Jo Co Ro

Turkey Day

2010-11-26T10:48:00.000-08:00

We all hope that everyone had a blessed, yummy Thanksgiving! I did these little videos with the kids a couple years ago, so I thought we'd do it again. Oh, how they are older and wiser.

Kindergarten Graduation Video

2010-11-11T12:14:00.001-08:00

Back to July

2010-11-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

Last July was busy for us. Coy turned six, we celebrated the Fourth of July, Coy graduated from preschool, Christian went to his first summer camp, and we took a trip to Santa Barbara. Lots of fun memories.

Blog Ignored

2010-11-05T00:10:00.000-07:00

Just out of complete boredom, and the fact that I was trying to escape the lovely squeals of John belting out Showboat, I stumbled onto this old blog. I almost forgot I had it. I think I stopped making posts back in July because of many reasons. I had nothing interesting to say, I had way too many pictures to post (like I really have to post them all), and because once school started, I blinked and three months flew by. I forgot that I like perusing other blogs, especially when the husband is pretending to be a dashing young 1930's actor belting out show tunes. So, I'm going to make an effort to get up to date with the goings-on of the family. I have enough I want and need to read in real life, and I'm sure the feeling is mutual, so words will be few and pictures will be plenty.

Babies in a Tub

2010-07-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

This is a little difficult to see, but the frame is so wide; it was the best I could do to show the whole picture. This was a birthday present I got for my mom this year. She has had these pictures of her grandkids laying around for a while. I'm not sure how this tradition started, but after I had Christian's picture taken in a little tub, Bethany and I had all the kids take one at around 9 months old. My mom had tried to display a few of them in her powder room bathroom with several different frames, but it looked a little cluttered. I searched and searched for one single frame that had eight 5x7 openings to display all of her "lambies." I found a seller on Etsy who will basically make any kind of frame you want. It's a white-washed, cottage kind of frame, and it looks really cute in her beachy bathroom.

The Big 3-O!!!

2010-07-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

John turned 30 in June, and I attempted to throw my first surprise birthday party. John's mom and sister were able to come into town which made it extra special. He was actually completely surprised, which means he is really oblivious. It's true what they say; guys get better looking with age. I'm going to have to lock him in the house when he's 40. I love my John!!!

Visit From the Toof Fairy

2010-07-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

Coy has waited a long time to lose his first tooth. It's hard having a big brother who gets regular visits from the tooth fairy. He finally lost his first last week, and John promptly misplaced it as it flew across the room when he was helping Coy yank it out. Good thing we have the tooth fairy's phone number; it's right there in our contacts after Santa. She assured Coy that these things happen and not to worry; her magic can instantly find his tooth in that crazy high carpet. So, after begging to go to bed and coming into my room at 2 am and 4am, letting me know there was nothing under his pillow yet, he woke up in the morning to find a dollar bill under his pillow. He was thrilled. The hard part came when we found the tooth a few days later. He couldn't understand how he could still have his tooth and the dollar. Lucky for us, a quick "don't worry about" satisfied his questioning.

Saw This One Coming

2010-07-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

So True, So True

2010-06-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

My sister got me this shirt for Christmas, and I've only worn it once...to the gym. I thought it was only appropriate to pull it out a couple of nights ago when I went to see Eclipse at midnight with all the other 14 year old girls. This was the first time I went to one of the Twilight movies the night it opened. I went with a couple of pretty cool ladies for a momma's night out, and lucky them; they got to experience my personal life on a whole new level. :-/ Oh, Me!!!

Let me tell ya, it was just fun to stand in line and do some people watching. Especially entertaining are all the dudes that are there; either with a girlfriend, wife, or daughter. We all know they secretly like it.

But alas, my coolness warning system kicked in, and I changed my shirt at the last second before I left the house.

Dad Life

2010-06-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

A church in Tulsa, OK made this video. It's almost as good as "The Swagger Wagon". Dads are way cool.

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Christian Turned 9!!

2010-06-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

I know I say this every time I make any kind of a post about one of my kids' birthdays, but I can't believe my baby is so grown up! Christian turned nine the beginning of June, and we had a fun time celebrating a couple of times; birthdays seem to last a week around here.

Instead of a party, Christian decided he wanted to stay at a hotel overnight with a couple of his friends and hang out at the pool. So, we stayed at Mandalay Bay, and they have a really huge pool/beach area where the kids had a blast. I've heard for a long time that it was really cool, but this was the first we'd been there. They have a huge wave pool, a lazy river, pools and jacuzzis and a beach area. The best part of the adventure was the 40 times I was asked by total strangers at Mandalay Bay if all five kids were mine. I must be a very busy woman.

On his actual birthday, we went to the Shark Reef and had a family birthday party at home. I get a kick out of my first born baby everyday. It's a trip watching him grow up so fast. Love that boy to death.

Christian with his friends at Mandalay Bay

Spending the night at the hotel

Christian with Grandpa Tony and Nana

Coy really got into singing "Happy Birthday" to Christian.

Christian with Uncle Jay and Aunt Katie

Corinne and mommy time

2010-06-24T14:19:00.001-07:00

I love the splash pad at Town Square. There's always some annoying kid around to punch and kick the fountains so all the parents get soaked too. At least it cools you down.

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Kissin Cousins

2010-06-07T19:50:00.001-07:00

I forgot about some cute pictures from the short trip we took to Yuba City to visit my sis and her fam. My mom and dad were already visiting my sister for her birthday, and the kids and I decided to just show up and say "surprise!" I don't think in any other situation I would come visit without it being prearranged, but this time seemed like a good idea. The kids had fun, I chopped 10 inches off of my hair, and we experienced 3 days straight of rain. Lots of fun.

Corinne and Gracelynn

All Eight Cousins

Eli

Jackson

My dad and the kids

Me with my head feeling a lot lighter (John still hasn't recovered, and this was in April).

Christian's San Fran Trip

2010-06-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of June and July Hades right now. Not only does the weather literally feel like hell (108 by the end of the week), but it is birthday/ holiday central around here; none of which include celebrating me, boo hoo. After the craziness dies down a little I'll post some birthday pics and info. John's birthday is today; my hot husband is a mature 30-year-old now. Christian also turned 9 last Tuesday; onto Father's Day and a gabillion other birthdays.

For now, I just want to share some cute pictures of Christian's fun trip he took to visit my mom and dad. He was in spoiled grandchild heaven; ate way more steak and drank way more Roy Rodgers than any child should. Thanks again, dad and mom, for taking good care of my first born and giving him the time of his 9-year-old life.

Alcatraz

Alcatraz Junior Ranger

Grandpa was naughty

Not much to do at the yard but think about where you went wrong

Down by the bay...where the watermelons grow

Swagger Wagon

2010-05-24T17:09:00.001-07:00

We traded in our Toyota Sienna SE a year and a half ago. I think just because of this video I will get another one when my lease is up. So funny...

Happy Birthday, Debbie!

2010-05-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

Today is my mother-in-law, Debbie's, birthday. All of her kids have been practicing long and hard for months to prepare this little birthday dance for her. I, of course, choreographed and directed. The Can Can will never be the same.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Happy Birthday, Debbie; we love you!

Need Some New Dress-Up Clothes

2010-04-29T12:15:00.001-07:00

Corinne still likes to dress up like Dorothy. The only problem is that her dress is from two years ago, so it's getting a little short. She grew out of her ruby slippers, and replaced them with pink furry boots. Her Dorothy wig got mangled, so the Ariel wig was the only other option. The end result is what I like to call a Dorothy hot mess. She could almost pass for a haggard Motley Crue groupie. She's too cute for that, though.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jetsetter

2010-04-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

Christian boarded his first flight all by himself today. He was excited and eager; I was scared and worried. So far, so good. He made it safely to San Francisco to have a date with his Grammy. I just called him, and he told me all about the view of the bay from his Hilton hotel room, the free snacks on the executive level, the indoor pool he was about to take a dip in, and the room-service steak dinner he was about to eat. Oh, I can't forget about the warm chocolate chip cookies he'll get before bed tonight. Is it wrong to be jealous of my eight year old son?

He had a long track break this Spring, so why not hang out in northern California with Grammy and Grandpa for a couple weeks? He's going to spend most of his time at Grandpa's house, but on the way back to fly home from San Francisco, he's going to the museum, a tour of Alcatraz, and having dinner at the top of the Grand Hyatt. I told my mom that I had never even been to Alcatraz!! Oh well, I'll live vicariously through my son. I'm glad he's going to have so much fun with my mom and dad, but I told my mom that she was definitely going to have to wash the spoiled off of him before sending him home.

Easter 2010

2010-04-06T23:13:00.001-07:00

We had a fun/quiet Easter. It was an early morning for us with singing in a few services. The kids were very understanding that the Easter Bunny got backed up and had to ask John and I to hide the Easter eggs. We were so tired at that point, we didn't feel like sneaking around in the front yard. It's easy to get in touch with the Easter Bunny when you have his cell number. Oh, we also have Santa on speed dial. I almost woke up at 3am to throw something in the crock pot, but I was only getting about four hours of sleep. John had the idea to go to Benihana for dinner. What screams Easter better than Benihana? It was a far leap from traditional, but I kind of loved it.

Apollo ate an entire chocolate bunny that had lost it's way in the shuffle of opening Easter baskets at 5:30 in the morning. I'm now completely convinced that chocolate cannot kill a dog....not even make him sick; not that I was hoping for that or anything. Corinne had a fascination this year, almost an obsession, with the crown of thorns. She's heard about Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection at church, preschool, and at home. So, for an entire week or so I heard her talk about the sharp, pointy ring they put on Jesus's head that hurt him really bad. She would always have this sad, tender tone whenever she talked about it. We never got into any gruesome details, but it was sobering to see my four year old start to understand what Jesus did for us.

Here are some pictures of our Easter this year.

decorating some Easter cakes

dying Easter eggs

early morning basket opening

After church, very sleepy

Where Have All My Babies Gone?

2010-04-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

Corinne turned four Friday before last. I can't believe how grown up my baby girl is. She is my "S" child; she's sweet, spunky, smart, sassy, silly, stunning, and at times, spoiled. I think she is the little girl version of John. I love that child to death, and since I already have so much fun with her, I know we are going to be very close when she's all grown up. My last (maybe) baby is growing up fast, so I'm trying to live in these moments and enjoy every second of it. Nobody has to tell me that I'll be an old lady some day, sitting in a rocking chair, missing these crazy, fun days. I know I will.

Our princess has had a week long birthday that concluded with seeing Alice in Wonderland and playing at Town Square. Then, we celebrated with family at Chuck E. Cheese. Side note- I hate Chuck E. Cheese, and I'm glad we seem to only go on the kids birthdays. My princess, of course, wanted nothing but princess everything, and princesses usually get what they want. It was a fun day, and I'm kind of liking not doing the big birthday parties anymore. There's much more fun we can have with the family for what I used to spend on parties. I wish I would have learned that a few years ago.

The Unveiling

2010-03-28T22:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of Corinne at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique after they were all finished turning her into a princess.

Coy has it all Figured Out

2010-03-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

This was a conversation between Coy and Corinne as we were packing everything up and getting ready to come home from our trip last week...

Corinne: I love being at this hotel! I want to live in a hotel.

Coy: You can't live in a hotel, Corinne; it's just for vacations.

Corinne: But if people don't have a home and sleep outside, they can live in a hotel.

Coy: No, No, No! First, you have to get a job. Then, you have to get some money. Then, you have to get a wife. A wife is a woman, Corinne.

Coy's train of thought always cracks me up. A lot of grown men still haven't figured this one out. I guess Coy is ahead of the game.

Disneyland

2010-03-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our trip.

This Past Week

2010-03-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some things that made me happy this last week...

1. We went to Disneyland for free because of Disney's Give a Day, Get a Day promotion. The family did some volunteering, and we all received a ticket into the park. We had to pay for Corinne because she was too young to volunteer, but still, the price was right. I get more pleasure out of Disneyland than the kids do.

2. When we got to the hotel in Anaheim, I did not find a single thing wrong with our room. John has learned to not even bring the bags into any hotel room we stay in until I have thoroughly checked the bathroom, beds, and carpet. To simply state it, we often room change when we're on vacation. Yeah, I'm one of "those" people. John was shocked that I had nothing negative to say about the room.

3. Christian has finally grown out of the stage where he is afraid of all the fast rides. He loved Space Mountain this time. Yay! He really is my child. Corinne, on the other hand, will never be the same after her first ride on Space Mountain. I think we may have scarred her for life. She did love Star Tours, so I thought she would like Space Mountain. Umm, no.

4. As an early birthday present for Corinne, she had an appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Disneyland. She had her hair, nails, and make-up done by her fairy godmother. She got to pick out her hairstyle, and when the royal attendants were finished, they turned her chair around to look into a magic mirror. She already had on her Little Mermaid costume, so she looked like a beautiful princess the rest of the day at Disneyland. I wish they had the boutique when I was little.

5. Coy wanted to wear his Peter Pan costume all day at Disneyland. He even carried his sword around all day. The best part was the perplexed look he would give people when they said "Hi, Peter!" as he walked by.

6. I was without a dog for three days. We boarded Apollo for the first time, and it was so much easier than finding somebody to take care of him or taking him with us. I kind of liked not having a dog.

7. Banana cream pie is on sale at Marie Callender's.

8. Last but certainly not least, I bought New Moon on dvd today. The kids are going to bed early, and I have a date with Edward and a glass of wine.

Dancing with the Stars

2010-03-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

I heard that these two contestants on the next season of Dancing with the Stars are a shoo-in.

That's hot.

The Ugly Truth

2010-02-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

Usually, I just post pictures of our family on holidays and vacations on this blog, but that's not real life. So, I thought I would just give an update/vent about what's going on in our day to day. I think all the blogs and social networking of today are great. It let's us connect with old friends and see a smidgen of what's going on in their lives, but I've found that it also can make you feel a little less than.

Of course, this isn't the fault of those people posting pictures of every vacation, every new outfit, every dance recital, every beautiful room of their professionally decorated house, every new haircut, and every accomplishment they and their children have ever made. I even do it myself sometimes. We're human, and we are proud of our kids, think we're pretty, or want to show off our nice things, but these pictures and stories are not the down and dirty reality. This is just how we would like everyone else to perceive our lives; "look at me and how great I'm doing." With all of the peacocking, we fail to mention some other very real aspects of our lives. For example, your old friend from high school, Susy, looks as if her existence is the epitome of fabulousness (I made that word up), but she failed to reveal a few of the goings-on in her life. She never blogged about the DUI her husband got last week. She never posted the pictures of her lower half that display the 20 pounds she has gained. She never shared the details of the final step in her bankruptcy procedure. She didn't give a status update on the medication she now has to give her child in order to keep him from being kicked out of the classroom because of his newly diagnosed ADHD. These were all left out on purpose, of course. Nobody wants to reveal those old scary skeletons in the closet; we like to put pretty, rose colored glasses over our truth and then, post it on the internet. Is that to say I would like to know all about Susy's woes and think she should share every aspect of her life? No. If she was a close friend, I would already know about all these struggles, and I would be helping in any way I could. And if I couldn't help, I would be praying.

So, to wrap this all up, my hope is that everyone can see blogging and social networking for what they are and not let it discourage them. Don't compare your life and possessions to others; doing this will never allow you to see how blessed you truly are. Remember the grass is rarely, if ever, greener. So, let's keep posting pictures and stories about the great things in life, but maybe we could add a touch of our human struggles here and there just to keep it real. Beware not to go too far, though. It's a sure bet that when you post all the gory details of your life, you not only show how attention-seeking you are, but you will most likely revolt someone.

*THESE ARE THE OPINIONS OF A 28 YEAR OLD NAMED COURTNEY*

To practice what I preach, I'm going to reveal a bit about myself that's just the plain and simple truth. I can't really say anything about my kids, cause let's face it, they're perfect. I'm not bragging; they really are. I've been blessed in the kid department. So, I'll start with myself. Since after Christmas, I've been completely disgusted with myself. I'm a natural born eater, and when you get used to eating all the holiday crap, it's hard to go back to being healthy and just plain smart about food portions. I joined a gym a month ago and have averaged three days a week. I sweat, I lift, I hurt for several days. A month later, the end result...I've gained five pounds. What the heck?? I'm not giving up, though; I'm just going to start doing weight watcher points again daily. Hopefully, that will help. The other day, Corinne patted my tummy while I was doing her hair and asked if there was a baby in there. I've heard other women tell the same story, but it finally happened to me. Maybe I should do four days at the gym.

John and I are extremely grateful to have the full realization that God answered our prayers when it came to whether or not he should have left his job of four years at MGM to go to City Center. It was a tough, scary decision, but we felt led to take the new job; even though we didn't know for sure what the money situation would be. We found out last week that John's position at MGM, front services supervisor, was completely done away with to cut costs. They laid off three of John's friends who held the same position, and each were given six weeks severance and told, "sorry and good luck." So, even though money is tight right now and tips are crazy low because nobody is coming to Vegas at the present, we are overwhelmingly grateful to be employed and have health insurance.

So, there's a little bit of our "real life" at the moment. I hope in someway I made your day by making you feel better about something in your life.

Christmas Pictures...Finally

2010-01-29T21:07:00.000-08:00

This last month has flown by, and I finally have a night to sit down and post some pictures from Christmas. We had a fun, packed house during the holidays. My mom, my sister's clan of seven, my dad, my Granddaddy, my Grandmother, my Uncle Lonnie, my Aunt Pattie, and my cousins, Jasper and Emilyne, were all on hand for Christmas. Eight kids between the ages of 4 months to 8 years were all ripping and tearing Christmas morning; lots of action. My kids had so much fun with their cousins, and I loved having everyone together.

The Many Faces of Corinne

2010-01-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

This pretty girl is one funny kid. She loves to make you laugh; sounds like somebody else I know.

Good Eatin'

2010-01-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I'm in shock or awe....

The Krispy Kreme Breakfast Sandwich

City Center and Bellagio

2010-01-02T00:12:00.000-08:00

Bellagio Conservatory at Christmas

Crystals Shops at City Center

Flag Football

2010-01-01T23:37:00.000-08:00

Christian played flag football for the first time this year, and the season if finally over. Those early Saturday morning games were a killer. He really liked it, and he had great coaches who were able to teach him a lot about the game. I was glad that John was able to help coach a little bit. Christian is an interesting combination when it comes to sports. He's very competitive and completely non-aggressive. To say the least, it was fun to watch him play. So far, football has been the sport he's liked the most. We'll see where it goes. I'm a little nervous about the thought of tackle football; watching FSU play today didn't help. If Christian likes it, we'll support him. It will just be hard to watch.

Trip to Utah

2009-12-30T22:29:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of the month, we took a family trip to my family's condo in Mt. Holly, Utah. My parents have had this place since I was a baby, and I never remembered there being much, if any, snow on the ground toward the end of November. Well, we thought we would do some hiking and fishing, but the higher we got up the mountain, the more white the ground was becoming. Of course the weather channel didn't prep me for this at all, and we were completely unprepared. The kids had a blast playing in the snow; something that is a rare treat for them. Luckily, all of my sister's and my own ski clothes from when we were little were in a closet at the condo. We dug through boxes and were able to make up three mismatched snow outfits. John got a kick out of seeing my baby snowsuits and little sets of long johns. The snow got cold after a while, so we relaxed around the fire watching movies and eating Thanksgiving leftovers. While we were there a big snowstorm came through. We were worried we wouldn't be able to get off the mountain; the idea of bringing snow chains for the car had never entered our minds. We had to wait a while for the roads to be plowed, but eventually we slowly made it down the mountain.

Next, we headed toward Provo to visit John's mom, sister, and family. They live in a little town called Saratoga Springs. The kids had fun playing with their cousins, and we were able to just relax and hang out with everyone. We went into Salt Lake for the Festival of Trees. There were hundreds of beautiful trees and Christmas decorations on display. It was a wonderful trip, and it was great being able to get away with the family.

Making gingerbread houses at Grandma and Grandpa Bailey's house

John and his sister, Elise

Corinne and her cousin, Lauren

Grandma with the kids at The Festival of Trees

Coy in front of The Wizard of Oz tree

Placing a phone booth call to one of Santa's elves

Corinne got a personal elf call (daddy) after her call was sadly cut short

Star Wars tree

Christian by the Up gingerbread house

All the cousins

November in a Nutshell

2009-12-22T23:36:00.000-08:00

I haven't been too loyal to my blog. Let me just tell you that my time has been served cleaning, wrapping presents, and tending to classroom holiday parties, times three. I love this time of year, but I will not hide the fact that it was a lot more enjoyable as a kid. Christmas was magical back then. It just happened, right? No, I've learned that there were two hard-working people behind it that made the season seem like magic because of a lot of hours spent preparing for the joyous day of Christmas. My mother was always a good decorator when it came to holidays. Every season has plates, table clothes, and an abundance of appropriate decor. I've learned a lot from her after years of celebrations and holidays; but let me tell you, it's no easy task. However, I can say that when I sneak around and see my kids playing with the nativity scenes and singing "Silent Night" it makes it all worth it.

Just a quick note on Thanksgiving. It was relaxing, it was just the five of us (a first), and it was filled with way too much food. We were able to get away the day after Thanksgiving for a week long family trip. It was great and filled with snow. I'll fill you in on all that later. I cooked away all day which resulted in enough food for twelve. So, we had Thanksgiving dinner for five nights after that. Once the fruit salad started tasting funny, we threw it all out. This Thanksgiving was one that helped me to see, once again, that money and things don't matter. I have so much to be thankful for right under my nose. I just have to take a quick glance at my beautiful, healthy family, and I realize that I've seen more joy than some do in a lifetime.

So, this is coming a month late, but I'm most thankful for my Savior who paid my debt in full when He was fully God and blameless. He built the bridge, with nothing but grace, for me to have a relationship with my Heavenly Father when there was no other way because of my sin. I'm thankful that because of His merciful sacrifice, I am free of condemnation. He gives me strength for today and hope for tomorrow even when, with my human eyes, I can't see it. I am also thankful for my family that I know I take for granted, at times, just because of the stress that everyday life brings. I've been blessed with three children that have taught me more and given me more joy than I could ever have imagined. I'm thankful that God knew exactly what the purpose of my life was even when I had no clue. I'm thankful for my extended family. I know that, even with all the many personalities on the table, I have received more support and love than I know what to do with. Okay, I'm done with the sappy stuff. Happy Thanksgiving on December 22nd.

Birthdays

2009-12-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

We had two important birthdays in November. I'll begin with the more loved and less furry of the two. John's dad, Tony, had a little birthday party with the family. The kids got to hang out with Grandpa, Nana, Uncle Jay, and Aunt Katie. It's always fun getting some Romo men together in one room. It becomes very entertaining; this could have a lot to do with John. Happy birthday to Grandpa Tony!

Grandpa needed lots of help.

Grandpa and Nana

Birthday party number two was for another member of our family. I can't believe I have put up with him for a whole year. I'm very proud of myself that I can still say Apollo has remained our pet. Let's face it though, if it weren't for John, he probably would have moved on to greener pastures by now. I really do love this dog when I'm not loathing him. He turned one year on November 17th. The kids wanted to have a little party for him, so we took Apollo to a way overpriced doggy store where we got him some treats and a cake. The kids sang happy birthday to him and showered him with affection. I don't get it. I guess it is safe to say we've all grown completely attached to this crazy, annoying, lovable animal. Happy birthday, Apollo. May you be lucky enough to survive another year in our home.

That's a classy picture.

A man in a wife beater with his bad rass dog. It's a good look.

Teddy Bear Picnic

2009-12-10T21:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some cute pictures of Corinne from her "Teddy Bear Picnic" at preschool. The kids sang some songs for all the parents, then we had a picnic lunch.

Man's Best, Clean Friend

2009-11-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

Baths are my favorite thing. They are my escape. The water bill proves it. I usually have one tub that I use and nobody else does because I don't like sitting in other's scum. So, this is what I found in my recently cleaned bathtub; a man and his large dirty dog. I had to do a double take because I was in disbelief that John would go to such great lengths to have a sweet smelling, furry friend. So, I did what every shocked wife would do. I grabbed my camera. I think I have shamed John into never doing this again. It's one thing to scrub people scum off of a bathtub; it's entirely another to deal with doggy scum.

Halloween

2009-11-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

Here are some Halloween pictures from this year. The night was fun but quick. Both Christian and Coy were fighting colds/the flu. John and I just took them to church for the annual trunk or treat. Then, we went down to The District for a while. All the stores were giving out candy, and there was music and activities for the kids. Christian was some kind of military guy (we're not sure which branch). Coy was Peter Pan, and Corinne was Ariel (The Little Mermaid). They had a great time despite the fact that they felt yucky.

Psalm 23

2009-11-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

This is sweet...

9th Anniversary Cruise

2009-11-08T21:19:00.000-08:00

John and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary on October 27th. We went on our very first cruise and had the best vacation we've ever had. It was a four day cruise that went to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. Okay, so not the most glamorous of destinations, but we loved it, and the price was right. We spent four days relaxing, sleeping in, eating lots of great food, and being waited on hand and foot. The cruise offered so many fun things to entertain us. We sang way too much karaoke, played bingo, and went to some great comedy shows. We spent the days laying by the pool looking out over the ocean and enjoying what little bit the destinations had to offer. We rented a golf cart in Catalina and had so much fun driving all around the island. Lots of good memories made on that excursion. We even got pulled over by a golf cart cop. We weren't wearing our seat belts. How could we be so careless with all of the golf cart related fatalities? In Ensenada, we walked all around downtown while being very aware that I was in a foreign country where blonds are few and far between; I've seen Taken way too many times. We did the whole shopping thing where you get to haggle over the price of a fake Gucci purse. It was the best anniversary ever, and I'm so happy we were able to get away. I know it was a huge undertaking for my mom to watch all three of the kids for four days. We are very grateful for her and her patience. She even had to deal with all of the school Halloween parties, but she never missed a beat. My mom had them all in costume with treats in hand for every activity. So, thanks mom for allowing us to have a wonderful time alone as a couple. Now we have cruise fever. We can't wait to go again. Hmmm???? Where to go, where to go? Oh, by the way, I want to say that I have the most incredible husband ever who, for some reason, loves me endlessly. I'm so happy I've been able to spend the last decade of my life with this boy who makes me smile and laugh everyday.

Some October Pictures

2009-11-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

Corinne loves preschool.

Lovin' on her brother

Showing off some artwork

Christian at his flag football game

They're the purple team...tough luck

Corinne and her friend, Marley, being cheerleaders

Their only cheer consists of "Goooooo, Boys!!!"

A little bit of a new do; I can't get used to the hair on my forehead.

Thought I'd try some bangs

Mary Kay

2009-10-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

I've always been one of those people who can't stand when other people that are my friends or family try to sell me things. I feel bullied, put on the spot, and a bit awkward. Lets face it, even if the products they are trying to sell are good, who has the time to try them out? It seems that we would all rather cut out the middleman when we purchase anything. I have always been a "do it myself" kind of gal.

Okay, here comes the irony. I am now selling Mary Kay. Yep, I have a title and everything...Independent Beauty Consultant. Sounds kind of glamorous, huh? Why am I doing this, you may ask. Well, I have been using Mary Kay products for about the last year, and come to find out, I love it; the make-up, the skin care (gotta take care of the wrinkles before I have them), and all the other girly things they sell. Of course, they have stuff for guys too, and my husband is now a devout user of a men's daily anti-wrinkle moisturizer with a SPF of 25. He likes the Satin Hands too because it smells pretty like peaches and makes his hands so soft, but you didn't hear that from me.

Now, do you want to hear the really ironic part? I'm probably the last person that should be in sales of any kind. I'm not pushy, I hate putting anybody in uncomfortable situations, and I am more likely to give all of my products away before I actually sell any. So, I'm approaching this new endeavor with a very cavalier attitude. I'm doing this for fun with the possible potential to make a little income on the side. I've gained quite a few, fun friendships with some of the gals I've met through Mary Kay, and it is an outlet for me at this time in my life. It's also just fun to get to have my own website and the ability to take credit cards as payment; I'm right up there with the big boys.

Alrighty, you knew it was coming, so here it is. The pitch... I would love for you, my few but close-to-me readers, to enjoy what I have through Mary Kay. Let's face it, department store cosmetics can be ridiculously priced, and some store brands just don't cut it. So, isn't it superfuntastic that there is an alternative? Why yes, yes it is. We have stuff for guys, stuff for teens, and of course, a smorgasbord of womanly whatnots. My favorites are all the little Christmas gift ideas and sets. Mary Kay, in general, is just an incredible opportunity for many Americans to be self-employed and sell a quality product that is made and distributed in the U.S.

So, if you are at all interested in just checking out what Mary Kay has to offer, visit my website. This is basically an online catalog where you can get a virtual make-over, browse through the products, and make a purchase. I will then ship it to you free of charge or deliver it to you, personally. See, you don't even have to talk to or look at me. Let me just say, that I would be thrilled if you fell in love with the products and wanted to buy them, but in reality, it won't bother me a smidgen if you don't. If you have any questions about any of the products or would like for me to give you a free facial in order to sample products, just contact me. You can also host a little facial/pampering party with at least a couple of friends, and you can receive up to 75% off of some great products. See, it's a good excuse to have a girl's night. To the men, you could get some great Christmas stocking stuffers for that pretty lady of yours. Just check out the site, or I can mail you a catalog.

Shameless plug...complete.
P.S. You get a free Satin Hands Gift Set with a $40 purchase...okay, I swear I'm done now.

courtneyromo@marykay.com
www.marykay.com/courtneyromo

September Pictures

2009-10-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

2009-10-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

September is already over; I can't believe it. Am I really seeing Christmas decorations already? Well, I don't know about everyone else, but my life seems to be flying by. September was fun for us. The kids were cured of their boredom after school started, and now I'm already getting, "do I have to go today?"

John and I were able to switch Coy into another kindergarten class that I am very happy with. Still, there are a lot of students, but at least now, I have confidence in his teacher and her experience. He's also in a normal kindergarten classroom now with the little sinks and little potties. His other room was somewhere in the back of the building because they ran out of room. Because I went to private school from 1st-8th grade, I can see the vast difference between public and private school. It is only getting worse here in Vegas. Too many students per classroom, teachers who don't give a rat's patoot (did I spell "puh-toot" correctly?), and curriculum that is catering to the lower half of students. I do have many friends who are teachers, and I know some care very much, but in my opinion, my generation is one of slackers. We are the teachers now, and it's nothing like the way I saw my mom teach for 30 years. It's my goal to have my kids in private school in the next several years, but if that never comes to pass, then hopefully we will have moved to another part of the country where the school district is better.

Christian is on a flag football team this fall. It's a lot of fun to watch him because he seems to constantly get distracted by something or someone. Once the ball is in play, he starts out a couple seconds behind. He's so fast, though, that he still gets to the ball before the other kids. That's not to say he knows quite what to do once he gets the ball. I'll put up some pictures once I remember my camera at a practice or a game.

My birthday was last week, and it was wonderful. John spoiled me and had everything decorated when I woke up. There was princess stuff everywhere along with balloons and banners and lots of fake money because I told him all I wanted for my birthday was a million dollars. I had two cakes thanks to my mom sending me one in the mail. John also got me a cake batter ice cream cake from Cold Stone. I don't know whether I love him or hate him for that one. I received lots of sweet presents, and John took me to Texas de Brazil where the glutton in me had a heyday. All you can eat meat of every kind and lots of salad, potatoes, and fried bananas. You never leave that place feeling really happy with yourself. You kind of say, "Hmmm....Why did I just do that?" But while you're doing it, it's oh so good.

The next night, John took me to see Britney Spears at Mandalay Bay. He had bought these tickets in July and of course, he can't keep a secret. She actually put on a really good concert; not at all as trashy as I thought she would be :-) My favorite part was when the drunk girls sitting next to us somehow got their nacho cheese sauce from a pretzel on my jeans...good times. They informed me they did all their drinking before they left the house because it was so much cheaper. If only we could all be that smart! I'll put up all the b-day pictures soon.

I love you all, friends and fam.

First Day of School

2009-09-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

Today was finally the first day of school for Christian and Coy. They are in a 12 month school, and the track they are in had their first day today. Corinne started preschool a couple weeks ago. Everybody had great first days. I'm happy about everything expect Coy's situation. That's for another post. Let's just say it makes me very sad that I can't put the kids in private school.
Here are some pictures...

She was a little scared at first.

Getting better...

Now, she's great!

The cool 3rd grader

Kindergarten, finally!!

It's been a while

2009-09-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

Wow! A month has flown by, and I haven't posted anything. It's been kind of nice actually. Sometimes it feels like making a post is like doing homework that is overdue...that's dumb. So, all that has been going on this last month are trips. We've been traveling fools.

We took a two week family vacation that was so nice and relaxing. It was great just getting out of the heat. It started with a couple days in Yuba City visiting my sister, brother-in-law, and five of my nieces and nephews. Yep, there's a 5th one now. I got to cuddle my sweet new niece, Gracelynn; she may just be the best baby ever. That's extremely good for my sister, Bethany, who is now dealing with 5 kids under the age of 7. You're a better woman than I, sis.

Next, we drove even farther north to my dad's house around Eureka, CA. I love being there. I feel better, and I can actually breath; it must be the 65 degree weather and all the moisture in the air. We spent a couple days camping with my mom and dad around Crescent City and the Smith river, which was beautiful. Our campsite was surrounded by redwoods, and a couple of them right around had fallen long ago, so they made some fun balance beams for the kids. Anyone who knows me would be proud of the camper I was. I got dirty, I let the kids get dirty, I didn't bath for two days, and I slept in a tent even though I knew some crazy mountain man was going to get me at any moment while I slept. Let's be honest, I really didn't sleep. Even the Excedrin PM couldn't help me on this one.

While camping, we had fun on the river with the raft my dad bought, and the boys tried to do some fishing, but I don't think there were too many fishies in that water. Apollo, the animal, loved all the nature he was taking in. I've never seen a Boxer too keen on water, but we couldn't keep him out of the river or the ocean. The boys did a good job setting up and tearing everything down. I did help put together some canopy thing. I was very proud of myself. Even though the kids had a great time camping, I'm still a hotel with a bathtub and make-up wearing kind of girl.

While at my dad's, we played at the beach; very chilly but beautiful. John and I also went trap shooting with my dad. It was my first time, and it was a lot of fun. My shoulder killed the next day. Then, John and I were able to spend the night in San Francisco while my parents watched the kids. It was actually a little trip to get our air conditioning fixed where we got taken for $170, but we won't talk about that. We were able to have a couple nice meals and do some San Fran sightseeing.

Returning to the heat of Vegas was hard. I would love to live in Northern Cal if it wasn't so expensive. Well, now we've just been getting back to business and getting the kids ready to start school. It was a fun trip.

I Need to Work on my Poker Face

2009-08-13T21:57:00.001-07:00

I have to get this down, or I'll forget it. While I was putting the kids to bed tonight, I, once again, had to have an interesting talk with Coy. I had just gotten out of the shower, so I told the kids to get into bed and I'd be in to tuck them in after I got my pajamas on. I came in the boys' room and was putting Coy's blankets on him when he looked at me and said, "So, no bra, huh?" I completely failed at keeping a straight face with this one. He said it so seriously. I tried to tell him that it wasn't nice to talk to girls that way, and we don't need to look at other people's private parts even when they have clothes on. He knew I was fighting so hard not to laugh, which made him think he was pretty funny. Oh, the joy of raising boys; especially a little blond one who is five.

2009-08-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

It's been crazy around here the last couple of weeks. I feel like I've been going non-stop with nothing to show for it. After VBS next week, I will be able to relax and breathe. Here's a little something that gave me a laugh in the midst of the chaos. Thanks, Coy.

Christian's Blog

2009-08-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

My son has been very entertained by my blog and those that I read for a long time. He has loved looking at pictures of friends and family and babies and kids. So, he has been begging me to make him a blog to share his extremely exciting thoughts with everyone. I caved after months of pleading. I figure, if nothing else, it will promote better writing skills. In case you are worried, he doesn't know his user name or password, and the rule is that I have to proofread anything he writes before it is posted. I'm not going to fix any misspellings or grammar, because I think that makes it just a little bit more fun. So, I have now done my job, per his request, and have filled you all in on Christian's new blog. He made his first post today, and he thought it was the coolest thing ever. I wish I still got excited over little things like that.

http://mybigbroblog.blogspot.com/

Go Coy, Go

2009-07-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

Coy has been what we like to call a "weenie" when it comes to swimming. Christian was swimming the length of the pool by himself a few months before he turned three. So, I in my mind, that was the norm. I'm learning that Christian is an overachiever and very much has the personality of the typical first born. Understanding this is helping me have more patience with both Coy and Corinne.

You would think Coy had some near drowning experiences by the way he would scream when we put him in the pool. We didn't push him, and we wanted him to have a fun perception of the pool. Soon after the 4th of July, he decided that he was going to get in the big pool and try out some of the tricks he had learned in the jacuzzi, which he calls "the little kid pool." I only had to bribe him a little bit, and soon he was swimming a pretty good distance with no help. He was very proud of himself, and so were we. Christian thought it was very cool that Coy could finally swim with him and not be afraid.

Scuba

2009-07-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

Corinne: Hey mom, look at me.

Me: Wow! Are you a scuba diver?

Corinne: Yes, girls can be scuver divers too.

Me: They sure can, sugar bean.

Corinne: But I don't like sharks; they bite me.

Me: Okay, you don't have to be scuver diver.

Corinne: Okay

Coy's Favorite Present

2009-07-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

Coy's Grandpa Tony and Nana gave him an awesome birthday present. They took him to see a live production of The Wizard of Oz at a big library in town. Coy loved it, of course, and he has carried the pictures around with him ever since. He thought it was very cool to meet the actors after the play. His Grandpa and Nana also to took him to have a special happy meal at a Wizard of Oz themed McDonald's. Coy loved all the special attention he got that night; poor middle child doesn't have many of those experiences. Thanks Tony and Diana for the special evening Coy will never forget.

Wizard of Oz Show

2009-07-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

So, it's old news that my kids, Coy especially, have an obsessive fascination with the Wizard of Oz. I was cleaning up the kitchen when I heard lines form the movie being recited. I stopped to listen for a while and decided I had to get it on video. Coy was obviously the director, and he got perturbed when Corinne flubbed her lines. This is a long video, but I was enjoying the entertainment way too much to cut them off. I was just thinking of all the ways I could blackmail them with this video when they are older. If you are family, and you have an obligation to watch all seven minutes of this....here you go.

You have to turn the music off at the bottom of the page. Sorry about the music, by the way. I like it, and it's my blog, so I guess that's why it's there.

Quick Trip to So Cal

2009-07-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

I recently found myself childless for almost a week. My mom took the kids on a trip to visit my sister and brother-in-law's house in Yuba City, CA so the kids could hang out with their cousins for a while. This was her idea, and I was pretty nervous at the beginning. I knew my mom and sister were very capable and then some, but I just get that feeling like something bad is going to happen if I'm not there to oversee every second of their little lives. After the first day or so, I chilled out, and my prayers seemed to calm all the anxiety.

I've never had much "me alone" time as an adult. I went pretty much right into the mom and wife role as a very young adult. As I sat there on the couch when John was at work, and the house was very quiet, I couldn't decide whether or not I liked it. It was nice to do the things that I like to do without having to be responsible for anyone, but I was a little bored, and I did not like the quiet. I even joked with my sister, telling her that I had resorted to playing with the dog. I got a lot of reading and movie watching in. Half of the movies we own I've never seen, so I started with the ones that everyone else says are so good. With all the distractions, I still found that I missed my babies so much, and I prefer their chaotic little voices over the silence.

John and I decided to take advantage of his weekend, and we took a little trip to the ocean. I love priceline.com, by the way. We stayed in Newport Beach for a couple of days and enjoyed way too much food, drink, and sun. I'm once again as pink as a lobster. That cool coastal breeze deceives you; it's not good to fall asleep on the beach. Our favorite part of the trip was the dinner we had at the Chart House in Dana Point. It was beautiful, and the food was so good.

We did some driving up and down the coast, which John hates, but I love. We never got as far as Venice Beach before John decided he'd had enough of driving, and we went back. I always have this little desire to go to Malibu and visit the college that was not for me. Pepperdine was where I would have liked to have gone to school, but alas, it was not....stupid ACT's!

It's always nice for John and I to get away by ourselves and have some of the newlywed time we didn't get much of. We also have some of the best conversations when we are driving on a trip; that's a plus. Last year we almost moved to Irvine on an impulsive whim because of a job offer John had. After being there in the cool air, I almost wish we would have. I should mention that the one bedroom apartment we would have been able to afford would have me singing a different tune right about now. Why does living by the ocean have to be so expensive?

Wow, I just wrote a lot about nothing. To sum it up, the kids had a super fun time, and everyone made it home safely. It takes one super Grammy to act as momma for five days. Thanks to my mom, sister, and bro-in-law, Lex, for allowing the kids to have a great trip. They didn't even seem to miss me much...boo hoo.

Balboa Island Treat

Scenery we rarely get to enjoy

Dana Point

We were at dinner on Balboa Island, and John wouldn't stop taking pictures. He said this is the look I give him everyday of my life. That can't be true.

How Does She Know That He Loves Her?

2009-07-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

We love the Disney movie Enchanted around her. Anyone in this family can sing all of the songs by heart. I guess that's what happens when you add a little sister into the mix; all the boys learn the words to princess movies. So, my blog post title is one of the songs from that movie. Not wanting to brag, but this is how I know my boy loves me....
I often wake up to a display like this. The only difference this time is that the flowers are in a vase instead of a giant Hofbräuhaus mug. It looks like bathroom mirrors are good for leaving sweet notes with a dry erase marker. I'm very blessed to have such a sweet hubby.

The 4th of July

2009-07-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

We had a fun 4th this year; very typical BBQ, swimming, and fireworks. What made it special is that my dad was in town and so were my Uncle Lonnie, Aunt Patti, and cousins, Jasper and Emilyne. Getting together with them for the fourth of July has become somewhat of a tradition, and I look forward to it every year. I know the kids especially do too; they love to hang out with their big cousins, Jasper and Emi. Unfortunately, John had to go into work in the afternoon, so he didn't get to do fireworks with us, but we all got in some fun swimming time before he left.

So, it was a pretty normal 4th that included way too much food, sun and swimming, and some very cool illegal fireworks just a couple doors down. I was a little nervous with the fireworks. I understand why they were illegal, because one fiery "dud" landed right on my mom's front porch just about 10 feet away from us. At least that makes everyone pay attention to the fireworks; we needed to be prepared to duck and cover.

I love my family,and it's a trip to see how fast time is going by. It seems like it was yesterday when I was the high schooler, and my little cousins were following me around. Now, Jasper is a sophomore in college and Emi is sophomore in high school. Where is the slow down button on my life?

Happy Birthday to Mom and Coy

2009-07-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

My Coy Coy turned 5 last Friday. He has been looking forward to his birthday for so long now, that we have been counting down the days since last month. He had a birthday party with friends a few weeks ago along with Christian, but he knew he had more to look forward to. He had not gotten all his presents from John and me yet or his grandparents; grandparent presents are a big deal, especially when my mom has him go through Toys R' Us making a list of what he wants. He awoke to the traditional Krispy Kreme breakfast and then, continuously asked to open his presents. I made him wait until John was awake so he could enjoy the ripping and tearing. It's tough on a kid when his daddy works a swing shift.

My mom also shares a birthday with Coy. I kind of did that on purpose. Since I've never actually gone into labor; I just chose when I was sick of being pregnant and ready for some action. My doctor is a big fan of inducing; it probably just helps her schedule, but I love it. It's great to know what morning you will be going into the hospital to have a baby. I've always been ready with hair and makeup done along with a pair of smoothly shaved legs (like that matters). My doctor had originally wanted to induce me on the 4th of July, but I thought it would be neat to have my mom and Coy share a birthday. My Coy boy came out with a huge head, weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces; I'm glad I didn't wait any longer.

We spent the night at my mom's house the night before their birthday, so she could enjoy the morning birthday festivities. My dad also came into town, so it was fun for us all to be there together in the morning. The kids like being able to swim as soon as they get out of bed. Coy was thrilled with all of his presents. He got quite a few, but his favorite was the one he has been asking for since Christmas. I finally caved and bought him the Wicked Witch of the West figure to complete his Wizard of Oz collection. I'm not ashamed to say that my son has an obsession with the Wizard of Oz, and he spent his birthday flying a witch around the house, cackling, while saying, "I'll get you, my pretty!" Coy marches to the beat of his own drum, and that's cool by me. Not every mom gets to be serenaded by "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" each and every morning. We did get him manly things like his new soccer ball and goals. He's excited to be on a soccer team this fall. We also got him a butterfly garden, (Teisha, I copied your son's present) and Coy is so excited to get his caterpillars in the mail.

My dad took us all to Benihana for dinner. This was Coy's fist time, and he loved it. He really liked the volcano of onions and how the chef acted like it was a choo choo train when it started to smoke. When we got home, he had two pieces of his chocolate cake, and we called it a night. I know Coy had a fun birthday, and he loved all the gifts he got. I can't believe he's five already, and he is going into kindergarten next year. He's already stressing over the idea of homework; Christian is trying to scare him. I wish I could slow the clock down. My Coy Ronald has given me an indescribable amount of joy and entertainment. I have a feeling that this kid will be famous someday. He is naturally talented, and he loves to perform. I thank God everyday for the smiles this sweet kid had brought to my face.

Here I am the morning I went in to be induced. Coy was a big baby, but he wasn't responsible for my face looking like a swollen balloon. That was Olive Garden's fault.

My blondie with the big head

Coy with Grandpa

The Romo boys

Coy Coy's first Christmas

Coy and Uncle Lex in the pool

Coy with Grandma

Coy with Grammy

My Sugar Man II

Playing with My Hair

2009-07-06T20:50:00.001-07:00

The winds of change seem to be a blowin'. Here's a few options. John will hate it, but I'm sick of the super long locks. The only problem is that I hate to do my hair. I still need to be able to put it in a ponytail.

This is Corinne's favorite. She likes the green eye shadow.

Dog Bed- Part 2

2009-06-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

I give up. I try to make the idiot of an animal comfortable, and this is what happens. He can't be that bored. He somehow broke the zipper on the bed and had the time of his short life with all the filling. I no longer care if he's uncomfortable on hard plastic. As I was picking up the gross presents he left all over the plastic grass in the 106 degree heat today, I wondered why I like to torture myself. I knew I would think this animal was a big, slobbery pain in the neck shortly after we got him. I'm at that point now. So, what can be done? Nothing; I have at least 10 more years with this thing. He is not my best friend.

Maybe one day he'll be a good watchdog...with a sword.

Feeding Duh Ducks

2009-06-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

The kids love to feed the ducks at Sunset Park. We've been doing this since Christian was a baby. We were out of bread, so we searched the pantry, and the ducks ended up chowing down on four-month-old flour tortillas. They didn't seem to have any complaints. This was the first time we saw lots of baby ducklings following their mommas around. Corinne was upset that the baby ducks weren't getting any tortilla pieces. She yelled at the big old geese to get away and let the babies have some. They didn't listen.

John loves to torment me every time we go; it must be some kind of tradition for him now. I have a fear of flying animals/bugs or anything that is dirty. So, of course, I loathe pigeons. I don't swerve when they refuse to get out of the road. I've had feathers attached to my car for weeks; I show no mercy. There are tons of pigeons that hang around by the duck pond because they know there will be lots of good crumbs on the ground. John is entertained by my reaction as he throws little pieces of bread right at my feet and watches the flocks of pigeons descend on me. They are not afraid of people and they'll jump on your feet and peck at them. I'm sure it sounded like I was being killed by my screams. John's favorite part is that I always forget he is the reason all of these birds have befriended me. He enjoys my reaction to getting attacked by flying rats. Once I realize what he is doing, I can never catch him; he's faster than me.

Burned

2009-06-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

I need to get another swimsuit with no built in accessories. When I was at church I didn't understand why a couple of the little old men who were welcoming people at the door smiled at me then looked down at my chest. I felt a little violated and self-conscience. Since I was busy following their eyes from my face to more southern regions, I tripped on the door threshold and my heel got stuck under it. I'm surprised I didn't break my ankle; it took a couple of people to set me free. I seem to attract attention everywhere I go in a not so graceful sort of way. Later on when I was getting ready for bed, I looked in the mirror and understood the glances. I had branded myself. I didn't need to wear a necklace; I had one burned one onto my skin. Now I feel bad for thinking there were some dirty old men at church.

My Almost 30 Year Old

2009-06-20T22:37:00.001-07:00

Back when I fell in love with John when he was 18, this is usually the position he was in. Well, 10+ years later, he still is often found in this position. My John turned 29 a couple of weeks ago. Hee Hee, he's almost 30. I know this isn't old, but he thinks it is, and I'm enjoying tormenting him. I don't think John will ever get old. He will be one of those people who's scuba diving at 90. There's no end to his energy; I wish he could share it sometimes. I love this handsome man even more now than I did 10 years ago. That seems impossible with all the craziness the last decade has brought, but I've gained a deep level of respect and gratitude for everything he has become to me and our family. We've basically grown up together and have learned a lot of life lessons together. I've seen him go from the irresponsible, hyper-active teenager to a consistent, dependable provider and leader. He would stop at nothing for my happiness and that of the kids. I have a husband who adores me and shows me that he does all the time. I too often shrug off the hugs and kisses because of whatever funky mood I'm in, but I know I'm so lucky and somewhat undeserving of his continuous love and affection.

John's birthday wasn't too eventful, but we did get to go out to dinner the night before at Texas de Brazil. I thought I was going to die when we were done; I've never eaten so much meat in my life. Texas de Brazil is new to Vegas, and it's a Brazilian all-you-can eat steakhouse. I've heard of these places before, but this was my first experience. Lots of Brazilian dudes carry around giant skewers of several different kinds of meats. They give you a little card to flip on green if you're ready for more meat, and the other side is red if you need to take a breather. There was filet mignon, pork ribs, beef ribs, chicken, veil, top sirloin, sausage, pork chops, lamb, and I know I'm forgetting a couple. What do you think of that, vegetarians? I ate every animal possible that night. It was pretty funny and ironic that our waitress was a nutrition student at UNLV. It was so good.

Yep, he still does this one too. I'm not quite sure why his tongue is sticking out though.

Pool Party

2009-06-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, the boys had an actual birthday party at the Multi-generational Activity Pool. They didn't like the fact that they were sharing a birthday party, but let's face it, their birthdays are a month apart and times are tight. We invited both of their classes, and each of them had about four friends show up. With all the parents, this was plenty of people. They had a great time swimming with their friends and going down the water slides. Coy cried for a good portion of the party because: a) he wasn't interested in swimming; he wanted to do nothing more than open presents from the time the party started, and b) once he opened his presents, he was upset that Christian got Transformers and he didn't. Coy has never once mentioned that he likes Transformers. He even went so far as to tell one of the little boys from his class that he didn't like the present he had given him; which made the other little boy cry. You know the song "it's my party, and I'll cry if I want to?" Well, that would have fit perfectly with Coy's attitude for the day. He apologized to his friend and gave him a hug after a few threats from me. I hate having to threaten physical harm at birthday parties. :-) After all of the boys' little friends left, Coy decided he wanted to smile and swim and have fun...of course. Whatever, as long as he has a somewhat pleasant memory of the day. Although the kids love them and look forward to them, birthday parties are one of my least favorite mommy duties.

So, my husband has a hot bod, but he won't take off his shirt at public pools because he's ashamed of his cool tats. Babe, don't' worry, the middle-class, white moms won't be afraid of you :-) FYI-John has me looking into the price of tattoo removal..hee hee. Ahhh, the dumb things we do when we're young.

This is Coy and his friend, Danger. This is the kid Coy made cry.

My Big 8 Year Old

2009-06-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

My Christian D turned the big "8" on June 1st. What happened to my first little sugar man? He's starting to grow hair on his upper lip, and I have to make him put on deodorant every morning! Could this really be happening? Christian is an awesome kid who has made, almost the last decade of my life, a fun ride. He's smart, and more importantly, clever. He's got a mouth on him that either wants to make you smack it or kiss it. Seriously, I think we have a natural born lawyer on our hands. His personality gets along great with mine. We're both sarcastic, we both get it, and we can both laugh it off. The fact that he makes better points than I do in an argument is somewhat scary. He's honest, kind, and quick to comfort when he knows someone is upset or hurting, whether it be physically or emotionally. Christian is everything and more when it comes to what I dreamt a son would be like.

Once again, this year, he had a few birthday celebrations. First, in his classroom, I brought in goodies, and the class had a little birthday celebration. Again, this year, like last year when I subbed in his class, I had two girls come up to me and say, "Mrs. Romo, I think Christian is really handsome." For real, what's up with these brazen little girls? What am I going to do in a few years? Maybe I should be like Bobby Bouché's momma in "The Waterboy" and tell him that "girls are the devil!" I don't want to think about those years yet.

Next, he had a birthday dinner at Peter Piper Pizza. I would rather go to the dentist and get a root canal than go to Chuckie Cheese or Peter Piper Pizza, but that is what he picked for his special day. I must say their pizza is better than Chuckie Cheese, and they give out more tickets so kids can get better prizes. It was bad, however, because my little bottle of antibacterial gel in my purse was gone...oh, the grossness. He had fun, though.

So lastly, we just had an actual birthday party at one of the rec. center pools with his friends. They had a great time, and Christian got sunburnt to a crisp. I'm a bad momma who only focuses the sunscreen use on her very pale children (Coy). To wrap it up, Christian had a fun, long birthday celebration, and I've cherished every one of the eight years I've had with him. I didn't know what joy was until I had this kid.

CD Ro Then...

CD Ro Now...

Coy's Preschool "Gradulations"

2009-06-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Coy had a little farewell graduation ceremony for preschool. The kids sang a lot of cute songs and showed us parents what they have learned in preschool. For a second there, I got a little teary-eyed thinking of him being in kindergarten next year. It seems like yesterday he was just my little q-tip baby, and now, he is the comedian of the family. I really felt it was important for Coy to have two years of real preschool because he seemed to be tougher to teach than Christian was. Whenever I tried working with him, he would get frustrated, as would I, and it would quickly turn into a very unpleasant learning environment. Looking at him today, it's amazing to see how far he's come, even in just the last year. He loves to do his "schoolwork", and he begs me constantly to print off all sorts of preschool worksheets from some very helpful websites. He's very proud that he can do all of these things on his own now. He's on his way to reading, and I'm so glad that we made the investment in his preschool experience. He not only had incredible, loving teachers who knew just how to work with him, but he was also able to learn and experience some important biblical truths.

This is Coy's future wife, Kylie.

Coy had his big speaking part...

Kiddos in Action

2009-06-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

John's been having lots of fun with the new handycam.

Some Moments in May

2009-06-08T23:02:00.001-07:00

Lots of pictures; not much to say.

Corinne settled on this pair after pulling out all the shoes I own.

Poor Apollo; Corinne is the only one who pays attention to him.

Coy with a pirate face at a birthday party.

Christian received the student of the month award for academics at his school in May. He's always been such a smarty; I'm very proud of him.

Here's Coy's preschool water party. Some firefighters were spraying the hose up high, and the kids loved it.

Well, Corinne didn't love it because she said the firemen were going to take her to jail. She has her public service officials confused. And yes, I have told her that policemen do more than just take people to jail.

Coy loved the pretend rain until the uber amount of sunscreen I put on him got in his eyes.

John and I living dangerously by taking pictures while driving on the freeway.

Hey look, mom, I can drive with my eyes closed.

Jay and Katie

2009-06-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jay and Katie, graduated from UNLV a few weeks ago together....so sweet. It was a long, stressful road, but they finally finished. We're very proud of them. It was also pretty cool that Jay was the only one I saw hobbling across the stage on crutches. It added some character to the day.

He's our special boy (John, not Jay).

Debbie, Jay, and Katie

Tony and Diana with Jay and Katie

Mother's Day

2009-06-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

Yep, Mother's Day was almost a month ago, but my blog motivation has been dismal. I was spoiled this year, once again. I wondered why John crawled into bed at around 5:00 am on Mother's Day. After going downstairs I understood why. After getting home from work late, he went to the store, then stayed up for the next few hours trying to make some yummy masterpieces. I found in the fridge John's version of an Edible Arrangement along with a ton of chocolate covered strawberries he had made. There were flowers and balloons sitting on the table for me, and a note on every little thing telling me why he loved me and what made me a good mom. Oh yes, I almost forgot the huge chocolate cake waiting for me to devour it on the counter. He knows my overwhelming weakness for chocolate cake; seriously, I dream about it; I have a problem. John then, as exhausted as he was, helped me get the kids ready for church and got us there on time. After church, He and the kids took my mom and I to the Bootlegger for lunch. I had a Mother's Day filled with food. We all know how food makes a girl happy. I spent the rest of the day with my mom and the kids. They all made this day very special for me. I have a wonderful mom and the best kids that were ever knit together in a womb :-) ...what a blessed lady I am.

My life consists of picking things up...over and over

2009-05-26T10:16:00.001-07:00

I think I've mentioned before that Sunday, at our house, is family nap day. Christian, my 8-year-old, doesn't like it, but he's come to accept it and doesn't fight it. On Sunday, we went to church, came home and ate lunch, then we all crashed for a couple of hours. I get up so early on Sundays, that the nap is mostly for me. When I came downstairs, this is what I found. Apollo had actually consumed his new dog bed. I guess that means he didn't like it because it's completely destroyed. I pondered whether or not to take him to the vet. How much cotton-poly fill can an animal eat without perishing? Dog food was all over the floor. Keep in mind that Apollo is in his kennel when we are not around him, so it was one of my children who set him free. They teamed up and decided not to name the culprit. The kids had taken every cushion off the couches and made an obstacle course; which meant two of them had slammed their heads together, and I woke up to screaming. I'm not giving up a nap on Sunday, so I'm going to invest in bells to hang around each of their necks. Kids can be really quiet when they're being sneaky.

Corinne's First Trip to the Dentist

2009-05-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

Corinne had her first dental appointment a couple of weeks ago. She was an excellent patient, much to my surprise. She screams every time she sees her pediatrician, so I thought the dentist would get the same response. During the x-rays and cleaning she was perfect. It looked like she was having way too much fun. Who has fun at the dentist? Corinne gets so excited over these new adventures she has now that's she's three. She loves being a big kid like her brothers. Yay for momma being a tooth brushing Nazi....no cavities!!!

Emotional 3-year-old

2009-05-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

We were driving home from the park a few nights ago. We stayed until it was dark, and all of the kids were exhausted from skipping their naps that day. They were pretty quiet and in a zone; right before they completely crashed. So, we were just listening to the radio-you know, the Delilah stuff; slow and calming sort of tunes...80's rock ballads. Journey's "Faithfully" came on, and about have way through the song, Corinne began crying this very pitiful, tormented sort of cry. We thought she was in pain for a second. We quickly asked her what was wrong, and she said, "the song make me sad." Oh the power of a Journey ballad. Does this mean she's going to be one of "those girls" when she is 16? Maybe, but I will be there to rub her back and assure her that boys are dumb as she's having an emotional episode. John said he could understand why the song made her cry. He said it has a "haunting melody." I'm not sure how I feel about my husband getting teary-eyed over a bunch of dudes singing about mushy stuff. So, for your listening pleasure I have "Faithfully" playing right now. Let's see if I can bring you to tears.

Cheap Alternative

2009-05-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

So, I have nothing interesting or important to tell about-not even a story about the kids. I will rave about my new love I have discovered. I'll try to keep this short. Am I a girly-girl? No. Do I go to the salon for haircuts/color/highlights? No. Do I get massages or facials? No. Do I have pretty tips on my nails? No (It's a dishwater/stabbing my children problem). Do I consider Target and Old Navy fine clothing? Yes. What's my point? I sometimes indulge in one girly thing...pedicures. Why? Because I like my feet to feel and look pretty. I'm a flip-flop sort of gal who much of the time goes around barefoot. So, in the summertime, my heals can be a lethal weapon. I could cut you. I have cut John.

Since the joys of home ownership have reared their ugly little heads for over a year or so now, I have given up said indulgence. This is very sad for me because my favorite is the french tip pedicure, which I can not do myself because my hands start to shake like a 90-year-old woman's.

Solution: I saw a friend at church with some cute little sandals on and a sassy french tip pedicure. I was extremely envious, but I managed to gush and compliment her pretty feet. I explained to her my sorrow in having to neglect my friends at the Galleria mall who did some rockin' pedies. I couldn't speak to them in English, but we had a connection :-) Next thing I know, my friend is disclosing a little secret she has to me. Her toenails were non-authentic. Say what? No way. These were some perfect looking toes. I was immediately filled with hope and joy that my feet could once again be pretty for $5.79 at my local Walmart store. "To good to be true", I thought, but I gave them a try.
Result...I fooled my husband. He asked, "When did you go get a pedicure?" He loves for me to pamper myself occasionally. It's me who doesn't allow it. So, I now am a fan of fake toenails. Creepy? Kind of, but you would never know. See, I told you this post was very trivial and uninteresting. It's just one of the random little things that has made me happy recently. Maybe it could bring you some simple joy too.

Please ignore the "dry as the Sahara Desert" feet and crazy long, monkey toes. I never claimed to be a foot model. Too bad fake toenails don't take care of that problem. My husband is convinced I can swing from trees and peel bananas with these babies.

I really don't know how long this product has been available, but they are new to me, and they are way better than the "Lee Press-On Nails" of my childhood. The box says not to wear them longer than a week. I've had mine on for two now, and they're still going strong. Here's to not getting a rare toe disease!

Baby Shower Pictures

2009-05-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the baby shower we threw for Nikki.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Baby Jack

2009-05-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! My best friend Nikki had her first baby, handsome Jack, last Thursday. He was just over three weeks early and almost made it to the baby shower we threw for Nikki a few days before. Perfect timing. I was there to witness this sweet baby coming into the world, and it was quite an experience. Jack weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 inches long. See, he had been baking long enough. He was ready to meet his momma. Nikki did an awesome job with the long, tiring labor of a first baby. Jack Samuel is perfect, and I finally got a chance today to go kiss on him. I wasn't able to at the hospital. I had already pulled an all-nighter, and the nurses were busy for a long time doing their brand new baby thing. Nikki and Jack are both doing so well, and they both look fabulous. I'm so, so happy for Nikki and Sam. They will be two of the best parents I know. Nik's been my best friend since I was 15, and she's always made known that she has wanted nothing more than to be a sweet wife and momma. Well, she's both now, and she's good at it. I'm elated that she now has all that she's wanted. And I'm thrilled that we have already arranged the marriage of Corinne and Jack. It's just easier that way. Corinne's all for it.

Here's the oh so manly Jack Samuel LePore....

Momma Nik and Baby Jack

Am I crazy for thinking at some point I might want a fourth?

He will learn to love my kisses.

Jack and his daddy, Sam

Disneyland...Again

2009-04-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

Over spring break a couple of weeks ago, we took another quick trip back to Disneyland for a couple of days. John refers to this little jaunt as my manic vacation. Very rarely do the kids and I have the same days off as John's random, typical Vegas, hotel industry weekend.

So, we planned on going to my mom and dad's little condo in Utah that we've had since I was little in order to be out-doorsy with the kids. You know, fishing and hiking and such. Sad to say, but our kids have had very few trips like this, so I was looking forward to seeing them just have fun outside and get dirty. Of course, when I checked the weather, there was still snow on the ground, and anther big snow fall was expected during the time we planned on being there. I would have loved to have taken Christian skiing , but as I began my hunt for overpriced snow clothes in the 85 degree Vegas weather, I was starting to think Utah was a bad idea. I went to about five different sporting good stores and couldn't find anything for Coy and Corinne.

So, I was bummed knowing that we had the time to take a normal weekend trip, but we just weren't. This is where the manic part comes in. I went from bummed, to sad, to mad, to Courtneyzilla (John's name for me after my claws come out), to pouting, to scheming, to announcing that we were going to Disneyland for a day just because I wanted to, and I was being the boss of everyone that day. I had a bad case of cabin fever mixed with some stress. Not a good combination. Of course, the kids were thrilled, and John just gave me that look like, "whatever, crazy." Wise man I married.

So we had lots of fun in the way-overly crowded park with all the other spring-breakers. Okay, looking back, was it worth the ridiculous amount of money to just not be bored? No, but we got to be at the happiest place on earth...that's worth it, right? Even I have my crazy days.

No More Naps

2009-04-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

I was just informed by Coy that when he turns five, he will not be grumpy. Therefore, he will no longer need to take naps. Good reasoning for a four-year-old. He will do great in Philosophy 102.

Yum.

2009-04-21T21:36:00.000-07:00

Corn dog, banana, vitamin- That's how we lunch 'round here. Romos have a passion for nitratesicles.

Easter Catsup

2009-04-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a crazy, busy week. It's all been kind of a blur, and I don't have much to show for it, but I know I'm tired, so I must have been running around. Here are some Easter pictures I've wanted to post. I didn't take too many this year, mainly because, by the time I was done singing at four church services Saturday and Sunday, I was running on auto pilot. Normal brain functioning had ceased due to sleep deprivation. Yes, I am the queen of procrastination, so some nights I pull almost all-nighters to get everything done that I've had weeks to accomplish. I feel bad there's not one picture of John this Easter. We had to hurry home from church, make a somewhat nicer than normal dunch (our word for lunch and dinner), and have an Easter egg hunt in our beautiful desert landscaping; rocks just scream springtime. So, once I finally thought of taking some family pictures, John had already had to scurry off to work. So, no pictures, but I will tell you that he looked extremely handsome that day. I even had a couple of the ladies from choir at church comment on what a good-lookin husband I have. So true...So true. The best part of this day was family nap time. I have my children believing that all around the world, Sunday is "Family Nap Day". Even Christian, who is almost eight, bought into it. Maybe I should start a worldwide movement.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

My Aunt Debbie had this YouTube video on her facebook today. It's had me in tears.

Coy's Preschool Easter Party

2009-04-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

Coy has gone to a great preschool the last two years that I love. I must love it because we drive him to Green Valley three times a week, even since we moved last year, so he can attend. They always have great parties for the kids on holidays, especially Christmas and Easter. This year, Corinne was not about to be left out cause she's so grown up. She begs to go to preschool everyday. I think I'll wait until she's four. That tuition gets pricey. So, the party consisted of games, dyeing Easter eggs, an Easter egg hunt (indoors because it was raining), and a picnic with lots of treats. It's always fun to see a bunch of 4-year-olds interacting together. Corinne loved being part of the class.

Visiting Family

2009-04-05T22:34:00.000-07:00

The kids and I took a little road trip last week to visit my sister's family and my dad. We had a lot of fun and wish we could have stayed longer but reality called. My niece, Victoria, turned 7 a couple of days after Corinne's birthday, so we made it in time for her birthday party (kind of :-) My dad just had the deck finished on his house, so one night, the kids had a good time roasting marshmallows on the new fire pit. On the way home, I somehow missed the exit to the highway I've taken several times, and I ended up in San Fransisco. When I started driving over the Oakland Bay bridge, I knew I had gone so far out of the way back to my sister's house. I was tired and missing my own bed, so at that point, I just decided to go not stop and drive all the way home that night. At least we got to experience a pretty drive through the Bay area. The kids and I survived the 15 hour car ride, and we got home at three in the morning. It was actually a nice drive after 9 pm when they all had crashed. I was free to listen to my audio books and let the Starbucks, Excedrin, and Diet Pepsi do their job. I only shook for a little while :-). The bathroom break in Barstow at 1 am was interesting. We made it home in one piece, and, of course, the kids woke up around 9 am. Why can't children sleep in? Highlight of the trip....jumping on my sister's new trampoline in her backyard. She kicked me off because I exceeded the weight limit with 5 other children on there...whatever!

Corinne is Three!

2009-03-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

Today was Corinne's 3rd birthday. I can't believe how fast three years went by. She is officially a big girl, but she will always be my baby. We had a fun little family party last night, and today we went to Chuck E. Cheese. This was a labor of love; there is no place I loathe more than Chuck E. Cheese. That's another story for another time. She was thrilled with all of the new clothes and toys she received. She has been waiting weeks for her Tinkerbell birthday, and when I told her tonight that tomorrow it would no longer be her birthday, she started crying. You just can't give a girl all that attention and then, take it away; we get used to it really fast. Since she was about to be three, we were starting to feel a little silly that she was still in her crib. Why mess with something that works? She slept so well in it, and she never tried to crawl out. She's been potty trained since 19 months, so I would just hear her yelling on the baby monitor, " Mommy! I have to go tinkle so bad!!" We finally went out and got her a big girl bed that she loves. I tried to lay down with her last night and sing her some songs, but she asked me to please go out of her room. She said she was sleepy and didn't want me on her bed. So, I guess she's turned into Miss Independent. All my babies are no longer babies. It makes me feel, for an insane split second, like I might want to have another one. Then, the thoughts of screaming, diapers, no sleep, epidurals, and watching myself turn into a blimp, once again, remind me of why that's probably not what I really want. Let's face it, I feel like there are not enough hours in the day right now. I would have to gain some super powers to have enough energy for a fourth. I'll settle for kissing on my sister's and my friend's new babies. Corinne is my favorite girl ever, and I know she will need to be locked up in about 10 years or so. I'm sure she will be what her daddy says is a "knockout." I just want time to slow down a little bit. I want her to stay my baby girl.

This is how Corinne fell asleep in her big girl bed tonight. She won't put down her Hannah Montana microphone.

On DVD

2009-03-21T23:42:00.000-07:00

Yep, so I'm one of those big dorks who went out today and bought Twilight on DVD, the day it was released. My excuse is that I felt I had to payback the debt I owed for watching a boot-legged version on the internet a few months back. Actually, I just really enjoyed this book series; the first series of books I've ever read, and I just want to own a copy of each movie. So, it looks like there will be three more DVD purchases for me over the next few years. Unless, of course, they don't turn all of the books into movies. That would have to be impossible with how much money is being made off of this one movie alone, thanks to women like myself; oh yeah, and the teeny bopper girls. My super hub was even willing to pick it up for me at Walmart in the wee hours of this morning after he got off of his swing shift. But, I had to get it from Target; they were the only ones I knew of that had the three-disc set. It's fun to see all the deleted and extended scenes and hear the commentary. Okay, I just proved my nerdiness. I discreetly tried to grab a copy at Target this afternoon without anyone noticing me, but of course, I ran into my brother-in law and sister-in-law, Jay and Katie. I was exposed, but they love me none-the-less. Too bad Christian made a latex glove full of water explode all over the remote control (yes, we use latex gloves as water balloons). So, the remote was no longer serving it's only purpose in life, and I had to go through all the special features by getting up every couple of minutes. Ahhhh, the price I pay to be entertained. If you are reading this and wondering, "what's all the fuss about?" I totally get you. That's exactly what I thought until a few months ago when I started reading Twilight.

Always Entertained

2009-03-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

So, John suggests that he should go into the store with me to get the several things we needed. We were in a big hurry; Christian was about to be done at school. Having the kids in the store never makes it a quick trip, but John got his own cart, put Coy and Corinne in, and said he would get the couple of items from the opposite side of the store. We planned to meet up somewhere in the middle. Time is now up, and we really need to quickly check-out so we're not late to get Christian. This is what I found at our meeting place...
Notice that there is nothing in the cart but children? And I'm pretty sure we already had those before we went shopping. So now, the twisty ties in the produce department have become a new item for art projects. It was pretty funny, so I couldn't pull off having an attitude about it. I do, however, think my eyes are going to be permanently rolling for the rest of my life.

Fun Trip

2009-03-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

Our family went on a little trip last week to southern Cal. My mom came along, which was wonderful for several reasons. Not only do we enjoy having her with us, but John and I kind of had a built in nanny...wink. I was almost getting my feelings hurt because the kids always wanted to be in her hotel room instead of ours. How could I complain? John and I were able to go out every night after we had gotten the kids ready for bed. I've never had so much mommy freedom. We spent the first few days in Anaheim, and we went to Disneyland for two days. The first day was beautiful, but the next day it was pouring down rain on and off. We were all pretty much damp the whole day, and the nerdy ponchos did not help. That didn't stop us though. When you pay that much for Disneyland, nothing stops you. We weren't the only crazy ones out there. John and I regretted the fact that we didn't buy 50 of those ponchos at the dollar store. We could have made a killing at Disneyland...supply and demand. I saw three or four families at the park that I knew from Vegas; it's a small world after all...ha ha ha, I'm so clever. Christian has become somewhat less of a weenie when it comes to the rides. He was a little more willing to try some of the new ones, and now, Thunder Mountain Railroad is his favorite ride. He hated it a couple years ago. Coy has moved into the top weenie position. He did not like any ride with a drop. That became the question of the day, "does this one have a drop?" Corinne wasn't quite tall enough to go on the faster rides, so we'll see how she deals next time. In my experience, girls are much more fearless when it comes to that sort of stuff. She was, however, terrified of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The screaming and crying got old, so she had John put his hands over her eyes the whole ride. She hated the part where you see Davy Jones in the mist, and it looks like you are going to run into him. I didn't think it would scare her that much. We all had so much fun, and the kids were sad to leave.

The kids had been bugging me so much a couple of years ago about Disneyland, and at the time, pink eye had made its rounds in our house. So, Mickey Mouse had come down with a bad case of pink eye, and that's why we had to stay away. I felt a little guilty every time Coy would randomly ask if Mickey still had pink eye. They were happy to hear that he had made a full recovery, and it was safe to enter Disneyland again. We took the kids to Newport to play at the beach, and they loved finding as many shells as they could.

My mom, then, drove the kids back to Vegas while John and I stayed in Newport for a a couple more days. We stayed at a nice non-kid-friendly hotel and had a good time acting like teenagers again. We went to Knott's Berry Farm one day, which was totally empty. I realized that I may be getting to old for some roller coasters; my head hurt after everyone I went on. We did a lot of beach walking around Hermosa and Redondo Beach, and we made a little visit back to the place where we got married in Redondo Beach. It was fun to spend all that time together alone.

John's grandpa is not doing very well. He's had dementia for a while, and now, he's in the hospital with pneumonia and a staff infection. He is on a feeding tube because anything he eats or drinks he chokes on, and some goes into his lungs. This is causing the pneumonia. John's grandparents live in Torrance, so we made a trip to the hospital to see grandpa. It was very sad seeing him like that, and he doesn't realize who we are, but he has lived a long, happy life. We were glad we got the opportunity to see him and say goodbye. After that we went to visit John's Grandma Irene and Aunt Linda at their house. It was wonderful seeing them. Then, it was time to head home. I was really starting to miss the kiddos, and even though I knew they were fine, I couldn't help but worry about them the whole time we were apart. Thanks, mom for having the courage to go it alone those couple of days. You all survived, and it allowed John and I some much needed couple time.

Playing at the Park

2009-02-28T22:59:00.001-08:00

He's growing up so fast; such a big boy!

There's a cute western-themed park by our house that the kids love to go to. It's really big and always packed, so I try to avoid it when I'm with the kids by myself. I'm afraid I'll lose one. John was with us today, so why not.

Yes, Coy's at that age.

Poor Coy Coy

2009-02-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Is this really all necessary for one very minor filling? As you can tell by his bright red cheeks, the nitrous oxide was not helping his anxiety at all. I actually think it made the panic a lot worse. He kept saying, "I want this thing off my nose right now!" I thought my kids were immune to cavities, but alas, Coy just had to get the first one of the group. My boot camp style, twice a day brushings have failed. The whole pink balloon thing in his mouth was a new one for me. They said it kept him from swallowing any of the yucky stuff, and it gave the dentist a clear working space. This was a cavity being filled not open-heart surgery. He was very brave, and he survived. I do have to say that Spongebob playing on the ceiling above him helped the absolutely-no-fun situation. There's nothing worse than seeing your baby in pain and panicked at the same time. It's tough being four.

Just so it's clear, I don't enjoy taking pictures of my children in sad predicaments. The dental assistant was trying to explain the pink latex square to Coy. She asked if I had a camera so I could show him what it looked like later. Corinne has been deeply disturbed by this picture. She can't exactly make out what she is seeing, and she's worried about what was being done to her big brother.

Funny Story

2009-02-21T20:02:00.000-08:00

Coy is my child who has a fascination with Physiology and Anatomy. He's always asking questions about his body. Some of these endless queries include such topics as the brain, bones, blood, digestion, the respiratory system, and yes, childbirth. I try my hardest to change the subject whenever that one comes up. Well, since we have had our new puppy, Apollo, Coy has been inspecting his little doggy body. John pointed out to him, right after we brought the puppy home for the first time, that Apollo also has a belly button like he does. Coy seemed to be giddy at this new discovery. Since that first time, he's asked several times for me to point out Apollo's belly button; then, he laughs like it's the funniest thing he's ever seen. I say all this to tell you what happened a couple of days ago. As I was taking Apollo downstairs to go outside, Coy walked up to me and said, "mommy, I want to touch his belly button." So, I told him to go ahead. Coy then proceeded to, rather roughly, grab and twist Apollo's little puppy wanker. I quickly pulled Coy's hand away from the poor animal, trying to sound concerned as I told him what he was grabbing. He thought about it for a second; then he said, "ohhhhhh." We both laughed for a long time. The best part was the surprised look on Apollo's face as he was defenselessly being molested. I love this 4-year-old.

For the Love of Donuts.....or Doughnuts

2009-02-16T22:36:00.000-08:00

We have a Krispy Kreme addiction around here. It's no secret. There is not a donut in the world that can compete with a "Hot Now" original glazed. I had my first when I was visiting My Aunt Debbie and Uncle Kent in Tallahassee. They are to blame for this new form of gluttony in our family. This was a couple of years before a Krispy Kreme shop was put in Vegas. Christian was 8 months old when he had his first, and he was a changed baby. You know how kids bring cupcakes to school on their birthdays? Well, mine bring a couple dozen original glazed with a Krispy Kreme hat for each classmate. They have scored major friend points with this simple act. Yep, I'm the coolest mom around.

My kids always beg to go to this particular donut shop on our way home from church because they have learned that it is right around the corner- dang that sense of direction. So, this easy request of theirs, that I grant a couple times a month, makes me mother of the year in their precious little eyes. I live for the adoration of my children...what mom doesn't?? They love nothing more than to go into this yummy smelling donut shop and press their little noses against the glass. They are mesmerized as they watch the floating donuts flip onto the grease and then, go through a waterfall of glazed sugar. It is quite a sight for them. I snapped this candid when they weren't looking. It's the simple little things in life that bring them so much joy.

Christian's first- January 2002

Hugs for Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T15:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! We love all of our family and friends very much. Coy Coy had a special hug to give at his preschool's Valentine's Day party. As usual, Coy's voice is easily heard above the others....a true entertainer.

David on Drugs

2009-02-11T15:42:00.000-08:00

I came across this video the other day through a forwarded e-mail. This is seriously one of the funniest little videos of a kid that I've ever seen. Anyone who has ever had their wisdom teeth out, or any kind of dental surgery, knows that whatever drug they use to put you under is very unique. I've had other surgeries before when I broke my nose, but that anesthesia did not affect me at all. However, when I had my wisdom teeth removed, I woke up crying, asking where my dog was. Repeatedly, I kept saying that there was water in the peanut butter jar. I was very confused and distraught about it....funny stuff! So, I totally empathize with this poor kid. At least he gave his dad, and the rest of us folks, a good laugh.

My Entertainment For a Lazy Day.

2009-02-09T14:42:00.000-08:00

Corinne is all girl, and she loves to dress-up. I was bored, so I made her perform for me. This is how I get my kicks.

Dude, I got a Dell...Again

2009-02-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to think John and I repel technology. No matter how careful we are, every single computer we've ever owned has crashed a couple of times. We do everything they say you are supposed to do like having security programs and all that fun stuff. Still, our laptop crashed once again, and this time I am done with it. We've already taken it to the geek squad (our new best friends) a couple of times so they could save all of our files and reboot the computer. I'm not doing it again, even though at some point I will want all my home movies off that stupid thing. Should I have been backing up all my files like my husband said?- Yes. Did I?- No! Those guys charge way to much for computer knowledge. Now, we are back to our old Dell desktop we bought in 2004 after Coy was born. We had it custom made and only used it about six months before it too crashed. At the time, we didn't have the time or money to fix it so it just sat and traveled with us when we moved. After the death of our laptop, we put a new hard drive in the Dell and reinstalled everything. It seems to be working like new except for the fact that it's not allowing me to upgrade to a new version of internet explorer...irritating. Internet Explorer in 2004 was kind o' slow. Let's hope this one will, now, behave for us. I have to get used to going to the desk in my room to get on the computer instead of just sitting on the couch with the laptop. This is probably a good thing; it will keep me from wasting my time on nothing late at night; there's only so many curtains and panels one can look at online at Target. I also wish it had a little slot for my Sony memory stick like the laptop did. How do I get all my pictures onto the computer? Oh yes....the USB cord; like I have any clue where that thing is hiding. That's a scavenger hunt for another day. When I think back about 10 years ago, when AOL was a novelty, and the internet was new and exciting, I realize how impatient technology has made me. Maybe my computers crash to teach me a lesson ;-) Okay, I'm done ranting now.

Humpty Dumpty Fell on Her Head

2009-02-04T23:50:00.000-08:00

So, Corinne was our first. We have two boys that have yet to break a bone, need a stitch, or even require a trip to the emergency room for some rough and tumble act. We have relatively calm children compared to all the stories I've heard from friends and family. My kids like to play but not too rough. They like to have fun and do exciting things, but when they feel there is a risk or any anxiety involved, they shy away. I suppose this is actually a blessing. I must be so lucky because of some praise due to me for being such an angelic child :-) We all know it has nothing to do with John's genes (he was THAT boy).

Well, out of my three kiddos, Corinne is the closest thing I have to a daredevil. On Monday, she was enjoying another ride on her daddy's shoulders (something we call a duh, duh duh-an inherited title). Well, dad was holding his princess on his shoulders along with a computer tower in his hands. Corinne pulled one of her circus acts where she just falls backwards. It's so much fun; a thrill because there is always a mommy or daddy to catch her. Sadly, we've encouraged this monkey-like behavior because she is our only child who squeals with joy over the rush of free-falling. It's kind of fun to have a kid who plays rough....so what if she's the little lady of the family. Well, on this particular occasion, daddy, once again, caught her. The problem was the concrete pillar he was leaning against while waiting for me to come out of a store. With perfect aim, she slammed her sweet melon against the perilous pillar, making an inch long gash under her pretty curls. After some examination, John and I decided this was definitely a cut that would require a trip to the doctor's office. Let's be honest, it was John doing the exam; I'm not capable of dealing with trauma. I cover my ears and walk away. And I wanted to be a nurse once upon a time....Ha Ha Ha.

So, the doctor agreed that this was a boo boo that required more than a band-aid and some neosporin. When the doc said staples, I cringed. Staples sound so much worse than stitches, but actually I learned they are less invasive and a much quicker process. I opted for her to have the topical anesthetic instead of a shot to the head (Yikes!!). She was so brave through the whole process, and the only concern she had was that her lollipop was almost gone. The nurse graciously provided her with as many as her little heart desired. The doctor put in four staples, and it wasn't until the third had been put in when Corinne said, "mommy, that boy is hurting me." She was a trooper, and now she has metal in her head for a week. It looks so awful to me, but she hasn't even mentioned it. We can't wash her hair or really brush it this whole week. So, her already crazy, curly hair is now looking like a comfortable home for a family of blue-jays. It's been an interesting last few days; never a dull moment. I guess there has to be a first time for everything.

Waiting for the doctor to prescribe some metal to the head.

More Puppy Pics

2009-01-31T11:40:00.001-08:00

He gets so mad and freaks out when I hold him like this.

His favorite toys are socks, not the all the dog toys we bought him.

So, my weirdness has come full circle...I love the way this dog's ears smell.

Apollo loves to army crawl under the couch. Very soon, he won't be able to fit.

I'm so glad John now has a friend.

Out to Din

2009-01-29T16:52:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since we took the kids out to a restaurant for dinner. I mean a real restaurant, not McDonald's, Taco Bell, or Panda Express. For those are frequented more often than I would like to admit. After picking up the boys from church last night, we were all hungry, and it was late. I was thinking we would go home and make some quick Mac & Cheese and chicken nuggets, but John drove in the wrong direction right to his favorite "hole in the wall." So there we were at the Bootlegger with our three young children. I was going to argue, but when John is hungry, nobody is safe. His claws come out until his tummy if full, then, he's quite pleasant. My objections were do to the fact that this is really not a place to take kids. It seriously is the closest thing I've seen to a restaurant right out of the Godfather. I've never seen any of the Godfather movies, but I could imagine. It's totally "old Vegas" with the huge circular booths, the dim lights, and the piano being tickled in the corner of the dining room. John only warned the kids one time, and to my surprise, they were perfect. They love going to restaurants, and it had been a while. So, they were on their best behavior. The reason I'm even mentioning this somewhat ordinary experience is because I love how sincerely grateful my kids can be. Throughout the dinner, they kept saying how nice everything was, and how they loved this restaurant. They kept thanking us for taking them, and they had much praise for the food. Coy said, "Everything is so delicious!" Christian spoke his famous line, "This is fun; we should do this more often." John let them order whatever they wanted, so when the waiter asked Corinne what she was having, she said, "I want diet coke and a salad with ranch on the side, please." No joke!! The waiter laughed, but I told him that really was exactly what she wanted. She's 2 going on 17. Well, at least she'll be a cheap date when she is older. We had a fun time. Too bad money doesn't grow on trees, or we could do it more often.

Spoiled Seven Year Old

2009-01-25T22:31:00.001-08:00

Christian had an exciting week. He got his first puppy on the same day he got his first BB Gun. He's been out in the desert shooting with his dad, and he was thrilled to make a glass bottle explode. I was amazed to hear that on that same shooting outing, my daughter was picking up lizards and holding them-gross! I'm now doubting whether or not she is truly my kid.
Then, night before last, John and I took Christian to see Mystere at Treasure Island. I guess when you grow up in Las Vegas and your dad works for MGM/Mirage, you go see Cirque du Soleil shows for fun. Mystere is the second one he's seen. He had a great time, and then he chose Chinese for dinner afterward. Orange chicken, white rice, lots of soy sauce, and coke-the kid was in heaven. I'm sure he'll remember these last few days his whole life.

Chaos with the Pup

2009-01-24T20:09:00.000-08:00

Dog Gone and Done It.

2009-01-24T18:01:00.000-08:00

Announcing the newest member of our fam- drumroll please......Apollo Creed David Romo.

Christian has been begging for a dog for a long time now. We kept telling him that when we were in our own house, we would get a pet. Well, that was almost a year ago, and he has mentioned the deal numerous times. After Tuck the turtle baked out by the pool in the hot Las Vegas sun, we were, once again, convinced that pets are not safe around us. May Tuck rest in peace; we loved that damn turtle.

Well, Christian pleaded with Santa, in his Christmas letter, about how he wanted nothing more than a puppy of his own to love and take care of. He's been bargaining with us over all the things he would do and all the things he would give up if only we got him a dog.

John has (not so secretly) wanted a dog for a long time too. He never got over our last dog, Rocky. We had to give Rocky away because he was slowly but sweetly destroying my mother's house. She put up with him much longer than I would have if it had been my house. Rocky was a sweet dog, but he was as dumb as a doornail. I'm not a neat freak, but I am on the over-sanitary side, so the thought of a dog in my new house made me want to grab some antibacterial gel and Lysol wipes.

Obviously, I caved on this one. We have a weakness when it comes to boxers, and when we saw Apollo, it was puppy love at first sight. He is 9 weeks old, and he's from Kansas. Coy asked if he knew Dorothy, and I told him that Apollo's mom and ToTo used to hang together.

So far, so good; he's been perfect. The crate training is going well, and he never cries or whines when he has to go in. I actually think he kind of likes it. He loves to play and, of course, he likes to box with us. It's been fun so far, and the kids are so good with him. My carpet and couches are still in one piece, and nothing smells funny yet. I hope that lasts.

Looks Like Fun

2009-01-22T23:55:00.000-08:00

What did I expect after Corinne had been in the bathroom for 15 minutes "washing her hands"?
To get the full effect, you would need to be there in person and see all the water on the floor. Soap, water, and a plugged sink can be so much fun. So fun, you just have to take your clothes off.