Wild Animal Park & The Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we had a fun filled family weekend.   My sister came down with her family and we hung out at the Wild Animal Park together with our families.  I love hangin with my Sister and having her husband and my adorable niece around.  It was so fun walking around the Park and seeing the different animals.  Justice was so excited about visiting the Zoo that he's already asking to go back.  It was such a beautiful day out and the weather was perfect.
Here are some pics from our trip:

 

My adorable niece Sophie

 

 Enjoying nature and some photography

After the Zoo my sis stayed over and we ordered Pizza while unwinding and watched Friends with Benefits. The movie was hilarious, and it was awesome waking up to my niece and her adorable face.  Sunday we all got up and met with my sister Melyssa and her family as well as my Mom, Kevin and Lukas at Peltzer Farms.  We walked through the corn maze, watched the Pig Races, and the kids enjoyed the animals at the petting zoo.  To end the afternoon we had a late lunch/early dinner at Red Robin. 

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses."  ~Joyce Brothers

April

Progress

#1st on the list of updates is we are making progress in the potty training department. Justice wears his big boy underwear during the day and a diaper at night to avoid late night accidents.  He is facinated as of late with going #2 in his Elmo Potty and calls us over to check out his accomplishment (oh joy!) lol but it is really quite exciting. He is becoming quite the little man =] I cant believe he will be 3 in just 3 weeks.

 Kaylen is doing well in school and is working on a report on New Mexico. This is pretty cool because a couple summers ago he went with his Nana and Bumpa and Lukas to New Mexico on Vacation and has pics he can share with his class to go with his report.  He is learning about their state Seal, and Flag as well as the State Flower amongst other things.

I on the other hand have been trying to stay tuned into some projects and new recipes, but i tell ya being a working Mom is draining. But i love fall and decorating...and cooking warmer meals :) Here are some of the newer meals i've put together:

1) 7 bean soup. Cory had been asking me to make this because his Mom use to make it for him as a kid and he had a taste for it, so she sent me the instructions on how to put it together and with my own lil touches we had ourselves some pretty amazing soup.

2) Kielbasa Bow Tie Pasta Skillet - this was REALLY good.

3) Chicken Vegetable Stir Fry - it was my first time making it and it turned out really good. I will definately be putting these recipes in the dinner rotation.  I found that making a weekly dinner list really does help when i do my grocery shopping too!

With the coming of Fall comes the trees changing colors and leaves falling, but now that i have a tree of my own in my backyard im realizing now just what a big PAIN IN THE BUTT these leaves can be. Tonight i had Kaylen help throw out a big trash bag full of leaves i had cleaned up from my back yard and front pathway.

Not a fun clean up :/ and the leave just keep coming! Oy!

On a positive note i hung up the Fall Wreath i made and painted my nails just for Halloween :)

Spooky Nails =]

Thats all for now folks!

April

Fall projects

Summer has come to an end and fall is officially the Season.  This is the time of year  i usually break out the Hazelnut candles,  move the furniture around to make it cozy, and turn on the Crockpot to make turkey legs. Mmmm.  Well, I haven't done that just yet...lol. Instead i've been itching to jump into a few projects.  So,  i decided i wanted to try making a fall wreath.  It was both fun & therapeutic, not mention very affordable =]

                                             My handmade Fall Wreath 

Another project i've started digging back into are both my wedding album and bachelorette album.

 

They aren't completed yet, and i still have a lot of work to do, but it was relaxing to sit and tap into myself with these projects.  As well as reminisce on one of the happiest days of my life, marrying the love of my life.  Im truly blessed.

April

Fall is almost here!

Fall is ALMOST here...and i have to say I am ready.
Summer was fun, but im definitely over the heat.  Cant wait till it starts to cool down and i can light up the fire place, use my crock pot for warmer meals, light my hazelnut and autumn scented candles and decorate.

But first to kick off the end of Summer i have a few things lined up and i am definitely excited!

First, the girls and I are hitting the road. Vegas, here we come! The countdown has been in effect for a while but effective Friday i will be sippin a cocktail poolside with my girls, shopping, strolling the strip, and hitting the club for some grown and sexy fun.  A much needed extended weekend get away. 

Next up, i have tickets to go to Fresh Fest in LA.  The line up consist of The Game, E-40, Mac 10, Twista, Young Buck, and other surprise guests.  Definitely a great end to the Summer.

I've also changed up my look for fall, i colored my hair...went darker.  When i get back from Vegas i'll probably go get my hair cut and have my layers trimmed and touched up.  Not too short though, i want to grow my hair out. Here's a pic:

Welp, thats it for now, gotta finish up some laundry and start packing so i can make sure not to forget anything.


April

Back to the routine

Summer vacation is officially over and we are officially back into the routine with the kids, school and work.  Though im sure Kaylen enjoys his Summer Break from school, im glad its over. Two and a half months off is a long time, lol. So...he's officially back in school for 5th grade and his last year of Elementary. I cant believe how quickly time goes by and how fast he has grown. This year I've made a promise to myself and him that I will try and be more involved and take part in the class field trips. I've never been able to because of work.  It hard to get time off to engage in these kinds of things, but its important to me to have that experience with him. 

                                                         His first day back to school =]

Justice is making progress with potty training...he's started to be more consistent with using the toilet on his own. He's very independent, has to do everything himself.  He's talking a lot more these days and definitely has a mind of his own. 

Some recent fun updates:

Cory's cousin China came out to visit from Detroit. It was nice to have her, she visited for a week and it was nice to finally meet her and hang out. 

Here are some other visitors that we've had this summer in the Austin household:

Grandaddy was a surprise visitor


  Aunt Sharon came by to hang out and BBQ

My sisters came to visit, each at different times...and brought my adorable nieces.

Melyssa came by with her hubby and hung out with us, we had a nice dinner and the kids got to play...above is a pic of Molly & Justice

My sis Shannan came by to visit us me and stayed the night...we tried Scrapbook but the kids weren't having it so we watched the Twilight Saga and a couple other movies...here's my niece Sophie (3 mos.)

Could update some more but it'll have to wait...the hubby is requesting my presence to watch a movie :]

Chao!


April

An Overdue Update...

I've been a terrible blogger...time seems to pass by so quick. I remember being a kid thinking that the days passed by so slowly, now that im older im really wishing i could savor the day more.

Summer is passing by quickly. Kaylen has made his rounds over his Summer break spending a couple weeks up in LA with his grandma and then another week with his Nana.  School will be starting up in the next couple weeks for him, I really cant believe that i will have a 5th grader  on my hands.  I try and think about myself at that age, i can remember my school and friends and things we would do.  It makes me sad that my son is growing up so quickly, but so proud of you person he is becoming every day. 

I haven't been able to do as much as i'd like to over the Summer with my boys...but we did:
Go to Legoland...
     Explore the Strawberry Fields...
          Go to the Movies and see Captain America...
                Spend days at the pool...
                       Visit with Family...
                            Go to an Angels Baseball Game and Ludacris Concert...
                                 Visit the San Diego County Fair...

After listing it all...it does seem like we've done a bit, but im not very satisfied, lol...i always feel like so much of the day is taken away being at work, i guess i kinda miss being home with my kids.  Anyhow...next on the list would be a beach trip, we haven't been to the beach yet this summer.  Maybe this weekend we'll plan to make that happen, build sandcastles and maybe i can work on my tan a bit ;)

In Justice news he is just growing a rocket speed. He is talking soooo much and mimicks other people.  He's top frazes as of late are "Wow", "Yea Buddy", "NOW!!!", "dont say that", "ima tell mom", and " Cool". I love watching him and i see so much of myself in him.  He's a thinker, he watches people and then will try things for himself, he's meticulous about how things are done and how he likes things, he doesn't like being dirty and he can watch his favorite movies over and over, he's independent and likes to do things himself (the latest "i do it" is putting himself in his high chair or car seat and fastening his seat belt).  He's growing up so fast but he is so amazingly smart. I really feel blessed to have two kids that are absolutely amazing.

As for myself...Life is Hectic.
Work drains me and i find myself with little energy to create and be crafty. Im still trying to put together some scrapbooks and want to dedicate more time to it. I also have on my wish list the need for a new sewing machine.  Mine broke and i've had so many ideas of things i want to do and just haven't been able to without my machine.  But i'll be sharing my finished products as soon a i get some energy and time! Being a working mommy is hard! Kudos to my momma and all the other working Mommys with multiple kids...its a tough job balancing work, kids and time for yourself.  But im determined ;)

You only have one life to live and none of us are promised tomorrow. So we must embrace life, embrace ourselves and those we love most...

RIP Michael "Gyver" Krempin

                                 

April

Summers in full effect!

Summer aka Tanning Season has OFFICIALLY began! I love this for many reasons...but here are a few:

1. No need to think about what to do on the weekend...Beach and Pool are always an option ;)

2. BBQs!!!

3. Traffic is cut down

On another note, Kaylen is out of school and on Summer Vacation.  Officially no longer my lil 4th grader and next year will be his last year in Elementary, he's growing up so fast! 

Accomplishments to end the year:

1. He had improved in all areas of his report card socially and academically, he enjoyed his teacher this year and managed to turn in his assignments and do his homework with out any nagging from me =). 

2. He had his first Mission assignment this year on Mission San Miguel Archangel and completed it along with his report and got an "A", yay!!

3. He is a purple-white belt in Karate. 

4. He plays the Chello.  

                                         (cell phone pic...a lil blurry)

Justice is still his lil energetic self keeping us on our toes.

Updates:

1. He is working on his use of the potty and is doing well.  He's been making it through the day staying dry with the exception of maybe one accident. He's getting the hang of it.

2. He is talking a whole lot more and using bigger sentences to say what he wants or feels.  (downside: some days i wish he had a mute button :) lol)

3. He likes to pick his own clothes to wear and is very opinionated on what he likes and wants.

4. He likes dancing, turning on lights, ringing the doorbell, annoying his brother, yelling at cars to "come on maaaan, moooove" (sigh, lol yes my fault), and raiding the pantry for snacks at his leisure.

I've been horrible at keeping things on here up to speed and i haven't been up to anything crafty lately. Im terribly behind on scrapbooking.  So my goal is to accomplish putting my wedding scrapbook and album together (yes i said Wedding...sigh). Work has filled up my days and by the time i get to relax its usually late. However the weekends are usually fun, and we definately make good use of them.  The San Diego County Fair is open and the kids and i went a couple weeks back. Here's a couple pics from our last visit.

Fathers day was also a fun day. I had spent two weeks planning a gift the boys to give their Dad. With all the hard work he's invested into his magazine and Imperial Hustle i decided to have shirts made for the family.  The boys got shirts made with the company logo on the back and "RESPECT THE HUSTLE" printed on the front.  Daddy was a happy camper.  Here's a shot of the shirt.

My husband however has many good things in the works. Cory has put out Volume 4 of The Resource Magazine with the Outlaws on the cover of his magazine as well as an exclusive interview! He's also got interviews with lots of other artists, models, producers, etc...he is definately moving forward to making his vision a success. If you haven't seen it you need to peep it. wwww.imperialhustle.com

April