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.

California Dreamin'

T-Minus 4 days until the big move!  The movers will be here tomorrow to pack us up and then will load everything on Thursday.   I've pretty much been in denial.   I'll get really emotional when I think about not seeing people for a while, the kids missing their pals, asking to do things around here (farm, beach, MAINE...)etc.   They've asked if friends will be moving with us.   "Is Susan going to California too?"
I keep thinking that almost all of their family will be so close to us now.    And, they'll make a lot of new friends too.    I just don't want them to forget anyone here.  :-(  

I'll add more pictures and comments when we get settled next week (staying with my Dad for a little over a week until our goods arrive).   Then, we will call Brentwood our new home!

Comments from the cuties - July

I'm behind in archiving these....I'll add some August comments soon.

Tanner: "Where's New Hampshire?"

Couple days later - "Where's Poland?" (our friend Rich was there)

"Where's Tennessee?" (talking about Auntie Brooke)

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Lila: "It's so nice in here" (while playing in the family room)

Tanner: "I like it inside. It's 2:00" (totally random and not the correct time)

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Lila: "I want to go nigh night. I want a blanket too. I want a baba too." (big smiles and giggles)

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Lila: "I'm going potty. Tanner will wear Mickey underwear. I will wear minnie underwear."

Later in the day....

Tanner: "I'm potty training. I'm really trying."

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Tanner: "We have a busy day this morning." (said first thing when he woke up)

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Lila: "Mama run in an errand." (telling Tanner where I was going)

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Mama: "Tell Daddy what kind of fruit we had today."

Tanner: "What was it?"

Mama: "Honeydew"

Tanner: "Honeydew melon. I said SCORE" (throws fist in air)

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I said good night to the kids then went downstairs and had a cookie. A few minutes later they said they had to go potty.

Tanner: "What were you eating?" (smelling me)

Mama: "Chocolate"

Lila: "OH, chocolate?!"

Tanner: "What was it? Where did you get it?"

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Lila: "1-2 buckle mine shoe. 3-4 shut the door. 5-6 pick up sticks. 7-8......"

Mama: "7-8 lay them straight."

Lila: "9-10 big hen."

Tanner: "1-2 buckle my shoe. 3-4 shut the door. 5-6 pick up sticks. 7-8 lay them straight. 9-10-11-12-13-14

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Mama: "What's your name?"

Lila: "Daddy" (laughing)

Mama: "Where do you live?"

Lila: "In California with Gram."

Mama: "How old are you?"

Lila: "2"

Mama: "What do you like to eat?"

Lila: "Bunny food."

Mama: "What do you like to drink?"

Lila: "Milk"

Mama: "What's your favorite ice cream?"

Lila: "I like purple. Tanner likes orange ice cream."

I need privacy."

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Tanner: "Where's Cameron's daddy?"

Mama: "He's at work."

Tanner: "Cameron lives with his daddy, Greg." I live with my daddy, Jacob."

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Lila: "I want a cat and Tanner wants a dog."

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Tanner (while on the potty): "I have snail poops."

Mama: "What kind of poop is that?"

Tanner: "Gross poop."

Lila: "How about monkey poop."

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Tanner: "You're going to give me a heart attack Lila." (I think he picked this up from Emily when we were at the farm and the goat went after her.)

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The kids had waffles on a plate and asked for watermelon. I went to put the watermelon on their plates.

Tanner: "I want it in a bowl."

Mama: "Aren't you a picky petunia."

Tanner: "I'm not a tuna."

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I was wrestling with the kids and used my mouth to get/tickle them.

Tanner: "No biting mama, time out."

Mama: "How long is my time out?"

Tanner: "2 minutes."

Mama: "What do I do after my time out?"

Lila: "Say you're sorry."

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The kids like to eat the lotion we put on them after bath.

Mama: "Tanner, lotion isn't food. We don't eat it."

Lila: "It isn't a quesadilla."

Tanner: "It isn't watermelon."

Lila: "It isn't quiche."

Farm, Zoo, Outside play - July 2011

We start off with a play date at our favorite farm with Logan, Cameron and Baby Tanner.   The kids play so well together.

We then took a trip to the zoo, again with Logan.  It's a small zoo which is perfect for the kids to walk around and explore.

The last pics are of water play in the back yard.   Tanner loves the water and Lila loves it until her bathing suit gets wet.  

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Girls Day - July 2011

Meghan planned a girls day for Amy and I to celebrate our birthdays (in the middle of each of ours).   We went to the flower mart in Boston to pick out flowers (so overwhelming!) then headed to her house to arrange them and have lunch.   One of her co-workers, who arranges flowers, took the day off and helped us with every step.   It was a really unique girls day and gift.  We had a great day and created some beautiful arrangements!

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Maine - July 2011

We spent 6 days in Maine to celebrate the 4th of July.   We went to Storyland in the White Mountains of New Hampshire (about 50 minutes from the Maine house).   I was expecting a cheesy run down park and it was exactly the opposite.   You'll see from the pictures it's a beautiful setting.   The kids had fun exploring and going on the rides.   We saw Bill and Julie there and their kids Flynn, Charlotte and Liam.  For anyone that doesn't know Bill, he's our friend that got "deputized" for the day to marry us.   Flynn was just 2 months old when they flew to CA.  

Our friends Kelli & Eric and their son Logan (the kids good pal) arrived on Saturday and spent the rest of the time with us.   The kids play so well together.....and so do the adults.   Ha!  We spent our days at the beach and evenings playing games.   PERFECT!    Our friends Meghan and Greg arrived for an overnight stay and brought us a TON of food and more games.   I mean seriously, what could be better?!  

Tanner and Lila LOVE Maine.....they tell us every chance they get and will tell people about their "Maine house."   They cried again when they realized we were pulling down our street to go home to our "neighborhood house."   There's a reason Maine is "Vacationland" and their motto is "The way life should be."

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