Oh How We Danced!

Beau is my little man who is so charming. He is so well behaved (when alone - there is always a clause), he is gentle with people and animals alike and has a giggle that brings happy tears to my eyes. Beau is simply a beau, he is a catch at 3 and as his mommy I couldn't be any more enamored! I am head over heels for this little boy!

Beau began preschool in October and is doing fantastic. Better than any of us could have imagined. He proudly sports his backpack every afternoon as we walk him to his class. Once his teacher Mr. Craig reaches the door Beau runs to him and greets him with a hug. This is simply amazing to witness and see daily. Not only has Beau opened his arms, but his vocabulary has soared. He says so much...his jargon has become almost comprehensible. It's in the rarest of moments that you catch him counting 3, 4, 5, 6...G, B, D as he recognizes letters. The thing about this is I know all the info is in there, it's just that he can't express it to me when I ask.

Today I had the radio playing and Beau walked up grabbed me by the hand and asked me to dance. I picked him up so fast and we began swaying and spinning all around the living room. His laughter filled the room and my soul with euphoria. The perfectness of Beau comes with his timings as the radio blurted...

There's only one thing to do

Three words for you I love you

There's only one way to say

Those three words and that's what I'll do I love you

I love you

You make it easy, it's easy as 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4

Plain White T's ~ 1,2,3,4

It was in this moment that I truly didn't care about the meaning of the song, but knew that the lyrics were written for a moment just like this. All I have ever wanted was to be able to give Beau all things bright and Beau-tiful! May a song be placed within your heart!

Giving Thanks

This Thanksgiving was spent with the BEST company in the world, the family I love and truly adore. Weather here in AZ was beautiful, so much so that we were able to enjoy our Turkey feast on the patio.

What I am truly thankful for...

Having some place to go is HOME.

Having someone to love is FAMILY.

Having both is a BLESSING!

This year has blessed me in more ways than even imaginable. I am alive, I am at peace not only with myself but with my future. I haven't always been confident about what would lie ahead. It was once I realized to deal with the task at hand that my confidence soared. I can't predict the future, but I can pick the path for which I currently walk. I am blessed this year and have been for years. I am thankful for the choices I have made; good and bad...they have lead me to the path that I tread across today. I have a supportive family, amazing friends and three miracles that have taught me everything there truly is to know about love. What more could a girl ask for??

What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~ Emerson

Friendships

I had the most amazing time with my girlfriends last week, when we went and saw the opening premier of New Moon. It was a night filled with dinner, laughs and stories of our lives shared. Just another amazing event to add to our book of great memories. Tonight I am thankful for great friends!

I truly love these women.

Chelsi, I and Marissa ~ Cullen Family Supporters

Shannon & Tina ~ Running with a pack of wolves

Chelsi & I ~ Sporting Edward across our chest!

Tina & Marissa

Me & Shannon ~ Burn baby burn...inside joke!

Tina & Chelsi ~ What a great night!

Thankful!

Thanksgiving is about God and thanking him for the gifts of life, love, joy and so much more. A time for family. An opportunity to reunite with loved ones and friends. A wonderful celebrated day to eat copious amounts of food without feeling guilty.

As a mother I want my children to be thankful and to truly appreciate all that has been given to them in their few short blessed years of life. Tonight, I asked Kai point blankly what he was thankful for...

1. Family



2. God



3. Toys



4. School



5. Food



6. Pillows



7. Room (NASCAR)



8. Friends

This Thanksgiving Day, let's remember what we truly have to be thankful for. Let's take a good, hard look around us and realize that while we may not have everything we want, what we want is not always what we need.


The Pilgrims first recognized that everything we have is a gift from God - even our sorrows. May we all take the time this Thursday to be thankful for the blessings we have all been given, even those that may still be in disguise.

My greatest blessing...

Sundays...

Sundays in our home are devoted to family and Game Day!

We Bathe...

We Dress...

We play and spend our day as a family!

On a side note, today we met Shane to go get Kai a new Cardinals Jersey. One because he has been asking for a new one and two because Kai's class will be having a Cardinal's player and BIG RED coming to his class in December for a partnership with APS to read to the kids. Kai's teacher Mrs. Killman, signed up for this program two years ago...his class was just fortunate enough to be picked. This is an awesome opportunity for Kai and his classmates!

It was a beautiful day here in the Valley of the Sun, a beautiful weekend for that matter. It couldn't have been more beautiful.

Last but not least, Cash with a message...

Cards WIN!! Whooo HOO!

Midnight tonight!

Tonight I have me-self a date with four of the most beautiful woman I know. I like millions of Robert Pattison and Twilight lovers will be watching New Moon. I have never confessed to being a Twilight lover, but literally spent two weeks out of my summer with my nose in the series of books.

I made my own little Cullen ~ Beau Cullen

I am a Vampire Girl and love Edward, have from the moment I saw him on Twilight! I am thrilled to spend a date night with my girlfriends. It's a moment this momma needs...Dinner, gossip and great looking men!

Not only are we seeing New Moon, but we get to see Edward in Twilight before the midnight showing. I will be drooling, but only because my celebrity crush Peter Facinelli, who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen will be on the screen. I'm such a Twilight Nerd!

Like everything in life, I just had to decide what to do with what I was given.

All I can say is Dr. Carlisle Cullen can be Cash's doc any day of the week! Also, I'm disappointed in myself for the tan I achieved this summer. Not only did I fry my skin but I'm still too damn dark to be a Vamp! One thing I learned this summer - Love BITES!!

Hump-a-Half

Half days for school children aren't quite as fun as I remember them to be from when I was a child. As a parent the day starts just the same as every other school day. In this household that means mom running in 5 different directions. Due mainly to my own doing...with facebook, tweets and text taking up too many individual moments of my time. Today was particularly busy, due to the fact that my friends and I resort to elementary school ways and wish one another a Happy Hump Day, knowing all the while none of us will be doing any humping! I chuckle out loud...

We run out the door to rush Kai off to school, it ends up with him running after his class. Luckily for me "Frankie" and his mom are late almost daily so Kai does a quick sprint to catch up with them for an escort into class. I deal with a bottle throwing, copper headed, tantrum throwing three year old named Beau who is absolutely irritated with the fact that he will not be joining Kai in school today. Special needs preschool is not in session during half days. See another reason plan and simple for a mom to loath half days!

Our morning was filled with appointments for Cash. We had the opportunity to meet his new DDD coordinator, who was awesome! Hannah from the DDD Vent Program came for reassessment. Overall, it was busy but productive morning. I made the decision to change Cash's health insurance. He has two months before the change will actually go into effect. This decision leaves me hesitant, actually more nervous than anything, but know that this move will be in the best interest of Cash and his medical needs. For 22 months I have been in a comfort zone, but that comfort zone has become complacent and with Cash complacent isn't an option. This last round in the PICU was enough to push me over the edge in regards to the change.

Before I knew it the morning was over and the reminder alarm to pick up Kai from school was sounding. I loaded the mini monsters in the car and back to the school we headed. The boys and I headed to Kohl's to pick up a gift for Ariana (Mike's gf's daughter). Kohl's was busy for a Wednesday! Figured I had missed out on a HUGE sale when reality sunk in and I realized that we are just a mere 37 days from Christmas! After battling the old, curious and plain bored we made our way to the destination of glowing princess dolls (oh how I love boys!). Lunch discussion quickly followed, when the phone rang and it was Uncle Mike.

We had the pleasure of spending a few afternoon hours with my baby brother. I miss my youth, just like I missed half days as a child. My brother, I and the boys wandered down rows of music as we shared our love for John Mayer and our absolute dismay of him choosing not to tour in AZ. With Kai's encouragement our day ended in line at McDonald's ordering happy meals to enjoy in the backyard at my parents place. So hear I am, a smile on my face as I appreciate the craziness of a half day. The laughter shared with three little boys, a rare moment with my brother and afternoon spent outdoors. Hope everyone enjoyed their Hump-a-Half day as much as I did!

Who says I can't be free
From all the things I used to be
Rewrite my history
Who says I cant be free

John Mayer ~ Who Says