FFF #7 Mommy and Me

Happy Mother's Day! Sarah chose "Mommy and Me" for this week's Favorite Foto Friday- how appropriate for Mother's Day! No- I didn't go retro- this is my mom and me circa 1973!

Have i ever told you that my mom is awesome? I really don't know what I would do without her and I hope she knows how much i truly do appreciate her. 5 years ago my mom quit her job to get ready to take care of her "grandchild" for us so i could continue to work. Boy did she get more than she bargained for! Going back to work was one of the hardest things I had to do (next to carrying and delivering triplets) and the only thing that got me out the door that first morning (and pretty much every morning since) was knowing that my mom was the one the girls were with. My mom was a young mom, and while I wasn't a young mom- that still makes her a young grandma- she rocks!

As a mom I can only hope to be as good a mom as my mom was. I turn to her often for guidance and she has great words of wisdom and perspective (thanks mom!) I've started a tradition on Mother's Day of getting a picture with my girls. I find too often that I'm missing in pictures because I am the one always taking them (it's a new year's resolution this year to get in more pictures- I think I'm doing better- not great, but better!). Below are all my mother's day pictures and then a few from this year- I'll add this year's picture on Sunday.

My first Mother's Day (2004) was when the girls were 2 months old- so tiny!

2005
2006

Snow Day in February for my birthday



How we watch fireworks at Disneyland- everyone ooo's and aah's but covers their ears

One of my all time favorite pictures of the girls and me- January 2008

The girls and me at the beach last weekend

And I have to take a moment to say Happy Mother's Day to my mother in law who also rocks- did you know she went from NO grandchildren to SIX grandchildren in about 3 years? She works so hard and does so much for our families. I'm so fortunate to have a wonderful mother in law (and i mean that!)- she takes my side :) Below is a picture of mom in law with her daughter in laws- Sarah and me and then one with her and the girls on Easter this year.

Happy Mother's Day everyone and have a great weekend!

(Lots of things going on this weekend so keep checking back for more!)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's Birthday! Happy birthday dad! You rock too! :) Tonight we are having a party for my dad- "Fiesta or Siesta" LOL

My dad at his 40th birthday.

Ask the girls how old grandpa is and they will tell you, "Grandpa is 6!" Think that will earn them some more Mattel goodies???

Revlon Run/Walk for breast cancer

A few years ago (ok it was more like 5 or 6 years ago) I had the honor of walking with some of my school collegues in the Los Angeles Revlon Run/Walk for Breast Cancer. It was an amazing day and the emotions it brought about are indescribable! Since then I have not been able to participate- but I have a couple friends that continue to walk and I am so grateful that they do. Being a mom to 3 girls is wonderful- but it is also very scary conisidering that there still is no cure for breast cancer! i encourage you to visit this site daily to fund mamograms- i have it bookmarked in my "daily visits" folder on my computer- it takes a few seconds a day!

Also- if you are in the position to donate I hope you will consider giving to one of my friends or anyone you know that may be walking.

My friend Mikael is running- I have known Mikael since 6th grade. She knows me better than most people and we have been through so much together (she also introduced me to Michelle! LOVE her for that!) Mikael loves cows and I just think its hysterical (she might not) that Madeline just came in here while I was posting the pictures of Mikael, and said, "That's your friend cow!" LOL Sorry Mikael- I did correct her! Mikael is an avid supporter of finding a cure. To donate to Mikael DeWitt (Bib # 10512), click here

9th grade (me) 10th grade (Mikael)
Playing playdough with the girls this past Christmas!


My friend Shari is walking- I have known Shari since getting my teaching credential in 1997, we were student teachers together and Shari was one of my bridesmaids. She has two darling boys that my girls love having over. Shari also runs a cookie business "Cookie Cutters". Some of the best cookies ever! Shari is also determined to find a cure! To donate to Shari Vuoso (Bib # 12794), click here

Shari and her friend at last year's walk! This was on a flyer that Shari received from Revlon!


Also, please consider signing THIS petition. The petition urges Congress to pass legislature to end "drive through" mastecomies and give patients a chance to recover in the care of a hospital. Many women go home within 48 hours of their surgery!
Let me know if you have any problems with the links!


Ok- off my soapbox now- give the ladies in your life a hug tonight and tell them you love them! Don't forget to THINK PINK!

A Night at the Beach

FFF- Having a Ball is below this post! Though we had a ball at the beach tonight too!

Rick called on his way home from work and asked if we wanted to go to the beach to watch the sunset- how fun! So i raced to get the girls ready and out the door we went just as he was driving up! The girls loved it (though Ashley didn't like the noise from the crashing waves) and were ready for bed by the time we got home! Maddie ran to her heart's content and Emily loved picking up "sea clams". She kept giving them to her sisters and they kept throwing them as soon as she turned to find more. The life guard on duty took our family shots.Clean shaven daddy is back! Ashley was being real sneaky (and cute) she couldn't stand not being in our picture LOL

Emily stuffing "sea clams" in her pocket to bring home.

FFF #6- Having a Ball!

Sarah's FFF always seem to fit perfectly with whatever we have had going on during the week! This week we started with record highs again (and the a/c in my classroom was broken- making for 94 degree temps INSIDE the room). In addition to the heat, my mom had to have a root canal this week so my sister in law Megan came to watch the girls for us. Megan has been living in New York for the past 4 years and just moved back to CA. The girls love Aunt Megan and were great for her! When I got home she had them dressed in their bathing suits ready to go out and get some relief! The girls "had a ball" with the pool and sprinkler and we "had a ball" watching!Maddie was all about jumping in the pool this timeAshley was having a lot of fun with the hose on high- below she is washing off Emily's feet because "they were dirty"
Within 3 days the weather has dropped 20-30 degrees and we are comfortable again, we know the summer heat is coming- and we're ready for it!