Easter 2015

We had an amazing and busy Easter this year.

First we had a picnic and egg hunt with my MOPS moms.  Since we meet after bedtime, this was my first time meeting most of their kiddos. New friends!

We also attended the Easter Egg Hunt at our church.  We attended the same event last year.  We didn't have enthusastic hunters this year.  Alex is a bit too young and Colin figured out the eggs have things in them and wants to open them immediately!  It was still a great event.  Colin was also old enough to participate in the pony ride and other games and crafts.

And this year Colin colored eggs for the first time!!

Thanks to pinterest, I used a whisk (which worked awesome!!) and the mess was minimal.  Colin also got some great counting practice in counting to 10 with each dunk.

Alex seems pretty excited to get involved.  Maybe next year, little guy!

 On Easter we went to an early church service and then had baskets and eggs at home.  I didn't get a great picture of our baskest this year.

The Willmunders invited us over for Easter Dinner.  Look at our big guys sitting at the table!!

It was 1st Easter for both baby brothers!  I can't believe how long it's been since someone else's first Easter!

What a beautiful celebration!

Valentine's Day 2015

We had an absolutely amazing Valentine's Day. The days before and after were very difficult, including sickness and broken pipes, but the day was awesome!

I decided a while ago to host a Valentine's Party for Alex's baby friends in Ladera.  Even as I told myself over and over again that it would be hardly any work at all, I knew I was lying.  Still, I had a really good time, and enjoyed most of the process of putting it together.

I arrived super early because I wanted to try to make sure we could use the picnic area.

Set up went way faster than I thought and I think it came our really cute:

Welcome Sign

Close up.  Each little heart says the name of one of our 2014 babies

Baby Treat Bags!

Photo Shoot Area

Foot Print Craft Area

This is the craft we made, I think they came out so cute, and I got really good at keeping little baby toes flat!

Food Table

I did have a couple of hang ups, but nothing some engineering, tape, and cardboard couldn't fix.

Tape wouldn't stick to the stone pillar, sign was floppy.  Problem solved.

Wind kept knocking bags over, when angled, the back row wasn't readable.  Problem Solved!

The photo area didn't go quite as I had hoped.  for one, it was too muddy in the grass, and it was a bit hard to find decent lighting (too bright, too many shifting shadows)  Oh well!

 Colin ate a cupcake....

 We did manage to get a few of the babies together for pictures!!

I had a few reasons for wanting to put together a party.  The first was to continue to foster the sense of community and friendship that we love so much about living in Ladera.  The second was to celebrate with my 2014 baby!  Life is different for Alex then it was for Colin at the same age, but I want him to know that I love and treasure him now and always.

Everyone seemed to have a great time and I loved getting to know the other families.

In the evening, Gavin and I headed over to another friend's house for a wine and fondue party.  It was a beautiful day and exactly why I look forward to Saturday at week!

My impossible love story.

It's Valentine's Day!

So I've spent tonight reflecting on my love story.

My love story is impossible.  It's impossible for a hundred reasons, not least of all is that I didn't really believe in love stories.

Yet here I am, living a love story, an amazingly beautiful love story.

Some people say they see their future in the eyes of their future spouse.  I didn't see my future, I could never have imagined the journey we would take and I don't see what will come next.  But what I did see, and what I still see, is unconditional love.


Gavin, I can't express my gratitude that I've found you and that you love me.  Thank you for building a beautiful family with me and thank you for helping to writing an amazing love story.

New Years Eve: Auld Lang Syne

This Christmas Eve is seems both appropriate and crazy to think of times long past.  I'm overcome with the thought that 2030 is now as close to the present moment as 2000...

I spent NYE 2000 with my mom and sister watching movies and partially wondering if the world would end (or at least be seriously disrupted). In reality, I celebrate new years in GMT -8, so we already had a pretty good (aka really good idea) that everything was going to be fine.

15 years later, and  tonight I am again celebrating at home , but this year at my own home with my husband and my mom.  I have two kid of my own sleeping happily upstairs.

When I reflect on the last year, it's like some crazily perfect dream.  It wasn't perfect, of course, but the good outweighed the bad so clearly that it's difficult to even remember the difficult moments of the year.  I watched Colin go from a baby to a toddler.  I gave birth to our beautiful baby Alex.  I spent time in my husband's arms and saw family here and across the US.  I met and solidified friendships with some of the most amazing moms.  I was confirmed Roman Catholic, I worked for a nonprofit, I worked, I played, I wrote, I sang, I read "Goodnight Moon" 300 times, I hugged, I kissed, I laughed, I even (occasionally) slept.

I am proud of what I've accomplished this year.  I am proud of who I am working to become.  Most of all, I am simutaneously proud and humbled by the beautiful family I have the privledge of being a part of.

Happy New Years!

  

Merry Christmas!!

I'm way behind on blogging, but it's mostly because I'm way on time with enjoying the craziness and joy that is the Christmas season with two little ones!  It's been a beautiful Christmas season.  I didn't get everything done, nothing was perfect, but everything was wonderful!

We really kicked off Christmas this year with our trip to Palm Springs after Thanksgiving to see the lights at the Living Desert and it was a whirlwind from then on!  We got to see Auntie Cheryl and Brad, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Bev and Uncle Don, Uncle Craig and Aunt Faith and Uncle Ryan.  Shortly aferwards, we had a week with Buma and Bupa, then a quick visit to Vegas then home to rush through the rest of hosting preschool in time for Christmas! Phew!

First was Christmas Eve.  We had a beautiful day with Grandma and then a very crowded and not lovely time at mass. I can't wait until we have a church building and (maybe) enough seats for everyone!

That service was exhausting!

After church, our godson came over to celebrate with us!

Christmas Eve has always been magical for me.  Colin and I completed his advent nativity and I told Alex all about the magic that was Christmas.

I also got some sweet love from both of my boys.

But seriously, Christmas morning was awesome.  I remember that feeling of anticipation for Santa's arrival as a kid and I didn't realize you got to experience that again when you had kids of your own!!  I seriously could barely sleep.

And Santa did not disappoint!

Colin's Kitchen

Alex's Truck

Colin woke up excited.  "Open Presents with Santa today!!"  We explained that Santa had left the presents, and then we went downstairs to investigate the treasures.

"Hop on, brother!"

Colin was excited about his stocking.  There were surprise eggs inside!! (surprise eggs are plastic eggs wrapped in playdoh with toys inside... it's a youtube thing that the kids (toddlers, at least mine) are super into these days. :))

Alex was mostly excited about eating paper at every opportunity.  His brother was very helpful opening his presents!

It was seriously a magical day, especially the morning.  The kids were both so much fun.

It was a beautiful day.  We were so grateful to have Grandma here with us, and missed the friends and family who were far away.  I can't wait for next Christmas!! (and all the moments between now and then!)