Oh Hello There

I was in the car the other day and a song came on the radio that reminded me of this blog I have over here in the blogosphere. 

First of all, I need to let you know that my kids are growing up. 

This is my #4! I feel like she was born last month and yet she will be two in just a couple months.

The second thing I need to tell you is that Instagram stole the show and blogger  is dying. How did that happen? When blogging was hot and I had that other blog "inside the fog" (do you remember that one?) this first child of mine got a lot of blog time. I have so much of her first years of life documented. My poor other children will never get the same exposure. You can thank me for that later. 

Is anyone still out there? Reading this? *crickets chirping*. Let's bring blogging back, what do you say?

Who doesn't want to see pictures of these fireball children of mine and listen to all my ridiculous ramblings? 

You might even get to see a glimpse me once in a while, thanks to my growing children who know how to use smart phones and take pictures. 

Lucky you. Now go ahead and blog so I can see your smiling faces now.

Blog Chain Letter

This is the first time I have blogged since last April! It took me about 574 attempts to remember which email account was linked to this blog so I could sign in and post.

As many of you already know, I have been a bit busy lately.

Doing this:

 Who now looks like this:

Lets not forget the other three:

Of course they are all perfectly well behaved angel children who are completely capable of taking care of their own needs:

So when I said "busy", I meant I have been busy playing Fruit Ninja on my phone while my kids entertain, feed, clothe, and clean up after each other. No time for the computer here.

Moving on...

My BFF Tracy made me challenged me to do this blog chain letter so I thought I would turn off Wii Dance and put down my Angry Birds game for a while and blog for the first time in 10 months.

If you know me, you know I love a good chain letter. So here's goes:

The Rules
1. Post 11 random things about myself. 

2. Answer the 11 questions my nominator asked me. 
3. Create 11 questions for my own nominees.

4. Nominate 11 different bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.

5. Tell them they have to play along.

RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME:

1. I pee every time I jump on the trampoline. Is that TMI? okay, I will tone it down a little.

2. I used to go to fake school. I would wake up, pretend I was getting ready to go and then go back to bed as soon as everyone left the house. By "everyone" I mean Ben. College, people! I know you were thinking high school or even middle school, but nope, I was a grown up.

3. I once buzzed all my hair off. It was awesome for quickly getting ready. Not so awesome? The extra 30 lbs and braces. People often asked Ben if I was his little brother. Yes, I was a grown up then too.
4. I love to read. I can't do it very often because it consumes me and I have a hard time putting the book down.
5. I read the news every day.
6. I need 9 hours of sleep to not feel like a zombie. Which means I've felt like a zombie for the last 6 years.
7.This post has already taken me an hour and i am remember now why i dont blog. I am writing this with my left hand while i hold my sqirmy baby.
8. I am slightly feminist.
9. I could live on bread and pasta.
10. I think winter is the most horrible, wretched season ever. If I could choose, Idaho would not be my top choice for living the next 100 years of my life.
11. Funny movies/shows are generally my favorite and I hate watching anything remotely violent.

11 questions from my nominator:

1. What is your biggest fear? Losing someone close to me.

2. What is your best quality?  Worst quality? Is this a job interview? Serioiusly Tracy!  Best quality: Sense of humor Worst: my temper

3. What is your favorite magazine? I haven't read many magazines since I got my smart phone, but probably Teen Vogue. Okay, not really, I hate to admit this, but I like People Magazine.

4. Biggest pet peeve? Chain letters, just kidding (kind of) and slow drivers (especially when the baby is crying).

5. Do you believe in fate?  Karma?  Luck?  Superstitions? Yes to Karma, in a sense. More like, do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

6. Lip gloss or lipstick?  What shade? I like both, but I use lipgloss most. I like "Boybait" by MAC

7. If someone gave you $1000 to spend at a single store in 30 minutes, what store would you choose? hmmm, this is a hard one. Probably a furniture store and I would pick just one thing.

8. How would you classify your style?  ie: classic, bohemian, grunge.  What style? Maybe classic.

9. Favorite quote or words of wisdom?  Who said it?  That's hard, there are so many.  How about: "Never have more children than you have car windows."  -Erma Bombeck (looks like I'm done).

10. Favorite guilty pleasure? I eat popcorn in bed almost every night, but my kids are forbidden to eat anywhere but the kitchen.

11. What is the one physical quality you would alter about yourself?  Just one? hmmm I don't think I can narrow it down so I will just type it all together like one word: heightweightmuffintopcheekschinbuttboobsfeet.

11 questions for my nominees:

1. What is your favorite book?
2. What are your top three biggest pet peeves?
3. What is your favorite type of music?
4. What time of day were you born?
5. What time of day were your kids born?
6. What is your favorite lazy day activity?
7. What is your favorite season? (if you say winter, we are no longer friends).
8. What is your favorite movie genre?
9. If this was your last day on Earth, what would you do?
10. What is your favorite type of cuisine?
11. How long did it take you to blog this? (took me approx. 3 days, 7 hrs, and 22 min.)

I nominate:  (some of you haven't blogged in ages, so get to it!)

1. Amanda
2. Stacie
3. Kaleigh
4. Melissa T.
5. Emily B.
6. Jana
7. Kristine
8. Jenny F.
9. Sarah C.
10. Alison
11. Lisa B.

What Blog?

Yes, I know this blog still exists. I am not going to make excuses, I am just going to start off by telling you about our fabulous trip to San Francisco. We went in January and the weather was beautiful! That is a miracle, it really is. These are the pictures from my camera. I have a few more from my phone, but I am too lazy tired to upload them.

We spent Saturday morning at the farmers market and all of my senses were invigorated. Do you ever have those moments where you think to yourself, "Right at this moment, I am truly happy"? I spent my whole trip feeling this way. It was like going home (I just teared up writing that, I am a hormonal mess).

Back to the farmers market... Everything looked, smelled, tasted and felt so delicious.

My kids were in sample heaven and I didn't even care what things cost. If it tasted incredible, I bought it and we ate it!

Our little family (or maybe it is big, according to astonished passerby's).

The wonderful family who allowed us to invade their home and take over all of their plans for 5 days.

 We made our way down to Crissy Field and met up with even more awesome friends. 

(I MISS YOU GUYS, can you tell?)

Here is the majority of our kiddos, minus E.

The weather could not have been more perfect and that quickly led to this:

 Only in SF would this be considered appropriate.

 I think my little free spirit felt like she was home too! 

This one avoided the water and stuck to the sand.

Of course we got them matching outfits. 

 After that, my pictures on my camera pretty much end. We were having too much fun meeting up with lots of dear friends, shopping, eating, dancing (on the wii), and not sleeping.

Last but not least, this one easily makes me cry. Emily, you know I would clone you if I could. I guess I will just have to settle with a lot of phone calls, Google chat, texting, and word games. 

I can't wait to go back! Hopefully I can find a moment to sneak away to SF by myself and shop until I drop or eat until I drop. Either way, I need to get there soon before the summer fog rolls in.

Colorful Party

All year I have been planning on making a rainbow cake for I's birthday. She didn't necessarily request it. I just saw a picture of one and loved it, so I convinced her that she would love it too (although I think she was disappointed it wasn't the rainbow decorated one from Costco). 

One of my favorite quotes from I this year: (completely out of the blue as she was eating lunch one day) "My name is _ and I was born in San Francisco and I love rainbows."  That was it. She said it a couple times to herself and I thought it was funny. It must have been the many many times we drove down Market street. The visions of rainbow flags stuck in her head. 

The point is, she has a colorful personality, she loves rainbows, she had a birthday party, it was rainbow themed, and it was a blast! Here's the proof:

It wouldn't be a 5-year-old party without this game.

"Accidentally" letting balloons fly free.

5 candles (count 'em).

Making colorful wishes.

The queen of the cake!

My masterpiece 

(Yes, I know the colors are in the wrong order, don't judge.)

Birthday girl.

Again, it wouldn't be a party without a pinata (and a whole bunch of leftover Halloween candy).

 And streamers

And rainbow colored balloons (that met their maker later during the party). 

All things rainbow.

To top it off, a picture with all the colorful girls in front of my favorite bridge.

Can you believe we survived? It was a fun day, I can't wait for next year (now I'm starting to sound like her)!  I'm thinking "Under the Sea"? ooh, or how about "Red Carpet"? 

This could be epic.

ps: I apologize that none of these pictures have been photo-shopped. I am too slow at blogging to add editing to the list. You don't mind? True friends like blurry, dark, and overexposed photos right?

Still Here

Lucky you, my computer has been mended and it's cold outside. That means I might possibly give up my 4 month blogging vacation and clue you in on my life once again. At least until next spring, when I am out of hibernation. I will make no promises.  You are excited right? I just need to think of some entertaining material to get me through the next 6 months (That is how long winter lasts, you know). Does Pinterest have a section on blogging ideas? I'm sure they do, they have everything. I will be right back after I check it out.

For now, you can stare at these beauties:

Great

 I know people get sick of seeing pictures of my children over and over, but when I spend every day engulfed in motherhood, pictures like these melt my heart.  By engulfed, I mean surrounded by chaos, dirt, crumbs, vomit, poop, pee, screaming, crying, whining, neediness, slobbery wet kisses, adorable laughs, smiles, an overabundance of fun, and the most tender moments you could imagine.

Next time I will spare you the gaggy braggy post and post a picture of the bake sale lady instead or something more amusing for your entertainment.