Erin's Baby Shower for #2

We headed up to Sacramento for the day to Erin's baby shower!

It was fantastic, but a little eerie at the same time because the minute we entered the house, we realized it was Yaya and Papa's house! The same exact model, just a little smaller with a bigger backyard.

What are the chances? 

First time playing this game and I've been to a lot of showers!

Maria actually won it too! She was very excited to spend her prize, a $10 gift certificate to starbucks.

She got whoopie pies and milkshakes for her and Christina.

The traditional pose with Yaya. We have the same exact shot of her and Maria at Disneyland.

Instead of cake, there was doughnuts... and these quite possibly were the best doughnuts ever.

Beautiful Erin with Beautiful Lisa who threw the shower (with her mom, yes, beautiful Dale)

After the shower, we got to swim in Dale's pool. It was perfect as the weather outside was "hot".... I use the term loosely for 110 degree weather.

Summer Art Farts 2012

Water Color Sea Horses

Beach Construction/Sand Paper

Clip Art Beach Watercolors

Christina's Fairy

Maria's Snow Fairy

Maria's Captain & His Story

Christina's Fat Captain

My favorites!! Statues of Liberty!!!!!

We also did liberty bells, but the girls gave them away and I forgot to take pictures.

Patriotic Happenings

Yeah... I still have about 5 of these that I haven't mailed. Whoops.

It'll happen... eventually.

We took these pictures in June and it was freezing! The kiddo's teeth were chattering!

On the 4th we went to our ward activity. It was really good food.

The parade was great. Quotes to remember "My bike is fast, watch out." Then the little boy crashes. Maria passes him and says, "Sorry."

A little girl crashes her bike twice, hard.... she gets right up with only a couple tears and keeps on riding. I tell her mom, "Wow. She does better then some of the men at testimony meeting."

I just can't do anything rodeo related. Branding? Quote, "It doesn't hurt the cows."

Right.

Roping. Quote, "Well.... we rope because it shows how manly we are."

Ha ha. At that point I was completely done.

We didn't watch any fireworks. But Joe did make me watch Where the Red Fern grows.

Thank you.

Something is wrong when you are grateful that a dog has lived over a mean child and then the dog dies anyways.

Plus it used the word "coon" more than was my taste.

I'm hoping next year we can head to Lake Tahoe for festivities.

9 Months at almost 10 Months

At 9 Months Eli was 18 lbs (10%) & 29" (75%)

We had to do a switcheroo with pediatricians because Dr. Diedrechsen retired. She was such a wonderful wonderful doctor and I will miss her a lot. She always spoke kindly to the children, was very warm & very supportive. She was exceptional. We never had to wait in her office, we could always see her whenever we were sick. She radiated goodness.

We went to see another pediatrician, but that did not work out at all. I could tell she was a bit nit picky and I don't need someone who is going to worry me constantly.

For example, Maria's eye sight. They tested her incorrectly and recommended I go see an eye doctor. Maria had NEVER complained about her eye sight ever. However, we went (thank goodness our deductible was met) and the doctor said her eye sight was perfect.

Next the doctor shows me a BMI chart and says that Christina is "borderline at risk to be obese". Christina knows what obese is. I don't want her, at 7 years old, to start getting a complex and worrying about stupid things. She is FAR from being at risk to be obese. I then had to answer a series of questions about her activity level.

The doctor was very nice, but there were no toys to play with in the office. It was at Renown so the parking was horrid. It just wasn't a good fit.

I asked around at church and found a SUPER doctor. Dr. Altoff. He was absolutely perfect. He's catholic with 5 kids, down to earth, loves to talk & is super gentle with the baby. I know we're going to have a great relationship with him. His office I went to a couple times as a kiddo and it was weird flashbacks. It's right by Dr.Mellum's so it really feels like home.

Sigh.

Relief.

Eli is my sweet little smushball. I could kiss his cheeks constantly.

Except at night. He drives me bonkers.

His sleep is basically non-existent at this point. He's been crawling really well for about a week now and I think at night time he wants to keep crawling. It wakes him up because he's so mobile.

I'm hoping we'll get back to at least 3 hours in a row sometime within the next minute.

However, God knows best.

All is well.

I have to record this so when lil' Ella or Gloria comes I can remember....

Eli loves to play with cars, especially the barbie jeep & barbie camper that make fun music and noises.

Hopefully, Santa can find some fun noise vehicles that are a bit more masculine for him.

He knows how to wave, clap, give besos & show his pointer!

He's an absolute love bug. Loves watermelon, cantaloupe & raisin bran flakes (that are wet).

He's my special helper in the morning and sits in the stroller while I water my garden. Sometimes I will lightly spray him and he loves it!

Hot Weather & Swimsuits Make a Good Mix

We were wait listed trying to get a family pass to the local golf course swimming pool, so in the mean time it's off to other water adventures.

Artown- Opening Night Bombed!!!!!!

Man.

Sigh.

Artown was a total flop for the opening art kid's night. There were 2 things for the kids to do besides wait in line for a balloon & face painting. Such a disappointment because last year was just plain awesome.

The girls colored free bags, but no free T-shirts.

Bubbles.

The yearly mural.

A volunteer was telling a 2 year old to try coloring in the lines.

Bubbles the clown.

We waited for 20 minutes for our balloons, which popped within 10 minutes.

But, the face painting NEVER ceases to amaze. It is art at it's finest.

This year Maria wanted a unicorn.

Eli was so done. He can recognize mediocrity immediately.

On the way out from Artown, we saw tons of smoke from yet another fire by my Yaya's house.

A man had road rage at me and then I felt the over whelming desire to ram the white maiden into him. But I didn't. I just shouted back at him.

Good things to teach my children.

I blame Papa.

We went to our special spot, Whole Foods, where we've been basically the whole week. I introduced Joe and he's hooked. It's just this super-cool-out-of-Reno-you're-actually-in-Oregon vibe you get when you're there, the foods awesome & they have a nice outdoor patio to eat on.

Pigs in a blanket for Joe.

Clam chowder, corn bread & pizza.

SALAD BAR!!!! FUN!!!

Whole Foods salvaged the night.

Until.

The ride home took about 1 1/2 hours because we kept having to pull over for emergency vehicles. Not only was there a fire by Yaya's but a fire 15 miles from our house.

Poor Nina was so scared. She started crying and when we got home she held my hand and said, "I know it sounds complicated, but I really don't want the house to burn down."

Sweet babe.

She managed to calm down and finished the last chapter of Moroni!!

She read the entire Book of Mormon!!!!!!!!

All by herself!!!!

Every night we would read silently along while she read out loud.

She's amazing. 7 years old.

And she's read an entire book of scripture.

I must say my favorite time of the day is relaxing with them and listening while the girls read the Book of Mormon. I know that they are better readers because of that. But more importantly, they are wiser and more in tune with the spirit. I'm constantly amazed at their good examples and kind souls. I know that as they read their scriptures, they will be blessed. They will have peace and joy that can't be found anywhere else. Truly, life would be meaningless without the knowledge from these sacred books.