We're back to using Shutterfly only

Hi Family & Friends - if you stumble upon our blog and are wondering what we're up to, head on over to our Shutterfly website (email me if you don't have it).   I've been attempting to update our pictures there.  

Months of pictures.....

My New Year's Resolution is to keep this blog updated.   Until then, yes I'll wait until then,  here are a TON of pictures.

May (kids 3rd birthday, soccer class, fun around the house, zoo, strawberry picking):  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKJeI

June (playing golf, helping Daddy build shelves, swimming with friends, baby shower for Samantha, our 10 year anniversary in Napa!!):
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKJh4

(no July pictures because I broke the camera)

August (trip to Bass Lake (where the Great Outdoors was filmed) with Kurt, Cali & kiddos, visiting family in Fresno, visit with Sherry, Trey & Owen, Train Town in Napa, trip to Tennessee to see Brooke, Dan and Logan and finally PRESCHOOL!!):
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKJjw

September (Bella and Brady visit for the weekend, visit with Shawn, Cathy, Aiden & Ryan, we hosted a "cousin carnival & sleepover" (with Bella & Peyton):
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKJlo

Where oh where have we been?!

I really had big plans to keep this blog updated regularly and here I've gone 5 months without a single post.   I kept getting further and further behind on picture uploads.   I finally sat down and uploaded through April.  
We were busy with packing and moving AGAIN, busy weekends, visiting family and lots of fun times.   I added comments to the majority of the pictures so you can tell where we were or what we're doing.  

January Pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKJBw

February Pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKJD4

March Pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKJFg

April Pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKJHo

PHEW!    I will try my best to update more often.  

February 2012 comments

Tanner: "This is my right hand, this is my left hand, put them together (clap) and make a wave."

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Daddy: "Wow Lila, you're great at catching the ball.

Lila: "I grew up, I'm not a baby anymore."

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Tanner: "Lila didn't talk to me upstairs"

Mom: "Why, were you trying to talk to her?"

Tanner: "Yes and I'm waiting to be sassy to her."

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Lila: (at bedtime) "Mommy, wake me up if you have to go potty and I will help you."

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Tanner: "When I grow up I can pick up everyone, I can do dishes, I can put toys together, I can make lunches."

Lila: "When I grow up I can use a knife! I can use scissors."

Mom: "Yes, we can get you kids scissors."

Tanner: "No, I want people scissors, like big kid scissors."

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Tanner: "I don't get buckled in the car."

Mom: "You absolutely get buckled in the car."

Tanner: "No, because I'm a worker."

Mom: "You always get buckled in the car. You are a hard worker. Where do you work?"

Tanner: "In Boston or something like that.

Mom: "Where do you live? What town?"

Tanner: "What state? Brentwood. California."

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Lila: "I'm going to go to Paris."

Mom: "What are you going to do there?"

Lila: "See my friends."

Mom: "Oh, you have friends there?"

Lila: "I have cats. I have cats to snuggle. They get out of bed and I scream to my cats."

Tanner: "We're talking about you Paris."(looking at a pic of Paris on the wall)

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Tanner: "You're my best friend in the world."

Daddy: "I love you."

Tanner: "Thanks."

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Lila: "I'm a girl. I like purple. I eat fruit snacks. I have a purple bed. I have purple blankets.

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December 2011 Pictures

I got the first few pictures from my mom of the kids picking walnuts at her house while I ran some errands and their gymnastics class they started in September.   All were taken in October but I wanted to include them.   They've being doing AWESOME in gymnastics.   I'm fairly certain Lila is going to be a gymnast (holds herself on the swinging bars, doing a "chicken wing", on the parallel bars brings both feet all the way up and touches the bar and balances perfectly on the high beam) .   Tanner's skills lie in sports, throwing a spiraled football and a very fast baseball.  :-)

Highlights include:
Playing outside - the typical high for the "winter" has been 64!! - so lots of park time, picnics, etc.
Christmas lights at the zoo with Sunshine, Kevin & Shiloh
Trips from Gram, Auntie Bri & Justin.   Aunt Anna & Florence.   Grandma Carol from Oregon!   Uncle Denny & Trenton from Palm Springs.
Breakfast at Panera - they LOVE it there, which is a good thing because I do too!
Christmas Eve with the Bayers', Artzer's and Armstrong's.   And, visiting with Auntie Love, Mira and Aubrie (2 times in two months!)
Christmas morning, getting their big kids beds!   They'd been asking for a good 2 months so Santa delivered them.   They slept in our room while Santa & Daddy put them together.
They are just like me and love everything about Christmas.   We went on drives to check out the lights a few times a week.  I took the decorations down just after New Year's while they were napping.   Lila woke up first and was able to help a bit.   She was sad but then Tanner woke up to everything being gone.   He was crying about the Christmas cards being down.   Then said "not the stockings too."  So sad!
Overall, the month of December was a bit rough.   They had 3 back to back colds that started in Disneyland.  Actually, I think it was the same one they couldn't shake.   We had a break for a few days around Christmas so at least that was enjoyable.   They were cranky, moody and not themselves.   Luckily they got better and are back to their rascally (in a good way!) selves.

Link to the pictures:   http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKI8Y

Comments from the Cuties - January 2012

Tanner: (around 6:30AM, still dark outside and got turned around in the hallway) "I looked outside and said it's LATE. MOM! I was making my way to your room and got lost."

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Lila: (putting her breakfast at her booster chair): "Come on mommy, I want a big kid chair."

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Tanner: (to Mama) "You are my best girl in the world."

(few days later) "I love you Daddy, you're my best friend."

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Lila: "Mommy, do you have a baby in your belly?"

Mama: "NOOOOO!"

Daddy: "Do you want to have a baby brother or sister?"

Tanner: "I want a dog!"

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Lila: (wearing tights) "These are like long socks but actually they're not."

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Mama: "What do you think about buying the house with the pool?"

Tanner: "I'm going to sleep in the bonus room." (lots of talk about the bonus room, future play room)

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Lila: (to Tanner) "Did you seriously just do that? That's gross!"

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We ran into Target for a couple quick items so the kids walked in with me (no cart!). They were grabbing everything in the check out line.

Mom/Mommy (no longer Mama) :

"PLEASE stop touching everything."

Tanner: "I'm sorry Mommy, you're my best girl (big hug on the legs)."

Lila: "I'm so, so sorry Mommy. I will NOT do it again."

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Lila: "So how was your day?"

Tanner: "It's almost over."

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Comments from the Cuties - December 2011

Yeah, yeah....finally getting these over here!

Tanner: "This is awfully wobbly." (holding his lego creation)

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Getting the kids in the car.....

Daddy: "I'm going to put this (bag) in my seat" (drivers seat)

Lila: "Actually it's mommy's seat."

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Talking about Christmas....

Mama: "Should we leave out cookies for Santa?"

Kids: "YES!"

Mama: "What kind do you think Santa would like?"

Tanner: "Blue spicy cookies."

Lila: "Purple crackers not cookies."

We got talking about Santa listening to music and getting here in his sleigh....

Tanner: "He likes Saturday Night" (T's favorite song)

Lila: "Oh, he likes Justin Beiber. (L's favorite).

Or, he likes Hot Potatoes (a Wiggles CD). We have Hot Potatoes in my car."

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Mama: "What does Santa say?

Lila: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a too good night."

Tanner: "Ho, ho, ho Merry Christmas."

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Tanner: (telling me) "Maybe Daddy can help with this. He's stronger and has big muscles."

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Lila: (going down the slide) "I went on my belly. I didn't hit my forehead 'cause I was really careful."

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Tanner: "Let's go to Target. Let's just LOOK at toys."

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November Pictures

Link to the pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKI2w

We started the month at the last Summerville Bears (my old high school) football game of the season, where Kurt coaches.    It was so cold in them thar' mountains!   The kids had fun playing on the grass and calling for their Uncle.  

I left my camera behind so we then skip to the middle of the month.   We hosted an early family Thanksgiving at our house.  Lila and Bella were glued at the hip.   We didn't realize until later that Tanner was so cranky because he felt left out, his feelings were hurt.   :-(   I think the girls will have to look out when Brady gets a bit older.   I kept things simple and prepped a lot the night before, thanks to Justin & Bri, so I had no stress.  Jacob was traveling all week and got in late the night before.

We then had a few days with Rob, Sherry, Trey & Owen.   We had a very relaxing Thanksgiving of appetizers and football.    The boys have grown so much since we've seen them and are SO sweet and great with Tanner & Lila.    T and L love to be "big kids."   Trey and Owen didn't act at all bothered with two year olds at their sides.   My favorite memory is our dance party, listening to Nicki Minaj's Super Bass.   Tanner ran around the house moving his arms up and down saying "Nicki Minaj, Nicki Minaj, Nicki Minaj."   Ah, our kids and their love of dance music!

We then had a quick, but much appreciated visit from Love, Darren, Mira & Aubrie.   It had been WAY TOO long since we've seen the girls.   It was so nice for the kids to meet each other and actually see them in person.   Of course they were great with T & L.   They are perfect little Love-ies.  :-)

It isn't all about the kids - I miss my girlfriends too!   Why can't everyone live within.....I'll be generous and say a 100 mile radius?!   :-)
The Cross family left and we loaded the car and headed to Disneyland!!!  We had 7 people in our car and met Kurt, Cali, Bella, Brady & Grammy there.   For some odd reason we weren't anticipating CRAZY Thanksgiving traffic which added almost 3 hours to the trip.   Lila listened to "Baby" by Justin Bieber on the iPad at least 100 times!

I woke up the next morning with a flu/cold combo, T & L were just getting over a cold and Bella and Brady had a cold.   We trekked through Disneyland and did as much as we could while fitting in meals, naps and getting 12 people out the door at the same time.    The first ride was Dumbo and they LOVED it.   We then went to Snow White and Tanner was not happy.   I can't blame him,  it's scary for a little kid.   He was then afraid of rides after that.   We tried to do as many outdoor rides as we could.   He did like It's a Small World and Monster's Inc though, both inside but not scary.   Miss Lila is fearless and went on a roller coaster in Toon Town!   Tanner watched her then decided he wanted to give it a try.   We got ahead in the line and he changed his mind.
It was a good trip and wonderful to have the family together.    If I had to do it all again, I would wait until the kids were at least 4, or more familiar with Disney characters.    They've seen the Cars movie and know the main characters (Mickey, Minnie, etc.) but something a little less hectic and crowded (was supposed to be the slowest week of the year) would have made them just as happy.   The park (free!), Fairyland ($10/person), etc.   :-)  
I should mention that the drive home was a somewhat easy 6 hours with 3 pit stops and no traffic.   We kept the iPad away from Lila and stuck to the DVD player.  

That sums up the month as quickly as I can.  

Link to the pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKI2w

Comments from the Cuties - November

For the archive.

Lila: "We're not in Brentwood anymore." (on the way to the mall)

Tanner: "Don't listen sis, it will hurt your ears." (while flushing the toilet at the mall)

Lila: "Is that where animals go potty?" (sitting on the toilet, looking around and asking about the drain in the bathroom at the mall)

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Lila: "I have to go to work."

Tanner: "To make money for Chuck E Cheese."

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Lila: "Do you want an iced mocha?" (taking my order while playing in her kitchen)

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Tanner: "Where did we get these cool shoes?"

Mama: "I don't remember."

Tanner: "I think from old ladies."

Mama: "Old Ladies?" OHHHH you mean old NAVY?" :-)

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Lila: "Let's do a craft today."

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Tanner: "I'm coming Sis. Don't worry about it." (running to meet Lila on the jungle gym)

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Lila: "Put both hands on it. Both hands. " (talking about the steering wheel - where did this come from?!)

Tanner: "Because it's safe."

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Tanner: "I"m so, so sorry. I didn't wait for you. I'm so sorry." (said while running off a climbing structure at the park, he knows to do it while I'm watching/near him - he was completely full of himself!)

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Mama: "These ants are driving me crazy."

Lila: "They're hungry and looking for food."

Tanner: "They're sad and looking for their mom."

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Tanner: "I'm going to ask Santa for my own ipad, a tractor and a blue truck." (an IPAD?!)

couple days later.......

Lila: "I want a goat and a sheep from Santa."

Mama: "Where would we keep them."

Lila: "Outside, not inside" (looking at me like - DUH!)

Tanner: "Locked up!"

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Tanner: "There's the mall" (passing an outdoor mall in town)

Lila: "That's not the mall, we're not in Concord" (we went to the mall in Concord on the first day of the month!)

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Lila: "I saw Santa Claus. You just missed it." (while playing with Daddy)

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Tanner: "I need help. This is frustrating." (playing with a new App on the iPad)

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Lila: "When I was really really little I was in the hospital."

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Tanner: "I want to go to Massachusetts."

Mama: "I do too, but it's far away."

Tanner: "We need a plane."

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October Pictures

We had a great Halloween inspired month!   We visited a few farms/pumpkin patches and a Halloween festival at Fairyland, one of our favorite new spots.   Samantha and Peyton came for a visit, we had a play date with my long time friend Jenny (from elementary school) and her son Alex, a trip to San Francisco with Bri & the gang, a fun day with Sunshine, Kristine & kids, a visit from my Mom & Grammy, Brady's first birthday party, play time at the park, crafts, cooking and finally a visit from Grandma Carol and Halloween!   Jacob and I got a special treat - time alone!    Carol had fun with the kiddos (and vice versa) while we had dinner at a non-kid friendly place.  WOO!

The kids LOVED Halloween.   They were so excited to head out trick-or-treating.   Lila was scared of the monster and masked costumes.   They were very polite with "thank you's" and "Happy Halloween."   We called it quits after an hour, Tanner kept asking for "one more house."  We then got home and took over the candy giving duties from Grandma.    I'm not sure if they liked trick-or-treating or handing out the candy more.    They would holler for kids to come down to our house.   If no one said thank you they would turn around and tell us "they didn't say thank you."   Apparently our kids are the politeness police, as if they say it every time!    

The kids are keeping us busy and on our toes as usual.    They are growing up way too fast!    You should hear some of the conversations we have with them and they have with each other.   Some times I think we have teenagers already.   Their favorite musician is Justin Beiber.   Yep, no joke!   They heard him in the store one day and then again on the radio.   His songs are so catchy, I can't blame then.   It's so cute to hear Lila say "baby, baby, baby oooooh."    

I could write more but I need my sleep!
Link to the pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKI04

Feel good moment of the day

I got the kids out of the bathtub and wrapped in their towels.    Tanner said to Lila, "Nice to meet you, I'm Jenny."   Lila then giggled and said, "Nice to meet you, I'm Amy."    They then hugged and toppled over each other in hysterics.    I have no clue where they got the "Amy" and "Jenny" bit, let alone the "nice to meet you."    They pick up on every detail and word that is said so they witnessed something having to do with that recently!

Comments from the Cuties - October

For archiving purposes.

Tanner: "Do peas have mouths? Peyton has a mouth."

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Lila: "That's not ok Tanner. (telling me) Tanner won't do it again."

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Tanner: "We don't need the light. It costs money though." (talking to Lila who turned the light on)

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Tanner: "My belly hurts."

Lila: "Do you need to go potty, honey?"

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Tanner: "How do you go to college?" (Out of the blue question. Yes, these are the conversations we have!)

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Lila: "My belly hurts. I need hot chocolate I think."

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Lila: "I saw a pigeon a couple days ago."

Tanner: "A couple days ago a pigeon sneaked on me at my house."

(they like using "a couple days ago" when talking)

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Tanner: "Sorry flowers, mommy needs to water you."

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Lila: "Stop, it's a red light." (while driving, she wanted me to get her something and I told her I couldn't until we stopped)
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Tanner: "Look, a porK-a-potty." (WAY across the parking lot)

Mama: "We only use a porT-a-potty when we REALLY have to go potty and there's no other bathroom around."

Tanner: "I really, really have to go BAD."

Mama: "There's a bathroom inside Target."

Tanner: "Let's just check out the pork-a-potty then."

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Mama: "This old man he played 1, he played knick-knack on my thumb...."

Lila: "This old man, he makes me so so happy."

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They've picked up my sayings! Here are a few.....

Lila: "Aye Yaye Yaye."

"Oh my goodness."

Tanner: "Gross, gross, grody to the max."

"That is naughty to the max."
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From Halloween:
Tanner:  Come here kids, I have some candy for you."   
Lila:  "Hold me, hold me.  Where did the monsters go?"

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More September Pictures

I knew I had more September pictures.   :-)   The rest of the September pics include a trip to the lake with Peyton and Samantha, playing at our "water park" as the kids call it and a trip to the zoo with Shiloh and Sunshine.

Link to the pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKIvQ

This says it all

We made oatmeal cookies this morning and I decided they weren't complete without some chocolate chips. I gave the kids a bowl to add to the batter. Lila added hers right in. Tanner said "no, I don't think I'm going to, I want to eat them". I was getting a picture of them as I noticed Lila digging into the cookie batter/chocolate chip covered spoon. Tanner is in the background saying "mmmm this is good." It's the little rascals in action!

September pictures

These pictures include playing with Bella, Brady, Peyton and Samantha, a tea party at Grammy's, fun with Grandma Carol and Uncle Chris, swimming (Cali's grandmas pool and our neighborhood pool), loving Auntie Bri time, "helping" with the unpacking, random pictures at parks and meeting Kurt, Cali, Brady & Bella at the circus!

Link to the September pictures:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKItY

September - comments from the cuties

For archiving purposes.  :-)

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Lila: I wanna show Shelby (Aunt Anna's dog) my purple (painted) toes.

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Aunt Anna: "Do you have a room for me in your new house?"

Tanner: "You can sleep in my room."

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Lila: "Daddy, do you have any cash or money?"

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Tanner: "I'm going to get my purse (yes, purse), go down the stairs and go to work."

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Lila: "I think I need to go to the hospital....maybe." (after banging her hip at the park)

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Tanner: "You're a good cook, mama."

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Tanner: "I love this english muffin. How's yours Lila?"

Lila: "It's chewy."

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Lila: "Tanner looks just like me."

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Daddy: "Are you wearing those pants to dinner, Tanner?" (he changed into sweat pants)

Tanner: "Mama said I can't wear them, but I aaaaaam."

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Mama: "Whose girl are you?"

Lila: "Daddy's GIRL, Tanner is your boy."

August pictures too

During the months of July and August we tried to do as much as we could before we moved.

We start off with the yearly visit from Aunt Anna and Florence, playing in the Boston Common, blueberry picking with Corrine, Cameron & Baby Tanner (Aunt Anna & Florence went to Martha’s Vineyard for a couple days), our annual block party and our going away party (boy do we miss you guys!), trip to the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, playing at an indoor “park” in town,  Davis Farmland (I’ve always wanted to go here, it’s a farm like you’ve never seen/water park and a GREAT place for kids),  our last trip to Maine before our move, playing in Newburyport (one of my favorite towns & where the kids were born), more time at the park, last trip to our favorite farm (by our house anyway), and yet another park then a quick trip to another farm, flight to CA,  and lots of play time with cousins in CALIFORNIA!

I apologize for the 600+ pictures.   I think this is the most I've taken in one month.  We were busy, busy, busy!

A big thank you to Meghan and Greg for letting my mom, the kids and I spend 2 nights and Jacob 5 nights during our move.   They went above and beyond with keeping us fed and making us feel welcome.   

We're REALLY missing New England.   I guess it's only natural to feel like a New Englander after 10 1/2 years.   Yes, it really was that long.  There's no place like New England, at least that I've experienced.   To us, Summer and Fall are the best time of year there and I'm longing for all of the fun Fall activities.  To all our friends there - sending you a great big hug.  

But don't get me wrong, I love being close to family and watching the kids with all of their relatives.    I'm sure California will feel like home soon.    We do love our house and neighborhood.   You can't beat it with a neighborhood pool and tons of parks within walking distance, one 4 houses down.   The weather has also been amazing, I can get used to that!  

Link to the August pictures:  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKIrA

Rest of the July pics - yes, finally!

I'm just a tad bit behind with adding the rest of our summer pictures.   I think moving across the country gives me a good excuse.  I'm hoping to use that excuse for as long as I can.  :-)

The rest of the July pictures include playing in the yard, at home, Chuck E Cheese (The CEC as Jacob and I refer to it on the down low), our first movie night (Cars - Tanner watched the whole thing and Lila was antsy after 15 minutes), the beach in Mass, a trip to Maine with Corinne, Cameron and Baby Tanner,  and finally celebrating Logan's 2nd birthday.

To view the pictures, visit the following link (posting the pictures here isn't working at the moment):  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BatWrFs5aKIpI

This is our song

We've been listening to a lot of country lately - yee haw!  When we were in Tuolumne, that's just about all that came in.

This one is mine & Lila's favorite.   We'll hear it come on and one of us will say "this is my song."  Of course the kids have to argue about it being their song.  Tanner likes it but prefers Jacob's music (he just likes to give Lila a hard time!).  They both rock out and sometimes Lila will allow me to sing and dance.  Ha!

To listen to it, press "pause" on the lower right side of the page under our regular blog music then press "play" on this one.

The trip from H-E.....

HEAVEN.....it was the plane trip from Heaven!   My mom and I flew with the kids to CA while Jacob flew to Vegas for work.   We were both really nervous about the entire production - getting everything into the hotel shuttle, through security, the flight, etc.   We were the only ones on the shuttle, only a few people in security (Virgin America has their own security at Logan - highly recommend them) and they patiently waited to board the flight.    I thought at least a few temper tantrums would be in store.   I was fully stocked with extra outfits for all of us, my computer, ipad, movies, food, presents, etc.

I sat in the row with the kiddos and my mom was in the aisle next to us.   They played with their new headphones, "watched the news" (Tanner is just like Daddy), played with toys (I packed small presents and gave them one every hour), talked to "Gram", colored and just played!   I was very emotional the last few days of our stay in MA.   It was awful saying goodbye to our friends and the kids friends.   So, we're sitting on the plane and Lila says "are Logan and Kelli coming too?"  Instant tears!!!
On a positive note, the biggest highlight was using the airplane toilet.   Lila is just about potty trained and I wasn't sure how she would do.  Well, they both went multiple times.  WOO HOO!

They were so excited for Uncle Kurt to pick them up.   We then checked out our new home in Brentwood then headed to Grandpa's.   We stayed with "Bambah" for 12 days until our belongings arrived.   The kids were out of sorts, whiny, missing their friends, beds, toys, house, etc.   Of course I felt awful for uprooting them.  It got better as the days went on.  They're having a blast with their cousins, aunts and uncles, grandma's, grandpa, and the rest of their family.   We even got a special visit from Grandma Carol and Uncle Chris, all the way from Oregon.  They still ask for their friends and our old neighbors.   I hope they continue asking so they're not forgotten.  

I'm in the process of adding the rest of the July and August pictures.   I'm overwhelmed with doing the last of the un-boxing, learning a new town, etc.   I hope to have the pictures added here in the next week.