Stella Turns One

Happy Birthday Dear Stella!

We had a small but memorable First Birthday Party for you.

Of course the best part was your cake that you got to devour.

You had no problem knowing how to eat it but keeping in true Stella Style you didn't eat too much and you ate it slowly.

So now you're one year old but this is still your favorite cupboard.

You've started watching, more dancing to Dora.

And you always have a "kracka" in at least one hand.

Happy Birthday Stella!

We love you!

One More Day

 

I love this darling little thing!

And I do mean little.  She's the smallest baby we've had and she still is.

This was her last day before she turned the big 1 year old.

I just can't get enough of that smile.

Nerds

When this school year started, I had a bunch of cute kids with bright eyes and white teeth.

 

Then somehow during the school year they all evolved into kids with braces and glasses.

 

But somehow they manage to pull it off and not look like nerds.

In fact they look adorable!

 

New Chicks

 

No matter how many times we get new chicks it never gets old watching them chirp around.

Merry Christmas!

It wasn't a big Christmas but it was Stella's first Christmas.

The most important part was that Papi made it home.

 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Traditions Fa La La La La

Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la la la!

Tis the season to make cute hot chocolate snowmen for teachers and friends.

fa la la la la la la la la

Now we get to see the Temple lights

fa la la la la la la la la

Papi even made it home

fa la la la la la la la la

 

Then there's the Nativity with the cousins

fa la la la la la la la la



 

Oh I wish the season would never end

fa la la la la la la la la!

Jingles

Can you believe the crazy things our elf, Jingles has been doing?

Yummy chocolate dipped Joe Joes he worked all night on

Selfies on all our phones and the computer

A early morning yoga

He even drew reindeer noses on the kids while they were sleeping,

wrapped their doorways to their rooms in wrapping paper so they couldn't get out

and came in on a wrecking ball!

 

He cracks me up!

Keep it up Jingles!

Last Christmas Sing

So bittersweet!

They are all growing up.  While I'm having such a blast with their big kid personalities it's hard to say goodbye to what was.  This year is the last Winter Sing where these four all get to be in it together. Isabel was the only one who wanted to go but I made them.  It was the last one!

We couldn't leave out the selfie on a big night like this, in the car, on the way to get ice cream.  Don't worry, I was at a red stoplight when we took it.

Nutcracker

Isabel had a blast in the Nutcracker this year.  She got to be a mouse in the battle scene.

It was fabulous!  You did wonderful, Isabel!!

Mine are Nine

Nine years ago today these two sweet baby boys were put in my arms.  First, DJ then AJ.  They were the cutest boys I had ever seen.  It was love at first sight.  Now they're nine! Half my time of having them is gone.  I'm not ready for them to grow up yet.

But the birthday was fun!  Grandma and Grandpa treated them to Amazing Jakes where they could play arcade games and ride rides to their nine year old hearts' content.  I even got them all out of school early to go.  Know what I put down as their reason for leaving?  "It's their birthday."  Just wait until the school finds out I did their homework for them today too.

This is my attempt at making a baseball and a football out of one mix and cupcakes.  Don't judge! I'm sure they tasted better than they looked.  

This birthday would not have been as great if it weren't for Grandma and Grandpa hooking them up.  If I were doing a month of thankfulness, like everyone else, today I would say I am thankful for grandparents...and twins.  They are both awesome!

Happy birthday boys!!  I love you!

Softball Sweetheart

Guess whose softball team is in the finals?

Not bad for her first season of ball.

A few things about Stella

She'll be 10 months in a few days. 

She's finally getting a little but if hair. Or as AJ said, "Awe, she's getting her curls."

I am remembering what moms of small children do all day.  Every. Single. Day. 

It's wonderful! I'm happy to clean up her baby messes because I'm just happy she's here with us. 

Halloween

We had: Penelope Von Sweets, a headless man with his head in a jar, a nerd, a cow girl, and a clown. I can't believe we made it through. Now on to some slowing down and being grateful time before the big holiday hits. 

Beach Gymnastics

Just a little yoga gymnastics on the beach.

The weather was perfect so I felt like a kid and had to get my energy out somehow.

Then Alexandria joined me because it was fun.

Happy Birthday Isabel!

My gorgeous girl just turned seven! This year she got her own friend party. The boys didn't want a Halloween party so we cancelled our annual tradition for something different. 

I'm afraid to admit it but I think it's getting easier. All of my kids helped to put the party together. It made it so getting everything ready was almost as fun as the party. Alexandria was in charge of the Gory Guessing Game. AJ helped clean off the patio. DJ and Isabel made the goody bags. And Stella was just happy to be a clown. 

Isabel here's some things I want to remember about you from this year:

You are a great big sister! You were so excited to have a baby in our family that you gave up your room and moved in with your big sister. Then once Stella was here you made up stories and played with her to keep her entertained. 

Your favorite color has always been and still is purple. 

Often I have to remind people how young you are because you seem so grown up. And you're really tall, as tall as your 8 year old brothers, so people think you are older. 

You like going over to Grandma's so you can hang out with Grandpa. He might be one of your favorite people. 

I'm so glad you were home with me for half the day during kindergarten. I loved having Isabel mommy time. You weren't demanding but you were always excited to do stuff together. 

I can always count on you for a hug and a beautiful smile. 

I love you! And I'm so super glad that you are a part of our family.

Happy birthday beautiful!!

Bad parenting skills but a blast

DJ left his lunch at home today. I had extra time so I thought it would be fun to go eat lunch with him and AJ and maybe take them ice cream. What am I teaching my kids? Leave lunch at home = ice cream and lunch with Mom? Not the best parenting technique but definitely a fun one. 

Since Papi isn't home everyone had to go to Alexandria's softball game. Luckily there is a park for the kids. Stella had a blast. We had a blast watching her enjoy the swings. Isabel's hair blasted off on the slide. 

Sleep Tight Little Ones

Don't let him fool you. It's not a brotherly love thing that has him sleeping by his twin. It's more of a "I'll sleep in his bed so I don't have to make mine in the morning" kind of thing. Still cute though. 

The End of California

Goodbye Capistrano Beach!  We will miss you! Eventhough your deceivingly cool sun left its nice red touch on my legs, we still want to come back. 

Next stop...Hollywood! 

Can you tell what our movie stars are? And who told this girl she could grow up?