Getting stuff done.....

So we have had a wonderful weekend....and of course now it is Monday....I think I will forever dislike Mondays.....I finally made it back to the gym this morning after being sick.....and man did it kick my butt.....ahhh but I must say it felt good to get back in the groove.....and great to get up early.....since I have been slacking and not getting up until 8am.....

We had a very productive rest of the weekend....Saturday morning we all headed to Home Depot to get a Rotary Spreader.....and I must admit like usual we bought more then we intended too....but it was all good as I had already budgeted for the expense.....and the expense was my tomato plants, soil and food.....I decided to get organic soil and food.....it actually wasn't much more....and I picked out an Early Girl Tomato plant, a Cherry Tomato plant and two Roma Tomato plants.....The girls picked out a Garden Pepper plant so we could make some salsa....too cute.....I must admit the girls were a little disappointed to learn that we would not be planting the tomatoes until Sunday.....and the reason why.......We purchased some top of the line Fire Ant Granules a week or so ago and it was delivered on Friday......anyway we decided that we needed to spread on the lawn first, before planting anything else.......Yes it is Fire Ant Season down here.....I HATE them....the stuff we got is pretty cool it works slow but keeps them away for a whole year and it is not harmful to pets (the active ingredient is the same as what is in Frontline Treatment for pets).....anyway so Shawn spent part of the afternoon on Saturday spreading the stuff.....We kept the kids inside and off the yard so the stuff could seep in.....We ended our Saturday night with a walk around the 'hood and a movie (after the kids were down).....oh and I made Gorditas again.......we just love them.....

Sunday morning we sipped our coffee and had a wonderful morning reading the paper.....then MJ, Lila and I went to Costco and Grocery Shopping.....we didn't have too much to get which was nice....Kiara stayed with Daddy and did some housework and helped him play a video game.....after shopping, I spent most of the early afternoon working......getting all the budgets caught up......Shawn watched a movie....(I sorta watched).....and then after nap time for the kiddos it was out to the yard to build two tomato beds......didn't take long after about and hour we had 4 tomato plants in the ground and 1 pepper plant......the girls love planting and watering.....so fun for them.......Now I just need to keep Mayday (Shawn's brother's dog that we are watching, he is not fixed and likes to pee on everything) from lifting his leg on the tomato plants......so far so good.......the only other thing I might need is some organic bug spray to keep the creepy crawlers away, we shall see......We ended our night with our nightly walk around the 'hood......after the girls were down we watched John Adams on HBO, its a pretty good series.....Shawn and I both love history..........

Found my new favorites.....

So its been awhile since I have sat down to blog.....we have been busy doing a whole lotta not much....I have continued my love affair with Tex Mex and Mexican food....Yesterday for the Coug Game (sucks we lost, I am actually glad they switched our game feed at half time)...anyway....I did my first attempt at making Gorditas.....homemade from scratch.....can we say holy goodness.....and so easy and fun to make....they are like a Mexican pita pocket.....only ten times better.....I just love the flavor of Masa (corn dough).....For the filling I make some shredded chicken in the crock pot all day with some spices, tomatoes, jalapenos,onions and a few other things.....a new recipe that I made up....it was pretty good chicken and I will post both recipes soon on the Breezy.....along with the chicken, I had the usual filling of cheese, homemade guac, greens and hot sauce......I just love food.......I think I will make more "little fat ones" (Gorditas) tomorrow.....I LOVE THEM.....

So my dad's family has been in town sans my dad......Tonight they stopped by to see the house.....so fun having guests from home....and then took us out to dinner....our choice and since they hadn't had Mexican food this week we decided that would be the choice for dinner tonight.......and can I say that we ate at my new favorite San Antonio restaurant.....Thank you to our awesome neighbor Carlos #1 (we have two neighbors named Carlos and I have picked their names in the order I met them) for recommending it....anyway the place was called La Fogata and talk about awesome atmosphere, great drinks, good salsa (Can we say a little bite & some smoke, so yum) and my dinner was awesome...and every ones food was awesome....and not to mention good service.....It was a little cold and misty tonight so we ate inside but next time I would love to sit outside with all their beautifully decorated patio space, with bonfires and fountains......this place has the best Mexican Food I have ever had (OK, So I have to tell you I have not been to Mexico)....Just know if you visit us down here and you like Mexican food we will be taking you to eat here....and if you don't like Mexican we will take you here anyway for some awesome top shelf margaritas.......SO freaking good, I mean can you be IN LOVE with a restaurant after only 1 visit?????? I just can not say enough good things about this place......it has everything.....So glad we were able to find it and take Susan, Gerry, Rob, Kathy and Diane there.....hope they enjoyed it as much as we did......One thing I didn't bring to the restaurant was my camera.....oh well, I will hit Aunt Susan up for some pics to and post later.....

So the girls are doing great......Lila is down to nursing 3 times a day.....weaning is a bit more challenging then I thought it would be.....but we are doing it.....she has also started to teach herself to fall asleep on her own and stay in her crib most nights....she has also started to eat more food......but not really walking yet.....she can stand and take a few steps, but she would rather crawl.....all good by me......Kiara and Mikiah are really into their books right now, they got a bunch of new Dr Seuss ones (including Horton hears a Who pop up book) for Easter and they love to sit and have story time.....I have got to get them to the library.....I miss it and they miss it.....funny thing, I think it is Wednesdays here too....I am actually waiting for my Texas Drivers license to get here (I have a paper one with no pic) and then the girls and I will get our library cards.....fun fun....they are also into a new show on Nick Jr Ni Hao, Kai-lan and I must say I like this show, the songs are so catchy and I find myself singing them all day.....and the messages are usually pretty good......

So like I said not much new here.....just my continued love affair with Tex Mex and Mexican Food.....here is to good eats and margaritas on the rocks.....

They really are growing up......

Just wanted to tell you a little story about Kiara yesterday......It was just after dinner and Shawn and I were enjoying some relaxing time outside with some adult conversation and a beer.....it was such a nice night....I must say I really enjoy the time between dusk and dark outside....anyway......I could hear Kiara yelling...."Mom come here".....and I yelled back "I am outside".....I thought she was in Mom and Dad's room.....well she never yelled again so I knew everything was fine.....and continued relaxing with dad......So about 10 min later she comes outside and quietly says....."Mom, I went poop on the potty all by myself and didn't need any help, and I even wiped my butt"......and then she leans in and whispers "and it was a big poop, and there is none in my underwear"......She was so proud of herself.......so then I said "I am sorry for not coming in, I thought you were in my room watching TV".......her reply "Its OK Mommy, I didn't need your help"........after she went back inside......Shawn and I looked at each other.....and did one of those........"Wow, she is growing up, she just talked to us like she is older then 3"...............There was just something about the way she said it, the words she used and her mannerisms.....It is so rewarding to be a parent and watch your children evolve.........

Happy Easter Everybody.....

What's in a name?????

So MJ has started to name all hers, Kiara and Lila's dolls and stuffed animals.......All of the names she has picked are totally original and very imaginative.....For instance, she named her new stuffed penguin "What-a-Bee-toe" (I spelled it the way she says it) and she has named Kiara's dolls Chita and Rito (Rito is a boy doll now)......and she named Lila's little penguin Baby Macaroni Penguin (this I know is from Diego).....anyway, I just wonder where she picks all this up....Kiara and her are so different on this level.....Kiara's new stuffed penguin is called "Penguin" named by Kiara.....and her baby's are "Baby".....I just find their differences fascinating......just wanted to share some of the things I am amazed by each day.....

So lets see.....Shawn came home from work yesterday totally sick.....he was freezing and had a really bad headache....pretty much exactly what I have/had.....so he spent the night in bed.....I put the girls down right at 8pm and went to bed as well......I must say I feel so much better today....now just coughing, sneezing and runny nose.....I will take that over the head pounding body aching I was feeling.....Shawn is on the mend.....he spent most of the morning in bed relaxing......but did get up to dye eggs with us.....here are some pics of our egg dying.....

I still can not believe it is already Easter time.....Tonight we may go for a walk around the 'hood to get some fresh air after the Coug game....We all could use it after being stuck at home sick....

Should have known.....

Well I was up at 2.00am with a sick child......Yes, Kiara screamed for mommy and a throw up bucket.....she did end up getting sick around 3.00am.......but was able to go back to sleep......and so I let her and MJ sleep in today till about 8.30ish or so......I too had a rough night of tossing, turning, coughing, cold sweats.....sucks being sick.....I have been coughing so much that I can barely talk.....Shawn will probably love this....no nagging wife chirping in his ear all day........So I am telling myself that I am fine and not sick.....we shall see how mind over matter works for me today.....

Kiara seems to be on the mend and has not gotten sick this morning....I am actually glad she got sick during the night.....hopefully that means she can just rest today and break her fever.....So it looks like a laying low kind of day filled with Dora after Dora.....(Yes, they are back on Dora. I like Diego better but they like what they like)......maybe I will put in a movie.....

I would just like to say the Cougs played awesome in the second half of their tourney game last night.....Can not wait to watch them play again on Saturday.......Here are some pics of the girls with the flowers that they planted for me with Daddy last night.......and I almost forgot like mother like daughter Lila loves spaghetti!!! She is still not a fan of whole milk warm or cold making the weaning a bit challenging....I guess I will follow her lead....

I am off to rest with my kiddos.....

We miss Grandma & Carol.....

Ahhh well our last few days with Grandma and Carol were great.....We took the twins to their first movie at a movie theater..."Horton Hears a Who"......while Shawn watched Lila....The girls were great....we did the full treatment with the Kiddie Meal (Popcorn, Soda, & Candy)....they could not get enough....MJ was really into the movie but asked lots of questions and pointed out tons of stuff....she just needs to work on her whispering....Kiara was totally serious and focused on the movie......she gets that way sometimes....So funny......of course she had to go potty towards the very end, I guess we need to work on going before she sits down......but we did make it back to see the end....so all was good....I am getting use to her having to go potty wherever we go.....it seems she always does....no matter if she goes before we leave the house...

So the house has slowed down since Tuesday afternoon. The girls and I took Grandma Paula and Carol to the airport on Tuesday and soon after we got home Mikiah started to run a high fever.....and sure enough not long after that she starting throwing up......poor girl.....Mom and Carol left at a good time although I would have loved the help since I too started to run a fever....and Little Miss Lila as well.....I have had a headache and chest congestion the last two days....and Lila just had a fever which leads me to believe it was because of her molars coming in.....So that left healthy Kiara and Daddy to take care of us.....and what a good job they did......and I am happy to report that MJ woke up this morning feeling great and back to her old self....and so far so good for Kiara who has not gotten this little bug.....and it looks like Lila's bottom molars have broken through.....

So we are trying to get back to normal here.....but the girls really miss Grandma.....Mikiah kept saying it all day today....we had to video call grandma this afternoon....it was so cute.....anyway tomorrow we will be watching March Madness and the Cougs......"Its the most wonderful time of the year!".....

Happy 1st Birthday Cole Gecas!!!!

Just wanted to wish Cole a very special Happy 1st Birthday! We miss you very much and wish we could be there in person!!!

Cole & Lila

Love Historic Market Square.....

So after a lazy morning of drinking coffee, chatting and watching Shawn do some yard work (Monday is brush pick up day, love that you can but a huge pile of stuff that you would normally take to the dump on the side of the street and the city comes and gets it 2 times a year, you can even put out big appliances, so crazy)......anyway we decided on a spur of the moment trip downtown to hit Historic Market Square.....it is more and more becoming one of my favorite places to go visit.....love to check out all the shops in El Mercado......so many unique ones....and just love the entertainment....there is always some great Mariachi musicians playing....besides the couple restaurants that are there....there are a ton of food stands.....I must say I had some good cheap street food today......Yummy Chicken Gordita for $3.....so freaking good.....so we did some more shopping......spend, spend, spend.......Grandma and Carol had a good time shopping loved all the culture and shops.....of course Mikiah loved the music!


Here is a video that sort of gives you the feel of Market Square....you can kind of hear the music....at the end I am trying to get Shawn's attention to get me some food....

Go...Go....Go, on the go!

Phew.....I have a moment to sit in front of my computer and not work!.....With all the running around we have been doing I have been working every time I sit down.....What a great couple of days we have had.....Lets see Thursday we went to a German Town called Boerne......so fun we went through a few antique shops and checked out the little town......pretty cool town with lots of character....Thursday night Shawn and I went on a date.....finally got out to a movie....Yeah!....then we came home and forgot to pick up diapers....so off to Wal-Mart we went and came home with diapers and Easter (nice to shop with Shawn with out all the kids)....

Yesterday we went to Sea World.....Shawn and I bought Season Passes for us and the twins and Uncle Joel got one too....(Lila is free until she is 3)........Boy what fun.....and I am so glad we got all year passes......we get our money's worth by going 2 times.....and boy there is a place called Shamu Harbor....totally interactive fun for the kids......lots of water for the kids to keep cool....and there is a water park inside Sea World which opens in April can not wait.....I see the girls and I headed there during hot days to have fun and keep cool......they loved Sea World....as did all of us.......here are some pics....and a pretty cool video of Shamu.....and the other killer whales.....

March 08 SeaWorld-GMA Paula

The Bed frame is here....finally....

First off, I would like to say congrats to one my best friends Melissa, her husband Todd, and daughter Natalie on the birth of their new bundle of joy, Brodie....rumor has it he is a blondie....we can not wait to meet, hug and squeeze him! Miss you guys!

Secondly, the bed frame for the guest bed finally arrived today.....they came in and set it up too.....I guess that is what the delivery charge is for.....at least I didn't have to do it....Here are some pics....and yes I need to clean the lens of my camera.....love those water spots....




We have been staying busy around here....yesterday we went and got the girls pics done at JC Penny's.....it was interesting, they looked pretty in their spring dresses.....and the girls listened pretty well......but then party way through they got all serious and wouldn't really smile or listen....oh well they still took some great pics......the photographer was probably the best we have had at JC Penny's......lets see what else did we do.....we went out to lunch at the Alamo Cafe, their homemade warm tortillas are freaking amazing....the girls enjoyed watching them get made (they have a viewing room).......I think that is about it.....today was a down day with not much going on......time to finish up some work.....

Busy...Busy Downtown Day......

Ahhh so Friday was another great day down here in SA......I took the girls, Carol and my mom shopping at The Shops at La Cantera......I just love outdoor malls.....we had such a good time.....I spent some birthday money on some Jeans (Thanks Daddy!) and also picked up the twins Easter/Spring Dresses......we are getting their pics done on Tuesday so now all 3 of them have pretty spring dresses (Lila got hers for her birthday)......We pretty much shopped till we dropped.....and then it was home to freshen up and then out to dinner.......To celebrate Carol's Birthday.....We went to Saltgrass Steak House it was pretty good and we had a wonderful time.....and always and added bounus when you have a gift card to use up.....Kiara was hilarious.....she had to have a steak......so we let her order a steak.....it was a small one the kids menu......so funny.....then it was home for cake.....yes I made another cake for Carol.....a chocolate one for her.....So freaking good.....

Today we headed out around 10.30am or so......and got home around 6.30pm.....we spend all afternoon downtown....hitting the Alamo, the Rivercenter Mall, the River Walk (The twins took a boat ride with Grandma and Carol, while Shawn and I got us on the list to eat at Casa Rio).....Lunch was awesome talk about great Mexican food.....we also did some street shopping and went to the Tower of Americas (similar to the Space Needle in Seattle, only higher)......Busy, Busy day.....

But, I am happy to report that the Kiara and Mikiah did AWESOME with out a nap.......Lila enjoyed her day in the Ergo Carrier....she finally likes to ride on my back....and enjoyed riding along all day.....with some intermittent naps....by the end of the day she was ready to snuggle up in front....She loves her Mama.....I can not tell you how many comments I get on my carrier.....most people have never seen and Ergo Carrier before and think it is pretty cool.....I just can't not imagine not having it.....I LOVE IT (Thanks again Molly!)........and on another note.....her and I are slowly weaning each other from breastfeeding......she didn't want to nurse once while we were out.......she is still not too sure about whole milk........and I am not in a hurry to wean her.....I am letting her lead the way.....but she loves food all of a sudden.....eating pretty much anything you put in front of her.....so I assume she will wean fairly soon....I have loved being able to nurse her this first year......it was so great for both of us.....but I must say I am looking forward to having my body back.....

So we have had a great couple days and on the agenda for tomorrow.....rest, relaxation, and a little be of work for me.....here are a few shots from today.....

Lila's Birthday in Pics.....

Lila had a wonderful birthday and received tons of gifts.....so thank you all! She was not much into cake.....but oh well......one of the best parts was the pinata......the twins and Lila took turns pulling the strings and when the candy came falling they all were laughing.....so funny!......Lila's favorite gift.....hmmm she loves her chair but loves her card from G-Dad that sings....she just loves music....

Lila's 1st BDay

Happy 1st Birthday Miss Lila

Man it is crazy....my little girl is 1 today. I just can not believe how fast the time has flown by.....I still remember getting up around 1 am to drive to the hospital.....she was so big weighing in a little over 9lbs....I remember when the twins came to the hospital to see their baby sis, they were so excited yet so nervous.....So many milestones already passed and many more to come.....So Happy 1st Birthday to my Sweet Little Lila.......

A year ago....

Look how much you've grown....

And some pics in between.....

Little Preview...and Pics.....

So Grandma Paula gets here today.....and we couldn't be more excited...and I thought I would give you a little preview of the guest bedroom sans the new bed frame, which should be here this week.....So when I get it I will take another pic to show you... and for all those of you with kids...we have plenty of pack-n-plays and as soon as we get the girls in big girl beds (very soon) we will also have cribs that can be set up in this room too! (hint! hint!)

Before:

After:

We also turned part of the walk in closet into a vanity since there is only one bath upstairs......just another place to do your hair, make up, etc.....and store your stuff....and still plenty of room for clothes and bags......

And here are some pics from the weekend.......as you can see the girls picked out their own outdoor table set.......they love it.....

et

Yard O Work......

We have had a great weekend so far.....Friday night we went to a bowling alley for Shawn's work, it was a fundraiser....the girls had a great time and even got to bowl a little.....so cute, I wish I had my camera, it was pretty cool they used a metal rack thingy to roll the ball down the lane.....the loved it.....and so did the people from Shawn's work....

Today we spent most of the day outside in the front and side yard....and made huge progress....we still have a ways to go but it will do for now until we start fertilizing and watering and mowing........the girls loved helping and being outside.....weeding was really fun for them, gotta love free labor......we got them some Dora/Diego gloves and little rakes.....today's tasks were moving the palms from the front to the side of the house and tidying up the front....

Here are some before pics.....Uncle Joel and Kiara.....and the girls.....of course Lila not much help....

And a few hours later.....we actually need 1-2 more bags of the white rocks for the bed....but it looks good for now....1st pic is the moved palms....

I am still planning on placing a bright colored pot in the rocks with a shade friendly plant but we have 1 more freeze coming this Monday night and then we can plant away!.......The side yard still has a ton of weeding to do but a little earth friendly herbicide will help with that......

Tomorrow we will be cleaning most of the day and folding the clean laundry that keeps getting done but not folded....and now I have the biggest pile of doom.....I swear its like 4 HUGE loads.....I did finally talk to Potterybarn and our bed frame for the guest bed shipped out Friday night.......so I will take pics of the guest bed all put together after I get it....Woohooo!.....any I am out for now.....