Mark and Abby

Mark and Abby really have a great time playing together. They are so cute to watch as well. Their first lunch date


Nap Time



Chillin at the discovery museum






I sure hope these two stay great friends :)

SF Adventure

The weather had been unusually warm so our family decided to make a trip to San Francisco. We drove up the night before and had a sleepover at my dad's house. We had planned to go to the California Academy of Sciences, but when we got there there were a TON of people outside so we didn't even bother. So then we decide to go to Zeum (the children's discovery museum) there in the city. So we get there and guess what, they don't open until 1p! There is a neat park right near by so we played there for a while. It was getting to be lunchtime and instead of waiting around for the museum to open we took the trolley car down Market Street to Embarcadero and to Pier 39. We ate lunch there and then went and saw the sea lions. After that we saw a magic show and all of us were pulled up on-stage. The kids and I rode the carousel and let me tell you don't ride the spinning cups on an already spinning ride. Overall we had a great day even if we didn't end up doing what we planned on.

She's 5!!

On Lilliana's birthday day we got to take snack in to school. She choose pizza. It was a lot of fun to stay in the class with Lilliana and share her special day. Mark LOVED being able to stay and participate with the rest of the kids. I was put to work helping cut-out shapes for an activity later in the week.

For Lilliana's 5th birthday we had a party at Chuck E Cheese. Not my first choice but ever since her friend Carter had a party there, well there was just no way I could convince her otherwise. So Lilliana and about 18 other kids had a wonderful time living it up at CEC. The party was a spy theme so all the kids got a badge with their picture on it to identify them as official spys. I took pictures of the kids beforehand so I could print off the pictures onto those pin on name badges. Then for the cake I choose a cupcake cake and let me tell you that was the best decision ever! No cutting and you can get different flavors of cupcakes. I didn't actually eat any but i was told they were very delicious (thanks Safeway). For treat bags the kids got a spy essentials bag with notebook, pencil, magnifying glass, and a compass. It turned out to be a great party and the best part was that it wasn't at my house :)

Later that afternoon we had the whole family over for more cake and ice cream. It was a great way to all celebrate together without the stress of trying to feed 20 some people.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lilliana.

Christmas Time

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It started off with going on our annual trip to get our Christmas tree the day after thanksgiving. We drive up Bear Creek Rd off of 17 and head to Mackenzie Ranch. Since it's just after Thanksgiving the weather is usually great and we get to have a nice picnic. Well this year, not so much. The fog was super thick so we found our tree and had a short picnic by the car. Overall good fun, but the weather could have cooperated better.

Lilliana had her Christmas concert at school and she did a great job singing all the songs. Following the concert was a surprise visit from the big man himself. It was a wonderful evening.

Another school event was a field trip to a local Christmas tree farm. The kids got to learn how trees grow and how long it takes really takes to grow those HUGE trees. They also got a demonstration on tree flocking. The end of the trip included a ride on a small train. I think the kids had a lot of fun.

Haircut

So I finally gave in and took Mark to a friends house and got Mark's haircut. :( It was his first one, he's 28 months old! I guess neither Jim nor I have the hair growing gene. Well it was finally time to cut off that baby hair and give him a little boy cut. He did SO well. He sat nice and still for Sascha. I was so proud of my cute little man. He looks so cute with his new haircut.

Bike Riding

So Lilliana finally convinced us to take her training wheels off (she got the bike last year at christmas, and has been asking ever since).  Jim takes her over to the school across the street and starts to teach her how to ride on 2 wheels.  She was riding on her own in about 2 minutes.  I was shocked!  I guess when they are ready, they are ready.  Now all she wants to do from sun-up to sun-down is ride her bike.  I'm so proud of her for learning it so quickly, and being so brave those few times she did fall.  She would get-up and say, "I'm ok, I'm not hurt, " and then get right back on her bike.  

Happy Halloween!

It took some convincing to get Lilliana away from wanting to be a power ranger for halloween, but I did it. She and Mark were Tom and Jerry. Their costumes turned out really cute. We went to our church halloween party the week before and did trunk or treating. Mark and his friend Abby were so cute during the costume parade. After the trunk or treating Lilliana was ready to go door to door.

Halloween night the kids were geared up and ready to go out. It threatened to rain the whole time. We met up with some good friends and trick-or-treated together. All the kids had a really great time.