friends

we have been spending the summer swimming and having picnics basically. in between those we have been really trying to be with friends.

and we've had so much fun making memories with them!

elena dancing with ella...
swinging on the hammock - elena, adelyn, brody and ella...
playing in the sandbox...i think they reached maximum capacity...eli, evvie, adelyn, elena, sam and charlie.
picnic with quinn, jackson, brody, ella, elena, adelyn, endrew and audrey (too little to make the picnic table).
the picnic brought a rainbow...
indoor picnics count too...with adelyn, sam, eli, elena, evvie and charlie.
at the zoo....evvie, sam, charlie, elena and adelyn...
watching the sea lions....elena, evvie and charlie (i have this same picture from last year here)
lane, parker, elena, eli, adelyn, sam, charlie and evvie at the zoo!

we'll have many more playdates this summer too. ;) we can't wait. the girls really love being with their friends! and so does momma!

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.” - Bernard Meltzer

zoo playdate

last week the girls and i headed to the zoo for a playdate. it was probably the smoothest playdate we have ever attended. i'm talking all 12 kiddies were meltdownless, fightless, sharers, listeners, etc. it was so great. they were all pleasant and being good friends and it just made our day soooo nice!

charlie, evvie and elena watching the sea lion show...

ad thought the otters were pretty cool...


nora and elena checking out a turtle...

our playgroup...6 adults, 12 kiddies
e did have a tiny meltdown when she had to get off the carousel...






leo, lane, eli, evvie, charlie, elena, nora, landen, adelyn and sam...(lana and leya were not feeling it)


"A characteristic of the normal child is he doesn't act that way very often." ~Author Unknown

mommy-n-me valentine's party

last saturday the girls and i went to a mommy-n-me valentine's party! i love these things! it's crazy and we usually don't get the chance to truly visit, but i love seeing all the little ones! the kids really love seeing one another as well and i'm always impressed how great they all are together...and that the houses are still standing after the 2 hours.

there are actually 3 kids that were off to the side and a few siblings that didn't make it. e's at the top right...ad's at the bottom left (taking over e's signature 'screaming crying during group picture.' hmmmm.)

me and my girls...


"Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine!" ~Thomas Hood

santa baby party '09

last night santa came to hear elena, adelyn and their friends' christmas wishes one last time.....AND gave everyone a little sneak peak of christmas morning!!

miss elena was very excited to see santa again...she REALLY wants presents this year! but excitement aside, she still gets a little nervous... here we are waiting in one of santa's workshops...we were lucky enough to be waiting with all of our friends! moms, dads and their little ones! here are katie(3), elena & shayla(1)...waiting...all in their red & white...
carter(4), elena & katie(3) playing catch...
some of the dads...waiting for santa as well...
endrew(1), shayla(1) & elena...
daddy showing ad where santa claus will sit...
HO HO HO....he's here! he's here! it's SANTA....
elena was nervous at first and wanted to be held (but no tears!)...and me...well i was just letting her know there was nothing to be scared about... ;) adults can love santa too, right?!
but she didn't need reassurance from me...uh uh. once she saw santa's big sack of toys she went right over and stood there...just waiting for santa to hand her a gift!
she waited...
and waited...
and waited...
santa was giving out gifts left & right and miss elena was just waiting patiently...
it seemed like forever...she must've stood there next to him for a good 15-20 mins (there were a lot of kiddos!) waiting for her name to be called...
we couldn't believe how CLOSE she was to him! twiddling her thumbs, making her nervous face, waiting oh-so-patiently, knowing she was thinking "please santa please, dig out a toy for me..."
ah!! at last!! miss e gets a gift from santa!!!
we had to tell her to she only gets one and to come back with us to open it...
santa gave her "click" the camera, one of diego's sidekick's...she loved it! that santa! he knows just the right stuff for each good boy & girl!
santa brought miss adelyn a little something too...
adelyn got a little rainbow ring stacker!
elena was definitely less nervous with santa this time....but ad, well her reaction was the same! (can you tell i'm kneeled down to her left...)
the four of us...
after awhile elena realized santa also had candycanes and she hadn't gotten one...so she stood up there again...hanging out, inching closer & closer...
until she scored a canycane as well...she really is "understanding" how this all works...
elena (eating a cookie), rylynd(2) & shayla(1)...
and, remember this?! last year (santa baby party '08) there were 6 of us mommas all due with #2 within 9 weeks of each other...
here they are, about to celebrate their first christmas....and coming up on their first birthdays already! MISS adelyn was the ONLY girl of the bunch!! she will have her pick of the litter! ;) brody, john, adelyn, sam & quinn (eli could not make it)...
elena saying bye to santa...
she woke up talking about the santa baby party and asking for her "click" the camera! we had so much fun! lots of mommas, daddas and little ones loving on santa! all healthy, happy and enjoying the season! puts a big smile on my face! :D

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder