Pacifier Princesses

Today we are taking away Niah's pacifier officially. I figured I need one last Pacifier pic of the girls together and what better picture than one of them sitting calmly together in their princess dresses.

The story behind the pacifier in Niah's mouth..............

All week we been slowly cutting the tips off her pacifiers so Niah got desperate and found a pacifier that both her and Leilah hated and started using it. I guess when sources are low you got to do what you got to do :) Poor Niah Grace. I hope what we have in store for her today make her understand that she is a BIG GIRL now........................

Night routine

I think having a night routine is very vital when you have toddlers. It gives them some kind of structure. With 2 kids under 3 it's hard to stay on a daily routine. The days offer us something different all the time but night time is the one thing I somewhat have control over.

This is what our night looks like most of the time (we are definitely not perfect so like I said, MOST of the time)

The girls are bathe. It's about 8:30. Niah picks out a book that she got from the Library. She usually will lay in her bed and Leilah will come and go. As you can see Leilah is Playing with toys in this pic.

Such a cute book. The way I Love You 

No matter if the day was good or bad. No matter if there was a tantrum minutes before we never go to sleep without giving lots of kisses!!

Niah usually assist Dada in putting Leilah to sleep. Syniah is not sleeping in her OWN bed much these days!

With a warm baba...........Good night our Little Leilah Faith.

Night time is my favorite in my home. It is usually the most calm time of the day. The time where I count my blessing and my little family is my biggest blessing of all.

Spaghetti Night

Tonight was spaghetti night. Leilah had never tried spaghetti and she loved it! She is Italian alright! I don't think she left much in her plate and this time she didn't drop any for Lady.

She put a little in her mouth

Leilah never stopped eating......she said, "Forget the fork, I got my hands!"

Syniah has had many spaghetti nights. This is definitely one of her favorite foods.

We can't have dinner without dessert. Yum! Popsicle and Spaghetti what can be better??

AVA'S 2ND BIRTHDAY

7 years ago I started working for Autism Solutions for kids and 7 years ago I met a pretty amazing women. My BOSS! Ha. Who says their boss is amazing? I did. I met Bridgette Brooks who was my supervisor. A very business oriented women who had lots of boundaries at work :) Who would have known that I would even become friends with her. Ervin and Ethan (Bridgette's husband) started working together and set up this double date that I was horrified to go on. "I can't go on a double date with Bridgette Brooks" ,"What will we even talk about?" Who would have known the most awkward date would have turned into a lifetime of friendship.  From that day forward we were inseparable. Bridgette still kept her boundaries at work (super hard for me) but once we clocked out that's where the fun began! Bridgette and Ethan were our first Married Christian friends. We started going to church with them. Ervin and I were still really new into our relationship, it was really nice to have a couple guide us and support us. We were always together and shared so many fun memories.Years into our friendship I became pregnant with Niah and Bridgette became the first friend I told, even though I was so nervous to tell her. Like always she supported me, but only a month into my pregnancy she stopped working for Autism Solutions and moved to Burbank. I moved to Rancho Cucamonga. We were no longer minutes from each other which made us lose touch (not a good excuse but a true one). She missed out on my pregnancy with Syniah and experiencing me being a Mama to not one but two babies and along that way she had a baby of her own. I missed out on her joys of mama-hood. We definitely lost out on a few years of each others life.......I think some of the most important years and it makes me sad. I keep thinking only if I had called her more but it is what it is and now we just have a few years to make up.

Which brings us to this.......................

OUR THREE LITTLE GIRLS

Leilah Faith, Syniah Grace, and Ava Grace  (Great middle names huh?) They say great minds think alike :)

When Bridgette invited us to Ava's birthday party I couldn't pass this up and so glad I didn't.

The girls met and seriously.........Instantly they started hugging and became best friends. I think their encounter could only really be seen and not explained. It was so cute. It was as though they knew each other their whole life.

Ava is such a beautiful little girl. So lovable!

It was so special to see Ethan and Bridgette's love for their daughter

We got me meet Sweet Bella (Bridgette's Niece).

Eat lots and lots of candy

Share some good memories

Sing Happy Birthday to little Miss Ava

Watch these girls friendship grow in a matter of hours

They got to meet my Leilah Faith

 We got to see and talk to the amazing Shay

Dada had fun

but most importantly I got my friend back.

We had so much fun and so much to catch up on we couldn't leave. We all hung out till almost 2 in the morning. The girls were still on a sugar high and it gave us a chance to catch up and do what we do best DRINK WINE. Check out this crazy after party! Looks a lot like the parties we use to have before kids took over.

THE AFTER PARTY

Today was a great day for me.We got a friendship back that we truly thought about often and missed. My girls gained a friendship that I hope they will always have. I thank God for putting the Brooks in our life many years ago. They were our mentors, our friends but more like family. This time we won't let them get away :)

4TH OF JULY 2011

4TH of July with the Navarro and German family was everything I had imagined it to be.

FOOD   FUN   LAUGHS   FESTIVE  KIDS  FIREWORKS

This was our first year that we didn't go to San Diego and watch fireworks off the pier. We wanted the girls to experience 4th of July with family and friends. I think it is special for Ervin to get light fireworks with the girls and share their excitement. So we tried something different this year and joined the Navarro and German's.........................

All the kids dressed up festive and looked super cute so we had to do a quick photo shoot of these cuties.

Ava's first 4th of July and she wasn't loving the feeling of grass.

 

So hard to get them all to look.

Leilah, John-Paul, Syniah, Trinity, Ava, Mariah and Luke

1 1/2 Year Luke

We can't pass up a good photo opportunity of these two Best friends.

She really does adore him. Can't you see their future prom pictures already??

These two are definitely Tanya and my Little Firecrackers

FOOD!! Lots and lots of food. Joe's Famous Ribs! Yum! We got happy kids oh and Stacey and Vanessa :)

My favorite picture of the evening. The loves of my life.

The kids take a break after dinner and relax.

The Germans with their first baby Mariah

My Sweet pea and I

Niah and Dada

He just loves his girls

Leilah being a little grumpy......whats new? :)

and the time we all been waiting for....................

Sitting down getting ready for fireworks!!!

The girls with Auntie Stacey

SPARKLERS....there is something about sparklers that had me freaked out the whole night. I think little kids with fire just don't mesh but I tried not to freak out and let my girls have a good time with them but inside I was freaking out!

The kids with Sparklers





Niah holding a sparkler for the first time.

Leilah holding a sparkler for the first time.

Dada enjoyed this time with the girls. I think men have more of an appreciation for fireworks as for me......I freak!

Two of the best Mama's I know.

The Navarro sisters and Calvin

Leilah loved watching the fireworks

But it wouldn't be Leilah if she didn't stop what she was doing to eat a little snack and enjoy the view

Niah, Trinity and Leilah watching the ending of the fireworks

I love this pic.

John was so funny to watch with the fireworks. I should have recorded him. He would dance around and do crazy movements.

What a great way to spend 4th of July with our favorite families. So thankful for the love and relationship we have with the Navarro and German families. The way they love and cherish my girls as if they were their own is something so special to me. I thank God for them everyday.

 

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYBODY!