Happy Birthday Little Monkey

Every time I sit down to write this blog I get teary-eyed and then distracted by a million other tasks to complete. Why did I have a baby at such a busy time of year?!

Dearest Steven,

Happy 3rd Birthday Baby Boy!!! You turning 3 has been kind of hard on me. Three isnt a baby age. There are no more diapers. No more binkies. You rarely want to be snuggled. You are no longer a baby and you will correct anyone who tells you that you are. In fact it has become your "insult" to anyone else to call them a "Baaaaaabbbyy!" Actually you are pretty funny with that kind of stuff. Your Great Uncles love to pick on you (as they did with me) and you are so good at giving it right back to them. It is really fun to watch. I mean what is better then two middle aged men being outsmarted by a small child?!

From the day your little personality started to show you have been the family comedian. You are hilarious! You constantly have us cracking up at your comments, dances, and even your weird little walks. You love to sing and dance to entertain us and I cant seem to get enough of it. The other day we were at dinner and the girl you always flirt with was their. I teased you and said, "Ohh there is your girlfriend!" To which you replied, "She's not my girlfriend! She doesnt have boobs!!" Seriously, you are your Daddys boy!

Lately you have been obsessed with dinosaurs. Or should I say "DINE-SARS!" You have a few and you love to play with them and line them up by size. I cant wait for you to open your birthday present. Lets just say it has lots of DINE-SARS and they live on a big mountain.

You also LOVE music. If it isnt loud enough in the car you will say, "Mommy, it hurts my ears, can you turn it up please?" Goofy kid.

You have been going to preschool since August and you absolutly adore your teacher. Ms. Lisa is the kind of person that was born to teach preschool. She is very energetic, kind, and patient. Not to mention cute and fun. It is such a blessing to have such a wonderful place for you to go to everyday since I have to work. You are learning so much at school and you really seem to love it there. You love to share the songs you learn with us and showing off your art work. Im so proud of you. You are such a social butterfly like your Mama. Friends with everyone.

Steven, you are amazing. I am so unbelievely thankful that God let me be your Mama. You are so much fun and you are so loving. I cant imagine a day of my life without your ear-to-ear smile and mischevious, fun personality. I love you so much and Im excited to see what comes of you turning 3.

Thank you for being my son. I love you.


Mama

Arianna's Story on the Today Show!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/34126852#34126852
Above is the link to see the Ramirez family being featured on the Today Show.


http://members.cox.net/arianna_ramirez/
This link will take you to Arianna's website


Be thankful for your children and their good health this weekend. I know I am.

Thankful

Ive made a habit out of every year writing a blog for Thanksgiving about the things I am thankful for and being one who hates to break a tradition...here it goes again! : )

I could easily list a million things I am thankful for this year. But instead Ive decided to break it up into groups...

Im thankful for God. He has blessed my life with so many many wonderful people and experiances. I am so thankful for Jesus. I am thankful for the bible. NOTHING in my life would be possible without the Lord. My faith guides me, forms me, and makes me who I am.

My family. Look, I unfortunatly know a lot of people who are not close at all to their immediate family, let alone their extended family. I know oh so well how blessed I am. I married an amazing, loving man. We are blessed with two beautiful boys. My parents, while divorced, have never let that get in the way of their love for my brother and I. My Mom is my best friend and I am totally a Daddy's girl. I have a wonderful step-Mom who loves me just as if I came out of her womb. I married into the most amazing family who I am completely and totally comfortable with and love to be around. My Uncles(Mom's brothers) and I are very close. My Grandparents are a part of my everyday life. My Auntie Moe is someone I can always talk to. My point is~ I wouldnt change my relationships with these people for anything. I LOVE ALL of my family.

My friends. Wow. I consider my friends family that I have chosen. Or rather, that have chosen me. I dont know how it happened but God has blessed me by surrounding me with some amazing people. I really dont even feel like I deserve these wonderful people being in my life.

This years life experiances. It is no secret that 2009 has been a rough year. But I cant help but see that even rough times have a blessing in them. Scott and I have learned a lot about each other, ourselves, and life in general this year. Going through these experiances have made me a better wife, mother, and friend.

Our Country. Politics aside. How wonderful is the United States? So much beautiful scenery. Different cultures. Opportunities. Freedom.

Im blessed and so thankful for it all.

Fall Fun...

I think in Arizona we dont get really heavy on the "spring cleaning" because to us spring is just a warning that the ridiculous heat is fast approching. But here it is fall and we have been doing some heavy cleaning around the house. Going through the boys clothes, toys, cleaning the vents, ceiling fans (which I think have been running non-stop since April), and so on. Scott even cleaned out and organized the pantry! THANKS BABE!

This time of year is also when the boys start doing really fun stuff with their school and at church and it is a blast. Plus it is cool enough to take them out to do fun stuff as a family. At the Desert Botanical Garden's, the second Tuesday of every month is free admission from 1-8PM. So we took advantage of this last week. I have been to www.dbg.org a million times since but never in the evening and I have to say it was really cool to see all the different desert plants at night with all the cool lights they have going....

Steven listening to crickets (still the family actor)...

The boys at the start of the gardens by the big glass thingys! Such hams!

Steven at Shawn's Veteran's Day parade at his school...

Shawnie throwing candy to his Mommy at the parade!

Saying the pledge

Just hear those sleigh bells....

It is taking every bit of strength I have to not put up Christmas decorations. We decided last year that we would wait until after Steven's birthday (December 4th) to put up the decorations as to not take away from his special day.

But this year has been one big struggle after another. One life lesson after another. Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. I love that people are nicer to each other. I love giving to others. I love that more people are willing to serve others in many different ways. Plus, HELLO- we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus!!!! My boys will be in Christmas programs at their school and at church. I cant even put into words how much I am excited for that!!!

But I will stick to my word and wait until after Monkey Boys birthday. After all, he is worth it! : )

Happy Halloween!

The house is decorated.....

The pumpkins are carved.....

The chili is ready to be made....

The candy is ready to be handed out...

Apples are ready to be slathered with carmel...

The costumes are ready.....

Hope everyone has a fantastic and safe Halloween!!!!

Out of the mouths of babes.....

Steven (2 years old) and I were sitting on the couch getting our nightly snuggles in before he went to bed.

Steven: "Mommy, you have a cock on you?"

Me: "NO!!!!"

He looks at me totally puzzled and Im trying to figure out where he heard this word and how to get him to not say it again when he says...

"How about a watch?"



Ahhhhh! Im so glad he didnt mean to say what I thought he was saying!!! It made for alot of good laughter too!