Easter Activities...

This week our church had an open house that included an Easter Egg Hunt...Holden was EXCITED, and I felt better because he missed his preschool one due to our traveling...I snapped some pictures before hand...Daniel is wearing the same thing Holden wore his first Easter.  Love his face:-)

He was busy playing with these eggs and basket my mom made Holden last year...They are a big hit...MJ and Holden have hid them all over the house a million times...I am quite sure I will find some hidden well past Easter!

Holden was playing with his trains...I am loving the natural light that comes in our front room! It would does make a great natural light studio!:-)

Lately when I am taking anyone else's photo Holden wants to get in on the action...this is his "pose"...school pictures anyone? LOL I love this kid...

Then Daniel hammed it up trying to get his turn again:-) My boys are so cute!

So after church we had our open house, with food, a bounce house, water balloons, oh and for Daniel...Uncle Rob our good friend who loves our kiddos so much:-)  He was excited Daniel LOVED him...so much he napped on him through most of the festivities...such a sweet time...I've said it before but there is something about watching other people love on your kids:-)

Holden got the bounce house all to himself for a while...he had a blast:-)

Here he is trying to convince his friend Mr. N to come in too...I dont think it worked:-)

Still snoozing with Uncle Rob!

Look how relaxed he is:-)

...And here is MP...She is the only babysitter that Holden has had (besides family of course)  he LOVES her she watched him a few times this summer...and he talked about it for days!  The whole P family is pretty awesome, and she is great we love her!  She is always seeking the kids out and helping them feel more comfortable...Holden is found on her lap often at things that involve LOTS of kiddos...

He woke up!

At long last the egg hunt! This year Holden knew what was in them...and he knew he wanted many...It was fun!

Yesterday was also Tom's birthday, we celebrated with family, and BBQ and a homemade ice cream cake...he was very loved:-) You will have to believe me as I took NOT ONE photo! We love our daddy-o!

Spring in the Desert...

We took a trip, a whirlwind trip...just me and the little boys...WHAT.WAS.I.THINKING...I am SO glad we did it BUT I am so glad to be home!

My oldest and dearest friend April, had a baby boy Feb 24...My sweet roommate from college Jana, had a baby boy in October, another sweet roommate from college Amber, had a baby boy January 2007, and now is due soon with another little baby...My brother and his wife had never met Daniel...although their kids had, and my grandparents, well they have a lot going on and they can't travel anymore. SO why not a trip downsouth? And why not try to do it all? and in 5 days?

5 days...it seems SO long when you are planning and so short when you are doing...just like flying with a 3 year old and a 7 month old SEEM like a good idea, and then the doing...well the 3 year old was a ROCKSTAR!  the 7 month old, not so much...he cried 2/3 of the way down only to fall asleep as we started our descent!  thank goodness for 1.5 hour flights!

SO we arrived in the desert (all the pics are from there...I brought my camera, just did too much visiting and no shooting!  good thing I have the iphone!)

 

Holden jumped right in!  Playing with all grandma's toys...My mom has great toys:-)  He chatted with his great grandparents and was just a great traveler, he is SO fun!  Daniel only wanted to be in my arms, rejected all solid food except for the fried zucchini (don't worry I peeled the breading off!), and gave up sleeping the entire trip.  He still was ready with smiles as long as I was holding him:-)  This is when I really LOVE my carrier!

OK so Daniel slept A.LITTLE.BIT!

Luckily while in the Desert before jaunting over to San Diego we got in a visit to the Children's Museum...Holden talks about this place all the time when we are at home...he has been planning on going since we talked about the trip...He loves the Pizza Parlor, and the Motorcycle, the Pulley, and just looking at all the stuff...

After a couple days in the desert we headed to San Diego. We got to my brother's house everyone else headed out to a baseball game and I headed down to South County to see my friend April and baby Greyson...and of course Justin her husband:-) I love April and Justin, and now of course baby Greyson! We chatted for quite awhile, I love friends that you just sort of start chatting the moment you see them till you have to go...apparently we had so much to say...I did a lot of bouncing and jogging with Mr. D...but the time was so sweet...I am so glad I got to see him at just a few weeks old!

After our visit we headed back up to Matthew and Paula's for dinner where I was informed that when Aunt Paula handed Holden his Sprite, he informed her, "My mom does let me have soda..." and he proceeded to drink my dad's water. Paula later told me she thought she was being so good getting something with no caffeine and no coloring...I am surprised he said anything, because we do give him sips of our occasional sodas, so its not like we don't let him drink any, and we have just never given him a whole one...but I am pretty sure he has never asked for one either...who knows?

He loved the sewing machine and the typewriter...wanted to know how they worked...AND wanted to make the needle go up and down automatically...

The next day we headed back to my folks in the desert by way of Irvine so I could visit with two of my college roommates. It was fun seeing everyone and hanging out...I loved meeting Oslo, and Hayden. Hayden I feel like I know through his mom's blog...so it was fun to finally meet him.

We got to my parents and visited with the great grandparents for a while and then the next day it was time for us to return home...a serious whirlwind...BUT totally worth it to see great friends and family. I love my brother's family and wish we lived closer and could see each other more...I am quite sure Paula and I would hang out often!

I do think it is hard seeing my grandparents age, but the hard part is FAR outweighed by the joy I have in seeing Holden and Daniel with them, and knowing that they have a chance to know the only great grandparents they have.

Grandma is SO fun!

I made some stuff

When Holden was born someone gave us a blanket with his name and birthdate embroidered on it...it is still a prized possesion...so I wanted Daniel to have one...so I made one with Applique...I loved it...it may be a standard gift from now on:-)

My seriously longest known best friend April, had a sweet baby boy:-)  I HAD to make him something...I bought this owl fabric before she was even pregnant...I knew she loved owls:-)  I'm happy with the results...

Like I said standard baby gift:-) Or maybe its not SO standard!

Wordless Wednesday

The start of a garden

This past weekend Tom and Josh worked very hard to build me a garden bed:-) I have wanted one since we moved in and I realized one perk to not having too many mature trees...Sun for a garden:-) At our old house we had the beautiful oaks, but that also meant no full sun and VERY little partial sun...

I thought I was getting a "temporary" bed to see how I did with the whole responsibility of gardening...I don't exactly have a green thumb...:-) But as Josh said...once its in you wont change it...they built a much more permanent one...

In the above picture MJ is taking a little break to apply a little sparkly lip gloss...you don't want to be caught gardening without a little sparkle:-) Holden is helping her:-)

The kids "helped" :-)

Like I said they made it more permanent complete with leveling and all...thanks boys! I hope to share some yummy veggies with you later this summer!

Spring has Sprung!

 

It was such a beautiful day yesterday, and the guys were working hard Beth and I decided to take advantage, get outside and get some needed photos taken for my friend Jen's shop...I snatched some of Beth and Miss A too!  More photos here

Holden wanted in on the photo action...so this is him performing for the camera:-)  Love this boy!

Peek a Boo!

7 Months

Oh goodness really?  He's 7 months already?  It's going too fast!

He is awesome just like his brother we love him to pieces...Here is what 7 months looks like to us!

::Weighs 19lbs and is 29" tall::

::LOVES to eat solids...I gave him a week off and tried again and it's been a big hit since then!::

::Doesn't like avocado!  That's totally unexpected in this house!::

::LOVES prunes!  Go figure::

::Sits up really well now::

::Stands with a little support::

::His belly laugh is the best cure for Mommy's blues::

::Not even close to sleeping through the night...don't ask::

::Puts ALL things in his mouth::

::Still 2 teeth, same since 4 months...but I can totally see his top one about to break through!::

::Loves the excersaucer and the jumper::

I wonder what the next month will bring!

Punte Bella

 

My friend Jen,makes these beautiful hats. She has an Etsy shop. My boys were her models. And now her daughter is a model too! More pictures here!

Sugar and Spice...

 

 I made all my nieces tutus for Christmas:-)  Beth has been wanting to do a photoshoot with the girls in theirs since then...We just got to it!  I LOVE these pictures...Beth likes vintage processing on her photos so that is why most of these are that way..I think it totally works with the tutus...

 

LOVE baby toes...look how Miss A has grown!

  

  

"Woah Tante Anna!  Whatcha doing with that camera!"  Says a shocked Miss A:-)

 

 

"Are you sure I am safe up here?"

  

"You want me to do WHAT?"

  

Again with the toes...killing me!

  

Looking for her mama...can't let her get too far away!

  

  

Um Where did 4 year old MJ go?  She looks older somehow here!  Maybe it's because I mentioned something about a teenage look, and it made her laugh...

  

  

Her dad makes THIS.EXACT.SAME. face!  No joke!

  

Such a sweet moment...and only her mom and I know it is really about big sis being OBSESSED with toe jam! 

  

Again with the moody teenage forshadowing!  

  

  

So beautiful MJ!

  

Love this too!

  

And playing with Holden:-)