Happy 2nd Birthday Owen!

Talk about a happy boy!

We love our Owen, and we are so happy you came to our family! You have changed so much in two short years! Thank you for indulging mom in a little trip down memory lane!

Deja vu!

You finally stopped crying after a soothing bath to let us see your beautiful peepers!

In the arms of your great-grandparents: Nicola & Irene Lopez!

We learned quickly that boys ARE different from girls. For example, when dad changed your diaper, you managed to spray all your sisters, the wall, the couch, and dad!

Way to go son!

Visiting the cemetery for your other great-grandparents: Edwin & Lillian Schwab.

Visiting the happiest place on earth: Disneyland!

Enjoying a hike: Baby Style

Love that hair-do. You too, Owen!

Visiting our house during the construction phase. Me nor Owen are too pleased as dad just tried a water valve and sprayed us with gushing cold water. Guess what though? We finally have water!

What you love best at parks: The Slide

Rollin' around thanks to the manpower of three big sisters.

Boy time flies!
Here we are now celebrating the Big Two!

Because your baby brother was due on your birthday, we didn't make any big plans thinking we might be in the hospital. Since the little guy ended up being a no-show, we planned an impromptu birthday party in one day.

You can't go wrong with kid favorites like hot dogs, chili, potato chips, and fresh strawberries.

You dug right in!

Later everyone was jazzed for present-time!

What a difference a year makes in understanding the concept of birthday parties and in being able to open your own presents. We loved seeing you enjoy this special day!

The best part was seeing your car come around the corner. You maintained a blank facial expression and didn't utter a sound, yet we knew you loved your car when you tried to launch yourself through the window to get inside!

All year-long you love to sing "Happy Birthday". Today, we loved to be able to sing it to you!

Rather than eat your Blackberry & Lemon Cream Cake, you insisted on sucking on that blasted Jolly Rancher!

Happy Birthday son!

We love you so much!

"Isabella Captured"...By Ava

A while back Ava asked if she could borrow the camera to take some pictures around the house. Normally, this is an automatic "no". Samuel and I hardly even trust ourselves with the camera, as our record for taking care of the little contraptions is very, very poor.

But on that day I was interested to see what she would come up with, and so...

The Photographer

The first subject.

Now we're getting somewhere.

Surprise!

Where'd she go?

What was she doing?

A clue.

The Escape!

We're on to you!

I thought Ava captured the element of surprise and the thrill of the chase rather well!

Up and Over!

Another silly tradition we have involves our rides to Costco or Sam's Club. A trip like that always requires Sam to load items in the back of the van. The kids know that as soon as that door pops up, it's there chance to get in the car the "fun way".

Up and over!

Home Free!

Everyone in our house was jazzed that school was finally out!

While we waited for Bella to come home, we celebrated with popcorn and a movie!

When Samuel came home from work, mom took the night off too and we headed to McDonald's!

We don't go very often, so playing on the equipment and munching on Happy Meals is a fun treat for the kids! Because Samuel and I are old (30!), we opted for healthier sandwiches from Togo's.

Here's to a wonderful summer!

Definitely Bittersweet

After Ava's graduation we headed home. Samuel had fetched Ava's scooter, and as they reached the bike trail we separated.

Ava and her Dad had one final thing to do.

You see, throughout much of the year, Samuel would do his best to make time in his day to pick up Ava from school and bring her home for lunch. Most of the time, I would hear his car pull up, and then hear his retreating footsteps as he took to the bike trail to fetch her.

Then together, they would ride like the wind on her scooter home. I would hear them both coming up the drive, a little out of breath, and usually laughing.

Next year, she'll be getting out with the big kids.

No more early out.

No more lunch time pick-up and scooter ride home.

See?

Bittersweet.

A Rite of Passage: The Kindergarten Graduation

Last Thursday we attended Ava's Kindergarten graduation.

Talk about an opportunity to cry!

It was a beautiful day, and the air buzzed with excitement.

Finally our "little" ones made their entrance...

I love that smile!

Signing "What a Wonderful World".

Accepting her "diploma".

Waiting patiently for everyone's name to be called. I thought this was excellent practice for the super-long high school and college graduations to come.

Returning to the classroom for a...

PARTY!!!

Ava's classroom was jumping and everyone piled in for cake and lemonade!

Samuel, Owen, & Iris...temporarily trapped on the other side of the room.

Yum!

Ava and her wonderful teacher Mrs. Vincent!
We couldn't have asked for a better person to guide our daughter through her first year school!

Thank you Mrs. Vincent and...

WELL DONE AVA!

Nothing Better!

During the last week of school my sister-in-law Rachel called and invited us for an impromptu Pizza & Swimming Party at Grandma's house.

How could we refuse?

Though it was a little breezy, the kids popped right into the water!

After a few hours the tummies started to rumble and delicious pizza smells wafted from the kitchen. In addition, Aunt Rachel brought dessert: Homemade Chocolate Almond Ice Cream and Strawberry Whipped Sensation!

Yummy!

Isabella and her cousin, Abby.

Iris and Owen with their cousin, Meghan.

Thank you for a wonderful afternoon!
We had the best time!

The Kiss of Death: The Salon

Early yesterday morning I decided to snip at my hair a bit. Sounds harmless, right? And then I step back and get a good look at it and I realize one whole side was now an inch shorter. Not good considering my hair is short to begin with. Of course I should have stopped there but of course you have to try to fix it, right?

No. That was wrong. Very wrong.

When Sam came home for lunch I begged HIM to fix it. He has cut my hair for the last 7-years and always does a great job. This time though, he took one look at it and flat-out refused.
"You are going to the salon."

Those words were the kiss of death.

For those that don't know I'm terrified of getting my hair done, and when I realized he wouldn't help me, what he was going to make me do, I started to cry.

He wouldn't back down, made the appointment for that night, and before you know it I was sitting in "the chair".

As you can tell, I lived to tell the tale. I now know that:

1) I am a big, big baby (okay, I already knew that), and

2) Those wonderful salon people know what their doing.

I love my new haircut! And I'm pretty sure I'll even go back! Sorry Sam! It looks like you lost your only long-time customer!

Something tells me he's not too disappointed!