Monday Memories

Since Brody's birthday is on Wednesday I thought that I should devote this week's memories to his birth. What a wonderfully awful day that was. I went into labor on September 11th...yes on 9/11. Neil told me that I could not have him until the next day so he would not have to share his birthday with such an awful day. Luckily, I do not have short, easy labors so he was born on September 12th. At a whoppng 9 lbs. 12 oz. he looked and acted like a 2 month old. I cannot believe that something so big was curled up in my tummy. I must have been huge. That just proves that when people say you look great when you are 9 months pregnant...they are lying.

Here he is just a few minutes after he was born.

I can't believe that I evern took this picture. I felt like I had been hit by a truck and my legs were shaking uncontrollably.

What a sweet baby boy.

Here is daddy and his little minime. Brody looks just like his dad.

Although I hate being pregnant and I hate labor, this was a wonderful day. I love my son and love every minute I get to spend with him (even when he throws his food, pushes other kids and refuses to go to bed).

Yahoo! I am an aunt! This is baby Sofia and my sister-in-law, Taylor. Sofia was born on August 25th. I have finally reached aunt status for the first time. I am so excited. I can finally spoil my very own niece and Araia and Brody have a life long friend. Isn't she a cutie!!!

Monday Memories

Every year around this time Neil and some of his buddies from high school go on some sort of camping trip. Normally they go to Mammoth but two summers ago they went to Yosemite. Well, since I had never been to Yosemite I decided to tag along. Usually their trips consitst of fishing and sitting around. Well, that was just not going to cut it for me so they went white water rafting and hiked everywhere. We had alot of fun. Here we are after hiking to the top of a waterfall. We had to climb up a super steep granite staircase to get here.

There was a freezing cold pool at the top.

Here we are walking down the granite steps.

I think I did pretty well with all the hiking since I was 8 months pregnant. I am not sure that I fit in with all the guys, though. They went back to Mammoth the next year.

gophers and flies and bats...oh my

I love science, I love nature and I love animals. I have a hard time kiling spiders in my home, afterall, I did have a pet tarantula until last year one of my students dropped her and she passed on (I was crushed). I usually pick up spiders and let them go free outside where they belong. I struggled with my husband over spraying our yard with bug spray and I do not let my husband smash insects or spiders in front of my son in fear that he will think it is okay to step on the poor little things. However, recently I am almost to my limit with animals and bugs.
Case #1: About a month ago I was cleaning off the patio and found 2 of the biggest and blackest black widows that I have ever seen living beneath one of my sons toys. Keep in mind that I used to have a jar of at least 30 black widows on my desk that my students would bring in to me so these were definitely abnormally large.
Case #2: Pigeons seem to enjoy our neighborhood and tragically end up dead in our backyard. In the last 2 weeks there have been 3 dead pigeons in my back yard.
Case #3: A gopher has moved into our front yard leaving it covered with holes and dead grass.
Case #4: The flies. Since, I live near a dairy I expect to have extra flies; however, I did not expect them to make my front door their home. During the day I am afraid to open the front door because of all the flies that hang out there. Yesterday I looked around at all of my neighbors doors and of course there are no flies. So I wondered....what about my door makes it a fly attractant. The only thing I could see was the door mat so I removed it to see if it made any difference. Today I checked and there were less flies. HOORAY! I thought it would be a good idea to hose off the entryway too see if that helps more. That brings me to case #5
Case #5: Every night some rodent decides that it should poop right in the middle of our entry way. So, there are about four new little black pellets every single day. It must be a rodent family.
Case#6: Today, with Araia in my arms, I started to hose out the entry way and out flies a bat. Yes, a bat. Of course I ran inside to get my camera but it was gone before I could take a picture of it. I am actually a little bummed that I scared it away because I would rather have the bat than the flies!

Sorry this is so long but I am getting a little irratated with my animal friends. Maybe I should just start stepping on spiders.

Just another bad hair day

It is about 6:30 pm. Normally at this time of the day I am sitting down eating dinner with my family. Brody would probably be eating his food (with his hands even though he knows how to use a fork and a spoon) and throwing what he does not want on the floor. He has a bad habit of "removing" his unwanted food from his high chair, he likes things neat and orderly. Today, however, Neil is at work and Brody is at Sea World with grandma. So, Araia and I are having our first official Girls Night. We are going to eat pizza and soda, watch girly movies and of course there is the laundry, dishes and other cleaning that has to be done while the boys are away. I also thought that we would do each other's hair. What do you think? I have always pictured my daughter having brown, curly hair just like me. I was so excited to see Araia's brown hair when she was born. Brody has super blond hair just like his daddy did when he was younger and many of you know that I was very worried that Araia would have blond hair. Not that anything is wrong with blond hair...I love Brody's hair...but seriously...brown is much better. Although, what is up with the poof? I guess she really does have my hair.

Neil and I were talking about Blu Blocker sunglasses and he had never seen the commercial. So, I thought I would share it with you guys in case you missed out. (make sure you turn off the music to listen to it.)

I love NKOTB

Talking about the New Kids on Amy's blog inspired me to put them on here. Enjoy!!