ESPN House Happenings

So you would think after the birthday hype things would slow down around here.  Yeah not so much.  Let's see - last weekend we all got haircuts (well the girls anyway).  Chatty's hair is so thick and she hates having it brushed (just like me at that age) so we went to the short bob.

And then there is my mini me.  She has curly hair like her momma and screamed on Sunday morning she didn't want to wear it curly ... oh my so much like me.  Looks like she will learn to use the flat iron at a young age!

But her curls are so stinking cute!!

We dyed Easter eggs this week.  Bia only broke 2 so that wasn't too bad.  The whole making sure each kid has the same amount to color, etc. gets real old real quick.  Ugh everything is a competition.

Yes they are in ROYGBIV order .. Type A anyone??

Lucky for me my mom is super crafty and makes great holiday decorations for me.  This one is probably one of my all time favorites - plastic egg garland (yes she rocks!).

Close Up

Full view - we needed one just a bit longer but I think it looks cute

Ok so back to egg dying ... sorry for the scatter brain thoughts.

Lucky for me and my Type A tendencies my kids didn't double dip their eggs in multiple colors!

Oh and just because these are cute.  Nana and Poppa took these when the girls were at their house a few weeks back.

Chef Bia

Birthday Recap and Picture Overload

Since we went to Disneyland over Spring Break, Mr. ESPN and I decided we would not be throwing a birthday party for the girls - that was their party.  But somehow Chatty seemed to get a whole weekend of celebrating.  I'm still trying to figure out how she accomplished that.

The festivities started on Saturday.  Chatty requested ribs for dinner.  So her lovely servants (aka Mom and Dad) got busy and grilled some ribs and made some cupcakes.  It wouldn't have been a celebration if our favorite neighbors weren't there ...

Chatty and JR

After dinner Chatty requested to go to Dave and Buster's.  If you don't know what Dave and Buster's is, think over sized arcade with a bar in the middle.  It was loud and expensive (both the games and the adult beverages), but the kids seemed to have fun when they weren't fighting over who got to play what.

Air Hockey Ace

The parents aka Chatty and Bia's servants 

Chatty took this picture

Bia loving the air hockey

Chatty surfing

The next morning we headed to church with cupcakes in tow.  Because what's Sunday school without cupcakes right?  Afterwards we met Nana and Poppa at our favorite pizza place (yes this is a birthday tradition at our house) for lunch and birthday pizzookie.

Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl with Nana and Poppa

So was it over yet?  No - now time for her actual birthday ... Monday.  Here she is bed head and all opening up a few small presents.  She received an I-Pod Touch from Nana and Poppa, Grandma and Grandpa and Mr. ESPN and me (we gave it to her on Sunday at lunch with Nana and Poppa).  She is obsessed with it!  Kind of like Mr. ESPN and his I-Phone!

Lovely hair girlfriend

Dress from Grandma

Are you all tired yet?  I was - I volunteered in Chatty's class and stayed for lunch and took cookies in for a treat.  After school I took the girls to the pediatrician for their well checks and Port of Subs for dinner (Chatty's  choice).  Monday night our favorite neighbors came back over for Peeps birthday cake. 

Easiest Cake Ever

Make a Wish

My little peep eating a peep!

Remember how I said in my last post I hadn't eaten sugar in the past week or so ... didn't even lick my fingers when I made the cupcakes or cake ... well I couldn't help it I had to have a small piece (and it was oh so good - moist yellow cake and homemade chocolate butter cream frosting)!  Now I feel like I am starting all over!  Good thing birthdays are done in our house for awhile, now if I can get my kids and Mr. ESPN to finish off all of the leftovers I will be good!

Look Who's 7!!

7 years ago it was Easter Sunday. Mr. ESPN and I were supposed to be hosting Easter dinner for my parents and our friends.  However those plans were changed because this person decided it was time to make her first appearance!

1 month old

You were kind enough to your dad to wait until the Master's Tournament was over to arrive - much to his delight! 

Chatty you keep us on our toes every single day.  You are a loving, smart, talkative and stubborn (so much like your mama that it is scary sometimes!) and your dad and I love you more than anything in this world.  Thank you for teaching us that being a parent is the hardest and best job in the world!  We love you Lacey Lou!

excuse the goofy grin ...

Birthday pics coming soon ....

Hello Friday ...

Oh how I have missed you.  It has been another long week here in the ESPN house.  Here's a recap ...

• Chatty lost her library book again - this is her second one this year.  She has been informed she will be paying for it with her own money if she doesn't find it at school today.
• Bia is a HOT MESS .. extremely demanding and so adorable all at the same time.  Lord help me!
• I mailed a soccer refund check to the wrong address (Yeah Dumb Me!).  I went over to the house I accidentally mailed it to, to try and explain (I even took Bia so I would look more legit) but they weren't home.  I guess I will try going over tomorrow.
• I haven't had any sweets in over a week ... but I have inhaled mass quantities of almonds and spinach salads!  They're not nearly as good but the scale has been much friendlier.
• Co-irker as my co-worker aptly named Clipper Guy got his clippers unglued when I was in NJ the other week.  So when I got back in town last week I threw them in the garbage (in the women's restroom).  On Tuesday he was rummaging - actually it was more like a dog rooting through his drawer looking for them.  So far he hasn't brought another pair in but if he does they are heading straight for the trash.
• Chatty turns 7 on Monday ... every day she gets up and tells me "Mom my birthday is in (insert number) days!"  And I respond "Really?" Some day when she has kids she will realize it is very hard to forget the day they were born ... that and it was the final round of the Master's.  Chatty was sweet enough to stall her arrival until after the Master's ended that Easter Sunday so Mr. ESPN wouldn't have to turn the television off too early!
• Speaking of which Mr. ESPN will be watching the Master's this weekend in between family birthday celebrations.
• Bia snuck silly bands into school yesterday and when Mr. ESPN confiscated them she had a royal fit!
• Chatty lied to me about syrup on her shorts.  She has this habit of ordering breakfast at school, which Mr. ESPN has instructed her not to do (he can see it on her online account) because she eats breakfast at home, takes an early morning snack with her, plus she has a snack in class during the late morning.  So the other day I noticed she had syrup on her shorts (and she had eaten her breakfast at home in her PJ's) and she lied about how it got there ...
• So right now we have a petite thief with a tendency for tantrums and a liar who likes to talk back in our house.  Is that why they invented wine? 
• I am thinking of making this cake for Chatty's birthday.  I think it is super cute.

Courtesy of http://www.tasteofhome.com/

OK - that's about it.  Next week I'll post birthday pics ... have a good weekend!

Spring Break Part II - Disneyland

OK here we go - Part II - Disneyland.  Below is a pic of the kids in our group (pre-Casey) - 8 kids 7 and under!  Can't you tell how excited Bia is???  It was a recurring theme to our visit to The Happiest Place on Earth.  Obviously she didn't follow her dad's instructions!

And then there was Chatty - who was true to her nick-name and really had a good time.  We heard a lot of "This is the best day ever!" from her. 

Note - she uses that line frequently, even when we aren't at Disneyland.

I love this picture even though Connor isn't smiling.  These two cousins had never met before that evening and loved hanging out together!  It was so cute!

Try not to smile Bia!  Not sure what was up with my camera - maybe the humidity?  And nice reflection off my backpack!

The next morning I tried to get a picture of the newest 4 year old and you can see how well she complied (even though I let her eat cake for breakfast)!  Good thing she is cute!

And at the Princess something or other photo op and she still won't smile!

This has to be one of my all time favorite pictures - the cousins sacked out in our bed after a full day at Disneyland!

On our last day at Disneyland we ran into this guy ...

And headed over to California Adventure.  Bia was sort of enjoying herself ..

OH MY - is that an actual real smile????  

Of course we didn't get that until we ran into Casey and her crew!  I seriously thought it would never happen ... the day before we kept missing each other.  Somehow I ended up in the middle of this pic and look extra wide - hot and sweaty after a long day at the park.  Casey looks great - of course!  Wish we could have had more time together.  I seriously want to plan a girls trip (sans little people) so we can really hang out... anyone else in???

Our cute little blondies!  Love Lainey - she was so sweet and Bia loved her new friend (even though it doesn't show in this picture)! 

I didn't get any good group shots so you will have to go to Casey's blog to see those.  Carter is such a cool kid - we discussed basketball, surfing, hovercrafts, etc.  He is an awesome big brother even if he does wear skinny jeans.  And Jack - the middle child who was doing anything and everything he could to make his mom mad!  Casey has the patience of a saint!  She was so good with him.  Jack made me feel like my family is just as normal as everyone elses!  Thanks Jack!!

All in all a good trip - but glad to be home.  Now I have to prepare for another birthday.  Chatty turns 7 next Monday!  Where does the time go??

Spring Break Part I - Bia's 4th Birthday

Ok - so here is Part I of our Spring Break ... Bia's Birthday.  Well actually it was Mr. ESPN's birthday but I didn't get any pictures of him opening his cards/gifts.  Great wife I know! We met Nana and Poppa at our favorite restaurant - Oregano's for a birthday lunch.

Bia and Nana

Bia and Poppa

Enjoying some pizzookie!

We were all decked out for the Arizona game that afternoon

Look who's 4 (the morning of her birthday)

  

Lots of princess stuff

And then we left for Disneyland.  After we checked into our hotel, picked up a birthday cake for Bia.  We celebrated again late that night in the hotel room!

Next up our visit to Disneyland ...

Quotes from our Spring Break

I haven't had time to download my pictures, but will this weekend.  Until then I will leave you with some of the memorable quotes from our trip.

• "This is the happiest place on Earth - You Will Be Happy!" - Mr. ESPN to the girls on the way into the park
• "I go back to the hotel!" - Bia multiple times each day at the park.
• "I'm sure glad I don't have this many to watch all the time" - Me to Mr. ESPN while watching 7 kids so my neighbors and my cousin and her husband could ride Space Mountain.
• "That's not fair!" - Chatty
• "We have the most ungrateful children" - Me to Mr. ESPN after our kids complained incessantly the first night in the hotel.
• "I ride Dumbo" - Bia over and over again - in between wanting to go back to the hotel.
• "Anywhere that serves beer" - Mr. ESPN when I asked him where he wanted to go for lunch.
• "This is the best day ever!" - Chatty every day at the park
• "Tell him to make a freakin decision - I am tired of making all of the decisions!" - Me to Chatty when Mr. ESPN sent her over to ask if he should by her a toy.
• "Where's Cousin Connor? I want to ride with Cousin Connor" - Chatty whenever Connor's family wasn't with us.
• "I need a drink!" - Mr. ESPN multiple times during the trip.

We had a great time ... got to hang with my cousin's family!  Loved it - we need to do it more often!!  Got to meet the ever fabulous Casey and her gang!  Will post more when I get my pictures downloaded ...