Quite a project

So, add being landlords to the list of projects we've decided to tackle.  Escrow closed on this beautiful Victorian home, converted into a 4-plex, about three weeks ago.  Since then, every spare moment that Nick has had is spent getting the units ready for renting.  Today, we finished the final touches on the two bedroom and we plan on signing the first tenants in to their agreement tomorrow.  Now, to begin the labor on the next unit.  Clean, clean, clean.  Paint, paint, paint.  I can't wait to have my husband home in the evenings again once these apartments are all rented out!

We are Fa-mily!

Seth turned 16, and we all headed to the 'big' Downey's to celebrate.  Seth was only 11 when Nick and I started dating.  He's now five years older and at least three feet taller.  When I hugged him goodbye, my arms only reached around his waist.  Having the family gather at the Downey's is always such special time.  Aunts, Uncles, and cousins EVERYWHERE!  This is the family that put the desire in my heart to have more than just two kids.  Having a large family is such a special thing.

I won!!!!!

Wow.  All I can say is... wow.  There are times as a mom when you just sit back and grin, and say, I won.  Our little Berlyn is a fan of the binkie.  No, she's more than a fan.  She's a fanatic.  She has the binkie by her side 24 hours a day.  Since baby sister has arrived, there are always other binkie's around, and Berlyn has made it her mission to confiscate every single one she can get her hands on.  It's not rare to see her walking around, one binkie in her mouth, one in each hand.  If she can't find one, she'll cup her hands to her mouth and walk around calling it out loud. "Binkie?!  Binkie?!"  Once, when I'd not let her have the binkie during the day, I handed it to her at nap time.  A look of pure joy came over her face as she hugged the binkie to her chest and said "I'm sowy.  I'm sowy."  Apologizing to her little binkie for being apart so long.  Well, today at noon I laid Berlyn down binkieless.  I waited for her to ask for it, and she didn't mention it at all!  She didn't stay down for long though, either.  She spent the next thirty minutes just playing in her crib, throwing out every item... pillows, stuffed animal, blanket.  Finally, I went in and picked her up to see if I could rock her to sleep.  And that's when the struggle began.  She asked for the binkie and my negative response brought on a full force panic attack.  She SCREAMED, she wiggled and kicked, and I held her tight with all my might.  It only took about forty minutes, and my precious little girl was fast asleep... still having small chest spasms of sniffles from the passionate fit she'd thrown.  As much as I hate to hear my girl cry, a huge grin spread across my face as I laid her in her crib.  I won.

And of course, Talullah was such a good, quiet girl laying in her bed enduring the commotion, I just had to take her picture too.

No longer the princess, just a pauper

Today... was... my first day back to work after maternity leave.  I know.  Shed a tear for me.  For the past two years I have worked from home, but with 3 little ones in the house now this hardly seems possible.  So, after a very long hiatus, I'm back in the office on a regular schedule.  Sure it's only 8-10 hours a week, but do you know how LONG that seems?  For a solid 5 hours today I had to stay out of my yoga pants and in an uncomforable, too tight skirt that clung to my post pregnant rolls.  Ugh.  I had to bypass an invitation to take the girls swimming at the Ingamar Club because I was going to be at WORK?!  How on earth do 'you' people do this day after day, week after week for hours and hours?  I just wasn't cut out for this.
Now that you've all cried me a river, sharing in the despair of being me, I'll share the bright side to the story.  Not only did I survive, I was greeted with squeels by my little monkey's when I got home.  Talullah covered me in stickers, which obviously means that I have done a very good job.  Within minutes I was back in my yoga pants, my shoulder covered in spit up, and yelling at Berlyn for sitting on the cat.  Oh how good it is to be home.

I'm a CONDOR!

A big thanks to my good friend Jessica Najera for the families season pass to Sequoia Zoo.  Today was our first FREE trip using our card, and it was amazing!  It's been quite awhile since we've gone, and there have been some wonderful improvements to the grounds.  Even though it was overcast, the weather was plenty warm enough, and running after these girls always works up a sweat.  Talullah claims that her favorite animal was the pig.  Mine, as always, was the monkeys.  The white goat was a close second, though!  Oh how Berlyn's eyes sparkled when she ran into the petting zoo and the animals actually let her pet them!  Special moment: the girls actually posed with me for the wing span shot.

Her favorite phrase: "Ya silly nut nut!"

I had NO idea she was big enough for the Bumbo!

It's MY hat, daddy!

BBQ with the Mulls

Cameron and Rebekah invited everyone for a summer bbq, and we had such a blast.  If I weren't so tired from a full day of fun with the family, I'd surely type more.  For now, I'll just say that it was an absolutely fabulous time!

I just gotta squeeze them cheeks!

The Perry Reunion

My Aunt Lois put together a little Perry family reunion, and it turned out absolutely fantastic.  She rented a huge vacation home big enough to fit all of us.  She also scheduled us to have a big 'party' boat for an entire day on the lake.  God is good, and the weather that day was perfect.  Not sweltering hot, but warm enough to bake in the sun and jump in the water.  The next day was pouring rain.  This didn't damper our spirits at all.  It gave the opportunity for everyone to sit indoors and enjoy conversation, eat ourselves silly, and utilize the hot tub and game room that the house provided.  This reunion was extra special since my grandparents drove up from the San Fernando valley, which is a very, VERY big deal.  I got to visit with aunts, uncles, and cousins that I hadn't seen in years, some of whom hadn't even met Nick or our girls yet.  There were babies all over the place, too!  My only regret was not having taken a better camera to capture more priceless moments.  Half of the shots I took were completely out of focus. And, of course, Aunt Lois isn't any even one of my pictures.  She's sneaky and always avoids the lime light.  Arghghgh.  I had such a great time, I guess I miss my relatives more than I'd realized.  Hopefully it's not so long before we all see each other again!