Ava's growing up.....

I've been cleaning out my house. Donating what I can, throwing away what I should. The other day I came across this canvas I had started painting way before Ava, probably around seven years ago. I should have taken a before and after picture but didn't. Basically it had a green back ground, face and black poofy hair. I got a hold of her this weekend and pretty much repainted the whole thing, back ground, skin, hair, the only thing that remained the same was the eyes. I am going to give this to Ava for her birthday.
Im really happy with the way she came out. I tried to style her up to Ava's wild imagination. Colored hair of course and its gotta be her favorite color, purple. Lots of jewelry and little tokens that say Ava at this age, the bangs, the chicken scratch five on the t-shirt, the jewelry and teenager fashion flare. I feel its the happy medium as I have been battling those horrible Bratz dolls. I don't even like the super slutty barbie dolls. What happened to little girls being little girls? Ava and I have an agreement, she can play with baby bratz and angel bratz, they are actually kinda cute. I still say no to the hooker bratz. I mean parents do need some guidelines after all. She seems quite pleased knowing she can have that kind if she wants. Its really a win win situation because we pretty much avoid target now, and if I go, I am saying no to toys. It's so crazy, she always got a toy when we went to target and we went all the time! I am putting a stop to that bad habit, I donated so much money in those target toys.
I'm happy with my painting. She's a fashion girl which will make Ava happy but she doesn't look like she belongs on Sunset. ;)

See! See!

Today Breyne and I had a free afternoon. That rarely happens so we didn't know what to do with ourselves. This summer we aren't really running the air. Only at night time because we have very hot babies that will wake up crying dripping in sweat unless the house is 72 degrees. It was pretty hot today and we didn't want to be home. We couldn't figure out where to go. I thought it was too late in the day to drive down to the beach so I suggested we check out the Americana. Everyone seems to have been but us. Then I thought about it, its new, its in glendale and its Sunday. No thanks! However, something along the lines of the mall felt right. Odd, I know, I hate the mall! So I suggested Santa Anita because of the carousel and play area. We got there, the parking lot was packed, I was nervous and kept saying to myself.....what are you doing, you hate the mall.
So we get in the mall. The spongey play area is packed. Ruby seemed to be over whelmed by it. Ava said the big boys were too scary and I saw across the way, they were doing ear piercing at Claires. I've been very anti ear piercing since our experience with Ava. I was torn because I know that piercing is the most effective if you do it when they are baby and its less scary too because they are unaware. I've been leaning more towards doing it lately and Ava told me she wasn't ready. Yesterday out of no where, she said, I am ready to have Ruby's ears pierced. So I told Breyne, lets go get Ruby's ears done. He said, Im not going to watch her cry, I'll take Ava to the carousel. Off we split, carousel and claires. There was a girl getting hers done first. She was a pro, smiling acting like it didn't hurt at all, she was great! I'm a bit nervous, Rubys having fun, we pick out here earrings, Rubies of course and its our turn.......
It seemed like the girl was taking forever, of course it was my nerves and she was just making sure she was doing a good job. She was the assistant manager, she was very kind, professional and said Ruby's age and younger were the best times to do it. Yes, confirmation! After she sanitized everything, she marked Ruby's ears with marker and had me double check them. She was very particular and marked the left ear, three times (hence the larger purple circle you and see around her earring).
The whole time Ruby's is just kinda going with the flow. The she put the first one in, Ruby glared up at her and gave her a look like.....wtf!?!? The second one, she cried for a second then the girl gave her a lollipop (her first one ever) and Ruby accepted it and started dancing. Since then, Ruby has been touching them and saying "see, see". She loves them!! Thats the last thing she said tonight......"night night mama (pointed to her earring) see"
I am so glad it went so well and I am so happy to see earrings on my little baby. They look lovely and she won't have to worry about ear wholes that close up when she's older.
And as far as hating the mall, I am over that! We had so much fun! Malls are fun when you have kids, the carousel is magic!

Rest in peace Randy

Several months ago, my sister sent me "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch and like many people, it took my breath away. I found him remarkable, selfless, inspiring. Since then, I had kept up on his blog. I was curious about him as a person and was also following him because of his Cancer. My Uncle passed a few months ago from Pancreatic Cancer. It was shocking how fast it took him. While reading his blog, he was very moving, constantly staying positive and very detailed in his information.
Until yesterday, there hadn't been a new post in over a month. Last nights post was written by a friend saying he was on hospice now. That was sad to read. Today, I couldn't stop thinking of him so I went on his blog again. I wasn't expecting to find a post, I just wanted to reread his old ones.
Sadly, today I found a new blog stating he had passed on today. I am very sad. Happy for him that he is no longer in pain but sad for the world that we lost such a remarking being.

Yay for me!!!!!!

So as many of you know, I have been exercising regularly since January. Ashley and I were walking the rose bowl once a week and then I would walk with someone else or by myself two other times a week. This was fun and I felt better but I didn't see any weight coming off. So Ashley and I decided to try pole dancing. It was fun, lots of fun...........it got Ashley pregnant!! After completing level 1 and I lost my partner due to pregnancy, I kept going. I am now in the middle of level three and we are preparing to go upside down on the pole, yes I am scared!
The classes are getting harder and harder and even though I go two to three times a week. I felt like I could really use the practice at home. This shit is hard!! I bought a pole. The plan was to put it in our playroom, where all the mirrors are. The pole is held up from the pressure that is applied from the floor to the ceiling, our play room ceiling was too soft and Breyne couldn't get it to tighten correctly, so we moved it into our room. Yes, we have a pole in our room!! Pretty Pamela Anderson of us, right? I felt a bit shy and kinda scandalous about it but I reminded myself that Sheila Kelly has one in her room and she's not trashy. Besides, doesn't every one get a little down and dirty in their bedroom anyway?
So today, the pole went up and I gotta a good work out. When I was done, I thought I would do a measurement check. (We threw the scale away, best advice I ever got!) Since May 11, I have over all LOST 13.25" OFF of my body!!!!! I am so HAPPY!!
On a sad note, today I also had to say good bye to my very dear friend, Ashley. She and her family are moving up north to fulfill their dreams. I am going to miss you sister!!! XOXO

Happy 17 Months Ruby Lu!!

Today Ruby is 17 months. She weighs 20 pounds and is starting to out grow 6 to 12 months t-shirts. Yay Ruby!! Our little one is very talkative. She says "leth go and coooo-kie" all day and every day beginning at 5 a.m. My little one is a sugar addict. I never let Ava have sugar at this age, not even birthday cake. Yeah, Ruby had reeses pieces the other day at Wall-E. Part of me laughs and refers to her has my little ghetto baby and part of me is like....oh no, hope her teeth will be ok. I think they will. We brush them often. Like Ava, Ruby is totally male crazy. Today we went to lunch while Ava was at art camp and a man winked at her. She tried to do it back and spent the rest of our time there doing all she could to get the man to look at her again. She does this daily. Ruby has friends, Max, Nico, Maggie and recently has discovered Mannex (his older brother is Seth, Avas friend). She is a social girl who wants to be out and about all day long. Roo roo, as we call her, is loving and feisty. We don't have to worry about her much and like Breyne says we get to worry about Ava less because Ruby's got her back. She's teeny yet strong.
These photos are of Maggie and Rubys play date. Maggie came to see Ruby a few days after she was born, she brought us cooo-kies. Maggie was exactly three months old. :)
Every night Ruby likes to help me cook dinner, she mixes and stirs.......

The Graduate

She did it! She spent two and a half years at the Garden School and loved every moment of it. There were times that were harder for me to be there but what kept me going was how much she loved this place. I remember having a fear that a social cirriculum/play based school would do her a disservice in some way. I was very wrong, she started swimming on her own as well as reading!! All in one weekend! Avas made some huge leaps these last few weeks. We are so proud of our little super star!!

End of Year Ballet Review

Ava had her end of year ballet review. She started ballet at this studio this spring. It was really cute. We got there at 5:30 so from about 5:30 until about 7:00 (her bed time), she sat in another room with her classmates and other dances. She was so thrilled there was teenagers with her, gasp! She got to watch everyone warm up and practice. She loved the hip hop class.
Breyne and I sat patiently and I kept checking on her in disbelief she could survive without me. I can't believe what a big girl she was and she did her dance so well!!!!!!!
She got a purple ribbon for completing her class. This summer she is doing Fairy Tale Ballet day camp and in the Fall, she is taking more ballet and hip hop, aww yeah!