Friday, November 29, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!


 
It's nice to see the big table filled up!  Boys galore!!!

Friday, November 15, 2013

Past due pictures

 

We took a trip to southern California in August and I just never got around to posting any pictures from the trip.  We stayed in Julian, CA, a small gold-mining town.  We took day trips to Legoland and California Safari Park.  The boys loved the lorikeet feeding exhibit.  This was the highlight of their day…and they made us go back twice to feed them.  They were pretty amazing birds but when they nibbled at you, it kind of hurt : )  Guess that’s why they’re at the zoo and not in someone’s home : )

Summer2013 119

Summer2013 121

Visit from Angola

 

Summer2013 009

We were thrilled when we found out that Vivian and her daughters, Samantha and Allison, were back from Angola for the summer.  We had them over for dinner one evening and what you see here is the before picture.  Two seconds after this picture was taken Cheerio and Sami got into it…and Cheerio ended up biting Sami on the cheek. There was blood everywhere and Sami was crying of course.  We felt terrible and guess what…it wasn’t Cheerio’s first offense.  When we were in Angola, Sami was at our house and Cheerio bit her in the lip.  That poor girl is going to be scarred for life and we told Vivian that Lance (her husband) had a free pass with a Nerf gun and Cheerio.  What a terrible end to the evening but Vivian was so nice about it.  It’s just so freaky that Cheerio has never bit anyone before (except for one of our cousins who was poking him with a fork) and Sami got two hits.  Guess they can never be in the same room together…there’s some kind of bad chemistry with them.  But we are thrilled they’re moving back from Angola this month.  Maybe we can make it up to them…and Cheerio better watch our for Lance : )

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Visit from Uncle Jon

 

Sept2013 005

Sept2013 006

We hadn’t seen my brother in years so when he said he was town for work, we had him over one evening.  The boys loved him!! He brought some cool goodies for them and a sourdough bread in the shape of a crocodile : )  He helped Nicholas get ready for his jog-a-thon the next day by spray-painting his hair blue and doing his face painting.  Thanks for the great visit Uncle Jon…hope it’s not a few more years before we see you again!

First Day of Preschool

 

Sept2013 002

Sept2013 003

Ryan was excited to start preschool this fall!!  He loved getting his own backpack and loves taking his lunchbox to school.  So for three mornings a week he gets to make friends, learn colors and letters, and have fun.  Good thing we potty trained this summer…he was all ready to go.  I was wondering if he was a little young to start school (he turns 3 in January, but he already thinks he’s five and talks really well for his age so off we went).  So far he’s done great and his teachers say he’s doing fantastic!  Way to go Ryan, you’re such a big boy now.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

First Day of First Grade

 

Summer2013 153

Summer2013 155

I can’t believe Nicholas is a big first grader!  Ryan and I missed him at home today and when we picked him up he said he loved it.  Here’s to a fun school year!!!

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Little Update

Just a quick update since I haven't been good at the blog lately (sorry no picture this time...I will post the first day of school pictures later this week : )
Nicholas is starting 1st grade on Wednesday....yippee!  He's excited and I can't believe my little boy is getting older.  He's now into Star Wars and can't wait to watch the movies with Dad.  Still taking great care of his parakeet.
Ryan is completely potty trained...yippee!  He's been pooping in the potty for the past week by himself.  He is in a big boy twin bed (he's so cute to check in on and see him passed out on his pillow with the covers pulled up).  He starts preschool in a week and absolutely needs it...he gets so bored around here that his curiosity leads him to make messes everywhere and drive mom and dad crazy.
Mike is traveling lots this work assignment so we're happy when he's home.  Or at least when he's home and not running off to another church meeting or assignment (he is the Stake Young Men's President and on the High Council).  We love him to pieces!!
I'm trying to keep up with the boys as well as trying to keep myself motivated to do a marathon in October.  Don't know if I'll make it, but I'm going to try.  Tennis is so much more fun than running my legs to pain (although I still love running, I think I might just stick to doing half marathons from now on : ) 
So next update will be first day of school pictures from the boys...I might even get teary-eyed.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Potty Training and Mad Scientist

We had a great Fourth of July!  We started potty training Ryan so we were at home all day.  I always try to potty train in the summer months because I let the kids run around naked for the first few days and then move on to wearing underwear.  Luckily, Ryan loves to run around naked : )  And what doesn’t make a boy want to pee more than filling him up with juice and root beer and then letting him play in the water : )

Nicholas6birthday 034

Nicholas6birthday 038

Nicholas6birthday 042

Nicholas has recently gotten interested into science so Mike got him a science kit while we were in Africa and broke it out the other day.  I can see a future scientist in the making, can’t you?

Last Day of Kindergarten

 

Nicholas finished kindergarten with flying colors.  He loved his year with Ms. Lombardo and made some great friends in class.  He learned to read, write, and all his letters and numbers.  He got excellent report cards, went on some awesome field trips, made some great art, and grew up a little bit faster.  It’s said that everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten…if that’s true, we’re off to a great start!  Can’t wait for first grade adventures!

Nicholas6birthday 030

Nicholas6birthday 033

Nicholas’ 6th Birthday–Birds : )

 

I know I’m a little behind but better late than never right?  Nicholas turned 6 on May 21 and even though I had said it wasn’t a party year, I caved.  We had his friends from school and church over and even though it was a little chilly outside they loved the water balloons and “pool” we had set up for them.  We also had bird stuff to do and I even found a toucan shaped pinata that the kids loved.

Nicholas6birthday 009

Nicholas6birthday 012

Nicholas wanted a bird cake (I was thinking, how in the world am I going to make a cake in the shape of a toucan?).  I eventually decided to just make flowers and trees and then put tropical birds on the cake.  Nicholas loved it and it was really yummy…strawberry cake with cream cheese filling.

Nicholas6birthday 017

We can’t believe Nicholas is 6…time flies!!  We’re so glad Grammie and Grandpa helped us celebrate and that the party was a success.  We love you Nicholas!!!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

My Pride & Joy

My boys may drive me crazy sometimes but they’re the reason I’m so happy.  They give me such a great purpose in life and make me laugh.  I’m honored to be their mom. Plus, they couldn’t get any cuter. 

14 e1

47 e1

56 e1

8 e1

I’m so blessed to have such a beautiful family.  I love them so much!! 

Latest Addition

 

april2013 009

Well, Nicholas finally talked us into it : )  Mike searched all over and finally found a hand-fed parakeet for him.  Nicholas named him Lightling and so far he’s been a great bird.  The only one not happy around here now is Cheerio…he’s secretly plotting how he can get his paws on Lightling.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter!!!

 

We had a wonderful weekend starting off with an Easter egg hunt at the park with the ward.  Mike gave a wonderful devotional and the kids got plenty of eggs.  It was cold but the boys ate enough candy to warm them up : )

March2013 088

March2013 093

My dad came down to spend Easter with us.  We’re glad he lives close enough to see us often!!

March2013 099

March2013 100

Check out our handsome boys in their Easter clothes.  They truly are a great joy and blessing to us.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

I’m Two!!!

 

We can’t believe our little boy is 2!  Time flies!!  It was easy to decide the theme for Ryan’s birthday as all he does lately is play with trains.  He knows every Thomas character and most of his conversations involve choo choos : )

Ryanbirthday13 017

Ryanbirthday13 022

We kept the day low key and just had a family day.  It was soooo nice not having a party, it was nice and peaceful!Ryanbirthday13 025

Ryanbirthday13 030

It was nice having Gramie here to celebrate with us.  She and Nicholas had to open most of Ryan’s presents because he got distracted after he opened his first Thomas coloring book.

Happy 2nd Birthday Ryan…you have blessed our lives with your smiles, laughs, and hugs.  We love you!!!!