Happy Birthday Mom

Sept. 1, 2009

We went to dinner tonight at the Red Pepper to celebrate my Mom's birthday. Happy birthday Mom. We Love YOU!

First time at the Dentist

August 31, 2009

I wasn't sure what to expect this morning. Caleb has never been to the Dentist before and I thought that could be a good thing or a bad thing. To prepare him for today we read one Dentist related book every night for a week. And every time he brushed his teeth I said, "Okay Caleb brush your teeth really good so the Dentist will say how clean and white your teeth are." Turns out not only did the Dentist prep help but Caleb is a champ. The visit even started out great. Dr. Dove had a life-like toy train in the lobby for little boys like Caleb and about 20 stuffed animals for little girls like Hannah. As soon as I saw this I thought to myself, either Dr. Dove or his staff are really on the ball with the toys. Normally the toys in Dr. offices are dirty or broken or in short supply but not here at Dr. Dove's. So already the "Dentist" has a gold star from me and Caleb. We went to the back and waited in a small dentist chair. Caleb had no problem with it since he had seen it in one of our books at home. All was great until this little boy came back crying. The worse part was he was put right next to Caleb and there was no wall or curtain to divide him from the other boy. Yikes! The hygienist came to Caleb and quickly cleaned his teeth and was done. Then Dr. Dove came in and looked in Caleb's mouth said that he would need braces when he's older. Honestly I wasn't surprised since both Cory and I had to have braces as teenagers. But I was surprised that Dr. Dove knew this already at age 3. I asked him how he knew this and he said it was because Caleb's baby teeth were already close together but his adult teeth will be bigger and take up even more space in his small mouth. I began to understand and it made a lot of since. My next thought was Patrick. His teeth are spaced pretty far apart and I assumed he wouldn't need braces if Dr. Dove was right. I called Alison when I got home and told her. She sounded relieved. She always said the spaces in his teeth looked a little funny to her. But it turns out to be a blessing!

Happy Birthday Elena

August 30, 2009

Elena turned one today and Alison made the cutest ladybug cake. Naturally Elena went for the black icing and smeared it all over her face. It looked kind of scary in the end. Happy birthday sweet Elena!

Breakfast

August 28, 2009 (early)

Jesus was in charge of making the pancakes this morning and whether or not Ben was serious Jesus made him a "huge" one just because he asked. Ben did finish it. Way to go Ben! Hannah and Elena played together happily in the pac -n- play. I think Hannah is just happy to be alive. Caleb woke up early this morning so I took advantage of the earliness and availabilty of the showers and took Caleb into the bathroom with me to get ready for the day. I love this camping stuff. I love being here together as a family with everyone. I am so, we all are so, lucky to have each other and that we enjoy being together, not all in-laws get along for whatever reason. But I never once felt out of place with Cory's family. They opened their arms and took me in the minute they met me. I am so blessed.

Let's learn something new

August 28, 2009 (mid morning)

Cory is coming, He's coming. I was so excited and the time was passing so slowly that I had to distract myself. Alison, Connie, Sara and I and the kids went across the street to a museum (well small scale museum). We learned about waves and sea creatures and the tide and then went out on the deck to watch the seals swim and play in the harbor. Before I knew it the moment I had been waiting for had arrived. Cory was here! Caleb AND Patrick were both equally excited so excited in fact that Cory picked up one and then the other and carried them both back to the campsite just so they could all be close(r).

Exploration

August 28, 2009 (p.m.)

We all wanted to go into town and walk around. Cory and Sara went to the original Wavelength store and picked out a much needed baseball hat for Cory. Then we decided to drive down to the beach and sit on the sand and watch the waves. During the 3 1/2 minute drive Caleb and Hannah zonked out and showed no sign of waking. Cory and I stayed behind while they slept. Hannah only slept 30 minutes and then wanted to get out and explore. Cory was happy to oblige and the two of them set out on an adventure around the big Morro Rock. Hannah was fascinated with the seagulls and urged Cory to chase them when ever she saw one or twelve. Caleb remained asleep until we reached the campground. He was a tired little boy. The sleep did him a lot of good because he was a happier boy when he woke up.

Monterey Camping

August 27, 2009

The kids and I drove up to Monterey to meet the Randall/Moreno families for a few days of camping. As soon as I got out of the car everyone pitched in, set up our tent and got us unpacked and ready for the night. Caleb and Patrick jumped up and down for 3 hours and when it got cold stopped long enough for us to put on the cute hats Sara had made for them. Sara even made one for me. The first night was great! It will be even better when Cory comes tommorow.

Double sink, Double bath

August 24, 2009

When I dream about Cory and I having a house of our very own it has a huge kitchen sink so I can bathe the kids in it comfortably. The kitchen sink is such a convenient place to bath children; no bending over to wash or straining to pick them up when bath time is over... well, a girl can dream can't she?

Sily Play and Harvest

August 19, 2009

I know, I know... Caleb looks like he has his finger in his nose but look passed that and look and those two darling children. They love to be together and today they loved being really close together in the pac - n play. The two of them were having so much fun with the basket I had to try it out for myself. Caleb and I went out onto the patio to water our tomato plant and Caleb said, "It's growing!!" He is very excited about our ONE tomato.

Mom and Dad's bed

August 17, 2009

The kids and I played on our bed this afternoon. For the first time the two of them really played together. Hannah wants to be wherever Caleb is and Caleb is realizing that Hannah is "fun" to be with. I love watching their relationship develop and grow. I can see it happen right before my eyes. I remember feeling lonely growing up because I didn't have a sibling to play with. My Mom did her best but she had other things to do. I didn't want that kind of childhood for Caleb and now he will always have Hannah, and Hannah will always have him.

Girl's night out at Dewar's

July 28, 2009

Sometimes you just need to go out with the girls and sometimes it just has to be at Dewar's. I love Alison and Sara! They are so much fun and always make me laugh. Whenever I do make it to Dewar's I always order the George's Special (which until recently Cory always thought it was the Georgia's Special), Connie: the child's sundae. But Sara get's something different almost every time; she likes the Peppermint Ice milk if nothing really strikes her fancy. Alison... well I'll have to get back to you on that.

July 18, 2009

Ben and Janae came and spent some time away from the dry, dusty beach and enjoy the cool, fresh ocean air of Bakersfield... of wait. We always like when they come because Ben is crazy funny and were always laughing. Before the farewell we took a picture together and it was amazing that all of us (basically ... thanks Elena!) are looking in the general direction of the camera, Yea!

Summer Delights

July 9, 2009

There's nothing like dying Easter eggs in ... July. Caleb and Patrick really enjoy dying eggs at Grandma's house and even though it isn't Spring anymore Grandma boils eggs and sets up the food coloring for her two little boys. Something that Caleb likes (but not Patrick) is a nice, warm, fresh tomato from Grandma's garden.