Austin and Fafa's Birthday Celebration

Bruce and Marianne came for a visit. Along with horseback riding for Audrey, and hibachi, we celebrated Austin and Bruce's birthdays. They were born 1 day apart (with just a few years in-between).
So excited for the cupcake, or the fire, or both.

 

Just a few more candles on Bruce's cupcake. :)

Presents.

Bruce's mom used to make and dip chocolates.  Dave and I found someone here that does it, so we made the center for the mint, and had our friend dip them.  And then we bought more of hers since they were so good.   

Happy Birthday Bruce and Austin!

January's Instagram Pictures

Like I said earlier, I am in love with Instagram.  Get the app if you don't have it already.  I love that I can capture the everyday craziness/magical moments of my little life, with my littles.
January's most exciting piece of happiness:

Joshua is officially a Sunbeam.

*At the car wash.  Daily experience.  We all love having a clean car! Or at least the outside.  *Happy boy! * Two things I love: Costco and sunsets *Fun day at the gym

*Sisterly love.  *Fun afternoon at the park!

*Wide, open spaces *Joshua and I were tired of the usual lunch.  Today was had goat cheese, pesto and tomato panini, salad with roasted almond and feta, and my new favorite Greek yogurt dip.  And a gogurt.  Gotta have the gogurt. *The tooth fairy came to our house last night.  I now have lots of glitter to clean up.  Dang that tooth fairy.  *Having fun with his friends at Ikea.  

*On our way to school this morning.  Audrey's new favorite thing to do is read.  I love it.  *I'm not used to wearing lipstick.  Especially red lipstick . On a Thursday. *I love weekend trips.  They make me want to be a better wife and mom when I get home.  Today I am back to bathing babies and folding laundry.  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  * Little lovie. 

*Library fun *Audrey's cheerleading clinic *Breakfast of champions.  Waffles, oatmeal, and trail mix.  Compliments of Dad, the best breakfast maker  *Dave was teaching Audrey how to do a headstand.  And then showed her by example.  I couldn't stop laughing.  Dave is literally head over heels in love with his little girl.  

*The difference between boys and girls..when Audrey was this age she was terrified with the vacuum.  Austin wants to wrestle with it. * After school snack/craft. *How did this happen? How can I have three kids? I feel like I'm 16 still. *Eating an 11 oz bottle for lunch.  I'd be happy too if someone made and feed me every meal! Why didn't I appreciate that when I was younger.  That and naps. 

*Life is good.  *A new definition of "airplane food" *Makes my heart melt *Makes my heart happy

*Planes, trains and automobiles.  That'w what little boys are made of.  *Hibachi with Memor and Fafa *We are branching out around here.  So tired of old recipes.  Tonight's dinner: coconut curry.  So good! *Some edamame with my boy

 

Audrey and Pete

Audrey has been begging to take horseback riding lessons. Memor and Fafa were coming to visit, so we decided it was the perfect time for her first lesson. 1.28.2012
Everyone loved Pete, the horse.

Lesson time. 

 

 

 

Joshua loved feeding the llamas while we waited. 

 

And since Joshua wants to do everything Audrey does, he got a little turn on Pete. 

 

Good thing he was wearing his boots. 

And good thing Fafa was there to keep Austin warm. 

 

I love this picture. 

 

Audrey & Austin

I'm pretty sure Audrey thinks she is Austin's mom. And I wouldn't want it any other way.
1.8.12

 

Audrey's Cheerleading Halftime

Audrey had a cheerleading clinic one Saturday in January and then got to perform at halftime. She loved it! And it brought back many memories for me as well. Why did I think cheerleading was so great? Kidding, kinda.
Audrey, front and center.

 

  

Austin's Conversation

Austin has having a very animated conversation on his "phone" (Dave's laptop power cord). I wish I could get inside their little heads and figure out what is going on in there.
1.25.11

 

Last Minute Getaway

I have the blessing of having four sisters. Not only are they my sisters, they are my best friends. I am very, very blessed.
Melissa called me one Thursday in January and told me she was going to go visit our other sister, Sara, in Southern California. I got a huge case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). I talked to Dave about it Thursday night, booked a ticket Friday morning, and was on the plane Friday afternoon. I have never done something so spontaneous like that, and it was so fun. Almost too fun. Like, when can I do that again?, kinda fun.
Two of my four sisters.

Sara lives in probably the best place on earth.  Warm weather in January? Yes please.  Driving around, blasting music, sun roof open, on our way to go shopping and the beach?!?!?! Gah.  It makes me drool thinking about it. 

After a day of eating (it's what we do best), shopping (my favorite place? Trader Joe's baby. Seriously.  I need to get out more), we headed to the beach to watch the sunset, and as we all like to say in our family, "solve the world's problems".  

After we figured out how to fix what was broken in our lives, or maybe not fix it, but definitely discuss it, we put on our new MAC lipstick and headed to dinner with Ben.  

Sunday morning we went for a walk (you know, to burn off the 12, 000 calories we had eaten the day before).  Sara lives so close to Rodeo Drive.  And we walked it in our comfs.  Again, I need to get out more. 

 \
Great trip sissies.  So glad another trip is already planned! 

Instagram Is The New Blogger

December's Instagrams

 

Christmas shopping, Visiting Dad at work. Joshua doing his business, It started snowing right as I clicked Austin in after running our errands. Perfect timing! Went home and and enjoyed a cozy afternoon with soup and hot chocolate. It feels like Christmas!, Lazy day watching the snow fall.

Thank goodness for Instagram to capture the everyday little moments I would otherwise forget about 10 minutes later.

Joshua's Four Year Check Up

Today was Joshua's four year check up. He weighed 43.6 pounds and was 43.5 inches tall (both 93%). Practically perfect in every way, just like Mary Poppins.

Jess and Ryan Come Visit

My sister and her husband came to visit in-between Christmas and New Years. It was so fun to have them come! We had so much fun eating hibachi, going to an awesome kickboxing class, doing crafts with Aunt Jess, going swimming, and staying up late playing games.
Uncle Ryan was a fabulous uncle who helped the kids build an igloo. My kids were in heaven! Come again!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's a little hot chocolate without some whipped cream? Or just have the whipped cream.

 

 

 

 

 

New Christmas Traditions

I have the worst memory, so if I want something to become a tradition, I have to write it down so I can check back and remember.
To keep Christ in Christmas, we painted a little "manger" and when the kids did something nice for someone, they got to put a piece of hay in the manger. The goal was to make a nice bed for baby Jesus, which they did.

Squiggles, our new Elf on the Shelf-compliments of D and Grande. He had fun hiding all over the place, and doing a few pranks as well.

Notice no star on the tree? Lame.

Squiggles hanging from the fan.

My friend Brandi, has an amazing tradition with her family and friends that we were privileged enough to be apart of.  She has a girls night a few weeks before Christmas and everyone brings something-a case of water bottles, hand or foot warmers, socks, mittens, hot chocolate packets, mini toothbrushes, etc.  Brandi had bough 80 stockings after Christmas last year and we stuffed all 80 stockings full of these items.  On Christmas day, we drove downtown and handed out the stockings to the homeless people.  It was a great experience for our kids to learn how blessed they are, and to teach them the true meaning of Christmas (and it made for a good laugh when Joshua asked why a pirate came to our car-the homeless person had an eye patch).