Decorating the Tree

This has to be my favorite picture to date!

SmartSolutions Christmas Party

We had our annual Christmas party for SmartSolutions at Dave & Busters an adult arcade. We had a skeeball and basketball tournament, and gave out some fun awards. It seems like everyone had a good time. We were happy to be able to show the employees our appreciation, since we are usually all business.

Jake's Bday

Jake and his friend Andrew both turned 3 within a week of each other, so we joined up for a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. It was a lot of fun for the kids, and a little exhausting for the parents. I guess as the kids get older, the parties become more about them then us..bummer!

Christmas Photos

Christmas Tree

We went to get our tree this year, but when we got to the lot almost all the trees were gone. The only decent one left was 9ft tall! Everyone else was buying those little tabletop trees and we come trucking through with this huge tree. It was actually a little embarrassing. They almost couldn't fit it through the netting wrap thing. I kept saying I really wanted a 6ft tree, but they don't have any. Jake had to help Daddy put it on the car. Now it is finally home, but a week later we still need to decorate it.

Santa

Our neighborhood puts on a Christmas event each year. This was the first year we went, and the boys loved it. It was so nice to not have to wait in line for Santa. Jake kept playing with his beard. They also had carolers, caricatures, face painting, and crafts. I went early thinking there would be a crowd and we were the only ones. It was great!

Spaghetti Face

Everyone has to have one of these pictures in their collection! His smile just kills me!

Disneyland w/ the Werts

We went to Disneyland with our friends and the kids had so much fun. My friend made reservations for a character breakfast. As we ate breakfast different characters would come around and visit. It beats hunting them down in the park and standing in line. Ty kept kissing them, and biting their noses (sorry Minnie) at times. The rides were great as usual. It was also nice to go with another couple, since us adults got to take a couple rides too!

Girls Getaway

Hey a post about me! Yes, thanks to my girlfriends I get to have a life of my own at times. We actually got to have a weekend away with no kids or hubbies. We always have so much fun together. I don't know what I would do without them.

Ty Dancing

Halloween

Jake was Bob the Builder this year and Ty was a spider. We trick or treated at all the grandparents (all 4 sets) the night before Halloween, and then went around our neighborhood on Halloween. Jake loved handing out candy. We set up a microphone and speaker to scare all the kids, and Jake would pick it up and say "Happy Halloween" in a scary voice...soooo cute! These pics are from playgroup when we attempted to take a pic of all the kids together. Yeah right :( So these are cropped from the group pic...sorry gals! The top looks sweet, but the bottom picture is what we are use to seeing. I feel like I am constantly saying "Be soft Jake" all day long! You can see Ty is use to it.

Pumpkin Patch

We headed off to the Pumpkin Patch as we have the last 2 years with our playgroup. It seems to get more chaotic each year as the kids become more mobile. We weren't even able to get a group pic, because the kids wouldn't sit for even a moment. We still had a great time, and felt it was worth it. We went on the pony ride (Ty looks like such a big boy) and hay ride, ate some BBQ, and picked out a pumpkin.

Jake ABCs

Cape Cod

Matt's dad and stepmom took the whole family to Cape Cod for a week. We had a great time! We got to go to Nantucket, Provincetown, and Plymouth Rock. It was beautiful there! Matt's dad held a Memorial Service for Matt's grandma and her ashes were put to rest with Matt's grandpa.

It was a lot of work with the two boys. They were off their normal routines and diet which equaled complete chaos a lot of the time. This plus Jake in the midst of his terrible twos was quite challenging...and we got to deal with it in front of the whole family. We stayed in the same house. It was great birth control for our younger brother and sisters.

Ty's 1st Birthday

We had such a great time at Ty's birthday party. It was a messy theme and the kids seemed to enjoy getting messy. It was a great time to hang out with family and friends.

My Big Boy

I cannot believe how big my Ty-ty is getting. I thought this was the cutest thing. He is such a sweet boy and he's got a smile that makes my heart melt.

Attack of the Peacocks

Down the street from our house are a ton of peacocks. Jake loves to go and visit them. They are beautiful. The last time we went we were watching about 30 of them pecking at the ground. I took out some goldfish crackers to give to Ty and when I looked up all of them started marching toward us. I was really getting scared. I picked Jake up and tried to act like everything was fine. I pushed Ty in the stroller with one hand and carried Jake with the other. It only occured to me later I could have thrown the goldfish down and they would have left us alone. One or two following us would have been cute, but not 30! I learned my lesson!

Ty Turns One!

9 Year Wedding Anniversary

Matt and I decided to start a tradition of having the kids blow out candles on a cake for our wedding anniversary. We thought it would be fun to celebrate together. Jake will take any opportunity to blow out candles and eat cake!

4th of July Parade

Our neighborhood puts on a little parade each year, and the kids get to get dressed up, decorate their bikes and parade around the field. They also play games and give out ice cream. Jake was so proud to be in a parade! Ty kept trying to crawl out...he is getting to be such a big boy!

Del Mar Fair

We took Jake by himself to the Del Mar Fair. He is big enough now to go on quite a bit of rides. He loved it, not to mention the corn!

Swim Lessons

Jake loves his swim lessons. Well every part, but jumping in from the side. I couldn't believe the progress the kids made in such a short time. Jake will go under the water and actually open his eyes and look at you. He also swims by himself with a noodle under his arms.

Surfing at California Adventure

Jake loves Disneyland and California Adventure. We have season tickets and try to go often. This was a cute pic opportunity at California Adventure. Matt is already pushing the surfing thing!! First they need to learn to swim!

Playgroup Show

Portraits

They are getting so big I can hardly stand it! I got these pics taken for a father's day present I am working on. Let's hope Matt doesn't check the blog...he usually doesn't. They are starting to interact so much. The best is when they get each other giggling to the point they can't stop. Jake is very rough, so Ty will have some tough skin.

Ty's first trip to the beach!

The weather has been so nice here! We decided to take the boys to the beach. So, we loaded up the wagon and headed out. Ty loved everything about it! He loved playing in the sand, which scares me to death (sand in the eye, mouth!). He even loved the water...he couldn't stop giggling. I'm not really sure what that kid doesn't like. He is so sweet and so happy all the time. Jake couldn't stop talking about it, and still does daily. You may find us at the beach every weekend for the rest of the summer!

Palm Desert with Papa Ted and Nana Di

What a treat!! Nana Di took the boys and their cousins to the desert for the weekend. Not only did they have a blast (Nana spoils them to death), we had a great time. We went to 2 movies, had nice, quiet dinners, and did a lot of relaxing.