Saturday at the shore

This last Saturday we took our motorhome down to the beach for the day. It didn't rain, the weather was lovely. We were down in Dana Point, our old stomping ground, and WE MISS IT THERE. I always fall back in love when we're there. We had a great, great time. It was literally one of the best days our family has had in a long time together. I totally want to do it every weekend now. Luckily we have reservations for spring break at the beach. We are parking our motorhome on the beach front row at Doheny for the week. I can't wait. And it's not like camping because I have a motorHOME.

Enjoy our Saturday pics. I have been taking tons of pictures lately. Picture after picture. I want so badly to take great photos. I was pretty proud of some of the pics I got on Saturday. I know they aren't wonderfully perfect, I don't have the talent of Elizabeth and Sarah. But I'm getting better. I would love to take a class. Someday maybe.

What's funny about this pic of Nick and Sophie is that the bike is Sydney's and it's baby pink. Yes it looked funny.

There was this amazing moment when the sun broke through the clouds and shone down on the water. So I snapped it.

This is our next Christmas card picture. How cheesy can they be? I refused.

Sophie just looked so cute sitting in her chair with her Doritos, being a big girl. All of a sudden she is talking more and acting and looking older. My baby is gone. So sad.

My attempts at photography. How did I do?

Such a great time. Can't wait for more.

Twilight Addicts..... Here they are

Here are the latest pics of the casted Cullen family for the Twilight movie coming our later this year. Shooting is set to begin next week. So tell me what you think? I'm not sure I like the Carlisle casting. I like Peter Facinelli but will hold judgment until the movie. I love the Esme casting, and in fact all the rest look like they could be really good. So I guess we'll wait and see. Jacob has not been cast yet. So keep your eyes out for that post.

Here are the names of each actor via a press release: Los Angeles, CA February 19, 2008 — Summit Entertainment announced today that it has rounded out the cast of the Cullen family in the first installment of its filmed franchise, TWILIGHT. The family of vampires, to which the leading male character Edward Cullen belongs, will be comprised of actors Peter Facinelli as Carlisle, Elizabeth Reaser as Esme, Jackson Rathbone as Jasper, Nikki Reed as Rosalie, Ashley Greene as Alice and Kellan Lutz as Emmett.

Tell me what you think?

The Ultimate Challenge

So Nick and I cleaned house financially so to speak. We made a choice a couple weeks ago to purge our (and by ours I mean Mine) spending habits and to live with only what we need for at least the next year in an effort to get out of debt (we owe the man) and save money. No eating out, shopping etc. You get the picture. I was out of control, spending like money grew on trees. Too bad it doesn't. Nick and I were not getting along because my spending was stressing him our more than I probably know. And as we all know, MONEY IS TRULY THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. So after years of this problem and not doing anything about it I decided to shape up and actually try. I enlisted the help of my mom to help hold me accountable and keep me on track. I am actually sending her my receipts as proof so that I have to answer to someone besides Nick. I have been forbidden to enter Target as a result. I thought I would go through withdraws and I suprisingly have not. Target was my pit of doom. Bad idea for Rachel to enter that store at any time. We are eating out meals at home as a family eliminating eating out costs. I have made this a game to see how little I can spend. I feel good at the end of the day if I haven't gone anywhere and spent any money. Nick is really trying too. We are comunicating about money, something I'm sad to admit we didn't do. We are laughing together, we are giddy. Something new for us. That didn't happen before. The other night we were steamrolling each other in bed at midnight, while laughing hysterically. Sadly that never happened before. And although the stress of paying down our debt it still there there is a happiness I didn't expect because I'm not putting our financial future in jeopardy anymore. My resolve is solid and unmoving. I have found that since making this choice, other choices have become easier. Like reading my scriptures, prayer and kicking it into high gear at the gym. I feel a renewed sense of optimism. So while I dreaded doing this, it has been the complete opposite. Such a wonderful blessing in our lives. My thanks to our family and friends that are supporting us as we do this. I apologize for the length of this post but I want to remember this time in the years to come when I feel pressed and unsure. And at some point my kids will read this and know how their dad and I struggled but also how we overcame it and became better.

Nick's Post

Ok so this post is only for Nick. He asked me to post this in hopes that my friend's husbands would think this is cool. So since Nick got this promotion at work in recruitment he gets to go to different events and things trying to recruite to the department. And this last weekend he was at the Los Angeles Health and Fitness Expo at the LA Convention Center. So he said every one there was huge and all sterioded out. Lots of tight shirts on the men, and fake breasts on the ladies. Sounds like fun to me. At this event there were a ton of MMA celebritites. MMA is Mixed Marshal Arts. Like the UFC. Nick LOVES MMA and said he felt like a little kid. He loves it almost at much as football. And I have to admit that I do watch it with him. So I know who most of these celebs are. I was pretty impressed. He was so excited he told me to post these pics. For Nick to want me to post anything on my blog is a big deal.

The guy above is Randy Couture. The MAN in the UFC. Look at how big his hand is compared to Nick's.
This is Herb Dean, one of the main referees in the UFC, it's him and Big John McCarthy. Who is LAPD.
Ok this guy I remember from the UFC Ultimate Fighter but I don't remember his name. How scary is he. Maybe one too many punches to the head.
Shoney Carter, UFC fighter. He always dresses like a pimp. With a cane and everything.

Wolf from American Gladiators, Nick said he couldn't believe how huge he actually was.
And lastly, War Machine, one of Nick's favorite fighters in the UFC right now. And he hung out with Nick for a lot of the day, they swaped numbers and he invited Nick to be his guest at the fight that night. Nick was in heaven.

I am happy because the fitness venders there gave Nick a TON of stuff. Protein shakes, energy pills and drinks. Shirts, etc. So I made out as well.

And how funny does Nick look in his uniform?

I guess he really is a cop.

Sleepy Head

So I have taken on watching our friends Dan & Jennie Burke's baby Ryan four days a week. He is a doll and I just adore him. So I put my porta crib in Sydney's room for Ryan and am just leaving is up. So the other night I went in to check on my kids as I was turning in and noticed that Nico was sleeping in the crib. He looked so funny and warm Nick and I didn't move him, instead we took pictures to show his wife in 20 years. Just too cute. But he has not been allowed back in the crib, I don't even know what the weight capacity is for those anyway. And he's sleeping with Sydney's blankets. I don't give my boy pink.

Here we are the next morning, bed head and all. Sophie totally looks like she has a mullet.

Have a great morning!!!

Happy Love Day!!!

To the man who makes me laugh everyday. (even when I don't want to) A Happy Valentines Day! I'm not a huge fan of the holiday. I think it's just a reason to buy overpriced flowers, chocolates I don't need, jewelry I can't afford and "behind closed doors" clothing I wished I looked good in. So to that I say, bah humbug. Give me an In-n-Out burger and buy me flowers tomorrow when they're cheaper and unexpected and I'm happy.
But I do love my hubby very much. I'm glad he picked me for eternity. I wouldn't ever change a thing.

A little of everything

So this warmer weather is freaking me out. I live in Chino where is gets hot, hot, hot. And so while the sun is pretty, i'd rather not feel it yet. So today around 4:00pm I went to turn on my a/c cuz it was hot. And my compressor wouldn't turn on, so no cold air. Here is why I am frustrated, this air conditioner is only 4 months old. We got an entire new unit, a bigger unit so when it didn't work I got on the phone called the company and tomorrow it will be fixed for free. Yeah for warranty's. Hopefully it will just cool down again.





I had a really nick visit with my mom, sorry no pics, i forgot my camera everywhere we went. We shopped, gardened, my kids made cookies with my mom. Added some cute things to my house and just enjoyed having my mom here with just me. It has been the hardest thing for me, having my family on the other side of the country. The last four years have been hard. I grew up in Seal Beach/Los Alamitos and thought my parents would be there forever, little did I know the Lord had other plans for them and all my siblings. The good side, I have learned to depend on my husband, he is my family. The Lord knew I needed that.

My New Wall From Mom

I am looking for some gym motivation if anyone has any? I need that push to take me over that edge I've been sitting on for so long. It's time for me to pull this out.

Shouldn't She be Enough?

Busy, Busy, Busy

I am slow posting anything this week because of good reason. My mom is here visiting me and the kids. We are having a blast and she is spoiling us rotten. But isn't that what mom's are supposed to do? Yesterday we went out to Victoria Gardens for the day. We went into Banana Republic and I spotted maybe the deal of the month. I got their, i think the cashier said, Miracle Jeans, or something like that. So the orginal price of these jeans are $129.00. I got them for ........ wait for it....... $19.99. I felt like the bargain queen at that point. We also found ballet flats at Ann Taylor Loft for $6.88 and candles for $2.88. You gotta love a bargain. We are reworking my garden tomorrow so I'm sure I'll have some great pics to share. My mom is a Garden Guru. Love her.

Our Busy Week In Pictures

We had a pretty busy week. We started it out by taking the kids to Mt. Baldy for some play time in the snow. Had a blast. How gorgeous is he?


Our next adventure took us to the San Diego Zoo for the day. Loved the pandas. Sophie was scared of just about everything there. I snapped the funniest picture of a monkey but I'm not sure if would be appropriate for this blog, so funny though. Let's just say it was a boy.
Loves her daddy.


I'm not sure why Nick didn't tell me the sun was glaring this much.

Then there was some Cheetos feasting with Sophie and Nico. I loved the way they were sharing.

Her hair was falling our and she had cheese everywhere. So 3:30 in the afternoon.

So cute even with cheese everywhere.

The next day we cleaned Sydney's room to prepare for my mom, Grandma Jill's, arrival on Monday.

Then today we went out to Nick's Uncle Todd's house to celebrate his youngest son graduating. Here is Nick's mom and grandma with all the grandkids. 10 so far with a couple more coming soon.

Sophie and her cousin Jett. They are only 4 months apart. I had to snap a couple of them.

From left: sister in law Jayme, Nick's cousin Taylor, Nick's sister, Marissa and me.

And a not so great family picture of our little family. Hope you all had a good week too.