Oh, the trials of youth!

To not be able to climb all the way up to the top bunk-

let alone climb down...

Of course this was a temporary setback,

like most challenges are,

and days later,

guess who was triumphantly shouting from the top bunk

and taking swings at the ceiling fan?

Oy!

Happy Birthday, Samuel!

The big 3 - 3 finally came for Samuel and

all I can say is,

"Good grief!  Thank goodness it's here!"

As much as I love celebrating how many wonderful

years he has graced this earth...

every...single...year

(because I'm older by two weeks),

he gloats about how he's a whole year younger than me!

Do your math, buddy!

Even if I have to say I'm 33

and you get to say your 32

-I'm still only two weeks older!

Anyway...

his birthday wouldn't be the same without this

annual back and forth,

and truly,

"Happy Birthday, Samuel!"

I love you, hon!

This year was a bit unconventional for us

in that I was away for the big day in Bakersfield, California.

My grandma's nephew passed away and

I drove her and my little sister down for the funeral.

It was a wonderful opporunity to visit

family that I haven't seen since I was a little girl,

and to be able to spend time with my grandma and sister

was priceless!

What to do about the homefront though?

Well the day before I left,

I baked my buns off and 

gave the girls the secret mission of carrying

on the festivities without momma!

I am so proud of those girls!

They put the finishing touches on a 

hearty lasagna dinner,

wrapped dad's gifts,

AND

served Samuel's favorite chocolate cake for dessert! 

They are wondeful little momma's!

And the boys,

they played their part well too!

Keeping daddy busy with their escapades so

the girls could finish up!

...

When I got home the next day,

there was nothing but hugs and kisses

from all but one...

Gabriel!

He refused to look at me,

or let me hold him!

He was so, so upset with me for leaving!

I apologized and

told him I was home now,

and only then did he crawl into my arms!

What a sweetie! 

I love my brood!

A Little Piece of Heaven on Earth

love...

Flour + Water = Love

This makes me so, so happy!

There is flour

(lot's and lot's of flour),

there are pots and pans

(sometimes sky high!),

but there is also

love!

Bellisimo!

Gabriel Dodge

A Cheap Nemo Submarine Ride



Happy

Mean Mama Can't Resist...

What?

Sometimes it's funny!

{And yes, I scooped him up!}

Better Watch Out...

Bad To The Bone...

Brothers...

Gabriel: Canvas

Gotta love chocolate pudding!

Barnacles

A lovely day at the water park!

While my girls romp on the playground,

what do my boys do?

Snack!

Little barnacles...

Rascals

Gabe the Babe & Miss V

Nudie-nudie.

"He ate eggs!"

Sorry,

but this is big doin's for our family.

My baby boy suddenly decided he liked only milk,

and of course,

everything sweet.

He's generally good about staples like plain rice and noodles,

but everything else is hit or miss.

I'm not worried-

but since he takes after his momma and is on the shrimpy-side,

his pediatrician is all worked up.

Which is why his eating eggs makes everyone happy!

Eat up, boy!

Pure Joy & Sunshine

Even though all the birthday hoop-la has

come and gone with the boys combined birthday parties,

we still had a pretty special day when Gabriel's

real birthday rolled around!

Cake for breakfast, anyone?

What must you wish for at the ripe old age of two?

Once the candles were out,

the scrabble for cake began!

Seconds later...gone!

...

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y,  S O N !

Gabriel,

We can't express how grateful we are for you.

You were definitely saved for these days,

and as much as we'd like to think you needed us,

we sorely needed you.

Thank you for being pure joy and sunshine.

We love you, son.

Always.

Love,

Mum & Dad

Millions of Peaches...

Lucky for us we have two new grocery stores

that sell fabulous produce at deliciously low prices:

Sprouts &

The Sunflower Market!

While I don't can...yet,

  I do freeze!

And Gabriel,

well,

he eats...

"Millions of peaches...

Peaches for me..."

{ You know you're rocking out! }

Happy Birthday Owen, Gabriel, & Julia!

I think this picture of my boys looks so, so funny!

Here they are at the ripe old age for four & two,

and yet I can look at this picture

and easily fast-forward to when they're forty-four & forty-two-

and get a good idea of what they'll look like then!

I dearly hope they continue to be a little GOOFY...

...a WHOLE lot of fun...

...and the very BEST of friends!

How is that they're so nice and composed for a picture with dad...

 ...and so silly and squirmy with mom?

The waiting is finally over...

 C H E C K  I T  O U T !

Superheros in the house!

We HIGHLY recommend this set from Amazon-

which is very reasonably priced!

If you're interested,

check it out here!

Since the boys birthday's are in the summer,

or in our house,

- C A M P I N G  S E A S O N -

s'more's are the way to go!

Yup,

that's all that were left,

and even these last morsels were snatched up by sticky fingers!

We're so fortunate to have both our families in town,

so we celebrated yet again with even more grandma's!

Aunt Julia turned sweet-fourteen!

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y,  B E A T I F U L !



Sigh.

Another year has come and gone.

Owen & Gabriel,

You are,

and always will be,

my "two boys!"

We love you both so much,

and it is a joy to watch you grow.

All our love,

Mom & Dad

(...and your three other little momma's too!)

Post-lunch cookie...

Life is good!

Guilty Pleasures...

This is so funny to me because

Gabriel never took a pacifier as a baby!

I love this skull n' bones version

and can't bear to throw it away.

It's floats around in the car,

and every now and then we toss it to him

just to see what he'll do with it.

Hopefully when he's 16 or so he'll have lost interest...

{ smile }

I love you,

Gabe the Babe!

XOXOMom