Dear Colt;

I remember our drive to the hospital so clear. Listening to Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do. Talking about what we think you’ll look like, if since you had used my insides as your personal dojo that you would like me and would be a mama’s boy, if you would be as cute as the rest of our kids, if you’d be a good baby or would throw as a curveball and be colicky. I had so many emotions. But my main one was

E X C I T E M E M T

I couldn’t wait to finally meet this sweet little spirit that I was so blessed to bring into this world.

When I first saw you, I think my exact response was

He IS cute ♥️😭

And you instantly knew and loved me.

Isn’t it crazy how newborns just know you and feel so instantly safe with you? My favorite feeling in the world.

Over the last year, you have grown so much. Like nearly tripled your birth weight

I’m still as equally tired. 😅

You have grown to love your siblings, especially Roczen, who you seem to constantly be in competition with for my attention.

Seeing you two together makes my heart swell! But, man, am I in trouble when you two start teaming up.

Do you know how much you’re loved?! Can you tell!?

In your first year…

• You went to the beach at 3 weeks old

• Road tripped to Montana for a white Christmas

• Been to the water parks

• Flew on a plane

• Spent most weekends at the dirt bike track

• Been to a super cross race

• Hiked the superstitions. Kinda. Maybe a trail…

You have learned so much. Which goes without saying since you basically only know how to breathe and nurse when you’re born. BUT

• You love Disney, mostly Mickey and those cute puppy dog pals.

• Are dirt bike obsessed like your dad.

• Enjoy being outside and playing in the dirt

• Don’t like birds

• Live for food. My little chubby butt.

• Give the best squeeziest hugs ever

• And give the sloppiest kisses

• Like to wrestle your brothers and take all his toys
• Love to smile and laugh
• You climb on everything
• The stairs are always your goal when the baby gate is left open
• You won’t take a bottle and you think cups are funny toys
• I’m your favorite person in the world
• You want to be big so bad 😭

This year has flown by, but at the same time it’s hard to picture a time you weren’t a part of our family. Isn’t it weird how that works?? You have brought us all so much happiness and light into our lives. I love you so much Colten Jay! Happy Birthday.

NOW STOP GROWING UP

The Table Saga…

When Colten was born (last August), we got rid of our table. I have bought it on Facebook for super cheap and decided to use chalk paint to spruce it up. Buuuuuut I never finished it all the way. With 3 heathens, I mean kids, not sealing a white table is the worst mistake you can ever make. Hence why it was thrown away. 11 months ago.

a few weeks back, I was sick of not having a table. Just plain over it. Yes, I went 10 months without a kitchen table. I found a table that was sufficient for FIFTEEN DOLLARS!! I proudly snatched that baby right up. Welp, Mitch hated it. It was too small and beat up. And we didn’t have any chairs for it. I found plans and bought all the supplies to build a super simple bench while Mitch was out of town. Mitch has this rule that I’m not allowed to use power tools. Not because he’s a dictator like I tell him, but because I’m a clumsy doof and what would my kids do with a mom with no fingers or hands?

No power tools, Ali

But he built my bench for me. We had seating! Lol

Mitch still hated it and I continued to look around for the perfect table. The only problem was… I don’t want to spend my mortgage on a table.

I don’t want to brag or anything but my husband is crazy talented. He sees these things all in his head and scribbles out a few drawings and can build things from scratch. Earlier this year he built us a headboard.

He said, “I think I’m going to try to build a kitchen table.” I was like yesss finally. He spent hours outside in the garage on some pretty hot Arizona days working on the table. Our neighbors would walk by and watch him to see what he was building this time.

I think it took him 3 days of nonstop work and he was officially done with the table. You wouldn’t think a lot of sanding is part of it. But holy cats! SO. MUCH. SANDING.

Mitch was no longer impressed with my simple bench. Haha He decided that he was going to build a bigger better bench. I was like “ya okay. My bench is awesome and it does what it’s supposed to do but you can try… ”

Bet

I’m super impressed. Like so impressed that this is probably the nicest thing in our house and Mitchell made it. With his own hands, sweat, and maybe a few tears? Maybe. We did buy the chairs new from American Furniture Warehouse. We’re not ready to commit to making chair just yet.

Oh! And in case you were wondering. Which I know you were…. we used the old $15 table legs to make a coffee table. Which is also a favorite in my house…I don’t think we’ve ever had a coffee table and I kinda love it! Also Colt’s as well.

I told him we’re starting an etsy shop, this just might be his ticket out of the industry he’s in. Just maybeeeeeeee 🤔

Disneyland surprise trip!

I woke Addisyn up at 2am and told her to get in the car we’re going to Disneyland. In her sleepy confusion, she laid back down. I said

WERE GOING TO DISNEYLAND, GET IN THE CAR!!

As she reluctantly got in the car, she was like “are we really going to Disneyland?” Ohhh you betcha little girl.

And we drive off into the darkness of the night in our rented fancy red Camaro blasting some Taylor Swift look what you made me do.

Scene.

Disneyland is probably my favorite place in the world. It holds a special place in my heart and is full of memories from my childhood. Being able to wake up my daughter in the middle of the night and spontaneously (who are we kidding, I planned it for MONTHS) take her there for her birthday makes my heart so stinking happy.

We got to our hotel, checked in, changed our clothes, put our ears on and ran (ok, speed walked) to CA Adventure to get there as it opened and to get fast passes for Radiator Springs, and Guardians of the Galaxy (which I was first super sad about Tower of Terror going away, but Omigosh. Guardians is THE BEST ride)

I have to say. Disney MaxPass is the best thing Disney has come out with! Fast passes straight to your phone, no running around trying to get them all. And AND it downloads ALL the ride and photo op pictures straight to your app. Serious. GAME CHANGER!

Cars land or Radiator Springs is probably my favorite place in all of California Adventure. Cars has a special place in my heart because of my boys and because the stories are just amazing. Such good lessons. Anywhoosers…. we stopped in at Flos for some delicious breakfast and it did not disappoint. I mean Mater waffles… come on. Who could be mad about that??!

After spending the good part of our Morning at DCA it started to get crowded so we headed over to DISNEYLAND.

I highly recommend (on park hopper days) to start over at California Adventure “DCA” the big rides over there seem to max out of fast passes pretty quick. And the lines easily get to 2 hours long super fast.

Ain’t nobody got time for that!

We hit all our favorite rides that had under a 30 minute wait and got fast passes for the rest. Seriously. Again. The MaxPass was amazing. We were able to book our fast passes instantly from my phone and were able to have quite a few at a time. At one point we were getting off rides and having to run to get to the our next fast pass time. So nice! Not the running. But the no line part.

Addisyn and I share a love of C H U R R O S. especially Disneyland churros. Everything about them is just magical. <Costco’s are pretty good too. But just not the same.> Even the lines for those were insane. BUT when we found one without a line we couldn’t pass it up. We were really hoping to try all the fancy ones. But we are way too impatient for lines for food. 😅

We also love Mickey shaped foods! Any and all of them. We basically lived off carbs. Just carbs. But it’s okay, by the end of the night we had walked 15 MILES!!

I don’t have much tips or suggestions on food. Because we were so busy running around we only stopped for churros and pretzels. Not even joking. I’m like a child and so set in my old school Disney ways. Next time I’m binge eating all the special foods! All. Of. Them.

Churros and pretzels. Highly recommend. 10/10. Best food Disney has to offer. Also corn dogs. I eat like a toddler. 😅

I’m super bummed we missed our favorite parade at DCA and also the Pixar fireworks at Disneyland. I do watch them on everyone’s instastories though. Basically the same thing, right?! Indiana Jones and Splash Mountain we’re calling us.

We were so close to doing an open to close Disney day. But at 11:15 I told Addisyn, I wasn’t going to make it. That’s a long day for some one of my age. You know. 30 and old. Especially on 2 hours of asleep. I ain’t as young as I once was. But I’m as young once as I ever was.

Tips and tricks

• Have fun. Don’t have a game plan. Just go with it.

• Be a kid again.

• Spend all your money

• Disney Candy apples are freaking the best thing ever. Get one.

• Disney MaxPass is life changing

• Bring a portable power bank

• Wear broken in comfy shoes.

• Don’t ride the grizzly rapid ride when it’s 60 degrees. You will get soaked and you will be cold.

• More than one day is ideal to do it all. But it can almost be done in one day if you’re dedicated.

• Bring extra clothes

• Stay in walking distance. I recommend the Fairfield inn. Hojo Anaheim. Or the Grand legacy.

• Prepare for at least 3 meltdowns. At least.

• Don’t go without your 8 month old nursing baby. It hurts.

It was the best time ever! If you ever get the chance to kinda spontaneously take your child for some one on one time. Do it. Although, you’ll both wish the rest of the family is there to enjoy it with you, it’s 100% worth it. And 66% cheaper. I can’t wait to go back. Hopefully this fall around Halloween time. With everyone this time.

I have the coolest mom ever. She makes Disneyland birthday dreams come true. -Addisyn, probably

Enjoy these ugly face ride pictures lol

A RE introduction

Hi!!! I’m Ali. Pronounced Alley. Like a cat. Not like Prince Ali from Aladdin. (Trust me people say it like that when they see it)

I started this little blog about over 2 years ago. It quickly became another thing I started and then stopped. I think all my posts are roughly 6-9 months apart…. what?? This time though, I’m going to do it. Really do it. I’ve said that before. But I mean it. Really mean it.

With that said, here I am. Blogging. Trying to be a blogger.

A little about me. Some fun facts, if you will.

• I’m 30 years old. Eeeeek. I know. I don’t look it. Hashtag forever young.
• I have 4 kids. 10, 9, 3 and almost 1. 3 boys and uno girl.
• I love my husband so much, I married him twice. (I’ll save that story for a different post)
• My favorite animal is a shark. And with persistence, my kids live for SHARK WEEK with me. I mean, we live every week like it’s shark week. But actual shark week is a holiday in these parts.
• I LOVE love loooooove Disneyland. I’d have a season pass if my husband was also a Disney enthusiast but he is not.
• I am obsessed with The Office. My dedication is unreal. I watch it at night when we’re going to bed. It’s become my husband and i’s thing. (I feel like that grammar isn’t right?) and it’s rubbed off on my very serious father in law. I don’t think that was my doing. But I’m taking the credit anyways.
• I’m not very crafty. But I do try. My daughter and I love to try things on Pinterest. So much so that my husband has even started building us furniture. We have a bed he built, a bench. And her currently working on a table. I didn’t know he was a wood worker. Either did he. (pictures and a separate blog? to come when it’s all finished)
• I am a Mormon. I’m a convert. I was baptized almost 9 years ago. My husband and I became active again when our kids took interest in the church and wanted to be baptized themselves. I’ve learned a lot this last year or so and it’s become a huge part of who I am. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
• I DO NOT like seafood of any kind.
• I’m a day dreamer. And most of the things I fantasize or dream about never go or turn out as I plan. That’s just life with kids.
• I dabble in photography. I’m not as good as my sister in law. Maybe some day.
• Arizona is and will always be home. I love this state and try to leave it. But we always come back. And I mean always.

I can write so much more about myself, but I won’t. Haha just kidding. I was running out of random facts about me.

This is going to be MySpace for activities I do with the kids, clothes we like, toys that actually keep my kids entertained, vacations, and just basically life. If there’s anything in particular you’d like me to write about, lemme know. Maybe I’ll update my 30 before 30 list and make it a before I die list. 😅

So that’s that. Here’s to a new start of a season of blogging.

-Ali

Colten Jay; A Birth Story ♥️

On August 25, I woke up, got the kids to school, took my special presurgery shower, packed my bag, left my 2 year old with my mom, and was on my way to the hospital. 🤗

It was finally the day I had been waiting for for 9 months. Or 39 weeks to be exact. Although I was hoping to go into labor before my scheduled cesarean, going on a planned day was so much easier. And better for me.

I’ve never felt so nervous. This was my 4th c-section, yet I was so worried about so many things going wrong. I probably cried 5 times just on the way there, thinking about dying and Roczen not even remembering me. Or my older kids only remembering me being mean. And making Mitch promise to at least wait a good amount of time before he remarries. Those pregnancy hormones, man.<
e arrive at the hospital and the front desk is like use that special labor and delivery phone to call up and tell them your here

Uh, hi, I’m here to have my baby via c-section?

They take us back to triage where they start my IV, thank goodness because I’ve never been so thirsty in my life, and hook me up to the contraction monitors. The nurse is like “whoa, do you feel that contraction, that looks likes a good one?” I feel my belly tightening but it doesn’t hurt, just uncomfortable.

They have you arrive 2 hours before your surgery time, it seems like a long time but it’s a lot of waiting and feeling anxious. Meeting with anesthesiologists, your nurses, your doctors, the lab doing blood work, letting family and friends know when they can come, asking them to not be waiting at the hospital, you know in case I die. (Seriously, this thought was in my head too much)

They take me back to the OR where I get my spinal from the best anesthesiologist ever. Almost zero pain from the YUUUUGE SHOT and very minimal nausea, but caught soon enough I felt amazing through the whole birth. Once everything is good to go, they bring Mitch in. I’m like do you have the camera or our phones? And he’s all it’s not time yet. My amazing dr( dr Pritchard at valley women) asks for the time. 11:14. And they start.

It’s such a weird pulling and tugging feeling. I’m making weird faces because it feels so rough, Mitch is worried because my faces lol. It doesn’t hurt at all. I’m numb from my chest down.

Omg, I can see his hair through her uterus!

And then crying. 11:18 and Colten was born. 4 minutes after they started, I could hear my baby, such a good crier. Lol and then I could see him. I’m telling Mitch to take pictures because I can’t hold him and I can’t see him where they take him to evaluate him. And he can’t figure out my iPhone. Like seriously. It’s a camera. You push the circle. He almost missed those money shots!!

He’s perfect. 8 pounds 9 ounces, 20 inches. Our biggest chunkiest baby yet!!

After about 10 minutes, they bring him to me and I can hold him and snuggle him with skin to skin bonding time while they’re finishing closing me up. My doctor comes and talks to me and tells me that my uterus was so thin that if I had labored on it, my uterus more than likely would have ruptured. All that time I was praying and hoping I’d go into labor early, I’m so happy that I didn’t.

They sent me to the recovery room. But after waiting there forever, longer than the hour they monitor you, they tell us all the rooms are full and we’re waiting for a discharge so we can have a room. But it was totally okay. I didn’t mind. Except that it was public not private area and employees were constantly walking through. Didn’t even care though. Mostly. Because the baby was finally here.

Got to our room around 3 ish maybe and was finally able to relax and enjoy being with our new baby and having our kids meet him. ♥️

Recovery the first 24 hours was so easy. No pain. I was up and walking. Not the second night though. The pain train hit and I was regretting thinking I don’t need the heavy pain meds every 4 hours, I can wait 6. I’m not as tough as I want to be. Haha

I Am Back!

I finally felt somewhat inspired to blog again. I apparently go through some phases. 😳 

I started this little pet project over a year ago and I wrote THREE (yes, only three) blogs. I was like “oh, I’ll just pick up from being MIA since finding out we were expecting” but my  last post was SEVEN MONTHS ago. Not discouraging at all, right?! Haha. Sooooooo…. I guess I’ve been a little more than just MIA but full blown just ghosted. But. I AM BACK!! 

I’m just going to pick up where I thought I left off… 

Sorry I’ve been MIA  so distanced from the blog world lately but my mind (and body) has been a little preoccupied. 

That’s right!! We’re expecting a 4th heathen precious little baby 💕 this time around, we’re not finding out the baby’s gender until delivery. I know!! Crazy, huh? I don’t know if I can do it, all these little cute girl clothes have me convinced it’s a girl or I’m just going to plan for one anyways. Our anatomy scan is next Friday, and if Mitch is out of town, I’m not sure I’m strong enough to go by myself and not find out. I am weak haha BUT I do have other theories of why it may be a girl based on wives tales 

• Sweet vs Salty I crave fruit, starbursts, juice, chicken tenders, snow cones mostly sweet means girl 
• Morning Sickness This pregnancy is the first pregnancy I was nauseous ALL DAY and threw up multiple times a day. Girl
• Pregnancy Glow Um what is that?! My skin is dingy and broken out they say girls steal their mama’s looks
• Moody vs Mellow I’m moody as all get out. Girl
• Carrying High vs Low  it’s too soon to tell yet. I find the heartbeat down low? Boy 
• The Ring Test Circle = girl; Back n forth = boy Boy
• Heart rate last appointment 162 girl 
• Chinese Gender Chart girl 

Seeeeeeeeeeee; mostly girl but we shall see in about 23.5 weeks. If I can hold out that long!! Any tips or ideas on to gender neutrally prepare for baby are welcome!

30 before 30

This December I turn 29 years young. It’s my last birthday before I become “thirty, flirty and fun.” That’s a 13 going on 30 reference, bee tee dubs. 

I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and for some reason a lot of people I know are turning the big 3-0. It may have to do with a lot of them being my high school friends or maybe I follow an older crowd. Idk. Anywhoosers, I’ve seen the 30 before 30 bucket list. I was like YASSS that’s perfect. Lately I have been feeling that the only thing that I have successfully done is become a mom. If someone is asking me what I do, I say “nothing, I’m just a mom.” The smart people know the perfect answer is ” moms aren’t nothing, you are not just a mom, you’re a cook, maid, launderer, chauffeur, referee, nurse, secretary, personal shopper, paparazzi”  and I thank them. The not so bright say “oh that’s cool” <insert eye roll.>
What I want to do is challenge myself to do AT LEAST 30 things I’ve never done before I become that number I keep repeating and making myself feel so old. I need to remember that I’m not just a mom and that I’m a person too. My needs and wants matter just as much as anyone else’s. maybe not as much as the kids’ but they do matter.

1. Go on a sans kids vacation with my husband. I’m not talking about a overnight hotel stay, I’m talking about a weekend,or longer, of doing exactly what we want to do.
2. Sky diving. That’s on everyones bucket list, but I can tell ya, I will more than likely have a heart attack on the way down, so I believe indoor similuated sky diving will work.
3. Turn a hobby into something I can make money doing.  Photography, blogging, sewing, making shirts
4. Learn to decorate cakes
5. Make real “mom” friends that hang out all the time… Play dates, library dates, kid less brunch dates.
6. Run a color run or a 5k or something along those lines.
7. Grow a garden
8. Watch all the Lord of the Rings without falling asleep
9. Learn to scuba dive. Or snorkel. I’d totally settle for snorkeling
10. Take Addisyn to see the Eiffel Tower. In Vegas. And act like I’m taking her to a different foreign land.
11. Disneyland family vacation with Mitchell. (I’m hoping this happens next month but probably not, this year though) omg how cute would Roczen be proposing to the princesses?!
12. Test drive a Ferrari. Without scratching it. Actually I’ll test passenger a Ferrari.
13. I really want to see Rockefeller center at the Christmas time. I don’t know if that’s possible. But it’s on the list. Even just before I die list.
14. Buffalo Wild Wings blazin wings challenge.
15. Get a selfie with a famous person/celebrity
16. FINISH PAINTING AND DECORATING MY HOUSE.
17. Get a an updated family photo. Our current one is 2 years old.
18. Watch Justin Bieber perform. Live. Once a belieber, always a belieber.
19.  Ride in a hot air balloon
20. Learn to snowboard. I live in Arizona. Very limited. Haha
21. Be more patient. 
22. Hold a fundraising event in honor of my cousin Peter and raise awareness of childhood cancer.
23. Join a Coed softball team with the hubby.
24. Take the kids camping in the dunes to ride their dirtbikes. (Borrow a side by side)
25. Master the talent of clean eating and improve my cooking skills.
26. Ride an elephant.
27. Read all the Harry Potter books and then go to Harry Potter world.
28. Take an art class. Or some kind of class to improve my skills I already have. Haha like nunchuck skills.
29. Do a 365 day, photo a day project. I take pictures everyday. So that should be easy. Maybe. Idk
30. Bring in 30 like it’s going out of style. Have my husband throw me a party. Really I’ll throw it but say he did it so I’m not lame.

Here’s to the last 15 months before I turn the age to end all young feelings I could possibly have. Haha jk

I’m going to be forever young. 

Addisyn got a puppy

This Christmas my husband had a small lapse of judgement hanging out with his friends, and had agreed to let Addisyn pick out and bring home one of the new puppies.

Let me back track a bit. It was the middle of football season, or rather the games after thanksgiving. We were invited over to a friends house to watch the games, hang out, drink a little. For my hubby, a little turned into more than that. Our friends dog had just had puppies a few days prior. Addisyn and I were obsessed. I quickly got over my obsession since we already have a dog and 3 young kids!  Oh no. Somehow Addisyn got roped in, if she will call Jesse, Uncle Jesse, she can pick out her dog right now and take it home in a few weeks.  A hug and a huge THANK YOU UNCLE JESSE later, she, scratch that, I got a new puppy. She was out in the garage naming this cute little burden of fur! Sparkle spot. 

 

Over the next few weeks, we tried to think of ways that we could get out of bringing home this cute little ball of energy. NOTHING. Nothing we could think of would make us not seem like monsters, stepping on the heart of our animal loving baby girl. 

Christmas comes and goes, Addisyn has a countdown calendar for the day she gets to bring Sparkle home. Until we get the call, 11 days early, “Sparkle is ready for you, do you want to get her today?” I’m excited! Actually, really excited to go get this precious little puppy and have her waiting for baby girl after school. It was the best surprise ever!!!! 

  

 She has wiggled her way into my heart, I instantly fell in love with her. She fits right in with all of us and tolerates the baby constantly playing and petting her. Although I do not enjoy potty training and or crate training. I think she’s finally getting it. And I’m a proud puppy mama. Puppy Grandma if you ask Addisyn.

Hey, what’s up? Hello

The name’s Ali. Nice to meet ya! California born but Arizona raised. I LOVE it here! Any and every time we’ve tried to move away we have came back. By move away, I mean huge moves…we’ve done north western Wyoming; twice, and tried Billings, Montana for a year. BUT Arizona is and will always be home for us!

I’ve kinda become your typical stay at home mom. My kids have hostilely taken over my life and I’m perfectly happy with that. Other than that though, I’m a down to earth girl that like normal things; baking, Pinterest crafting (fails), Keeping up with the Kardashians, literally and the show, Starbucks runs, trying to get fit, shopping, home decorating, Netflix binging… You know, normal things. Most recently, I’ve gotten into photography. I’m teaching myself, just kinda going with the flow of it. It’s working out pretty well so far, if I say so myself. 🙂

My beautiful family being the perfect models

I’m married to the love of my life, Mitch, for nearly 8 years this June. We’ve had our ups and downs, but I can honestly say I’m one lucky woman to have a man that works as hard as he does so I can stay home with our 3 wonderful kids.

Tegan is 8. Our first born. The rule maker and follower. He’s just awesome! He makes me smile with his funny jokes and all his silly stories about nothingness. He’s your typical boy, riding bikes, running, video games, teasing his sister.
Addisyn is 6. She has the kindest and most creative spirit I’ve ever encountered. Always has a smile on her face. Her heart has room for everything, especially animals! Any and all animals. She can hang with the boys but still be the most girly girl while doing it!
Roczen (pronounced Roxin) is named after a pro motocross racer. And it definitely suits him. They are his favorite thing in the world. His first world was vroom vroom. With the throttle hand motions. He just turned 1 and is the baby. that pretty much sums him up. He has all of us wrapped around his little fingers.
Mitch has brought our family into the world of motocross where all 3 of the kids are obsessed. Yes, even the baby. Especially the baby.

Here, at my blog, I want to bring you into my life. My crazy, wonderful, busy life. Where I’ll tell you what’s on my mind, ramblings of a stay at home mom, if you will. Reviews of places and products. Stories of my family or places that will make you smile and or tug on your heart strings.
I hope you enjoy reading and interacting with me as much as I enjoy it with my favorite blogs! 🙂