Happy Birthday Alex!

Alex's party was a blast. I figured out how to use Microsoft Publisher and made those invites above becuase Webkinz doesn't make any! I made a Wheel of Wow, we broke geodes, and played balloon darts (while I was praying no one left the pary without an eye). Each game earned them Webkinz Cash or Kinzcash as the kids would correct me. The person with the most in the end won a real webkinz. It made me feel good when Alex told me that he loves my parties. That is what makes it all worthwhile! We saved all the stuff because Lili wants a Webkinz party too. We'll be having her party a little late, during the summer (the schedule picked up so fast that we had to keep rescheduling her party).

The Flowers in my Garden...

I heard someone once compare their children to flowers in their garden. All my flowers are starting to bloom! I'm afraid this causes more excitement in me than is even remotely cool. But then, I stopped caring about being "cool" years ago anyway. :) Another one of my amature hobbies is photography. I love capturing a beautiful plant or moment forever! Well, I went outside to take some pictures of my beloved flowers and found something even better. My Alex and Lucy were playing together and interacting so sweetly! I was blessed to be able to capture it.

And it beats any flower, any day!

I also watch Alex growing each day and I can't believe how lucky I was to have him for my firstborn. What a sweet son and brother he is! I love his thoughtful, kind, and fun personality. He often sits and has very mature conversations about things with me. Or very funny ones. He is quiet about his life and feelings unless you take the time to talk with him. But it is always a treat. I've always loved him. But I was also always afraid of what it'd be like as my children got older. I find that I really like Alex even more each day.

10 years of Matt + Belinda <3

Hi All - it is me Matt. Belinda and I are having a great time having our 10th Anniversary at Disneyland! Here are some pictures.

Picture to right: Belinda and I eating at the Blue Bayou. :) One of my all time favorite rides is the Pirate one. We made reservations to eat at the Blue Bayou the first night. It was fun because we got to sit right by the water. People going by on their boats made all sorts of interesting noises and of course stared. It felt pretty weird, like we were part of the ride for them or something! One obnoxious guy started singing this crazy perverted song nice and loud as he floated by. Matt and I had a lot of fun from then on scheming about what we could throw at people like him without getting caught. In the end, after alot of laughing and failed attempts, we decided we didn't want to get kicked out of Disneyland on our first day. But maybe we'd come back on our last day here? :)

Picture to Right: Belinda and I at Sleeping Beauty's Castle:

On our first date, Matt pulled me into the hall to teach me how to waltz. He started singing softly the waltz from Sleeping Beauty, as he taught me the steps and spinned me around, " I know you, I've walked with you once upon a dream. I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar to me... And if I know you, I know what you'll do. You'll love me, at once. The way you did once, upon a dream"!

Of course, it was all in fun, and he wasn't pretending to mean any of it. But my romantic heart melted at once. Before and after that dance was so magical! It was, quite simply, the most fun I'd ever had on a date. Some say soul mates don't exist, but things moved so fast for us for a reason. From our first date we both knew something really special had happened. Maybe we did know each other once upon a dream!

As Matt and I passed the carousel, it was playing our waltz. Matt twirled me around and around and I felt a bit dreamy all over again!

Picture to Right: Belinda and I on the Steamboat

What a trip! We had so much fun running around to rides, shows and restaurants that I even got blisters on my feet the first day. We stopped at the Steamboat for a nice moment of relaxation! Unfortunately, there were no seats left, so we were left standing. Oh, well! It was a nice view anyway.

It was quite an emotional roller coaster preparing to leave my kids for a whole week. But in the end the kids loved being at their Grandparents and Lucy loved Rose and Kyan. And somehow we were able to relax and let it all go after leaving. Once there, Matt and I joyfully remembered what it's like to date again... for more than a few hours each Friday. At first it almost felt odd, having that much time together. But I can't tell you how wonderful it felt to spend almost a week alone with my best friend. And to remember all the reasons we fell in love, even before we had 4 beautiful kids.

Happy 10th, Matt!!

-Matt and Belinda