Photo Shoot

By the time you read this Aunt Roxanne and the cousins are already tucked safely in their beds back home in Washington, but on their last night with us my dear friend Brittany was so kind as to come over and do a photo shoot. Some are silly, some are sweet, but all I will cherish. (Aunt Kimmy's kids are thrown in the mix, too.)

More Fun with the Cousins

The cousins came back for dinner tonight! We had chicken tortilla soup, cornbread, and chocolate lave cakes. The best part was that I had it all ready before 5:00, so I was actually able to sit down and visit this time! A very nice feeling indeed. Aunt Kimmy surprised us with a drop-in visit with her two little ones and ended up staying for dinner as well.

Rumor has it these two look alike. =)
Beautiful baby Cali, who's just one month older than Anthony.
The boys building a Lego tower taller than Aunt Roxanne!
Just try getting these three busy girls to turn around for a picture.
And what's a get-together without a little piano music being banged out in the background?
It sure was great to get all these guys together again. We are going to miss you so much- have a safe flight home.

It's Official!

Cousins Part II

Today we enjoyed lunch with the cousins at a park in El Dorado Hills. The best part about this day was the weather! Sunny and 72 in February? Only in California, thank you. =)



This guy's classic pose: one slobbery sock in hand.
Jim and Robin barbecued up some turkey dogs alongside chips and homemade macaroni salad. I brought the dessert- pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes with cream cheese frosting... mmm!


The girls opted to eat their lunch in the sunshine.
I love how Rachel carefully aligned herself alongside Reagan for this pose!
YES, these are all our kids! Eleven total. Quite the posterity if I do say so myself. =)

What are the Odds...?

Remember this post over a year ago about the diamond and aquamarine anniversary earring Kaitlyn lost in our backyard? As luck would have it, today Ashlee found it!! Apparently she was standing on a chair in the backyard admiring the tulips when something shiny and partially covered in the dirt caught her eye. Low and behold it was the long-lost earring! She brought it inside and presented it to me in my bedroom, after which I wasted no time getting it scrubbed up and shining again. The aquamarine stone did lose some of its color, but it feels so good to be wearing a set I never thought I'd wear again! I didn't even take them off to go running today. =) I think of all the rain, sun, heat, wind, water, and gardening it must have weathered, and how it still came back to me, and it makes me have a deeper appreciation. I think this set of jewelry will have even more sentiment than it did before.

What are the odds?

Look What Daddy Brought Home!

The Cousins are Here!

It's been 2 years since I've seen my sister and her 5 kids, and last night they flew in from Washington! We are so excited.
Never a happier sight than this bunch gathered in my living room!
Kaitlyn and Reagan hit it off immediately. It's funny how they all paired off by age.

How we really look in the kitchen:

And what we'd like you to think we look like in the kitchen:

And what else do you do with a group of 10 kids other than give them all a ball of dough and let them make homemade pizzas?
Anthony found his serenity away from the madness in the lap of Grandma.
It was a fun night... we can't wait til you come back for more!

Noah Turns 6!

This year was cool because we got to celebrate Noah's birthday AND have his party on the same day. It's always nice when it works out like that =)

After finishing his breakfast of french toast, Noah brought his plate into the kitchen and asked, "Mom, can we talk about my birth now?" I have made the tradition of reliving my children's births with them on their birthdays, and this is something they have come to look forward to.
A pinata, by special request. Noah and Kaitlyn had fun filling it this afternoon.
A game of balloon toss: we had to make it a little more challenging by saying the kids could use their heads and feet only to keep their balloons off the ground. Noah won round two.


Some would say this cake was more for me than the birthday boy; let's just say I did a little persuading =)
Happy Birthday my sweet Noah bear! You have brought us 6 years of joy.