Sisters

I only have one and I am so grateful for her. I guess that's why I am so bummed Alexis only has brothers, but hopefully she can be close to her cousins and she will have lots of good friends throughout her life. I just happened to be going through pictures to go back and update my blog and came across this picture of my sis and I that I wanted to post to let her know I miss and love her! And sad we won't get to spend a week at the beach together since she has to sit home pregnant with her 3rd girl.

Gratitude

I am horribly behind on blogging with many posts left incomplete. I seem to either live on my computer "working" or at my craft table "working". It seems as if nothing is ever complete and I am falling way behind on all that I need to do. In the midst of the holidays creeping closer and closer every day I find that if I don't take a moment each day to find the joy and happiness in my life it too may slip right by.

Every day I take at least a few minutes to "blog hop" and am continually inspired by what I find. I am grateful for those who inspire me (most of whom I have never even met). The most important thing I have found lately are posts on gratitude. I found this link which is fabulous and thought I would share. Before the Christmas season starts to consume us let's all take some time each day to remember all that we are thankful for.

Firestation

To save some money I got together with a few other moms and we formed our own preschool. We all take a week and it's 2 days for 2-1/2 hours. This week they were learning about firetrucks and Rene organized a field trip to the firestation. The boys had a blast to say the least and all of us tagged along to enjoy it with them. There is almost nothing better than the wonderful firemen who are so willing to make the little kids feel so special and important.

Our Supermodel

I know I shouldn't brag, but she is mine and she is beautiful, and I am lucky that I got at least one daughter! We were messing around with the camera trying to get some pictures of my hair clips and I just loved some of these pictures of Alexis. So yes I put them on my blog so I could remember that at least once in awhile she obliged us and cooperated and I am glad that I have them.

Another tootless wonder

I love when kids start to lose their first teeth. Of course then all the big ones start to go and their mouths have to go through a "transition" and sometimes it's a little silly looking, but still I do love it. Of course it's a little hard when you realize it's one more thing that puts them on the road of starting to grow up. For me, I seem to be in denial until next thing you know they really aren't babies anymore. Anyway, the picture's aren't the best we have of Collin since we were trying to play with the lighting on the camera and focusing on the teeth and him, etc. We still have lot's of practice to go, but it's fun to work on.

Beach 2009

Slade loved posing for pictures in all the trees around.
Our little beach babe! She could live at the ocean all day every day.

Slade's favorite beach buddy (Papa)!

Slade and Gia playing with the sand crabs.

Collin and Alexis could spend the day boogie boarding...

It sure is nice seeing your kids working together and getting along

(especially when it doesn't happen that often!)

I begged and pleaded and invited myself along with my parents to the beach this summer. They go to Carlsbad twice a year and the first week they took Collin and Alexis and the second week me and the kids joined in. With the heat being unberable in AZ in the summer it was all I could do to get out of dodge permanently.

The week was so much fun living at the pool and beach all day every day. We even drove down to La Jolla and watched the seals and looked for crabs. And of course went to San Diego and ate at Anthony's on the water. YUM! It was so hard to come home especially knowing that school was going to start the day after we got back. At least we enjoyed it while it lasted!

Happy 4th Birthday Logan

What a sweetheart! Logan is by far our most challenging child, but at the same time our most loveable (at least this week.) Actually we just feel that Logan is just plain full of life. He is by far our least shy child and such a ball of fire sometimes. He wants everyone to know he is now 4 and doesn't hesitate to tell anyone his name. Logan hates to sleep and tries everything he can to stay up and party. He is also usually the first one up in the morning and when he's up he thinks everyone should be up too. (VERY frustrating, and no one but Paul and I seem to complain!)

Logan also LOVES going to "Big" primary. He sits in the front row and sings his little heart out. He has been begging to go to big school like Collin and Alexis and can't stop asking if his turn is tomorrow.