Turkey Day

We all hope that everyone had a blessed, yummy Thanksgiving! I did these little videos with the kids a couple years ago, so I thought we'd do it again. Oh, how they are older and wiser.

Kindergarten Graduation Video

Back to July

Last July was busy for us. Coy turned six, we celebrated the Fourth of July, Coy graduated from preschool, Christian went to his first summer camp, and we took a trip to Santa Barbara. Lots of fun memories.

Blog Ignored

Just out of complete boredom, and the fact that I was trying to escape the lovely squeals of John belting out Showboat, I stumbled onto this old blog. I almost forgot I had it. I think I stopped making posts back in July because of many reasons. I had nothing interesting to say, I had way too many pictures to post (like I really have to post them all), and because once school started, I blinked and three months flew by. I forgot that I like perusing other blogs, especially when the husband is pretending to be a dashing young 1930's actor belting out show tunes. So, I'm going to make an effort to get up to date with the goings-on of the family. I have enough I want and need to read in real life, and I'm sure the feeling is mutual, so words will be few and pictures will be plenty.

Babies in a Tub

This is a little difficult to see, but the frame is so wide; it was the best I could do to show the whole picture. This was a birthday present I got for my mom this year. She has had these pictures of her grandkids laying around for a while. I'm not sure how this tradition started, but after I had Christian's picture taken in a little tub, Bethany and I had all the kids take one at around 9 months old. My mom had tried to display a few of them in her powder room bathroom with several different frames, but it looked a little cluttered. I searched and searched for one single frame that had eight 5x7 openings to display all of her "lambies." I found a seller on Etsy who will basically make any kind of frame you want. It's a white-washed, cottage kind of frame, and it looks really cute in her beachy bathroom.

The Big 3-O!!!

John turned 30 in June, and I attempted to throw my first surprise birthday party. John's mom and sister were able to come into town which made it extra special. He was actually completely surprised, which means he is really oblivious. It's true what they say; guys get better looking with age. I'm going to have to lock him in the house when he's 40. I love my John!!!

Visit From the Toof Fairy

Coy has waited a long time to lose his first tooth. It's hard having a big brother who gets regular visits from the tooth fairy. He finally lost his first last week, and John promptly misplaced it as it flew across the room when he was helping Coy yank it out. Good thing we have the tooth fairy's phone number; it's right there in our contacts after Santa. She assured Coy that these things happen and not to worry; her magic can instantly find his tooth in that crazy high carpet. So, after begging to go to bed and coming into my room at 2 am and 4am, letting me know there was nothing under his pillow yet, he woke up in the morning to find a dollar bill under his pillow. He was thrilled. The hard part came when we found the tooth a few days later. He couldn't understand how he could still have his tooth and the dollar. Lucky for us, a quick "don't worry about" satisfied his questioning.

Christian Turned 9!!

I know I say this every time I make any kind of a post about one of my kids' birthdays, but I can't believe my baby is so grown up! Christian turned nine the beginning of June, and we had a fun time celebrating a couple of times; birthdays seem to last a week around here.

Instead of a party, Christian decided he wanted to stay at a hotel overnight with a couple of his friends and hang out at the pool. So, we stayed at Mandalay Bay, and they have a really huge pool/beach area where the kids had a blast. I've heard for a long time that it was really cool, but this was the first we'd been there. They have a huge wave pool, a lazy river, pools and jacuzzis and a beach area. The best part of the adventure was the 40 times I was asked by total strangers at Mandalay Bay if all five kids were mine. I must be a very busy woman.

On his actual birthday, we went to the Shark Reef and had a family birthday party at home. I get a kick out of my first born baby everyday. It's a trip watching him grow up so fast. Love that boy to death.

Christian with his friends at Mandalay Bay

Spending the night at the hotel

Christian with Grandpa Tony and Nana

Coy really got into singing "Happy Birthday" to Christian.

Christian with Uncle Jay and Aunt Katie

Corinne and mommy time

I love the splash pad at Town Square. There's always some annoying kid around to punch and kick the fountains so all the parents get soaked too. At least it cools you down.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Kissin Cousins

I forgot about some cute pictures from the short trip we took to Yuba City to visit my sis and her fam. My mom and dad were already visiting my sister for her birthday, and the kids and I decided to just show up and say "surprise!" I don't think in any other situation I would come visit without it being prearranged, but this time seemed like a good idea. The kids had fun, I chopped 10 inches off of my hair, and we experienced 3 days straight of rain. Lots of fun.

Corinne and Gracelynn

All Eight Cousins

Eli

Jackson

My dad and the kids

Me with my head feeling a lot lighter (John still hasn't recovered, and this was in April).