And today is his birthday!

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday dear Daddy...

Happy Birthday to you!!!

And many more...

Daddy, I love you more than words can express. I can go on and on about all the things you've taught me and the ways you have made my life so great... you love me, you support me, you encourage me, and guide me, you're always there to listen. Thank you for all you do... not only for me, but for my husband and kids as well. Thank you for being you. Crazy and funny and loving. It's why I love you so much. You are amazing. You are a wonderful parent and I hope I can live up to your example.I love you more than you know. I hope you had a wonderful day!!!

Happy 49th Birthday Daddy-O!

I love you... you're Grr-eat!

My Happy Little Swimmer

Alayna finally got over her fear of jumping in the pool with Grandpa. She loves swimming but HATED when we'd tried to get her to jump in. She would scream bloody murder out of frustration if we attempted it... or picked her up and threw her.

Now she loves it... look at her happy little face as she played with Grandpa.

I Was Featured!

I have been busy lately with my new side businesses. In case I haven't told you I am finally starting to do something I love. Planning Weddings & Parties and Photography.

I am launching my own business called DuckieSayQuack. One side will be Party Planning and Custom Invitations and Favors. I love working with paper and creating truely unique decorations for every event. And the other side will be Photography. I've loved photography for about 6 years now. And I am finally ready to put all this talent, love, and energy to use. My website hasn't officially went up yet but it's coming along and hopefully I can get it up very soon!

Even then the workload is pouring and I couldn't be more excited! To share my love of all things crafty is the greatest. I am in the process of planning a few parties and I have had planned some already that I will probably feature on here soon... I am also booking photosoots and am excited to have a few maternity shoots coming up in the next 2 months. I am really hoping to book some wedding in the new year because they are truely what I love capturing.

So... the point of this post was to share my excitement with you all!

I was featured on an awesome website called Tip Junkie. I was highlighted for my daughter's Princess Birthday Party!

Thank you Tip Junkie for feautring me! I had no idea until I recieved the email. I am beyond excited that you liked my ideas.

So from now on I will be sporting the "I was featured" button on my sidebar... how cool is that?

I hope to get my website up soon for you all to see. Until then I am still here for all your party planning and photography needs.

Email me: DuckieSayQuack@gmail.com

Labor Day

Monday morning I woke up and called my cousin Crystal who also lives in LA. She had asked me if we wanted to go bowling on that Saturday but due to all the shopping in the alleys, and traveling, we were so tired we decided not to go. Which turned out to be a good idea because my cousins Steven and Valerie came to see us and we rarely see them.

So I asked her if she'd like to have breakfast with Jr and I. Reason being... her boyfriend Gabriel was in town Labor Day weekend as well from Washington where he is stationed. He's in the Navy and because of that (even though they've been together a year) I've never met him.

Well that's kind of a lie... I did meet him briefly 4 years ago when I went with Crystal to her prom. They went to High School together and he was there. She introduced us in passing but I've ever officially met him or really talked to him. He's a very nice guy... funny... and seems to be very genuine. I am very happy for Crystal.

So anywho. We went to breakfast. The ride up to the restaurant was beautiful. We ended up a place called Norm's... it's like a Denny's or an Ihop. We also joined Gabriel's parents, brother, and sister there who also wanted to spend some time with him before he left back to Washington that night.

Crystal and Gabriel were in the Mustang

Breakfast was good and afterward our boys found out they have something major in common... the NEED to have a Monster everyday. If you know my Jr then you know he cannot live WITHOUT one each morning. He's so addicted that he get's super cranky if he doesn't drink one.

Being that it was noon already we made a quick run to get them their crack in a can.

And of course they can't be normal and buy a regular one... they needed the "B F C"

With big smiles on their faces everything was puppies and rainbows once again.

I'm not sure what Gabriel was doing but a few times he stuck his can on top of his car and I happened to snap a picture...

We invited them over to my aunt's house where we were BBQing before we headed back to Phoenix. They gladly accepted and we spent the afternoon talking and laughing. I got to learn more about Gabriel and hang out with my cousin Crystal. We hadn't done that in a very long time.

Alayna made us laugh for a while too... she's great entertainment!

Then it was time to pack up. I didn't lift a finger... my wonderful husband did it all. He's great!

Before we left I went outside to see the dogs that I haven't seen in forever! Alayna was scared of them at first but she warmed up to them.

Here she is with Casper... he's been around since I was young.

Then it was time to go... and we were off...

On the road there were a lot of college students heading off to school... I like to watch cars while we travel... here's one I got a picture of...

All the while Jr slept in my lap

And then we stopped at the Coach outlet! Holy Cow was it busy! I was looking for 2 items specifically...

Ended up not finding either... and it was so busy we left and continued on home.

We stopped for a restroom and dinner break in Quartzsite.

And finally returned home...

This was all our luggage! It was funny cuz my parents only had one medium sized bag compared to everything we had.

I love vacations but it feels so good to be home.

Labor Day Weekend - Sunday

Sunday was the day that the kids had been waiting for. Alayna talked about going to the beach all week. Again we loaded up the cars and off we went.

We followed my parents once again and ventured towards Venice Beach. I hadn't been there since 8th grade! I remember it vividly because my mom let me get a henna tattoo and I thought I was the coolest kid in the world. Ha!

Once off the freeway there was so much to see. Every you looked there were people on bikes... I'm sorry... beach cruisers. It was pretty crazy... like millions and zillions of them.

I also loved looking at the pretty beach houses. All sorts of bright colors. I told Jr I would love to have one... if we won the lottery of course!

After circling the area a bit we found a parking lot and parked. $15!!! Holy Cow... that's what we paid for parking... insane... but whatev.

Then it was a short walk to the beach. So many sights to see.

Once there we set up our blanket and headed for the water... yipee!

It was Arielle's first time to the beach. Jr and I were so proud like she hit a milestone or something. Haha. But it was fun. I know she won't ever remember this day but I am glad that my cousin took a million pictures of her and I for her to look back on.

Holding Mommy and Daddy's hands... Look at those chunky legs...

Alayna was so excited to be in the water that she ran around in it full speed... tripped... got a taste of the salty water... and ran back to our blanket...

Where she stayed for a while because she was mad.

Diego and Arielle on the other hand were having a blast!

Arielle and her Nina Rebecca

As we were all getting ready to go in deeper to play in the waves... we're notified (along with many other people on our stretch of beach) that this area was for surfers only and we couldn't actually go out and swim.

So we entertained ourselves for a while by watching the waves, and the surfers, and the boats go by.

Jessica and Alayna

Arielle and I

Diego, who actually preferred not going too far into the ocean... must get that from his mama... was content just to sit and play where the tide barely washed over his feet. He looked so lonely but was completely lost in his own little world for a while. I just sat and watch him from afar.

Eventually Junior and Alayna decided to join him. They dug tunnels trying to make something... but every time I asked them Jr and Diego would tell me that it was a secret and they couldn't tell me. I never found out what they were trying to do... but it never was done. They ended up covering all the holes.

And of course we couldn't miss the opportunity to write in the sand. It's one of my favorite things to do at the beach... but being that I had my nice camera with me... and I was being extra careful not to wet it or get sand in it... I just walked around taking pictures as my cousin wrote in the sand.

Then Jr wrote me a message and suggested we have my cousin take a picture of us... I love how she got our kids in the background too!

Then Jr decided to be Mr. Acrobat and did all sorts of tumbling tricks in the water. Some lady even stopped to watch and was all smiles as she told him how great he was. I laughed because she must have thought he trained to do this as a child... but in reality my husband was a child who used to jump fences and flip off of rooftops, with his brother and cousins, just to see who would get hurt first.

Maybe I'll post a video soon of his little stunts...

My little family

After that we all got hungry and decided to leave the water, walk around, and eat. After ordering pizza, teriaki chicken with rice, and pupusas we sat down on the side of a street in front of some garages and ate. Yes, we're ghetto... but we don't care. ;)

See? Layna agrees.

And after more walking and picture taking we decided to call it a day.

But not before we watched the coolest and funniest little street show. Some dudes who do some crazy acrobatics.

And my cousins got their henna tattoos.





Then it was time to head home.

I was so tired that I got back to my aunt's house... showered... and then fell asleep until the next morning. So much fun but tiring with 3 kids and a husband.