Mom's Last Day

On Mom's last day here, we went to feed the ducks and play at the park. We all really enjoyed her visit. Sophie warmed up to her right away, and it was nice to have another set of arms that she was willing to go to.



What do ya mean, I'm supposed to give this bread to the ducks?


Look, I don't eat sand anymore!! Mommy is sooo excited about that!

The Mickey Mouse Club

Since Grandma did such a nice job getting up early with the kids, caring for our dog, and cutting down trees in our backyard over the last few days, we decided we'd give her a day off and let her chase the kids around Disneyland. Good work, Grandma!

Waiting for Nemo

Maddie wanted to ride the Nemo ride right when we arrived. Kent, unknowingly, offered to wait in line with her for Disney's most popular new attraction. About two hours later, way to persevere Dad!, they got on:

Tea Cups

We all love the tea cups! Here's Kent and I waiting . . .


So worth the wait! Look at the smiles!

Pirates

Waiting for the pirates ride. . .


Maddie gets a lift from Uncle Adam. After all that standing for the Nemo ride, she was tired out.

Maddie and Daddy

Kent and Maddie enjoyed the last ride of the day. Mommy chickened out for this one, too high for her.

Look closely, there they are!

Little Valentines

We had a nice Valentine's Day. Kent got valentines for all the girls in the house, including Grandma Connie who's here for a visit. Madeline got her first box of chocolates, and Sophie got a stuffed animal monkey from Daddy. Super sweet.

California Girls

Me and my sickie. Sophie woke up this morning with some kind of stomach virus. Yuck! I'll spare you the details, but it was apparent that she had some kind of bug after a few diaper changes.
Anyway, I thought I'd take the girls to McDonald's for breakfast since Kent went to golf at 8 and the housekeepers were coming at nine. Well, as soon as we sat down and I started to get Maddie's pancakes cut for her, I heard Sophie coughing. I looked down to discover the table and Sophie covered in puke. I decided the clothes she was wearing were almost too small and just threw them in the trash. Between the parking lot and our carport, Sophie managed to puke 3 additional times, all over herself and the car seat. The poor thing just stood completely naked in the carport crying while I realized I had just used our last baby wipe to clean the buckles so I could unlatch her. Since the car was out of commission and Kent gone for a few more hours, we walked over to the 7 Eleven for some overpriced wipes and pedialyte. Crisis resolved. After a nap, she seemed much better, and we opted to hang outside where the temperature had surpassed the 80 degree mark.


Come on, Maddie! It's not that hard to crack a smile for your mama.


That's better!


By the afternoon, Sophie felt good enough to take her popper for a walk and to play in the car seat I had washed out with the hose a few hours before.

Sibling Fun

Look at sweet Maddie; she's just making a little mud and enjoying the warm weather Friday evening. Such innocence, right?


Wait a minute!!! It looks like she's trying to feed her little sister some dirt! Shocking what older siblings will do their unsuspecting little ones, isn't it Josh?

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Rub-a-dub-dub, Cousin Emmet's in our tub! We thought we'd spice up bath time Saturday night. After some initial resistance to change from the babies, a fun time was had by all.

Homework

Maddie's homework this week was to make a mailbox for her Valentine's Day party. It turned out really cute.

Rainy Days

Yuck! We are having some nasty weather around here. Since we're cooped up inside for the day, we filled our morning with an impromptu bath.



Those nine teeth are old news, Sophie has ten now!

15 Month Check-up

We visited our doctor today for Sophie's 15 month well-baby-check-up. She's picking up new things every day. She knows the hand motions (o.k., some of them) to the "Wheels on the Bus" and "The Itsy-bitsy Spider." She'll attempt just about anything she sees her big sister do. She can say Mama, Dada, dog (more like "da"), hi, and nana (as in banana). She is quite the eater these days with her 9, yep 9, teeth. She's trying to be more civilized while eating by using her own spoon and fork, and I try to serve her food in bowls and on plates rather than just dumping meals onto her highchair tray. Here current stats are as follows, drum roll, please:

Weight: 23 pounds, 6 oz. (60%)
Height: 31 and 3/4 inches (92%)

Pictures

As you may have heard, my sister is planning to leave me in a couple of months. She will be heading to Montana and taking the little one with her. So we decided to take some pictures of us and the kids together while we still could. No hubbies are pictured since they could not be talked out of their day of golf, beer, and football play-offs. How could that sound like more fun than professional pictures with 3 little ones??? Anyway, we were quite pleased with how the pictures turned out, even with out those silly guys.

15 Month Skills

Sophie shows off some of her skills.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Adam

Maddie and I were looking through some old pictures and video on the computer tonight when we came across this picture from January 2003. I was pregnant with Maddie, and Jessie and Adam weren't even married yet. It's hard to believe 5 years have passed since this photo was taken. Happy Birthday, Uncle Adam!

Headed Home

Here we are at Dulles, ready to board our flight back to LAX. The kids look just about as excited as mom and dad felt to be embarking on a six hour flight.

Nanty Glo Snow

While in PA, Maddie amused herself with some left over snow.

Kent shows Maddie the hill where he sledded as a kid:


A little snow stomping:

Nanty Glo, PA

From Va, we traveled to PA to spend New Year's with Kent's Gram and help her celebrate her 91st birthday. Above, Maddie is standing in front of the house Grandma Shirley grew up in, and where her Mom, Kent's Gram, still lives.

Four generations of mothers and daughters: Gram, Grandma Shirley, Aunt Dawn, and baby Eddy.


Happy Eddy:

For Cousin K

Thanks for letting us play with all of your toys, especially your jumper. We miss you already little cousin!!

New Balance

Sophie trying out her new New Balance shoes from Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Shirley.

Lincoln Logs

Maddie finds a quiet spot to build with a classic toy from Granpa Dean and Granny Mel.