Happy 9th Birthday Mason Spence Pia...

Mason came into this world ready for fun & adventure. He arrived a week early and was the PERFECT baby. No colic, started sleeping thru the night at 8 weeks, pleasant and calm, and a wonderful addition to our family. I can't imagine life without this sweet boy.

Here are 9 things I adore about this kid:

1. Mason is such a good BROTHER. He adores his brother & sisters more than anything.

2. Mason is a great CHEF. He can make a mean breakfast and his Sisters are especially grateful for his services because they are the direct recipients of his kindness each and every morning.

3. He's THANKFUL. He thanks me for everything. What Mom doesn't want to hear the words "THANK YOU" a bazillion times a day? It never gets old.

4. Mason is the PEACEMAKER of our house. I won't go into detail about this one because it would take all day, but take my word for it... he's a gem.

5. Mason is super EASY-GOING. Don't bug him and he won't bug you. He's happy about 99% of the time.

6. Mason is the great ENTREPRENEUR. The kid eats, sleeps and breathes thinking about different ways to make money. He's clever, witty and will definitely go far in this life.

7. Mason is a PLEASER. He's always making little things for Joe and me. We LOVE it!

8. Mason is my SILENT GIANT. He's not a big talker, but when he does speak, we listen intently because it's almost always profound.

9. Mason has a TENDER HEART. He's full of love and life. He has a special place in his heart for toddlers and animals. I adore this about him and I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for this special boy in my life. What can I say... I'm a proud Mama Bear today!

We've had such an eventful day with friends and family. I'm so grateful he has so many wonderful influences in his life. He's one lucky boy.

CC came over to see Mason right after her dentist appointment and she was in a lot of pain. Poor girl. She was so nice to come see Mason despite how awful she felt. We love you CC! Hope you get better soon.

Joe and I got Mason this awesome Nerf gun. Apparently it can shoot up to 35 ft. I had to take this picture of him checking it out.


We took the family and Mason's friends to Classic Skate for his Birthday party. As you can imagine... the kid was on cloud nine and had a great time.
Grandma Karen and Asher
Man we're getting OLD Jer Jer!
Chelsey, Jackson and Chandler. I know I've said this before, but really? Chan and Chelse could be twins. No joke!
Grandma Karen helping lil' Ash learn to skate. He was a pro right off the bat.
Cake and ice-cream time!!!
Grandpa Ron got busted for scarfing down cake while no one was watching. When he got caught he tried to get me to eat the evidence. Sorry Dad... you're BUSTED!!!
Cutest boys in AMERICA! I think they had a great time. They were all well behaved and stayed together the entire 3 hours. It was really nice.
Handsome boys!
After the party we decided to head over to Bonsaii for our Birthday tradition. We had 22 people come to celebrate Mason's big day. I'm pretty sure he felt like a million bucks at the end of the day. He is loved by so many.
Grandpa, Chan and Nate
Chelse and Taylor
Grandma and Jer
Our favorite aunts & uncles... Max & Vinni, Ju & Danny. We love you guys. Thanks for coming.

The whole crew minus Jer and Asher who were in the bathroom.

Happy Birthday Maser!

We love you with all our hearts...

Rise and shine...

Today I have 2 choices....

1. I can stay in my jammies, blog stalk for hours, eat yummy food, curl up in a blank and read a good book and pretend that I have ZERO worries in the world. OR...

2. I can get my workout clothes on, tidy up my house, make dinner and be productive until my kids get home from school. Hmmm.... what to do?

As I was going thru the grocery store check out line last night I stumbled upon the January SHAPE magazine. I'm not a huge magazine lover because I never have time to read cover to cover and they're too expensive to read a few pages and toss aside. BUT... as I was quickly thumbing thru the pages I came across a short article entitled... RISE AND SHINE. I absolutely had to buy the darn magazine because of this article.

Basically this lady from Hollywood shares a few of her morning regimens to help her wake up on the right side of the bed and start the day right. It's definitely not brain science, but it was just what I needed to motivate me today. And let's face it... we can all benefit from a few morning tips right? Here they are:

1. CLEANSE WITH A TWIST

"The first thing I drink is a cup of hot water with lemon. I feel like the citrus purifies my system and cleans out whatever toxins are left over from the night. Plus, the ritual is really nice and calming."

2. GET OUT OF THE GYM

"There are tennis courts all over L.A., and most weekend mornings I'm out on one with either my boyfriend or my dad. I run around like crazy, which gets my cardio in, and I work almost every muscle from my shoulders to my core."

3. MAKE OVER YOUR BREAKFAST

"I cook these delicious pancakes at least four times a week. My friend Gina, a nutritionist, came up with the recipe. They're packed with protein and low in fat, and they make you feel like you're having dessert for breakfast."

So there you have it. That's all I needed to hear to get me going. It's amazing how a few simple secrets can really get you motivated. I'm sipping the hot water with lemon as we speak and then I'm going to walk on the treadmill for a 1/2 hour and do a Jillianne Micheals 30 day shred video for another 1/2 hour. After that... I'm going to make these protein pancakes.

So come on girls... get up and get goin'!

PROTEIN PANCAKES (makes 6)

In a bowl combine

1/2 C. rolled oats

1/2 C. fat-free cottage cheese

1/2 C. egg whites

1 t. vanilla extract

pinch of cinnamon

Heat cooking spray in a nonstick skillet and pour 1/4 cup batter in at a time to make 1 pancake. Cook 2 minutes per side, or until lightly browned. Serve with a drizzle of agave nectar and fresh berries.

Also, for a little extra motivation, go to Brooke Burkes blog/website to see what motivates her to stay fit, healthy and have energy for 4 kids.

One more quick thought...

I've been using this night cream my hairstylist recommended and guess what?

I'm absolutely LOVING IT! It seems to be reducing those fine lines and wrinkles. It's inexpensive and you can find it pretty much anywhere. Try it for 30 days and see what you think. Read more about it HERE.

Neglected or dramatic?

Brynerz and I decided to get out the Valentine boxes this morning and decorate for our favorite, FAVORITE Holiday. I just LOVE all shades of red, pink and white mixed together. It definitely helps me get thru yucky winter. Especially this morning when it started to SNOW and snow and snow. It's still snowing as we speak! But I don't care because I'm in the Valentine zone.

So while I was busily decorating the kitchen, Bryn looked at me (while eating her 3 bears porridge) and sayed (in a very serious, concerned voice), "Mom, where the heck has Dad been lately? He missed scriptures last night and I NEVER see him anymore. I don't even remember what color his hair is!!!!!"

She was dead serious and started to tear up because she was THAT upset. Yikes! Poor baby. And poor Joe. He's got some serious explaining to do tonight. I assured her he'd be around more (Sundance Film festival is always a challenging time). And in the meantime, I pulled up a bunch of pictures of Joe so she'd remember what he looks like. Hee hee!
I'm constantly in stitches over the funny things my kids say and do. I decided to hang their canvases in our living room so I can enjoy seeing their bright cheery faces

ALL DAY LONG!
This lil' miss is the cutest thing in the world. I love hanging out,

JUST THE TWO OF US

every morning and I'm still tickled about our Daddy conversation.

I'm so in love.... Go to One Charming Party to learn how to make this adorable bubble gum Valentine necklace. Wouldn't every girl in the world want to be adorned with this sweet treat?

This boy has character...

"I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character."
– Theodore Roosevelt

I have a special 'wake up' ritual in the morning where I basically make a protein shake or green tea and sit down at the computer to stimulate my brain so I can then fully function for the day. I go straight to my inbox and read the "quote of the day". This has become a huge part of my morning routine. I read the quote, ponder it's meaning and try to incorporate it into my life for that day. And if it's good enough... I store it in a special little compartment in my brain and try to better myself.

The quote today reminded me of a special little friend of mine... MASON! Mason is one of those unique kids that doesn't give a hoot about what others think of him. He does however hold himself to a high standard and is very hard on himself. (reminds me of his Daddy) He's about the happiest, care free kid I know. He's not naturally competitive at team sports, in fact.... he couldn't care less if his team wins or loses. It's all the same to him because he has a great time either way.

I'm so thankful for this sweet boy. He makes my life a little bit easier. He's also a great example to me of confidence and character. This is one of those quotes that needs to be stored in my long term bank and I need to try to emulate this special attribute that Mason has somehow mastered at a very young age.

Love you Maser!

Without action you aren't going anywhere...

I love the quote by Gandhi that says, "Without action you aren't going anywhere". Oh how these words ring true in the Pia household. Have you ever noticed when your kids get bored, they find trouble. Or trouble finds them? One of my goals as a mother is to find BALANCE in all things for my children. I don't like to over-schedule my kids by any means... but I do want them to have every opportunity possible to excel.

I'm going to enlarge Gandhi's TOP 10 LIST and hang it somewhere, for all to see, in my home. I LOVE IT! If anything... it's so motivational. You can't help but want to get up and get going. Plus it's so darn cute to boot.

Speaking of getting up and get going... Chandler has had a two month lull in Sports (besides church ball) and you can't believe the boredom this kid has been going thru. He basically shut down and turned into a GIANT grump! NO JOKE!

And then....
...Highschool Lacrosse started...sigh...ahhh.... Chandler is FINALLY BACK! He's back to his old happy, outgoing, goofy self. I LOVE THIS KID!

So back to the saying, "Without action you aren't going anywhere"... I'm a true believer that this is inspiration straight from the mouth of an amazing man.... Thank you Mohandas Gandhi! Certainly words to live by.

This mama is tuckered out!

What do you think of my new bedding? I couldn't wait to adorn my room with this peaceful new comforter set. The idea is to feel like I'm walking into a nature infused spa. And then....

...Nigh, night!

This mama is pooped. I think the new bedding pulled me in, calling my name by it's hypnotizing, enticing, spa like serene colors. The plan was to rest my eyes for just a moment, but the second my head hit the pillow... I was OUT! Notice the earplugs. Joe thought it would be so funny to take my picture... asleep... with drool seeping onto my pillow... mmm...... lovely

See you again tonight my new love....

A noteworthy breakfast and a stuffy friend...

I'm almost certain this picture doesn't do this breakfast justice, but try to imagine a bowl of hot cocoa ice-cream atop a bed of whipped cream, sprinkled with blueberries, more whipped cream and drizzled with caramel sauce.

Can I just say... HEAVEN in a bowl? Mason brought this to me while I was walking on my treadmill this morning. He wanted to surprise me with breakfast after a hard workout. I don't know about you, but there's nothing I want more, after a workout, than a good "kid friendly" meal straight from the heart.

Breakfast of champions made by this sweet 8 year old boy... Mason. I love my pleaser!
Next I'd like to introduce you to Stuffy. Stuffy was made with an overwhelming amount of love. Her head is made out of an old knitted hat, ears are the bottom of two socks, eyes and nose/mouth are made out of paper, the body is an old dolly outfit, the feet are made from the upper part of the socks discarded from the ears, and the hands are simply toilet paper.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that everything is "sewn" together with blue painters tape and stuffed with toilet paper.

***Note: I decided to sew the ears and head on for my lil' gal because she couldn't figure out why they kept falling off.
I'm amazed at the creativity of this sweet little 5 year old gal. She blows me away on a daily basis with her imaginative spirit. She worked very hard on this project for a good 2 hours in her room. I was a little nervous because she wouldn't let me see what she was up to and I had NO IDEA what I would find when I walked into the room.
As I entered the room upon completion, Bryn had the most loving, tender look in her eyes. I think she was pretty darn proud of her accomplishment. And guess what? I started to tear up because of the way she gently held Stuffy in her arms. Brynerz has a special spirit about her and I love her so so much!

Looking back... and looking forward...

Why is it that I can be in a terrible mood, full of despair, feelings of inadequacy rushing over me and feeling I lack the proper knowledge and judgement to be responsible for so many little people and their problems on a daily basis? Sometimes I feel defeated and absolutely OVERWHELMED with self doubt, like I'm chasing my tail all day with no end in sight.

And then I take a few minutes of alone time to reflect on my life thus far, and I am instantly uplifted and renewed in a way I can't explain. Memory Lane is a good 'healer of the heart' and a great place to go boost the self esteem. My self doubt washes away and is instantly replaced with LOVE, admiration and confidence. I'm sooooo glad I've taken the time to document our lives thru pictures over the years. I LOVE pictures and I ADORE my little family.

Pres. Hinckley said, "You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children turned out. It will not be the money you have made. It will not be the cars you have owned. It will not be the large house in which you live. The searing question that will cross your mind again and again will be "How well have my children done?"

LOOKING BACK makes me happy and I need to remind myself not to take life so seriously.

Berks

Berks with neighbor kids

Dr. Lawrence delivered my babies and I will always have a special place in my heart for her

Chan with long-time friends

My parents condo in St. George... boo hoo hoo! (We miss it)

Little man Mase

Handsome Crampa

Chan

wiped out after tennis match with the "K's" (2003)

Our first home

neighbor kids

Olympus hike with Joe and his Sis Linsdey

Joe and Brynerz

Chan with his 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Guevarra

Berks boating

Yep! That's me shooting a gun... pretty good eh?

Fun trips with friends (paintballing)

Joe and I

Many hikes

Cassie and Berks (best friends for years)

Mason

Mason with friends

My kids but much smaller

Brynerz

Berks with friends

Berks at her Winner School dance Co.

Chan reading... ahhh!

Family trip to San Diego. The little girl in my hands is Lydia. We decided to pretend she was Bryn (too young to bring) and do a family picture. Ha ha

Halloween party 2002

Berks and Jo Jo

You are doing the best you can, and that best results in good to yourself and to others. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do.

-Pres. Hinckley

Being a Mom is the BEST gift I could've been given. I love my job, amongst the chaos, and I think we might just be ok. I can't wait to make a bazillion memories in 2011.