My Valentines

I am in love. I am in love with my husband Russell, but also our life together and the wonderful children we share. I love JackaMaya with all heart and each day my heart bursts a little more with pride and emotion. I hope the seams are strong enough to support this heart of mine as it keeps on growing.

Vacation, all I ever wanted!

If you know me, it is no secret how much I love Mexico, especially Tulum. We scrapped and saved and enjoying Thanksgiving week at our favorite resort, Dreams.

Halloween 2010

Swimming Lessons

It is the thick of summer, and my kids are loving our summer of swimming at the Rec Center! They take swim lessons almost every day and then many days we stay for open swim. Just 2 years ago, Jack was deathly afraid of swim lessons and now he is learning to dive! The progress and courage are amazing. Maya is a fish! She can sit criss cross apple sauce under water while holding her breath, she can swim under water and she jumped off the diving board this week! I am so proud of them!

In Memory of Daphne

My sweet Daphne passed away a short time ago in her sleep. She has been such an awesome and loving and happy dog all 15 years of her life. I got her as a tiny puppy when she was 2 months old when it was just the 2 of us. Then, our family grew and she loved each of us so much. I will miss her happy panting, her loyalty, her smiles, her stealing of food from an unattended plate, her rolling around and barking every afternoon, her love of water and the sprinkler and everything else about my sweet chica. RIP my Daphne Guadalupe Aguacita Cabo San Lucas Norton Johnson. I will miss you...

Mother's Day 2010

My family :)

Another Belt

I'm so proud of Russell and Jack! They tested last week for their camoflauge belt at Taekwando. Cousin Chandler is now a second degree black belt and Josh is a red belt. So proud of all the boys.

The Artist

Maya loved her first visit to Art Beast in late January. Located in downtown Sacramento, Art Beast is a hands-on art studio for kids to explore and create! Silly me, put Maya in white sweats that day. They were multi-color when we got home but thankfully, all the paint washed out and her cute white sweats are just fine!

Taco Lovers just like me!

We finally have a Chipotle in West Sacramento! It opened in January and the kids and I waited to be the first customers! My nephew Cody joined us and we declined to eat until he watched us enjoying our chicken tacos. He tried a bite and next thing you know, I was back at the counter, ordering more tacos! It is probably a good thing it is about a 15 minute drive to Chipotle because I'd be there too much if it were any closer!

Christmas Day 2009

Christmas Eve at Grandpa & Lola's

The kids really enjoy the annual tradition of Christmas Eve with Grandpa and Lola. Maya rocked the mini guitar, Jack played Santa and the kids tried to pose for a picture, but there was too much silliness going on!

Karate Chop!

I've been so remiss in posting to my blog - blame Facebook! I seem to do all my picture posting over there and need to remember my first, this Sunshine of My Life blog. Jack and Russell have been taking Karate lessons since last September and both love it! We spend quite a bit of time at the Taekwondo studio and it is showing! I'm so proud of my boys - they are both yellow belts now and will hopefully be earning their camoflauge belts in March!

My Chica's

Luna and Daphne are my sweet chica's. Luna is 4 - we adopted her from the lab rescue last March and aside from a carbohydrate addiction, she is perfect! Daphne is 14 1/2 now and she is my sweet girl. She is always happy and so patient with Luna and Maya!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, we spent Thanksgiving in Bodega Bay, enjoying walks along the beach and the ocean waves and beautiful weather. We are so thankful for our family, friends, health and home. Our best wishes to all of you.

Disneyland Fun!

We had the best adventure at Disneyland 2 weeks ago! Jack and Maya were both such troopers and Maya has become a little daredevil! She loved many rides we thought she'd be afraid to ride. Jack completed the Jedi tranining and it was so cool to watch him battle Darth Vader! Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Halloween 2009

Jack was Jengo Fett (Star Wars bounty hunter) 2 years ago for Halloween. Last year, he really wanted to be Boba Fett (Star Wars bounty hunter) and I talked him into being his second choice, Indiana Jones. Well, this year, he still really wanted to be Boba Fett and I thought his dedication to the bounty hunters needed to be honored. Well, Maya had decided on Snow White, but a last minute upgrade in costume made her Jengo Snow White - the best princess bounty hunter in the universe! She was a crack-up in her stroller and costume, cruising the neighbhorhood!

We had a great Halloween. Cody, Ryan, Carter and Hal joined us for trick or treating!

Jack's Poem

We are so proud of Jack. His poem was selected by the International Rose Garden of Peace Committee, to be displayed in the rose garden this year. Here we are at the unveiling of his plaque after he read his poem in front of the whole school. I am a very proud mommy!

Jack takes flight!

Russ took Jack to the McCellan Park Aerospace Museum this weekend. They had a wonderful adventure and plan to go back again!

Lovely Ladies