It SUITS me

So you couldn't pay me to post a picture of myself (like this) in a swimsuit. BUT I am SO so excited for my cruise with my sis in-laws (oh yeah and the husbands, mine included) NEXT MONTH, so I went out and bought THREE new bathing suits which I LOVE!!!

My friend Danielle told me about this site of modest, cute, affordable bathing suits and I am SO sold for life. LOVE em' and thought I'd share.

http://limericki.com/default.aspx

A Stroke of Bad luck

So many people have been wondering where I have been lately. Not returning texts, calls, no F.B., or blogging... so here's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Ned and I have had our FOURTH flat tire in a month (yes you heard me right, 4)! Just luck I guess. Two on each car. So after all that frustration and time....

I picked Ella up from preschool during the bad rains last week, with Asher in the car as well. And took my regular route (shortcut streets) home. Well not thinking proactively I pass a HUGE dip in the road at one point. Of course as I drove through it my entire engine was flooded and covered in water. The car immediately shut down in the middle of the intersection and luckily cruised to the side of the road. At which point my cell phone was not working and I waited TWO HOURS for AAA to come. Asher was so tired and upset he cried himself to sleep in the car. April & Wes (After an hour and a half ordeal got the kids and took them home to nap). And I waited longer, ready to pee my pants in the pouring ran, got the car TOWED home a few hours later.

Next day I'm going to pick up a new battery for my broken car to see if that will help. Driving on the freeway (not raining mind you). And I got a ticket for speeding (going 67 mph) on the freeway. I couldn't believe it! The cop even said well 67 is not 65 and you were speeding, as people were flying past me. I felt like I was in a movie, it was crazy. There was nothing I could do or say to help the situation and I felt so shafted. I mean I have speed before where I totally deserve a ticket (I wont lie or anything), but in this particular incident I was NOT SPEEDING! At this point I just starting crying and was so upset (o.k. hysterical) and thinking cut me a break already (and to make matters, uh, more ironic, I was listening to my scriptures/bible in the car at the time, REALLY?!)

All the while the kids have been sick, Ned threw out his back and couldn't walk or lift the kids or anything for about a week, Ella wasn't sleeping through the night (isn't, I should say) again, so Ned and I are taking turns with her walking her back to her room from about 3am to 5:30am most nights. So yesterday morning after a LONG night and then FIGHTING to get her dressed to get to preschool, she just kept crying and saying she wanted to stay in her pj's. I finally got her dressed and to school a 1/2 hour late, only to realize I hadn't gotten the memo it was PAJAMA DAY. Seriously! "Isn't it Ironic, don't ya think?"

Then yesterday we got a call and email from our VISA credit card company stating that our credit card number was stolen and someone was making charges. This is the 4th time this has happened. Needless to say we are closing this account for good.

With all that being said I am SO SO SO BLESSED and so so so:

• Grateful for a WONDERFUL (perfect!) husband that decided I needed AAA a few months ago.
• Grateful for family willing to help me out in a pinch.
• Grateful for "A" singular mode of transportation.
• Grateful for two beautiful children (who drive me crazy and leave me sleep deprived) but who also give me the most joy I have ever experience in my life and are my greatest source of happiness.
• Grateful for a husband who will stay up under the hood of a car until 2am trying to figure out what the problem is.
• Grateful for a home to keep us warm and safe from the rain, wind, and world.
• And grateful to God who loves me unconditionally and gives me trials and challenges so I can continually grow and progress!

Family Pictures

http://sarahhullphotography.blogspot.com/

So my friend Holly's sister in-law came out to Redlands last Sat. and did a few mini-sessions and this was our first family picture EVER. She did such a GREAT job, especially considering Asher was trying to get away at all costs AND Ella really thought she was a super model, so she kept running away from the rest of the family doing Heidi Klum poses as she went...interesting kids, but nevertheless we have some cute pics. THANKS SARAH!!!!

Next thing I knew I was PASSED OUT in the closet...

So I am ALWAYS in a hurry, rushing, and doing a million things at once. Well on Tuesday morning I was of course trying to get everything done I needed done before I had to run off to work for the day. So I had done my 15 min. run on the treadmill, check. Kids were down stairs eating breakfast and watching cartoons, check. I had taken my shower, done my make-up and hair, check. Now I was throwing on my clothes in the closet....this is where it all began...

...While I was throwing on my shirt in the closet, I hit my "FUNNY BONE" (who the HECK thought to call it that!!!!!!!!!) on the door frame and one of the most intense pains I have EVER felt proceeded. I remember saying a prayer that I would be OK, I remember my whole body tingling and feeling a little sick, and the last thing I remember was thinking maybe if I move my fingers it will feel better....NOPE....

....next thing I knew I was PASSED OUT, COLD OUT in the closet. When I came too I had no idea where I was or what was going on! (Now I have passed about about 10 other times in my life before, yeah I know crazy, story for another blog post) but I had NEVER been so disoriented in my life. I just heard my sister (April) & her husband (Wes) were downstairs (they watch my kids for me). So I had no idea how long it had been since I was out, I yelled my sisters name then must have blacked out again.

Next thing I knew they were both over me, I heard them talking and asking me questions. April was telling Wes to pick me up and put me on the bed (with my shirt half on, don't worry, not exposed or anything, thank goodness). Wes was asking if I was OK. I told them I was fine and finally came to. They said I was stark WHITE as a ghost, and I was completely clammy!

Yes I had eaten that morning. No I am NOT pregnant. And I have had my blood work done several times to check why this happens to me, and I am fine. Needless to say I went on about my regular day and have felt fine since. My elbow is a bit sore, but nothing more. But I swore to my husband (who was worried) that it was just the pain from my elbow...

So I did some more research on the Internet and found this interesting bit of info as well:

Can you pass out from striking your funny bone?

Q: Somebody at my work place passed out, and they don't have any history of blood pressure problems or anything. As a matter of fact, his most recent physical was just a couple of months ago, and his doctor said he was fine. When he came to, he said he had struck his elbow on one of the shelves in the office. He had the cold sweats and a pale complexion, but then seemed fine. I've never heard of that .

Look up psychogenic shock:

Psychogenic shock (aka: Fainting) is usually related to a sympathetic response causing a temporary decrease in cerebral perfusion. Usually, very temporary, and when the body performs it basically goes into a preservation mode, shunting blood supply (i.e. reason for being pale) and adjusts accordingly.

Fun Family Flashback Fotos

San Diego Zoo

Annual passes to the San Diego Zoo. Overall assessment is...superb.


Ella wanted to act like a money most of the day. Easy for me to "pretend".

It's Fall Ya'll

I LOVE FALL! love...love....love...fall. And of course a Cali fall is not as beautiful as the rest of the world's fall...but I still love it. In fact I took a canyon drive near our house to work one day to avoid the traffic, and I had the most wonderful drive. I was so happy all day! I was able to enjoy many beautiful sites (orange groves, shapely hills, open fields, NO TRAFFIC). It was wonderful, and I love this time of the year along with all its fun festivities.

We were busy this year with:

Trunk or Treat at church and the Chino Hills Shoppes:

Snow White & Baby Duckie

I found Ella's snow white dress on clearance after Halloween last year for about $5, with my coupon, and was so excitied for the great deal we got. Well Daddy found the matching snow white shoes, that light up while you walk. So she HAD to get those, which of course cost about $24. So much for the deal I got, but she is a Daddy's girl & was a princess for Halloween (blah! not my favorite, but what she wanted).

My Dad's B-day and family Halloween Party:

Donuts on a string. Carving Pumpkins.
Treasure Hunts.
Costumes.
Dad's witches brew (homemade root beer, bubbling from the cauldron).
AND Ella's 2nd costume (OUR pick) Jack from Pirates

Tom's Farm (pumpkin patch):
Oak Glenn:

Time Out For Women

So I had so much fun this last weekend going to "Time Out For Women" in Riverside with a lot of my Ontario friends.

It was refreshing and uplifting. And fun to hang out with all my old friends. This is not a good picture and a lot of our friends who were there are not pictured here (Genvieve, Tribble's, where did you go?)

Janell thanks for planning and getting the tickets for us. I am totally down with Vegas next year!