Happy Birthday, Mama!

I had my 34th birthday on Saturday. I got a small Nikon CoolPix camera that takes short videos as well as pictures. So I am making my first attempt at posting a video..... It is uploading as I type. I have a nice professional camera, but it's big and expensive! I wanted a small camera that I could keep in my purse to capture pictures, there have been several times that I've been somewhere and wished I had my camera on me.

It was a very nice birthday even though it was a rainy day. Makaila went to a birthday party, and Mason went to the movies. Afterwards, we all went to my parents house and had cake, and opened presents. Then my parents watched our kids and Cliff and I went out to dinner. When I was tucking the babies into bed, Mariah sang this birthday song for me, which is hopefully uploading correctly.

We had a small earthquake yesterday, Mia and Mariah were playing on the computer when I checked on them after the quake, Mia said, "Mommy, something shaked us!" Very cute. I told them that it was an earthquake and they both ran into the living room to see the earthquake. They stopped in the middle of the room and said, "Where's the earthquake, Mama?" hmm... I tried to explain what an earthquake was, but it probably went right over their heads. It's so cute to see their brains working.

I received many birthday calls, emails, cards and hugs. I felt very loved and I'm so thankful for my family and friends. It's hard to believe I'm midway into my 30's. Sometimes with small toddlers at home the days seem to drag, but I'm realizing now that time seems too be passing too quickly. Even if there is a never ending pile of laundry and dishes, I need to stop and enjoy my four sweet kids because before I know it they'll be grown and out of the house. I think the kids and I need to have a dance party tonight.

Alright, I'm done typing and the video still says it's uploading... I wonder how long it's supposed to take.

Mom according to the kids

Here are some questions I asked my kids.

I asked each of them seperately to get genuine answers and I was surprised they answered a lot the same.... Their answers are funny, but it's very interesting to see how they see me.

Mason 11 years

Makaila 7 years

Mia and Mariah 3 years

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Mason-Did you do your chore?

Makaila-I love you

Mia- I love you, Mia

Mariah- Good Girl

2. What makes mom happy?

Mason- Coffee (lol, at least he didn't say wine! ;)

Makaila-My smile

Mia-Pee pee in the toilet

Mariah- pee pee in the toilet

3. What makes mom sad?

Mason- Makaila always being bad

Makaila- Once I get in trouble

Mia- When I don't go pee in the toilet

Mariah- pee pee in the pants

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Mason- Asks me these questions

Makaila-Dance around and be funny

Mia-Makes funny faces

Mariah-Tickle me

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Mason-Sporty

Makaila-A good listener

Mia-Tutu (my mom) used to take you a bath

Mariah- Tutu gave mommy a bath (yes, once again they answered exactly the same even though they didn't hear the others answers....)

6. How old is your mom?

Mason-31

Makaila-33

Mia-3

Mariah-3

7. How tall is your mom?

Mason-5'0"

Makaila-4'9"

Mia-This tall (holding arms out)

Mariah-(holding arms up)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Mason-play on computer

Makaila-Shopping

Mia-play with toys

Mariah- get the mail (I just love bills, lol)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Mason-Take care of the babies

Makaila-Goes to Mops and takes care of babies

Mia-Serves food at Aunt Bab's Restuarant

Mariah- Pee in the toilet

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Mason-Volleyball player

Makaila-Taking care of others

Mia-Doctor

Mariah-Volleyball player

11. What is your mom really good at?

Mason-Volleyball

Makaila-Volleyball

Mia- Help us do our Webkinz (LOL)

Mariah- Bake cookies

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Mason-Nothing

Makaila-Riding a bike

Mia-Playing Basketball

Mariah-I don't know

13. What does your mom do for her job?

Mason-Work at Babettas

Makaila-Order people

Mia-Give people food at Aunt Bab's Resturant

Mariah-Aunt Bab's Resturant

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

Mason-Salad

Makaila-Oranges

Mia-Salad

Mariah-Pizza

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Mason-Can handle 4 kids

Makaila-Nice

Mia-Because you were a baby (huh?)

Mariah-I don't know

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Mason-Mother

Makaila-Sandy from Spongebob. No.... Minnie Mouse

Mia-Jasmine

Mariah-Pig (thanks!)

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Mason-Watch "Chuck" on TV

Makaila-Play board games and go shopping

Mia-play with toys

Mariah- read books

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Mason- we both like the computer

Makaila-Both girls

Mia-Snow white dresses (?)

Mariah-we are girls

19. How are you and your mom different?

Mason- Mom like sports

Makaila-Mom is bigger and OLDER (thanks...)

Mia-Cinderella dresses (ok?)

Mariah-Mommy is bigger

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Mason-Because you always say, I love you

Makaila-because I grew up with you

Mia-Hold your hand

Mariah-she holds my hand

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Mason-The mall

Makaila-Hawaii

Mia-Disneyland

Mariah- Aunt Bab's Restaurant

Daddy through the kid's eyes

Here are some questions I asked our kids about me and then I asked them again about daddy. It was for Facebook, but decided to copy it for my blog. Thought it would be fun to look back at when they are older.

Mason 11 years

Makaila 7 years

Mia and Mariah 3 years

1. What is something Dad always says to you?

Mason-Hi Bud

Makaila-Be good

Mia- You can play with your toys

Mariah- take little bites

2. What makes dad happy?

Mason- Basketball

Makaila-When I say I love him

Mia-Take a bath

Mariah- I'm good

3. What makes dad sad?

Mason- Nothing. Never seen him sad

Makaila-Once I hit the babies (umm..k)

Mia- won't go to sleep

Mariah- Nothing

4. How does your dad do to make you laugh?

Mason-He doesn't make me laugh.

Makaila-By being funny

Mia-Makes funny faces

Mariah-He goes (then she made a silly face)

5. What was your dad like as a child?

Mason-Basketball player

Makaila-Fun to play with

Mia-Used to sleep in my bed

Mariah-He was small

6. How old is your dad?

Mason-32

Makaila-34

Mia-5 1/2 (after a lot of thought)

Mariah-4

7. How tall is your Dad?

Mason-5'2"

Makaila-5'2" (lol)

Mia-Big as this tall (holding arms out)

Mariah-Like this big(holding arms up)

8. What is his favorite thing to do?

Mason-Play basketball

Makaila-basketball

Mia-make funny faces in the bath

Mariah- play with horses (lol)

9. What does your dad do when you're not around?

Mason-Go to work, he's always at work

Makaila-Go to work, he's never even here :(

Mia-Playing on the trampoline & playing baskeball

Mariah- basketball

10. If your Dad becomes famous, what will it be for?

Mason-Basketball

Makaila-Making up a book

Mia-Astronomer (didn't even know she knew this word.)

Mariah-Fireman

11. What is your dad really good at?

Mason-Basketball

Makaila-Basketball

Mia- basketball

Mariah- getting presents

12. What is your dad not very good at?

Mason-crying

Makaila-sorting clothes ;)

Mia-doctor and volleyball

Mariah-I don't know

13. What does your dad do for his job?

Mason-xrays

Makaila-he helps people get better, not sick or hurt

Mia-get food

Mariah-he gets money

14. What is your dad's favorite food?

Mason-Meatloaf

Makaila-Meatloaf

Mia-Spagetti

Mariah-Lasagna1

5. What makes you proud of your dad?

Mason-being nice

Makaila-he helps me

Mia-I hug and kiss daddy

Mariah-I don't know (...what proud means)

16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?

Mason-none

Makaila=mickey Mouse

Mia-mickey mouse

Mariah-Spiderman

17. What do you and your dad do together?

Mason-Watch TV

Makaila-Go to St.Bernard basketball games

Mia-play with toys

Mariah- go to daddy's friend's house

18. How are you and your dad the same?

Mason- we look alike

Makaila-same color hair

Mia-cinderella dresses (?)

Mariah-no comment

19. How are you and your dad different?

Mason- I don't like basketball

Makaila-boy/girl

Mia-daddy is big and I'm this small

Mariah-daddy big

20. How do you know your daddy loves you?

Mason-he always hugs me

Makaila-because he kisses, prays and hugs us every night (aw)

Mia-He hugs and kisses me

Mariah-eat something (?)

21. Where is your dad's favorite place to go?

Mason-Basketball Court

Makaila-Hawaii

Mia-Aunt Babs resturant to eat

Mariah- to work

Duck, Duck, Goose

I've decided that I should be writing down all the cute things my kids do and say.... and I'm going to try and be better about it. It's amazing how quickly I forget the thing they did last week that I said was the cutest thing ever!
Yesterday when Mason and Makaila were at school. Mia and Mariah decided to play Duck, Duck, Goose. Mia sat down and Mariah tapped Mia on the head and said, Duck..... Then they both paused and realized that they would need more people to play. I could see their little brains working, with out talking Mia stood up and they both grabbed a toy chair, and put them in the middle of the room and then Mia sat down again in a circle with the two chairs. Mariah began again. Tapped Mia on the head, "Duck" tapped the princess chair, "Duck" tapped the Monkey chair, "Goose!" she grabbed the chair and ran in a circle dragging the monkey chair behind her and sat where the Monkey chair had been and said, "Whew, that was close." LOL!!! Then Mia stood up, "My turn Rya" She started. Tapped the monkey chair, "Duck". Then Mariah shouts, "Pick me, Mia!!! Pick me!!!" and Mia taps Mariah on the head, "Goose!" they run in the circle and Mariah tags Mia and they fall on the ground, roll around and giggle. They are so cute. Later that night after I read them both a story that they picked out and put them in their beds, gave the hugs and kisses. I left and could hear them quietly talking to each other. When I came back after they had fallen asleep to check on them, I found them both in Mia's bed fast asleep. Mariah had climbed into Mia's bed, probably before they fell asleep since Mariah was closest to the wall and Mia was on the edge, of the tiny toddler bed. They have so much fun together and everything they do is cute. I am going to make every effort to write the little things they do and say down here from now on.

December 1

Napoleon Family Christmas Portraitsat Sequoia Park by Melanie

www.lovinglife-photography.com

December is here. We have begun the process of decorating our house for Christmas. The kids are thrilled!!! You can feel the excitement level building.

Rookie Blogger

This is my first blogging.... As a mother of four it's hard to find time to myself. Between Noon and 2pm is MY time. My husband, Cliff, is at work. Mason (10yrs) and Makaila (7yrs) are at school. The twins, Mia and Mariah are taking a nap.... Well they aren't asleep yet. I hear them reading the books I just read to them out loud. Since they seem to choose the same books day after day. We have them memorized. MY time consists of checking my email, myspace and facebook. Catching up on any phone calls. And quilting while watching HGTV. I try not to clean the house during MY time... just do things I enjoy.
I will try and blog again with something more interesting next time. But since I'm a rookie blogger I didn't know what to write in my first blog.