My brother, Justin and I were pretty close growing up. We hung out together and got in trouble together. He was the golden child in our family and everyone knew why. Always had a smile on his face and everyone loved him. He is an amazing father and husband. Last month, he accepted a job and moved his family from North Carolina to Orange County, CA. I was so excited to have him and his family closer and we celebrated by going down this weekend to see them. I hadn't even met his youngest and he hadn't met mine. So, it was a sweet reunion to Moraga's Pear Festival. It was HOT, which was unusual for the Bay Area. We chilled to some country music and we had the opportunity to get to know each other again.






Justin, Jannah, and Norah



Husband and Brother



Grandpa with his 6 grandkids
Norah, Callie, Mariah is missing, Lyla, Julianna, Elijah



Grandpa and Lyla reconnecting



Lyla and Norah hit it off!



Lyla took to Justin quite well



The cousins and their new visors



Elijah and Callie



Norah



Mariah

I had so much fun seeing them and hope this is a start of a beautiful courtship together. Storms + Smiths = Good Times!

Parenting 101

So, I have been involved in a parent-teacher preschool for Julianna and loving every minute of it. I love that I can my own mentor to go and help me figure out the inner workings of my child. I hate that every time I think of Julianna, I think HARD! I want to think of other words that will bring out her best side instead of encouraging negative feelings right off the bat. I do it all the time and I want it to end. I think that they pick up on the vibe and live up to that image. So, since I have started I have come up with some new views on myself and my daughter...

1) She is a person with feelings and I need to acknowledge those feelings with respect and not end every act with her with the line, "Agghh, you are driving me crazy!" That is not the way I want my daughter to feel when she is around her mommy. So, I have taken it out of my vocabulary. I might slip, but I am making a conscious effort to nick it all together.

2) I heard from a book called Love Languages that everyone feels loved in different ways. I am a time person. I feel loved when people spend quality time with me. I have come to find that Julianna's language is time and words. I have tried to compliment her much more and it is amazing how she beams. She also has been dooped when it comes to spending one on one time with me, so lately she has been going to the store with me without the brother and sister. She is helpful and a great conversationalist. I like to think she gets that from me. I really have enjoyed that time and I am really seeing instant benefits of showing her those things that I know bring her joy.

3) Distraction is key! I have known this for a while now, but to master the art is the hard part I am trying to learn. I see her teacher do it like it is a second language. I look at every fit and tantrum as an opportunity to turn it into a positive experience, but I am having a hard time convincing Julianna. She is a really smart kid and sometimes I think she knows what I am trying to do. To partner distraction is persistence. I know that she may not be happy instantly, but if I continue to change the subject, she will forget eventually and be happy.

I am not parenting guru and I wrote down three things today to bring to my parenting class that I can ask her teacher what to do because I have no idea. I do feel blessed that I have come into this amazing opportunity to unlock the mysteries of my child. I really look up to her teacher and am so glad she is there for me and my daughter, so we can have a long lasting great relationship.

Sitting is so fun to do, fun to do, fun to do...

Lyla is a brick. Very sturdy and has a great sense of balance. She has not even hit 6 months yet and she is already sitting by herself. She has been the BEST baby and I have never been happier being her mama! Her smile is the best part of my day. I love you Ly Ly!

Elijah's first day of KINDERGARTEN!!

Now, that is one good looking kid if I can say so myself.

Julianna's New School

Another year and another preschool. I am getting pretty good about traveling to different preschools for my kids and I must say that my kids are becoming pros as well. This year, Julianna is attending a new school. It is the same one that Elijah is attending for Kindergarten. I like having them in the same spot. I heard about the program from a neighborhood friend, so since Elijah was at the same school, I thought it would be a better time as any to get her in the same place. I am excited to be able to spend one day with her and get to be involved in her learning. So, here is to a new year of knowledge and wisdom. For Jules and mostly MOM!

Girl's Weekend on Steroids!

I was able to go to LA with my buddies to do the 5K fun run at Disneyland. I was so excited to go because I had been training and getting back in shape since I had Lyla. I ran last year before I got pregnant, so I wanted to beat my time which was 35 minutes. I was so stoked when I ran it in 31 minutes and 20 seconds. I was so proud of myself. I am feeling like I want to prepare myself for a 10K. It is just so fun to run with a bunch of people. It keeps your mind off of the actual running part. We were able to go to Disneyland on Friday which without kids was a great deal. I hadn't been on Screaming California since before Elijah, so that was a blast. We actually had to beg Sharday to go on it because she is a little scared of roller coasters. She took it like a champ and it was her favorite ride. It was so much fun to hang with my girls. When is the next trip??

Air Show 2009

I love the Air Show. It is so cool to have something so entertaining in our backyard. I loved it this year because we happened to see some friends from our ward at the park that we play at that over looks the air field. So, we watched it with them and it was a blast to relax and see the cool things that these planes can do. It is amazing to think that people do that for a living. It is so intense. I look forward to it every year.