long weekend. . woo hoo!

I hope everyone has a safe and fun-filled holiday weekend!!!

Enjoy!!

Great Truths in Life

Great Truths in Life for Brothers and Sisters

1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize the neighbors cats.

2.When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.

3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catchthe second person.

4. Never ask your 1-year old brother to hold a tomato.

5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.

6. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

7. Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.

8.You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

9. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

10.Dirty socks is not a good place to hide cookies.

11.Don't hang anything on the ceiling fan ( legos will fly out of a sandbox pail and hurt you)

12. Never put your baby brother on the top bunk, even if he cries.

13. Gravity applies to baby brothers on the top bunk.

14. Frogs do not go in your pocket ...but if you forget they will live there for at least three days.

15. Never save pizza under your pillow to eat next week, mom will smell it.

16. You can swallow a quarter and get it back in three days, this also works for marbles and high-ho- cherrio pieces .

17. You can still spend quarters that have been in the toilet.

18.The school bus is not "magic " like on tv, and Ms. Frizz will not take you to the moon. Kindergarten teachers,and bus drivers will believe you If you say you ride THIS bus.

19.If you booby-trap your room for monsters, turn on the light BEFORE you get up at night to pee.

20. The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

Great Truths That Adults Have Learned
Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
Wrinkles don't hurt.
Families are like fudge ... mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
Laughing helps. It's like jogging on the inside.
Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

The Four Stages Of Life
You believe in Santa Claus.
You don't believe in Santa Claus.
You are Santa Claus.
You look like Santa Claus.

What I have learned from my Children!

There is no such thing as childproofing your house.
If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with rollerblades, they can ignite.
A 4-year-old's voice is louder than 200 adults in acrowded restaurant.
If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearingpound puppy underwear and a superman cape. It is strongenough, however, to spread paint on all four walls of a20x20 foot room.
When using the ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit.
A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
When you hear the toilet flush and the words 'Uh-oh,'it's already too late.
A six-year old can start a fire with a flint rock, even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
If you use a waterbed as home plate while wearingbaseball shoes, it does not leak -- it explodes.
A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2001 All rights reserved. sqfoot house 4 inches deep.
Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a four-year-old. Super glue is forever.
'Play Dough' and 'microwave' should never be used in thesame sentence.
Small pets and microwaves are a bad combination.
Tarzan can teach us many things we don't want to know.
Crayons do not remain solid when stored on a car's dashboard on a hot summer day.
No matter how much Jello you put in a swimming pool, you still can't walk on water.
Pool filters do not like Jello-O.
Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a tic tac.
You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
Never leave a toddler, a furry animal and a a pair of scissors alone in the same room.
Pool filters do not like Jello.
Raising teenagers is like nailing JELLO to a tree.
VCR's do not eject PB&J sandwiches, although TVcommercials show they do.
Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
Always look in the oven before you turn it on. (That durn hamster!)
Plastic toys do not like ovens.
The fire department in San Diego has at least a 5-minute response time.
The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
It will, however, make cats dizzy.
Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
Don't flush the toilet when you dad's in the shower.
Never dare your little brother to paint the family car.
Stay away from prunes.
Never tell your little brother that you're not going to do what your mom told you to do.
Never spit when on a roller coaster.
When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she's on the phone.
Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat.
Never tell your mom her diet's not working.
When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?"don't answer him.
Never bug a pregnant mom.
Never ask for anything that costs more than ten dollars when your parents are doing taxes.
Sleep in your clothes so you'll be dressed in the morning.
When you want something expensive, ask your grandparents.
Never smart off to a teacher whose eyes and ears are twitching.
You should never take a goldfish for a walk; even on a leash.
Wear a hat when feeding seagulls.
A good sense of humor will get you through most problems in life (unfortunately, mostly in retrospect).

San Francisco!!

Those of you who know me well know that San Francisco, California is my most favorite city in the US! ... well, my most favorite of ANY city i've visited - US or abroad! I love everything about it.. the sites, the food, the history... the SHOPPING! :) It's beautiful and I just can't get enough of it. It doesn't hurt also that i have family out there... great excuse for a visit! I've met some really great cousins and family members. :)

Well, this time last week I was packing up to head to my favorite place. I was completely excited! #1 b/c , umm Hello.. it's San Fran! and #2... NO KIDS for FOUR whole days!! (ahhh.. so peaceful) My grandmother and I were headed out for some family matters. Our trip started with some HUGE delays and standbys at the airports but we finally made it out and completely enjoyed ourselves!

I didnt' really do all the "siteseeing" type of things that i've done in the past, so i just decided to post pictures from previous trips. ENJOY!

Crabs... you delicious thing you!

Pier 39.. the sea lions!

Cable Cars!!

Sailboats!

Golden Gate Bridge! (the best view actually came from the airplane window as we were leaving!)

Full House, anyone?! They're called the "Painted Ladies".

Boats in Fisherman's Wharf

ME! (3 yrs ago @ Twin Peaks.. best view of the city!)

picture site!

I decided to start a Shutterfly picture site. One, b/c i thought they were super cute and Two, b/c i could upload LOTS of pictures instead of just a few in each post.

http://sticklesphotos.shutterfly.com/

Enjoy!!

one year... one day at a time..

April 30th, 2008... he turned 71 and we celebrated... the man who loved me and cared for me as if i was his actual daughter, not his granddaughter. The man who i had come to admire and respect and place in a pedestal far higher than anyone else.

He turned 71... and we celebrated.

2 days later I found myself sitting in a hospital waiting room hearing the news that this man, my favorite person in the entire world, would no longer walk this earth with me. I can not tell you how I felt or what I said. There's some things in life you just find yourself blocking out. The late night of May 2nd, early morning of May 3rd is one of these things. We finally said goodbye to him around 5:30 in the morning. My heart fell to into pieces and has never repaired.

It's been one year... more like, one day at a time.

I miss him more than words could ever describe. I was prepared for the fact that at some point in time my grandparents would leave me. I was not prepared for this unexpected day.

I see him in Ethan's michevious eyes. He has his nose.. his dusty blonde, wispy hair.. his demeanor and his charm. He is David Kessler made all over into a tiny little package. I wish he was here to see him, to teach him life's lessons. I know he's watching though and taking pride that God granted me with a constant reminder of him. Ethan will only remember him in pictures, as he was only a year old when Pop left us, but dont ever doubt that he knows him and loves him.

My sweet Lilly is the lucky one. She was able to spend 4 1/2 years with him. He absolutely adored her and she knows it! She still talks to him in her dreams. He watches over her and protects her. She's a gentle heart. He remindes her of stories and his love. She's his "ladybug" and she's quick to let everyone know. She talks about him everyday and can bring a smile, laugh and tear out of you all at once. I am forever grateful that he has stayed with her. When i finally get to see him in heaven one day, this is the first thing i will thank him for..... for loving my babies.

Every happy memory from my childhood involves this great man. He took me on my first beach trip, my first Disney World trip. He taught me to ride my bike. He taught me to swim and built me a swing set. He built me the cradle I slept in as a newborn. He filmed my first dance recital and brought roses to the stage for me. In fact, for as long as i can remember, I had pink carnations for every birthday. I was HIS.. his favorite... and he was mine. Everyone knew this unspoken truth and life was grand. Later in life, it was his opinion that mattered above anyone else's. It was him who led me down the paths that I needed to be on. He was a tough man.. a military man. Even in pure frustration with him... he was right.. you knew it, he knew it.. he always was. I should have listened to him more. I loved the fact that he ate almost the same things for dinner every week. I loved his laugh and his stories of days long ago. I loved the love he held for his country and his fellow marines. I loved that he only ate lettuce and tomato on his salads, put onions in is tuna and ate Frosted Flakes every night throughout my childhood. In my eyes there is no greater person. In my eyes there is no greater love than the love he shared with my grandmother for 49 years. She's a tender heart.. this is what he saw in his Ladybug, as they are two of a kind. They were soulmates. They are what i hope to have in my own marriage.

My life is forever changed. A piece of me is no longer and will never be. I live everyday to remind my children how much he loved them and just how incredible he was. He surrounds us in stories and photographs. I find myself talking to him at random times. I wish he were here with us, but i know i'm selfish in my want. He's free now.. with no pain. He's in a far better place than I could ever imagine. I will see him again, I know this.

Until then..

It's one day at a time.

Pop and his Ladybug

Pop and Ethan

On April 30th, 2009 he would have been 72....

.... and we celebrated!

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" Cor 5:8

"I Thank My God Upon Every Remembrance Of You" Philippians 1:3

One afternoon all the windows and doors were open, as we were all enjoying the beautiful weather. I noticed that Ethan had grabbed his blanket from inside and when i went to see what he was doing, I found him like this.... watching the clouds...

Her Daddy has started her obsession WAY TOO EARLY!!

A few weeks ago was the kid's Mother's Day/Spring Program at school. The pictures look terrible.. SORRY!.. but they did a great job! Of course, Lilly knew every word and every move she was taught. Ethan on the other hand was too busy trying to figure out how to break his "shaker" that he didn't sing. Still as cute as ever though! :)
*E is the boy in the front in the light green jon-jon with embroidered frogs!*

*LK is the bright pink bow in the back! haha!*

Candid moment... so sweet!

Once a week Lilly Kate gets to pick a dinner and then cook it! She loves this and is getting really good at it! We all look forward to it! This was her first official "Dinner Night"! She was super excited!

LOTS of catching up to do!!

Ok.. i have been TERRIBLE lately with blogging!! And i mean... HORRIBLE! We have had our hands full lately and i just have fallen behind Big Time!

Here's just some randoms...

Rule #1 in our house... NEVER (and i mean, NEVER!!!) leave Ethan alone in a room!

or... you'll walk in and find something like this!

OR... you'll find feet like these... G-R-OSS!!! ugh... BOYS!

or even worse... you'll find this mess!!! sugar and flour drenched in SUNBLOCK all over the kitch counters!!!! (sent by my husband's blackberry!... NOT a good day at home!) :)

after 5 years.... i think she's had enough of the camera constantly in her face! (i'm sad.....)

our family canvases for the kid's bathroom upstairs.... so cute!!

She turned 5.. and asked for diamonds...

Well, we didn't get her diamonds... but we did finally give in and let her get her ears pierced!! She was sooooo excited!! :)

The last picture of non pierced ears!

This is when she started to get a little nervous....

and then ALOT nervous....

They decided to do them both at the same time... THANK GOODNESS!!

Oh My Poor Baby... she cried for about 3 minutes....

and then she was fine! already picking out new earrings!! :) She's such a big girl!!