The Objects of my Affection

Anyone else's heart just skip a beat?

It all comes out in the wash.

Hello Lovers.

Mommy's Pumpkins

We went to Pankratz Pumkpin Patch this year to find the perfect pumpkins. The girls picked out smaller pumpkins to paint and picked out an adorable teensy tiny pumpkin for brother. I love fall and everything about it, and love this family tradition we've started of picking out our own pumpkins.

Tay Tay Mae Mae

Here are a list of words that have been used to describe you: Firecracker, stubborn, a pistol, a pill, sassy, moxie, girly.
I have a feeling that if any of my kids get into a bona fide fist fight, it will be you. But rest assured you will be fighting in heels. What a doll you are!

Oh, Brother!

Hey Beck. Beck?! Psst. Over here!

I love you.

You just got Schooled Ellie and Reese!

You know when your children are ready to go to school. They are sick and tired of you suggesting coloring, play-doh, cleaning,watching a movie or any other activity whatsoever. They are sick and tired of their siblings. They are sick and tired of anything you ask they to help you with. They are sick and tired of you. Well, we have been looking forward to school for a long, long time, yet I can't believe it is actually here. My babies, in school? Not possible! They are still newborns. They haven't learned to walk or talk yet. They still look up at me with adoring eyes and drool dribbling down their chins. It's just not possible! How is it that overnight they have grown up enough to go to Pre-School? But, like I said, they were ready. They marched in to Kiddie Korner Pre-School like they owned the joint. They hung up their backpacks, put on their name tags and officially gave Kell and I the cold shoulder. Wait a second, I gave birth to you and now you act like you don't even know me?! It dosen't work that way! Where are the tears and the clinging to my leg and using my body as a shield to hide from the other kids? I guess another sign of them being ready for school...when they don't even look over their shoulder at you, but make a mad dash to the toys and other children. When I went back after the 2 hour class they were less that pleased that I was there and wanted to stay. I asked them their favorite part of pre-school and they told me "Watching Dora the Explorer." Um, you can watch that at home for free, so pick another subject please! They are so excited to go back on Friday, and Ellie told me that if any of their classmates are sad or missing their parents that she was going to be their friend. I am so proud of the little people they are morphing into. They are my muffins, my whole life, my peaches. My big girls.

Dancing Queens

My little muffins started dance today! I was so concerned about them...how shall I put it nicely... acting like monkeys that were just released from their cages like they did in the 2 weeks they were enrolled in gymnastics, but they did AMAZING! They paid attention for the most part and retained what they had learned. They loved showing Grandma, Papa, Aunt Britt, and Grandma Linda all their moves. I am so proud of how they are growing up and showing the world what big girls they are! Love you Prima Ballerinas!

Happy Happy Birthday Daddy Dear...

Happy Birthday to the Love of my life, Father of my children, and Grower of monstrous zucchini. We love you more than you love Diet Coke! Love,The Fam

The Zoo...again.

Can I just say right off the bat that I really don't love the zoo? Does that make me a bad person? My children love the zoo, but if I were carted around in a stroller or baby bjorn I would love the zoo too. Regardless of my love/hate relationship with the zoo, we go every year, and every year the animals are so freaking hot and lethargic that they are never out, but instead are trying to find the one quarter of an inch of shade so they don't keel over and die. One can sympathize. This year was no exception, but we had a very excuse to go. Our good friends the Pauliches had their daughter Claire's second birthday party there. They had a wonderful lunch for us and cupcakes for dessert. We also rode on the train with them, which in my opinion is the best part of the zoo, because you get to sit down. This was Beck's first zoo outing and I am saddened to say that we didn't get a pic of him next to the lion fountain *hanging head in shame* but I just told myself not to be too sad. We'll get one next year. Sigh.

Take me out to the ball game.

We thought it would be fun to have a Mondragon Family Fun Night with all (well, most) of Kell's family, so we went to the Bees game. I haven't been in years, and none of the kiddos had ever been either. They loved it! Well, let me rephrase...they loved being outside, playing with their cousins, riding on the train, eating ice cream and cotton candy and all sorts of other crap, rolling down the hill...but never watched even a second of the game. Confession...neither did I. I did have fun visiting and filling my face full of junk though! Thanks Dragon fam for a great night out!

What Up Cuz?

Here is Beck with his beautiful cousin Sadie, Jen and Troy's daughter. I thought this pic was so adorable. They are only a few months apart, yet we just can't decide who is bigger...

Frisco anyone?

Beck, wanna go to San Fran?

I think he's pretty excited about it, don't you?

Beck enjoying his first Chinese dinner experience. Pretty soon you will get to enjoy some potstickers too Bubbas!

Jed, trying to deicde which baby is cuter...Beck wins. Sorry Frankfurter. You are a very close second though!
Heado, trying to see who can pull the sillier face. Heado wins.

Beck and I decided that it had been too long since he had seen his aunts and uncles, and since daddy had to go on a business trip to San Francisco, we were going to SF too! It was Beck's first airplane ride and he did fantastic...on the way there. The way home was a different story. He hadn't had a blowout for at least a month, so he decided that one minute into take-off would be the best possible timing. Poop. Up his back. To his shoulders. Yeah. Thank heavens I had the sense to pack an extra outfit.

This trip was just what the Dr ordered. Beck and I got spoiled. 2 aunts and 2 uncles fighting over who got to hold Beckaroo next, 3 hour naps for mama, pedicures and eyebrow waxings...again for mama. Heathe and I literally did nothing one day except eat and watch a Teen Mom's marathon. It was heaven. Thank you to my sissy and bro for showing us a great time, great food, amazing conversation and making Beck's first vacation a whopping success! Love you guys!

So this is love...

I have a confession. I have a new man in my life. We've been seeing each other for a month. He's gorgeous. He's perfect. We stay up most nights together, just the two of us, not really talking, just looking deep into each others eyes. He's the strong, silent type. I think he really likes me. He's pretty emotional when we are apart. We love holding one another. He completes me. Kelly knows about him and he's ok sharing me with another man. I think I may have some competition from the girls-they love him almost as much as I do. These feelings are all so exciting and new, yet strangely familiar. I don't know what the future holds, all I know is one thing is for sure. I. Am. In. Love.

Introducing...

Beck Grayson Mondragon!

Weighing in at 10lbs 8 oz and 23 inches long. That's right, you heard me, I gave birth to a toddler. He was born Friday, May 7th at 8:05 am (same time as big sister Ellie!) at IHC Womens Center. He was born cesarian section...a procedure that I thank my lucky stars for everyday! We got quite a few comments about his weight and height! We had 4 nurses tell us it it was the longest baby they have ever had at the hospital. We had the anesthesiologist tell me that I would have probably died on the plains had I been a pioneer and tried to have that size of a baby without a c-section (jokes on him-I would've died on the plains WAY before I had kids...like 1/2 mile into the trek). But everyone who has seen him has agreed that he looks like he is at least 2 or 3 months old. It's been so fun to have a new baby back in our home. The girls have been amazing big sisters-Ellie even gave him a "don't worry about it" kiss on the forehead after he sprinkled on her arm. It's already so different having a boy in our home, but different in the most incredible way. Our little family is complete and we are so blessed to have the love we do for each other.

PS-Check out those catcher mitts! Zowie, he is going to be a big boy!!

Hardest I've laughed in a while...

Kell and I got some dinner from KFC and I explained to the girls that the corn on the cob was too hot to eat right away and to let it cool. A few minutes later Ellie asked (very impatiently) "Mom, is my hog on the nog cool yet?!" Being 8 and 1/2 months pregnant I dang near had an accident I was laughing so hard!

How does your garden grow?

I LOVE spring for so many reasons-the perfect weather, finally getting to get the kids outside in the fresh air, watching tulips pop up. But, my favorite thing about spring is watching Kelly starts our garden. What an amazing thing to see your own food that you planted start to grow and eventually feed your family. Now, keep in mind that I put in absolutely no work into the garden except preparing the veg that he brings in by the basketful, so I am really grateful that Kell loves his garden and gives it plenty of TLC throughout the spring and summertime. I love that he is teaching the girls about gardening and how important it is to know where our food comes from. We are always trying to eat healthier and I am so glad we can just run out to the garden whenever we want something fresh and yummy to eat. This is the first year we will be canning and bottling our own salsa, pickles, pickled beets and beet juice jelly, so if any of you have any suggestions, tips or recipes please feel free to let us know!

Let's Jam

There are several sounds that remind me of spring...birds chirpping, lawnmowers getting revved up for their first mow of the season, and jam jars popping to let you know that all that hard work you just did is sealed and the deal is done. I don't know if there is such a satisfying feeling as knowing that after hours of slaving over a hot stove, and covering most of your belongings in red sticky goo, that the end result is something delicious that you can enjoy throughout the year. Putting up my own jam makes me feel like I am a 1950's housewife, or a pioneer or something. I feel like I am not only preserving fresh fruit, I am preserving a lost art that I hope to some day teach my girls. So, here's to another year of peanut butter and jam sandwiches!

Cute Chicks

Hoppy Easter everyone! Hahaha....sigh....that joke gets funnier every year. P.S. One of these years we are sure we will get a pic where they are all looking at the camera and smiling. We just know if will happen...someday.

The fanciest dinner we've ever had.

Valentines Day takes on a new meaning when children are involved. Out the window goes 5 star restaurants and date nights that last til whenever the heck you feel like rolling in, and in goes fast food restaurant meals to go, and maybe a movie, but only if its in Tooele, and after the kids have gone to bed so I can feed and bathe them and get them to bed so its less stressful for whichever grandparent we guiltily call and meekly ask "could you come over for a few hours so we can go see one of those newfangled moving picture shows that are so popular with the kid folk these days?". You get the idea.

So this year I was glad that Valentines was on a Sunday-took a lot of the pressure off to have to go out somewhere nice and having to get a babysitter and the whole bit. Instead we had THE fanciest meal we've ever had. Kell made the girls and I a gourmet meal of BBQ pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, sauteed zucchini, crecent rolls and strawberry shortcake for dessert. It was amazing! But better yet, as he was preparing dinner the girls and I got fancy. Dress up clothes, jewlery, high heeled shoes, tiaras, make-up and fingernail polish. We were the fanciest crew you've ever seen! Here are a few pics to prove it! Better yet, Kell is surprising me with a weekend getaway-can't wait to find out where we are going!! Hope everyone felt love this Valentines Day!

Just Wondering...

Just wondering if this little guy inside of me will look anything like this...

or perhaps like this?...

Will he be a sad baby?...

a happy baby?...

or a thumb sucking baby?...

All I know is that I can't wait to find out!

Friends

This year we decided to have a big friends party. We invited all the old clan together, including husbands and kiddos (boy, did we have a household!) and had dinner and visited. It was so nice to catch up with one another and see how much everyone has evolved, but more importantly how no one has changed. I love you girls with all my heart and am so glad to have such amazing friends. BTW-for those who couldn't make it we missed you and are glad you and your families are feeling better!