Christmas Success

Magic fills this home at this time of year. 

Avery's preschool class put on a Christmas recital that had me smiling ear to ear. We dressed her in her Christmas best and she sang her heart out. From the back row we could clearly hear her shouting every word and nailing every hand movement.

After the show was over Jay took a photo opt back on stage. Avery immediately went back into her song and gave us a solo performance. 

Christmas Eve. Off to church without Daddy. He was home with the plague. 

Day after Christmas recovery. Avery sporting her Dr. Outfit. Perfect gift. 

Celebrating Mommy-Mita's bday at Medievil Times. It was SO fun. Our green knight won!

Baby it's Cold Outside

I snapped this photo 10x and this is the best I got. But how bundled up we were to brave our routine wagon ride was comical. We are definitely a SoCal family.  Brrrrr

Oops, I forgot

I think I forgot that I have a blog.  Oopsy

We are officially in my fave time of year. I love Fall and the transition to Winter. It comes with birthdays, holidays, parties and family. 

Here's a taste of what we have been up to:

Sea World

Beautiful weather

Well behaved kids

Patient parents

Great day

So lucky to have a bestie along for the ride.

Movies. We took the fam to see Frozen the day after Thanksgiving. Such a cute movie

X-rays. Putting this gown on caused an epic meltdown. But little girl took some big breaths, held mommy's hand and was a champ. Afterward, she talked about how much fun it was and that the doc took a picture of the "inside" of her nose and neck. 

Mid meltdown pic for Daddy. 

School pics are in.  Avery Loves (capital L) preschool. Her teachers and school are amazing. It is so fun watching her blossom. 

Meet Santa. First time for everything. Brenner's ugly face cracks me up. 

Happy Halloweenie

We are so blessed by our amazing neighborhood! Avery rocked her Jessie costume and Brenner lived in fear of his. I chased him down, forced him in the body suit and surrendered the dinosaur head piece while Jay bribed him with M&Ms. 

It was an absolutely fantastic holiday! We are so lucky to have such fabulous neighbors! 

The ladies of Orchard Glenn who make it all possible. Muah! 

33

Thirty three is rapidly approaching. It's somewhat painful to admit, t.h.i.r.t.y.-t.h.r.e.e.

I thought maturity and wisdom would start to come. I mean, come on, I'm in my thirties!! Turns out the older I get, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. 

I live an incredibly blessed life. I look at my children and continue to be overwhelmed by the love I have for them and just how incredibly lucky I am to be their mommy. 

My husband is diligent, hard working, loyal and loves me. 

Maybe my thirties aren't so bad. In them I have experienced more joy, love and happiness than I could have imagined in lifetime.  Although, I have also discovered wrinkles and grey hair. 

Celebrate Good Times

How fun to have a night of drinks, dancing and fun. A blissful evening where we watched a dear friend marry her love and I was reminded of what a tremendous dancer my husband is. 

Preschool

I cannot believe I have a kid in preschool. She looks so grown up, it freaks me out. She loved her first day and asks to go back every morning. 

Jay, Brenner and I walked her into her classroom and she did not hesitate. Didn't even say goodbye. She rushed over to story time and the rest is history. Jay and I each snuck in a kiss and left. It was hardest on Brenner and I. We missed her so much. 

If I could freeze this moment in time I would. I want to lock it away in heart. Although I feel this way about each stage we enter into. Avery is serious, silly and speaks her mind. She knows what she wants and will stick with it. Some may call it stubborn, I think it's driven and decisive. 

She does come from the Myer gene pool. So a lot of these traits are clearly from me. 

And no Avery, you cannot wear your boots to school, it's 102 degrees out! 

Inspiration

Officially Ca-razy

I haven't been blogging because, well, I've been busy. Literally, I turned a little physcho. From putting together a mail center to plants in the backyard to the garage we have been busy. I'm on a mission. Organize!!! De-clutter, systemize and organize. I don't know how my hubsand puts up with me. But seriously, I want systems, I want order and I want strategy. With every spot I organize my stress level goes down. I've been searching for systems and strategies that will give me a functional orderly household. This does not come naturally to me. I am NOT a natural. I am so jealous of you organizationally inclined people. I research and  pin and research some more until I find something that fits and that I believe I am capable of. 

Pause for embarrassing real life example. 

This went from this:

To this: 

Mortifying to admit, but it is where we throw everything. Mail, keys, and junk. We don't just have a junk drawer, we had a junk area. 

I have a mail command center now and it feels like freedom. No more crazy piles of 

paperwork ruling my house.

Here is the Mail Command Center:

If you haven't discovered A Bowl Full of Lemons yet, I highly recommend.

Www.abowlfulloflemons.net 

While sometimes I hate her, most of the time I love her and she has truly given me great ideas and functional, implementable plans. Check it out. 

She has inspired me to make my Mail Command Center, a Warranties & Manuals Binder, a Home Management Binder (still a work in progress) and Keepsake boxes. I loved the boxes so much I made them for all of nieces and nephews. At Christmas I will go down as the worst auntie ever (Jay is adamantly claiming no part on this gift and yes, I have already made my Christmas gifts) but I am inspired. Mostly, I just don't want all of the junk. I love my home and feel immensely blessed to have it. Now I want to work to show my appreciation for this incredible blessing.  

Here are the Keepsake boxes, not yet labeled. Last step, add the names of each recipient. 

I feel like I have a small window as a stay at home mom and I want to maximize my accomplishments. Don't worry, I still have plenty of hot messes. And all of my ideas are blog or Pinterest inspired. If you have an organization idea text me now, seriously text me. 😜

Calabasas

Jay and I had an amazing 24 hour adventure. A few hours in Malibu and then an amazing party celebrating a good friend's 40th. It always feels like home with this group and my hubby smiles the entire time as we laugh and reminiscence. 

Thanks Morris and Melanie for an incredible time!

CHOC

I am lying in the parent bed at CHOC while Brennner naps and I now blog. Li'l man scared me, truly scared me. I always say that I am good in a crisis, but this circumstance brought me to tears. 

  I am grateful to the urgent care staff for assessing the situation and getting Brenner to the ER. I am thankful to the men and women who gave us a ride in the ambulance, cared for Brenner and reassured me. 

 Brenner I love you so much. Seeing you hooked to IVs, x-rayed, and taking breathing treatments rattles my soul. I think of my brother and his wife who have had to take their child to the ER numerous times and I am in awe of their strength and resolve. 

  Brenner's current diagnosis: pneumonia, severe asthma and anemia. 

 I pray for your health, the strength of your lungs and the people who are caring for you. 

  Brenner you are one tough dude! Daddy and I love you to the moon and back infinity...and beyond! 😘

  

:)

One of those great moments that you hope you can lock away in your heart forever. The sounds of your kids squeals and laughter. And how lucky you felt watching them blissfully play. 

Boo 1.5

Brenner is 1 1/2. Our sweet easy easy baby has flipped the switch. While he continues to be loving, snuggly and smiley. He is now a ca-crazy climber and adventurer extradonaire. You name it, he climbs it. Tight rope walking the back of the couch to dancing on the kitchen island this kid is keeping us busy. He knows what he wants and he fights for it. He will charm you with his smile, you will adore his innocent face and then run you ragged. 

  But seriously, he is just so freakin cool. The dare devil trait definitely comes from me and I embrace it. It means he'll take risks, work hard for what he wants (even if some pain goes along with the goal), and be too energetic for TV. 

  Brenner, you love donuts, smoothies, popcorn and Nutella toast. You smile all the time. You only have 5 teeth. You let me shave your head without a fight and you adore your big sister. You love to dance. And you are fiercely loved. 

 

First of many, I'm sure. 

We are SO lucky to have you! 

No stress Par-Tay

I vowed for no more parties. I wanted to enjoy my kiddos bdays, not stress out in hostess mode and run around preparing for a party.  My parents and the in-laws were not satisfied with this excuse from me (darn it). So we compromised. 

We threw Avery the perfect little family pizza party. Cousins, Capri Suns and cupcakes. I'm so happy we decided to it.  Avery squealed at the sight of the bounce house and was so excited when her cousins walked through the door. And was even more excited when the neighborhood kids came to join in on the fun. 

It is such a blessing to have your children grow up surrounded by people who love them. 

Avery is one loved little girl. 

And we have fantastic neighbors. 

I'm one lucky lady. Love my boys. 

Tomorrow she's 3

I can't believe my little girl is turning three. I can't believe that it has already been three years of getting to hug her, kiss her and love her. It truly has flown by and it thrills me and swells my heart to watch her grow. 

My little girl is tall, 40". The next trip to Disneyland we will hit an entire new set of rides. And she will go for it! Avery is tough, seriously no one is going to mess with her. She is in no way a mama bear to her little brother but she will run to defend him if she feels he's being mistreated at the park. She stands up for herself, tells us what she wants and tests every limit. I can't give an inch, if I do I'm screwed. 

Avery Gabat has gumption. I love it. A quality that clearly comes from her father. 

Gumption+shy+stubborn+silly= Avery

One very cool little girl

Love you A

First swim lesson

Avery had her first swim lesson today. It was so cute! I'm so proud of her, she listened, followed instruction and said thank you. My little munchkin is growing up fast. 

Do you ever feel like...

Being a stay at home mom has been an amazing blessing. I am in a place in my life where I am truly happy. 

As the start of preschool draws nearer for Avery it makes crystal clear how lucky it has been to be with my kids everyday. I've long forgotten the stress of being a working mom and now have new stress (ie: house chores and being on what can feel like 24 hour household lock down). 

I am very Type A and task oriented, I can let little things bother me until they become big things. One day, Jay spoke truth into my life. "Remember, being home is supposed to be fun?" With that statement everything changed. He was absolutely right.  I was having fun but I was letting small things dampen the brightness of the day. I resolved to chill out.  I like clean floors but they don't have to be mopped everyday. I made a chore chart that changed my life. I have organization now and a schedule that keeps my house on track and greatly reduced my stress. Throw in the meal plan I discovered and I actually have my household running well. But even with all this I still feel like I am dropping the ball. When I reflect on my day, I cringe at some things I said or did and smile at others. But sometimes when I reflect  on the day and review the hustle and bustle I will wonder if I actually spent any quality time with my kids. I was with them all day sure, but did we read books today? Nope. Was I on the floor wrestling? Nope. Did I play dress up with Avery or cuddle Brenner? Not really. 

Working so hard to get organized and check off errands, can I check off the most important box, true quality time with my kids?

I've been praying on this a lot. A Proverbs 31 wife, thats the life and marriage goal. Read it, it sounds exhausting lol. 

But seriously, how to get it all done and still have true high energy fun time with my kids? My solution, work harder and faster. Maybe get up before kids, not with the kids. What are other moms doing? I want my kids to remember me playing with them not dragging them from store to store or always cleaning. 

I have the ultimate luxury of time with my kids, it's up to me now to figure out the quality of that time. I want nothing but the best, even if I'm doing it all wrong.