Newspaper pictures

See if any of these pictures from Merced look familiar!!!!!

http://dwb.mercedsunstar.com/static/slideshows/weekly/

Soccer

We are three games into our soccer season this year. I was fortunate enough to get Nicholas and Isabella on the same team...his second season, her first. Nicholas is an all around go-getter ( 3 goals the 1st and 2nd games, none today) while Isabella is your classic pick-grass-while-everyone-else-is-playing kind of player. She found a beautiful dandelion last week playing goalie, got her arm stuck in the net, and even did laps around the goal posts. Miraculously, the other team never took advantage of our goalie situation and the game ended 6 - 0.

Today was a tie game but both of them played great. Highlights of the last couple weeks.....

Our Favorite Goalie...

Another goalie shot...

Nicholas floating through the air with the ball.

Nicholas dribbling and Isabella splitting. This makes me laugh. :-)

Guess where this one ended up???

Nicholas is SIX

We just celebrated Nicholas turning six with family and friends from school. He had an army party and an army of people showed up. Lots of fun was had by all!!!



The big cake...


The Camo balloons

Most of the children

The bounce houses

Happy Birthday Big Boy!!!!

Art from #2.

A couple weeks ago, Jeffrey was showing off his ability to make pig noises while we were having dinner. (Attractive, I know, but necessary for this story.) As we all know, too, Jeffrey's line of work makes him prone to comments and name calling regarding law enforcement officers.

The other day, Isabella came home with a drawing entitled...

My Dad is a Pig!!!

I couldn't stop laughing!!!!

Isabella is a Pre - K

Isabella has been waiting for this day for a while. She is a Pre-Kindergartener! Apparently, this group of children have cooler work and get to do cooler things. We have been talking about this important right of passage all summer.

Well, she woke up totally grouchy but the morning got much better. She was all smiles by the time she left but had to have a time out on the playground in the afternoon. This may have something to do with Nicholas being there but I haven't gotten the entire story yet. One day they all rat themselves out, right???

Here are some pictures of the morning.

GROUCHY ISABELLA...
HAPPY ISABELLA....
Spidey watches on....

The beginning of August, we were at some friends house when Nicholas decided that he wanted a pet. Our friends have dogs, cats, and fish so I thought it was our time for at least one pet. I talked to the kids and we agreed that the pet had to be small....no dogs...and everyone had to be in agreement with one animal.

We walked the aisles of Petsmart and with each animal they saw, that was the one they wanted. Fish, cats, hermit crabs, lizards, hamsters, you name it!!!! After we saw every imaginable animal, the kids wanted to go back and see the cats. Both Nicholas and Isabella picked out a kitten but Isabella's had long hair and we went throught that once already with Sammy...shedding and fur everywhere. We all agreed on the kitten Nicholas picked and so now we have a pet.

Nicholas kept calling it Fluffy but Jeff reminded him that the cat wasn't fluffy and it needed a boy name like Rocky. The kids kept calling it Rocky but I had to point out that you cannot call a 3 pound kitten Rocky. It just didn't fit in my head. After a few silly names that followed, I decided to name him Gordon. Since I ultimately will be the one cleaning the litter, feeding him, and keeping him safe from all hands that want to hold him constantly, I figured that I held all power of veto. Gordon it is and he is CUTE!!!!

Getting ready to enter Petsmart.

Gabby loves watching the fish. Nicholas and Isabella with the kittens.
Meet Gordon.

Underwear Bandit

I try to do at least one load of laundry a day. That being said, I am usually able to throw it in the wash at 6:30 am before anyone is awake, switch it to the dryer at 12:00 noon, and fold it when my children are sleeping..9:00pm. Careful skill goes in to putting it away while they are fast asleep. Wouldn't want to wake them up and start all over!!! So I guess it is fair to say that it takes me ALL DAY to do one load of laundry on week days.

Now, as with every other chore that I am responsible for, I would prefer to do it only once. If I have to do my chores twice, not much else gets done. No time for the park, playing outside, etc. (Can you tell that I've had this conversation with my children?) I've learned that my children WANT to help with the laundry but folding and putting away isn't really their thing yet!

Imagine my surprise when after putting everything away, I kept finding underwear all over the floor. Both Nicholas's and Isabella's underwear drawer were dumped everywhere...repeatedly. Silly me thought that they couldn't decide which pair to wear, (Princess, days of the week, and designs for Isabella and Cars, Star Wars, and solid colors for Nicholas), so I would get on each of them and tell them to put their things away. "I don't want to do things twice. I already put the underwear away once!"

Either they are being very good siblings or they are just as stumped as I am as to how their underwear is getting on the floor because neither of them has said a word. They just look at me a little funny and put the under garments away.

Well, the other day I caught the Underwear Bandit red-handed. BUSTED!!!!!!



In and Out!!

Who ME????

She poses and says cheese when she realizes she has been caught.

Who knew Bandits were so cute??

BABIES!!!

Well, our beautiful new babies have arrived. I was hoping to get to meet them while I was home but apparently they weren't ready to meet anyone yet. Just a little extra cooking to do!!! :-)

Anyway, Andrew Riley and Logan Marie arrived last Friday, August 10 bright and early in the morning. Andrew arrived at 8:02 am, 5 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long. Logan arrived at 8:03 am, 6 lbs 11.5 oz and 19 inches long. Both babies and Mama are doing well. By the first doctors appointment they had lost a little weight and need to be supplemented so maybe now they are sleeping a little bit at night. Wish I was there to help!!! :-(

Both babies are beautiful and I can't wait to meet them...even if they will be walking by the time I get home again!!! Send lots of pictures family!!!!

My brother Jeff and his babies.


Andrew and Logan...sleeping peacefully on their birthday.
Grandma Cheyann with her 6th and 7th grandchild(ren).

What he didn't see...

The time has come.... Nicholas started Kindergarten Monday morning. (sniff) He has been looking forward to this momentous day for a long time now. He knew that as soon as we got back from Grandma Cheyann's house, the big day was right around the corner. I have been telling him that he can't talk about it and that I didn't want him to say the "bad word that starts with a K." Of course he thinks I'm funny!!!! He says it and runs as I chase him pretending to be mad...ending with a tackle, tickles, and lots of laughs.

Anyway, Sunday night I had a talk with Jeffrey. There was NO WAY ON THIS EARTH that I could take him to his class without making a complete fool of myself. I cried at orientation!!! This would not be good!!! Jeff calls me a sissy-la-la but he is probably right.

Monday morning...I only have to hold my emotions for 30 minutes while he gets ready and out the door. PRESSURE!!! First, Nicholas informs me that he thinks that he has grown overnight. His head is on the pillow and his feet are on the blanket at the bottom of the bed. NOT COOL!!! He's up, dressed (he picked his outfit), ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, and got matching shoes on his feet. "READY" he yells. He straps his backpack on his back (I retreat to the kitchen because I can feel it coming), comes to give me kisses (I wipe my face ASAP), and I wish him luck on his first day.

A preschool parent walks in just as he is walking out and she gets to witness this whole thing with me. Nicholas turns, waves, and literally runs out the door!!!! OMG!! I made it 30 minutes but lost it on the 31st. I'm crying because my baby boy is heading off to his first day of kindergarten, Julie is teared up because she sees this scenerio in her near future (I'll be there for you Julie!), and Nicholas is as happy as can be.

He ended up having a fabulous day. His teacher said he did great, a friend called while watching his daughter and Nicholas have lunch together and reported that he was happy and behaving. Thank goodness!!!

Later that evening after coming home from Grandma and Papa's, Nicholas tells me a story about how when his friend Anthony (a year older) went to Kindergarten, his Mom was sad and cried so hard. I said, "Did your Mom cry?" He said, "No Mom. You did pretty good!" Thank you son!!!

Our Big Boy!!!!

Walking to class

Signing in

We're back

Well, after my trip to the east coast with the children, (lots of stories and pictures to share), my computer decided to go on a little trip of it's own. Where it went and what it did, I'm not sure of but now we are all back from our summer vacations.
It is now night - night time in our house and I have to wake up at 4:00am to work out and get ready for tomorrow. Just wanted to let everyone know that we are all back....safe and sound.
I'll update every chance I get!!!!

Down to the hours

Here is the latest attempt at a picture with all three. Not too bad!!!

I am down to two days until I go HOME!!! I have already packed and shipped all of our luggage to Mom's so now the only thing left to do is arrive. The kids and I leave Tuesday night for the airport hotel and then it's off to Ohio Wednesday morning. Robin is brave enough to log in a full 24 hours of flying just to make sure I get there in one piece. She'll leave Baltimore Tuesday night, arrive in San Jose at midnight, meet us in the hotel just to board again in 6 hours, and fly back to Baltimore an hour after we land in Pittsburgh. She is certainly going to log in the miles. I'm very lucky and extremely grateful to have her help.

At home it will be 2 1/2 glorious weeks of family, reunions, baby shower for 2, JAMBOREE, visiting Grandma, East Coast weather, food I grew up on, and hanging with Mom and Tom. It doesn't get any better than that!!! Maybe the babies will be born while I'm there. As of right now, I come back to CA on the 28th and the doctors are planning on taking the babies the 30th. BUMMER!!!!

Well, I'm off to pack the last minute deals for the hotel...food, easy slip on shoes, etc. I have to keep myself busy because I have a tendency to want to jump out of my skin from excitement. These last couple days are going to be tough!!!

I probably won't post until I get back to CA. Until then, have a great couple weeks and East Coast family, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!

Little Firecracker

Happy July 5th!!! Our 4th was spent with friends, swimming, B-B-Q's, and late night fireworks. Nicholas and Isabella were busy running and swimming but our Little Firecracker posed for a few pictures.

Swimming with Daddy

LOVES for Daddy

Happy Girl!!!

Little Ballerina

Isabella had her ballet recital last Saturday night and all of the girls were just as cute as they could be. Some really weren't interested in performing when they saw all of the parents in the crowd, but Isabella did a great job. She loves to dance for anyone who will watch.

She loves this costume so much that she slept in it the night of the recital and she has worn it to the grocery store to "show all of her friends." It just may be her Halloween costume!!!

Here is the Little Ballerina the night of the show!!!




CHEESE!!


Loves to shake her bottom. Something about this costume makes her want to SHAKE IT!!!

All-Star

Nicholas was fortunate enough to make the Tee-ball All-Star team for the second year. Three children from each team were selected and he made it!! He hit a single and crossed home plate for his first at bat and he grounded to first and was out before he reached the bag during his second at bat. He played first base and pitcher during his turn in the outfield, made some great catches and outs, and made all of us very proud!!

Mom, Dad, Isabella, Gabby, Grandma, and Papa were there to watch him end his season. Another successful year!!! Here are some highlights....

Going for a ground ball...
Catching a fly ball...(got the kid out at first!!!)

His first at bat.... Rounding second...

Nicholas and his friend Carter...our two all-stars!!!

Family party for Isabella

We had a little family party for Isabella's birthday and by the looks of it, she LOVED her cake. She got new lipgloss, a shoe covered designed beach towel, new jammies, and a new bike (among other little things). The one thing that seemed to really catch her attention was the lipgloss. A girl should never be without the essentials...her lipgloss!!!

A preschool parent of mine made the cake for Isabella. He baked it and HE decorated it...that is not a misprint. He is a very talented Daddy (with only one child...a boy)!!!



Take a DEEP breath.....

AND BLOW!!!

Happy Girl!!!

Another outfit from Grandma Cheyann and Grandpa Tom. She thought it was a sundress for Gabby until we put it on and showed her it was a shirt. CUTE!!!

Birthday Princess

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ISABELLA!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

Today is the BIG 4 for Isabella. She woke up this morning, put on her crown and sash, and waved her magic wand. She really is Princess Isabella and we are all in for a Princess kind of week. :-)

The Birthday Girl

Smile BIG!!!
Her new bag with shoes all over it and everything that Grandma Cheyann and Grandpa Tom sent for her birthday stuffed inside.
New outfit from Grandma Cheyann and Grandpa Tom.
I'll update with pictures from the family party tonight!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL!!!!