Picture of the Day

Here's a little history of how we came to name our girls Kadence and Zoe.  

Kadence Shiree
Kadence correctly spelled Cadence means flow or rythm as applied to language, music or movement.  It is also a term used in the military and cycling community.   How we came to chose the name Kadence is quit simple....

While picking out boys names, I had told my husband that Ryder was one of my favorites.  Probably at the top of my list at that point.  One morning while out riding his bicycle, Dom shared the name with his fellow cycling companions.  At that instant, one of them said how he loved the name Ryder and if we were to have a girl we could name her Cadence (after the cycling use of the word of course)!  If you don't know my husband let me tell you he is an avid cyclist and always has been.  He is ZERO fun to be around if he doesn't get his daily bike ride in.  We like bike riding daddy =o)  He himself is a competitor in the sport of cycling, escaped two near death experiences due to cycling and now runs a successful company that puts on races and events.  Of course he came home and shared the name with me and I fell IN LOVE!!!

Why spell it with a "K" opposed to a "C"....

I always pictured her school teachers rambling off roll call in the morning.  I feared that if it was spelled the proper way with a "C" people would without thoroughly reading it say Candace and not Cadence.  Phonetically speaking, if you were to see a "K" wouldn't you pronounce it as "Kay?"  Who knows...people still say Candace, oh well.  With the "K" we have also established the name Kady for short.  It just seemed more practical to me. Her middle name Shiree is of course after yours truly...


Zoe Joelyn
Zoe has always been a favorite girls name of Dominics as well as this song.  I think he tears up every time he hears it and thinks of both of his girls.  Joelyn I picked out for no other reason than I think it's cool.  I really dig boys names that can be used as girls names.  We both liked the nickname Jo but of course here we have our little Zoe Jo.  That being said, here is a tribute to Zoe and the song of which she was named after....

"Zoe Jane" by Staind

well i want you to notice

to notice when i'm not around

and i know that your eyes see

straight through me

and speak to me without a sound

i want to hold you

protect you from all of the

things i've already endured

i want to show you

show you all of the things

that this life has in store

for you

i'll always love you

the way that a father

should love his daughter

when i walked out this morning

i cried as i walked to the door

i cried about how long i'd be away for

i cried about leaving you all alone

i want to hold you

protect you from all of the

things i've already endured

i want to show you

show you all of the things

that this life has in store

for you

i'll always love you

the way that a father

should love his daughter

sweet zoe jane

sweet zoe jane

so i wanted to say this

cuz i wouldn't know where to begin

to explain to you what i have been through

to explain where your daddy has been

i want to hold you

protect you from all of the

things i've already endured

i want to show you

show you all of the things

that this life has in store

for you

i'll always love you

the way that a father

should love his daughter

sweet zoe jane

sweet zoe jane

Click here to listen to song



 

Want to help babies with Cystic Fibrosis 

breathe easier? 

 

 

Vote for the CF Project in the Pepsi Refresh Project and help the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation win $250,000! You can vote every day this month!

 

It may be too late for my nephew Ethan but it's not too late for my children's children.  Being it's genetic...they too are carriers of the CF gene just like me.  Help me help them find a cure for not just everyone living with it... but for MY family!!!

I have to say I'm more than happy to bid the month of August a MASSIVE bon-voyage!!!  For starters, September for me is a representation of the beginning of fall which is BY FAR my most favorite time of year.  This past August posed more difficult than the previous year and for reasons I'm not sure.  It seemed to be more difficult not just for me but for friends and family as well.  For me, the month of August is an agonizing reminder of loved ones lost, what should be birthday's and wedding anniversaries but never will be.  Not to mention, this August in particular Dominic started a new job with CrAzY hours and the girls and I have barely seen him...lame! 

Don't get me wrong, there were a few things to celebrate this month...three bright shiny spots for three of my dear friends who gave birth to three beautiful bundles of joy.  Welcome to the world baby Jack Robert White, Reese Victoria Marie McNulty, and Isabelle Sophia Yoder. What a blessing for all these first time mommy's.  I have yet to meet them all and am looking forward to it.

However, despite the three bright spots this past month, it's safe to say that I personally could live without the month of August in the calender year.  I'm thankful for September and am happy to great it.  Bring on the cooler weather, the trick-or-treating, the crackling fireplace, the relaxing hot tub, the turkey dinner, the jolly times, bring on the FALL!! 

A tale of Two Nephews...

One is preschool bound.

 

The other,  College bound.

 

Good luck boys and enjoy the ride!!

 

Dancing in the rain

To be able to dance in the rain. To be as free as a little child that knows no fear, no judgment, no shame for doing something that makes her happy. Not caring whether she’ll slip or fall in the mud, not caring whether she’ll get drenched all over. When you dance in the rain, you remember once more how to dance in life, you remember once more the taste of heaven.  

It's rare in the desert that the rain falls and the sun shines at the same time.  It was so breathtaking and  glorious that Kadence and I took the opportunity to dance in it...Zoe too.  Immediately she asked me if she could kiss the rain.   It was so sweet and innocent.  Of course I smiled and said yes.  It was one of those feel good moments.  You know, the kind that makes you feel all is right with the world?

Shortly after Kady kissed the rain, a big, loud thunder crashed in the sky.  She jumped, screamed and ran into my arms.  I explained to her what it was and after a few more she was okay with the sound of "under."  It was then that she said to me "mom, the under is loud like Kady!"  Again, I smiled and said yes.

 "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth."

  ~William W. Purkey

Today was a taste of heaven on earth...

Cinderella is proof that shoes 
can change your life... 



 

















Zoe's first pair of High Heels.  

2010

 Kadence's first pair of High Heels

2008


“Not diamond but heels are a girl’s best friend.”
~William Rossi 

Pictures of the day

So many people we know are at a stage in their life where marriages are falling apart.  The vows to be faithful seem to have less meaning.  The struggle to keep things new and exciting are becoming more of a challenge.  It saddens me to see so many friends I love struggle.  It's caused me to reflect back on our marriage and all that we have endured...and conquered.  I'm forever grateful to be here still standing next to the man I vowed to love forever and the father of my children.  Our marriage has certainly been less than perfect but somehow we have weathered the storms and our love has managed to grow.  I hope it does forever.  That is my wish today.

Dear Dominic..... 

"I cannot promise you a life of sunshine;
I cannot promise riches, wealth, or gold;
I cannot promise you an easy pathway
That leads away from change or growing old.

But I can promise all my heart's devotion;
A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow;
A love that's ever true and ever growing;
A hand to hold in yours through each tomorrow."~unknown 

I promise to love you in good times and bad,
with all I have to give and all I feel inside in the only way I know how. Completely and forever.

Love always 

your wife, partner, and best friend,

Ash 

It's that time of year again.

What should be baby boys 2nd Birthday.

So many thoughts....

I keep telling myself that the date has no power.  The actual date, no date.  Because if the date doesn't have any power than the memory could come when the memory wanted to come.  It's time to take the power back!!  Yet, I find myself consumed with the actual date.  Picking them off one by one.  First his birthday, then the holidays, finally the day he was taken from us.  I find myself pondering more the thoughts of what he'd be like opposed to what he was like on these dates.  When would he have started walking?  How many teeth would he have?  What color would his hair be?  Blonde or Brown?  What would be his favorite food? Movie? Toy?  What would I buy him for Christmas this year?  My gosh, he should be the same age as my oldest...how bizarre. 

Ahh.....

I wish 

I wish 

I wish....

I wish I didn't have to wonder!

I wish I didn't have to remember!

Maybe this is why the memories don't ALWAYS come when they want.  So...until I can find a way to actually take the power back, the date has power over me.  Some day I know it won't.  And even though it does, there are tons of memories to revel in.

Happy Birthday Ethan!!!

Click this link to read of Ethan's life journey
 

224 balloons representing 224 days on earth and 224 memories to cherish.
Forever in our hearts, gone but never forgotten.

FUCF...

The Guinto house got a whole lot Fancier.....

My cousin Janice and her family often come to Las Vegas.  Her in-laws live out here and it works out great for us.  We really enjoy hanging out with them and love that we get to see them a few times a year.  Every trip they are kind enough to bring little gifts for the girls.  This last trip, knowing how much Kady loves Fancy Nancy, they brought her a Fancy Nancy outfit.  Included was a fancy skirt, flower bracelet, slippers and a super posh puppy.  Let me just tell you that 3 out of the 7 nights last week she slept in full Fancy style.  Would NOT take them off to go to bed for nothing.  In my opinion she's a fancy little sleeper regardless.  If only I could get a picture without waking her up.  Maybe I'll try.  Thanks Janice and fam for making my girls smile!!

The best part of us...

Zoe Joelyn, 5mos

Kadence Shiree, 2yrs

Private Pizza Making Party @ Ferraro's

Ahhh....Success!!

Thank you Nikki and Mimmo for a super RAD day!!

We took the girls out to lunch today and on the way home Kadence looked at me and said....

"It's a beautiful day!"

Everyday with our babies is beautiful!!

It's so crazy at the end of each day I think, "tomorrow can't possibly get any better"....and then it does.  I don't know what it is.  Maybe the age of which my children are.  The fact that life has been so rough the past year and now were on the upswing.  My choice in planning of activities.  Good friends, family, home, dogs....I'm not sure.  Each day turns out to better than the last and it's always a pleasant surprise.

Kadence
For starters...Potty training is in progress.  So far we are doing great.  I just love seeing the excitement on Kady's face when she actually does it.  She also takes a Toddler Ninjas class that she talks about all week long and we look forward to going every Monday.  We have some really great friends who also have two girls the same age as ours.  Every Friday night we go to their house Bbq, swim and watch a movie on their big screen in the back yard....fun!!  Her vocabulary is so extensive now.  Half the time she'll use words that I don't even use.  It makes me smile.  She is SO smart.  Too smart for her own good.  This past weekend we had a super RAD day.  I have some friends who own a fancy Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar called Ferraros.  Saturday morning/afternoon they decided to shut it down for a private pizza making party for friends and kids.  Kadence had SUCH A BLAST making and eating pizza...her first ever pizza by the way.  They were more than accommodating.  Mimmo (the owner) made sure there were no ingredients out that Kady would be allergic too.  I'll post pics of the pizza party soon.  Kady has also been sleeping in her new big girl bed for the past month in her new "big" girl room.  We've finished everything but pictures on the wall.  A friend of mine was kind enough to give us all of her younger sister's furniture since she's getting a new set.  It's an antique white, Victorian looking...very girlie.  It came with a dresser, desk, shelves, mirror, trunk and nightstand.  Everything but the head and foot board in which we don't really need anyway.  She has fallen out of bed twice.  Kadence is so proud of her new room.  She shows everyone who comes over to visit.  She calls it her present. LoL!  Part of one wall is a chalkboard.  It's pretty neat.  I'll post pics of that also.  On Kady's health issues, we're nowhere.  Not sure what the next step is either.


Zoe
If I told you she was/is a perfect baby you probably wouldn't believe me.  However, she is!!!  She NEVER cries.  Not even when she wakes up.  She smiles CONSTANTLY and just loves being talked to.  I can't believe how I lucked out with such a perfect angel baby.  Did I mention she sleeps 13hours straight every night??  She's starting to roll over now and is very close to sitting up on her own.  I'm pretty sure she is also teething....It won't be long.  This next month we will start solid foods and again I will make my own baby food.  Zoe has also been sleeping in her new room in the crib and is sleeping like a baby...pun intended.  Her reflux seems to be a bit worse the past couple months than it was the 2 months before that but nothing alarming.  We haven't up'd her dosage to match her weight since she was 6wks old, so that may be part of the problem.  Simple fix.  I'm hoping solid foods will help with that also.



Things have been going really well.  My only complaint is that Dom has not been able to enjoy in the festivities because he's been working so much.  Then again that's not really a complaint since he's been out of work for the past 10 months.

Our Spokane Trip.....


If I didn't already want to move home bad enough, this trip did nothing to help that urge.  It's made me more than ready to get out of Vegas!!!  My mom flew the girls and I up for 9days.  9 jam packed, super fun days.  We did SO much and saw SO many wonderful people.  Where to start....

Day 1
Went to the mall, did some shopping, met up with some family and friends and watched the kids play.

Kadence and her cousin Riley

Day 2
We took the kids down to the Spokane Railway were Burlington Northern was giving free train rides. 

Day 3-4
My brother is currently attending Washington State University pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education.  We drove down for 2days and spent the night at their place.  Pullman, WA is small quaint college town located about 1 and 1/2 hours south of Spokane.  Super fun place to go to school.  I was happy he could take the time to show us around...

 GO COUGS!!!

Eating dinner at Nicole's work...Yum!

Picking fresh veggies from Lance and Nicole's Garden.  It's @ Nicole's Uncle's house in Moscow, ID about 10 minutes from Pullman.

WSU is a huge Vet school.  They have a bear habitat that houses 2-4 bears that they use for research and testing.  Mostly hibernation research I believe or so they say.  It's kind of sad but Kady enjoyed it.

Finally home for some otter pops on the back porch with Riley

Day 5

The morning started off at Claire's in the mall.  I met my girlfriend Angela who was in town for a visit from Seattle, and her 4mos old baby girl Lauryn and we got the girls ear's pierced together.  I'm happy to have experienced it with her.

Then, we met up with a large group of my girlfriends and all our kiddos at a new and FABULOUS park in the Valley called Discovery Park.  It was such a good time catching up and seeing everyone.

Ashlyn, Brooklyn and Angela, me and Zoe, Sarah and Sydney, Seagrin and River

That night, I went out for dinner with my friends Seagrin and Shawn then Shawn and I went for drinks in Couer D' Alene.  It's one of my favorite places.

Shawn and I

Day 6

HOOPFEST!!  I didn't get any pictures of it although it is probably one of the coolest things to see just because of it's enormity.  Hoopfest is the biggest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament on the planet. That means over 6,700 teams, 3,000 volunteers, 200,000 players and fans, 428 courts spanning 40 downtown city blocks in Spokane.  It was fun seeing old friends and watching their husbands play.

and.....a little afternoon lawn mowing with Grandpa....

Day 7

Back to Couer D' Alene for the day to watch the Iron man CDA!  It was a fun day with the family.

the Beach @ Lake Couer D' Alene

That night...Mom, Dad and I went up to Arbor Crest Winery.  I've never been there before until now.  It's hands down one of my new favorite spots in Spokane.  Every Sunday they have some kind of live music and you show up with blankets, chairs, snacks, food whatever and lounge out on the lawn with a bottle of wine....PERFECT!  Kids are not allowed on property because of the terrain.  Its located high up on a cliff  hence it's formerly known name "The Cliff House."  What a relaxing evening. 

Riley, kady and the babysitter Emily watching a movie on the portable DVD player.  What a treasure Emily is!!  I sure wish she lived here.  Thanks for watching the kids Em.

Day 8

More fun with friends at mom and dad's house.  We blew up the huge inflatable water slide and had a bunch of people over to play in the back yard.

This was also the day Kady discovered her love for Barbie!

Day 9

Downtown, Riverfront Park was the spot this day.  Again with some old friends and kids, catching up and playing.

Riding the carousel

Feeding the trash goat

and later that night...mama had another good night out with friends!  Drinking wine, listening to music and catching up.

Jamie, Shawn, me and Stephanie

Other random pics from the trip...

 Jace, Kady, Lakelynn...watching a movie

Papa (kady's new name for Grandpa), Kady and Uncle Dude

Time to go Home