Water Fight!

WATER FIGHT!! 
Our kids are perfectly happy being outside 
ALL THE TIME! They love playing in the water, whether it's swimming, sprinklers, slip n slide etc. I love that they love to be outside! I'm really excited that their playhouse is done...just needs paint and some touch ups! (pics to come soon)

Nothing like Water Balloons on a 
HOT Summer Day!! 

She tried so hard to catch one! All but 1 popped on her!

Love his Smile in Action! 

Bucket Head! 

He was having a Blast!! 
This is my favorite picture of Dom that Day! 

Cutie Pie! 

He just looks like he's in to trouble! 

Soaked! 

Always Posing! 

2011 End of the Season Baseball Party!

Dominick's End of the Season Party was on the same day as Emersyn's Birthday Party!! Talk about a Rush...Felt like I was rushing around ALL DAY!! But it actually worked out Great! I had her party early in the afternoon...It lasted about 3 Hours...then everyone left and it gave me 30 mins to get ready and to Dominick's Party! I was so afraid I was going to miss him getting his trophy! So I'm really glad it worked out the way it did! 

They had a Pot Luck BBQ at a local "Water" Park! The kids had a BLAST! I really like the way the Team Mom put it all together! 

Mike and Dave handing out Trophy's to all the Kids! 

Dominick and Dave with their 2011 Trophies! 

This year was a fun one watching Dominick grow as a baseball player! He did so well and I think he learned so much! He really started hitting Great towards the end! I am so proud of him! It was also fun watching Dave coach! I thought for sure he'd go insane with 12 kids all under 7! He did really good and I really think most of the parents really liked his coaching. A few of them asked if he would be coaching next year! ...I think he's still thinking about that one! I know he'd do it in a heart beat if the kids were a little older.

Happy 4th Birthday Little Lady!

I've been planning Emersyn's 4th Birthday for months! She asked me almost everyday for the past 2 months if her ladybug birthday is tomorrow!

Well her Ladybug Birthday Finally Came!! 

We did her party at our house! This is the first year we didn't do a jump house... it cracks me up that kids just assume that birthday means jump house! We skipped the jump house this year because Emersyn's Birthday Gift is a Playhouse that a Friend designed and is building for us! It's almost complete, and both kids are going to absolutely love it!


A few of my Favorite Kiddos!!

I had so much fun making different decorations for the party. I made little flags for the straws, a Red and Black tutu, Poms to hang over the Candy Bar, Candybar Wrappers, Flowers made out of Balloons and Pool Noodles, Signs and my ABSOLUTE Favorite...The Cupcake Toppers!! 




My Bestie made the centerpiece and her banner! They came out so cute! She really did a great job! 





I love Cupcakes!! I love making Cupcakes...and now I'm pretty sure I have a new addiction of making Cupcake Toppers!! I must say I was pretty proud of myself and did give myself a pat on the back!

Almost Every year we do a Pinata and Goody bags...This year I thought I'd try something different and do a Candy Bar and let kids and adults put their own bags together! Everyone seemed to love it and they all left with bags...but boy did I over buy candy!












I figured with all the sweets around every kid should leave with a toothbrush!





Emersyn was so excited opening gifts this year! It was so fun to watch her get all excited and thank everyone after each gift! I know my kids are spoiled...but I just like to think they're well loved!








I'm so happy everyone shared this day with us!


JUNE 13, 2011


On Emersyn's actual Birthday I took the day off work. It was a kind of quiet day...We played outside in the water...ran to Toys R Us and then when Dave got home from work we went to the movies to see Kung Fu Panda 2. I think all in all she had a great birthday! 



Playing in the water! 

Emersyn's Birthday Shirt I made for her to wear to the Movies!! 

The Birthday Girl!! 

The Summer List 2011

A couple nights ago Dave and I sat down with the kids and asked them what they wanted to do this Summer. We told them we will make a list of everything they want to do this summer and see how many things we can actually do!

I love ALL of their ideas! So many things to do outside, with friends and family! Looks like if we accomplish any of this it will be a Great Summer! Looking forward to seeing how many things we can actually check off! 

...Let the Fun Begin... 

I LOVE making lists! I think its such a great feeling being able to check something off! (Another part of my OCD!!)

There's a Bug Goin Around...

 Officially Dave, Dominick and I have all caught something that seems to be going around and Emersyn got it TWICE!

Dave, Dominick and Emersyn were able to get rid of their bug within 24 Hours or so! Me...Not so lucky...I was sick Saturday, Sunday and Monday! What do you know the 3 most important days of April for me. Saturday was my friend Allie's Birthday Party I was helping throw, Sunday was Easter and Monday was My Anniversary we had planned to go to Monterey! All plans cancelled! Spent most of those three days in bed.

My Poor Sick Baby! 

Keep your fingers crossed, everyone seems to be doing better. I think Emersyn is just about over it!! YAY! 

Kids Say The Darndest Things...

I'm at work right now...I just sneezed and broke into immediate Hysterics! 

I instantly thought of Emersyn as I sneezed...

Her newest thing when someone sneezes is to say WASHOE! I asked her the other day "what are you saying" she says "washoe mommy, you just sneezed! Bless You...Washoe, same difference! 

My All Time Favorite:

Dominick used to tell us that Santa Claus came down the "Little Jimmy"! aka Little Chimney!

Dominick's Random Funnies:

(This is going to be an ongoing list as they come back to mind)

Bama - Grandma

Electrickity - Electricity 

"Uncle Ryan Your Turning Green"

 Ryan was lifting heavy weights and turning red in the face. Dominick was really young and obviously didn't know his colors and said "Uncle Ryan your turning green". The look on my brothers face as he looked at my mom was almost like a panic, Green?

Emerysn's Random Funnies:
(This is going to be an ongoing list as they come back to mind)

Cation - Vacation
Emma Andrew Gutierrez - Whenever you ask her her full name...that's what she tells you...Were trying to get her to say...
Emersyn Josephine Gutierrez

My Most Cherished Possession

It's been 9 years since my Nonno passed,and its really been the longest 9 years.There's not a day that goes by that I dont think about him and wish that Dave and my kids got to meet him. He would just be Crazy over Dominick and Emersyn, I could just imagine him with them! Just thinking of that makes me smile, because I know that he sees them and watches over them, even if we can't see him. He had such a huge impact on my life, I loved spending time with him and looked up to him. I've always been proud to be his granddaughter and only hope I can be as monumental as a person as he was to me and every person that met him!




A Fairy Tale Of The Sandbox Princess

     There once was a Nonno King who had a Granddaughter Princess. He lived in a house with a sandbox in the back garden of his castle. It was built just for her. 

     The King was very busy but not so busy that he couldn't take off his shoes , roll up the pants of his shiny uniform and play in sand with the Granddaughter Princess. The Nonno King would take long walks with her on his back so why should he not take time to play with her in the sand. It was fun. It was there that she learned to build castles in the sand just like her Father Prince Stephen did when he no bigger than a minute. 

     Today when the Nonno King goes out into the back garden of the castle, there is no one to play in the sand with. There is no sandbox. There is no sand. The Granddaughter Princess has grown up into a lovely swan and moved away and took her sandbox with her. Today as young ladies do, the Princess has other interests that absorb the attention of someone very wise for her years. 

     Though the Princess has moved away, she is still a part of the Nono King's life because every time he walks out into the back garden of his castle, he still sees the two of them playing in the sand. He stands there for many minutes and relives those beautiful days that she was too young to remember. 

     He remembers because he sees these things in his imagination. And you know something? It was that very sandbox that the Nonno King learned to build sandcastles, too, because the Granddaughter Princess taught him that when you build sandcastles in your mind, loved onces never go far away. And every dream comes true. 

     So when the King gets tired, he goes out into the back garden of the castle and looks at the place where the sandbox used to be. He uses his imagination and before you know it, he isn't tired anymore. And you know something else? Like magic he turns into a young King again. 

     The Granddaughter Princess was right.

     Dreams really do come true. 

     My Grandfather wrote this story for me when I was young. I loved it and cherished it. It meant the world to me. But going back and reading it as I am now older, it has a completely different meaning to it. I read all the words and there is such a greater message in it than I could have ever believed there to be as a young child. He wrote this during the later part of his battle with cancer, reading this today just helps me remember his unconditional love for me. The love that is stronger than anything and will overcome anything. This story I will hold close to my heart forever and pass it down to my children for them to hold onto and pass along to their families and so on. 

     P.S. This spring I'm building my kids a sandbox! <3