Easter 2012

Last Easter, we announced to the whole family that we were expecting an addition to the family. It was truly an amazing family filled and heartwarming Easter, just how Easter should be. This Easter was NOT one to go in the books. I seriously had a roller coaster ride of emotions today. My family woke up and got read for church. I got us all color coordinating outfits and I went with a teal and white. I think we were looking quite spiffy!


Church was awesome! I think I cried the whole service, not because I was sad, but because I was overwhelmed with emotion of all kinds, mostly gratitude. They showed a video presentation of the Crucifixion and Jesus walking out of the tomb. The whole time I was just thinking about the sacrifice he made for us and for our sins, so we can live the lives we have... it was just too much for me to handle. The water works were a flowin!

After Church, we usually would have gone to my mom's house and my whole family would have been there, but she is in the Philippines so we came home. I REALLY miss my mom. I didn't realize how dependent I am on her. I talk to her everyday and I even see her most days. Taelyn asks about her everyday too. It makes it very hard for her to be out of the country on such a special holiday.

I made lunch/dinner for us. Eddie stopped by and I didn't think I was gonna see my brother Russell and the kids, but like the good brother he is, he sensed that I needed him and came by for a little while. It made me so happy to see them.

I love my nieces

Grandpa and Trent

It made me so happy to at least spend some time with my family. When they left, I was sad all over again. I wanted to take pictures and get a great picture of my family because I was NOT about to make the mistake of forgetting to take pictures again, I'm still really sad about that.

Thank God for our friends who are also our neighbors. JJ and Kellina, who live right across the street called us to come over and dye eggs with their kids and their friend's kids. Taelyn didn't really get into the dying of the eggs, but she was happy to play with London and Drake. After, we decided to do our Easter Egg hunt. I filled about 50+ eggs for an Easter Egg hunt. So we hid the eggs (in easy to find spots for the little ones)



Taelyn was much better this year, she actually picked up eggs and out them in the baskets!



Trent and Braxdon were sampling the goods, Trent did NOT like the grass

Tried to get another family picture... Taelyn was not interested

Me and my Mister Man!

Taelyn in Braxdon's car with her chocolate face

I was happy, then sad, then happy, then sad again. I really don't know why I was sad other than the fact I missed my mom, but seriously, I just needed to get over myself. I let things bother me that really shouldn't. One thing that I let take up too much of my time yesterday, was the fact that people who DON'T even believe in God and the Resurrection were celebrating Easter.... WHY?!?! What are they celebrating? Easter Bunny? Egg Hunts? Either way it goes, why should I let it bother me? I know my beliefs and why I celebrate Easter, all I can do is pray for those lost souls and live my life to the best of my ability and NOT judge them, because by judging them, I become the person I don't like.

So with that perspective, I am focusing on living the best life I can live and raising my kids up the best way I know how and that is, by knowing and loving the Lord and teaching them the diversity and acceptance/tolerance of others who don't have the same beliefs as them. There were a few other things that I let bother me and I just seriously need to STOP and reevaluate the situation before I let it take over my life, like I did yesterday. I am MUCH better today and I will focus on not letting myself take over myself, if that makes any kind of sense. Onward and Forward!!!

Frametastic and Instagram

I finally traded in my Blackberry for the new iPhone 4S. I don't know how I ever lived without the iPhone. My favorite apps are Frametastic and Instagram. I love making frames and sending them to Instagram and giving it an older look. These are some of the pictures I have added.
My very 1st one of Taelyn, Trent and me

My happy boy Trent sitting up

Trent doing pushups

Fran's 30th birthday party

The Taboo Trophy winners

Taelyn's hair... I was so excited I was able to get her hair into such a cute style. She sat still and it lasted all day. I LOVE having a little girly girl. I put bows in of course, but I didn't get a picture with them in. (My bad)

These apps are so fun and make my pictures even better!

Taelyn's 2nd Birthday (Non) Party

Last year, after Taelyn's 1st birthday party, I decided that I wouldn't throw her one for her 2nd. The Friday before her birthday, I changed my mind. I thought I have to do something for her. So I sent a mass text to family and friends telling them that I was going to have pizza and cupcakes on the day of Taelyn's birthday, which fell on a Tuesday, which was just 4 days away. I really didn't expect many people to attend, since it was on a Tuesday afternoon and I just gave 4 days notice, but my family and friends showed up in the masses! It was such a blessing to see how many people showed up. I was shocked! There had to be like 40 people here! Amazing! We had a great time with some great people. Here are some pictures of the (non)party:

I love to get a picture of the shoes at my front door

Taelyn's cake, Thanks Joy, for making it pretty

My girls


Eating so nicely together!



My mom with her grandbabies, except the birthday girl

The balloons were our last minute attempt to have some sort of decortations

Taelyn and her Ate's

Uncle Chaz and Tita Jess

Me, Todd and Taelyn

Blowing out her candle.... She knew what she was doing this year!

Happy Birthday Girl

Thank you to everyone who came on such short notice. Taelyn's 2nd birthday was such a success! We love you all.

Taelyn's TWO!!!

I have been trying to write this blog post for almost 2 weeks now. I don't know why it was so difficult...

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Girl

To My Dear Sweet Taelyn Mylanah,
This was your birthday last year:


Goodness Baby, where do I even begin? I haven't written you a letter since you were 15 months! (Bad Mommy) I'm sorry for that, but there is just so much that is going on and there is so much that you are doing that I NEVER want to forget.

Taelyn, you are so independent and always want to do things by yourself. You want to dress yourself, eat by yourself, strap yourself into your car seat. You are just a firecracker! Your favorite word right now is "NO" I HATE it! You say no even if your answer is yes. You say it with such an attitude too. I am working on that with you and trying to teach you to say "no thank you" so it doesn't sound so rude and disrespectful.

You LOVE your daddy. He is your best friend. You are content just sitting still with him just as long as you are in his arms.

You are sweet with him, you freely give him the hugs and kisses that mama has to beg for. You kinda hurt my feelings on a daily basis because you just really don't like to hug or kiss me. I have to attack you to get kisses, only to have you push me away. I would say it is just a phase, but you have always been like this with me. Its ok, I know you love me,
You are so sweet and loving to your brother. You always want to hug him and kiss him, you grab his hand and try to dance with him. I have to remind you to be careful.


I love when you take pictures, you say cheese and smile! You crack me up when you dance. It is a serious matter. Your favorite thing to dance to right now, is Rio.
You still love your Yo Gabba Gabba though. You are drinking out of regular cups, you still drink out of your sippy's when we are in the car because mommy doesn't like a mess, but when we are out you prefer a "cuppy." You are talking so well and can say pretty much everything I tell you to say and you are beginning to put words together to make sentences.

I started potty training you on the Wednesday before your birthday and you were doing great. You kept your panties dry for two days straight. When you had to go, you said, "Mommy, pee pee" and I thought we were done with diapers... then you locked yourself in the bathroom. At first, you were playing in there while I was frantically looking for the key to open the stupid door and when I found it, it wouldn't open. You realized you couldn't get out and FREAKED OUT! You started screaming "MOMMY OUT" I tried holding your hand under the door while I frantically tried to get you out. I have never felt so helpless. I was crying too! I called your daddy to tell me where his tools were so I take the knob off, long story short, Grampy who thankfully was in town saved the day and got you out just as I was about to break the door down! You were so upset when you were finally out, it took nearly 30 minutes to calm you down. Since then, you are no longer going potty on the pot. We will try again in a couple of weeks. :(

When we go to church, you are always such a good girl in you class. I get great reports from the volunteers, but when I pick you up, you cry every time. What gives? I don't know, but I love that you are beginning to sing church songs and you are praying! That totally melts my heart. I just know that you are growing way too fast and I just want things to slow down, but you make me happy everyday and you frustrate me everyday. I love you with every fiber in my being. Keep growing, keep thriving, keep learning, and keep being you. I will try and be the best mommy to you that I can be, I will try and teach you everything, I will challenge you and give you every advantage I can. I LOVE YOU TAELYN!

~Mommy

St. Patrick's Day 2012

St. Patrick's Day was like any ordinary day, I just dressed myself and the kids in green. We just hung out at home and had a VERY lazy day. The weather was extra rainy, so we just sat around and watched movies all day while I played with my new iPhone. Here are some pictures I took of me and the kids:



When Todd got home from work, he picked up Maila and Richard so they could watch the kids while we went out for my friend, Rafaelle's birthday. It was at the the Mission Inn. We had a great time with great friends. Since it was St. Patty's day, there was a whole lot of shenannagans going on. We went to a bar after dinner and hung out until the late hour of 10 pm!!! We decided to call it a night. Goodness, we are getting old! All in all, it was a great day! Todd and I joked with Rafaelle and her husband Paul that we are making it a tradition to hang out with them on St. Patty;s day, since we were with them last year as well. Not a bad tradition if you ask me... We LOVE the (Raf)Felbergs! (Inside joke)

All About Todd: 4 Year Anniversary

Dear Todd,

I have done a post like this before... That was coming from an angry place because I was mad at you. This post is coming from a happy and loving place because today is our 4 year anniversary. It also won't be quite as long as my last post.

March 15, 2008
Our wedding day. I have to say, I honestly wasn't nervous. I was EXCITED! I KNEW I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, have babies with you, raise them with you and grow old with you and then spend all eternity with you in the kingdom of heaven. I wanted to get that started as soon as possible. Plus, knowing we were going to Italy afterwards helped *wink*
Our Vows

This is my favorite picture from our wedding day


I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. From my perspective, everything was perfect. We confessed our love for each other in front of 400 of our closest family and friends, then danced the night away until they literally told us we had to leave because we were an hour over our allotted time. Amazing!


**Fast Forward**
March 15, 2012
Our 4 year Anniversary
I can honestly say I love you more today than I did 4 years ago. We have been through so much together in such a small amount of time. The 1st year was pretty challenging considering we had to deal with a miscarriage, just months after our wedding, then ending 2008 with the loss of our sweet angel, Trent Mason. By the time our 1 year anniversary came along, I was still in a fog of depression. Since then, we had Taelyn, who brought more joy to our lives than I could have ever even hoped for.

When we came to the decision that I wouldn't return to work, you really stepped up as our provider. What an amazing husband you are! We are on the same team when it comes to raising our kids and I appreciate the fact that you are an active participant in their lives. I don't have to tell you what to do when it comes to them, if you see something that needs to be done, you take full initiative. I know I give you a hard time if its not done the way I would do it, but I really appreciate the effort. You make my life easier. When I get too overwhelmed and tap out, you are ready and willing to take over. I love you so much for that.

I think this is my MOST favorite picture of us--EVER, that is saying a LOT since we have millions of pictures together. (This was, of course taken by Jess Hekman)


You make me happy and that is pretty hard to do, since I'm the type that is never happy. I love you for everything you are and everything you have made me. I thank you most of all for our precious babies. I don't know what we ever did without them! God took everything in us that is awesome and put it into these two perfect little babies. Man we made some gorgeous kids! I love you honey!!!

HAPPY 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Love, Teresa