Chore #1- Water plants

We are preparing for the kids to start school at the end of August so I am starting to get them used to new routines, including chores! (woo-hoo!) I took Miranda to Target and we picked out all kinds of plants to beautify our backyard, then I got her a watering can and her 1st chore so far is to water all our plants. This has been a great chore to start with because of course she LOVES doing it...I caught her watering on her own this morning!

Happy Birthday to mommy!

Today is my birthday. I am now old...just kidding I have been feeling old since I started having my own kids 5 long years ago! It was a nice day, not a lot of pics for evidence once again, but it was fun none-the-less. My friend Michelle and her boys brought me balloons and a cute gift. After they left we made our way out to Tececula to spend the day with the Snell Family. Unfortunately Miranda was being a little booger and acting poorly. (ps Mckenzie I am still SOOOOO very sorry about your smashed little fingers :( But I still able to enjoy my day with one of my best friends. Amy is so fabulous and made me a cute notebook and fall blocks (which I should take a picture of so you all can see HOW cute they are...but I'm too tired.) Also I got a treat to Starbucks (my fav!)


After our long day on the road, and Del Taco in the car on the ride home Miss Sassy pants her-self took and very much needed nap! When we got home she slept another hour and a half...this is what she looked like when she woke up...That's what I FEEL like everyday :)

BBQ time

Well naturally on the best day ever I forget my camera. Today we had an awesome BBQ for my birthday and Ryan who is going back to the Army for a long time. Jess, Kristy, the kids, Crystal & Shawn, my aunts, my grandparents, my parents....we were all there...no proof though...but really it was a great time!

Laundry Day

So once a week I have laundry day...and yes, it takes me ALL day.
#1 wash/dry then throw on my bed


#2 once all is washed fold and separate by person, towels,and kitchen

#3 put away....isn't my bed pretty!!!!

A visit to T-T land

T-T land is where my Aunt and Cousins live and Andy made the name up...he's a goof! Anyhow we took a trip to T-T land for some swimming and here are the results:


Sarah was helping Andy swim (and Payton and girl).


Britt and Sis were chillin in the spa...looks yummy. Then the pool guy kicked us out to clean so we moved our party inside....:)

Varella Family Fun Time!!!!

Jess and Kristy Varella (uh I really hope I spelled it right for once:)) are some of our best friends. Spending time with them is really the best, the kids play (meaning Russell and Jess...jk) and the little kids have a great time together too! Kristy is my main 'girls night out chick'...ps we NEED another get away...I just really love this little...I mean BIG family...(baby #3 comes in 6 weeks!)


Just cruising'....

Big stuff...

HHhmmmm...potty training time?

It is proven that Payton has mind of his own...this time he was cracking me up. We got a free sample of Pull-ups in the mail and he decided he was ready to wear one. He ran around smacking his 'wee' and saying 'pee-pee...PEE-PEE!!!!' I let him sit on the big potty which he thought was SO cool...but nothing came out, except a few giggles.....What a HAM!

You all know coupons are my new fetish and these pics were absolutely free (THANKS PICTURE PEOPLE!!!!) It's not my favorite pic in the whole world, but it is pretty darn cute...and free:) Payton is not pictured because he was being a little pill and screaming his head off. I'm not one for torturing a kid just for a good shot (that in fact is why Andy doesn't have a professional pic for about 2 years of his life...he would freak out too). Anyhow I love these little guys and I can not believe that Andy is going to be 5 in less than a month. Kindergarten here we come!!! And as for miss sassy pants herself...pre-school in the fall! Time flies when you're busy having babies!!!!

Make-up bandit

While I was trying to get myself and 3 kids ready for church this morning Payton decided he wanted some lippes just like the girls. He tore apart my purse to find his favorite color (the darkest one of course) and slightly missed the mouth, but doesn't his nose look great! Silly boy!

Sushi for the Harts

In Corona there is the most wonderful sushi place...whenever we can we sneak away there for some fresh fish. Andy always says he wants sushi whenever we ask him what he wants for dinner...tonight he won! Before Russell even noticed Andy had taken a piece of his white tuna and shoved it in his mouth...yummy!


The sushi chef always makes Miranda mini California rolls...but 1st she has to eat her Miso soup.

Russell was telling Andy to stop stealing his fish!

Andy and daddy...my boys!

After we were done the hostess gave the kids star suckers..Andy passed (to full of sushi) but my little sweet-tooth's had plenty of room for one!

Inked up

The church at Cal Baptist is called Sandals. We like to go on Sunday nights...it is a fun, rocked out "cool" church. They sent us tattoos for the kids in the mail last year and Russell just ran across them and inked up the kids...


Andy didn't want one (that's my boy :)) so Pay gladly took 2....

Girl also got 2, the one on her are says "REAL" and she also got "Sandals" on her feet....Silly little monkeys!

Fresh as Fresh Can BE

Last summer my mountain man went to Alaska and fished to his hearts content. He brought home a ton of fresh Halibut and we are finally eating the last of his fish...It is the best fish I have ever had (thanks babe:)


This was dinner tonight. Organic veggies, rice, and Halibut seasoned with the fruit from our backyard...yummy!

Wordless Wednesday

UUmmmm...thanks for the help?

If anyone knows me well they know I can never slip away to have a peaceful phone call but on this particular day I was talking to my Aunt Christy (ps HAPPY BIRTHDAY TT!!!!) and after a good quiet ten minutes I began to wonder WHY was it so quiet....my fully nude child was scrubbing the toilet....hhhmmmm

In living color!

We are at the stage right now were my little people have freedoms in picking what they want to wear...well for bed. Both my lovies decided they wanted to flash back to the 60's...it made them feel all lovey too.....funny. These shirts are from my mom, she did a production of Godspell with her choirs....so cute!

Holy Grapes!

Our backyard is one of the coolest places in the world. Most likely by next month we will have a ton of ripe juicy...organic as they come grapes! Last year they were soooo good, so naturally I am super excited.


Look at those leggers! (I have no idea why he has shoes but no pants...)


Playin' and a playin'

This is me and Andy's "classic" pose....and he never is looking but I still love it!

I'm not sure why he won't let me get his pic today...maybe it was because of the pants...hehehe

Welcome home BRO...

My little brother is home from 6 (grueling) months in Bootcamp and Officer training school for the Army. Needless to say he came home a man...I missed him so much and I am soooo proud of him so I threw him a little BBQ and made shrimp kabobs, Halibut, Fillet Minon, and Flank Steak....so yummy (my nan brought the steak :))) I caught him and nan in mide bite...silly


Payton is a "man's man" for sure and today he has picked my Bump to be his buddy. Bump kept telling him "I'm gonna get you" and Pay thought that was really cool....love these boys!

Wedding Season....

Tis the season to get hitched! This was from a couple weeks ago at Mike and Wendy's wedding...It was so pretty (and a ton of fun too).


Russell was a groomsman...funny he's been in about 5 weddings in the past couple years...



This was from last week today. Matt Curry and Sherri got married in Hemet...another pretty wedding....I remember the day over 5 years ago I got married...:)

Backyard Picnic

Sometimes the best days are the days spend at home! Today we enjoyed our backyard, the sprinklers, and BBQed hot dogs on the grass, followed by Popsicles. It was fun and relaxing!


Payton didn't have a towel like the big kids so he found a plastic saucer and made it his seat...he's so funny!

Then my little man was making a huge mess with his Popsicle so I gave him a bath and he insisted the Popsicle come with us...whatever huh?

Super Money Saving Mama!!!!

That's right super money saving mama is here!!!!! (Miranda is my representation) After a nice week off from reality I was back to my money saving adventures. In fact on our vacation I had to go to Wal-Mart and I felt like I was being ripped off buying things full price...I only had one sad little coupon for our Pringles....well this week more than made up for all that! I don't think I will need any bathroom supplies for a good year!


I paid $1 for all this at Rite aide!!!

The hair spray was $3.00 each and I had 2 $1 coupons. I also got $4 in rebates for those. The BeCool patches (a neat contraption for when your kid has a fever) was on sale for $1 with a $1 rebate. Not bad for a buck!!!!



I paid $0.00 out of pocket for this.....
Last night after my class I headed to CVS for a little shopping in peace (since Andy is out of school for the summer I have to shop with all three....yikes) Well I totally made out, The Dove shampoo and conditioner was buy one get one free for $4.99 and I had 2 $1 off coupons (making that a total of $3...and as for the make up...well if you know me you know I have had a love affair with MAC makeup...which is less than a frugal product, and sadly each year I have had to cut back on my splurges and now I am just plain old trying to be "frugal" and only buy the necessities at the lowest price possible. Well I scored the Revlon lippies and nail polish for a total of $6.99 (another buy one get one free scenario) and the foundation and powder for a total of $10.00...you can't buy anything for under $20 bucks at the MAC store!!!! Plus I have become really fond of the cheap stuff (it works the same as the expensive stuff..IMAGINE THAT!) So my total was $21 and I had exactly $21 in CVS bucks...so I paid....$0.00.....oh yeah! But I did have to snap back to reality and buy 2 gallons of milk and a loaf of bread...so I paid $5.50 out of pocket...still it was a great deal!!!!



This morning we all ran to my favorite place in the world...Target and I was able to get these yummy breakfast items for $2.50...hhmmm could that be breakfast for 5 for a week for under $3?

This was Target on Tuesday...(out of shopping order, but whatever) Anyhow I got all this for a whopping $3.43...love Target bc you can have a Target coupon for something and I manufactures....:))

Ok I haven't gone to K-Mart in a good 20 years, quite literally but they offer double coupons once a month so I have all my $2 coupons that will double to $4 off! I scored all this for $15.37 which is really a smoking deal because the Aveeno faces washes and Jergens tanning lotion alone would have been $21.97...I love my coupons!!!!

So to sum that up I paid $22.57 for all that loot...I spent more that that this morning on my lovies little suprises...a hula hoop for girl, a Thomas the Train set for An, and a shake and roll car for my sweet boy Pay-zee...

Mail time Monday

After our long vacation I got home and had a mail box full of free little goodies...a degree deodorant for Russ, some seasoning packets and coupons, Roto eye drops, and Goodnite sample and coupon...It's always fun to get freebies!

Vacation: Day 6

I LOVE any holiday, really, but the 4th is a super fun one, and this year was no exception. We had a fun day doing the usual, pool, beach, BBQ and back to the beach. Above is my bro, Ryan and his ladies. He is our soldier and we are so proud of him and LOVE him so much! Below is our crew watching the fireworks. Russ took some pics of them but they didn't come out (I think it is time for a camera upgrade!) Andy was awake and he really enjoyed the show. We could see the ones off the San Clemente pier and Dana Point. It was amazing. Miranda was so excited because she was never seen fireworks, she was impressed, but thought they were a tad loud.... love those guys!!!!