Our Cub Scout

I am so behind on blogging and have so much to share!  But I couldn't let tonight go by without sharing Nolan's news.  He is joining cub scouts!  He is really excited about it and can't wait to earn as many badges and awards as he possibly can.  Ryan and I are very excited for this new venture.  He already feels so important -- like he has this great duty to achieve.  We gave him his new uniform today and he's been walking around doing his "scouts honors" and vowing to do his best at everything (except vegetable eating of course).

He's so handsome is his new uniform!

Our little man!  We're so proud!

A Sunday Night Cool Down

We took the kids to the clubhouse tonight for a swim.  It was another hot day.  Kendyl and I decided to take a dip too.  Kendyl loves her baths so it was no surprise that she loved the pool too.  It was my first swim this year.  I wasn't too excited to squeeze back into my swim suit nor expose my whiteness from lack of sun all season.  But I did and it wasn't so bad after all.  Here's to another week.  It will be a short one.  We leave for Sea Ranch on Thursday!  Can't wait!

Our four kiddos

Mama and her wee one

Just like Happy Haidyn, we have a Happy Kendyl

Haidyn still loves to catch air! Especially when it lands in a SPLASH!

The big kids.

Miss blue eyes.  Kendyl gets lots of comments on her crazy hair and bright blue eyes.  

Happy again!

I think Daddy likes tossing her around (in an evil sort of way)

ENJOY YOUR WEEK!

Sugary Afternoon

It was so nice to have a long weekend.  Yesterday, we claimed it family day but couldn't decide what to do.  Ryan suggested Apple Hill and everyone cheered!  So off we went.  I purposely left my camera behind.  I wanted to play with my kids yesterday and not just watch them play though the lens of my camera. (although, I was thinking about my camera a lot and wishing I had brought it)  So without any photos to share, here's the gist of our amazingly, yummy trip to Apple Hill.

1 dozen apple donuts

1 candied apple with sprinkles

1 caramel apple

1 caramel marshmallow stick

1 homemade candle (by Haidyn) with bubble gum scent

2 face paintings

1 bucket full of apples

2 bbq tri-tip sandwiches

6 bottles of water

1 square of pumpkin fudge

$ .50 for petting zoo food

It was an afternoon packed full of clear blue sky, fresh air and lots of sugary treats.  Maybe that's why Nolan got sick at bedtime.  He seems fine this morning so I'm sure it was from the overwhelming consumption of sugar.  We are bloated and feeling a little sluggish today - but it was worth every bite!

Now -- what to do with all of these apples...

  

When It's Hot!

If you're ever stuck inside when it's 104 degrees outside, 

try this...

If you didn't quite catch it, that's our cat, Antonio being a good sport.

The New Ashlee

Miss Ashlee had been complaining about headaches.  After being fed up with her complaining of yet another one of her ailments, we finally decided maybe she wasn't crying wolf after all.  Lo and behold, our baby girl needed glasses!  

So, here she is.  They suit her well.  Don't you think?

ADORABLE!  

LOVING HER NEW LOOK!

2 months old

Kendyl Rose is 2 months old today!  

Haidyn's First Day of Preschool!

Today was Haidyn's first day of preschool!  She was so excited and so anxious.  I woke up to find her sitting at the top of our stairway.  She was dressed, had her backpack on and she was holding a brush and some hair ribbons.  

"I'm ready for school mom!  Can you do my hair like Ash?"  

She looks up to Ashlee so much -- it's cute.

She's a big girl!

Haidyn and Alexis (who I do daycare for)

Haidyn, Miss Tracy and her classmates

Penngrove and a New Toy!

Ashlee, Kendyl and I headed out west to Penngrove, to visit my grandparents yesterday.  My Grandpa is not doing so well -- we were long overdue for a visit.  It's such a relaxing drive and so beautiful out there.  I love the endless vineyard covered rolling hills.  It's even more breathtaking in the fall when all the leaves are changing color.  I really miss Sonoma County and it's calm.  It was nice to go back home again.  I wish I would have taken more photos to share.

While we were there, we scored Grandpa's old food dehydrator!  Grandpa used to make the BEST beef jerky for all the grandkids but now he is too weak to conquer such a task.  We are going to give it our best!  But first, Ashlee and I decided to make some yummy snacks for this week's lunches.  First in the making are nectarine fruit rolls.  Secondly, we added some apples to the bottom racks.  We'll let you know how they turn out.  We are so excited for our new toy!

Hungry!

Miss Smiley!

Why We Love Cool, California

Today we drove out to see Ryan's parents (Papa Dennis and Gramma Jan) in Cool.  It was far from cool out there today though.  It was hot.  The kids just love going up there!  They love to run around on the property and feel the sense of freedom.  There are no fenced in 20 x 30 yards in Cool.  It's country at it's best!  It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  We feel relaxed and ready for our crazy week -- in the suburbs.  (sigh....)

Why we love Cool, California...

Papa and Gramma live there!

The trees have personality.

You find color bursting everywhere.

You find houses waiting to become homes.

Mario is there and ready to play and cuddle.

We get to sit back, chat and eat while the birds do the same.

The kids can climb trees!

and feel proud when they reach their 'goal branch'.

Gramma takes us on walks.

We can play on the grass and pose for a picture!

Happy Sunday everyone!  Enjoy your week!

Fifth and Third

It's official!  We have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader!  Where has the time gone?  I can't believe this is Ashlee's last year of elementary school - crazy!  Aside from first day jitters, 

the kids are adjusting well to their new school.  

It's gonna be a great year!

Mad Scientist

How sad is it that Haidyn got this science kit for her birthday last year (in November) and I am just now getting around to doing it with her?  Super duper sad!    We made erupting lava, predicted color changes and made growing crystals.  Haidyn loved it and was so proud.   I need to make a better effort at sitting down to 'play' more.  We had fun!

Auntie Shelly stopped by and joined in the fun too!

They Say...

They say you can't spoil a baby by holding them too much.  I don't know -- she looks pretty spoiled to me.  

Still loving every minute of her!

Done Seeing This...

I am so ready for school to start.  Mostly because I'm sick of seeing this!  It's so nice outside.  I don't get it.  I'm glad we limit our kids on their video game playing.  But they sure make certain they get their daily dose.  (sigh...bigger sigh)

A Victorian Tea Party

Ashlee was quite pleased to receive an invitation to a Victorian Tea Party. Her friends, Korena and Karissa (twins) were turning 10 and she was invited to tea at high noon.  She was to wear her best dress and speak with a British accent.  When I dropped her off, to my surprise it was the real deal -- fine silver, china, mini flower shaped sandwiches, handmade cupcakes and treats galore!  I wanted to stay and have tea!  They played fun games from the era; Pass the Slipper and the Don't Smile Game.  Ashlee came home in this stunning hat in which she crafted. What a fun party!

Her very own Victorian original: by Ashlee

"Lovin' My Crib -- Call MTV!"

"Cousin Kaihla became a big girl almost over night, so when she moved into her new big girl bed I scored this awesome crib!  I love it!  I sleep so much better now and Mommy is loving my 5 hour stretch at night.  Life is soooo good!"

See how well rested she looks?!

Getting Bigger

Miss Kendyl is 5 weeks old tomorrow.  She is so much fun.  Smiley as can be!  She's filling out and is starting to feel a little less fragile.  I held off on the one month photos to spare you of her florescent purple lips.  We are fighting a bad case of thrush and our medication stains everything!  Unfortunately her lips were purple too -- til today!  So here's a picture of our normal faced baby.  Enjoy!  

Look at that head control!

So Sweet

Turn up the volume for this rare but special moment...

3 Weeks New!

More pictures?  Of course!   I want to capture it all -- every stage, every expression, every pose you can imagine.  After all, she is our last baby and I just can't get enough of her.  Pretty soon she'll be at the next stage -- less moldable and less sleepy and her photos will be full of smiles.  So for now I want to capture the innocence of her while sleeping.  Like I said in the previous post, this girl likes her sleep.  So far the task has been a piece of cake!

Sleepy Girl

Kendyl has been such a good baby.  She definitely loves her sleep!  Mostly she likes to be held or worn in the baby sling as she sleeps.  But occasionally you will find her dreaming here, in her little buzzy seat.  

I wish I was getting this much sleep.

Our Four Babies

Here are our four babies!  Things are going pretty smoothly with our new addition. I can't believe Kendyl is 2 weeks old already!  It was a sad send-off today when Gramma Dee left.  No more sleeping in for mommy, unlimited access to the pantry for the big kids or hourly arts and crafts for Haidyn.  It was such a blessing to have her here.  We miss you already!  Thank you for a wonderful week!

WE MISS YOU GRAMMA DEE!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO