POTD: Shout House @ Westgate

Tonight we were invited to my cousin Oscar's birthday party at The Shout House at Westgate. I had never been there before and it was an awesome place. It's a bar/restaurant that has two dueling piano players providing entertainment. They are absolutely hilarious and really get the crowd interacted. They take song requests and sand everything from children's show tunes, to country, to rock, to rap... yes they rapped as well. It was very funny.

I put in a request for them to call my cousin Oscar up and sing Happy Birthday to him. They finally called him up and had him sit on the Piano while they serenaded him with the funniest version of a birthday song I've ever heard. We had a really good time... and we want to go back again soon.

Thanks Oscar for the invitation!!

POTD: He's Just SO Cute!

I can't help but see my husband and still feel like when I was in High School and I thought a guy was cute. Look at this face and smile... it makes me so happy! I think my husband is so cute. And funny thing is... he doesn't think that he's attractive at all.

Today he was telling me that the girls he works with all find him attractive and it annoys him. First of all because he constantly has to broadcast that he's happily married and second because when he goes to work he's in "work mode" and totally thinks he needs to go there, perform his duties, and has no time for chit chat or messing around. (He takes every job he has seriously even if it is Janitor work... and he has been a Janitor before)

I had to explain to him that he IS cute and that his genuine personality is what attracts people the most. He's very helpful and friendly. He has to be since he works at a Car Wash and needs to be able to sell washes and details. He looked at me still confused that with mostly males at his job (who are all single and young and looking) the very few girls that work there still try to talk to him instead.

I find it so funny that he doesn't get it. He never dated much. I was only his 2nd girlfriend and the only serious one. So I don't think he understands a girls mind. Haha.

I finally just told him... "Baby, you are cute and that's why... I think you are absolutely adorable!" And the smirk above is what I got...

POTD: Dancing in Water

I took the kids on a walk today to a little island in our neighborhood. It's the time of year that they start turning on the water fountain things so I decided a walk a photo shoot were in order. I've done this since Diego was a baby. The kids had fun. Alayna especially had a blast splashing in the puddles of water. Crazy warm weather we're having lately. Summer is coming so early!

POTD: Felicia & Jimmy

Today the girls and I met up with my friend Felicia and her son Jimmy at my favorite park, Rio Vista. (While Diego and her daughter Ally were at school) I hadn't seen her since like the end of the summer. Funny thing is we usually go long spurts without seeing each other... although we do talk through myspace once in a while... and when we get together again we just pick up right where we left off.

Her and her husband James I've known since HS... they've been together since then. And I love them both to death! We all get along so well. We have so many things in common and they are just like us. It's hard to find young couples that aren't focused on partying and drinking... and although we do enjoy a good time alone... for us it's rare... we're always doing stuff with our kids. And they are the same. We've gone on road trips with them. They helps us a lot... and are there for us always. The crib that Arielle is sleeping in is actually Jimmy & Ally's crib. I love friends like these.

I invited them to California with us in April... hopefully they take us up on our offer. I love seeing them.

POTD: Future BFFs... We Hope

I had lunch with my BFF today and the girls while Diego was at school. My goddaughter Arianna is exactly 4 months older than Arielle. And I am 4 months older than Jaz. We're hoping they'll grow up to be BFFs like her and I. I mean they are pretty much already growing up together. Right now they still just stare at each other and occasionally one slaps the other. But I like to think their relationship is growing. :) They do got at least one thing in common... they are both absolutely adorable... even when neither one wants to smile at me!

POTD: Bad Hair Day

Arielle ALWAYS wakes up with the worst bed head. It's hilarious to walk into her room every morning and be greeted with one of her wild hairstyles. We all laugh at her and she just looks at us like, "What are you laughing at?" So funny!

POTD: Sidewalk Chalk

Finally got use the sidewalk chalk I bought for the kiddos. Thanks Heather for the inspiration!



Please excuse my unedited photos these past few days... and for the next posts to come. I will be installing my programs again over the weekend. So bare with me. I hate seeing them unedited too.

POTD: Phoenix Children's Museum

I got a text message a few days ago from my cousin Gianna that the Children's Museum was having free admission today. So yesterday I checked out the website since I had never heard of the place before and was curious to see what it was like. So I called my sister-i-law Jen and asked if she wanted to go with me and the kids.

So today we went. We only got to be there for an hour because we had to wait to be let in they closed at 4pm.

I really loved it and so did the kids... we tried to see as much as possible in an hour and rushed them along from station to station. (I am planning on going back again soon so we can see it all with patience.) They seemed to really love it too. It was fun and educational.

What I loved most about it is that everything there is made out of something else. They recycle things as artwork, decor, and use it everywhere.

When you walk in there is a giant wall covered in a curtain of cds. It really looks awesome in person.



Then there is also mobiles made of paper cranes of all different sizes. I remember making those when I was little. I was totally facinated by the mobiles... I don't even think the kids looked up once to notice them.



Old shoes covered the wall to the entrance of the Toddler area. They also had stroller parking just to the other side of it.



Inside the toddler area the dividing curtains were made of pink pong balls... beads... and shiny disks. Totally cool.



And these were the mirrors in the bathroom. Crazy Haha.




If you want to read more about our time there... Go Here!

POTD: A Happy Meal

Diego loves to cook for himself... and by "cook" he means either...
1.) Making a PB&J
2.) Making a Sandwich

Any chance he gets he wants to make them. So today he was making him and Alayna each a sandwich and when I walked in to check on his progress I found this...






That's what I call a Happy Meal.

POTD: A Portrait of Me

Alayna came to me today and said, "Look Mommy... I drawed YOU!"

She was so excited and I couldn't help but laugh at how adorable her little person was.

Isn't it just the cutest thing?!

POTD: Heart of Mine

This weeks theme is "Heart of the...(fill in the blank)" But I changed it up a bit to fit my picture. My husband is my heart and has my whole heart. He works hard for me and our children... to give us all we need and want. He's the only person I've ever given my whole heart to without wanting anything in return but his love. Mushy... I know... but that's how I feel.

POTD: New Camera... New Love

So my husband bought me the 40d I've been wanting forever! And the lenses came in today so I FINALLY got to play with it. The UPS man didn't show up until 3:00pm... I even told him I loved him... and he gave me the biggest smile and a thumbs up. I was just so excited. Then I had to go get a CF card from my brother's job... then we had to pick up my car from my Papa's... and THEN I finally got to mess around with it. By that time I was loosing light so I did a quite play at my Papa's house before heading home.

I am sooooo in love!

All photos here taken with my Sigma 70-300... the other lens hasn't been tested yet but it's a Sigma 28-70. Nothing has been edited... everything is SOOC. (I have to reinstall photoshop and don't have time right now)


The first image is of my brother at work. This is the very first picture taken with my camera! Yipee!


My husband while driving to my Papa's house.


A pinwheel in Papa's front yard.


A flamingo in his yard.


My Grandpa... Papa.


And last but not least a Happy Camera Owner! (Taken by my husband as I was dancing in the street)

POTD: My Valentine Loot

My husband is the absolute best. Seriously. And I think even more after we watched the movie Fireproof together.

Junior has always tried to do his best to give me what I want... physically, emotionally, and all things in between. He knows when we argue to let me win. When I am sad he lets me cry on his shoulder and lets me wipe my face on his shirt. (That's love) When I am happy he is happy. And when I am excited or motivated he's usually there to be my fan and tell me how much he believes in me. I can ALWAYS count on him to boost my confidence.

He also likes to spoil me a lot. But the past few years have been hard on us and we haven't always had the luxuries that most people enjoy... like our own place, or cars even! He feels bad about it... but like I've told him a million times... I don't love him for what he can give me materially... but the fact that he loves me and our kids unconditionally and does what he does for us. And he does a lot sometimes! He even takes care and worries about my Mom more than anyone I know. How awesome is it that I have a husband who will sacrifice so much of himself for my parents ors family for that matter. He definately has his flaws but his intentions are always the purest.

And this Valentines Day he went above and beyond! He seriously surprised me! I still don't really have the words to describe how grateful I am to have him as my husband. My heart swells just talking about him and the kindness that he has in his heart. He's amazing, amazing, AMAZING!

I wasn't expecting anything because our Valentine's are usually quiet nights spent at home with a home cooked dinner... and some movies and popcorn afterward. But I got this:





I also have a few more Nintendo DS games on reserve as soon as they come in... he already paid for them.

And I got TWO lenses for my new camera that should be arriving tomorrow! (I will be anxiously awaiting the man in the brown truck... he's actually coming to MY house!)


Thank You Junior! You are so good to me and I can't figure out what I do to deserve all that you do for me. I've always told you that you are my angel and I believe that. I love you to infinite and beyond.

Love, Your Very Very Happy Wife

POTD: Swinging Girls

We took the kids to the park today since there was no school! We met up with my BFF (Who BTW just got engaged on Valentine's day! Congrats!) and our Goddaughter. We hadn't seen them in a while... so it was great to hang out again.

The girls could have lived in the swings the whole time... and we were there a very long time. Alayna was so mad when we had to go.

POTD: Boys & Their Toys

My Husband standing by my Daddy's car as we waited for my sister. Junior works at a car wash and he took my Daddy's pride and joy to get a complete detail. My Dad was so happy to see his car so clean and Junior was just happy to be able to drive it the 5 minutes to work and back... so he had to get out of the car and admire my Dad's Stang. Seriously the car looked beautiful though.

POTD: My Funny Valentine

This was the only picture I got of us on Valentines Day. Blurry and all I still love it... so US... My being cheesy and him trying to get away from the camera. Yup describes us to a T.

POTD: And The Rows Continue...

Yes... her obsession with rows continues... Oh my girl...

POTD: Love for a Son

Diego invited me to his Valentine's Dance at school. You can read all about it HERE.

My Dad took the first picture before we left. After doing a few poses Diego says, "I got a pose... How about you kiss me!!" I couldn't refuse.


The second picture was taken by Diego at the dance after he spent the dollar I gave him on some flowers for me!


I have the BEST son!

POTD: Tired

I guess watching TV can make you tired. Diego was knocked out in front of the TV in my parents room while they were watching a novela. This is what I walked in to. So silly!

POTD: Love for a Daughter

This week's theme is Love. And as we were out an about today I caught this photo of Junior hugging Alayna. It's rare that she hugs Daddy out of the blue. Usually he has to make sad faces and pretend to be hurt for her to go and hug him. She's only affectionate with few people... and Daddy only gets love when she's in the mood. For anyone who knows Layna... she's never in the mood and you'll usually be received with a mad face or a scowl.

It's hard for other people to understand when I say she's very affectionate and cuddly. But at home with me... she is!

POTD: Rainy Sunday

Sunday was family day. As is every Sunday for us. We took the kids out for lunch, ran some errands, and ended up at my brother's house to hang out. It was very rainy all day but it was great.

Even thought the streets looked like this:


The sky looked like this:


It was a good day.

POTD: Sweet Dream Pretty Girl

I walked into the room to turn of the lights above Alayna's bed and this is what I found.

A sweet little princess... sucking her thumb... holding her dolly... and dreaming away. You would have never known that only 15 minutes before she was kicking and screaming and throwing a fit because she didn't want to go to sleep.

Sometimes she drive me absolutely insane... but I can't live without her.

POTD: Home Sweet Bedroom

We live in my parents house, and since it's not our house, I always feel like my bedroom is my "home". It's where I go to relax, it's where Junior and I spend most of our time together, it's where the kids come and play and leave their toys behind even though they have their own room and the whole rest of the house to play. Most of all it's the place where Junior and I sleep and share our dreams together.

There's no place like home.

POTD: Toys

This weeks theme for POTD is Home Sweet Home...

Nothing reminds me of home more than Alayna's rows and rows of toys everywhere. Seriously they appear all over the house. As soon as I am done cleaning up... new rows emerge in my room... the living room... her room... the bathtub... you name it. She's obsessed with having things in rows too.

Funny because my husband always makes fun of me for straightening things up all the time too.

POTD: Crazy People

So we're weird. This is what we do when we're bored out of our minds. Who am I kidding... this is what we do even when we're not bored. I love my kids. They are just as insane as me.

POTD: I HATE MONSTERS

And no I don't mean the imaginary creature living under our beds... I mean that stinky drink in a can.

Over a year ago when I was pregnant with Arielle, my husband started drinking Monsters. And being that I was pregnant I couldn't STAND the smell of them. But he continued to drink them. So much that he's been addicted ever since. He has to drink one every morning even if he knows I hate them. Not only do them smell bad... but I am trying to convince him that they are bed for him. And he already is a smoker and doesn't eat well to begin with... so you can see where I may concerned. He gets so grouchy if he doesn't have one every day.

So today I was running some errands in the morning after dropping of Diego at school. Junior is off on Mondays so he stayed at home with the girls and got them ready. Arielle had a Dr.'s appointment today so I was coming back to pick them up. Almost getting to the house Junior calls me and asks me to stop at Walgreens and buy him a Monster. Knowing that we have a long day ahead of us with appointments and errands I decide to get him one. I expressed my NON excitement in buying it too.

So as I am paying the cashier named Gloria (she's an older lady who's worked there since I was in high school and pregnant with Diego) says, "I haven't seen your husband in here anymore..." So I tell her that he usually buys his cigarettes and Monsters at the Pilot Truck Stop next to his job now because it's more convenient. She goes on to tell me that those drinks are bad for him and asking me how can he drink so many. So I tell her... I hate them. I wish he wouldn't drink them. And they smell. She laughs and then I add... I hate buying these STUPID drinks! After saying goodbye I walk out and go to my car.

As I am getting in I think to myself... "You stupid drink... I am not putting you on my (passenger) seat because if you roll around and pop on my seat I will be so angry..." So I lean over and lay it ever so gently on the floor of the passenger side...

And what do you know... the second I let it go... the stupid can explodes!!! As I scramble to pick it up before it pours everywhere (or more than it already has)... I drop my soda which hasn't been opened yet and it gets all shook up. So I drive home holding a sticky can and a shaken up soda.

I go inside to tell Junior my story and yelling about how I HATE Monsters. All this seems quite comical now. But I am totally convinced they hate me just as much as I hate them. And now Junior will have to go buy his own... this was the last time I touch those things.

POTD: Superbowl Makeup

Go Cards!

I post processed the 2nd picture just for fun... the first one is the true colors. And all I can say is I am so happy to not pimples at the moment. I did NO smoothing of skin whatsoever... and that makes me happy.




Awesome makeup was done by my sister Nichole. Ever need a makeup artist and live in the Phoenix area you can view her work HERE and contact her! You won't be disappointed.