First Day Back

Back at it again!

Prepping for Work

Today I'm prepping for work tomorrow. Now that the day to go back is finally here, I'm pretty sad about it. I'll really miss my munchkins!

First time eating rice cereal

Lexi hanging out with Derrick

Livee loves to sleep with her baby brother

I'm hoping this transition will be easy for me. I need to get used to a new routine.

36 Years of Blessings

Happy Birthday to me! I am grateful for 36 years of blessings. I feel so happy and my heart is full. I have an awesome husband, 3 beautiful kids, an awesome house, a job I love, and a loving support system of friends and family -- what more could I ask for? I feel so fulfilled.

Every year I complain about how much I hate my birthday. Not because I'm getting older, but because there are so many obligations and expectations for it. I always feel like I'm doing things for other people and not for me.  Even though I still think this is true, I decided that this is the year that I stop saying it and just roll with it. I always end up spending my birthday with people who love me and want to be with me so I should just feel blessed.

We had an impromptu party for my birthday at our house. I'm surprised that everyone could make it at the last minute.

Mmm.. lobster!

The boys

:)

Family!

Friends!

Delicious Chocolate-Haupia cake from King's Hawaiian!

Yummy strawberry cake from SunMerry Bakery!

The obligatory "cut the cake" pic

With my bro-in-law and soon-to-be sister-in-law

More friends

Cousins

More smiles

Iris, me, Malou

The women

With the cousin, John

Cousin Denver

Poker!

The one who birthed me!

My boys

I really had a nice birthday and was glad that I spent it with a small group of friends and family. 36 is a pretty good year!

Natural History Museum

Olivia has been asking us to go to the butterfly pavilion. I have no idea where she heard of this idea, but we decided to see if there was one nearby.  Luckily, we found one at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles.

The front entrance of the Natural History Museum

It was so hot today! We were all sweating profusely.  Luckily, we were able to cool down inside the museum.

So excited!

Dinosaurs!

I've always been obsessed with "What Does the Fox Say"

On our way back to the car, we saw some of my old co-workers. They were having a going-away party for one of them so I was happy to see her before she left.

Nathan and Krysten took Olivia and Alexis to the Orange County Fair.

Happy 5 months, Derrick!

It seems so cliche, but it really is true -- Time flies by so fast! I can't believe Derrick is already 5 months old!

Happy 5 months!

Derrick rolls over all the time and now likes to sleep on his stomach or side.  He just started rolling about two weeks ago.  It's also starting to get harder to satisfy him with just milk so we'll likely start feeding him rice cereal.  He has two bottom teeth now so it's just around the corner to start feeding him solids!

The girls wanted to take a picture with Derrick so here they are kissing him. I didn't even have to ask them to do it. They love him so much!

The girls want to kiss his face off!

We took the kids to Knott's Berry Farm today. It was so hot! And then it started raining. Such strange weather!

My brave girl, Lexi on the Air Mail

The Huff and Puff!

Just the girls in Snoopy's School Bus

Mud buggies!

Merry-go-round selfie!

Winning some trolls

Another win!

Are we the doctors or the patients?

Lexi insisted on taking this picture

Derrick is over it