Weekend Recap

A friend of mine, who got it from a blog that she follows, posted on her blog "Insta Fridays", basically she was posting her mobile photos & recapping her week.  I thought I would do the same.  Yeah, I know I am a total follower!  I admit I am not very creative but I look like it because of my friends & family & of course whatever I find on Pintrest!

Anyways here's a recap of my weekend.

Meet Cesar, my brother's new puppy! He's basically had him for a week, & since he had to go to a wedding this weekend, I was more than happy to babysit him.  Little did we know that hurricane Irene was on its way, & instead of watching him for 2 nights it turned out to 4 nights.  No biggie, nothing I can't handle, until I wanna go out with the kids & my husband who works nights can't sleep cuz the Cesar is barking up a storm.  I will miss him when he finally goes home tomorrow.  He was so much fun to cuddle with!

Here is my Kira.  What can I say about these pics?  If you don't already know she is my little hoarder!  She loves to carry these little toys with her & I finally told her she needed a bag to carry all these little toys in.  Of course I get her a little bag but she has her mind made up that she needs this enormous bag!  She also can't leave the house without her ginormous pillow.  Yes, she did go into the store with it, as many mothers out their know, there are just some battles not worth fighting!

Last week, Ryu had his belt test.  I was so nervous all week, cuz they said if you don't hear from them by Wed night, than your child has passed.  I swear it was like nursing school all over again, waiting for the results.  I do not miss those feelings at all!  I thought I would be done with the worrisome waiting, but now that has just transferred unto my kids.  Arghhh!  I will never get rid of that crap!  Anyways on a brighter note, he did pass!!! ( I always knew he would do well, but if you see how he does his front roll, you would have doubts, too)  He said good-bye to his white belt & now he is a white +( white belt with a black stripe, they also call it half black belt). Since he is only 6, that's the belt he advances to, instead of the yellow belt.  If he was 7, he would've gotten the yellow belt, but with his age they go through striped belts.  Very proud of you, Ryu Kai!

Ever since my SIL introduced me to Pintrest I have been so hooked.  In one of the things my friend pinned, (a old picture frame, with scrapbook paper & hot glued a metal clip, so you can easily interchange pictures), I thought it was a great idea for the wall that Ryu's bed is against.  I am so tired of looking at the plain white wall, (since he has no headboard), & he can also put his favorite artwork up, too.  So that was my project this weekend.

I seem to be doing a project each weekend, which is awesome since I have been so inspired lately ( AKA taking other people's ideas from Pintrest ;) )  I need to post my DIY camera bag!  My dad, (yes, my dad) taught me how to use the ancient sewing machine, & I made my own padding for a camera bag that I can interchange with my other bags.  (Guess where I got the idea from???)  Anyways, after putting the ancient machine through my torture, it finally said good bye. ;(  So my parents, are getting me a new sewing machine for my birthday!!! YAY!

Thanks to terratalking.com, for all your inspiration lately, especially for the Insta Fridays!
TTYL!

Photo shoot with the Paguia girls

Mommy says I like to look at myself

I had the opportunity to take pictures of my best friend's girls.  I'm still practicing & hopefully someday people will flock to have me take their kids pictures.  Wishful thinking!!!  But seriously I just love kids pictures, I love their faces & the character they bring to a photo.h I have been so addicted to Pintrest, & getting some awesome ideas from there & just about pinned everything that had to do with family pictures.  The girls were a pleasure to photograph.  Here are a few of the 100+ pictures I took. Enjoy!

Baby Scarlett looking up at her big sisters

Kira's First Day of School

A couple hours after I put Ryu on the bus, it is now Kira's turn. She didn't object to taking a bath, having me pick out her clothes, fixing her hair or taking pictures. So it's actually turning out really well. The other day she told me, she didn't want to go to school or ride the school bus! But she went downstairs herself and started to fill her backpack with her little knick knacks, which is what she always does. I managed to take out most of her toys and lowered it from 5 toys to 1. :) When the bus finally arrived, she didn't cry & just went on the bus. Thank goodness!!! I was not ready for an all out meltdown, which she had on her last first day of school! To give Kira a little credit, last time was her first day ever of going to school and she just turned 3 & was put on a bus with strangers. So she has accomplished a lot and knows her routine.

I can't help it if she is my favorite photo subject!

That photo on her first day last time really cracks me up!!! What a difference a few months makes!  Hopefully those meltdowns are long gone!!!

Ryu's First Day of School

My baby boy starts First Grade today!!!  It was so hard putting him to bed last night, because the deal this summer was he was going to try & sleep in his room by himself.  I even gave him an herbal sleep aid to help him out.  Just when I see him fall asleep by himself, so proud that he did it, he wakes up as soon as I turn off the lights.  Now he's upset & starts crying that he doesn't want to take the school bus this year & that he won't have any friends.  This is coming from the same kid, who last week was so excited to see his friends & couldn't wait to start first grade.  I ended up laying next to him until he falls asleep.

We had a great morning! Ryu ate breakfast & got himself ready.  My boy is growing up.  So here are some pictures i took this morning.

This one is a comparison from last year to this year.  The one on the left is this year & the other one is last year.  Thank goodness for uniforms!

the next ones are concepts that I have been seeing on Pintrest.  I love that site! My SIL showed me that site when she was helping me plan a party for the kids.  There is something for everyone on the site, so you should check it out.  I can spent hours on that site.
Anyways the picture on the left, Ryu is holding his picture from his kindergarten first day of school.  Saw this idea on Pintrest for anniversary pictures.  I think it will look great with birthdays. first day of school & for Ryu's belt test (he's going from white belt to white plus)  Great way to see how they have changed year to year.  Maybe me & my husband can do that for our 10 year anniversary. ;)
The picture on the left was an idea that my SIL forwarded to me from chicabug that was featured on http://www.howdoesshe.com Great picture to put in your scrapbook!

Well I will do another post in a few hours when I get my princess ready for school!  See you then!

The Nine Lives of Chloe King

I just finished watching the summer finale of The Nine Lives Of Chloe King. OMG!!!! So many questions! As usual I just have to read the book because I am so impatient I can't wait until it comes back. So, I will keep you posted on how the book compares to the show. I already think the show is pretty good so I have high expectations for the book. There's only 3 books in the series so hopefully I will be done by next week , so I can give you my input.

The Lying Game

I wanted to read this book before the show started. I really enjoyed the book. I seem to be obsessed with YA books ever since I read the Twilight series a few years ago. This book was written by Sara Shepard the author of the Pretty Little Liars series. To me this book is a little darker than PPL, & at times I am scared for the main character, Emma. I can't wait to read the next book!

As for the show..... "the book is always better". I need to hang that quote somewhere in my house because it is so true!!! The show is pretty good, it has it's own take on the series that I have to respect since they are thinking outside the box, but I'm a little disappointed how some of the characters meet in the show compared to the book. I will continue on with it just to see how it develops.

If you want a quick book to read, try The Lying Game, after that try the show on for size.

More Pictures!

I have become really lazy this summer.  So much going on, and that fact that my internet is super slow has kept me from blogging.  I just wanted to post some pictures up that I have been working on today. 
Enjoy!

Sweet Valley Confidential

Sweet Valley Twins/High fans......this is a must read!!!  I grew up reading these books & loved them.  So I had to know how everything turned out.
For the first time ever, the twins are in a HUGE HUGE fight & haven't spoken in months. You would never believe what happened!  I don't want to give too much away, but I was surprised who ended up with whom & who wasn't there anymore.  I liked how it flashed from the present to the past & how Jess & Liz had their big blow-up. Of course in any teeny bopper book there is always a happy ending.  A must read for all those Sweet Valley fans out there!