Just a quicky to say hi to everyone. We are coming off of a busy week as well. We did go to Denny's 70th birthday party and stayed at Peg's for two nights. Dad was able to fix a few things for her which she really appreciated. Several things she didn't even realize were becoming a problem. The party was very nice although a bit hectic to get ready for at the park. Lots of wind made it hard to get things set up but we all managed.
Sunday we stopped at Janelle's and had a nice visit. Nathan and Stephanie stopped in as well so it was good to see them. We had left Dad's car at Amy's as I had been there Friday morning. We picked it up on the way home. It was good to see that Amy was beginning to feel a little better. Shantel and Jadon start school on Wednesday so they are busy doing all the before school preps like rearranging their rooms and going through all their clothes etc.
Our power is to be shut off again for three hours this morning. I better get busy before that happens.
Sorry no pictures.

Whirlwind of a week!

Chicago with Jen ... 
OH MY GOODNESS!! MIKA's FIRST DAY!!!! Mika and Miss Tabitha feeling all like "big stuff" with her backpack!! She absolutely adored her first day and couldn't wait to go back!! She goes on Thursdays and Fridays. Nani brings her after Maya gets on the bus. Of course Daddy had to go her first day too.. Thank goodness. I emotionally just couldn't do it... And it was too hard to get off school. Nani told me that she felt like she was bringing her own child and had the worst pit in her stomach. She just stayed and watched Mika play for awhile outside.. and knew she was in good hands.. so was able to leave. We are the most blessed family in the world still having our Nani!! We love her so so much!!  I"ll get  a pic of her on here one of these days!! 
I love school!!! 

Filling you in on the whirlwind of a week which started in the windy city of Chicago. I flew in to meet my sister last Saturday who was flying in for work. In 10 years I've never seen her in her element of flying one of those big daddys. I've flown with her about 12 years ago in a little tiny airplane, prayed the hail mary the entire time and begged God to save my life. I am a chicken.. and my sister the daredevil.. Hence.. she's the pilot and I am still the chicken saying the hail mary every single time I fly. I made a little "love you hand" sign so she could see it from the window, had a starbucks ready for her when she got off and a sign that said "your pilot is my baby sister".  I didn't expect to break out into an out and out sob when I saw her in the plane pull up. Luckily I was around a great family consisting of 2 sisters, grandma, mom and brother so I filled up them in on the story as to why I was waving at a big piece of metal and crying my eyes out.. I really was just seeing my baby sister in that big bird for the first time. The grandma cried too and said "you should be so proud!! " Of course my sissy was embarassed and rolled her eyes when she got off the plane... :)

We proceeded to have the time of our lives the next 8 hours before sleep. We crammed as much shopping as we could and headed to Cafe Iberico, a Spanish tapas restaurant. An actual plan B. The plan B allowed us to meet our Chicago Cuban Cutie. There was a long wait to be seated, but as luck would have it we spotted and snagged 2 seats at the bar. We ordered our drinks and the bartender says "The gentleman behind you would like to buy your drinks". We gave him a high 5, a great married smile and said Gracias. I told him he looked like he belonged as he looked muy espanol.. And he started talking to me in Spanish... He's actually from Cuba.. well his parents are.. and so we had fun speaking in Spanish until we thought we'd let my sissy in on the conversation.  He was dodging his Bachelor party (or so he says) to get to bed early for a run the next morning and thought we looked like more fun. To make a long story short, we were clear we and he were interested only in great conversation, showed pictures of our kids. But great conversation was where we went. H was a total sweet heart gentleman of a guy. He was a new runner, loved speaking Spanish, and worked in the stock market. He thought we were 27.. his age... Then he bought us our dinner too. ! Wow.. We are talking WOW. Jen and I kept looking for the Oprah cameras. Was this really real? WHAT AN EGO booster for some 30 something exhausted mommys.... We said our goodbyes.. can't remember his name.. but headed to the L and kept watching our backs to see if he was following us. Nope. We kept looking again for more Oprah cameras for a show on young hotties trying to make 30 something mommys feel young and hot again.. Nope. Just a sweet gesture out of the goodness of his heart. Could this be possible in Chicago? Wow... A big tab picked up by some sweet young thing? It's not like he was some perverted old fart... We can't remember his name (I thought she caught it.. ) so we will always remember our CCC.. Chicago Cuban Cutie as our ego booster. We love Chicago, but not sure we could ever beat that for a sister trip! 

Oh yeah..Had my first day of school!! Here is my new poseee. Chris, Jen, Auntie Vicki (You've all heard me talk about Vicki) and me. You can tell we are all exhausted!! I can only remember being this tired around the 6 week mark of each daughter's birth. Wow. Once I adjust to being back full time I'm confident I'll get back in the groove! I Have loved loved loved so much my new school. I feel like it is Christmas in my huge beautiful room. I have had to calm my students' nerves as they are not used to Spanish speaking majority of the time Spanish teacher. Anyway..we're getting used to each other, but I can tell you I love their little hearts and eagerness to learn. It is so fun with the new grading system in making sure they'll all master.  The technology is out of this world!!  I only have to do a jumping jack once in awhile after school while working on my computer because with no movement, the lights turn off automatically.
Here's one pic of my room. Missing the most important part.. the kids! You can see Mika's stroller in the bottom of the room. Our school is so huge I enlist the stroller's help from my car if I  have a ton of stuff. Working mom... Watch out!! 

GO GAUCHOS at the OLYMPICS!!!

OH MY !! As we were watching the Men's sand volleyball olympics the other night with Rogers and the D player (can't remember name) , I said "Wow.. I used to know a guy named TODD Rogers at UCSB... and he was an awesome volleyball player for the Gauchos.  We actually studied together after I got to know him in all places.. a volleyball class.. where he was a helper to our teacher (the head coach for UCSB). He was a total hotie in college and truth be told I had a huge crush on him (This was well before the Ryan Birchler days.. After I met Ryan every other handsome man to me is way below Ryan's standard... ) I thought I was cool stuff going to the games and he was my friend. 

Anyway.. the announcer proceeds to say "Todd". I about craped my pants.. and I went on-line to the wonderful world of all knowledge and it is indeed the very very sweet Todd the one and the same who also went with me to the Goleta Boys and Girls Club where I worked after I talked him into coming to read to the kids.. I started a "REading with a Gaucho" program for the young'ens to get excited about reading... He was so great with them and he had a ball reading! He did it out of the goodness of his heart.. No reward.. just did it because he thought it would be neat. 

He was a total genuine sweet true person with a heart of gold. I am sooo happy for him. He was not a best friend by any means, so I have no idea how to get a hold of him today.. 

But.. Send Positive winning energy to this wonderful hearted Gaucho and former classmate of your sissy-in-law!

I just had to put this out before they go for the gold.. I should be getting ready for one of the biggest days of my life tomorrow!

love to you all!! 

Putting myself to work

I gave myself a few goals this summer. One of which was to do all of the preliminary work related to launching a portrait business. I am pleased to announce that I am officially open for business. I sent all of you a copy of the email blast I sent to friends and family this morning, which links to my photoblog. For now, I specialize in natural light, on-location, photo journalistic portraiture. In time, as I build my equipment arsenal, I hope to expand into studio work. The response has been positive. Wish me luck!

Our Princess

She is growing like a weed! A pretty weed... Our little princess...Kyla is changing daily. She will be 4 months already September 1! I think time has gone the fastest with her. She is almost rolling over--trying her hardest to get her little butt over. She also hangs onto her rattles and tries to get them to her mouth. (But if she doesn't succeed settles for her fist.) The boys just adore her and give her a million kisses everyday. They will forever be her protectors! She will smile and giggle when she sees and hears them!

Todd-you should be happy now!!! I finally got around to getting pictures and posting. Now are you going to read and comment??!!!

Summertime Fun!

Finally, some photos of the boys!! They love playing outside--mowing, swinging, making castles in the sandbox and riding their bikes and trikes. They both just finished helping daddy put pebble rock under their playset for added safety. Evan is our climber (due to watching his older brother!) He is currently attempting the monkey bars--so it was time to put something down for protection! And for them it gives them something else to play with...We are getting ready to send Isaac off to preschool for his first time after labor day...yikes he is growing so fast. I am sure Evan will love being in charge those days!

Fun in the Sun - Missing Video Clip

Here is the video clip that was missing in the post below.

Fun in the Sun!

Greetings! This summer is zipping right by!

For the Harmony Grove (Lodi) household, it has been the week of sickness. Little L has a double ear infection, Mom has a sinus infection & possibly strep throat (awaiting results), and now Dad is getting a sore throat! Good thing for Amoxicillin! I know, I know, it's better that she get sick now rather than when she starts kindergarten, but why do M&D need to be sick all the time too??? Oh yeah, this is a new strain of all the bugs we had when we were growing up. Good grief!

This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago. She is such a little beach baby. She loves the outdoors, the water, and her daddy too!

We went to the Portage Fair a couple of weekends ago. Lexie enjoyed seeing all the animals, but really wanted to ride the rides. (This need for speed is starting too early! I don't think they make helmets that would fit her yet!)

Lexie rode the car all by herself! She did amazing well for being all alone! She made it 4 or 5 laps before realizing she was all by herself without the comfort of mommy and daddy. (What the heck was I thinking!?!?!? She's only 14 months old and I let her go on a ride by herself? I ended up being emotional for all 5 laps! ) The little car moved so much faster than I expected, the seatbelt was super loose - she could step right over and out, and the bumps were so big!!! Sniff, sniff. So much for the first born being overly protected. My guess is that future baby number 2 will not get to be so independent so early!!!