Today

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Life back in the real world is crazy. But I love it! Being on vacation in paradise somehow makes me appreciate our hectic, crazy, busy, lovely life even more. Nothing very noteworthy happening - just lots of little stuff making up our busy days!

Today...

Maisie and I were little sleepy and cleaned up too many blankets and soft pillows after Maisie woke up throwing up from 2am-4am. We watched some Wonder Pets (weirdest show ever) and drank Pedialyte until she felt better. (She had been telling us last night "Mom- I Don't FEEL well.") She gets extra love and binkies today and has been wearing a band aid on her head to remind us she is sick.

Brian and I worked out together. Oh wait, this might be the most noteable thing all week considering I am too lazy to EVER work out! Heff dragged me to try this Vasper workout designed for NASA he does where they pump cold water through a body suit and helmet while you do intervals on a bike thing. Hummm- exercising, being cold, in the morning = NOT my idea of anything I ever want to do! But I actually liked it and it was fun to do with Heff. And they claim it's like a 2.5 hour workout in 20 minutes and I'm all about efficiency!

I turned the heat up (don't tell my husband to 71)- we had a chminey guy come look at the fireplace and I guess those roaring fires we build (go big or go home remember?) might have cracked something. So no more fires til he fixes it this weekend. I love a warm cozy house and I can still blame the electric bill on Heff's prosciutto chillin' in the wine cellar! But I love the fall weather.

I did some work on menu and playroom stuff at Bumble- it's a challenge to figure out this restaurant business thing! But the Playroom part is fun...

Rashelle (the awesome Director of Brilliant Babies) and I worked on some big changes for the business. BIG! Lots of work ahead but exciting changes too (this picture wasn't from today- last week we all went to play at BB - feels like our old stomping grounds now that we are Los Altos kids!)

I worked on some projects at Academic Trainers and our Clear Choice SAT program - it's awesome for SAT Prep and we are going to be doing some cool things with it! If you know anyone who needs SAT Prep send them over :)

Today I was SO thankful for Emmy, as I am everyday. She is so fun to have here in the mornings and is an A+ champ getting all three girls dressed and out and about on a fun wear-them-out-for-naps excursion. Today they watered trees and collected leaves at the nature preserve, got soaking wet, came home for warm baths and played school after lunch. Emmy is EMAZING and I am so lucky she is my cousin-like-a-sister and that she makes my girls' lives better everyday while Brian and I can get some work done!

Francie paints a rainbow almost every day- glad she likes color as much as I do. I'm considering these as art for our house :) Emmy and Francie were doing "homework" too - love to see the words and things she thinks are most important- mostly "Francie and Emma" of course.

I snuck a nap in while all there girls were fast asleep for the same 2 hour period... it was awesome. (this picture wasn't from today but only sleeping baby pic I had on my phone recently!) Zzzzzzzz.

We framed some family photos to hang on a few photo walls. This has been bugging me forever- blank walls are so boring. It's so hard to pick good family photos but I feel like I cheat when I have Emmy taking these works of art on a daily basis. Now to hang them!

I purged and organized our closets and gave them to a lady I know who sells the "name brand" stuff on eBay and then deposits 50% of it into my paypal account. The rest I donated but I love the no-hassle eBay selling- it's like "free" etsy and online shopping money! and I reorganized our "family closet" and the dot system - much easier after the purge and putting all the summer clothes away to make room for long sleeves and cozy sleepers.

and Brian and I talked about our plans for BUNK BEDS in the girls room! We are all excited about this one and hoping to do some demo this weekend for the build outs. These are my inspiration photos... I love the layout of one and color of the other.

And we are all excited that Kat and Oliver are coming to stay with us this weekend (YAY!) AND Clara is coming over tonight for a much anticipated "cousin sleepover"! Glad the girls all got naps to rest up for a fun night in PJ's cuddled up inside away form the rain. Can't wait to have these two cuties sleeping at our house tonight!

and I actually missed Janie looking at these cute pictures Emmy took (just waited for her edited ones!) since she has turned from the worst sleeper ever to the BEST SLEEPER EVER. She is going form 2 long naps a day to one loooonnnng nap. 4-5 hours at least, today was 11am to almost 5pm. Love this about you my JJ!

Big Girls Still Take Naps

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In the infant sling "top bunk" of the jogging stroller! After a run w Dad... Brian said on the run they saw a police car while they were crossing a quiet street in the hills and

Francie said "Dad is he gonna give you a ticket?"

Heff "No Francie why?"

Francie "Because you are jail walking." (aka jay walking :)

So she's been sleeping in the garage like this for the last hour - Janie and Maisie are sleeping too.... better get back to organizing kids clothes for the winter, it's a major project!!!

Pink Ladies

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We became sun suit converts on the boat (my sister is laughing at me right now). They had these cool spf full body suits (in pink!) that were so much easier than putting on sunscreen. They look pretty cute too ;) except I love in the picture above with Heff that Maisie is looking cute- Francie is pissy and Janie is eating Maisie's toe- all very appropriate since right before this all three wanted the coveted shoulder seat and look who got it!

Three Little Pink Piggies

someday maybe all three of them will look at me at the same time?

"What? I wasn't playing with Ariel. Ok fine. Don't tell GaGa."

Boat school in the morning

Happy Baby after breakfast! we brought this stroller to use as a high chair to feed Janie - seems silly to bring a stroller on a boat but it worked!

Same size suit. Different size kid.

on the tender heading for dry land

found it - and right back in the water

My weak attempt at an artsy photo - looks like Janie is back in my belly- just 8 months too big!

Stand Up Paddleboarding

Dance moves by Francie

Sun suits came off- dance routine commences

checking out the tide pools

i forgot to pack a baby spoon so Janie got sweet potatoes by seashell

Heff got to go out one afternoon with Captain Adam on the open seas (in this little tender!) and they caught a HUGE wahoo! This was the third one they brought in but the first two were only heads- while they were on the line a shark or something stole the rest!!

This guy was almost bigger than Francie

Heff tried to convince Maisie to kiss the fish. No dice

Janie and I stayed on the boat away from fish kisses

and then saw this guy swimming behind the boat!

don't freak out it was a nurse shark- they guys were jumping in to dive with the shark. not a people eater!

little bums making popsicles with Kimmie

my best friend

after dinner fishing in her princess nightgown

getting a little help

moonlit walk on the plank!

Bahamas Vacation

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We had a great family getaway to the Bahamas. We managed to turn our phones off for a week (for the most part :) and focus on family in a beautiful spot surrounded with white sand beaches and blue waters. The girls became expert snorkelers, fish sighters, jet ski drivers and sand castle builders. We found some awesome tide pools and sandbars to explore, watched some movies when afternoon storm clouds rolled in and relaxed, relaxed, relaxed. It was really a special trip to take together and we were so lucky to get the time away to experience it together!

rainbows before the clouds - we saw one almost every afternoon

Dad and Francie - she was a Daddy's girl on the trip for sure, they had fun together learning to snorkel and swimming around the boat. She had no fear thanks to having her Dad by her side :)

Snorkling practice in shallow water

In full gear - it's not easy to teach kids they have to walk backwards in fins. But they learn quickly why it's recommended!! (I wasn't so mean as to take pictures of these falls like I did of JJ on the paddle board :)

Maisie preferred to stay dry on land this trip- she is usually really adventurous but she has been having bad dreams about crocodiles so as soon as the water got a little deep and the sand under her feet got "too squishy" she jumped into the nearest set of arms

More jet-skiing- Maisie was happy with this activity as long as she stayed dry :)

Heff giving me a break on "keep Janie entertained" duty so I could play with my camera

My big girl running in the waves

To the Bahamas… and beyond!

watching the kite surfers from the deck before we headed for the beach (well kids not so much watching- more like getting antsy for beach time) We were in a National Park area in the Exumas so we found little sandy beaches to set up camp on after breakfast/lazy mornings most days. We had to get creative on burning off energy too- running the kids around in circles on the boat and Heff and I swam, paddle boarded and ran after kids

Janie spent a lot of time in my arms! It's not easy to keep a busy 8 month old corralled on beach blankets or towels - and she is too wiggly for a carrier right now and just spins herself around while I attempt to hold her but sometimes I am lucky enough for a snuggle or a sleepy baby. (I saw a lady in the store the other day with an infant on her shoulder and for a fleeting second thought "aw I want one!" until I realized I still have one! JJ just seems like such a big girl all the time - I have to remember she's my baby)

Maisie is still my biggest snuggler - (I thought I was my sister in these picture- too bad you didn't sneak on the trip with us ABA!)

J does "How big is Janie?!" trick 24/7 now, especially when I take a picture- for the reaction she knows she will get :)

A new day on the beach - digging with dad

Paddle Boarding sisters

Such big girls in their floaties ;)

and Janie still eating sand

Going on a Treasure Hunt- the boat crew brought costume gear and hid some buried treasure on one of the islands and let the kids be pirates on a treasure hunt

"Where is the pirate?" (and notably the only half hour any of us wore shoes for 7 days!)

We spotted him! (it was one of the guys everyone called "Big Red" from the boat crew- Francie thought it was hilarious and Maisie screamed when he woke up) There was a big "X" in rocks and buried gold coins next to him- they dug them up before I could get a picture

Back on the boat in patriotic bikinis :) They didn't last long under the hot sun and I made they wear "stingray" full body SPF suits that day on the beach. Wonder if they'll agree to that when they are teenagers?! (just realized half my pictures haven't even uploaded- post II coming after with the hot pink stingray full body suits!)

Maisie wanted no part of photos this morning

JJ's first side pony! (haha :)

Francie and Heff taking a break - computer time only long enough to keep our inboxes from getting too scary when we get back :)

Janie crawling around on the boat getting into whatever she could (they did an impressive job baby proofing but she is a sneaky little thing)

Big sister Francie shows up to cart JJ around - the big girls favorite move but Janie is not such a fan when they squeeze the breath out of her!

PJ time burning off some energy - little jumpers

three in a crib and the little one said…

"get me outta here"

Shark watch on the back dock one night. The barracudas and fish were attracted to the light on the back of the boat- I might have spent a good hour with a fishing pole trying to catch a 6 foot nurse shark one night after a few margaritas and pricked my finger to drop a few drips of blood to attrack the shark- Heff was like "a) you are crazy and b) what do you plan to do if you actually get that shark on your line?" good thing I was unsuccessful so didn't have to find out!

chumming with puffs

I swear Francie grew up half a age on this trip. SHe was enamored with one of the girls on the boat- Alicia who was a school teacher so she taught the kids "Boat School" every day. They would run around going "It's time for boat school!" and sit quietly doing projects and reading for an hour. Francie claims she can now speak french :)

and Janie girl in her cute little outfit :) still proves she loves to eat even if it's just chewing on celery! She's on to more real people food now and is pretty good not with only her two crooked little front bottom teeth :)

We're so lucky this guy loves all his girls so much - we love you too Dad!

Bahamas Beach Babes

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We have been soaking up the sun in the Bahamas and spending lots of time on the beach! Heff and the girls and I are playing on the sandbars, riding jet skis, snorkeling and lots of hanging out on deck reading books, playing with magnatiles and coloring (not so different than home- minus the sunshine and the view!) The favorite activities: Janie- eating sand, smiling and crawling in the waves. Maisie- staying dry and clean (washing her hands in the waves a million times) on shore. and Francie- paddle-boarding, snorkeling, jet skiing and tubing- she's loving the water sports (maybe didn't get my genes after all? :) We love the beach!

Heff and the girls in the life jackets he picked out for them - big hits except they weren't princesses but after being talking into the fact there are no Ariel life jackets safety first ensued

Francie the snorkeler!

Beezer ready to jet ski

Janie in her full body infant life jacket giving me the tired eye- riding in the tender lulls her to sleep every time.

Happy girl in the tiny waves - she would play like this for hours if I didn't try to limit her sand consumption


family of five

my big girls! I didn't think I was in the picture - embarrassing myself trying to get them to "how big is Janie?!"

dancing in the water

JJ trying to get her sisters

look who learned to paddle board!

and you can guess what happened next?

She isn't actually falling in- she is doing a complex vaulting move on the side of a paddle board. so advanced!

just kidding :) but she was quickly saved by Dad and liked the salt water bath :)

more pictures coming!...

Red Bluff October Weekend

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A weekend in Red Bluff (my first time leaving Bumble to fend for itself since we opened!), all the in-laws and cousins under one roof for Opa's birthday and my new Canon 5D to chase the kids around with = MY FAVORITE WEEKEND EVER. We had a blast just watching the kids run around, checking out RV's, drinking beers with all the Heffs, hitting the annual Lobster Feed fundraiser Oma helps put on and singing a big HBD to Opa. These kids are so lucky to be a part of all this family fun - as are we :)

only a few screamers ;)

Thats 8 kids 8 and under and 1 Uncle Ducky on a 4-wheeler.

Never gets old

Heff and his middle baby- she's got a few notches around his finger- as evidenced by the Mickey Mouse shirt he wears only for the reaction he gets from Maisie Moo :)

Even cowgirls work on potty training

At least Francie is a little more capable at getting herself out of sticky situations (we've all been giggling at that one :)

Oliver- I mean Donald? I mean Oliver Donald ;) spitting image of his dad!

Kids after my own heart (or dark spot for animals where a heart should be) They squished a blue-belly lizard on a rock and then dissected it's parts- in dresses. I love these girls!

Dress up, dress up, more dress up. Why do I pack clothes for them?

the new bunk-room in the making - much needed for this crowd!

and family room- temporary ruckus room

princesses

Friday night dinner for Opa's birthday - the girls decided he wanted a pink cake

my little loves

Francie proudly presenting Opa with a pumpkin she painted for him (and then asked if she could take home with her, but made sure he knew it was "Still for him")

Carriage rides by Heff. Who needs to run when there are kids, hills and a pull cart?! (He got to go camp out on Edwards Ranch Friday night with his Red Bluff friends for some hunting, Coors Light drinking and debauchery so he was paying it back all morning :)

Patrick helping out with a shovel to plant a new tree to remember our angel cousin Elise

Maisie hard at work sandcastle building

Ellie always watching out for the littlest ones

Princess Aurora-Izza on the swings

King Oliver in his new ride- Happy 1st Birthday!

more princesses

Even Patrick gets tricked into dressing up!

cuties -

trying to tell me how old they are

Janie loves to go high-higher-highest! (you can almost see the two bottom toofers that just came in!)

11 grandkids - what fun

Oma got them all the matching outfits this year- good picks!

Silliness and bribed by ring pops after the screaming 2 and under set was put down for naps

Mad faces

cousin love

Francie and Kate tend to be two-peas in a pod when Francie isn't following Ellie around learning the ways of the big sister of the family

Maisie stuck in the middle

Janie does the "SO big!" trick now - I love her face in this picture like "how the heck do you expect me to lift the other hand up?"

feeding the horses

the babes JJ and Caroline

sitting around soaking up the sun while the kids run rough shot

sun, beer, nothing to do (not even dry my crazy hair :). happy me.

and happy kids!

Janie playing in the sandbox toy bin...

Until Francie pointed out I was "breaking the law"

"Who cares! I love this thing!"

Saturday Night we left Craig and Brian to rule the roost over all 11 kids - well 10 kids and babysitter-cousin-extraordinaire ELLIE. Craig was allergic to shellfish and Heff offered to stay home with the troops too but was texting me all night saying "Ellie Rocks!" They had a little bit of a challenge with the baby set but they managed all the kids and let everyone else have a rare night out!

Claire and Cathleen put together this delicious spread of cheese and fruit appetizers

Lobster, artichokes, potatoes, corn on the cob and jumbo shrimp - coming right up!




so good to see Brendon and Kristie!! They were the bartenders for the evening. Blame them for any headaches Sunday morning :)

Kat and her O'Douls! (hummm- non-alcoholic beer? Did I break the news she is pregnant on the blog yet?! so excited for Oliver to be a big brother in the spring)

Only in Red Bluff (if you look closely these two died tangled in telephone wire and were mounted the same way they were found in the ravine - wow :)

The Lobster Feed is the BEST! Before the table looks like this- we all stand up and...

Blurry, date-less, full of lobster and pretty happy!

playing with my camera setting driving home- we had 8 Heffernan adults in one ride- good thing we don't drive small cars!

Thanksgiving crafts in the new family room- Ellie lead the charge with Thanksgiving Sparkle Turkeys

Aunt Andrea made hot cocoa for everyone!

JJ wide awake and happy as a clam- Dad might need that coffee to kick in :)

Halloween'ed up for the trip home

little stinker

My favorite new picture of my trio - and a few outtakes getting it

Too much fun with the cousins!

thanks for a fun weekend Oma - see everyone soon!

Red Bluff Sneak Peek

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We had a great time up in Red Bluff for the weekend celebrating Opa's birthday and hanging out with the masses of cousins! Oma's addition to the house is almost done (an extended family room and awesome playroom) and we had everyone accounted for up there- lots of FFF as Kat says (Forced Family Fun) I took tons of pics with my early Christmas present, a 5D finally!! Thanks Heff :) will post more soon... working on Bumble revamped menu today!

Halloween

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The girls had a fun filled Halloween- Emmy got them dressed at home in the morning in amazing pulled-out-of-the-dress-up-box outfits! Maisie wanted to be "Mickey The Mouse" so Em whipped up a little black outfit, yellow shoes, red shorts awesomness. Janie had to be Minnie after that get up and Francie didn't surprise anyone- Ariel of course! They all walked down to Bumble to help give out honey sticks and walk around the downtown Spooktackular. We had just enough time to go home for naps before we were hit with hundreds of trick-or-treaters for the evening!

and Emmy followed suit in her own Minnie costume- so cute Em! (the girls and I actually bought her an ADULT TINKERBELL costume on clearance sale they insisted she HAD TO WEAR- she claimed it was too scandalous but I still want to see Emmy-tink make an appearance :)

and speaking of Halloween - I forgot to post the night we got "BOO'ed!" The girls got way too many princess treats from a secret Boo'er (might have been Christian :) and were so excited to BOO the neighbors the next day. Fun tradition to start!

Witches' Night Out III

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Wednesday night was our Third Annual Witches' Night Out! The party has gotten bigger every year and this year we merged it with a Bumble Members Mom's Night Out event so we had a huge crowd and lots of new witches in attendance. It might be my favorite night of the year!! (and my worlock husband made up for like 12 hunting trips by taking care of my three and cousins Isabel and Thomas two nights in a row so I could set up for the party and then witch-night it up! 5 kids 4 and under deserves a medal- thanks love:) here are some of the photos of the Witches of the West!...

The invite this year - flying bat Dom bottles just for Christian ;)

Witches- I went for Bumble yellow stripes this year

Christian found me a matching hat - complete with an owl scene on top. I had to tilt my head to the left all night but it was worth it ;)

So great to see so many good friends

spoooooky

creative hats got even more involved this year with lots of handmade embellishments!

Christian and Bumble's friendly barista Martin (otherwise known as "Edge-y James" as he is a look alike for my brother ;)

Our old McKendry neighbors- we miss you!

Chef Joe and Chef Jen - it was really fun that the Bumble staff got totally into the party. They loved helping throw it and requested lots more theme events. We can do that!

Emily (the awesome and hard working Bumble Director!) and I - everyone asks if we are sisters

Witchy Ladies on a Night Out - always a combination for fun and trouble making! Thanks for such a fun night everyone who came!












and we couldn't have a party at Bumble without the Photobooth! We had lots of extra witch hats, props and of course the dress up box. After a few rounds of Witches Brew the photobooth was rcoking!











See you next year Spellcasters!!!