True Story

I had to write this down before it seemed like a dream.  Today is Father's Day, Happy Father's Day to Jason, and all the fabulous dads in our life!  Sam and Allie were playing in the hose cleaning the bat cave, so they got all wet.  I came in and changed both of their clothes, read a couple stories in Allie's room, then came out to the kitchen.  I put Allie down, and quickly she had walked out of the room.  I went to go find where she was, and she was in her room.  She found a binkie, and when I walked in she looked at me, and pointed to her crib.  I said, "Do you want to go Night Night?"  and she shook her head yes.  I then put her in her crib, thinking "this is never going to work."  A few minutes later and she is sound asleep.  What a sweetheart!  

My Little Man

Sam today, on his 4th birthday!  
Sam last year on his 3rd birthday!  
Sam at 2 1/2... sadly, this computer is new so all of our pictures from when Sam was a baby are on a computer that no longer works.  He's grown up a lot even in the last year and a half.  

After all the family and company have left, and after all the parties are over, today is Sam's actual birthday!  My little man.  My buddy.  I can't believe he is 4 years old today.  I remember it all like it was yesterday.  We have been through a lot together, 3 houses (about to be a 4th), 2 states, a sibling's birth, and all that little (and big) stuff inbetween.  Sam was such a wonderful baby, an amazing toddler, a trying 2 year old, a mixed bag of a 3 year old, and now 4!  He makes me laugh and stuns me everyday with his incredible mind.  He challenges me to be a better mother, and a better person.  Sam challenges me in every way, usually good ways.  I know how to handle him, and I know that he is a great little boy, and he will be a great man one day.  I am so proud of him. I watch him handle situations and see him play with his friends, and I am proud.  I am proud to be his mother.  Last Thursday we went to Danny's graduation, and watching those 18 year old kids I cried.  I cried because it goes so fast, my baby is 4!  I thought about what Sam would be like when he is graduating high school.  I better not blink...  

The Birthday! Pictures 3

Allie at Sam's party.  She had a blast.  
Sam in the jumper.  He loved it!  

Happy Birthday Sam!  He had a really cool Star Wars ice cream cake.
The jumper was also a slide!  It was a lot of fun!  
Sam using his "safety scissors" to unwrap his presents.  He had a great birthday party!  Although, now he's confused because I keep telling him his actual birthday is tomorrow.  He then says he is going to be 5, because he turned 4 yesterday.  I guess that is how fast a year seems.  

The Birthday! Pictures 2

Sam and I with the giant trout walking around the trout farm!  I'm saying "yeah trout!"
Jason and Sam with the trout Sam caught.  
Aunt Lizzie fishing.  She didn't catch anything, but she held that pole in the water the whole time.  
I think Sam's favorite part was playing with the worms.  

The Birthday! Pictures

Allie and Jason at lunch.
Allie in a sugar coma.
I love her cake!  I think next year I am going to attempt my own cake... 
I don't know why the cranky face, but she sure looked cute in her dress.

The Birthdays!

With the kids birthdays being 12 days apart we have had quite a couple weeks...

Last Sunday we had Allie's first birthday party.  She was so funny.  It was a low key get together with a couple friends and some family.  My mom, Mike and Sean came in from Phoenix.  Also, Jason's mom, dad, sister and grandmother came in from Phoenix.  It was so wonderful that everyone could come.  We had a great and busy weekend.  Allie really enjoyed being the center of attention.  Sam and Sean helped her with her special cake.  

The week was a little crazy.  My mom and Sean stayed the week with us.  On Tuesday we headed down to Legoland.  It was a fun adventure, although we didn't realize Legoland closed at 5pm!  We didn't get there until 1pm!  Sam rode his first big boy roller coaster which at the end he said he wanted to go again.  Sean had a blast looking at all the Legos (he's a little obsessed with Legos), I think his favorite part was the big Lego store at the end.  Allie was an angel!  She slept the whole way down there, hung out in her stroller and when she was tired she napped.  Wednesday was Sam's last day of preschool for the summer.  Thursday was Danny's graduation from high school.  Friday we started the whole birthday weekend over again.  

Saturday my dad and grandmother were able to join us.  Jason's parents and sister came back in to town.  We went to a trout farm for Sam's first fishing trip.  Then Sunday was Sam's big party!  I was so worried about this party.  I really invited way too many little kids, but it turned out great.  We had a jumper, and a whole bunch of "stations" for the kids to do.  I had a bean bag toss, a dig for treasure, a squirt gun shoot, a pin the space ship on the galaxy, and a couple crafty things to do also.  The kids stayed really busy and had a great time.  I really impressed myself!  

Today all our company have gone home, we are tired, but happy.  We are so lucky that even though we live so far from most of our family, we are able to spend such great times with them. We really appreciate everyone coming out to the two parties.  Next year we will be celebrating them the weekend inbetween their birthdays!  Tomorrow is Sam's actual birthday, but I think we are pretty birthday-ed out!  

Here's to you our Allie Girl! Part 3

You still surprise us everyday.  Last night you surprised me by keeping me up all night, although I'm blaming it on teeth and hoping it won't happen tonight.  You have only slept through the night a handful of times, but it is worth it.  You are a sweet baby and I love you...

I woke up Allie this morning with a picture!  
She loves her princess ride along toy.

She also loves her new doll.

One of the biggest surprises Allie has brought to us is the change that she has brought to Jason.  She is daddy's girl, and he is wrapped around her finger.  I really don't think Jason expected to feel this way about a little girl.  He obviously loves Sam with all his heart, but there is something different about a daddy and his baby girl.  Since I am a daddy's girl, I understand!  
Happy Birthday Allie!  I really can't believe you are 1 years old already!  Thank you for being my baby!  

Here's to you our Allie Girl! Part 2

You really are a special little girl, with a lot of spunk.  I can't believe how fast you have grown.  

You are usually so happy, and you are a very social baby.  You are very flirty with the men, in fact Jason said, "we will have to lock her in her room from age 13 to 25!"  

Once you found out you could stand it wasn't long until you were taking steps, walking, and now...
climbing onto everything!  
You already have your own sense of style.  (You insist on wearing this hat, if you can see it, you want to be wearing it.)  

Here's to you our Allie Girl!

I want to give a little tribute to my Allie.  I still can't believe I have a baby girl.  I really wanted to know what her gender when I was pregnant with her.  I was so sure I was having a boy.  So sure in fact I told Jason, "we both know it's a boy, so let's just let the doctor tell us so we know for sure."  I will never forget Jason's words, "Yes, we do know it's a boy, but in the off chance it's a girl think of the surprise we'll feel."  I thank Jason every day for making us wait.  Not that we wouldn't have loved a little boy just as much, but Allie shocked us all!  When Jason said those words to me, "it's a girl."  I will never forget my shock, "A WHAT?"  I kept repeating it over and over.  Our wonderful Dr. and nurses were laughing at us.  It was an amazing delivery.  We really were not expecting a girl, and we were not expecting our Allie...
This picture captures a million words.  I still cry every time I see it.  
We knew from moments after you were born you were going to be very different from your brother.  You yelled and screamed the whole time.  We just laughed with you.  
You didn't act like Sam, but you sure did look like him.  When I first dressed you in pink I thought, it's kind of strange putting Sam in pink.  But, it didn't take long for you to change into such a little lady.  

The rest of the weekend...

After spending some time with Jason's family, we headed out to Mesa.  We had a busy time out there as well.  It's fun to see the kids all play together.  Sean is such a good uncle.  Sam follows his every move, and he is really sweet with Allie.  On Sunday Jason and I headed out to our friends wedding out in Queen Creek (for those of you not familiar with Phoenix, it is as far South East as you can go!)  We had a great time catching up with old friends.  It was a great night out as well.  Jason and I stayed out that way and my mom watched the kids for us overnight.  It was the first time I left Allie overnight.  There is reason #5 on my list of why I would like to live in Phoenix.  Babysitters!  

Uncle Sean, Sam and Allie playing together.  
Allie loved splashing in the pool.  
Our serious little Sam was so intent on spraying that huge pool noodle water gun!  
I can't believe I didn't get any pictures from Marcus' wedding.  Here I am before we left.  It was a really fun night!  

A quick trip to Phoenix

We had such an incredibly short trip to Phoenix this weekend.  It was very fun, and very busy! We drove in Friday afternoon and went straight to the Diamondbacks Game.  The D-Backs lost, but we had a ton of fun!  The kids were such troopers, we even stayed for the fireworks!  Here are some great pictures from the game.

Sam loved his cotton candy.  He had to get it as soon as we got to the game. 
Our family at the game.  Everyone has their DBacks gear on (except me).  The games are so family friendly, reason #87 I would like to live in Phoenix- go to more baseball games.  Sam is so into baseball right now!   
We were not even out of the parking garage before both kids were asleep.  We carried them into the house and they stayed asleep until morning!  
Allie with her Aunt Lizzie!  
The princesses.  We had a great time with Gamma, Papa, and Aunt Lizzie.  

Visit with BaPa

Last week we got a special visit from my dad (BaPa).  We had such a great time: swimming, playing and going to the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena.  It is a really great children's museum just perfect for Sam.  Allie really enjoyed herself as well.  Here are a couple cute pictures from the adventures.

Sam giving Peyton a ride on the double bike. 
Allie and BaPa. 
Sam playing in the creek. 

Karate Tournament

Before the tournament.  Sam was so serious.
During the tournament.  
Showing off his trophy.  

Last weekend Sam had a Karate Tournament.  He did so good.  He is really loving Karate.  It was fun for him to be able to show off his Karate moves to us.  He also got his first trophy.  

Easter

This Easter we had such a great day.  It was our third Easter in California, which is a little crazy.  It was one of those days that I could have been depressed because we live so far from all of our family and friends (with the exception of Nora of course, and all the friends we have met here).  But, instead our day was filled with friends and fun.  When we woke up Easter morning the kids were so excited to see that the Easter Bunny had visited.  Sam said that he tried to stay awake to spy the Easter Bunny, but he was too tired.  Sam hunted lots of eggs, and had help from Allie who found a couple eggs all on her own, and Tobi and Bird who even sniffed out a few of the hard boiled eggs.  We then headed to our friends house for a little brunch and another Easter Egg hunt.  We went home for a couple hours while Allie took a nap and Sam and Jason watched Kung Fu Panda (Sam's newest obession).  Then it was time for our Easter Bar-B-Que at the Morgan's house.  There Sam found more eggs than any other "big" kid there, those eggs were stuffed with scratcher lottery tickets (no big winners).  All in all it was a great day.  I do still miss all that family, but it's nice to know we have found our little place in our little corner of the world.  

Sam finding his Easter basket.  

Allie looking for eggs in her new hat.  Good view of the teethers!  
Daddy and his little girl.
Sam entertaining the troops.  He loves to sing and dance while playing the piano.
Allie getting ready to crash out after leaving party #1.