A little catching up

My 'monthly' updates have quickly shifted into quarterly.  What better time to post about our busy spring than half way through our busy summer!

There is SO much to post.  I'll let pictures do the talking... (There are about a hundred)

Easter

Easter Egg hunt at the park

Easter Morning hunt in the backyard.

James decorating his easter Eggs.

Enjoying our new backyard...

Catching Butterflies

Backyard campout...Maddie is NOT ready for the real thing!

Playing in the new sandbox!

James' new ride from our sweet friends.

Ladybugs!

Caterpillars!

James LOVES to help me garden!

In April I had the opportunity to go to Escondido and play with these cute kiddos!

Children's museum

James and Julie with the avocado they picked

Doing puzzles with Jesse

Babies brushing teeth together

Seeing Lilly in her play

Then we met my family in Anaheim to go to Disneyland!!

James' favorite princess!

My best friend Stacy and her cute girls.  We went out for lunch for my Birthday

My family surprised me with this cute cake.

Disneyland!!  Obviously this could have a post of its own...it was a blast!

Since we've been home from California we have stayed busy...

Taking the kids to Lake Mead

 Finding Shells

Wading in the water

Hiking through the train tunnels near Hoover Dam

Swim Lessons with Kayleen

Lots of Swimming and water fun!

James and Maddie have become such cute little friends. They love to be together....

 Ready for church

buying water softener 

 riding the carousel at the mall

frozen custard!

bouncy house

bike rides with daddy

cooking with mommy

James' first day of speech therapy

Seeing Monsters' University

James wearing his clothes backwards...Maddie not so sure about this.

New Jammies from Lady 

 Catching up on some sleep with daddy.

Children's museum

 Gymnastics class

And finally some cute visitors!

 Sad to say goodbye.

Phew...Well I think after that long disorganized array of photos we are all caught up!

James' THIRD Birthday! (and a new backyard)

Our sweet baby James is THREE-years-old!!

  It is very bittersweet.  I hate how quickly these kids grow and change, but I love the changes as they come.  James is such a fun little guy. He makes us laugh and smile all the time.  He is so sweet and kind.  He is a smart little guy and has an incredible memory (I have to be cautious with that one!).    He loves to play trucks, cars, trains, blocks, legos, ride his bike, play at the park, tickle/wrestle sister, and generally going or doing anything outside!!  He enjoys playing with kids and has made some really cute friends in our area.  He also talks a lot about his cousins.  He is so excited to see many of them in California in just a couple of weeks!!  James also really loves books.  His favorites right now include: "I wish that I had duck feet" (we read this AT LEAST three times a day), "Shape Capers", "Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom", "Alice the Fairy" and "Green Eggs and Ham".  He talks more and more everyday and often says things that take us by surprise, in a good way. We just adore this boy so much.  And are so incredibly thankful to be his parents!

James requested a firetruck cake for his birthday.  But that is what I did for his second birthday, which is why I think he wanted one (again great memory!).  I convinced him a dump truck cake would be cool too (and so much easier for mom!).  He LOVED it!!  

James' actual birthday is St. Patty's day.  It fell on a Sunday this year so we decided to celebrate on Saturday.  We filled his room with balloons, had pizza (one of his favorites), and enjoyed some dump truck cake.  He LOVED being sung the happy birthday song!!  He got lots of sweet cards, packages, gifts, letters and even money from our sweet family out-of-state.  He loved going to the mail and having something just for him from his grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins.   

 James opening presents.

On Sunday we made treats for his nursery class to celebrate again on his actual birthday.  We just love his nursery teachers.  They make it so fun for him.  He often talks about nursery class and is always excited to go to church.  

 James carrying his St. Patty's/Birthday treats to church for his friends in nursery.

 He crashed as soon as we got home with his new birthday gift.  I think he likes it!

 He had a great birthday.  Thanks to our friends and family for all the birthday wishes!!

The same weekend as James birthday we finally had our yard put in.  Dave and I love to garden and can't wait to have fresh veggies again!  Here James is helping me plant our starters for our spring crop.

He likes gardening now too.

 Now our yard is done.  We love it!  The kids basically live out there.  Dave has already made our garden beds and the kids' sandbox.  We are still finishing a few projects back there but we are so happy with how it turned out.  It makes our home feel complete.  The kids basically live out there.  Which is great by me! And pants are, apparently, optional.  

Princess Maddie's First Birthday!!!

One Year ago....

This little angel joined our family.  

I can not believe how far we have come in just 12 short months.  

Maddie has been a joy since the moment she was born.  Always happy, always a good sleeper and LOADS of personality!  She suffered a lot the first several months with very severe reflux.  So much so that she lost a pound her first month.  She would literally vomit as much as 20 times after a single feeding and would have to be fed at least every one to two hours for the first six months just to maintain her weight.  It was scary and exhausting...but through it all our sweet little girl was almost always happy!!

Now she is ONE!  No more vomiting.  Still sleeps like an angel.  And as always HAPPY and FUN.

Dave and I started a tradition with James of filling his room with Balloons on his birthday.  Since James never put anything in his mouth it was never a worry.  Maddie on the other hand puts EVERYTHING in her mouth...so her balloons were hung from the chandelier...maybe next year she can have her room filled.  She was very excited when she came down for breakfast and saw all the balloons!  "Ball! Ball! Ball! More! More! More!"

Just after breakfast I received a call from a model agent that wanted Maddie to come in for another photo shoot to model Halloween Costumes (we had gone in for a 'test shoot' last week).  We didn't really have anything special planned during the day so we went. 

 Maddie wasn't super cooperative this time, but the photographer and director both said they got some "great shots".  We weren't allowed to take ANY pictures, AT ALL.  But keep your eyes peeled for a really cute baby in an owl costume this fall!

That evening we had a party with our little family.  Actually it was just the three of us, daddy was at the hospital.

 James selected the attire.

He was Peter Pan, Maddie was Tinker Bell.

He was very excited that "Maddie-Moo One Now!"

I made them ravioli, peas and corn...some of Maddie's Favorites!

Then Daddy came home!  And we lit the candle and sang to our birthday girl.

And opened presents

 And ate cake!  Maddie was a little slow to dig in...

But she quickly got the hang of it.

 I don't think any actually made it in her mouth.

It was a fun day celebrating our sweet girl!  Happy Birthday Maddie-Moo, we sure love you!!