i just think this is a funny picture. this is ellie's typical face when she thinks something is really funny. jimmy and i aren't quite sure what to make of this face! hahaha... just kidding. anytime i'm feeling beat or down or beatdown... i just look at this photo on my cell phone... and realize all is good...and that life is just a bowl of cherries.... :)

weekend in LA

i went to LA this weekend to help my sister celebrate her big 3-0 birthday! i can't believe my little sister is 30! i am in major denial that we are this old. i mean, i'm not saying 30 is old by any means! c'mon 30 is like the new 20 these days! but when i think of my sister, i have visions of a little girl... a little girl who was the apple of my family and extended family's eye.. the youngest of all the cousins. she's always been so cute and little and everyone loves her. she was my buddy and companion. we fought at times and i was the mean older sister... only on occasion ;). but we always played together despite the 5 year age difference.. and did everything together. i adored her... and copied her even though i was older. we are really different, but very similar all at the same time. so to ring her in 30's with her, was a little surreal. as we are toasting to glasses of wine at her birthday party among her new and old friends in her new city of los angeles, i was looking at her and couldn't believe it's been 30 years since my mom and dad brought her home from the hospital. i remember it so vividly! i remember staring at this baby in wonder and awe with a tinge of jealously from all the attention she was receiving. but that jealously melted quickly and it became pure adoration and love. so to see her in this new city, starting a new stage in her life... i stand there proud as always. so happy birthday again, jennifer (aka ti-ti)! may God continue to bless you in your life and open more new and exciting possibilities and opportunities! i love you!





30 and flirty, y'all! hehe :)

9 months old

now that ellie is mobile, she is happily exploring every corner (and every crumb!) of the house and anything that her little 2+ ft. tall body can reach for. she is so very expressive these days... laughing at silly things and it seems like she is understanding so much more. i think i remember liking this 9 months and up age when addison was a baby too. the infant stage is tougher for me personally, i think. and also what is really fun these days is watching ellie and addison interact with each other. i have been waiting for the day to see my kids play with each other. and it's all starting now. :) ellie loves, i mean LOVES addison. ellie tries to follow addison around, climb on her when she's watching tv, and she loves watching everything that addison does. and addie has the amazing ability to make ellie stop crying... even after i've used every trick in the book. the relationship between the two is just budding.. and i look forward to watching it grow.



"hey sis, whatcha doin'??"



"hi, mommy! i'm playing computer with big sissy!"









"wow, this computer thing is cool..."



"step aside, little one, this game is for big kids!"



"aww, c'mon can i give it a try??"






"alright, time to pick up some more crumbs"