Need a Laugh?

Here are some of my recent favorite quotes:

While driving we see a man walking two huge dogs
Tyler: "Mama, that is not a puppy dog, that is a BUFFALO dog!"


Coming down the steps one morning after waking up . . . arms in the air swinging while saying
Carter: "Mac and Cheese Time! Mac and Cheese Time!"


After seeing a Beavers Sign:
Carter: "Go Beavers!"
Tyler: "Carter, Dadda likes Go Beavers. Mama likes Go Irish. Ty likes . . . . . . Einsteins!"


The morning after making Lollipop Ghosts for Halloween
Tyler: "Lollipop Please Mama"
Me: "We don't have lollipops for breakfast Tyler, maybe later today."
Tyler: "Ghost Please Mama"

Annamarie is 4 Months Old

Almost 15 pounds now - She is simply the best thing ever.
I know everyone get s a kick out of her brothers, but Annamarie watches them all day long grinning ear to ear. She gets schlepped everywhere, stuck in her car seat, woken up from naps, only given half of what she wants to eat, the list goes on- and is always content. It is truly amazing. Here are some current pics:

Above: She loves the jumperoo just like the boys. They will be playing around her and the minute she feels like she wants attention from them she jumps and jumps until they look and then just laughs. It's adorable.
Below: Our friends Andy & Jenise just had their third, little Sam. He is just days old. How big they get in just 4 months!

Above: Carter & Annamarie - He wants to hold her many times a day, and every time asks me "camera please?" to take a picture- so this is one of many (it's also safer than it looks!!).

Summer Finale

Uncle (Baby) Zan Get's Married!A day I officially feel old . . . and so happy. Classic words to Janna, his soon to be wife, "you won't cry" but the minute I headed down the aisle and saw beautiful tears in Zan's eyes, I lost it (sorry, Janna!), and for the rest of the ceremony. They are wonderful together. I am so happy, no EXCITED, for them and the memories ahead. Here are pictures from the San Juan Island trip:

The Ferry Ride
Above: Tyler
Below: Carter
Annamarie's smile is infectious. If I got a quarter for every time I heard "she is the perfect baby" we would have bought a vacation home at the islands . . . it's truly amazing- she never cries and is just happy. My cousin Megan made me laugh as she was talking about it and said "Anna was looking at this lady asleep on the ferry and started smiling at her and I thought 'don't waste your smiles on her'" . . . but honestly, she has that many to give. She brightens many random people's days because of it. I had to put two pictures up cause I just couldn't delete one. Infectious.
Above: Annamarie and Cousin Brinn
Below: Fun exploring in the rain (Anna is in the pack, I am holding Tyler and Carter is on Travis)
Above: My Aunt Joan with the boys at the rehearsal dinner.
Below: Morning Time with Brinn and Popi

The Big Day
Above: The boys ran to welcome Janna that morning saying "happy wedding day!" with hugs
Below: How many people does is take to get these two ready?! (BIG thanks to Paula and Jim -also seen - for babysitting during pictures and the ceremony)Above: Gigi with Tyler
Below: Tyler is with Gigi/Carter with PopiPicture Time!
My aunt tried to bribe with candy all the cousins to be good and take pictures. You can see below how that worked! It was a good effort though and VERY entertaining to see little kids beg.

Above: The look on Camden's face says it all!
Below: Zan and Janna with all the kids- even Anna (on Janna's lap). . . I love the boys all holding hands!
Above: Gigi and the boys
Below: Carter and Me
Above: Travis with my three brothers and Camden (the ring bearer)
Below: Janna with the groomsmen

First Gloves
On Labor Day I asked Travis what he wanted to do. He said "something special." Not long after we were headed to buy the boys their first baseball gloves and head to the ballpark. It was a very cool morning and so fun to sit with Annamarie in the grass and watch the proud father. We took them to one of our neighbors games thi Now they love to talk about is being baseball players. (Carter is in blue/Tyler green)

Baby Zan is MARRIED!!

I will update with pics soon but wanted to say congratulations to the fabulous couple! We had an amazing weekend- such a memorable and fun trip to the San Juan Islands for the celebration.

I have a new sister- and she is beautiful in every way. Welcome to the family Janna. We love you! And you caught yourself a true sweetheart. . . love you too, brother.

Happy times of Summer

Too much time has gone by . .. which means there is too much to write. So here are pictures that say it all (with captions to help give you a glimpse into all the fun we have been having).

First off we have been blessed by visitors. Auntie Rhonda and my dear friend Allison came one weekend. It was the first time Allison has met my "everythings" - I have been dying for her to come up and spend a little time in my wonderful world. It meant everything that she did. How much our lives have changed from the crazy ND college times. One thing hasn't, how much my Irish girls mean to me and how much I miss them so.

Above: Anna cozying up to her Aunt (Rhonda's first time meeting her!)
Below: Al with the boys for storytime.


Below: Gigi & Popi took us and the boys out on the boat. It was the first time for the boys to ride in the biscuit. My mom took them both out together. Brave Gigi!!




Below: Travis and Rhonda gave Allison and I some time to shop! They took the crew to the zoo . . . I had to laugh at the picture below- where's Anna? I think she was scared of the BIG dinosaur. The boys love the exhibit there- they are terrified in the moment but then beg for more!

Below: Then Auntie Rhonda became the big favorite when she gave the boys these dinosaurs- a huge hit!
Below: Grandma was at a hospital in Forest Grove for the last month. While going to visit her we loved going to an outdoor restaurant out there. Here is the night we took Rhonda and Al . . . so fun.


Above: Carter
Below: Annamarie
Below: Rhonda ordered hummus- I never saw her take a bite though- I think Carter ended up eating it all . . .
Below: more zoo pix (we've been regulars this summer)




Below: the boys in the dinosaur exhibit. They kept crying saying "bye bye dinosaur" . . . but then begged me to take them again the next day.
Below: Pictures from the Fair.
Gigi and Popi went with us. . . Above: Quote of the day
I told the boys the bunny is having dinner- Tyler points to the dish and asks: "Bunny's Coffee?"
Above: Something about boys and trucks- all of them wanted to catch a glimpse of the monster trucks.
Above: It was so disappointing that the boys were too little for any ride- but Gigi made up for it (below) and got the boys their first Ice Cream Cones!
Nana came over one day with Megan and her girls. Carter immediately grabbed her hand and said "Nana, COME ON" and pulled her out to the sandbox. (I thought it was too adorable and rushed to take a picture too fast- I barely got Nana in the shot!) It was so terribly hot outside and she looked so nice, that I felt horrible for her. But Nana is such a sport and loved playing with the little guys.




Adventures with Grace.
Our neighbor Grace has helped me out once a week to take the boys on excursions I can't do on my own (safely that is). . . From the Beaverton Fountain to the Zoo - the boys have enjoyed every minute. She has been a fantastic helped this summer- why does school have to start? We will miss her! (also below is her and Anna, the first time for Grace to hold a baby!)


More Boating Fun with Gigi & Popi:



Blueberry Picking: Gigi had the boys ALMOST using proper "berry etiquete". . . okay maybe not quite, but there is always next year.



Below: A little problem we have. . . so cute till one wakes the other up.
Below: She is loved.