Sedona

I have finally been outside of the Phoenix area without just driving through. I have lived here almost 7 years now and sadly have not really stayed anywhere but Yuma (to visit my sister in law when she lived there and my grandparents when they lived there). Other than that we have just driven through areas and haven't stopped and enjoyed or explored the area. I have always wanted to go to Sedona and Ryan went recently so since tomorrow is his birthday he took the day off work and we had some fun. We drove up to Sedona and spent the day up there. Here are some pictures from our adventure.

We stopped at Sunset point. Kade was being a cranky boy and didn't want to participate in getting his picture taken.

Here is everyone on the car ride there....I ended up between the two kids because Kamryn needed to be entertained for the 2 hour car ride. This is one way I entertained Kamryn...

Kade again...not wanting to get his picture taken.

Kade got a nice close-up...Thanks Kade, you can practically see up my nose!

He was willing to take a picture of himself though!

When we first got to Sedona we ate at Open Range. It was pretty good food! The kids meal is pretty cool too. I guess I was impressed that they got a 4 pack of Crayola crayons to color on the menu and then the meal came with the main entree along with fruit (which was watermelon), cold veggies, seasoned fries and a cookie! I was jealous! I love all those things.

While the boys were in the restroom I took a few pictures of Kamryn. She was being so cute!

Then we went walking around to different little shops.

We sat down by a water fountain and had some ice cream. Kamryn loves ice cream!

Kade showing off his muscles!

Kade did a pretty good job taking our picture...I did crop it though!
Kamryn and I by one of the Pink Jeeps! I wish we could have went on a tour! One day...

Kade on the pink jeep!

I was trying to take a picture of something else (I don't even remember what) we were driving at the time and I got this random picture of a sign.

There was a pink pig but I didn't get a picture of that one...

Getting ready to go to the Outlets, which we thought would be fun, but there really weren't many stores. While we were there we went into a shoe store and Kade found the Sketchers (the light up ones) that he wants REALLY bad. Every time we see them he has to have them and has a huge meltdown when we won't get them. So Ryan had the idea of telling him to go out to the car with me while he bought them. Well Ryan really wasn't going to buy them and break the news to him later when it wasn't in front of a bunch of people in the middle of the store. So I went along with it and he had a meltdown later.

What a fun day!

The Real Me!

So I found this blog challenge on a couple of fellow bloggers blogs and I decided to do it. How real are you on your blog? Well if you look back on the things I blog about like your child almost starting the house on fire, or the horrible word/name that your child picked up from you. Those are not things people want to reveal. I pretty much put it all out there. There are some things I don't blog about, like when my husband makes me mad or when a friend or co-worker or someone I know really bothers me, only because I know that it would hurt their feelings. There was a time that I called someone out on my blog, I didn't know them personally. Didn't even know if they read my blog. But it was something I truly believed in and stood up for.

This blog is for me. It is for my journaling of our life and to share what we are doing with our family that is spread across the US. It's also for angel mommy's out there that just want to read about other moms that have lost a baby, but mostly so that I can look back on the memories. And just in case I never scrapbook again (it's been a very long time). I have this to look back on!

Part 1
The first part of the assignment is to post a picture of yourself without make-up. Not a hard thing for me to find! Half the time I don't have enough make-up on to hide a zit or any blemishes. Many times you will find me without mascara...the truth is that I hate removing it at the end of the day. I am that lazy which leads to the second part of the assignment.

So I went this with one because honestly I couldn't find a picture that I don't have any makeup on. I found some that people would guess I didn't have make-up on but I actually did. So this is the last picture I have of me without makeup on.

Part 2

Revealing your true self, the things most people wouldn't put on their blog. Like I am lazy. I hate to clean although it drives me nuts to have a dirty house I have no problem taking a nap or going to bed with it a mess. I would rather blog, or read a good book, or find an excuse not to. For example right now I really need to fix lunch, do the dishes, and do some house cleaning, but I am blogging! The one thing that keeps me cleaning though is my very slightly OCD husband (I know, it's not about him, this is about me.) who must have the counter tops clear and clean!

If you dropped by my house without any notification or anytime right before Ryan is expected to come home you will find my counter tops dirty, toys scattered across the living room and random toys throughout the house. Piles of folded clothes on the couch because I am too lazy to actually put them away. Unorganized drawers and cupboards, and me without make-up in sweats. Yes, it's true. I only get dressed in Regular clothes and put on make-up to leave the house. As soon as I get home on goes my comfy pants. Especially being pregnant for the past 3 years this has become a habit, because comfy pants are a must if you are sitting at home. Also why dirty a pair of pants cleaning or watching TV or to have a baby spit up all over you or a child rub their orange cheetoed fingers on your shirt?

The funny thing is although that is the way I am....(lazy), I love to dress nicely and go out with my husband or friends. I love it when they house is clean and everything is neat and tidy and organized. I love to organize things. But the truth and the fact of the matter is, I'm lazy or would rather do something else.

Other things might be the fact that I cry pretty much every day. Sometimes it is over the sappy insurance commercial or sometimes it is over nothing. I am so emotional all the time. The littlest things bring back a memory or just hit me in a certain way that makes me miss Kooper. My sister Bree mentioned to me when she gave me the game Argue for Christmas that I have an opinion on everything. I never realized it until she said it, but I guess I do. So to everybody out there who thinks I am shy and quiet, although I am, if I know you well I will tell you my opinion on anything and everything.

That's the real me. I am working on the laziness part. It is truly a struggle for me. But I am working on it. Let me know if you have any tips!

Part 3
I am adding this to the end of the challenge. Go ahead ask me anything, any question(s) you want. You can even e-mail it to me. I will make a new post with all the questions and I will give you my REAL answer. I will only hold back if I know it will truly hurt someone.

I love being a mom - Random thoughts

Ok so I started this post when I got home from work this morning.

I just got home from work. I had a longer drive than usual because the lab I normally work at is being remodeled. It was kind of nice because there was a Dunkin' Donuts by the lab I was at last night so on my way home I got a maple donut....YUM! As I was driving and enjoying my donut these thoughts rambled through my head and for some reason I felt the urge to blog about them.

So to start off with, I don't, I mean I hate to drive in the dark. I feel like people can't see me. Like they are all half asleep and are going to start driving into my lane. Or I feel like an animal is going to jump out and I am going to hit it. Anyways so as I was thinking about all these crazy drivers I started to have morbid thoughts. What if I died? And all those other questions that go along with that like, What would Ryan do? How would my kids react? How could they grow up without a mother? And on and on and on. Just horrible things you don't want to think about.

These thoughts made me think about how much I love my kids and how much I LOVE to be a MOM! I love to feel needed and wanted, almost like the whole world could come crashing down if I wasn't there to save the day. Sometimes there are days where I ask myself, What am I doing? I feel like a horrible mom. I don't have the patience I need to have. I don't pay attention to them as much as I should. I am annoyed and yell at them. I feel inadequate. I feel like I can't do anything right (like when I made lasagna last night and it turned out HORRIBLE) or I don't have the motivation. But then I think I don't know where I would be without them. If Ryan and I didn't have kids and could do whatever whenever. Or what if we waited a little longer to have kids? I thought about it and I wouldn't have it any other way. It made me realize how much they mean to me and how important they are. Of course I do know that they are everything to me and soo very important. But sometimes I let life get to me and I have a bad day and just forget that very thing that I already know. That they will still love and forgive me through my faults and that I am their Mommy!

I love them to pieces. They are so cute and bring such joy and happiness to our family. I love being a Mom!