Do I Say That . . . ?

Tyler had two quotes today that made me laugh. . . and it makes you think about what you actually say!

"Stinker Dinker come on down! Hey, Stinker Dinker!"  - to Anna who was crawling upstairs

"Mama. special treat please" (after getting into his carseat)
"No, you don't get a special treat after not obeying Mama"
he laughs saying. . .
"We'll see about that."

Spring is Off and Running!

Thank goodness for some nice days lately!  It has been WONDERFUL getting these boys outside just to run and play. . . bur our March was a different story- full of indoor fun.

Travis' Birthday:  Uncle Zan and Aunt Janna and my parents were all here to celebrate.  First off is the most classic pic of the evening . . . followed by the sweetest pic.

Invite our boys to any birthday party, and watch your candles! (Carter in Blue-Tyler Green)

Gigi and Annamarie

Daddy and Daughter

Uncle Zan, Aunt Janna and Tyler



The Fam

The alligator at the Children's Museum was top request in March.   The boys asked to brush his teeth daily.  If only they brushed their own teeth this well.

Tyler Red/Carter Blue

We took the boys to the driving range for the first time one rainy afternoon. I know Travis had been waiting for this day. . . and I think he was pleasantly surprised that not only did they have decent swings but decent golf etiquette.

Carter in front- Tyler back




Carter

 

Always along for the ride

A Walk with Gigi and Popi:  The boys got some practice on their trikes and we got some nice fresh air and conversation.

The men and Tyler

Carter in front/Tyler being pushed by Gigi

The boys cannot WAIT to go fishing.  They do it off our couch with hangers.  But a fisherman at the park let them see his trout.  They were amazed.

Now for the warmer days:  We have been enjoying a different park a day.  The boys regularly act like pteranadons in swings and Anna just loves it.  We run trails, hunt for alligators, dinosaurs and bugs.  No matter what I tell them about dinos and alligators- Tyler is still determined that we will strike luck in some forest.

Tyler left/Carter right

Annamarie in the swing

The boys picked flowers for me one afternoon.  They were so incredibly sweet about it. (Carter blue/Tyler green)

My treasured collection of dandelions

Tyler playing in the sand at Pirate Park.  I know by how many laughs this shirt gets when they wear it, how badly they need a haircut.

Lastly my sweetheart.  I leave her for maybe a minute? as I am giving Tyler "a talk" and look what Carter has doneto her. . .  taken a pen to her head... there was no crying, in fact they were both happy as clams so I didn't even notice it instantly until Carter got a little too giddy and excited.  This pic is for you Anna- for proof down the road:

Wearing an old outfit of mine for the last time. . . it makes me smile... no, she makes me smile.

Sure to Make You Smile . . .

 

She loves dancing. . . only her daddy's voice can trump music.

Sweet Moments

 Starting with the MOST present- I just took this picture.  I guess it was such an sweet moment for me I had to grab the camera and post it.  Annamarie thinking she's a big girl playing trains with her brothers. We think she is growing up so fast  and that she is huge but then this picture just makes me laugh and realize how SMALL she actually is.   so small.

Such a happy girl

One morning I was getting the boys dressed and the moment I took off their shirts they paused, looked at each other and for a brief moment life stood still and I thought "uh oh" cause I knew something was going to happen . . . but I never imagined this!  They started saying to one another "CHEST BUMP" and laughing hysterically while bumping chests.  Not kidding, for about 10 minutes.  They were giggling uncontrollably.  Was one of the funniest sights!  Two shirtless boys having an absolute ball- but who taught them chest bumps?  My mom tried to blame "The Irish" but when I asked them, they immediately responded "Popi!" . . . classic.

 

Annamarie was amazed by the snow

She is standing and just a little mover and shaker (literally- she LOVES dancing).  But here is where I found her a few days ago:

 

Obviously we feel the same about it.

But here is my proud moment of the last couple weeks. . . not just now able to wear a bow but feeding herself.  It's the simple things . . .

Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Ben came to visit.  The kids were DELIGHTED to say the least.  From the Zoo to Big Al's and Bowling- we had a BLAST.

 

Big Al's wore out both Ben and Anna.

She could very well have my eyes but I think Anna resembles Travis quite a bit- and even more so when I see her with Aunt Rhonda!

Our sweet cousin Holden turned 4 and what a bash!  Pinata, Penguins, Dogs and more.  Very fun.  

We love you Holden!!!

ADORABLE cupcakes by Gigi.  We drove her and my dad up there.  Weeks later the boys were still saying "Mama bumps!  Slow!  Penguins fall over!"

First time Anna is held by a cousin.  Nice work Camden!

Tyler SO BADLY wanted a peice of it.  It was a T-Rex after all.  such a hit!

Quote of the Day

Tyler:  "Mama, mama!!" (from the backseat of the car)
Me: "Yes Tyler"
Tyler:  "Mama is very very pretty"  (they always say TWO "verys" about everything)
Me:  "Thank you so much.  That is so sweet!"  

a couple minutes later we are talking about seeing Gigi . . .

Me:  "Is Gigi very very pretty too?"
Tyler:  "No. . . Gigi is . . . beautiful."

My 8 Month Old

 Look Closely!!!  Annamarie has her first tooth.  She has had her finger in her mouth for months now and finally it popped up this week.  Right as she turned 8 months. . . but it was the day before she was the big 8 when she crawled forward her first legitimate 4 feet or so. . . She long ago mastered crawling backwards causing her to get stuck under coffee table, couches, you name it and was rolling and scooting and getting to where she needed since 5 months so I am shocked it has taken this long but THANK GOODNESS.  I guess when you have pure entertainment 24 hours (her brothers) who also wait on her hand and foot- who needs to crawl?   I am just hoping my "walk at 18 months" deal with her sticks.  Although I have slowly gained confidence that she is not going to be . . . how do I say this properly. . . active? crazy busy?  downright rambunctious? okay I said it. . . like the boys.  She enjoys sitting and watching and playing much more than they ever did. . . and she is NEVER short of smiles. It's pretty incredible really.

Trying to crawl

 Not quite the dino fanatic like the boys, but darn close, she wants everything the boys have . . .  

But they have given in to playing with her things too . . .

Annamarie's first tea party. . . Carter hosted.

Our friends, the Tyackes, came over for dinner.  Gotta love these moments!

The Holidays

December came and went. . . . simply put . . . but not simply lived. It was a month overwhelmed with memories, reflection, prayer, tears, hugs, and joy. Earlier in the month we said goodbye to "Grandma." The boys still talk about wanting to see her, it's heartbreaking. But her timing, impeccable. To be a perfect beautiful soul with Ron (Grandpa) and her parents for Christmas is truly a Christmas Miracle. None of our children got her gorgeous twinkling bright blue eyes but I am reminded of her infectious and warm smile every day in Annamarie. I think she got her glow. Linda truly glowed.

One thing Linda did "big" was Christmas. And I mean "big" - the stories are great. But I do remember the first year meeting Travis and him telling me about their tree every year- pretty much Griswold style and his dad swearing like he does every year "never again." Then I saw it with my own eyes, so confused how it got there, and more so how she decorated it without major injuries! But I think both Travis and I had her in the back of our mind cause we went "Linda Style" and got the biggest tree we could possibly fit in our house. It was beautiful. . . I am sure Travis had flashbacks as we smooshed it through our front door.

We started a tradition the past two years of going to "The Home of the Noble" with Gigi and Popi.
Auntie Rhonda joined us this year. She was in town for two weeks staying with us which the kids LOVED! She got woken up every morning by two overjoyed little boys who only wanted to "see Auntie Rhonda" from the minute they got out bed.

One of the owners came up to me and said she remembered me pregnant last year as she gave Anna a smile. Wow- that made me stop in my tracks. I don't know why. It's the double effect that makes no sense- in that it's hard to imagine when my little baby wasn't in my life but yet the realization of what can all happen in a year!

Below: Popi had to do all the work cause Travis had surgery and couldn't do any lifting! He was such a good sport. . .

We went on the Polar Express this year with Uncle Mike, Aunt Kylie and Kiddos and Cousin Amy, Tom and Chiara, and all of our parents. The kids seriously LOVED every moment. From the big train . . . to the hot chocolate . . . to the bells Santa handed out and not to mention the minute we got off board, it was pouring down SNOW! Travis and I looked at each other scared of the travel home from Hood River, but later realized how neat of timing it actually was.

Above: Annamarie was the only of our kids to let Santa hold her this year. He managed to get a high five from the boys on Christmas Eve.
Below: Did I emphasized "Loved Every Moment" ??


Christmas keeps on "getting better" . . . the boys were able to think about it as "Baby Jesus' Birthday" - and they LOVE birthdays . . . plus they got really excited to pick out gifts for people- they really wanted to get Travis cookie cutters but a helicopter was their second choice- we went with that . . . . and of course they were just delighted to get gifts of their own!

Above: Carter with Anna
Below: Christmas Day we spent at my parents with Mike and Kylie and kiddos. I love the growing relationship between Elena and Anna. . . each time they are more mesmerized with one another. Even in the next picture. . . it's "Gigi who?" they can't take their eyes off each other.


New Years Eve we celebrated East Coast Style (at 9pm) with our friends Andy and Jenise and their kids Grace, Henry and "Baby Sam". . . . always a great time!
The weekend after Christmas we went to Stayton to celebrate Great Grandma's 89th birthday.

My cousin Victor and wife Mylie had twins the same year of us- Ned and Sarge are adorable!More fun memories included the boys getting to go to Zoolights with Gigi and Popi (below), Travis and I getting to go to Civil War and just more smiles in the midst of the holiday season. As you can tell Anna's brothers still love holding her and giving her attention. Besides the T-Rex's and Firehouse, she is their favorite toy. She adores them.
So goodbye 2010 and hello 2011. . . Since the second year we were married Travis on New Year's has always hoped for "A Boring Year" . . . I guess when we think about in the 5 years married we have had to say goodbye to parents & loved ones, lived in 3 homes full of their own stories, carried numerous jobs and and of course brought into this world 3 amazing kids. . . the years have flown by not empty or boring but full of blessings and memories.

Cheers to a Boring 2011!
It may be the year. . . who am I kidding? Just boring enough for me to get to the photo albums and baby books I have never touched. . . and maybe read a book. . .