasn't so motivated to work out, and then one day while doing my daily check of What's-Going-On-In-The-World-Of-Facebook, I saw a picture of my friend Greg, who simply looked amazing. I worked with Greg at the Zone 12 years ago. He was one of the morning show co-hosts, and I started as the girl who got them their Starbucks. Over the next 10 months, we all were together from 5am-10am, where we consumed lots of free food (most of which was not great for us). He and I both shared a love of food, and it's safe to say that we both have a problem filtering what we eat, as far as knowing when to stop. Anyway, we emailed back and forth for a while, and he shared the title of a documentary he had watched called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". It truly changed the way he looked at what he was putting into his body. I learned a lot from watching it, but what really surprised me was how much food knowledge I had, but wasn't using in my everyday life. I was so inspired by the film, that Solon and I went out that night to Costco and bought a juicer. I have made a commitment to myself to get healthy, so I can have more energy, and be a better mom & wife. Frankly, it's my responsibility as a mom and wife to be as healthy as I can, while still satisfying my love for food. So, with my newfound knowledge (and the stuff I already knew, but just wasn't using), I have decided to have fresh (not bottled/processed) green (60% or more veggie/40% or less fruit) juice twice a day instead of meals, and one healthy portion-controlled meal, and one healthy snack, along with plenty of water. I will do this until I am down the 10-15 lbs, and then once I hit that goal, I will reapproach the way I look at food. I will not just put any old crap in my body. I will continue to juice, but I will not just eat for the sake of eating. I will enjoy flavors and colors, and avoid drive-thru windows. I have great energy and mental clarity, my skin feels amazing, and I have lost 4 lbs - all in one week. I am excited about my progress, and look forward to seeing the results on the scale, and my waistline.

Next stop: Southern California for a Disneyland Adventure!

March-April 2012 (for lack of a better title)

St. Patrick's Day at Turf Paradise Horse Races







Daddy Time


We went to the SeaLife Aquarium with Kellan and Larel

This made my heart melt - best buddies

Quincy LOVED the puffer fish


Paloma finally got in a picture

It's out-of-focus, but she was amazed by all the fish


Paloma's new favorite hang-out spot is my dishwasher door


Easter Sunday was a great day. We went to church with our neighbors, and heard a great sermon. The kids had a blast afterwards hunting for Easter eggs. I tried to get a cute picture of them together, and believe it or not, these are the 3 best shots I could get.
Take ONE (this is semi-pleasant)

Take TWO (she HATED wearing a dress)

Take THREE (pure chaos)

Then we went to my parents' house that afternoon to celebrate Easter and my mom's birthday with the family


The boys were desperate to go find those eggs!

Since Paloma is still not walking, she was at a bit of a disadvantage, so Mommy hooked her up with a couple

Kellan is clearly experienced in the egg finding department

Quincy didn't do too bad

Pure joy in Mama Chacha & Papa Tom's backyard


Family pic

They all helped her blow out her candles


Patio fun at Makena's 2nd birthday party

This was the best shot I could get of Makena & Paloma together. These kids are just on the move!


We went to the Phoenix Zoo with the Reese Family and the Jacobs family on a beautiful April Sunday, and got to see so many incredible animals. Our highlight of the day was the Giraffe Encounter, where you can feed giraffes on a balcony overlooking their savannah.

Quincy (and all the kids) fed the giraffe hearts of romaine leaves

Solon (and all the adults) fed the giraffe a little food pellet about the size of a mini-Tootsie Roll, which we had to hold out, while the giraffe stuck his slimy, rubbery tongue out and curled it back into his mouth!

They were such gorgeous creatures, and even more beautiful close-up. Such a cool experience that the Phoenix Zoo offers for just a few bucks per person.
Solon took this awesome picture of the lioness

The cousin crew


Before Holly & Makena left to go back to Reno, we had them over for dinner. I loved seeing all the kids eating dinner together.


I realized after the last blog that it had been a while since I had pointed out what my kids are into these days. Since the purpose of this blog is for me to keep records of my kids' early years (for them to see when they're older), and for family and friends to get to know them a little better, I thought I would do a quick run-down.

Quincy (age 3) still LOVES his Bear blanket. Bear goes almost everywhere with us, because Quincy wants to share everything with Bear. Quincy gives Bear kisses and hugs each day before school, cuddles with him at night, shares meals with him, and he even has Bear go "potty" before he does at night before bed.

He also still loves Thomas the Tank Engine, but more specifically GORDON, the #4 Blue Engine. He also carries Gordon and his tender almost everywhere. Mommy discovered a 5 minute YouTube video called "Gordon Takes A Dip," which Quincy likes to watch on Mommy or Daddy's iPod several times a day, re-enacting and reciting the whole thing. SEVERAL. TIMES. A. DAY. Maybe it's a sign that he will be into Theatre? We'll see...

His other current obsession is the car wash. He knows where every single car wash is on the way to preschool, on the way to his grandparents', on the way to each freeway - it's ridiculous, but also cute. He gets so excited when he sees a car entering the car wash, and going through the sponge "noodles". One of his favorite activities involved Daddy taking him to Danny's Carousel Car Wash, where he can stand inside at the window, and just watch dozens of cars go through the car wash. Then he comes home, and puts his cars through his own car wash. If that didn't give you enough of an idea of just HOW MUCH this kid loves a car wash, maybe this will. I was flipping through a coupon book and found a picture of a car, entering a car wash.

I cut it out, glued it to some cardboard, and laminated it with contact paper. Quincy played with it for 2 hours STRAIGHT. Yes, really.

He loves his cousin Kellan. A LOT.

He does love Paloma, most of the time.

And he has this new thing we he likes me to make up songs before he goes to sleep. Our nigh-night prayer is now a song, which he will sing with me, ("Now we lay us down to sleep, AND pray the Lord our soul to keep. Angels watch us through the night, AND keep us in their blessed sight. A-men.") and then he made up a song to the same tune as our nigh-night prayer, and it goes like this: "Quincy Drake, Quincy Drake, you make us so happy. Quincy Drake, Quincy Drake, this song makes you so happy. Nigh-Night." Then he laughs and is off to sleep. Such a great kid.

Paloma (15 months) is ALMOST walking. I mean, any day now. She loves SHOES, and necklaces, and anything that sparkles, but she also LOVES trains and dinosaurs. And every time she throws a ball, she yells, "OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH." She loves to say "Cheers" at the table, and clink your glass with her sippy cup. She loves to go in the bounce house with her brother and cousin. And right now she is teething really badly, so she loves her blanket, her pacifier, and her Mommy. When we drop Quincy off a preschool, she always wants to stay. And I mentioned the dishwasher right? She loves just sitting in the dishwasher. This girl eats EVERYTHING - which makes me so happy. And she just brings us joy on a daily basis.


We are planning a trip to southern California next month with my brother and his family, so the cousins can experience Disneyland together for the first time. Until then, I will be thinking of ways to keep cool, since it's only April and we've already hit the 100 mark.