Thanksgiving and a 5K

Sage with Mommy before the run

Keri, Rici, Me and Sage

Sage with my number on 208

GiGi with the girls, can you believe she has 6 great grandchildren already!

Banpa (Grandpa) and Sage

Uncle Kenny and Auntie Kris feeding Aja some banana pudding

Auntie Michy and Aly

Me and the amazing husband Aaron ( oh yeah I cut off 7 inches of my hair!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful day today celebrating with friends and family. Our day started with me running the Martha's Village and Kitchen 5K run/walk. The rain ended up passing and it was a gorgeous morning. There was a huge turnout and it was such an amazing way to start the day for such a great cause. Aaron and Sage came out to cheer me on while Great Grandma and Mom and Dad stayed home with Aja and Sydney. I ran a 3.1 mile in 32 minutes, not too bad since getting back into my workout routine. Great way to burn the calories before the feast.

After that we came home and started getting ready for dinner. I do the turkey, ham, stuffing, salad and my giblet gravy. Mom, Grandma and I divide everything up and that makes it a lot less stressful for one to prepare everything. The food was amazing as usual and Mom made a homemade banana pudding to die for! We are so blessed to have such an amazing family and friends and we are truly reminded when brought together at times like this of just how extremely rich our life is. I love having a full house and the kids eat up the attention that they can't always get from me. Plenty of hugs, kisses, book reading and playing with trains to go around. One of the things I'm trying to be better at is not feeling guilty for not being able to always give my children a lot of constant one-on-one time. That's why it's always so nice to have family over.

We'll put up our tree and decorations tomorrow and enjoy a relaxing day at home. Thank you everyone that was apart of our Thanksgiving celebration, we love you all!

A day at the park

Today after some running around we headed over to George S. Patton park, one of our favorites. This has got to be one of the cleanest parks I'm not kidding, the bathrooms and play area are always kept up and it's minutes away from us. It's kind of hidden which makes it never too busy, we love it there. It was beautiful out and relaxing sitting on a blanket in the shade and swinging the kids on the swings. I tell you when having twins, swings are a must. The girls are so content and love the feeling. They even drink their juice and eat munchies while gently swinging. Sage also had fun swinging and talking his shoes off and playing in the sand. It was a great day today.

Happy Birthday Steph

Happy Birthday Stephers!

Today is my sister Stephanie's Birthday! She is an amazing person, sister, friend, daughter and brand new Mommy. She lives in Arkansas and I cannot wait for her and Zack to be closer to home. I miss you everyday and an so excited to see you all at Christmas. I love you so much and I hope you have a wonderful day. Know that you are loved and thought about all the time. Love you Steph!

God made us sisters, our hearts made us friends. Love keeps us bonded thru thick and thru thin. Being family gives permanent ties, for which I am grateful to be in your life. Though our paths may lead down separate roads, God gave us each other to help with the load. God had a great plan, as he always does. Growing together was the best for us. I can't imagine my life without you. Sisters are for keeps and forever true.

For happy times shared through the years, for the loyalty, love, the laughter and tears. For the special things only you can do, for all these things, I thank you! Time and space may separate us,but heartstrings know no end. I'm proud to call you my sister, happier still to call you my friend.

"I smile because your my sister...I laugh because there's nothing you can do about it!"

"A Sister is God's way of proving He doesn't want us to walk alone."

Feeding the ducks

Taking a closer look

Here comes the bread

so sweet and trusting, and hungry

Aja and Sydney checking out he ducks

Checking out the koi from the bridge

Today we went over to the La Quinta Library where they have a beautiful park and pond with koi fish and ducks. I save all the heels of bread and freeze them until we've got a ton and then it's time to go to the park. Sage loves feeding the ducks and trys to pet them, they let you get close but not that close. Aja and Sydney hung out on their blanket and watched and nibbled on their own pieces of bread. It was a beautiful morning and one of those things that we always look forward to doing. Such precious moments.

Happy Birthday Aaron

This past weekend I was off of work and was able to spend a wonderful weekend with the family and celebrate Aaron's Birthday with an early dinner out. His actual b-day was election day November 4th. We had an amazing evening. We went out for Sushi and then to the Falls for dessert and drinks. I think we told each other that we needed to do this more about ten times. We try to as often and possible but it seems like it's typically when it's for a special occasion. I feel so blessed to be married to Aaron.

As time goes by, the really important things in life become stronger, more meaningful, and even more precious. Aaron you are at the heart of everything, that truly matters to me in this life. I could not do it without you and you bring me so much joy and are such a special person, husband and father. I love you, Happy Birthday.

Here are pictures of Sage making Daddy a cake. I let him pick out the cake and frosting. Chocolate cake, vanilla frosting and of course sprinkles.

Happy Halloween

Pumpkin Princesses

Getting ready to go to the Harvest Fair

Fireman Sage

I like to eat my hot dog and bun separately

Getting candy in the trunk or treat line

The sugar rush has begun
Yummy!

Bounce house fun

This is when the tug of war began

They were laughing hysterically at each other

Aja and Mommy

Aja, Grandpa, Aunty Michelle and Sydney

Sisters

First attempt at a family photo

Take 2

Sage giving Syders kisses

heading home after a great night

Yesterday was a very busy Halloween day for us. We started our morning at Valencia Palms Nursing Home with my Moms Club to have a trick-or-treat potluck with the residents. They are always some happy to have visitors, especially children, it makes their day. It's not even five minutes away from or home so even better. The residents passed out candy and we all brought food for the potluck that they set up for us on their outside patio area where the kids played around on the grass.

Then that night we went to the Harvest Fun Fair. It is a family friendly, Halloween alternative at Southwest Community Church. They had bounce houses, carnival style games, cotton candy, hot dogs, drinks and trunk or treat for the children. I got there early with all the kiddos until Mom, Dad, Aaron and Michelle made it by after they all got off of work. We went to the trunk or treat line first before it got too crazy and Sage had so much fun and was such a good by staying right by my side as I pulled the girls along side in the wagon. It was a little crazy all three kids by myself around that many people. We do it every day but not in crowds, we survived and I'm sure I was getting a few looks, like who's that crazy women with her three kids all by herself, I even got a couple "how do you do it's"? That's a regular one we hear often. When Aaron got there we took Sage to the carnival style games and he tossed footballs and baseballs for some candy prizes. Then off to the bonce houses where Sage would have stayed all night if he didn't have to get out when time was up to just wait in line again for the next round. We had such a great Halloween celebration. It is an great event that the church puts on. It meant so much to have family there and everyone hurry to make it after a long day of working. We love you all and thank you for the memories.