Veloz Viewpoints

Ben is OLD now too :)

2011-05-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ben turned 29 this year the day after Isaiah was born. I was almost able to hold on so they could share a birthday, but even though they don't share the date, I think Isaiah was a pretty awesome early birthday present.

So, since we spent his special day in the hospital,we had to do his birthday dinner about a week late. We ordered pizza and his Mom made him a homemade German Chocolate cake for dessert. We had the "party" over at his parents' house as I didn't have the energy to make sure my house was perfect since I had only had a baby the week before and was still pretty sore from my c-section.

The best part of the dinner was when Ben was opening his gifts and came to the one I got him from the kids. It was a Supermanshirt, since he is definitely our Superman. He opened the shirt and even though Antonio knew what it was it was like he was surprised too. He was so very excited and when Ben put it on, he jumped into his arms and gave him the biggest hug. Then for the rest of the night he kept telling him all about how much he loved his shirt. It was so precious. :)

Happy Mother's Day TO ME!

2011-05-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful Mother's Day this one was for me! I was given the best gift EVER! Isaiah Howard Veloz arrived on Mother's Day, May 8, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. He was 7 pounds 2 ounces and 18.5 inches long. Although, when he was measured at the pediatrician's office four days later, he was measured at 19.25 inches long.

He is amazingly perfect. For being born at 36 weeks and 4 days, he is just perfect! He went straight to the nursery, and after an hour in recovery for me, I was taken to my room, and he was brought right to me. So much better than the 13 - 14 hours of recovery I had with the twins. I was able to nurse him right away. It was just fantastic.

The kids are so in love with him, too. They love talking to him and holding his hands and giving him kisses. They want him to be able to play more than hedoes, but other than that they are great with him.

They try to comfort him when he is crying. I think the crying makes Antonio nervous. As soon as he makes a sound, Antonio is saying, shhh, its okay little buddy. I just love it. And even though Analise and Antonio are having a little trouble adjusting to not being the center of attention, we are doing just great.

I never thought I could feel so complete. I always knew something was missing, I just never realized once he was here how perfect everything would feel. And it truly does feel perfect. Life is so great!

New Mommy-mobile

2011-03-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our new bundle of joy's arrival, Ben and I have been looking online for Honda Odysseys for several months now. We knew we wanted to get his student loan paid off first to help off-set the cost of a car payment, so up until recently we have only been looking.

We paid off his student loan at the beginning of February, so the looking really began. We found a couple that were good deals, but they were 200+ miles away, and we were worried about driving all that way to not like it or have it not be what we wanted.

Then two weeks ago we found one in Vegas that was an amazing deal. We decided to get pre-approved for a loan first before we went and looked at it so we would be able to tell the seller that we could get it right then. So we spent the time at the bank, got it all set up, gave the seller a call and...it was already sold! :(

That night we decided to look online again and I told Ben I was going to email about one that was posted a week earlier. It was more than we wanted to spend, but I thought it was worth a shot. I sent the email and it was still available. Then I asked them about coming down on the price. We asked them to come down $900. We didn't feel it was too much to ask, and worth a shot. They agreed.

So we headed back into Vegas, gave it a test drive and decided we wanted it. The husband's name was the name on the title so we had to wait nearly a week to make it happen because he was out of town, but it was worth the wait.

We picked it up, handed over the check, headed to Carmax and sold the Pacifica. We even got home in time to register it at the DMV! It is all ours, and we now have plenty of room for Isaiah when he makes his appearance. One thing off the to do list. We also got the dresser situation sorted out, so that it is another thing off our to do list.

Now to get the clothes out of the crawl space and all cleaned up and ready to go. And then to finish the Twin's closet situation and I will feel much better about the fact that the little man will make his arrival in 10 weeks or less!

Here is a pic of my new Mommy-mobile. :)

Getting closer

2011-02-28T16:15:00.000-08:00

You know, the end of May seems like it is still a considerable time away, but in reality it is right around the corner.
I can't believe in just a short time we will be a family of 5. It makes me feel very nervous and some what unprepared. I better get a jump on getting the baby's room/clothes ready. How am I going to fit everything I have to do into the next 12 weeks? Ahhh!

PAIN!!

2011-02-21T11:28:00.000-08:00

A pain like I’ve never experienced! Friday night, there I was minding my own business. I had finished dinner and my stomach was starting to bother me. It was up under my ribs and in my upper back and I thought that maybe it was gas. You know, pregnant women tend to have a little more gas than normal.

The only problem was, the gas was kind of growing in intensity. We went to the pharmacy to get some Gas-x in hopes that it would gobble up the gas and I’d be all better in no time. I drank a diet sprite in the hopes it would help me burp and relieve the gas pressure.

All of this started at about 7 p.m. By 11:30, I was about ready to die. I had tried everything I could think of. I put a heating pad on my upper belly and my back in hopes it would break up the gas. I had wiggled and shifted and tried to get comfortable in any way that I could. By 12:30, I woke Ben up and told him we needed to go to the hospital because my stomach hurt so bad and I was at the point where I just couldn’t stand it anymore.

We quickly grabbed some stuff for the kids for the next day. Antonio was already awake as he had woke up crying just before I woke up Ben. Antonio, the bossy little thing when he is tired, told me if my stomach hurt then I needed to go to the bathroom.

We went in to Analise’s room to grab her some clothes out of the closet and turned the light on. She woke up and asked what was going on. We told her they were going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house cause Mommy needed to go to the doctor.

At this point I was crying because it hurt so bad, which made Analise cry. I sucked it up the best I could because I didn’t want her to be upset. Ben drove and called his mom over and over until she woke up and answered the phone. We were able to drop off the kids to them and then head in to Vegas. There is a hospital in Pahrump, but it is rather scary and I was in so much pain I thought it was a better idea to go in to the hospital where my doctor is occasionally on call just in case. Plus, if there was something wrong with the baby, I wanted to be at the best hospital in Vegas.

It took us about an hour and a half to get there. We went to the ER. I told the lady at the counter that I was having abdominal pain and pain in my upper back and that it was causing contractions. Now, what would you think if I said a pain I was having was causing contractions? Would you think it meant I was pregnant?

She told me to fill out a paper and turn it in when I was finished. So, I did. One of the questions on there was, are you pregnant. I marked the yes box. Would that make you think I was pregnant?

So after waiting for nearly half an hour, she called me back to do a pre-registration. After about 5 minutes of questions, she looks at me and says are you pregnant or… as if she was going to ask if maybe I was just fat?

I said, yes. Well, that changed everything. I wasn’t supposed to be in the ER, I was supposed to be in labor and delivery. I told them it wasn’t the baby that it was something else, but that didn’t matter. She then proceeded to tell everyone, well she never said anything and she doesn’t even look pregnant until she sits down.

While normally that would make me very happy…at this point I was rather frustrated. What more did she want me to do? Jump up and down, or scream at her? I wasn’t going to be rude for fear that it would cause the wait to be longer.

After getting wheeled over to labor and delivery and waiting for a clean/empty bed, I was finally where I needed to be. They put on the monitoring strips and I could hear Isaiah’s heartbeat. It was a very strong heart beat, but the monitoring belts sure hurt because they put pressure on my stomach which was already killing me.

After being at the hospital for more than two hours, I had been seen by the doctor who told me what I had suspected, a gallbladder issue. After four very rough pokes, the I.V. was in and I was able to get something for the pain and nausea. I had thrown up several times and was very dehydrated which made it difficult for them to get the I.V. into my veins.

I was told I was going to have to be there for 23 hours of observation. They did an ultrasound on my gallbladder and determined I have multiple stones. I am too far along in my pregnancy for them to do a surgery now but they will supposedly after I have the baby. This means I have to spend the rest of my pregnancy on a low-fat diet. Which totally stinks since everything that I’m craving is certainly not low in fat. Oh well, as long as Isaiah stays in there as long as he is supposed to and I can not have that immense amount of pain ever again, it will be totally worth the low-fat diet.

Oh, and thankfully I only had to be there about 16 hours. I was able to go home on Saturday and sleep in my own bed. Thank goodness!

My Babies Are 4!!

2011-02-18T11:25:00.000-08:00

I just cannot believe that my babies are 4. It seems like only yesterday I was having them. It doesn't seem like they have been in our lives for as long as they. On the other hand, it seems like they have been a part of our lives forever. I don't even remember what it was like without them here.

For their fourth birthday party, we did it a little smaller than we have in the past. Because of our birthday party day luck, we decided keeping it small was a good idea. The past 2 years, it has poured the rain and been very cold on their birthday party and we have ended up with 50 plus people in the house. Not that I mind all the people in the house, but it is just very crowded and hard to have a good time. Not to mention, in the past we have spent the whole party barbecuing the food. This year we made it easy...we ordered pizza!

We had a Princess/Superhero party. We had the kids come dressed up in costume, or borrow one of ours if they didn't have one, and had a blast just playing outside. The only organized "party game" we had was a pinata, which they had a blast breaking. Overall, I think it was a fabulous party. :)

Here are a few shots for your enjoyment.

SNOW DAY!

2011-01-17T21:43:00.001-08:00

I still get so baffled when there is a snow day here in the desert. Growing up in Kentucky, snow days are pretty typical but here in the desert, not so much.
The first scheduled day back for school was canceled due to a snow day. And I am so grateful for the extra day with Ben. The Sunday night before, we had gotten quite a bit of snow already. I was exhausted and went to bed early, but Ben and the kids went out to play in the snow and built a snow man.

The next morning we woke up to even more snow. Ben had gotten a call early in the morning canceling school for the kids, but they contemplated making the staff go in. So, he got up, got dressed and just before leaving for school he got the call that he was out for the day as well.

So, when the kids got up it was time for playing outside again and building another snow man. This time they made her a snow woman, and she was the snow man's girlfriend.

It was a great, relaxing day even though I did have to work some.

2011?!

2011-01-02T15:15:00.000-08:00

I just can't believe we are already into 2011. When did this happen? What an amazing year we have had. There have been struggles, but that is with any year. Some amazing things that have happened this year:
* The kids turned 3 and have shown us how to be patient. :)
* Ben and I celebrated our 10 year high school reunion, 5 years of marriage and 11 years together. It feels like I have loved him forever.
*Analise started ballet and is a natural at it. She had her first little recital at the Fair and Festival (aka Harvest Festival, aka Fall Festival) and her Mimi was able to be here to watch it with us.
*We took our first trip to Disneyland. We spent a little time at the beach and an entire day at Disneyland. It wasn't nearly long enough, but the kids loved every second of it.
*Ben and I decided to have another baby - even if it meant we got two more, but were thrilled to find out we are having just one this time. It will be a whole new experience for us. And the little bundle of joy is a boy. We are still deciding on how to spell it, but his name will be Isaiah/Izayah.
*We spent lots of time together as a family and have loved every second of it.
*We have also spent lots of time with friends. I love watching the kids interact with their friends and have their personalities shine.

We spent Christmas in Nevada this year. We missed our family in Kentucky so very much, but still tried to have a great holiday. The kids were so excited Christmas morning to see that Santa had come and brought them some terrific presents. They already can't wait until next year!

We spent New Year's Eve up in Trout Canyon at the Floyd's cabin with our friends. The kids and Ben played in the snow, while I watched. I didn't want to be a party pooper, but I wasn't sure how good of an idea it was to rush down a hill when I'm almost 5 months pregnant. I had a blast watching them have fun. It was fun for me too. :)

Now we look forward to all the wonderful things that will come to us in 2011.
*The kids will turn 4! Which is so very hard for me to believe.
*God willing, we will welcome our newest little addition to the family.
*The kids will start t-ball, which they are both thrilled about
*Analise will have her first, formal ballet recital.

I know there will be so many more wonderful things to come to us this year, and I'm excited to experience them all with my amazing children and my wonderful, loving husband. I am such a LUCKY woman!

Stress!!!

2010-10-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

Oh gosh, has it been a stressful week! First I was excited/stressed/nervous about finding out how many babies were in there - in case you didn't see my last post, there is only 1!! And then I've been stressing about my Dad. On Friday he was put in the hospital after a test for bloodflow to his left came back showing that it was diminished. On Saturday they did the first surgery, where they went into the ulcer, cleaned it out and removed a piece of his bone to determine if the bone was infected.

It came back showing that it was slightly infected, but with the IV antibiotics they are very hopeful that it will clear up. Then, today they went in to work on the blood flow problems. They found multiple blockages, but were able to fix them and as of right now he is doing well. We are still praying that the infection in his foot and bone continue to heal, at hopefully a much quicker rate now that he has good blood flow to his foot.

God does answer prayers, and I'm so thankful to him for answering mine for my Daddy!

Just 1 Baby

2010-10-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

Today I had my first ultrasound for this pregnancy. I had been so anxious, nervous, nauseous over finding out how many. While I had thought it was just one, Ben had convinced me it was going to be two again.

He said he was just preparing me in case it was two so I wasn't freaked out if there were two, but it just didn't help my lack of sleeping due to nerves.

So I climbed up on the ultrasound table, took a deep breath and thought to myself, here we go. I looked at the monitor as she ran the wand over my stomach and there it was...just 1 baby!! She confirmed it by saying, just one in there. I looked over at Ben and my two adorable kids who were so very excited to be seeing the baby, and grinned. The ultrasound tech said "sighs of relief around the room". I grinned again and said oh yeah!!

While I would have been perfectly ok with two more kids, I was really worried about the pregnancy with two. I was worried about the stress on my body and how I would take care of the two kids I already have while pregnant. While being pregnant isn't easy with one or two, I have a feeling it is going to be so much easier with just one.

I'm so very excited!! The next excitement will come in 8 more weeks, give or take, when we get to find out what we are having. Although, both of us predict girl, we shall see if we are right. :)

Expanding Family

2010-10-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

Expanding one's family is a tough decision. One that we certainly didn't take lightly and are very excited that we made the decision me did.

Along with all the normal "concerns", including, money, space, time, etc., we have the fear of two again. Not that we won't lovingly accept two more, just the fear of the pregnancy of two at once. It was very hard on my body the first time, because as my doctor said, a woman's body is not designed to carry more than one baby at a time. And I was able to rest A LOT the first time. Now, I have two very energetic three and a half year-olds to keep up with. Resting a lot is not very practical this time.

While we won't know until sometime later this month how many we are having, we are excited either way. If it is two, great. If it is one, great. If it is three, like people keep teasing me, I may need to be checked in somewhere! :)

No, in all seriousness, we are just so excited to be expanding our family. No matter how many there are, we are just praying for healthy.

The kids are very excited too. Analise wants a baby sister and Antonio wants a baby brother (of course). When we try to tell them it could be just one baby, they aren't okay with that. They each want what they want and aren't afraid to let us know that. It is rather comical. Antonio seems to be more go with the flow about it, so for Analise's sake, I'm hoping it is a girl. Of course, we don't care either way. They both have such great aspects, we are going to be happy no matter what.

I want this pregnancy to go slow and fast both at the same time. I want to enjoy this time I have with us as a family of 4 but I am excited to see how my kids react to a new baby. Life is good and I'm so blessed.

Blogging Slacker

2010-09-01T14:40:00.001-07:00

I feel like such a blogging slacker!! Life has kept us so busy this summer and there are certain priorities that we must stick with...and this just wasn't one of them.

Since my last blog, we have celebrated Ben's 28th birthday, our 5th wedding anniversary, our 10 year high school reunion, the kids and I went to Kentucky for a week, we went camping and have filled our days with work and play. A little more work than play most days but we still have managed to have fun!

I'm looking forward to being back into a routine this fall. The kids have gone back to preschool, I'm still cranking out work from home and Ben has switched from 6th grade Science to 8th grade Science. I love my kids more and more every day...more than I truly thought possible. They are amazingly smart and are so funny. They make disciplining them very difficult some times as it is hard not to giggle or just flat out laugh at them!

Analise starts ballet next week and she is beyond thrilled. She asks me every day how many more days until she gets to be a ballerina. Antonio is excited to play t-ball in the spring.

Ben and I are doing amazing. I love him more everyday too. It is amazing to me that we have been together for 11 and a half years! I barely remember what my life was like without him in it. I promise to do a better job keeping everyone apprised of our goings on.

Here is a picture of Ben and I at our 10 year reunion.

Barbie

2010-04-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness!!! Peaches 'n Cream Barbie is now available at Wal-Mart! Now, granted...it costs $45 and is supposed to be a collector Barbie, but I want it so bad. I always wanted that Barbie when I was little. She had the most gorgeous dress - still does, and smelled just like peaches. It was so hard for me to just walk away from that doll today. But I just can't justify spending that much money on a Barbie. And, there is no way I would leave it in the box. That would be pure torture for Analise! Oh, who am I kidding...it would be torture for me too! So...if anyone wants to buy me a gift, I would gladly accept Peaches 'n Cream Barbie! ;)

Disney on Ice

2010-01-25T16:30:00.001-08:00

This past week, we took the kids to see Disney on Ice. Learning from the past, we didn't tell them we were going there until that day! I didn't want to hear, "when are we going to the show?" for a month and a half.
So, I told them about it that morning on the way to school. I told them they were going to be at school all day - eat lunch, take a nap and then Daddy was going to pick them up and bring them to Vegas for a show. I had meetings in Vegas that day, so they all met me there.

That is exactly how it happened, minus the nap. They didn't nap at school. They aren't usually there for nap time, so when they have to be, they don't nap well. But they did great, despite no nap! Ben and the kids met me at Chili's for dinner around 4:30. We had a great meal and then ran into the Party City to check a few things out. We decided we would buy them a "souvenir" from there instead of the show and save us a little money!

Then we rode together over to the Thomas & Mack to see the show. It was so fun. Other than it was pouring the rain, it was a wonderful night! We got in to the event center and were able to go over and see the "Princesses". Cinderella and the new Princess Tiana took turns coming out and waving at the kids that were gathered around. When Cinderella locked eyes with Analise and mouthed "hello" and waved Analise was probably the happiest I've ever seen her. Her face just lit up. It was perfect!

We got to our seats and waited for about 20-30 minutes for the show to start. Then the magic hit the ice. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy were there and there were skits by the characters of "Cars", "Little Mermaid", "The Lion King" and "Tinkerbell". The kids loved it. Mommy liked it too and Daddy seemed to have a good time. I love that they are old enough to take to shows like that and have them enjoy it. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Enjoy the collage of pictures below. :)
Amy

Fun at the Park

2010-01-18T13:18:00.000-08:00

The best thing about living in the desert? Winter weather can be beautiful!
Last week, it was in the 60s and sunny all week. Not to brag to my family that lives where it is FREEZING and has been snowing like crazy, but the weather was just gorgeous.

I had a mental lapse and decided to take my two kids and Katie Floyd's two kids - Jackson and Travis, to the park, by myself. I was watching them as their normal sitter, Grandma and Grandpa, had a doctor's appointment. It was a fun trip, but shew, getting 4 kids ready to go does take so much more work than just 2. Just a reminder that I'm not ready for any more kids.

Here are some pictures of our fun trip to the park.

Clumsy and Feeling Old

2010-01-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

So, last week, I got a small glimpse of what it will be like to be older. I was carrying two plates of scrambled eggs for the kids from the kitchen to their picnic table in the living room. I let them watch cartoons while they eat breakfast.

Just out of the kitchen I stepped on a toy horse that caused my feet to fall out from under me and I landed smack on my hip on the hardwood floor. I had to cry as there was nothing else I could do. I slightly raised my voice to the kids telling them they needed to pick up their toys! It could have been worse, I wanted to yell and scream and punch the wall, but I refrained. Instead, I just cried.

My hip hurt for days. Thankfully the pain has gone now, but they keep reminding me they have too many toys and that I fell like Spencer's Mommy. This is from their favorite book Too Many Toys by David Shannon. Ben reads that to them almost every night. It is really a funny book. And yes, I was like Spencer's Mommy and fell over their too many toys. I'm glad I'm not older as it could have done some serious damage.

Now, we just need to work on putting their toys back into the toy box when they are finished playing with them. Before Mommy breaks her hip!

Christmas in Kentucky

2010-01-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

This year, we left for our trip to Kentucky on Christmas Day. Thanks to Santa coming early, it was a smooth exit. Reynaldo, Ben's brother, rode into Vegas with us so we didn't have to leave the truck there and pay for parking.

The flight there was very nice. We each had our own rows. The kids were very well behaved and even napped for part of the trip. We spent the first night at my cousin's house in Louisville, so we didn't have to drive all the way across the state that night.

We spent the next day at my Grandma's house. It is always nice to see my cousins, aunts, uncles and of course - my Grandma! After that, we headed back to my parent's house. It was nice to break up the travel.

We spent the next 5 days at my parent's house in downtown Russell. I am so glad they are back living there. I love the people there, the fact that it is close to civilization, and that my parents are so happy there. It isn't any fun to have them live somewhere that they are miserable when we come to visit.

While we were there we went to a couple movies - one the whole family went to was Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel. It was so cute!! Everyone liked it. Analise was a little tired as we went during naptime, so she slept through half of it, but it was really cute. Antonio loved it.

The next movie we went to was just the girls. Mom, Carol, Beth and Me. It was "It's Complicated". AWESOME MOVIE!! I haven't laughed that hard at a movie in a while. It was just funny. Not stupid funny. I really really liked it and would highly recommend it.

We had presents there too and my kids were thoroughly spoiled! We almost didn't have enough room in two designated suitcases to get everything back!

It was a fun week. Too short as always!

Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Christmas at Our House

2010-01-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

We had to write a letter to Santa this year and ask him if he could come on Christmas Eve as we had a plane to catch on Christmas morning. So, we had my birthday dinner a day early and then got everything ready for Santa to come.

The kids set up the cookies on the plate and grabbed a couple carrots for the reindeer. They were so excited to go to bed knowing that Santa would come. The next morning they woke up to a living room filled with presents as well as their stockings. They were very excited about the stockings and of course, excited about the presents under the tree.

Ben's parents came by to watch the kids open their presents, which the kids were so excited to tell them about. They spent a good deal of time opening presents and looking through their stockings. Then his parents left and we had breakfast and spent the day just playing with toys. Then Ben and I spent the evening finishing packing and getting ready for our trip to Kentucky the next day. It was a great Christmas!

Here are some pics of our day.

Christmas at the Veloz House

2010-01-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

This year we had Christmas at Ben's parents' house a little early. Lorenzo was down from college for Uncle Ben and Aunt Becki's vow renewal (they are his God parents). So, we did Christmas on the 22nd over there, before he had to head back to Reno.

Tradition at their house is to have fried tamales, beans and rice for lunch. I had been asking Janelle for weeks what we could bring, as I am a planner for the most part. Janelle is not. At 1 p.m. the day before she texted us and Armando and Desiree that we could bring an appetizer/finger food, anything like that we wanted.

So, Ben looked through some of our recipe magazines and found a yummy looking recipe for cocktail wienies. We had never made them before so we figured we would give them a try. We stopped on the way over to grab the ingredients and then would throw it all in our little crockpot when we got there. Now, remember I said we had never made them before, and to the best of my knowledge hadn't had any made by Armando and Desiree either. But wouldn't you guess, we showed up and Armando and Desiree made the same thing!

They didn't have a recipe so to speak, so theirs just had barbeque sauce on them, but how hilarious! This is why I like to plan. :) But, they were delicious anyway.

Here are some pictures of the day.

The Nutcracker!!

2010-01-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

Back in October I bought tickets for Analise and I to go to the Nutcracker. She had watched Alina and some of her friends perform a mini-recital for their ballet class and ever since has been infatuated with being a ballerina. She tries to get up on her toes in her shoes - which she can do rather successfully now, and she is always dancing around.

She can start taking ballet classes in the fall, as you have to be 3 to start and we can only register in the fall. I'm so excited for that. Anyway, because of her love for ballet, and I have always loved watching it, I decided to look up tickets and see if they were nearby. Thankfully the Nevada Ballet performed it this year - for the first time - at the Paris. I could hardly wait, myself from October until Dec. 20th, when we finally got to go. And Analise was so excited. She got all dressed up and we headed in, just the two of us. It was our first Mother-Daughter outing together and I loved it!

She did so well watching it. The biggest problem was convincing her that she couldn't go down on the stage and dance with them.

She wanted to so badly. It really was cute. That night, she also learned how to chew gum. I had a piece and she wanted a piece. So I gave her one, she gobbled it up and swallowed. Then she wanted another one. I explained to her that you have to keep chewing, not swallow, and then showed her that I still had my piece. She took my piece from me and started chewing it. She kept chewing until we were at dinner.

After the show, in the car I gave her a present. Her first tutu. It is pink with flowers - perfect for her as her favorite color is pink. :) She was excited about it and wanted to put it on. I told her she had to wait until we got home. From the ballet, we went to Chili's to have dinner and then headed home.

She fell asleep right as we were getting into Pahrump. The next morning, she was so excited to put it on and dance around the house in it for hours. It really was so special. I can't wait to watch her develop even more interests as she grows. And, I hope The Nutcracker is in Vegas again next year. It would be nice to make it a Mommy-Daughter tradition.

Ben and Becki's Vow Renewal

2010-01-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

In early December, I had the honor of being asked to "officiate" Ben's Uncle Ben and Aunt Becki's 25th Wedding Anniversary vow renewal. I didn't have to be ordained as they are already married. This was just a special ceremony between them with friends and family there to witness it.

It was so lovely. Becki looked beautiful and Ben very handsome. The love they showed in their faces must have resembled or been even stronger than it was 25 years ago. I felt so privileged to be standing in front of them presenting them with the words to say to each other.

I knew that Becki had a new ring for Ben, but was unaware that he had a ring for her. He had re-proposed to her earlier this fall (I'm not completely sure which month), when they were on a cruise. I sort of assumed that he would have a ring for her, but he didn't let me in on the surprise.

Ben also surprised Becki with 25 beautiful, red roses to celebrate their 25 years together. The arrangement was GORGEOUS!

The ceremony was beautiful, the bride and groom extraordinarily happy and the reception after was great too. They had music, courtesy of Armando, yummy food - thanks to all the family who provided it, and a delicious cake.

We had a great time visiting with family and the kids had a fun time dancing.

They were so cute too. I will say that I believe that my Ben danced with Analise more that night than he has with me in the past 11 years. He said it is because I never fell to the floor crying and threw a fit when he said no. I told him, I wish I knew that was all it would take. ;) It was really fun to watch him dance around with her. I see how much he loves her and Antonio and it just reaffirms why I love him so much.

Blog Backlog

2010-01-09T15:10:00.000-08:00

I know, I know...I've been a blogging slacker. I have so many things that are amazing that have happened, but I haven't had a chance to blog about it. I would say I've been busy, but as my Dad has always pointed out to me, you make times for the things you want to do. So, I guess all I can say is this wasn't the highest on my priority list.

So, several blogs will follow this one, updating you on what has been going on since Thanksgiving.

For Thanksgiving, Ben, the kids and I all went to Ben's parents' house. We spent the day there eating yummy food, and visiting with the variety of company that was there. It was a good time and I was even able to resist eating a lot of desserts. Not usually very easy for me! I think I did well. It was a good time and the kids had fun.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, as is our tradition, we decorated the house for Christmas. We put up the tree and a few knickknacks that we have up. The kids were so excited as it meant it was closer to when Santa would come. Of course, at not-quite 3, time is difficult to understand. Telling them it will be a few weeks just doesn't compute at that age. I'm proud of how patient they were. In fact, I think they were more patient than I was.

Update on weightloss attempt

2009-11-24T16:11:00.000-08:00

Well...here is an update on my workout-weightloss attempts. I haven't been able to do the Jillian Michaels workout the past few days as I did something to my knees and they make it difficult to walk at times, I can't even imagine working out. But I am sticking with the calorie counting and I've lost about 5 pounds in 2 weeks. That isn't huge, but it is still pretty good for me. I can feel a difference already. I just hope it becomes noticeable to everyone else soon.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Wish me luck as I battle with all the horribly delicious foods that Thanksgiving has all around. I LOVE PIE...PLEASE HELP ME RESIST!! :)
Happy Holidays everyone.

Analise now has earrings

2009-11-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

Analise has been asking for weeks and weeks about earrings. Especially when I am wearing them or when someone we know is.
She is the ultimate girl!! She loves everything girly including makeup and earrings. So, we decided to go ahead and let her get them pierced. They look so cute!
And she did great. She cried at first once they did it, but then she looked in the mirror and saw her pretty earrings and was so happy. She has loved showing them off to everyone we know. Can't wait until we get to change them and start her collection of cute earrings!
Here are some pictures of her getting them done.

Being silly while waiting.

Getting her ears cleaned for it. She thought it was funny and cold!

Getting them done. such a brave little girl.

Afterward still in the store. Such happy girl!

Showing them off for Daddy.

See, Daddy? :)

And showing them to Mommy.

Halloween

2009-11-22T16:03:00.000-08:00

Like I mentioned in my last blog...I'm a few behind! So, here is my update about Halloween.
On the Friday before Halloween we had a party at Katie's house with several friends. The kids, and some of the adults dressed up and we played games, trick or treated around the yard and ate dinner. It was so much fun...and I think the kids had a good time too.

Then on Halloween night, we took the kids trick or treating around to family homes. We have so much family here and they get so much candy from them, there really isn't a huge need to go anywhere else. And of course, we stopped at the Hammond's house and at the Lindberg's. But who are we kidding, they are just like family to us.

Here are some pictures of the kids from Halloween. It was so fun this year, I imagine next year will be even better!

Setting Goals

2009-11-15T19:15:00.001-08:00

I have several blogs to catch up on, but that will have to be for another day. For today, I wanted to let everyone who reads this know that I have a goal. I don't have a set number of pounds that I want to lose yet, but I know that I want to lose weight. And, I want to tone up and get into better shape.
Ideally, I would just love to get down into single digit pants again!! But mostly, I just want to have more energy to play with my kids whose energy level seems to grow exponentially by the day. And I want to feel better about myself. Right now, I just don't like how I look and it effects to much of my mental state somedays, so I want to look better so I can feel better about myself. I have so many people who love me tell me how beautiful I am...now I just want to feel that way too.
Thank you to those who have given me support so far. It helps like crazy!! But please, keep it coming.
I'm working on eating between 1200-1500 calories a day, closer to the 1200 mark but every once in a while a few more will be ok. And as of right now I'm doing Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred. It kills me!! But I always feel better after I do it.
Again, I'm begging for support because it is way to easy for me to say, oh...what's one candy bar? And that turns into pizza for dinner and ice cream. And, if I let myself slack a day on exercising it will be too easy for me to just slack daily. So, please keep checking in on me and make sure I'm sticking to it. And if I try to offer you an excuse as to why I'm not...kick my butt...please. :) Cause I'm sure it would help. I will let you know my progress as it goes. Thanks again everyone!

Oh so excited!!

2009-10-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

I can hardly contain my excitement!! I just bought tickets for Analise and I to go see the Nutcracker in December. Ever since Analise watched some of our friends' kids do a mini ballet performance at Harvest Festival, all she talks about it is being a ballerina.

So I know this will only enhance that desire. She is so girlie, and I love it! But, she can also be tough and play ball and run and get dirty. She is the perfect combination. She is perfect (of course, I am her Momma talking so I might be a bit biased). Anyway, it is going to be awesome.

I have always loved watching the ballet. I used to go watch the Nutcracker when I was little. I am so excited to take her. I think this is going to be our yearly tradition together. Going into Vegas, grabbing a bit to eat, and then off to the show. It is going to great. I can't wait to watch the amazement in her eyes. I hope she loves it as much as I think she will. Oh so excited!! How am I going to wait for two months?!?!

Hope everyone has a great day!

My Kids Are Hilarious!

2009-10-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

The kids are getting funnier and funnier as the days go by. Antonio has learned his whole name and these days doesn't want to be called anything else. He was outside playing basketball. He can shoot the full-sized ball into the hoop which stands a foot or so taller than him. Granted it isn't regulation size, but for a two-year old, I think he is pretty great. Anyway, he kept making basket after basket so I started chanting "Way to go Toe." He proceeds to tell me, "My not Toe, my Antonio Levi Veloz." He is so funny when he does that!

Analise loves to dance around the house. She is constantly telling me she wants to be a ballerina. And what an opinionated little girl. She rarely lets me pick out her clothes anymore. She has to have a say. She will say no to every outfit I pull out of the closet until I find the one that she wants to wear. Slightly annoying but completely hilarious!

One more story...yesterday Antonio was coloring in his coloring book. It was wide open and he stood up and tried to jump in it. He kept jumping on it saying, "I can't get in there!" He tried some more and finally said, "I guess only Dora and Boots can do that." It was so funny it made me cry I was laughing so hard. They are so funny and so sweet. I just love them to pieces!!

Here are a couple of pics of them this morning before school. They looked especially cute today so I had to snap a couple pictures. Enjoy!

San Diego 2009

2009-10-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

My parents came for a visit last week and we all took a trip to San Diego together. We had plans to go to Sea World and the Beach. Other than that, we would just play it by ear. It was so much fun. We went to the beach twice and to Sea World for the majority of one of the days. It was so much fun and so relaxing. The kids had a blast and they keep asking to go back to the beach. I can't wait to take them when it is warmer.

Here are a few pics of our adventures.

My family on the beach.

Mom and Dad at the beach.

Ben taking the kids to put their feet in the freezing water.

Running from the water. (So cute!)

Analise checking out the dolphins.

So sleepy, Analise fell asleep waiting for Shamu.

Shamu's Believe show - so awesome!

Antonio loved it!

Antonio getting a lift from Papaw after the Shamu show.

Mimi and Antonio checking out the stingrays and giving them a pet. They felt cool!

Mickey Mouse Live! Roadshow

2009-10-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took the kids to see the Mickey Mouse Live! Roadshow. We had been planning to take them since the summer when we found out they were coming to Vegas. It wasn't just Mickey and the crew, but they were going to perform a talent show and needed friends to help. So they brought in Tigger, Cinderella, and the gang from Toy Story - Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie.

The kids LOVE all those characters so I knew it was going to be amazing. They were so excited to go once we told them where we were going.

When we got in to the Orleans Arena, we got them each one souvenir. Antonio decided on a Woody hat and Analise of course chose Cinderella.

We got in, found our seats and got all settled. The 15 minutes it took for the show to start took forever. The kids were getting so antsy they could hardly wait. Finally...it started!

Their friend, Bridget, went that night too. She wore her adorable Minnie Mouse costume! :)

(Our family waiting for the show to start)

They sat there and watched in awe. I thought they would act more excited, but the truth is they were awestruck. They watched in amazement. When it came time to get up and dance they stood on our laps and danced. They loved it. It has been a whole week since we went and Antonio is still talking about! I love that they are getting to the age where we can take them to things like they and they truly enjoy it. I love it! :)

So impressed!

2009-09-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to brag about my kids for a second. I am so impressed with how smart they are! Not that I doubted for a second that they would be smart, they have just really been throwing me off lately. Some of the stuff they are coming up is so awesome!

Last week, on two different trips to and from preschool, I worked with them on knowing right from left. I am turning right, now I'm turning left. Which way is this? Etc. Well, yesterday on the way to preschool I said, which way am I turning now, and they answered...and it was correct! They answered every turn correctly, to and from preschool! Then, on the way home from preschool I had to kind of hit the brakes as a light had changed colors and I needed to stop. Antonio asked "what's that Mommy, a big bump?" I told him no that it was a red light and when you a see a red light it means that you have to stop. He so brilliantly told me, Green says Go. :)

I was slightly shocked and then told him, yes it does! Then they continued to tell me turn for turn the rest of the way home. I am sure there are many other kids that know all this and maybe even know it earlier than mine did, but it makes Mommy proud when they say stuff like that! I've met first and second graders that can't tell their right from their left. So the fact that my 2 year-olds can, impresses me.

And they are so sweet and loving. I asked Analise for a kiss yesterday and she gave it to me, held my face in her little hands and said "I love you so much, no matter what." Which is what I say to her, but the fact that she did it unprompted was awesome! Melted my heart!

And I love watching them play with their friends. Yesterday we were at a friend's house (Katie) for Monday Night Football, and Antonio was playing with Jackson. I always call Jackson by his full name. I never really shorten it. Well, Antonio was playing with him with the soccer ball saying, hey Jack, catch! Hey Jack. Hey Jack. I just thought it was so sweet that he already has a little nickname for his friend.

Even when they are pushing every button I have in an attempt to make me nuts, they turn around and 2 seconds later do something so sweet, or cute or funny. It makes me forget I was mad a second ago. And I just love it. They are so sweet!!

Pure Joy

2009-09-27T17:32:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like seeing pure joy on the faces of your children. That is what I was able to experience this weekend with mine.

This weekend was the Fall Festival in Pahrump, or known to many as Harvest Festival. This was the first year we decided to take the kids to go on the rides. They had such an amazing time!! I wish we had gone on Thursday and Friday to do the rides, but we only went on Thursday. They absolutely loved it!

They were so excited to ride in the cars and the airplanes and Analise LOVED the little roller coaster. Antonio didn't like it as much. In fact, when we were finished I looked at him and asked, "wasn't that so much fun?" He put his hands on his hips and looked at me and said, "that was NOT fun!" It made me laugh!

They loved all the rides and on nearly all of them they smiled and waved at us as they went by each time.

We ran into a friend that Ben works with who was their with her daughter, and Analise rode many of the rides with Bridget. They are so cute and had such a good time. I just loved it. You can tell in their faces how much fun it was!

On Friday night we went to the rodeo. The kids liked it ok, but weren't as interested as they were last year. To be honest, neither was I. I had a good time, but it wasn't as entertaining as it was last year. We will have to think hard about it next year before we decide for sure if we are going to go.

Saturday we got up and went to the parade. Antonio LOVES fire trucks! And the big line of fire trucks was the first thing we saw. He loved it! After they were gone, however, he kept saying "I want more fire trucks!" Analise sat there and waved at everyone who went by. EVERYONE! She has truly perfected her beauty queen wave! I loved watching them. It was such a fun weekend. Here are a few pictures for you to get an idea of how much fun they had!!

Driving the firetruck and Analise with her beauty queen wave. :)

Look, I can drive and wave!

Analise and Bridget driving Antonio. Analise waving, of course!

Antonio driving his "beep beep bus"! :)

Analise and Daddy on the roller coaster. She had her arms up the whole time!

Antonio flying his airplane!

Oh what fun they had. I almost can't wait for this time next year...ALMOST! :)

Tiny signs of growing up

2009-09-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it is coming from preschool or hearing what others call their parents, but our kids are showing us tiny signs of growing up. The last couple of days, Antonio has been calling us Mom and Dad...instead of Mommy and Daddy. I know for some that might not mean much, but to me it is the world. I don't want to be just Mom yet. I want to be Mommy for several more years. And they do still call me Mommy, but more and more it is turning into just Mom and Dad. And that makes me sad.

I can't believe how fast it is all going. And as crazy as it sounds...it makes me want to try to have another baby. The fear of having two again and what it could/would do to my body still outweighs the desire, but the desire is definitely growing. Especially when all my friends around me are having more babies.

There is absolutely no guarantee that it would be two, but the thought of it still scares me. I was so blessed and lucky the first time. I was able to rest often and had two beautiful healthy babies that were able to leave the hospital when we did. But, there is no guarantee that that would happen again. Chasing two two-year-olds might inhibit my ability to rest. And, then what if I have two infants again? That was really hard. But two infants on top of two toddlers. Two toddlers who are a lot of work. Don't get me wrong, they are great kids, but I'm not sure how I would manage an infant or two all day, every day with the other two. I'm afraid one or the others would get neglected. I don't know how parents with so many kids divide their time. It is beyond me. Maybe I would understand more if I had more, but it is still scary.

The only thing I know is that before I know it my babies are going to be off to college and then what? Do I want them to be the only two kids that I have? Unfortunately the answer is still...I don't know!

Kids Have Gone Crazy!!!

2009-09-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know what has gotten into my children lately, but they seem to be going nuts!! And on top of that, they are making me nuts! They have gotten into things that they hadn't in the past, and I honestly thought we were past the "getting into stuff" stage.

They never put stuff into their mouths before, now, I find myself telling them to "get that out of your mouth" more than once a day.

And all the time they were learning how to walk and learning what was okay and what wasn't, they NEVER got into the toilet. Now, I have found them playing in the toilet twice! And...Analise has been potty trained since last December, that is almost a year. But, in the last few weeks, she has pooped her pants numerous times. And twice, she ended up rubbing it all over the bathroom. She also pooped in the front yard! Like I said, they are making me nuts.

Then, yesterday, they got into an open bag of cement and ended up covered from head to toe in it. I had to spray them off with the hose and then put them in the tub. I just can't understand...why now? I feel like I've been going around the house all day cleaning and saying to myself, oh...better not leave that there. They might get into it. If this is a test from God...I think I might be failing it!

If anyone has any advice...I'm all ears!

Taking it for granted

2009-09-15T23:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, it takes someone else's tragedy to see that we are taking it all for granted.

Today was a hard day for me. My kids pushed my buttons at every turn and really worn on my nerves. From playing in the toilet, to rubbing yogurt in their hair shortly after a bath and whining ALL DAY, I had just about had it come bed time.

And after an extra long nap, Analise was giving us a lot of grief over going to bed. She would cry for one or the other of us, we would go back to her room and she would try to quickly tell us a big long story. We would kiss her goodnight, go back to the living room and shortly after the cycle would begin all over. Ben and I were both getting frustrated.

I know they are just kids, and life can't be perfect all the time, but tonight I just felt like I needed a break!! Then, as we were watching The Biggest Loser, it all came into perspective. One of the contestants was telling "her story" to the group. She told of her amazing husband, five-and-a-half year-old daughter and her perfect little two week old son who were taken away from her in an instant in a car accident. I immediately broke into tears, as I'm sure many watching did. How horrible! I can't even imagine losing my wonderful husband and precious babies. I just can't. It makes me cry typing this.

It also made me take pause and think, gosh I am sitting here wishing for a break and this poor woman wishes every day, all day for just one more moment with her kids. It really makes you stop and think. It is so unfortunate that it takes seeing someone else's tragedy/loss to realize how lucky I am. I am so lucky to have my family all sound asleep in their beds and safe. I feel so horrible for even wishing for just a few moments of silence, as it could all be taken away in an instant.

Tonight I am going to bed feeling blessed! I pray for that woman that she will find peace and an inner strength to help her accomplish her goal of doing good. I also pray for me to have more patience when dealing with my two-year-olds and the gentle reminder ever so often that I shouldn't take them for granted.

Scorpion!!

2009-09-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

Ok...if anyone that reads this KNOWS me, they know I hate ALL THINGS creepy crawly! I hate bugs, mice, spiders...anything like that that is disgusting! Well...I have officially seen the newest thing I HATE THE MOST! Today, I came home from taking the kids to preschool and running a couple of errands, when as I was walking in the front gate to my house, I happened to glance down. And there it was!

This nasty, HUGE, ugly scorpion! I don't know why...but I always thought scorpions were black. Makes sense that it would be tan, so it could BLEND IN! I can't believe I didn't drop everything I was carrying and run screaming! I managed to stay calm. In fact, at first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me and that couldn't possibly be what I thought it was. So, I went out and took a picture with my phone to send to Ben to confirm. Then, still being calm, went in and grabbed the camera for a better shot, so I could put it on my blog. Then, fear set in. Because as I was leaning over the gate...I wasn't getting too close, the gate creaked and the scorpion raised its tail. Ok, that is when I KNEW it was going to EAT ME! So, I calmly, turned off my camera and headed inside. I emailed Ben that he MUST come home on his prep and remove it! Then, I went back outside, walking into the rocks off my sidewalk, as to not get too close to the gate, to keep an eye on it until he could get there and... IT WAS GONE! That is when I squealed and started looking around in a panic to make sure it wasn't by my feet or something.

I stepped into an open area and squatted down to look around and under things to see if I could see it. NOPE! No where to be found. Now, I am officially terrified. Ben assured me that it was way too big to get into the house without the door open - not very comforting!

I think I'll carry a shovel with me when I go back outside to get the stuff I left in the back of the truck!

Blessed

2009-08-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

I am feeling very blessed tonight and just wanted to share that with everyone. I love that my marriage is a partnership. That Ben and I both participate in all aspects of our relationship. He helps with the kids, he takes turns preparing dinner with me, he cleans up around the house. I am so lucky.

How many have husbands that sit around and expect their wife to do it all? How many have husbands who think "they work all day, and house work is a woman's job"? I don't know the answer to how many, but I feel sorry for the wives of those types of husbands. I love that Ben is so active in our children's lives. I love that he respects me and can see that I need a break from dinner and cleaning up sometimes. Now, granted, my house is NEVER spotless...but he does take his turns cleaning up the kitchen and any other room that is in desperate need of a pick up!

He truly is amazing. I don't know how I got so lucky. When people talk about things they would go back and do differently, I can't help but think I wouldn't go back and do anything over. I am afraid if I went back and made even one different decision, my family wouldn't have moved out here and I would have never met Ben. Now, I am not saying there aren't great guys out there and that there aren't other lucky women. But...I am very lucky!! And I just wanted to share how blessed I feel. I love my man!

What A Week!!

2009-08-28T22:10:00.001-07:00

Whew! I'm so glad it is Friday and we are moving on to the weekend. Just trying to get back into the swing of doing the all day stuff by myself is exhausting!!

I LOVED having Ben home this summer. Loved it! I love that he is so active with the kids and it is so obvious how much he loves them and so obvious how much they love their Daddy! In fact, since he has been back working these last two weeks - he subbed janitorial for the few days before school started back - they wake up crying every morning, "Where Daddy Go?!?!" And it breaks my heart when I tell them he went to work and they cry harder. Because they know that back to work means he isn't going to be home all day. I hate to see what next week brings.

This week, he has been home shortly after school. He has gone to they gym right after a couple of times, but is usually home right around 4. Starting next week he will be doing SAFE after school, which usually keeps him there until 5:45, 6 ish. They are going to be highly disappointed when they wake up from nap and Daddy isn't home shortly after. But....you gotta pay the bills.

Needless to say, I'm bummed that summer has come to an end. We are going to try to squeeze in one last vacation before summer completely disappears. We are going to try to head to Reno for Labor Day weekend. Labor Day weekend brings our favorite outing to Sparks - The Rib Cook-off. We love the Rib Cook-Off!! Tons of people, but lots of awesome food! My favorite place is the Kentucky Bourbon booth! I'm going to have to eat really good for the next week, so I can enjoy some yummy ribs and pulled pork without feeling too guilty!

We mainly be going to visit with Levi, Kristy and their family. And of course, Grammy Ellen and Papa Jay! We got to spend some good time with them before the wedding this summer, but it just didn't feel like enough. So, we are making another trip north to visit, so that it won't be until next summer before we get to see them again. They are our adopted family...and we love them just like they are blood. I can't wait to go visit again!

The kids are enjoying preschool. Antonio seems to be doing some better with drop off. This morning he cried when I was trying to leave, and the teacher took him. I rounded the corner and stopped at the open door to talk to one of the teachers, but was out of his sight and he had already stopped crying. That is a good sign to me! I think he just turns on the tears to try to get me to stay, but once he knows I'm gone, he is ok with it. I'm so happy for them, because you can tell that the social interaction is helping them. And it does give me a chance to get a little more done.

Boy, I knew trying to get my own business started would take a lot of work, but trying to do it on top of all the other work I was doing...I feel sooo busy some days. Like I said, I'm glad for the weekend. I still have a lot of work to do this weekend, but at least I will have Ben's help with the kids and will hopefully be able to get some of it done! Well...back to work!

Quiet Reflection

2009-08-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

As I sit here and listen to only the clattering key board, and the dryer through the wall, I wonder where the phrase "silence is golden" came from. Does anyone know?

Some days, as I'm sure any mother would attest, all I want is five minutes of silence! Just some time to clear my mind and have thoughts that don't surround work and/or taking care of two toddlers. But other times, I love the noise. I love the sounds of laughter coming from the kids. I love hearing what they are going to come up with next. I swear, I need to start writing the stuff they say down so that I can share it with them when they are older.

Tonight, in the bathtub, Antonio was being a little cranky. I told him to be nice to his sister. He said, "no, my don't want be nice." Analise turned at him and screamed, then she said, "my scream at you, be nice me!" It was so funny. I had a hard time not laughing out loud. I don't want her to yell at him, and I don't want to be mean to her, so I know if I laugh when they are doing it, it is going to promote the behavior. But, gosh! It was funny.

They are so funny. That show, Kids Say The Darnedest Things, I could host the show from my house. I could be rich!! My kids would make millions laugh. Ok, maybe not all the time, but when they are being funny...they are funny!

To slightly change points, I wanted to update you on how preschool is going. Analise LOVES it! I know, if you know my kids, you aren't surprised. She is definitely the more outgoing of the two. She kisses me and goes when I drop off. Not a problem to drop off at all. In fact, a couple of times I have had to call her back to give me a kiss because she has run off to play without even telling me bye.

Antonio on the other hand, is still adjusting. I still have to peel him off me, crying to be able to leave. His teacher, Miss Jenny, assures me that he only cries for a few moments after I'm gone and then he is fine the rest of the time. It doesn't relieve my guilt when I leave and he is crying, but I know what he is learning and the social interaction is great for him. Maybe it will make Kindergarten easier, because as sad as it makes me...it is right around the corner!

When I pick them up, they are all smiles. They are happy to see me and reassure me that they want to go back. That always makes me feel better. And the work I am able to get done while they are there is great for me too. Whether it is cleaning up around the house, working on work projects, or taking the time to hit the gym...it is very nice to have some me time. I honestly think it makes me feel more relaxed when they are with me. I'm not so stressed because I do have the little break. I am so glad I decided to do this. Thank you so much, to those of you who encouraged me to do it.

Yay, 2 followers!!

2009-08-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

Yay! Now, I have 2 followers. Thanks for following me, Ellen!! Can't wait for you to get started on here. Maybe when we are there for Labor Day weekend, I can help you set yours up.
Love you and glad you are interested in what I'm doing enough to set up to be able to follow me! :)

Watching My Mouth!!

2009-08-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Well...it has happened, Mommy said something naughty and Antonio has adopted it as his new phrase!! When I am frustrated, I have noticed that I tend to say "Damn it".

The other night Antonio was playing "baseball" with a giant balloon. He was having me throw it at him and he was swinging his soft baseball bat and hitting it. He swung and missed and out popped those words...damn it!

At first I didn't know how to react. I found it slightly funny at first, but knew if I laughed he would continue to say it. So instead, I told him...no no no, you don't say those words. Did he listen?? He is two, of course he didn't listen!

Over the course of the past few days he has said it a few more times. I really hope he hasn't said it at preschool. I always hated it when the kids swore at the preschool where I worked and now, I have the potty mouthed kid!!

And what's worse, I hope he hasn't said it at church! His Sunday School teachers haven't said anything to me about him saying it, but I would just be so embarrassed if he said it. Mostly because I know it is my fault! I said it first, and he copied me. What a BAD MOMMY!!

So, tonight, he said it again. In as calm of a tone as I could, I put my arm around him and said, saying damn it is naughty. If you say it again, I'm going to make you eat soap!

He stood there and pondered it for a moment and then calmly said, Mommy, my no say damn it anymore. I sure hope he doesn't. Now...Mommy has to no say damn it anymore too!! Or I guess I will have to eat soap to prove my point!

Preschool and a little guilt trip

2009-08-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, I have been batting the idea of preschool 3 days a week around for almost all summer. I want them to have more social interaction and a learning environment. It will also help me with giving me more time to get work done for both my job and around the house.

It has been a stress point for me. I know it will be great for them and great for me too, but I have this horrendous guilt about sending them to preschool (daycare) when I am home and can be taking care of them. I absolutely love being with them, even when they drive me crazy! They make me laugh every day, so to send them somewhere else when I am at home, is an awful feeling for me.

Well, I broke down and decided that this is what they need and what I need. I decided Pahrump Early Learning Academy would be the best place for them. I know the owner, and she is a fabulous lady. I know she wouldn't have someone on her staff that wouldn't do a great job taking care of my babies, so we set up to do a trial week before we officially commit.

Their first day was today and the drop off was as bad as I thought it would - for Antonio. Analise acted like she could have cared less. One of her friends that we get together with on a regular basis, Peyton, was there and the two of them took off playing together. Antonio, who had begged me earlier in the morning "Mommy, no leave me!" Wasn't as anxious to go run and play. He held tightly to me and when Pam's (the owner) daughter, Avery came to take him he screamed and cried.

After I was safely inside out of his sight, I cried a little too. The only reason I didn't just turn around and take him with me was I knew that he would be fine. And I was right.

When I picked up I got the report that they both did great. He was sad at first, but then picked right up and went on - no more tears. Boy, that made me feel so much better!! Analise was happy to see me and excited to know that she gets to come back on Wednesday. Antonio seemed a little unsure about that one, but in the car did say "Mommy, I want go back." So, we will see how Daddy does dropping off on Wednesday! :)
The kids on their first day.
Analise (very excited) and Antonio (not so excited)

Being a kid!

2009-08-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

Oh the joys of being a kid. Those days are long gone for me, but I do have so many fond memories. Watching my kids run and play today and seeing the carefree feeling they put off, it makes me wish that this time would stand still for them. The joys of being able to run around naked through the sprinklers and then eat watermelon and get it all over you, is so precious to me! The laughter and smiles they have are moments I want to lock in time forever. I don't want them to ever have to know heartache, or stress. I hope that they can capture this feeling and hang on to it tightly for as long as possible!

I wish that I hadn't hoped to grow up faster as often as I did. Perhaps I could still be a kid! When you are a kid wishing to be a grown up so you can do whatever you want, you don't see the stress and responsibility that comes with being a grown up. I think if that could be more evident, kids wouldn't wish away their childhood quite so much!

Thankfully, my kids allow me to reflect on my childhood and all the happy memories I have from it. And some days, it is as if I am reliving parts of it! I am so grateful to my parents for giving me the adventures that I had as a child. And, despite current beliefs, kids can have everything they need without lots of money. They may not have everything they want, but that is okay. If they don't get that toy or shirt or pair of shoes, they WILL live! And if they have to work to earn that $53 pair of shoes - like I did - they will appreciate them more, and they may also see that one pair of shoes isn't worth working all summer for. Even though some days I wish I could go back to childhood, I am so glad that I get to watch my kids grow up. These are truly the most special times in our lives. I just hope I can remind myself to slow down and appreciate it more.

New Background

2009-08-13T22:31:00.001-07:00

Oohh! I love it! :)

I HAVE A FOLLOWER!!!

2009-08-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

I am soooo excited! I finally have an official follower!! Thanks, Desiree, for becoming my first follower. I can't tell you how excited I am. I have always wondered if ANYONE reads this, and now I know at least one person will on occasion!
If anyone else reads this, please follow me! That way I can know who reads this silly thing! ;)

Trip to Kentucky - August 2009

2009-08-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

Well, we just got home from a week long trip to visit my family in Kentucky. It was a fun filled, busy week that went entirely too quickly. The kids had a fantastic time playing with their cousins Evan and Sadie Jo. I think by our Christmas time visit, watching them all play together will be even more fun.

Living in a small town has its benefits. Dad is great friends with the Fire Chief, Mark who gave us permission to stop by and see the fire trucks...even though no one was there. Antonio absolutely loved it!! All the kids loved it, but he had this look of utter amazement on his face that was so priceless. It was such an amazing experience. I wish Mark had been able to be there so we could have turned on the lights on the truck. Maybe at Christmas.

Ben and I also went to the Cincinnati Reds game while we were there, with my Dad, Carol, Beth, Matt and Evan. It was great, except that the Reds lost. It had rained all day and even the whole way to the game, until right before we got there. We were wearing sweatshirts during the game. It was such a welcome relief after the heat Vegas was having before we left!

We had a birthday celebration for everyone who had had a birthday since the last time we were together and for Beth, whose birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks. The only ones we didn't sing to were Mom, Carol and Me. Since all our birthdays are in December, we will maybe sing to us next time.

We went to a family reunion that was held at my Grandma's house on the Saturday of our trip. It was great seeing extended family members that I hadn't seen in several years. I didn't even recognize some of my distant cousins, since the last time I saw most of them they were younger than 10 and now they are all teenagers or older. Time sure goes by fast.

During that visit, we were able to get a four generations pictures. One of Grandma, Mom, Me and Analise, and one of Grandma, Mom, Me, Analise and Antonio. I know those pictures will be pictures to treasure for a lifetime.

Four generations.
(Mom, Grandma, Me and Analise)

Four generations.
(Mom, Antonio, Grandma, Me and Analise)

It was a great visit, but definitely too short! I can't wait until Christmas when we all get to get together again.

Getting Going

2009-07-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

Well, as some of you may know...I've been working for the last few months to get my own PR company going. I've been networking, setting up meetings, going on lunches and I feel like my wheels are spinning!
Just when I feel like I am making progress I come across someone who wants me to give away the knowledge and skill that I have been working on developing for years, for FREE!! What I don't understand is how I can make money when I'm working for Free?? Now, I have volunteered my services for non-profits, but that is because I wanted to help that company help the community. But to work for free for everyone...I won't be able to feed my children!
Argh! Just doesn't make sense to me!!

Lying

2009-07-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

At Sunday School today in the class that Ben and I attend, which is called PEP - Parents Encouraging Parents, there was such an important topic that we talked about. It was basically about why you should teach your children that it isn't doing what God wants when you lie. And about how to teach them not to lie. And that brought me to a question that I'm just not sure of the answer to. When my kids are mean to each other; biting, hitting, whatever the case may be, they are asked if they did it and always say yes. Then they are punished for being mean.

What I was lost about is - isn't that teaching them that telling the truth is getting them in trouble? They are smart kids...how long is it going to be before they start lying to avoid the punishment? My good friend and adopted sister - Cassondra Lauver gave me good advice when I asked her how do I teach them not to lie when they are being punished after telling the truth. She said she always used to thank Skyler for telling the truth, but let her know what she did was wrong so she needed to be punished for that. However, is she had lied, the punishment would be double/worse. I am thankful for these words of wisdom and I definitely plan on trying to reiterate that to my kids as we grow. It makes me nervous that I am soley responsible - along with Ben of course, for shaping these tiny people into the adults I want them to be. It is so scary!! But I love them so much and want them to grow into amazing people. So, if anyone else has any words of wisdom, I would love to hear them!!

Getting a glimpse of yourself

2009-07-26T21:31:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like getting a glimpse of how you react to certain thing through your children. As I grew up, when I misbehaved - which wasn't often ;) - I got a spanking. I never had timeout. So, new methods are confusing to me. How much help is it in showing your child what they did was wrong by making them sit down by themselves? I do timeout, I just don't always get it. Anyway, that doesn't mean I don't spank. I don't beat my children...so don't report me! But, sometimes a swat on the butt is what is necessary to get the point across that what they are doing isn't right.

As I sit here on a Sunday night trying to finish a work project, I'm watching my children play. And now that I'm writing a blog, I'm not really getting much work done, am I? :) Anyway, they are taking turns giving each other a swat on the butt, saying take my hand, then walking each other to the corner and making the other sit in timeout. I have to say it is hilarious, but each time it is their turn, their voices are getting louder and louder. It makes me see that as they repeat a misdeed, my patience is smaller and my voice level when punishing gets louder and louder. I don't want to be that parent that is constantly yelling at their kids. If nothing else, this will remind me that sometimes it is necessary to take a deep breath as I'm punishing so I can keep a calmer demeanor. I want my kids to have a good example and know that even though I am punishing them, I still love them!

VYP event

2009-07-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

Last night I spent a couple of hours at the Vegas Young Professionals mixer. It was the first real mixer I have been to, and while I was nervous on the drive over and nervous walking to the bar, once I got in there and saw a few people I knew, I eased right in.

I made a few really great contacts, and might even get a couple of great clients out of it. If anyone who reads this is working in Vegas and between the ages of 21-39, it seems like a really great group. It isn't too expensive to join and you meet some really great people. And for Mom's like me who spend most of their time working from home, it was a great outlet to have adult conversations and meet other working people who also might have kids.

I met some great people and got to see some friends I have made through other outlets. Gina and Will are both such great people. Gina is a great lawyer if anyone needs her services and Will does web development if you need that. And from what I gather just from looking at sites he has done...he is pretty great at it. Let me know if you need their contact info! :)

I have a second contact for websites too...Nick Jones with Company Insite. He is actually building my site. He is amazing too. Not to make you fight for it guys, but I just love ya both! :)

Love

2009-07-22T22:33:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like watching two people madly in love with each other making a commitment before God to love each other forever! That is what I spent this last week doing.
I watched Ben's best friend, Levi marry the love of his life, Kristy. I love those looks you see a bride and groom give each other at the altar. That look of nothing but pure love!

Ben was the best man, and he did such an amazing job with his speech. I was so proud of him. Because if you know Ben, you know he isn't much for public speaking. But it was so great! And once our kids pooped out, which was really early, Ben and I were able to relax a little and enjoy the rest of the night. I even got him to dance with me. It was great!

We love Levi and Kristy both, so much. And we are just beyond happy for them. We wish them a lifetime of LOVE and happiness. And know that is exactly what they will have.

Weddings!

2009-07-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

I love weddings. I really am such a romantic and I love to look at the faces of the bride and groom as they see each other standing in the most fabulous outfits. I don't care what the man looks like, a tux always makes him studly! And there is no figure that doesn't look beautiful in a wedding dress. Well, this weekend is the wedding of Ben's best friend since diapers, Levi and his beautiful bride to be, Kristy. They have already been through a lot in their relationship, so I know the marriage will be wonderful for them both.

Ben is the best man, and he always looks so amazing in a tux. I can't wait!! We are heading up to Reno this week to watch Levi get married and it makes me reflect. I have known Levi for more than 10 years now, and have know Kristy for about 6. I have known them apart and together and am just so excited for them. I can't believe that we are at the point in our lives where most everyone I know, or am real friends with, is married. And most of us have kids too. I just can't believe we are grown up!

Life

2009-07-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

Well, life takes us on amazing journeys. It has officially been forever since I last posted a blog. I'm not even sure if anyone even reads this. :( But I will write down what we have been up to anyway. My kids are rapidly growing into smart little people. I can't believe some of the stuff they come up with on a daily basis. One minute they are loving on each other playing so nicely and the next second they are wildly fighting, screaming and crying. I guess this is probably fairly typical for two-year-old twins! But then again, I don't know anyone with twins, so it is hard to say how typical it is.
They have great manners. They say please and thank you. When we sneeze they say bless you. They say excuse me when they are trying to get by each other. They say sorry when they do something wrong, but they can be so stubborn about that. Analise will take time out to avoid saying sorry sometimes. It is so funny and so hard not to laugh at her stubbornness. Punishing is often a challenge because they give me those precious looks. But I know I have to be strong if I want to maintain the upper hand, even if I won't have it much longer.
I want so badly to be a good mom. I hope my kids know how much I love them and will always love them. I tell them "I love you so much" and they say "I love you so much too". Now, whether they know exactly what that means or not, it just warms my heart to hear them say those words. I hope to hear those words for the rest of my Life!

Ranting and Raving

2009-03-23T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ok...so something has really been bugging me lately and I feel the need to rant and rave about it for a minute. I get so sick and tired of hearing people talk about how busy they are. What is busy?? I know it is a relative term, and maybe today I had more to do than yesterday, but to constantly talk about how I'm so busy everyday...enough already!
I am not denying ever saying that I'm busy. And some days I do feel busy. But how busy can one person be that they feel a constant need to broadcast it. Ugggh!! Enough already!

Sick Babies

2009-02-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

I hate when my kids are sick!! Saturday night in the middle of the night, Antonio woke up crying owie and pointing to what we thought was his head. We gave him some medicine and he struggled with sleeping for the rest of the night. All day on Sunday he did okay as long as he was current with medicine. Once it started to wear off he would cry owie and point to his ear. Sunday night was another huge struggle with sleeping and complaints of a hurting ear. So, this morning I called the doctor's office and got him in for an appointment and boy am I glad that I did!
The pediatrician said his ear was one of the worst he had seen in quite a long time. He prescribed him some medicine and we were on our way. I sincerely hope he feels better soon and not just because I'm exhausted from a lack of sleep, but mainly because I feel terrible when my kids don't feel well. Thankfully, Analise is feeling okay! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it remains that way!

My kids are 2!

2009-02-07T19:18:00.000-08:00

I just cannot believe that two years ago these kids that are running around my house, climbing on things, giving hugs and kisses, using the potty and saying I love you, were just tiny babies! When I found out I was having twins never did it cross my mind how amazing they would be when they got old enough to socialize and play.
I love taking them to the park and reading books with them. I absolutely love it when they laugh and when they give me hugs and kisses. I love when they call me Mommy and get slightly annoyed that Analise has taken to calling me Amy!
I love listening to Analise sing to her babies and watch her carry them around. She is so much like I was when I was little it is scary. I love watching Antonio play with his cars and trucks and stack his blocks. He is so meticulous. I just love watching him play.
This week has been amazing with it being their birthday. I try to reflect back on them being born and it is becoming a blur. I don't remember them being as tiny as they are in the pictures on my wall. I faintly remember the sleepless nights. I do know that I understand why people have more kids. God has given us this amazing ability to forget the bad and hard stuff and only remember the great stuff. Like them laying so still on my chest and sleeping. The way them smelled after a bath and the way they looked at me like they knew who I was.
I am so blessed to have two amazing children and an amazing husband to raise them with. I just cannot believe they are already 2. Before I know it, they will be teenagers!

A Beautiful Piece of Land

2009-01-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

I just spent part of the weekend on the most beautiful piece of land in one of the most beautiful houses I have ever seen. Quarter Circle H Ranch, which consists of about 320 acres of property located in Mt. Carmel, Utah, is where this beautiful land and cabin are located. It is amazing!! The owners of this property are clients that I am working with and they invited me and a colleague to the property for a tour so we could fully grasp what we are working on. And let me tell you, I now fully grasp it. It is amazing. I just wish I could afford to buy some land there right now.
The lots are for sale, with the smallest lot being just over an acre and the largest lot being 2 and a half acres. The views are amazing! You purchase the bare land, which already has water, sewer, phone and power to it. Everything you could possibly need! Then you get to build your dream home. Dottie and Vern Ratzlaff, who own the property and are selling the lots, are such gracious hosts and would be amazing neighbors. The area is absolutely gorgeous and is only 30 minutes from Mt. Zion and an hour (give or take) to Panguitch Lake. I would love so badly to buy some land and build my dream home for my family there. It is so quiet and peaceful. I highly recommend this area to anyone looking for an area to build a log home and relax in the mountains. Anyone interested, give me a call!

The New Year

2009-01-12T13:15:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I'm sorry it has been so long since I posted a blog. Things have been busy! I cannot believe that it is already 2009 and that in just a few short weeks my twins will be 2. Life sure has funny twists and turns in it.
It seems like one minute I was a kid in high school without a care in the world and the next minute I am a married woman with two almost 2 year-olds. It is amazing how responsibility can sneak up on a person so quickly!
I look at my two sweet babies and I fear that I might screw them up. When I raise my voice at them, I think I am a bad mom. Even though, most of the time when I'm raising my voice it is because they might hurt themselves, I still feel badly about it.
I just wish there were a handbook on raising kids that could outline every situation. That sure would make life a lot easier!

Background Info

2008-10-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are just following my blog...I want to give you some background information on what is going on in my life.
I am married to Ben Veloz, my high school sweetheart for 3 1/2 years now. We have 20-month-old twins, Analise and Antonio. They are the light of my life. They are so much fun right now. I swear, some of the things they come up with. They really are so smart, and so funny! I never knew kids this age could have such a sense of humor.
Ben is a 6th grade science teacher, here in Pahrump, NV. He is a great teacher, all of his students love him. He just recently finished his Master's degree and is currently taking a couple classes to keep moving over on the pay scale. :)
I have worked in public relations for more than 5 years now. Before having the twins I commuted to Las Vegas for two years working at a marketing firm. Now, I have the ability to freelance for them from home, which is wonderful! It allows me to spend time with my kids and watch them grow up, and still make a living so I can continue to feed them. I work on two accounts, one for a regional law firm, and the other is this new start-up company that I am very excited about. It is called Win 4 Charity. It is a revolutionary new company that uses the World Wide Web to connect donors to hundreds of charities nationwide. Not only does it give donors an opportunity to give to charity but in the process it allows them the chance to win some amazing prizes. Talk about a new way of fundraising!! You really should check out the web site. You will be truly amazed, I promise! Go to www.Win4Charity.com. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Fun with the Parents

2008-10-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

My parents have been here visiting since last Saturday and let me tell you, it has been a blast. So far, Ben and I have taken my parents to the Win 4 Charity launch party, which was a blast. Mom and I had a few cocktails and we socialized with the people I work with. I had a good time. Of course, people telling me I looked nice didn't hurt, either!
Anyway, Sunday - my parents, Ben, the kids and I all went to Vegas to Bonnie Springs. It is a like a little zoo. It is so much fun and the kids had a great time feeding the goats out of their hands. Since then we have mostly just played around the house. Antonio has taken to his Papaw especially and Analise gives both a lot of attention but definitely likes to sit on Mimi's lap. I think they are having fun. I let you know about all our adventures after they leave on Saturday.

Cut from the paper

2008-09-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

Due to the fact that my family is no longer associated with The Carlisle Mercury, I am no longer a welcome column. Therefore, I have decided to start up this blog for anyone interested in reading it. I will try to post as often as I can, but I make no promises now that I have no strict deadline it may get away from me from time to time. However, I may be able to write more frequently when there is an issue I want to discuss or when the kids do something terrific. I hope you all enjoy! :)
Amy

The cut column...

Greetings from Nevada! I hope you are all having a great week.

We are blessed. We truly are. And that is what everyone told us this weekend when we were out and about in Vegas.

This past Saturday we went to a baby shower and a pool party and we took the kids. We don’t go very many places without them. I certainly didn’t have kids to leave them at home while I went out and played.

Anyway, one of my good friends is having a baby in October and this past Saturday was her baby shower. Normally, guys aren’t allowed at baby showers but since her husband was going to be home, she said to bring Ben along so he wasn’t alone.

The party was a lot fun. The kids had a good time having Mommy and Daddy chase them up and down the stairs. I am certainly glad I have a house that doesn’t have stairs. They about gave me a heart attack 10 times being on them.

We had a great lunch and Vanessa got a lot of good presents that will come in handy when she has the baby. I’m so excited for her I can’t wait. I know she will be a great mom and I know from experience how ready she is to have the baby.

After the shower we had to stop by the mall so I could have my ring inspected and Ben’s watch. With a warranty it is just something we have to do every six months or so. I think the reason they make you do that is to get you in the store so you will buy more stuff.

And for me, this time it worked. I have wanted a nice watch so I was able to pick it out and it was 60 percent off, so now I have a beautiful watch sitting on top of my dresser waiting for Christmas.

After our brief stop at the mall we headed to the pool party. A guy from work hosted a pool party for the office staff and their families. The food was excellent and we were able to be outside and let the kids play in the yard.

Everyone at the party told me how blessed I was. And those of them that were at the baby shower couldn’t believe how well my kids were behaving. After being in Vegas all day and only getting no more than an hour nap, they did excellent!

No real fussing from them at all. I’m sure part of that is because we were outside playing, they only really cried when we were leaving because they were having so much fun playing.

We got home after some crying in the car and got them off to bed. They did pretty good sleeping in the next morning and what was even better was that Ben let me sleep longer and he got up with him. Gosh I love that man! I truly am blessed.

Until next week, make it a great one!

Amy