Riesenberg "Model Family"

So this famous photographer, Sandy Puc, goes on tour all over the country teaching other photographers about photography. She contacted my sister Vanessa, also a photographer (and one of the best, will someday be famous) in need of a model family. All we had to do was show up at the Del Mar Hilton dressed in black and she would demonstrate family photos for the crowd. I have to say it was quite wierd taking photos in front of all those people. But I was more concerned about all four of my kids behaving to get a decent shot. Well, she had her work cut out for her. I am surprised that any of them turned out. I guess that's why she's a professional. We got a free disc with pictures and a slideshow. It was worth the hassle. We felt really special being "models" and everything.

Disney fun with the kids

We are trying to soak up our last moments at Disneyland before we move off to Utah! It was an 80 degree February day at Disneyland. The kids had a blast with their cousins and the ferris wheel at California Adventure was the biggest hit of the day!

I Can Move to Utah Now

For my birthday this year, my sister-in-law and awesome hairstylist bought me some Bumpits! She said that now that I am moving to Utah I will need these to fit in! Sorry Utahns but it's true! Anyways, here is my hair styled with my new bumpits. I can't wait to pull it off. Hahahahaha!

Jack is so cute playing with his dinosaurs

I love watching Jack play with his dinosaurs. He makes the cutest little Rarrrrrrr noise. I don't want him to grow up too fast. But he is. I've got a full fledged toddler on my hands. Baby times are now over.

Happy Birthday to Me

Well, my birthday was a couple of weeks ago. My son, Connor made me a birthday card that said this:

to: our beloved mother
from: your annoying sons

(poem)

Sometimes you can be a pain in the butt
but we love you no matter what!

Tyson and I are cool

Tyson and I have had so much success at the YMCA with the Biggest Loser Team Challenge that they chose to feature us as their success story. Tyson lost 35 lbs. in 2 months and I wasn't that cool, but I did lose all my baby weight plus more. We wrote a blurb and they sent it out to all the YMCA members. We're pretty cool. The End.

Owen's First Day of Preschool

Well, I was going to start Owen in preschool in the fall, but I just didn't think he was ready yet. Well, ready or not, he is going to preschool now! He has been talking about going to preschool for a couple of months now. I don't know that he really knew what it was all about but he was talking about going. Jack has finally reached an age where I just can't manage two crazy toddlers anywhere in public that isn't a park or somewhere that they can run wild and be free. After an exasperating month of December full of Christmas shopping and losing one of the boys at the mall at least three times, I signed him up for the first preschool that had an opening in January. This picture is on his first day. He got a cute new Thomas backpack from Grandma Chali for Christmas and just looooves it. He puts his trains and his blankey in there to take to school. After his first day, I asked him if he loved it and couldn't wait to go back. He said, "No, no more preschool." Well too bad! I so needed this few hours to run errands like grocery shopping and such, and even though I still have one crazy boy, it is still much better than two. And at Trader Joe's they don't offer double seats in the carts so this solved my problem of shopping there. Wow, just one more kid to go and I might actually get to experience real freedom again. But honestly, I am in no rush for my last baby to grow up and be out of the house. After two weeks of preschool, Owen is finally getting used to the structure and is starting to like it. Yeah for Owen!