Spring Soccer 2009

A shots of Brennen playing Southside Soccer this Spring. He loves his team and his coaches and for that we are very thankful.

Brennen's Poetry Night

The first grade classes at Brennen's school had a poetry night. The three classes performed some poems together and then each class split into their own rooms. The kids each memorized a poem, created an illustration to go with the poem, and recited it in front of their whole class as well as all the parents. Brennen really challenged himself by memorizing one of the longest poems in class. He did a great job reciting "Dear Turtle."

Emery's Party

Emery had a great first birthday joined by lots of special friends at Fairhaven Park. Eveyone enjoyed snacks, cake, and a great playground. Emery's favorite part was the cake. One taste of her birthday cake and she was hooked.

Emery and Adi looked so cute in their coordinating outfits.



"Is there someone who can open this juice box?"

Happy Birthday Emery!

One year ago and exactly one week late our baby girl made her grand entrance into the world and straight into our hearts. After a scary entrance (think blue and not breathing) we put our arms around a healthy, beautiful girl. We then spent the next two weeks shocked everytime we changed a diaper (what do we do with these parts?). I am happy to say that adding a third wonderful being to our brood was the best thing we have done. I love having two boys and a girl. The boys are in love with their sister and so excited that she is one! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!

Emery at one...

• Loves to wrestle her brothers
• Can climb up and down stairs
• Walks and runs everywhere
• LOVES peas and grapes
• Thinks her birthday cake was fabulous and wants to eat it every day
• Points at things and says "Oooo!"
• Has two little teeth on the bottom
• Likes to "read" books to herself
• Tries to blow kisses and loves to wave
• Loves to give mom and dad lots of hugs and kisses
• Hugs any stuffed animal and says, "Ahhh!"
• Wears a size 3 1/2-4 shoe
• Wears 12-18 month clothes
• Loves to take a bath
• Climbs everything including the train table and has been spotted standing on her little rocking horse in a surfer position
• Loves music and dancing
• Peek-a-Boo is her favorite game closely followed by chase-a-brother
• Dada, Mama, Oooo, Whoa, and Na-na (no-no or night-night) are her consistent words
• Loves her brothers (and their room!)
• Loves her brothers friends (uh-oh!)
• thinks animals are the best
• Is happy, smiley girl who loves to be silly
• IS VERY LOVED!!

Photo Shoot

Do you like the title? I am not calling it one year pictures because I am in denial. Besides, Emery will not be one until tomorrow at 9:31 am and then I will really be in denial. I cannot believe we are at this point already. Our baby is now a toddler and I think I will have to leave it at that until I get my emotions in check. Once I am done blubbering, I will post my reflections on her first year of life.

Our sweet girl

Playing in a "boat" with big brother.

I just brought this rocking horse out of storage and Emery loves it. It so cute to watch her on it. However, she screams at Rylan when he is on it (not so cute!). Just yesterday I caught her standing on the seat of it balancing like a surfer. I didn't get a picture of it, but I will work on capturing that precious moment. Hopefully, it will be before she knocks out one of her only two teeth.

Dancing on top of a laundry basket.

"Yep! I am up here and I am hilarious!"

Easter at home

We had a very nice Easter this year. The kids were so excited to see what was in their baskets so they blessed us with their presence at 6:30. Emery is the only one who slept in until 7:30. We had an indoor egg hunt (darn rain!) and found tons of eggs with money and chocolate in them. The kids were thrilled especially since they are saving money for spending at Disneyland. In the afternoon Uncle Pete, Aunt Tami, and Cousin Shea came to see us and have Easter dinner. It is always so fun to have them spend their day with us. The kids try to wait patiently for their arrival but check out the front window about every minute. It's cute to watch when the kids aren't asking for the 50 kajillionth (actual number...in our house!) time if they have arrived yet. We played Wii, card games, and just caught up on life. It was a great day!

The Easter Baskets

Emery checking out her basket and new book. She loves to "read."

Brennen reading to his sister from her new book.

Rylan playing his new game "I Spy Go Fish."

Shea and Emery driving Mario Kart.

Cute boy.

The drivers racing to the finish.

Aunt Tami and Emery checking on the drivers.

Easter Eggs

The boys were so excited to dye Easter eggs this year. Every year is more and more fun as they are old enough to do most of it on their own. Rylan is my little artist and he spends alot of time on one design, whether he is coloring, painting, or dying eggs. Brennen is less inclined to be drawn in by the arts and is usually done within minutes of starting. Emery watched the whole process with a perplexed expression on her face. It was a fun evening of egg decorating, but I am glad it is only once a year!

March 2009

"Why are you all laughing at me?"

Rylan and all his cuddle friends.

Emery woke Daddy up early and joined him on the couch for a bottle. We had a particularly hard night and so they cuddled up together. This is what I found when I came downstairs.

Baby Steps

It's been awhile (again) since I have posted. Life is so busy these days and this household has been full of illness since the beginning of the year. Hopefully, we are all healthy just in time for allergy season which hits my household hard. Ugh!
There have been alot of accomplishments on the part of my baby girl. We are two weeks away from her first birthday and my heart can hardly handle it. She is our last and it is so hard to think we are leaving behind babyhood in this house. Emery started walking 3-4 steps at 10 1/2 months and on her 11 month birthday she started walking everywhere. I am so excited for her, but I miss seeing her crawling throughout the house. I just can't believe that we are at this stage already (you are going to hear me say that alot in the next 2 weeks!). Emery is also blowing kisses, hugging and kissing everyone in our family. She has also mastered climbing up the stairs and getting back down on her own. She is also afraid of nothing, loves to wrestle her brothers, and is going to be a climber. Yikes! She is such an awesome addition to our family!

It is sunny, and beautiful, and warm today so I am getting off this computer and going outside with my kids. I will try to post more with pictures tomorrow when it is supposed to rain. :)