More Playroom Progress...

So... Yay! My last and final piece came in (it only took forever) and I'm thrilled. We attempted to mount the t.v. onto the wall last Saturday and well we had the wrong wall mount. I guess our beams are further apart than we had anticipated. Bryan was able to find a different wall mount online and we ordered it and hopefully it comes in soon. Like I had mentioned before this playroom will be in the works for quite some time but it's so nice to have the big purchase done. We still need to push the piece back more and bolt the pieces together. There is so much to be done everywhere in this awkward loft area but I can pretty it up with all the fun stuff I have in mind overtime but for now I'm loving the progress and so is Bryan which makes me happy. I feel bad being pre-occupied with this room and not paying much attention to Brody's. He still LOVES his crib and all of the fun car stuff I bought for his room is still sitting in his closet until he makes the adjustment to his big boy bed. The other day I found him in Brooke's bed pretending to sleep under the covers and I asked him if he wants to try to sleep in his big boy bed tonight and he replied quickly with a "No Mama! I want my cwib!" (crib) So I guess we wait until he is ready.
I took my sweet girl last week to her six month dental check. No cavities again! Yay! I really feel so blessed and lucky that I have not had to deal with any sort of dental cavities or fixes thus far. Brooke does such a fabulous job of maintaining her great dental hygiene...Brody is...working on his and I'm planning on taking him for his first appointment this coming summer. That should be an interesting experience. Brooke makes everything so easy. I literally got to sit in the waiting room and read a magazine and enjoy a nice break while she had her teeth cleaned, had x-rays done and examined. How awesome is that? I remember before I had Brooke. I worked as a dental assistant and I would CRINGE if I saw we had a 5 year old or any child under the age of 10 on the schedule. I would quickly think of how I could manage my 10 minute break or lunch hour during that time so I could prevent assisting and getting my fingers bitten off or thrown up on due to freak hysteria of being at the dentist. Call it mother's intuition or whatever but I fear I will not be as lucky with Brody.
I treated Brooke to some well deserved gelato at Frost ( the greatest Gelato place EVER ) and she indulged in her treat.

Mama's New Toy

I've never had luck with blenders. I think it's because I've never splurged on a REALLY good one. I've bought a few (more like four) in the last 9 years and my guess is they probably were all under $19.99 and were impulse buys at Wal-Mart with the intention of making healthy smoothies for breakfast or something. They were a PAIN in the rear to clean and were probably used once or twice and didn't make the cut in our 8 moves. Our last one (I had just purchased in Utah) didn't survive our flood and I never got around to replacing it when we moved to Arizona almost a year ago.
I was after Christmas browsing Macy's and I saw this gem and it was love at first sight. I REALLY wanted it. I went home and thought about it and decided to go for it. Why not? BEST DECISION EVER....This blender is like the BMW of blenders in my book (I'm sure there are even more fancier better ones out there but in my ok to splurge a little price range this one is the BMW of blenders).
So far I have used this blender at least 3x a week in the last 3 weeks I've had it. It's a breeze to clean. I've been pinning away smoothie recipes ( and a really yummy sounding potato soup recipe) on Pinterest and so far the ones I've tried have been really yummy. The kids have been enjoying the benifits from their mama's new toy too.

Playroom Progress & Stuff..

So far January has been a pretty boring month but that's ok! I'd rather it be quiet and boring than what went on last January. I've been doing pretty great with my New Year's Resolutions too. I've started making progress on the playroom which makes me very happy and excited. I made a big purchase but after weighing in the pros and cons of doing so it was necessary and even though Bryan was not too hot on the idea I would say he's even more excited about it than I am. I'm trying to turn our awkward loft into a playroom and I say awkward because really there is only one wall that can be utilized for storage and it's not that big. The only other wall has a giant arch cut out. So I went with the Cameron wall systems from Pottery Barn Kids. Yes I know what you are thinking...dollar signs I was too. I was however able to snatch it up during their storage event and purchase it as a bundle so I was able to save 20 percent on my purchase and I was able to ask for it to be shipped to my local Pottery Barn Kids so I was able to save on shipping and delivery charges. Yay! I ordered my wall system close to three weeks ago and I was told that my pieces would not arrive until mid February.......what!? I got a call Saturday that all but one piece came in and I was welcome to come and pick them up. I'm so glad I did because I would not have been able to squeeze that last piece (that is stuck back east) into my van anyways along with my 5 other boxes. Bryan and I spent Sunday night putting them all together and so far so good!! Bryan keeps asking if I've heard from the store yet about my last piece, I think he's as anxious and excited as I am. This coming Saturday Bryan is going to mount the kids' t.v. onto the wall and I've already listed my previous stand (the one pictured) on craigslist. No bites yet. It's going to take some time and money to organize, accessorize and finish the playroom and I'm good with that. I'll try to be good about posting the progress I've made but I'm in no big rush.
Really there is not much going on. Brooke is super excited about her birthday party in just a few short weeks and I'm excited for her too. I turn 29 next month and that's kinda hard to swallow but I have every intention on making the last year in my twenties memorable and most importantly fun.
Enjoy the pictures of my progress so far and of my two cute sleeping boys.

My Princess.....

.....turns 6 a month from today.

Happy New Year!

Bring it on 2012!!!
Happy New Year to us all, may 2012 bring us all joy, prosperity and good health.
My resolutions this year are....

1.) Maintain my 50+ pound weight loss that I was able to accomplish over a 20 month period this passed October. Yay!
2.) Save money. Boring I know but it couldn't hurt!
3.) Fix up our loft into a playroom for my two little ones.
4.) Be more positive and learn to let go....my house can be messy and unorganized....sometimes.

Enjoy the marathon of posts below~

Christmas in CA

Most of you know that the week we spent in with you was full of fun and lots of family time. I was under the weather most of it and I'm realizing it now that I have zero pictures of the time we spent together other than what is below and I feel so incredibly terrible about it.
I wanted to thank Oma and Opa, my sister and friends for spoiling us rotten especially the kids this Christmas. It was so much fun just to sit and spend time with you all. Mom I can't tell you thank you enough for babysitting the kids so I could go out and visit with my friends whom I miss dearly. It was a week full of fun and I wish I could do it all over again and again. Thank you Oma and Opa for all of our Chritmas goodies. Brody held on to his helicopter most of the drive home and Brooke won't take off her Ariel nightgown and slippers.
Grandma Jenny and Grandpa Dave thank you so much for everything. Brody is in heaven with all of his Thomas the Train stuff and Brooke loves all of her fun Princess and Pet Shop things.
I could not believe how packed our van was, we had to fold our third row down just to fit everything and our luggage.
This Christmas was different than others. It was weird for me to not be there and miss out on things I have never missed in my 28 years. It was weird for me not to dedicate a whole day of Christmas to my parents (Christmas Eve) and dedicate a whole day to Bryan's parents (Christmas Day). I'm not a fan of change, those of you who know me best know this all too well. It was nice to spend Christmas just the four of us but I did miss our usual routine.
I'm so gratful to have two loving families and I have to admit I was overwhelmed with everything we were gifted with this Christmas from family to friends and Bryan's work. We are beyond blessed in so many ways. Love and miss you all!

A Big Thank You To All My Cousins, Aunts & Uncles

As soon as we pulled up to my parents house my two little ones jumped out of the van and were ready to be spoiled and spoiled they were. I was so sad not to be there and thank and hug all of my cousins and aunts and uncles but this post is for you! A huge thank you hug and kiss from my two little ones to you. I tried my very best to get pictures of the kids with each of their gifts but not all of them came out clearly. Thank you Helena, Peter & Family for the jewelry making kit and Little People Book, Thank you Corina, Vincent, Wesley & Phillip for the gift cards to Toys-r-us, Thank you Shannon, Alex, Todd & Walter for the puzzles and Lite Bright, Thank you Ethan, Mindy & Douglas for the Minnie & Mickey Pj's and movie tickets, Thank you Billy & Lisa for the princess camera and Thomas the Train Pillow Pet, Thank you Gavin for the Disney Princess set and Toy Story flashlight, Thank you Matt and Patty for the Mega Block truck set and Disney princess pink coloring kit, Thank you Auntie Binh, Aunt Yin-Yin & Alfred for the red envelopes.
Big Kisses and hugs to all of you and we hope we get to see you all soon!!!
Love,
Andrea, Bryan, Brooke & Brody

Christmas 2011

Santa Claus found us!!! So my pictures are terrible. I was half asleep and forgot to take pictures of the tree with all the presents under it before the kids came running down the stairs. So sad! Not to mention the camera I was using was set to some weird setting to my images are not clear or have a gold tint. Oh well, we sure had fun though! I made Cinnamon French Toast Bake for breakfast and my very first little turkey for dinner.
Bryan surprised me with a new vacuum! Yay! I have been wanting/needing one for years so I was very excited to see him pull it out of the closet with a big ol' grin on his face. I felt bad because we agreed on no presents for ourselves this year since we have made so many purchases for our house but it was a nice surprise! I snuck in a new wallet and some socks for him under the tree too so we kinda both broke our agreement. Brooke was so excited that Santa brought her a stroller/pram, Gotz baby doll, Disney microphone sing along boom box thing,a jewelry box,Hello Kitty lego house and a cradle with bedding for her doll. she was so happy and could not wait to talk her new baby for a stroll in her new pram.
Santa didn't forget Brody either, he was beyond thrilled about his Lightening MaQueen car (I have no idea if I spelled that right), Chuggington laptop, Tonka fire truck, little handworker workhouse with tools, and a little Tonka stunt car toy set-up.
We were able to enjoy the day together, spend dessert with some amazing friends and their sweet family and prep the house for our trip the next day to see our families. It was a perfect day.

Christmas Eve 2011

Our very first Christmas Eve! At breakfast I made Santa pancakes, the kids really enjoyed them, I love Brody's face. I made AMAZING french dip sandwiches for dinner thanks to an amazing crockpot recipe via Pinterest, seriously so crazy yummy I'm still thinking about them. It was our first year missing out on my family Christmas Eve party at my mom and dad's and I was so sad not to be there but I made sure we had fun activities planned for that day. It was nice to hang out at home and spend time just the four of us, eat a yummy dinner and spend the evening making sugar cookies for Santa.