65!

I hope I make it into this club someday.

Photo by Sara Westbrook

Santa Ynez

Happy Birthday Sister.

127

Daaaa, da da da da daaaaa, da da da da daaaa...

For their birthdays this year, we sent Avery (7) and her grandma's to the Phantom of the Opera production in Las Vegas.

Avery came back with a $40 mask that she bought with her "own"* money. Clearly, this will sit on a shelf until some sorority party in 2022.

We're missing a grandma here. She must be out riding the gondola.

*For the record Avery, you did get some birthday money this year, but you also steal from your brother's piggy bank.

85!

(I had to sneak this picture of my mom in b/c I think that she and Cruz look alike)

Special thank you to Sara for photographing our special day!

Breakfast and Bedhead

Mothers Day 2011

Perfectly warmed poptart, peanut-butter for dipping, chocolate and nuts for topping and a broken up Stinger bar for...protein!

One.

Birthday Menu:

Ribeye
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Pizooki a La Mode

(all of Cruz's favorites)

32...33??

Here I am, the big 3-2 - actually the big 32 and 9 days to be exact - and although 'big' is not the operative word here, I do hope to look a little less...um...healthy when the next bday comes around, but for now I'll just enjoy the fact that carrying some extra padding fills in the burgeoning wrinkles ;)

Until a couple months ago I thought I was going to be turning 33 this year which I was kind of excited about (I just like the way the number looks) but it turns out that I was only 31 all of last year so I guess I get a bonus year. So here's to being 32 all over again!

Watercolor by Avery.

Six

Avery's 6th birthday was all about seeing how much sugar we could consume. We kicked off the occasion in California the day before we left with these delicious treats provided by Grandma Leah. If I could remember the bakery they were from in Redlands I would give a shout out and tell you to try the lemon cupcake next time you're in the neighborhood but I don't know the name. Looks like it'll be Cuca's burritos followed by cupcakes next time we are home.

On her actual birthday we did the treats for school thing. I was planning on making cupcake lollipops for the class but we found this pretzel butterfly cupcake idea and it was easy enough that Miles and Avery could decorate all of them by themselves. Ben helped me make the cupcakes, I frosted them and the kids decorated them. They actually didn't turn out as badly as I thought they would. I made some chocolate and some funfetti - next time, and I should have known this, I will only make one kind because even though giving a class of kindergartners a choice of vanilla or chocolate seems like a good idea - it only causes problems. Everyone wanted chocolate.

To my amusement and slight horror Avery went to the front of the class after she thought everyone was done eating and gracefully got their attention (think clasping hands and looking around at everyone and saying "I'll wait" until everyone appeared rapt). She then proceeded to thank everyone for coming to her party (she did acknowledge that they had to come anyhow, but that she was grateful for their attendance that day) and then told everyone that after they got their backpacks and jackets that they could come up front and meet her little brother Miles. And I'm pretty sure she was wearing a tiara at the time. Her teacher (who I absolutely love) was like "uh, no, everyone needs to get in line for the bus" (I asked the teacher if she would be surprised that Avery was the daughter of not one but two ASB presidents (which isn't indicative of anything except that we like attention and a certain degree of power. i'm pretty sure I ran uncontested, not sure about Ben) and without flinching (or smiling) shook her head no. Anyhow, Avery has much more of a presidential presence than either of her parents and I have a feeling her campaign has just begun)) So instead we had Miles give high fives down the line as we made our exit. Avery rode the bus home. Not for any reason other than she loves to.

Then we went home and made cupcake lollipops (without sticks) (a baked cake mix crumbled and mixed with cream cheese frosting and formed into balls then dipped in white chocolate and decorated. This was way to much sugar even for me. But it's a cute idea.

Anniversaries

Today marks one year for us in the state of Washington. I feel that we have accomplished a lot but so far we have seen very little of the Pacific Northwest. Something I hope to change in the coming years. One year in Washington also means one year since we were living it up in the land of Aloha. For the most part we don't speak of our premature departure from Hawai'i and I'll admit that on more than one occasion I have gotten emotional at the thought of what we left behind (occasions such as an infrequent Washington rainbow or Miss Hawai'i's hula during the Miss America pageant). But being that it is summer and summer in Washington is glorious and the days are long (still a little chilly for my taste) we are excited about the possibilities and the adventures that await us.

Today marks two years since I started the blah blah blog and looking back at some of the earlier posts I am so glad that I have such a fun record of our goings on or at least of my perspective of our goings on. Now I just have to do as intended and get it bound so that all will not be lost should cyberspace implode.

Coincidentally, my first post two years ago recounts events all too similar to those of today. A day that marks eight years of marriage and more than one occasion of forgetfulness. Luckily, it is a marriage that is not weakened by such oversight - oversight which is made up for many times over by daily courtesies, affection and lots of laughs. We're a good team, and I look forward to not celebrating many more anniversaries with him in the future.

A gift to the earth.

What is more appropriate than a kid becoming completely potty trained* on Earth Day? It's the only gift a little guy, ahem, "big boy" can really give. No more diapers in the landfill from this dude. I was hoping that he would be trained before we moved into the new house but was thinking this might just be wishful thinking. But the Easter Bunny's gift of the undie megapack helped make a mom's pleas reality. At first he wanted to wear about five at a time - I get it, he was used to the padding- now he will wear one or two at a time and if they have a large character on the rear he insists that it go in the front (he's not the only one). Which looks a little uncomfortable to me. But I'm not complaining as long as he is keeping them dry. He's even amazingly waking up dry in the morning - I'm not going to risk going without a pull-up yet though.

His nursery teacher commented that when she took him potty he told her he wanted to stand on the potty to go. Oops, I guess this is what happens when most of your training happens in a porta-potty (at the lot) and now that it is warming up, I have been encouraging the go pee outside method. Yes neighbors - the Westbrooks are moving in...and marking our territory. (At home he stands on a stool and when we are in a public place I hover him over like an airplane)

Binkless and potty trained - now if we could just get him out of our bed at night...

--

*Who determined he was completely potty trained? Me, his mother. I am accepting accolades for this achievement (on behalf of Miles of course).

Amy + Adam

Amy - If you're not going to post them, I am...

Crazy kids.

On the beach in Utila. Cute as can be.

Love the cake AND the flowers!



After they swam with them, they ate them.

Congratulations Amy and Adam. May you enjoy many beautiful sunsets together!

Photos by unknown.

Where a kid can be a kid.

On her actual birthdate we celebrated with chocolate lava cakes and ice cream but what she really really really wanted to do was go to Chuck E. Cheese. I didn't know if I could do it, but I put my child first and we went. I made her a castle cake (out of boxed funfetti cake - can you believe it Chelsey? Horrifying I know.) and let her have all the tokens she wanted. Unfortunately we ordered their pizza. Ben refused to play me in air hockey - he's never beat me - but played DDR (against the kid who had been there for hours sweating up a storm - you know there is always one of them). Miles thought the fun of tokens was just putting them in the slot and moving along his merry way. I hit the lucky jackpot on a couple games and scored major tickets, which would ensure that we came home with lots of junk.

Things were really going fine until the party moved in at the table next door. The birthday girl was turning two - as evidenced by her princess sash she was wearing, that went with her princess dress and princess crown. And her balloon bouquet. And her two professional airbrushed Disney cakes. And her mound of presents. Well, looks like it was time for us to be going...I can't compete with that.

Two.

It just wouldn't be two without a couple trips to timeout and a swat (not a celebratory one) on your big day. Two means being able to move large chairs around the house so you can reach and climb on whatever your little heart desires. Two means being able to tell on your sister in full sentances. Two means that, thanks to your friends and family, you finally have some boy toys and no longer have to watch Barbie and the Diamond Castle if you want to play with trains and cars instead (although you do sing that Connected song real good buddy). Two means you've only got a few more teeth left to come in and only a few more months left in diapers...except that you need them to keep your pants up. Two means that you can say repeated prayers but you can also throw in a "thank you for my Thomas train" at your own will.

We love you Miles and we're so glad that you are TWO!!

Note- More on the bday celebrations later...