Pants on the floor.

Those that know me, know I have a love/hate relationship with my youngest brother-in-law Manuel.... Meaning, I neither love him nor hate him.


I barely tolerate him.


Despite the fact that he can actually be pretty presentable on occasion.

He chooses to look like this 99% of the time.

I've offered to buy him new pants, belts, etc. I even pulled my own pants down around my knees and strutted around him so he could see how ridiculous it looks. (My honey almost died, but I was totally wearing pajamas underneath)

Nothing works.

So I decided to post this picture of him on the Internet in the hopes that one day I can embarrass him with it.

I'm not sure it if will work or not, but I'm getting desperate! Anyone have any ideas?

He's even started to rub off on Sophia!

Going Green in the Desert

One of the best and worst things about our new house was the completely empty backyard. It was awesome because it was a blank slate that we could do whatever we wanted with.

It was terrible because blank slates are expensive.

Really expensive.

Which is why up until this weekend, we've allowed the kids to play and run around in the dirt and rock we called a yard.

The goal has always been to have some grass, and after a lot of digging for the new sprinkler system and drip system we finally got it installed on Saturday.

No thanks to any blog readers - I didn't even get one offer for help after my open invitation last week. Where's the love I ask you?

Here's our "before" shot. It was overcast and drizzling in the morning, so it was perfect for laying sod.


Here's my honey just getting started. I was the official "Sod Deliverer" and worked at bringing the sod from the truck to the backyard so he was constantly supplied.


I didn't take any more "During" pictures. I was too busy getting dirty and loving it.

So we'll skip right to my "After" shots.

Doesn't it look so puuuurty?



That dirt area over to the left is the future home of a swingset. We wouldn't want the kids to play on the soft expensive grass of course. They get the dirt area.

And that's how you get green in the desert.

Now we've got to do something with the front yard. It never ends!

Love Sac, baby, love sac!

Someone gave my honey a love sac.





We had a good 2 days of fun jumping off furniture onto it and doing flips.

Now it's just the really annoying over sized pillow taking up the entire game room.

Maybe I'll host a giveaway for it. Just to give me a feel for how successful I'd be.... anyone want a giant pillow?

Easter 2012

We celebrated Easter this year at my house and since Cathy and I worked hard at sewing new dresses and ties for the kids, we punished them all by making them sit next to each other while we took endless pictures. Ahhh, the beauty of the digital camera, so much memory you can just keep clicking away while the children scream.

We of course got a group shot with everyone in their matching clothes.


And just the boys.


The girls

And we broke it down by family...

The Colemans

The Barrios

The Dobbins

In case you're wondering where Eliza's hubby is, I'm sorry to have to be the one to break it to you, but tragically he has left her.

Ok, so kind of, but not really. He was offered a job half a country away and he took off before he could say Easter Bunny, leaving her as a recession widow for the next two months until school is out and she can uproot the rest of 'em and leave us for the great state of Iowa. (sniff, sniff. I don't really want to talk about it.)

Coral has perfected her stink eye. She can make you shiver with her laser beam focus. Scroll down fast!

My Blog... my kid. Sophie deserves extra face time. How could I deny the world this face?

"No, yoooooou're the bucket head!"

Finally, after we had punished them long enough with the photo shoot and they had been drooling at the back door looking at all the eggs...the hunt was on!

We sent the big kids to the back against the wall to let the little ones have a chance.

If you're wondering why they're digging around in dirt... just pretend it's grass. I do.

Actually, we're finished installing the sprinklers and the grass is coming on Saturday...

Anyone wanna come lay sod?

Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?

I'll give you an Easter egg!

Sanity First!

They call these things safety latches.

You know, the annoying things you have to push down to open a drawer. Our last house had them already installed because the previous owners had kids.

I didn't really have a use for them.

My new house doesn't have them installed and it's been nice to just be able to open drawers without worrying about those little latches.

Except now I really do have a use for them.

Not for Sophia's safety, but for my sanity.

Cuz when you walk into your bathroom and see this for the 3rd day in a row...

You go a little crazy.

Rub a dub dub

I can remember when I was younger taking baths with my cousin Missy when we would drive up to visit my Mom's family.

All of us cousins were close in age, but Missy and I were inseparable.

Including at bath time.

Which is why when Cathy came over the other day to help install a sprinkler system, I had no issues throwing these three in the tub.


May the experience of community bathing be enjoyed by the next generation of cousins!

(Save water, shower with a friend! - I had a t-shirt in college with that motto)

I just can't get enough

I know I already posted about Disneyland, but I was just looking through my phone and saw a couple of priceless pictures I didn't want to forget about.

Let me preface this by saying I've been to a Disney park a total of 4 times now.

First Time:

When I was in second grade my parents took us girls on a trip to Florida over Christmas break. I remember it was second grade because that same year another girl in my class, Amy Hammer went to Acapulco and when she came back Mrs. Lind had her get up in front of the class and tell us what it was like. So I was so excited at the idea that I would come back from my trip and get to talk about what I did in front of the entire class.

No such luck.

I was so jealous that Amy got to talk about her vacation and I didn't. (Amy if you're reading this, I hold no hard feelings. Mrs. Lind however....)

I don't remember too much about Disney World from that trip. Just that I got some mouse ears with my name on it and the submarine ride leaked on my head. A slow drip. Very disturbing. (I'm pretty sure I have a fear of submarines from that experience.

Second Time:

When I was in 9th grade the marching band in my high school made a trip to down to Florida to play in the Disney World parade. I tore it up on the flute.

We got to go to Universal Studios and Epcot too. It was my very first time on an airplane and I think my first time in a hotel - at least that I can remember. My parents are big KOA frequenters.

That was the trip I learned about Space Mountain.

The absolute BEST ride in all of Disney. I can't remember how many times I went on it, but it's pretty much the only ride that stands out from that trip.

Third Time:

In my Junior year of college I drove to Vegas during Christmas break to stay with my sister Eliza. Her in-laws took their entire family to Disneyland and I got to tag along.

Surprisingly enough, despite the fact that I was older, I don't remember much from that trip. We ate at the Blue Bayou for dinner and it was my first time on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Oh, and Space Mountain still rocked my world.

I totally want one of those in my back yard.

Last Time:

So this last time I went, I had to make sure my honey and AJ experienced the absolute best ride that exists.

Space Mountain.

AJ got to go 4 times because of the rider-pass thing I talked about in my last post. 3 of those times were with me! (imagine me giggling like a school girl)

Our first time - we're in the 3rd row. (look closely and you'll see my tears of joy!)

This time was the absolute best. Front row is the best way to experience this ride. (The picture isn't the best, you can't see my expression, but what do you expect when you're taking a picture with your phone of a tv screen.) AJ's holding on for dear life!

And the last time, I was supposed to switch with my honey since we did the rider swap thing, but he didn't want to go again. His loss! We were back in the 3rd row, but it was still great.

We ended the night with this one. Best ride ever.

I dare you to disagree.