One Bachelor's down, one Master's to go....

I am officially done with school this week...FINALLY!!!!!! This last year flew by, but I don't recommend the 20yr graduation plan! Undergrad. was a piece of cake, however, it is a little daunting to think about the Master's program I will be starting in the fall. I get the summer off to apply to a few different schools before making my choice. I am leaning toward Ottawa and NAU's distance learning program. Heard exceptional things about both. ASU's School Psych. program is only a PhD. program, so that's a 'no-go' for me. I'm stopping at a Master's, thank you very much! I always desired to have a Master's but not so much a doctorate. I need to get school over with as soon as I can so I can start working and get on with the matters of life, which include raising these kids of mine...oh yah, and being a wife!

I am both nervous and excited to start grad. school, as it is a personal goal and accomplishment for me! For those that know why, you know what I mean. For those that don't, well let's just say "no matter what unexpected things life throws at you, you will eventually push past it all and see light at the end of the tunnel." We'll leave it at that. :)

As for some updates, Jorden made the JV cheer team for next year, and is ready to be done with freshman year (I don't blame her). Yes, I still remember those days. It hasn't been THAT long...ha!! Bella remains fairly "untamed" and can drive us all crazy on her best day! Crew is as handsome as ever and is talking so much (in his own language, that is). Cooper is just the cutest kid I've ever seen! He is talking up a storm as well and gives you this scrunched up face with a smile that will melt your heart. Mike has had a few half days recently, biz is a little slow. We will be heading up north a LOT this summer to escape this absurd heat!

More status to come on Grad. schools. Wish me luck!

Family Home Evening....

or the Spiro version of it anyway, took place Monday night. Jordie taught a sweet little lesson and afterward we asked Bella if Jesus loves her and she responds "yes he does." So we ask her if she loves Jesus, again responds with a "yes." We then ask her where Jesus is and she says he is in her heart, so I say "where else is he?" and she looks up. I ask if he is up in heaven and she says "no, he is way up high on top of the castle." Ummm, close enough!

Typical Sunday afternoon

My cousin and I decided to do lunch and pedis yesterday. While I'm sitting in the nail salon chair I receive a text from Mike that says:

Bella just pooped in her pants and I asked her why she didn't tell me she had to go potty and she said "Daddy I didn't mean to, the poop just fell right out of my butt!"

A day in the life....

Another year gone by...

While creating this year's Xmas card, Mike asks if I am doing another "update" letter (you know the annoying one I'm talking about) and to my surprise he was disappointed that I didn't write one this year. I told him to feel free to sit down and write one himself, as I was too busy with finals and research papers for the semester, to be bothered with this. He expectantly declined. Who ever said traditions have to be every year? I can start an "every-other-year update letter" tradition if I so please! He poked fun and went on his merry way. So be on the lookout next year! :)

The thing I didn't realize is that I will have to work twice as hard on the letter because I now have TWO years worth of info. to include. Not a good idea, right? I mean, I won't have to worry so much about updated sizes and all, as my kids are midgets and don't grow! However, I will have to update everyone on the cute, yet bratty things they've accomplished in not only one year, but two. I could just blog and Facebook a lot more on the 'off' years. This will allow me to leave more stuff out in the 'on' year's letter. Yah, that's what I'll do! (sounds more convincing when I write out my intentions)

This time next year I'll be sitting here wondering why I started this ridiculous tradition. Oh well, as parents we are supposed to do ridiculous things!

Been slackin' on pics...

The princess on her 4th bday!

Santa Monica Pier

at the Americana in Cali.

Halloween (J was with her dad, she was Sandra Dee! I'll get her pic on here)

pumpkin patch


my newest niece Hope-Ryan

Homecoming dance (yes, she wore a cardigan over the dress!)

Varsity "cancer awareness" game

why, why, why......

Bella has officially begun the "why" stage! We were eating lunch today and the conversation went something like this:

Me: "Bella, what would you like to eat for lunch?"

Bella: "Why do I have to eat lunch?"

Me: "Lunch is good for you, so you can grow big and strong!"

Bella: "No, thanks. I just want dinner."

Me: "Dinner is at nighttime, lunch is during the day."

Bella: "Why?"

Me: "'Cause that's just the way it is!"

Bella: "Why is that the way it is, mom?"

Me: "Stop asking me why and tell me what you want to eat!"

Bella: "Can we call daddy and ask him why?"

I think I almost peed my pants! :)

And then they turned two...

The twins turned two on Friday and we had a little Yo Gabba Gabba celebration (how we torture ourselves for our children) with the family. Kids had a great time, mommy made the cakes herself, one blue (chocolate)and one green (lemon). I didn't have any but heard they were good, so that's a plus! Our friend hooked us up with a water slide and it was a huge hit. Much nicer weather this year since we decided on an evening party. Don't get me wrong it was still hot, but not as hot as it would've been in the middle of the afternoon! Got some overdue pics of the nieces and nephews, who are all super cute! Boys got a new Yo Gabba Gabba tent from mommy and daddy, which is not going to last long from the looks of it. We got Bella a similar tent when she was younger and it lasted up until a few mos. ago. The boys are insisting on tipping the tent over and dragging it all around the house, making the plastic poles that hold it together snap off! Not sure why they can't be happy just sitting in it like normal children!! Who wanted boys anyway? They got tons of crap as usual, even when the guest total was a third of what it was last year! We are going to do what any normal, cruel, yet smart parents would do....box them up until Christmas!! ESPECIALLY the 500 piece foam block set from Nate and Celeste!! Oh how we will seek retribution at their next birthday party! :)

Good times had by all and just a heads up, Bella's bday will be at Chuck E. Cheese's with just the grandparents! We are shooting for an all time low attendance (ha!), so we'll see how it goes.