Busy weekend...

The weekend started on Friday when we went to the beach for a few hours.  I told the kids that they had to leave me alone so I could get ready to go and this is what they decided to do. 

Jeremy had a baseball game Friday night and then again on Saturday morning.  We might as well have pitched a tent and stayed at the field.  Saturday was a hot day so when we got home from J's morning game around 10, we set up the pools in the front and for the first time this year, put up the tent and chilled on the front lawn most of the day with the George's and Jeremy's new buddy on his team, Matthew and his dad.  The kids ran back and forth from the front to the back and from the George's to our house.  Amelia sporting one of her many swimsuit changes on Saturday.

Jeremy had a team party on Saturday night so we got a sitter for the girls and headed out to spend some time with the other parents and Jeremy's teammates.  We were out until 10pm, which has to be the latest he's ever stayed up :)  Sunday morning was spent washing the car, playing outside, 6 loads of laundry (that was for me)...

Annie helped...

Amelia helped...

so did Mabel...

the boys went back and forth between playing outside, inside games and Jeremy even went with Jack to get a new turtle.  Fun stuff.

I met the newest member of our "South Bay" friends, Marley. She was born Friday morning and she's perfect.

Maybe we should have another one??!?! :)  Just kidding!

Once I got back from meeting Marley, we packed up and again, headed to the South Bay to a BBQ at Natalie and Matt's house.  Mommy and Auntie Jacqui had a group of friends when we were in 3rd/4th grade and Natalie is one of them and Amy is another.  Amy is in town with her family so we all got together.  Oh yeah, Amy's 9 month old daughter is named Skylar.  :)

Skylar, Shiloh and Mabel

Mabel's arms are sooooo tan.  

The boys playing baseball (as if we haven't had enough)

Super happy Amelia

Skylar and Skylar

The whole gang (missing Jolie...she was napping)

From left to right: Sully (2 1/2), Shiloh (10 months), Becker (almost 3), Skylar (9 months), Hayden (almost 5), Amelia (almost 3), Mabel (16 months) and Jbird who will be 5 in 10 days!!!  

I'm going to bed...I'm exhausted!!! 

Two funny comments by Jbird

Comment #1: Mabel woke up from her nap super grumpy so Jeremy turned on his sweetness. He was pretending to read her stories and sitting with her on the couch.  I joined them on the couch and told Jeremy he is such a good big brother.  He looked me right in the eye and said, "you're a good mom too mommy."  Thanks bud, I TRULY appreciate that.


Comment #2:  Mabel has a runny nose and Louise told me to rub peppermint oil on it.  I don't have any so as a fun adventure (not really but they wanted to come with me) post bath, we drove over to Aunte Weez's to have her rub the oil behind Mabel's ears.  We just pulled up, she came out and rubbed it on and then we were off.  It was like a drive through pharmacy.  Anyway, as we're driving home, Jeremy and Amelia kept asking what the smell was (it was STRONG) and I said it was oil that smelled like a candy cane.  Jeremy then said, "like your neck mommy".  I asked him what he meant and he said "you have white stripes on your neck that look like a candy cane."  Thanks a lot kid!  Those are called wrinkles and sunburn and I will remind you about this when you get older :)

Johnny's Easter Egg Hunt 2011

Another Easter Egg hunt at school but this was Amelia's first (I think...I can't remember) so that was fun to watch.  She knew exactly what to do, so maybe this wasn't her first time, and Mabel watched the whole thing from the back pack.  Teacher Chris always decorates so nicely for Easter and they put A LOT of effort into the eggs (I mean they have bubbles, stamps, crayons, stickers, candy, mini coloring books and games) so the kids have a blast for hours afterwards playing with everything.

Ready, set, go...

Mabel is super excited for things to get started...can't you tell?

Waiting for all the parents to arrive

She was so excited to find the eggs!

"I see you little egg"

Jeremy let Amelia get these...such a good big brother.

Teacher Chris sections off all around the school so the big kids don't tear through it collecting all the eggs.  So, each child is told to collect a certain number and when they do, they wait to start the next area.  Here are all the bunnies waiting to hunt in the courtyard.

Amelia and her buddy Henry (Henry is Luke's younger brother)

Jbird and Luke

My attempts at a family picture!

In case you can't read Amelia's shirt, it reads "And though she be but little, she is fierce!" ~A Midsummer's Night Dream

Courtesy of Oma!  Thank you Oma, she loves it because it's PINK!

And, they both waited patiently until we got home and ate lunch before they sat together on the trampoline and compared their loot.  

Mabel, I love the way...

I've wanted to do these posts about my kids because they are funny little memories that make me smile when they happen and I want to read this back and smile again.  So...Mabel first.  She is 16 months old now so these are also some of her newest things.

I love the way she...

climbs into my lap for a quick hug, kiss and the runs off to play again.

I love the way her cheeks are so warm and kissable in the morning. I love her white porcelien skin and rosy red lips.

I love the way she says something that sounds like "I love you" after I say "I love you" when I put her to bed.

She says "night night", "thank you", "yeah", and "done" now.

I love the way you cover your eyes and pretend to count for hide n seek.

I love the way she climbs to the end of the bed to kiss Amelia and Jeremy through the slots of her crib.

I love the way she points at EVERY airplane, bird, dog and baby while saying what it is.

I love the way she's a champ at using a fork and knows what to do with a knife.

I worship it when she stands on her tippy toes to get a kiss from Jbird.

Daddy loves the way you know he's going to tackle and kiss you so you duck your head when you hear him coming.

I love the way you look to the side when you run and I always say, "look where you're going".

You love playing baseball, dancing, hide n seek, remote controls, toilet paper, using wipes to clean things, burping baby dolls (and me when I bend over to pick up food when you're in your high chair).

I love the way she says "ma ma" clear as day and then babbles in baby language and she thinks she is really saying something.

I love the she comes in and pulls up her shirt when she's gone #2 in her diaper (maybe we'll have this girl potty trained super early).

I love the way she's fearless and goes head first down slides when she's never seen them and has no idea what's in store.

I could go on and on but I will not make this a novel.

I love you Mabel Babel.  You are truly the most edible girl and I love how affectionate you are, how FUNNY (Ryan thinks she'll be the comedian) you are and how much you love all of us.  I still try to breathe in and take in all of your being since you are my last little baby.  Ugh...I just can't put into words how much you mean to me and your dad.  Love you little stinker.

Funny Story

Our family used to spend every summer in Holland visiting family, friends and enjoying the times we would travel elsewhere using our Oma's house as home base.  There might be one thing most of you don't know, Auntie Courtney is the big sis and what she says, we (auntie jacqui and me) do.  So what did she make us do...shop for a pair of non prescription glasses so she would look "smarter".  Yup, smarter.  As if she needed that.  Anyway, we went with her to try on numerous pairs in every store we passed.  I'm not joking when I say every summer.  EVERY summer and ALL summer long.  What's the reason for this story...Annie put these on Courtney's namesake and summers of past came rushing back :)  Love you auntie courtney!

The funny part was that she LOVED it!!!  She would get mad when someone else wanted to wear them!  Uh oh...

Dr Jekyll and Miss Hyde

I wasn't going to clean the house today because it's not really been working lately.  Mabel is an angel but an angel that is into everything so when I'm trying to clean up, she follows behind me with a mess :)  She wanted a snack so I gave her a cup of dry cereal and she went straight outside.  I started to pick up around the house and whenever I checked on her, she was playing with Luna, sitting on the step, etc.  I was in our room and looked out to see her sitting quietly at the picnic table eating her snack.  SO cute.  Then I decided to start cleaning.  WRONG!

The cereal ended up all over the floor in the dining room while I was cleaning the bathroom!  She might as well have made snow angels in her cereal!

The toilet paper roll was completely unraveled while I was cleaning the kitchen.  Thank you Mabel for another interesting attempt to clean the house.  

  

Our Family

Jeremy drew this at school yesterday!  He forgot Luna so that was added.  According to J, the round thing in daddy's hand is a "bouncy ball" and the random design on the left is exactly that, "just something I drew"!

Auntie Jacqui and my girls!

Auntie Jacqui came to town for the weekend for a bachelorette party.  WE LOVE IT when Auntie Jacqui visits.  She brought presents for the kids and they have yet to part with them.  We're SOOOOOO lucky to have her and we love her more than anything!  

SISTERS

I take a "mommy and me" class every Monday with Amelia (already took it with J and have yet to start with M) and today we discussed siblings and one mommy was very emotional about her sister and how she couldn't be a good mom without her.  Made me cuddle my "sisters" a little more when I got home and it makes me excited for their futures together as girls, women and moms!!!

My little mother hen caring for her little sister

Beach Day

What a day!  Well, after almost 2 hours of prep time to get to the beach, we get there and play for a little while and then there were hundreds of little black bugs and lady bugs.  Amelia flipped out!!!!!!!  Auntie Louise offered to take her home, but of course right before they leave Amelia starts to have fun!  The pics of Amelia were during the fun time! The rest of us stayed behind and had lots of fun.  Thanks Louise for the pictures!

Buddies

More buddies

Jumping off the ledge!

Amelia's attempt to jump!

Auntie Jacqui just arrived so more pics to come!!!