Birthday at the Farm

Carter turned 4 on Monday. This year was his first official "friend" party. He decided he wanted it at the Farm at Thanksgiving Point. I got online to check out want they had to offer and I also decided that I wanted to have his party at the Farm at Thanksgiving Point. The only thing that was required of me was to get the kids there and pay the money - the rest was planned and provided by them along with a party person on the day of to be incharge (Bonus!!). He invited 7 of his little friends along with his siblings and Sam and Lizzy. On the morning of we packed the cars full of carseats and kids and headed for the Farm. The kids loved it and so did I. Carter chose a 'horse' theme, and got to pick 2 activities from a long list of different ones. He chose face painting and finding candy in a pile of hay. They also brought in a baby goat that the kids could pet and feed. We walked around as a group and looked at all the other animals. They rode the ponies and the wagon. We had yummy cake and ice cream, which was also provided and them opened presents. Here are some pictures from the day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARTER BUG - we love you.

Happy Birthday Carter

This pictures is a few months old, but show a bit of Carters personality (and our dirty rug!!)


Carter turned 4 on June 22. He has been waiting for a while now to turn 4 because we have told him that when he is 4 we will go to Disneyland again. Unfortunately we are not going until October - which for a 4 year old is forever away. I'm sure he will ask us everyday if it is October yet. Carter most defineatly brings humor to our family and we love him so much.



Here's a glimpse of Carter:


Is our only blond haired blue eyed kid

Is witty like his dad

Loves to clean with me

Knew all his sounds and letters before age 3

Favorite saying is "I have a great idea"

Has his dad's cute dimples

Loves to fix things with his tools

Potty trained in one day (at 2 1/2)

He follows Jeff around with his plastic lawn mower the entire time Jeff's mowing the lawn

Loves his grandpa

Loves to play air guitar

Loves to go camping

Has a cute giggle

Always orders chicken and frys and ketchup at a restaurant

Is already starting to read

Is funny and he knows it

At this point in his life he has no concept of what a 'quiet' voice is(along with many other 4 year olds)

Loves to go to Mrs. LaDawn's for preschool

Can't wait till he's 5 so he can have a sleepover and go to Kindergarten

Gives the best 'big hugs'





Happy Birthday Buddy.

Stitches Again

Noah got his 4th set of stitches on Thursday- 3 of which have been in is forehead, the other in his wrist from a pair of scissors. Oh that boy!! He was goofing around upstairs in Carters room with some other kids and somehow crashed his head into the corner of the bunk bed. He came down the stairs crying with a wide open gash on his forehead just below where he had previously had stitches 2 other times. As soon as I saw it I knew we would be heading to the doctor. Noah was crying for Jeff and so I called and he came home from work to take him in with me. Three stitches later he was good as new. Luckily he thinks that scars just make him look tougher. He has more than his share of them.

Out with a BANG

The end of the year (the school year that is) went out with a bang. In one weeks time, school ended, we had a dance recital, piano recital, and that last baseball game of the season. Along with every other parent on Earth we love watching our kids grow, learn, advance and excel.

So I can't believe that Ellie has finished up 2nd grade and Noah's done with Kindergarten. I vividly remember being in 3rd grade, and that is where Ellie will soon be headed. So weird. They are both good little students, each having their own strengths. Ellie LOVES to read and and does it like a champ. Noah definitely has a mind for Math (much like his mommy) and amazes us how his little brain can calculate things much above his grade level. I love that they love school. It will be sad and exciting all at the same time to have 2 in school full time next year. I will miss them both, but I am glad to say goodbye to the annoying Kindergarten schedule (at least for a year).

Noah's Kindergarton program

Ellie and her friend Meghan at the end of the year award assembly

This was Noah's first year of baseball and he, and the rest of us, had a blast with it. Most of the kids on his team ended up being from our neighborhood. It was fun to be able to watch them play together, and fun to sit in the stands with friends and neighbors. Noah's 2 favorite things were batting and the treat that he got from the snack bar at the end of each game (he is no dummy). While in the outfield the boys spent much of them time playing in the dirt and spinning around, but as Noah says, the ball rarely comes to him anyways. How can you argue with that. It was a fun season and we were sad to see it end.

Ellie has been playing the piano for about a year and a half now. I also took lessons when I was younger. It has been fun for me to practice her songs along with her and get a bit of my skills back. At her recital she played "As the Saints go Marching In" and "The Purple Cow". She proved to be quite a little trooper. She had a bit of the stomach flu (or something) that day, but still decided to play. Despite the flu and a bit of nerves she did GREAT! She will continue lessons in the fall along with Noah. Our house should be full of music next year.

Ellie and her teacher

Ellie and her cousin Sam take from the same teacher

To finish out the week Ellie and Noah had their end of the year dance recital. Ellie is in a Jazz class and Noah had his 2nd year of hip hop. Ellie will continue next year with Jazz and Ballet at a new studio closer to our house, and Noah (as of right now) is calling it quits. He is quite the little hip hop dancer, but he is ready to move on to bigger and better things. The items on his list include Karate, Basketball, and Hockey - so we will have to see what the future holds.

So with all of that coming to an end, we will enjoy our short (due to year round school) summer. Now their days will be filled with swimming, sleepovers, camping trips and just being lazy. Hopefully it will stop raining soon so the fun can start!

Leah's first swim

excitment

loves

ready to go

We are lucky enough to have a pool in our neighborhood. All the benefits and non of the maintenance. We took Leah for her first swim a few days ago. She LOVED it, which didn't surprise us. I do believe the girl is part fish. She would spend hours in the bathtub if time aloud.

There is really nothing cuter than a chubby baby in a swim suit. And she is most definitely a chubby wubby. The girl has got some legs on her!

This will be the first of her many many trips to the pool.

Lizzy soaking up some sun

Brotherly Love

All of us adore our little Leah, however Noah and her seem to have a special little connection. The first thing he usually asks when he wakes up or gets home from school is where she is, and as soon as she sees him she squeals with delight. He is always showing concern for her and making sure that she is safe. I am hopeful that he will always be there as her protector. These were some cute pictures of them taken in the last few months.

Good Bye tooth, Hello tooth fairy

Noah actually lost his first tooth on April 22. You could say I'm a bit behind. Better blogging late than never. He pulled it out himself - thank goodness. I have no interest in pulling out any of my kids teeth. The thought of it makes me cringe. He was very excited for the tooth fairy to come. She actually didn't show up the first night he put his tooth under his pillow (whoops - mom of the year award coming my way!!). I explained that she must have had a very busy night and would for SURE come the next night - which she did. He was a bit disappointed that she only left him a one dollar. I told him that even the tooth fairy is cutting back a bit. Plus Ellie and also lost another tooth the same day. The tooth fairy could go broke with this many kids!
So Noah is moving on the big permanent teeth. As a mom I will miss his cute little baby teeth, but they continue to grow and change even if I don't want them to.

He Did It!!

Evidently there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After 2 (long) years Jeff officially graduated from Westminster with his MBA last Saturday. I am proud of all of us. Jeff, for somehow balancing work, school, kids and my demands. The kids, for being understanding of their dad being gone, and for putting up with me and my impatience after 12 straight hours with them and no Jeff. And me for surviving and having a baby in the middle of all of it. Really - why make things too simple??

We took Ellie and Noah to the graduation and left Carter and Leah with Aunt Kerry. Very wise!! It ended up lasting 3.5 hours. Noah looked at me after a few of the speeches were done and asked if it was over. I told him that they still had to call out each persons name. He looked at me like 'you've got to be kidding.' No I was not kidding - and so patiently - with his Nintendo DS in hand he waited as each person received the degree. Even though it was long and painful for them I am hoping it is something they will remember.

We ended that night with an extended family dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory - one of Jeff's favorite restraunts.

We really are so proud of him. He is a great example to our kids. He has always wanted to get his Masters. We decided 2 years ago that if we wait for the time to be perfect it would never happen. We are also very excited to have him done. We survived, but I do believe that one more year of him in school may have thrown me over the edge - haha. We are excited to have one less distraction, however the sacrifice was well worth it.