Fun with Cousins

The rodeo with Sammy
Chuck E Cheese with the Finkleas - Luke hit the jackpot
Dressing up Jake, Brooklyn and Julia - so funny

Girls Night with Nana - out for ice cream in high heels, scarves and jewelry

We love having time with our family in Utah!

Mountain Climbing

The kids love hiking in the canyon near Hillstead's. We always climb to the top of the huge rock along the way and this year I was impressed with myself when I got it to the top - and with Ashley who looked like a strong little athlete climbing up and down on her own. There's something about standing atop a big rock and feeling like the king of the world! Natalie and Sammy, Steve and Shuana were with us too. Sammy looked so cute on Ty's back.

4th of July 2010

Here are the pictures I took on the 4th of July at Hillsteads. Everybody came over for dinner and then we did a huge box worth of street fireworks. I never could get used to how late it stays light there - so we had no chance of holding the kids off until dark - but we loved it all the same. All the kids took turns lighting them and running for their lives. It was great.

Tired?!

So we all have pictures of our precious little children sleeping. In their cribs, mommy's bed, car seats, even in their high chairs. But how many of us champion mother's can say we have a picture of our child asleep in the -- SHOWER?!

This was taken at the beach house after a long, long day playing in the sand and the surf. Towards the afternoon Jake finally began asking to go home and along the walk back he stumbled in his towel and collapsed in the warm sand and just laid there. We knew he was tired. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I went to check on him five minutes into his shower!

At first I thought he was dead - and then I realized he was sound asleep! I called for everyone in the house to come see and we all chuckled quietly and couldn't believe our eyes!

Dangerous, yes. Funny, yes. Will it ever happen again, I seriously doubt it. My child fell asleep in the shower. Wow.


(I wish I would have thrown a little washcloth over his bum before taking this, but my blog is private so I feel okay about documenting this memory, despite the rear view.)

Father's Day 2010

Ashley and I did the card buying this year. She chose one that says:

I Love My Daddy!

A kiss, a hug, a kiss, a hug
I'm daddy's little ladybug,
and where you are
is where I want to be.

A hug, and kiss, a hug, a kiss,
today I want to tell you this:
I really love the times
you spend with me!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

And she signed, "Frum Ashley, Claire, Anne" (the girls)



The boys addressed his envelope: To the Best Dad in the world

And it says,

Dad, here's something for you to wear on Father's Day -
(you can return it to mom tomorrow!)

Happy Father's Day!

We went around the table at dinner time and everyone took a turn to say what we love about daddy. I said that I love that daddy is always pleasant and kind. He never comes home from work kranky or bothered and always tries to connect and spend time with us with the few hours he has each evening. He makes life fun and is an enthusiastic dad - which I love about him. We are lucky to have such a good daddy!

More Pics of Baby - 20 weeks

Amazing little 3D face shot
Profile
Leg and knee shot
Piggy toes
Due date is now November 9, 2010

Beachin' It

You wonder why I am always tempted to flash a peace sign...?

On the 90 second ferry ride to Balboa Island - Ali apparently fell asleep.




A beautiful night - a wonderful trip!

Disneyland

Here's the gang at Disneyland, minus mom who was taking the picture, darn it!
I must have been in a lazy mood because I only got like ten pictures the whole day. It was busy but fun to be there. On our list of to-do's: Tiki Room, Jungle Safari,
Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Winnie the Pooh, It's a Small World, the Princesses, Matterhorn, Buzzlightyear, the Rockets, and good food!
We accomplished it all.