Gumball machine on my counter.....healthy blessings in their beds.

The news has been really depressing lately (as opposed to delightful as usual?)...but it has been extra crazy lately....the woman and her baby...who was the same age as Mateo...and what she did...I honestly can't even type it out....this story disturbed me so much....I cried...and my heart aches so much for that lil angel.  It made me so grateful for so many things that I have....not BLING BLING stuff...I don't have a fancy purse(I have a Hello Kitty diaper bag)...I don't wear fancy shoes(I wear payless sandels from like 4 years ago)...I don't get mani and pedis (I swear I can sand wood with my heels right now)...and I don't get my hair done every month(not exaggerating the time before last I went to my hairdresser I had only 2 kids...this last time I had 3).  But what I do have is 3 amazing kids that I want to snuggle all the time....1 amazing man who supported my decision to stay at home...another amazing man who (although things didn't work out for us) I still call him everyday...and we have an amazing relationship and know we always will....I can't ask for anything else from life I am humbled by the world around me today...humbled and constantly reminded where I have been...what I have survivied....and what I plan for the future.  Because at the end of the day all this simple girl needs is a cup of Chai Latte....the handsome man sitting beside me...the old gumball machines on my counter....and the three blessings tucked into their beds/crib to put peace in my mind, love in my heart, and a huge smile on my face.

We don't even have Mario Brothers

I would love to say I am exaggerating what I am about to tell you...but I'm not...it's true...when I was at the kids doctor office the other day in the waiting room there were 7 parent-kid combos waiting their turn....and 5 out of the 7 had their kids zombied out playing with their iPads!!!!!  And we aren't talking tweens....we are taking TODDLERS....WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON HERE????  I mean come on...I admit I enjoy popping into Best Buy and checking out the new "IT" tv...and I have even daydreamed of having a lil tv in my kitchen so I can watch Jeporady while I cook dinner...but my brain had developed....Im not a sponge like toddler that needs nurishing enrichment or what have you....I seriously was sad and shocked.  I do not now or ever even claim to be Queen of all Mommies....and God knows when I was really sick during my pregnancy with Isabella Johnny watched his fair share of Blues Clues....but I do not have a flippin ipad for Mateo (should I have put that on the registary? :) ) I mean come on we don't even have The Mario Bros.  Anywho...this made me really grateful that Johnny and Bella and hopefully Mateo will too have turned out to be super creative kids...and can entertain themselves with SHOCKER..a book...or some drawing supplies...or WAIT FOR IT...WAIT FOR IT....hold a nice conversation with me while we wait! These creative lil gremlins have actutally come up with pretty great ideas that turn into a lot of work for me...but that's ok...it's worth it.  Which leads me to this past Friday where Bella and several of her friends put on their own Ballet production of Alice in Wonderland...they did all their own choreogrphy..costumes...make up design...they even planned a cute lil intermission.  I was so impressed and proud!  They met every Tuesday this summer to rehearse and then the big day arrived and family and friends packed the backyard to watch their hard work pay off.  So to CHEESE CLUB I say CONGRATS...we are so proud!!!!

 Rehearsals......

 Intermission goodies.........I made cake pops holding Mateo...not so cute.....

 The adorable cast...they had many make up and costume changes to fufill the entire cast of characters...

 Refreshments for the stars....

 Anticipation growing....

 backstage.....

 Johnny was the LIVE music.......

 The introduction...........

 I didn't even have to try to bribe Johnny to help...he did it gladly...so cute!!!

 Proud parents..........

 The beginning......

 alice and the white rabbit........

 Alice...tweedle dee and tweedle dumb...........

 The Walrus....notice the big fluffy moustache.........

 The caterpillar.........

 Drum tech.........

 Stage Tech.........

 Mad Hatter.....Dorfmouse.....and March hare.......

The Queen of Hearts......LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!

So much more was done...I couldn't snap enough pictures..my heart is so full of pride....and I love you my sweet Bella Bear!

They have announced next years show...A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Tim Burton......you are my BROTHER!

I am convinced that Tim Burton and I were separated at birth....yeah yeah I know he is quite a bit older thatn I am....BUT...after attending his exhibit at the LACMA...there is no doubt...he are related. This man is a genius....he has a beautiful mind that we have only had a sneek peak into and let me tell you what I am waiting in line....first in line to see what we will see next from this amazing man.  I HIGHLY recommend this exhibit OBVIOUSLY....it is so well rounded displaying many of his earlier works...current works...sculptures...short films...installations...and so much more. My favorite without a doubt was the piece titled TRICK OR TREAT!  If you haven't done so ...RUN to the LACMA and enjoy that which is The TIM BURTON EXPERIENCE!!!!  I HEART you TIM!!!!!

 They didn't allow photography only in the entrance...and look at that wonderful entrance...I would SERIOUSLY make this my front door if I could!

 Freaky...this is what greets you at the LACMA...

 Bella and her BFF Cammy....

 Proud Daddy...

 The rest of the museum was also quite delightful with some awesome Contemporary pieces....

 Comfy Bed......

 Jeff Koons and his Pop Crazy Art...Michael and Bubbles.....

 Happy Boy.....

 ANDY WARHOL.....

 Jeff Koons....

 Andy Warhol....

 This piece was a collabortation between James and Maria Bryan....

Splendid day...but we missed Johnny....he was at Big John's ALL AGES show....he had to go...had to support Dad and his Metal Life! :)