Newport Beach 2011

It was a heavenly vacation.
I should have posted about it weeks ago.

I've been busy, busy over at my Orange Tree Papers site!
Check out the new facebook page here.
Redesigned the blog a bit too.

Anyway, here are some pictures from our 9-day escape to Southern California.

Great times.
Great friends.
Great memories.


This was my view from my chair.
I couldn't think of a better way to spend the week.
The kids loved going out on the rock wall and spotting crabs, starfish, etc.



Lily and her cousin Abby



All the kiddos.
Dave would dig a giant hole for them everyday.
They loved it.



They found a sand crab.
Poor crab.
Pretty sure he's passed on.  RIP.



Sweet Benson.



Surfer dude.
Huggies can hold some serious liquid.



This little man played a trick on me and was hiding in the sand.
He had the hat and sand strainer strategically placed over his face by his Daddy.
I was looking for him and standing right on his body.
He didn't even laugh or make a peep!
Little trickster.



The kiddos will all their loot outside the Balboa Island candy store.




Me and my man.



The babes.



On the Balboa Island Ferry.



We met up with my parents for the last two days of our trip in Hermosa Beach, CA
My older brother lives - about 100 meters from the beach.
Can you spell J.E.A.L.O.U.S??
I can't even imagine.

Here is a picture of Lily & Nana.



Cannon running.
I was afraid he'd fall on this pathway from the beach to Casey's place.
He did.
Skinned his knee pretty good.
Oh well.
At least he had fun running.



How lucky am I?
Could I have more handsome boys?



Uncle Casey playing some beach volleyball.



His sweet girlfriend Helen.



So much fun with my family.
Can't wait until next year.

Benson walks!

Dave and I leave for a few days and this is what we come home to . . .

Do we seem a little excited?

I can't believe it!

He's not a baby anymore.

My favorite part?

Lily videoing on one phone, while Daddy videos on the other.

We love you Bens.

lucky

Lucky me.

I have such talented friends.

The least of which, is the amazing Pied Piper.

We were due for some family pictures, and she captured my little babes perfectly.

You can check out her blog post with some pictures here.

I had to include a few of my favorites on this post . . .

Thanks Lindsay!

We love you!

neighborhood 5k

This weekend I got to participate in my neighbor, Spencer Zimmerman's eagle project.

It was a 5k race to raise money for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

It was a perfect Saturday morning activity!

If you need a good cry - watch this video about my amazing neighbors:

Dayton's Legs

Here are a few pictures from Dayton's Dash.

Some taken by Amy Fraughton Photography and others by Lindsay Brummer Photography!

Glad these fabulous photographers were there to get photos of this fun event!

Spencer pushing Dayton at the start of the race.

(lindsay brummer photography)

Crossing the finish line.

(lindsay brummer photography)

Hugs from my family.

As soon as I finish a race I'm immediately looking for Dave and the kiddos.

The race isn't complete until I see them!!

(amy fraughton photography)

My cheerleaders.

Cutest cheering section I've ever seen.

(amy fraughton photography)

Thanks Spencer for a great activity!

What a great idea for an Eagle Project.

He raised over $2300 for the foundation!

hairs and lucky

We cut Benson's hair for the first time.

That first trimming always makes me sad.

They keep happening earlier with each baby!

Dave doesn't have any tolerance for long scraggly hairs.

Looking back at old baby pictures of Cannon I realize we should have cut his much earlier.

Glad my husband knows what is best.

Here is a before picture of Benson.

Hard to tell, but he had this long patch going on it front.

Here he is checking on the new hair in the mirror.

He seems quite enamored with himself.

Here he is just being precious and cute.

As usual.

All three monkeys.

Best buddies.

Two still in their jammies.

Wish I looked that cute first thing in the morning.

I am lucky.

And so in love.

With Dave, and my babies.

holiday

What a fun holiday season!

We found out in the middle of November that my parents had sold their house in Missouri. They were scheduled to close on January 5th and move to Arizona!!

They bought a house here two years ago, so they will be moving into that house about 5 miles away from us.

That news was the best Christmas present we could imagine!

We decided that we wanted to head back to Missouri so I could see the house I grew up in one last time.

We were flying out on Christmas day so we had the kids open presents on Christmas eve morning.

Since we were leaving we talked to Santa and asked him to come early. He agreed.

It was fun watching the kiddos get so excited!

Here is a picture from the morning with Mimi & Papa (they stopped by for a quick visit).

Don't the kids smiles look so natural?

Here is Daddy putting together Lily's new "big girl bike".

Lily entertaining Benson while Daddy puts her bike together.

The next day we flew to Missouri and had Christmas with my family.

My Aunts/Uncles/Grandparents live about 2 1/2 hours from my hometown so we stayed the night there.

Great-Grandmother made these blankets for all of us.

When we got back to my hometown there was snow and the kids were so excited to play in it.

Luckily Uncle Chance aka "Super Uncle" was there to entertain them in the snow for a bit.

The kids had SO. MUCH. FUN. with Chance.

Here are a few shots of them decorating a gingerbread house with him.

My grandmother helping Cannon.

Let's be honest, he was more into eating than decorating.

We always laugh about this fake smile that Lily does, Chance has the imitation down pat!

Who can lay there and pretend they are dead the longest.

Best game ever.

The kids got pretty good at it.

I wish they would play that game for me.

Only for Uncle Chance.

My Aunt Ginny, and my grandparents came up for my birthday (I turned 31 and Dave turned 37 in December).

Great-Grandmother, Lily & Benson

Aunt Ginny and Mr. Benson. Poor little Benson had a rough trip.

He did ok the first few days, but by the end, he was ready to get home and get back into a routine.

We had so much fun in Missouri.

It was bittersweet to leave my house for the last time, but so fun to start a new chapter with my parents here in Arizona!!

My parents begged to drive from Missouri to Arizona with my older kiddos (yes, you read that right), so Nana, Poppy, Lily & Cannon arrive here in Arizona tomorrow!

very very merry

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Neighbor gifts are done.

I enjoy putting them together with Dave every year.

I love how much he helps me with them.

Don't hold your breath waiting for a Christmas card from us.

I was busy with Orange Tree cards, so it's gonna be a valentine card from us again this year.

For now you'll just have to enjoy the holiday card that was attached to our neighbor gifts . . .

Hope your Christmas is wonderful!