A shout out to our roomie...

My college roommate, dear friend and comrade in many shenanigans, Kelli, and her family are in town for the long weekend and we have a message to share with all of you...

Happy Birthday Shelly!!! Today our fun friend turns 30 (lots of 30th birthdays this week)! So, Happy Birthday...we love you and hope to all be together again soon!

Happy Birthday Uncle Ryan!

Today is Uncle Ryan's 30th Birthday!!! Our boys love their Uncle Ryan because he will get down on the floor and play at their level, wrestle, jump on the trampoline, etc. with them. Also, who doesn't love an uncle with a motorcycle? Happy Birthday Uncle Ryan! We love you!

p.s. For those of you who have been asking, we will post the pics of our Southern Cali. family reunion soon.

Goggle Obsession

This week we have attempted swim lessons...it has been fun for the kids and Owen, in particular, looks forward to it every day. He really has come a long way and is so proud of what he can do. The biggest treat of all, however, was on our first day when our friend, Miss Kayde, showed up with goggles for each of the boys. What a hit these have been. Davis calls them his "pilot goggles". These boys wear them all the time...at dinner, to play around the house, to bed...oh yes, they sleep with them. Owen took his off to fall asleep, but not Davis, he even woke up in the middle of the night and asked me to put them back on his face! The funny thing is, they are so fogged up that I really don't think he can see anything out of them. Thank you Miss Kayde for the new goggle obsession!

Sleeping Beauty

Yesterday we spent some time playing at the elementary school, which I would say is about a mile from our home. The kids had fun running on the playground with their friends, Joshua, Caleb and Amelia. We came home and I gave the kids an early lunch, in the hopes that we could run to the post office and grocery store before nap time. Unfortunately Kate didn't make it...For some reason I always feel a little guilty when they fall asleep while eating. Poor little tired girl!

Poison Oak

Almost two weeks ago now. Jed and some of the guys here spent the better part of a Saturday playing paint ball. They had a great time and are already talking about how they are going to go again before too long. It is fun to see Jed excited about something that is strictly just for fun, as he really doesn't have many things that he does just for himself. It must have been a really fun day because even the poison oak that he came home with was worth it, according to him. I am wondering how long he was crouched down/laying in the stuff because he has blistering all up and down his body. His right arm and waist are the worst. I'll post a picture of his arm, but the photo I took of his waist just seemed like it should be for my eyes only! :)

Daddy's Night In

Lately I have been beginning to understand a little better why so many moms experience "Mommy Burnout". I actually have been quite impressed with myself with how easy the transition from two children to three has been...that is until Kate started walking and destroying everything in her path! That being said, yesterday I took the opportunity to take the afternoon and evening off and spend it shopping and eating with two of my friends. We had a great time and it was so rejuvenating for my soul. I love how it feels to come home to my little ones after being away from them. We all seem to appreciate each other a little more. I am not sure, however, that Kate missed me at all. It seems that she had a grand time without me. The way that I understand what happened was as follows: Jed was exhausted after not sleeping well the night before, working all day, picking the kids up, making dinner, cleaning up dinner, cleaning up kids, etc. (are we feeling sorry for Jed yet?), so he decided that he would take a rest for 10 minutes (he swears it was no longer than that) while the kids played. Well, after dinner apparently he had let Owen and Davis chose a treat for their dessert and someone had left a box of chocolates (all individually wrapped in foil) where Kate could reach them. Jed said that he vaguely remembered hearing something about Kate and chocolate, but he was so tired that he didn't really care. So let's explore what a one year old can do with multiple chocolate candies in 10 minutes....try to open chocolate, stick the whole thing in her mouth, eventually spit out a mound of chocolate and tin foil on the wood floor in the kitchen...put more chocolates in her mouth...put chocolaty hands all over the boys "art cart"...more chocolate goes in the mouth, I assume...go climb up on the couch and in the process wipe chocolate everywhere, drool all over darling new outfit...feel bored in the family room, so goes to see what is new and interesting on Davis' bed, thus smearing chocolate all over big brother's bed and pillow...oh, what a mess!!!! Jed says he has never seen Kate so happy! That is my girl, she loves her chocolate. Now who is going to clean up the mess!?!? You gotta love an evening with Daddy!

"The Quiet Game" and "Quiet Time"

The Quiet Game: I am sure that our family was not the only family who played "the quiet game", while I was growing up. Of course I maybe would have argued at the time that my parents had "invented" it. I am sure you are familiar with this one...Mom and Dad are going crazy with the noise in the car on a long trip or something and one of them says, "Hey, let's play the Quiet Game!", as if this is the most FUN game in the world. Then everyone is quiet and just waiting for someone else to giggle or give in and say something. We always loved when my parents would "try" to get us to talk by saying things like, "Anyone who wants to stop for ice cream, say so now!". Now that I have kids who are old enough, this is a family favorite in our car/home too. Owen just loves this game and Davis has become quite good at it himself. So when do you think they will figure out that Jed and I love "The Quiet Game" even more than they do?

Quiet Time: I am sorry to report that Davis very rarely takes a nap anymore and has joined Owen in having mandatory "quiet time" only. Of course I should be more strict than I am and they often open the door and ask the ironic question, "Can we wake up yet?" Every once in a while I will go in and find that Davis has fallen asleep while playing. I love this picture posted above with both Owen and Davis are in Halloween costumes that are way too small and Davis is zonked out. Love it.