Professional Photo Shoot Giveaway

winner...Elena Grover (who entered via Facebook)

Look...we finally had our family professionally photographed. This is the FIRST time we have ever had a family photo shoot and it was FUN!

Jordan said, "It kind of felt like I was a model, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much though."

We chose Knights Ferry, a favorite family spot!

Diane Conn was our photog and she was a lot of fun to work with.

Diane has generously offered a fantastic gift to one of my readers. You do not have to be a blogger to qualify, but being local is a good idea. Diane is located in Atwater CA. and is willing to travel within reason.

So what is she offering?

-One Outdoor or On Location Custom Portrait Session for up to 6 people

-One Custom Wall Portrait (any size up to a 16x24)

PLUS 10% off all additional portraits purchased.

And look she is offering this coupon to everyone...

SUHWEEET right?

So how do you enter?

Mandatory entry...

1. "Like" Diane on Facebook

OR

2. Follow Diane's Blog

Leave me a comment telling me which of these pics is your favorite

and if you "Liked" or "Followed" or both.

Giveaway ends 9/13...winner announced on 9/15

Fifteen?!?!

Jordan turns 15 today.

FIFTEEN!!!

How did that happen?

She has grown into a lovely young woman.

But I am not going to lie...

This last year was rough, and there were moments I didn't think one of us (or any of us, for that matter) was going to make it out alive.

For real.

The snark factor was at an all time high and there were points in time that I think all of said, "sometimes, ya just gotta love them" cuz liking each other was not possible, at the moment.

We made it through and all came out better because if it....or something like that.

I mean really, better because of the struggle and tears and heartache?

It's possible.

We are most def appreciating the good times we are sharing now, so it's possible we are all better because of it.

Most of my readers are moms who have little ones.

Brace yourself ladies...it doesn't get easier once the get older. Parenting teenagers is not for wimps.

But I will tell you this...they have their days that make your heart swell and you can say to yourself, "yep, she is a good kid."

and pat yourself on the back...

either cuz you know you had a hand in that awesomeness

OR

because you are proud of yourself for not killing her.

Just keeping it real folks.

You know me, I HATE when people complain about their kids! Seriosuly, I have actually "hidden" friends on Facebook for constantly complaining about their kids...for being kids.

Count your blessings ladies...count your blessings.

So this is all just a little tongue in cheek talk about the kid, she knows it and honestly we all kind of laugh about it now. Total waste of time those few months of teenage weirdness.

Fishful Thinking had a few really great activities that helped us open some new lines of communication like The Silver Lining Game, What Would You Do? and If You Feel It, Talk About It. I also found a few really good articles that helped us understand our teenager better like "Why Teenagers Act Weird" and one about Dealing with Disrespect.

All really good things to get us up and over the funk and back to truly enjoying be around each other.

Anyway...on to a little bit of J goodness...

J recently got fitted for contacts and she looks even older now without her glasses.

She was soooo excited and has been wanting to ditch her glasses for a while. She has quite a sunglass collection that she hasn't been able to wear since she started wearing glasses a year ago.

And you know J, the girl likes to accessorize.

We were in the Dr. Office for about 3 hrs. Both Big Daddy and I got our yearly check up as well.

J went first and spent the time she was waiting for us practicing taking her contacts out and putting them back in with the help of one of the nurses.

The Dr. told her that he was not going to let her go home with contact lenses until she was able to do it on her own.

That was all the incentive she needed.

It took her a good week to really get it down and once I watched how she was doing it I was able to give her a few tips and she was able to get them in her eyes in seconds. Then she said, "Why didn't anyone tell me that?" I just assumed they had.

No bother, she is a pro now and loving her "new look".

Her first 2 weeks of High School went great! She is so excited about the whole environment and the buzz and energy that surrounds High School and even enjoys being a "Freshy". We were able to get her on a fantastic IEP for her special needs and love they way they do things for High School years. She is not in any special classes but she has extra support, and that's awesome.

We love to hear her talk nonstop about her HS adventures and the friends that she is making.

It's really funny because Big Daddy picks her up after school on his way home from work. They have about a 10 min drive home and when he walks in the door the look on his face is priceless. He doesn't know what to make of this new teenage Jordan and the chatty-ness that comes with this new phase in life.

I told him we need to enjoy it...she could be ignoring us and not sharing a thing. He agrees.

We love our teenage girlie...Happy Birthday J-dizzle!

My Happy List

I love creating this post every week. There is something about stopping and counting your blessings that really does something for the soul.

This week is no different.

I DO wish more people would play along with this linky party, but for now... I really love the way it makes me feel and that's good enough for me to keep on posting and leaving it open for people to link up if they wanna...do you wanna? Come on...come play with me!

The tippy top of my Happy List this week is that my mom is coming to visit for a few days! YAY!! I am so excited that she wants to come and play with me. She just got a few new cartridges for her Cricut so we are going to get crafty! Super excited!

We have 2 Birthdays coming up...J's Birthday is August 30 she is going to be 15. How did that happen? She is having a pool party here at the house this year, since her Sweet Sixteen is on the horizon...*hold me*

Big Daddy's Birthday is August 31. He is YOUNG and HOT and we are keeping the celebration intimate...it's how we roll.

I just announced my latest swap...Guilty Pleasures Swap. I plan on keeping this one small, so if you think you wanna play go read the rules for joining in now!

I have a HUGE super major giveaway in the works...y'all are gonna love this one.

Stay Tuned.

I wish I could report that my master bathroom remodel is done. I guess it IS done, but we aren't happy with the work so the contractor is coming back (maybe next week) to do it RIGHT. So no pictures just yet, but I am hopeful it will all be done soon...and seriously I cannot wait.

It might seem kind of silly to add this to My Happy List but in reality I AM happy about the prospect of a complete and beautiful bathroom. AND Big Daddy really outdid himself talking to the contractor and keeping his cool to get what we wanted...he is super sexy like that, smooth as silk, my man!

I played the "bad cop" and the contractor actually said the words, "It has been a pleasure working with YOU Mr. Big Daddy". Major emphasis on HIS name...sheesh.

I guess I am ridiculous because the craaaaaaaazy things I complained about along the way: they painted ceiling the warm caramel instead of white, left big messes and let my special needs cat out and he was lost for a good 12 hrs. soooo I guess i was less of a pleasure.

Whatever, we are getting what we want with no extra costs so I guess I don't mind being the bad cop...team work = Happy List!

So...what's on YOUR Happy List this week?

Wanna link up? Here are the rules...

I hate having to create rules, but I guess some people need them so here they are.

1. Grab my Happy List button and add it to your post.

2. Link to your actual Happy List post NOT just to your blog

<a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com"> <center><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/TheVasquez3/happylistbutton.jpg" /></center></a> (people who link up without following ALL of the rules will be removed, it's rude and rude does NOT make my happy list, like ever)

Guilty Pleasures Swap!!

No longer taking sign ups...sorry! Next Swap in Oct/Nov!

Well, the followers of Dandelion Wishes have spoken.

The votes have been counted and I am pleased to announce our latest swap!

I am keeping my swaps small, so sign up FAST if you want to save your space...

PLEASE read EVERYTHING, I have changed the steps for signing up for these swaps to eliminate confusion and ensure communication. I have a system, it works, it is what makes my swaps so stinking awesome.

This is a Family Friendly Blog, so let's keep these packages family friendly too. OK?

So what are your Guilty Pleasures?

Something that you buy and ONLY you use, never sharing...maybe something you only take out to enjoy during nap time or once the kids are in school...let's get creative.

Late night snack? Luxurious bath salts or lotions? Yummy smelling candles? Sinfully delicious desserts? Gossip magazine?

We all have Guilty Pleasures that we HATE to share...but now we can.

And guess what?

You get a box filled with someone else's Guilty Pleasures in return...might be worth sharing just this once...no?

This swap is open to:

1. US residents only

2. Active bloggers (no less than 3 posts a month for a year)

3. You MUST have successfully swapped with me before (I am allowing a FEW newbies, so send me a message if you would like to be considered).

4. People who agree to do the following:

a. Purchase your Guilty Pleasure items and create a FABULOUS package for your partner, something you yourself would LOVE to receive. $25 min $35 max..before shipping cost.

b. Be home (not vacationing) between Sept. 13-25

c. Once your package arrives create a post, with pictures and link your partner and Dandelion Wishes.

d. Send package ON Sept. 17 or 18 (not before OR after)

5. Follow my blog (don't forget to grab my super cute NEW Dandelion Wishes button for your sidebar)

Signing Up:(important instructions)

1. Fill out Mamarazzi Swaparazzi Form found under my "Contact Me" tab

2. Once you receive a confirmation email FROM Me containing the code for the Guilty Pleasures Swap create a post using the button in the body of the post (sidebars do not count).

3. Link up THAT post here in mister linky (I will create a new code and post for sharing the week packages start arriving).

I should have everyone matched up soon leaving plenty of time for shopping!

DO NOT LINK UP...until you have confirmation from ME that I have received your Swaparazzi Form! PLEASE read all of the steps to make sure you are signing up correctly!!!

No longer accepting RSVPs Sorry!

Cuffed Up and STILL Smiling!

So we stopped at the Police Dept. before our Fire Dept. tour and it was kind of a let down. The woman who gave the tour seemed kind of rushed and didn't arrange for an officer to talk to the kids.

So once we got to the Fire Dept. and Carlos started wowing the boys with a superior tour of the FD Big Daddy got on his phone and texted a friend of ours who works in dispatch (holla Shawnna!) to let her know that the PD was currently being blown out of the water.

Since Big Daddy is in law enforcement he felt they needed to be represented a little better...LOL.

So he got a text back saying that at the end of the tour there would be a Police Officer ready and waiting to talk to the kids.

He did not disappoint. He really got the boys attention and answered their million questions!!

He let the kids sit in the front and back of the police car...which the loved a little too much...tee hee. He also ran the lights and sirens for the boys.

Steven age 5 asked, "Do you know how to make the lights and siren go?"

The officer replied, "Yes, I sure do!"

Brock age 6 said, "Go for it!!"

and it was lights and sirens and fingers in ears with lots of giggles!

All cuffed up and smiling BIG about it...the boys thought this was soo cool!!

Steven and Zachary trying out the back of the police car WITH handcuffs on.

Yep, it was a great morning!

J was there for both tours but was WAY too cool to be in any of the pictures...ya know, kid stuff and all.

We are hoping the boys got the whole, "it's cool to be handcuffed and put in the back of a police car" out of their systems!

For the LOVE of Firefighters!!!

OK back to blogging about Camp Vasquez. I am so behind in getting this super fun week documented, but I AM getting it done so I am going to give myself a pass.

We spent one of the mornings the boys were here touring the Fire Department and Police Department.

We went to the PD first, but I have an affinity for Firefighters since my daddy is a retired Fire Captain.

So we are starting with the Fire Department tour...

We arrived and were greeted by an adorable, newly hired, Fireman named Carlos.

You can tell this guy has been dreaming of being a fireman his whole life. Seriously, he took such pride in touring the FD and answered the MILLION questions the boys had for him. His mama should be proud.

Look at this guy...super awesome. It was HOT outside and when the boys asked him to put on his turnout gear he did it without hesitation.

Carlos showed the boys all of the trucks and engines they have including the fire rescue engine and all of the cool tools they use to help people in accidents and fires.

Carlos explained to the boys that the firefighters are always the ones to respond first to any emergency so they need to make sure they have any tool that might be needed, so this truck was designed to hold them all.

Then Carlos showed them the little truck that held a smaller amount of water used for grass fires and more "off road" emergencies. He even let them squirt the hose.

I am not sure is "squirt" is the right word though with the amount of pressure and water that happened.

Thanks Carlos for an amazing tour, the boys will never forget this experience and the awesomeness you provided.

My Happy List

WOW...it has been a whole week since I last posted.

Anyone miss me?

Anyone?

Well life took an interesting turn. The start of school being pretty major around here.

Bloggy friends...we now have a kid in High School.

Yep, J is a freshman.

Scary much?

She is loving it. I mean really loving it. Which thrills me to no end. I was worried about her not really being ready for HS. We kept thinking she had this High School Musical warped sense of what High School actually is.

We would say things like, "You do know that no one is going to break out in song in the cafateria right?" She would literally just roll her eyes.

So honestly, we didn't know if she just didn't believe us or what...

Not really, but it's a funny story.

So topping the Happy List this week is BACK TO SCHOOL...woo hooo!!

We also began reconsruction of our master bathroom on Wednesday. Can you believe I forgot to take before pictures?

Seriously, how did THAT slip my mind?

Just imagine a really ugly, totally late 70's tile and linoleum it was bad.

Right now it is starting to look a little better.

The jury is still out on our contractor...I really liked him before the work started. Then on Wednesday I was really sick with some sort of flu bug and was puking my guts out all day.

The dude stood there watching my hurl, waiting for me to finish so he could ask me a question.

A question that could have waited.

I finally looked up at him between heaves and said, "Really? Could you just give me a minute?"

For. Real.

Then there were other little "communication" issues that more annoy me than anything else.

They also let my special needs kitty out. He was missing all day and finally that evening when I took the puppy out to go potty I heard him meow from under some floaties and noodles on the patio. I cried I was so happy.

When did I become a cat person?

ANYWAY...

The truth is I don't like having any sort of chaos going on in my home. So having the contents of my closet (that is getting new tile at the same time) spread out in 3 rooms, having to use Jordan's bathroom and hearing the noise of construction at the back of the house is not on my happy list.

BUT...

Having a new bathroom at the end of all of this (they say they will be done on Wednesday) makes me VERY HAPPY!!

Oh and I got smart...after the last contractor was here remodeling J's bathroom back in October '09 I decided to make THIS contractor and all of his worker bee traffic enter and exit through the master bedroom slider...so I could just do my thing in the front of the house and not be disturbed.

Brilliant.

Every now and then I impress even myself.

So, what's on YOUR Happy List this week?

Wanna link up? Here are the rules...

I hate having to create rules, but I guess some people need them so here they are.

1. Grab my Happy List button and add it to your post.

2. Link to your actual Happy List post NOT just to your blog

<a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com"> <center><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/TheVasquez3/happylistbutton.jpg" /></center></a>
(people who link up without following ALL of the rules will be removed, it's rude and rude does NOT make my happy list, like ever)

My Happy List

Of course the top of My Happy List THIS week can be found HERE where I made a kind of huge family announcement.

Go ahead, go get caught up...I will wait.

Awesome right? Thanks, we think so too.

I am so in love with this little dog, Coco. It has been fun watching her grow these last 2 months.

She isn't getting much bigger but her personality is HUGE!

Most of the time you will find her wherever I am...yes, Coco is most def my little shadow.

But she has also figured out the best spots in the house for sunbathing. Oh how she loves the sun.

Speaking of sunbathing.

I seem to be able to get color everywhere but on my legs. They just will not tan.

I have been using this tried and true product L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Sunless Tanning Lotion for YEARS. It is awesome. It doesn't streak. It won't make you orange. For real.

Follow these 3 tips...

1. ex foliate or better yet, shave the day you apply

2. apply right out of the shower (make sure legs are free of water tho)

3. pat pat pat...like slap your legs silly once you have it spread evenly over your legs.

You should be good if you follow the steps. Let me know if you try it.

OH and do not confuse the lotion with the gelee..the gelee sucketh, in my opinion.
I have professed my love for Diet Pepsi on this blog before. I have said how HAPPY a BIG delicious beverage, from a fountain, over ice balls, in a cup, with a lid and a straw makes me. I am even happier when it is delivered with love by my awesome husband, Big Daddy. I can't help myself, it just tastes better and is more enjoyable.

Word.

Can you imagine how much THIS guy must love his wife?

Like whoa!
So, what's on YOUR Happy List this week?

Wanna link up? Here are the rules...

I hate having to create rules, but I guess some people need them so here they are.

1. Grab my Happy List button and add it to your post.

2. Link to your actual Happy List post NOT just to your blog

(people who link up without following ALL of the rules will be removed, it's rude and rude does NOT make my happy list, like ever)

<a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/2010/06/my-happy-list_19.html"> <center><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o298/TheVasquez3/happylistbutton.jpg" /></center></a>

Happy UnBirthday to YOU!

Since the very beginning of Camp Vasquez we have celebrated the kid's birthday with one BIG UnBirthday Party. The kids look forward to it every year and it takes pressure off of us for the rest of the year and having to get gifts out to everyone...which when you are an awesome Auntie like ME, that is something I take into consideration.

I mean why not right? Most of my nephews are here and I can get the rest of the kids taken care of via Good Mail and my oldest niece Taylor when she comes to pick up her brothers.

It really is a brilliant plan.

J looks forward to this part of Camp Vasquez too since she is in charge of games and gets to help me with cupcakes, presents and decorating.

Here the darling Jordan is making some CUTE bottles for the boys to knock over in a game she has created. I love how she works so hard to make sure everything is juuuust right. What a great kid she is.

My dear friend Jan knew I was gearing up for Camp Vasquez and sent me a note on Facebook asking me if I wanted some paper dolls that she makes using her Cricut. YES please!! The kids loved them and I didn't have to think of a craft for them to do that day...suhweet! She even sent some girlie ones for J to do. Thanks Jan!!

J found a fun BINGO game at the dollar tree and the boys really loved playing Bingo and winning silly dollar store prizes.

Here the boys were challenged to take 3 tries to get the bottles J decorated knocked off of their pedestal. I gotta tell you, setting this game on the front lawn in front of my HUGE picture window at the front of the house was a little nerve wracking, good thing these boys have good aim.

I love the way they all cheered each other on...so cute!!

J then set up a really cute little obstacle course that the boys needed to navigate with a balloon between their knees. The result was hilarity combined with some fierce competition, sprinkled with some fantastic good sportsmanship...love those boys!

We then took the party inside where the kids entertained us with a fun game I picked up at Target on clearance for $3 a few months ago Giraffe Limbo. It's a preschool game but that did not stop the boys from really going nuts over it, truly it was a riot.

In fact it was so much of a riot that the club got a little out of control and Big Daddy had to play a bouncer. You can see from the way the kids are laughing at how "tough" he is. I am so glad I got this on video, it just shows the love they all share...and if you know my nephew Tyler this will make you laugh.

PRESENT time...man I am way proud of Big Daddy and myself. We picked up these awesome toys in clearance MONTHS ago and let me tell you they were a hit. We thought they might be cool but the boys were super stoked by the awesomeness. Yep, we are rad like that.

Cupcake cuteness...J and I made these while Big Daddy had the boys out for another day at the skate park. When they asked me what store they came from cuz the were sooooo good, I laughed and let them know Jordan and I made them. The were shocked...I almost died laughing but loved the compliment.

Here is Steven aka Esteban

Parker aka P-Diddy

Tyler aka Gumby Go-Go

Zachary aka Flipsy

Brock aka Speed Racer

Jordan aka J, J-dizzle, J-dawg...

decided to leave the boys on the patio and enjoy jer cupcake in the peace of the house

Yep, it was a whole lot of fun. Looking forward to next year's UnBirthday Party.

I am sooo thankful to my darling daughter J, she really showed her maturity and willingness to help not only on this day but on all of the days of Camp Vasquez. Big Daddy and I were very impressed and pleased with her.

I think she loved the perks of being the oldest too...especially getting to "kick the boys out" of what ever chair she wanted to sit in, telling them "you need to get up for a lady, so move it!"...very funny to watch, even the boys saw the humor in it.

Kind of.