Collin quotes of the day.

Ok, my youngest is crackin me up these days! I started writing down the things he has said to me this weekend so I'll always remember them. He's going to be 4 yrs. old next month and he surprises me everyday with what he comes out of his mouth.
This morning as I'm gently waking him up for church he moans, "I don't want to go to church. Because....it makes me nervous." LOL
After trying and trying to chase the "grumpies away" so that we can get up and ready for church, I finally coax him with "I've got Chocolate milk waiting for you downstairs." He says "Yes, I want chocolate milk" and walks downstairs with me. Then after he gets a hold of his cup he says "But I'm NOT going to church!"
He's not always so grumpy. The other day I was driving around my old neighborhood where I grew up and telling my older boys how I had to walk to school (uphill both ways in the snow and barefoot) and how I'd come home and let myself in with a key and do my HW until my Mom came home from work. Gage says " I'm glad I don't have to come home alone after school." Then little Collin says "I'm glad I have you, Mom. I'm gonna get you a really special toy for you birthday." *ahhhhh

Then today I catch him...well, rather than explain...let me just SHOW YOU:

Poor Mr. Toad. Should I be alarmed?

Bryson turns 9!

On Saturday, our middle child turned 9 years old. When I asked Bryson want he wanted to do for his birthday he said "I dunno." (as usual) I then asked him if he'd like to go somewhere special for his birthday dinner. His eyes lit up and he said with a big 'ol cheesy grin..."SUSHI!!!!!!"

So, Matt and I took Bryson out for his first time to a Sushi Restaurant. He decided weeks in advance that he wanted to try Octopus. So, he ordered a "Spicy Octopus" Roll along with a "Rainbow Roll" (topped with red snapper, tuna and Salmon), a Yellowtail Roll and a "Dragon Roll" (topped with eel). He ate all of them but he said his favorite was the "Rainbow" Roll.

Instead of a birthday cake, Bryson requested a homemade Key Lime Pie topped with real whipped cream. I have to say he made a good choice...YUMMY!As you can see he had a GREAT time opening presents. Gage and Collin gave him his favorite candy ("Juicy Drop Pop") and a DS game he's been wanting ("Mario vs. Donkey Kong ~March of the Minis"). Matt and I gave him the game of LIFE (SpongeBob Version) and "Funkeys". An online game he's been talking about since last Christmas time. I finally broke down and let him have an internet game. (I sure watch him like a hawk when he's online though.)

When I asked Bryson what his favorite part of his birthday was he says "staying up late!" Bless his heart...he only got to stay up until 10:30pm because we had to get up for church the next day. We have a tradition that on your birthday you can stay up until it's over (midnight). Now that Bryson is 9 years old...he is so "too cool for school". BUT...he still gives me the best hugs and never complains when I still kiss him on the cheek and call him my "Snugglebunny" (as long as it's not in public!) I just love this boy.

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED BY LISA!
This is what I'm supposed to do. List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 surprising facts and then tag 5 other people. Leave a comment for the people you tag so they know they have been tagged. So here it goes:
JOYS:
Enjoying the outdoors with my family and taking tons of photos.
Movie night with airpopped popcorn, licorice and cuddling in my P.J.s.
Laughing with my family and friends

FEARS:
SNAKES
Disappointing others
Being vulnerable (in any given situation)

OBSESSIONS/COLLECTION:
PHOTOS
Disney/Disneyland
Clothes (good thing I have all boys who don't give a care)

SURPRISING FACTS:(I'm pretty much an open book when you get to know me.)
*I have fear of snow that gets worse with age.
* I have been accused of having OCD (mostly by my husband) What?! I like to count and sometimes I have to keep counting until I end on an even number and oh yeh..I have to tap my fingers until I end on that number. But...everyone does that, right?!
*I may have all my boys hair combed neatly when we leave the house but my house is not NEARLY as neat. ha ha
I tag the following individuals: Kristy, Karalee, Kari, Heather and Masha.

Collin finds a new friend.

Daddy caught it for him when we went on a hike. Fortunately he also found two little toad friends at the same time. So, we have have 3 toads for 3 boys. Their names: Mr. Toad (Collin's), ObiwonToady (Gage's) and "Flyswatter" (Bryson's) .

Cooling Down-Sprinkler Style & Piggy Saves the Day!

The boys and I shared a lazy summer day at the park with Karalee, Kelsey and Jayden (and little cousin). After a picnic in the shade, the boys (Gage and Collin, that is) gleefully jumped around in the water playground. Gage pretty much dominated the big yellow squirt gun.

And Collin...well....he mastered his own squirt-gun skills!

Bryson, of course, decided the water was too cold to enjoy and so he sat around with this notorious expression...

until...

...he met "Oreo" the Pot-bellied Pig! *ahhhh

That Piggy Saved the Day!

Grandma's 93rd Birthday!
(Grandma & Aunt Sheila)

For Grandma's birthday, Aunt Sheila, my Mom and I took Grandma for a drive to Lake Arrowhead for lunch. We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather! We watched the ducks in the lake, had a delicious lunch at Woody's Boathouse Restaurant (what a view) then ate ice cream while we sat in the shade and watched the boats on that gorgeous blue lake. I love my Grandma! She is so dear to me and I can only HOPE I'll look as good as her , have her sense of humor and wit someday.I had so much fun listening and laughing while my Mom and Sheila recounted childhood memories. I'm so blessed to have these 3 women in my life. My very wise Aunt who has given my countless advice and a good listening ear. My Mama who has shown me nothing but unconditional love and knows how to comfort me like no other person on earth. And my Grandma who has always been someone I looked up to for her strong sense of independence and always making me feel appreciated and loved. I love you all!
(My Mama and Me)

(check out our view)

Gage turns 11

Gage turns 11!!!
(Scary lookin homemade 4 layer chocolate ice cream cake. But it tasted good! ha ha ha)



My first-born is now 11 years old and boy do I feel OLD! Gage is such an easy-to-please kid when it comes to birthday celebrations. He told me to just "surprise" him with whatever I wanted to get him for a present. He has been wanting a Video Camera and saving up for one thinking it would cost hundreds of dollars. We surprised him with a pocket sized Video camera called a "Flip". It records 60 min of footage with lower quality than your typical video camera, but we figured for endless hours of LEGO STAR WARS movies, it would do. Gage was THRILLED! He took it with us to the Ventura County Fair and filmed just about EVERYTHING!

Bryson knew just what Gage would like... a "Lego General Grievous Starfighter" to add to his Lego Star Wars creations. (*it still makes me laugh at the realization that I have boys and they love Star Wars...*shaking my head)