Two Tough Cookies

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Four Women and a lot of Children

Back in December, my sweet friends and college buddies Tiffany and Jennette road tripped it down to San Diego with their 6 (total) children to visit Mandy (also a college buddy) and me. We had enough children between the 4 of us to create a regular preschool.Here are the moms and our offspring...
It really is crazy to see that some of my friends have really kicked up the mommy gear and already have a full brood. Tiffany (on the left) has four kids already and her oldest one is about 6 weeks older than my oldest. To her credit, she has the most darling little set of fraternal twins.
The kids loved playing on the mounds of sand. Apparrently I'm the "lenient parent" who let them roll around in it and then watch them bound off to toward the ocean.
Who can resist running wild and free on a long stretch of beach? I just read a picture book about Walt Whitman tonight (it was one from my old classroom library) and he ran on "private beaches" all the time, naked! At least we kept the little ones clothed!

Gratitude

The turkey, stuffing, potatoes, spinach casserole, raspberry pretzel jello, and pies were amazing. Unfortunately, the only pictures to be found from this weekend of feast were of this scene of a homemade princess game. I am thankful for family games, traditional and unique.

Birthday WEEK!

I know the green boogie is a little too much information, but it's a sad truth that we've all passed around that lovely changing-of-the-seasons cold even during birthday week! Stephen, Ian and I all have birthdays to celebrate within 5 days. I'm the lucky one with the job of planning "sufficient celebrations" for the three of us while still leaving room in our budget for Christmas and anniversary in December. Lucky for us, Brooklyn has been cheerleading our every candle-blowing, red-plate-using event without too much jealousy. She creatively finds ways to steal the show, I mean participate in all the fun. The morning of Ian's b-day, I told her that I was bringing cupcakes to the stroller group. As I was gathering stuff up, she came out dressed to party, like so. She is a barrel of laughs, that girl!
Ian's b-day got the biggest formal recognition on his b-day this year because we went as a family, on his b-day, to the Children's Museum in downtown San Diego. It was our first time, and we were not disappointed. I'm cracking up at the thought that Stephen is probably wearing the EXACT same work outfit as he sported last year at Ian's b-day. Can you tell he took a short break from his workday to celebrate with us?
These chariots were fun!
Brooklyn was in heaven with crafts galore! Here she's learning how to create a birdhouse.
There was some artwork on display on that tree. So cute and crafty, yet super modern looking in the building.
Outdoors, Ian and Lilly (cousin) played with clay. My sister, her two girls, and my mom joined us there at the museum, THANKS GALS! I'm loving that tradition they started last year of coming down to celebrate with Ian on his big b-days!
This was the rain house. There was water sprinkling up from the roof, then running down to the drains which then recycled the water back up through the sprinkler system on the roof. It made a cool sound inside and the kids had these big puzzle mats to play with inside of the house.
Ian and his grandma checked out the Trojan horse.
They also gave the climbing wall a whirl.
Stephen and Brookie created a flying turkey out of paper cups.
Ian and Lilly near the felt wall with Nienie
The outdoor bubble station
The artist at work
Good-bye! We'll be back soon!
Ian thought he was sooo cool sticking his legs into these holes in the sidewalk where the trees stood.
The tool belt.
And the harmonica that he couldn't part with
Happy Birthday, big guy!

Abby's 4th B-day

It was so fun to celebrate Abby's birthday at her Cinderella party. Christy (Abby's mom) was so sweet to include both of my kids on the invite and in her planning of the goody bags. Brooklyn got Cinderella stuff while Ian's trinkets were all Mickey Mouse. The Cinderella cake was so delicious! I ate the whole chunk that was sent home for the family to "share." Oops!
I am cracking up at the progression of Ian's faces in these pictures.
There's our birthday girl in front! It was a beautiful day at the park by the beach.
Sometimes Brooklyn is a little too helpful in unveiling the gift despite my many reminders to "Step away from the present," and "Let Abby open her own gift, please!"

New Arrival

Here he is, the newest arrival to the Thack Shack! Congratulations, Maren and Brian! Brooklyn insisted that I take a picture of this little guy when I went and visited him for the first time since she couldn't come with me. Brian and Maren used to be Brooklyn's sunbeam teachers, now they get to be first time parents, Yay!