Category Archives: Holidays

Pumpkin Patch

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Can’t believe it’s already that time of year! We took the kids to the pumpkin patch yesterday and took lots and lots of REALLY cute pictures. Ella loved it out there. She cried when we left. I think she enjoyed just wandering out in the beautiful country. Since we went on a weekday we weren’t able to do all the fun stuff (pony rides, tractor rides, corn maze…) so, we’ll have to go back this weekend. My friend Jenise was up visiting from Sacramento and she came along with us and picked out a pumpkin to carve too! Hope you enjoy the pictures and video!! BTW ~ I bought the video camera I was raving about a couple days ago, so expect many videos of the kids! Here’s one I took at the pumpkin patch ~ I have some of carving the pumpkins too, but that’ll be in the carving pumpkin post 🙂







Pumpkin Patch

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Can’t believe it’s already that time of year! We took the kids to the pumpkin patch yesterday and took lots and lots of REALLY cute pictures. Ella loved it out there. She cried when we left. I think she enjoyed just wandering out in the beautiful country. Since we went on a weekday we weren’t able to do all the fun stuff (pony rides, tractor rides, corn maze…) so, we’ll have to go back this weekend. My friend Jenise was up visiting from Sacramento and she came along with us and picked out a pumpkin to carve too! Hope you enjoy the pictures and video!! BTW ~ I bought the video camera I was raving about a couple days ago, so expect many videos of the kids! Here’s one I took at the pumpkin patch ~ I have some of carving the pumpkins too, but that’ll be in the carving pumpkin post 🙂







2 Years Ago Today – It’s our Mya Day

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2 years ago today I walked into my house and smelt so good. My husband was making me tacos, because that’s what my baby girl loved. I was wearing this cute green maternity tank top, and I had just driven in traffic with blurry eyes. Blurry from crying them out.

It’s amazing how you remember such little things. I remember the nurse handing me a Kleenex box to take home and let me sit in the room until the waiting room had cleared out. My appointment was at 4:30pm, which was at the end of the day.

I had such high hopes for this precious soul inside of me. She was a blessing and I was so excited to have her join my family. That day, 2 years ago, my heart was crushed with the worst, devastating news I could have ever imagined. Mya was dead.

Tonight I’m sad. I’m sad that I didn’t get her balloons, because I feel like Gino needs to be a part of it, and he works. He works all weekend long. I still should have done something with the kids to remember their sister.

This is a day I dread every year, and I probably will dread it all the years to come. I just wish that I could have both Mya & Ella, and I know that’s not possible, but I still wish. I have come to terms with Mya’s death, and I have begun to understand that without her leaving me, I’d never get to see one of the most beautiful smiles I’ve ever seen. I’d never get kisses from the most beautiful girl I’d ever layed eyes on. I’d never know or love Ella. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

Today, Mya, I want you to know that I love you with all of my heart soul. I will always love you and I hope that in heaven they have angel days, because you deserve it. Okay, now I’m so sad that I’m going to the store and buying you balloons. I’ll have them just in time to send them off when your daddy gets home. If they do have angel days you have to have something from your family, that loves you and thinks of you all the time.

Happy Angel Day, my angel.

Love, Mama

Happy Birthday, Mitch

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20 years ago today my baby brother was born. I miss him so much and wish that I could spend this day with him. I hope that his day was filled with happiness as that’s how our birthdays are supposed to be. Through it all, Mitch, I’ve always loved you more than you know. Happy Birthday, baby brother.

The breakdown of My Day

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My birthday was wonderful. It started out with a party with my friends from church. It was much fun and I had probably the best cake I’d ever eaten before. It’s called ‘Better than sex cake’ yeah… pretty darn good.

Then my friend Emily and I took our babies to Lithia Park to play with my camera. We got AMAZING shots and it got me beyond excited. I can’t wait to learn about the true potential this thing has inside of it. Here’s a couple of pictures I took. I think Emily is going to let me do their family pictures. I can’t wait!


After I parted my ways with Emily I headed over to pick up Jayden from his camp and then went out to pizza with my dad, Lili (his wife), Alyssa, Tiona & Rocky (Lili’s brother). Amazingly, I had a lot of fun! Afterwards, Gino finally got off of work and came over to my dad for cake. Then I took the girls home with me for a sleepover.

Great day huh? There’s more!

First off Gino surprised me with Diamond earrings. They’re beautiful and I can’t believe what a wonderful husband I have.

The topper on the whole day ~

my wonderful friend Jen got me a gift certificate to a day spa in Ashland. I have NEVER been to a day spa and have always wanted to go to one. Jen ~ thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are an amazing friend and you made my day! And the flowers are beautiful no matter what you say 🙂

So, here’s to another great year!

Happy Early Birthday to ME!

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Today I got spoiled. I got 2 things that I’ve been wanting for a really, really long time! First thing I got was a Canon EOS Rebel XSI 450D camera. OMGoodness!!!!! I have always wanted a really nice camera, and now I have one! I have no idea about anything about it, but I learn quick. I’m going to be reading through the manual and I’m planning on taking a class on digital photography. So, now everyone gets to read about my fun times with my new hobby in the making – PHOTOGRAPHY!!

The topper on the cake…. I got an Epson 1400 printer. I can now print out my 12×12 layouts. I can’t wait to hook it up and print out a layout and see how they really look printed out. I’m refraining myself from doing this until I clean up my kitchen. I know once I open that box it’s all over.

It gets even better…… what makes me happier than anything??? Olive Garden!

We celebrated my birthday today, because Gino is working 10am-7pm tomorrow. It’s a crappy schedule to work on my birthday 🙁

My friends at church are throwing a birthday party for me tomorrow, so that will make my day!! I might even bring my camera and get some good pics of my new friends and I. I love those girls so much! I am so lucky to live in such a wonderful ward.

After the party I’m going to take the kids to Lithia Park and take pictures.

Happy Birthday, Jessie

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Yesterday was my sister Jessica’s 21st birthday. I’m sad that I didn’t get to be there with her to celebrate and just wanted to talk about her for a minute.

Jessica and I have lived quite a different life. A life in which we were separated for many years, yet we’ve remained so closer through it all. I moved away a year ago and I miss her like crazy. She’s one of my best friends and I’m truly sad that our babies will not be growing up together.

Jessica always knows what I’m thinking, what to say, and I can tell her anything AT ALL. I love it. I love having such a wonderful sister, with true, honest, and helpful advice. She tells it how it is and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I’m proud of the mommy that she’s become and the life she’s making for herself. Going to school can be challenging, but she’s doing it and I couldn’t be prouder.

Jessica, I love you and I hope your birthday was a wonderful one ~ I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be there. Happy Birthday, baby sister.

Batman Twirler

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I love Christmas. I have so many wonderful memories from Christmas time as a child and I just came across this photo of Mitch (my brother), Jessica (my sister) & me. You have to admit, the socks are just the coolest things you’ve ever seen.. I know that my kids will have lots to laugh about when they get ahold of pictures of me as a little girl.

I wanted to talk about a couple of memories that I have around Christmas time. Memories that always have stuck with me. My sister and I used to love to twirl around in our dresses and I so wish I had a picture of this, but so did my brother. My brother and sister are only 12 months apart, so he would get dressed up in one of her dresses and twirl with us. As he was twirling you could see little batman underwear under the dress.

Every year for our Christmas tree we’d go behind our house, which was desert, and look for our Christmas tree to cut down. We’d always have to go really late at night when it was really dark, and I never caught on to the truth of the whole charade until my mom told me not too many years ago. My mom and her brother would actually go up in the mountains and find our tree, cut it down and bring it down and prop it up against the little non-Christmas trees behind our house. Somehow, they had us fooled to think that we were actually going in the back, hunting for our perfect, tree. Last week I talked of the trick my mom pulled on me, and she always tried to make things fun and memorable, and I’m lucky to have had a mom like that.

So, I know it’s not Christmas time, but finding this picture brought back so many memories. So, here’s Fro’ Me to You ~ if you wanna join in on this fun carnival of reaching into the depths of your childhood head over to We are THAT Family and join in!! Even if you don’t, she has a great blog so take a look around!!

Happy Anniversary to Mr. & Mrs. Garibay

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4 years ago today I made a commitment to my best friend that I would forever be by his side. That we would be together with every beat of our hearts. 4 years ago today we so different. I don’t even think you can really say that we were “in love”. We were in a comfortable situation with a kid and it was time. It was time to give Jayden the family that he deserved and it was time for us to get a vacation to Mexico. You think I’m kidding huh? NOPE!

Things have changed. When 4 years ago I never thought we’d make it, here we are happier than we’ve ever been. I’m proud that Gino is my husband. The changes that we have both made and the compromises have been so worth it. I could not imagine my life without this wonderful husband, wonderful father, wonderful man. I’m so happy that we stuck through the hard times, because they truly did help us grow together. We’ve only been married for 4 years and while it seems like a lifetime it isn’t. We still have an entire lifetime ahead of us and I can’t wait to experience every happy, depressing, angry, joyous, hurtful & loving moment together. Because that is how we will be for all eternity…… TOGETHER.

Happy Anniversary to us!!! Here’s to 60 more years!