Happy Birthday Emma

My little girl turned 6 this week. I love this girl. She is such a light in our lives. Here are a few things about Emma to help us remember what she loved when she turned 6!

Favorite Food: Lemon Pepper Shrimp Pasta (her request for b-day dinner)

Favorite Colors: orange and blue

Favorite Movie: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Favorite Things to Do: Gymnastics and Soccer and anything with her sister

We love you Emma! Happy Birthday!

Disco Girls

I really couldn't look at those hot dogs anymore. I mean, I don't have to relive it every day, do I? Anyway, here's a better picture to look at. My little disco girls. The girl's school had Disco Bingo Night a few weeks ago. We all got decked out (unfortunately we don't have a photo of Justin in his yellow polyester glory and me in my sweater dress and go-go boots.) We ended up winning a free dinner at Giant Burger (such good onion rings) for the Best Dressed Family so I guess it was worth it. Actually we all had a great time even if I couldn't walk for a few days after all that dancing in my high-heel boots.

High Class!

I don't want to make you jealous of what we had for dinner the other night but . . .

(I am really not sure what Emma is wearing in this picture, think it's a skirt pulled up . . .)

That's right folks, spaghetti dogs. So when you're in the need for a really fancy dish for a dinner party, please don't forget this post :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Feeling Grateful

This morning I am feeling grateful for many things, some of which are . . .

- sunshine and 55 degrees in February

- walking in my neighborhood with Davis in the stroller pointing out every car and dog that passes

- an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my healthy and safe children

- Grape Nuts with bananas and (a few) chocolate chips - oh come on, you know it sounds good to you too!

- good books to read - now reading A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg (it's fantastic)

- good movies - watched Whip It again this past weekend (I realize roller derby is not for everyone - I happened to love it!)

- everything else that I don't have time to list because I now have to go clean up the Kix that Davis has dumped out and stomped on while I was writing this post, which leads me to one last thing I am grateful for - a clean house (not that I have one but if I did, I would be really grateful for it)

What are you grateful for this morning?

Living by Family!

For the last almost 3 years we've been lucky enough to live in Portland, right down the road from Justin's brother and his family. Our kids are all almost the same age and after 4 years in San Francisco (where we had no family), it's been so great to live by them. Justin and his brother are both residents together at OHSU and will both finish at the same time. Although it's not time to say goodbye yet, I am already getting melancholy thinking about possibly not being able to be their neighbors anymore. Our kids have so much fun together and have really grown up together the past 3 years. Here are some highlights over the past few years. We love you guys!

Oaks Park

Picnics at Cannon Beach

Easter Egg Hunts

Lots of hiking and being silly

Pumpkin Patches

First days of school - Emma and Alice got to go to 2 yrs. of preschool together

Sleepovers

Newport Beach

Camping trips

We love you guys!

Better late than never . . . right?

I know that no one even noticed that I didn't post "first day of school" pictures of the girls, especially since I didn't notice until just now. I also know how incriminating it is to be posting them now, in January, as opposed to just not posting them at all. But I think they're cute. And I want them on here. So, here they are!

Emma - First day of Kindergarten - 5 years old

Abby - 1st day of 2nd Grade - 7 years old

(she started a day before Emma)

See, at the rate I'm going, I might just post Christmas pictures by next Halloween!

It was one year ago today . . .

. . . that our trusty (ha ha) old Jeep went up in flames. We actually kinda miss the thing. Justin still thinks we could have saved it :) May it rest in peace (and pieces).

Where are my keys?

This is a question that I usually ask myself a few times a day. But I usually find them a minute later in my coat pocket or in their usual spot on the kitchen counter. The longest I've ever lost my keys was 3 days. I looked everywhere. I found things I hadn't seen since we moved here almost 3 years ago. I found about $5 in change, but no keys. Until Davis and I went to play with the ball popper and the balls wouldn't come out. Now I know just where to look when my keys are lost.

Soon to come: Christmas photos and many other catching-up photos!

Halloween . . . Finally!

I knew I had to get these on the blog before Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a great Halloween. Justin laughs at me for saying that it is one of my favorite holidays, but it just is. I love it! I love the costumes, the decorations, the trick or treating, the Snickers, all of it. We had a great one this year. The girls are still young enough to love trick or treating and old

enough for us not to have to remind them to say thank you after each house. Here are a few pictures from the big night.

My little witches getting ready for trick or treating

Me and the Wizard

Yes, the legs were a little short when he's sitting down but I mean really, have you ever seen a cuter little lion, I couldn't stop squishing his little face!

Yes, it's true, I do get to cuddle him all day!

So, I do realize looking at this picture that Davis looks a little out of place . . .

Hope you all had a good one!

A few recent gems . . .

I know I really should be posting Halloween pictures on here and I will get to that. But I wanted to share a few of the many crazy things that come out of Abby's mouth on a daily basis. That girl seriously cracks us up.

Abby: But Mom, you and Dad can just leave us here while you go out. We don't need a babysitter.

Justin: What would you do if we left you here alone? (don't worry, he wasn't really considering it, just curious what her answer would be)

Abby: (shrugging her shoulders) I dunno, probably just dance on the tables naked.

Okay, I must say here that she has never seen either of us do that or, to my knowledge, seen that in any movie or T.V. show. I don't know where she comes up with this stuff. We got a babysitter by the way!

Next one:

Lanie: Abby, I really want you to take it easy today so you can get better soon!

Abby: (looking at me with a bored look) Really Mom, I thought I was going to an Extreme Tree-Climbing Competition today.

Thanks for always making us laugh Abby!

The Little Big Man Turns 1 !!!!!

Our little guy turned one this past week. Wow, I know it's so cliche, but it went by so fast. He went from being the most cuddly, squishy, calm little thing to being a big crazy 1 year old with so much funny personality. We have had the best year with you Davis. You keep us busy and laughing all day long. We are so grateful to have you in our family - we love you Davey-doo! Happy Birthday!