April 2012- Part 1

The wind merited a trip to the park with our new hawk kite. Unfortunately, this hawk did not fly as well as those that frequent our backyard. With a design flaw, we couldn't even get little red to stay in the sky. Guess he's not ready for release...he'll be returning to Costco for rehabilitation. Meanwhile, two other men showed up with kites that flew beautifully, giving Tim every excuse in the world to grumble. Ha ha.

 I prayed for a blue-eyed baby:

God said:

 "comin' atcha":

"I'll catch you Gracie"

Where we take our dogs when they need a good run:

we love Temecula:

Mid April brought the first Canna flower:

 and the first day warm enough to bathe some beauties:

and, of course, these two make every day just a little more fun:

Love, Lauren

Easter Sunday 2012

We hosted Easter this year, unlike the previous hosting where we attempted lamb kabobs, saffron rice and blackberry cheesecake, I went a little lowball and served sandwiches and had the other women in the family bring their delicious treats like my mom's tortellini salad and my sister-in-law's spinach/strawberry salad. I can't remember what my mother-in-love brought...sorry Mom :) My girls napped after a nice stroller ride (we skipped church!-sssshhhh! we recently left our church of the last 4.5 years). Holiday services at church rank about as engaging as nascar for me, so I asked if we could enjoy a stressless walk before hosting all the family over.
Between me, my sister, my mil, and Tim's aunt, I think we had about 200 eggs for 6 kids 6 and under. Some that I tossed into the Lantana are now a permanent fixture.

Madeleine went first as she is the youngest, Grace was still napping:

Easter Eggs...YES!  

 After little G woke up, we attempted a photo. This is the best one:

An Easter Egg from Nani (with a Hello Kitty swimsuit inside!):

Gooey finally warms up to the party:

Cousin-time:

And after that fun little exercise, Unky Lex and Miss Leigh showed up just in time to sing us Baby Beluga and the Chicken song:

Gracen really liked Miss Leigh:

Gracie also delighted her great grammy with a little hide and seek!

What a wonderful way to celebrate the Risen Lord-family, food, song and candy!
"Oh taste and see, that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him" Psalm 34:8
Love, Lauren

Easter Egg Hunt

In April, we all fell a little under the weather. Mads & G were just a little crabby and wanted to sleep. Tim was sick one week and then I came down with death in a dust mite: strep. I thought I was being a little overdramatic when I told my husband that I thought the body aches were worse than natural delivery of our two children, but then my sister-in-love said the exact thing and I felt a little justified. Tim took time off to take care of the kids and let me sleep it off for FOUR WHOLE DAYS! Nuts. Tim had to return to work, so my mom came over to help me out and I dragged myself out of bed to take the girls to our association's Easter Egg hunt. But, Mama waited too long and by the time we got there, they were packing it up. The event coordinator was so sweet to lay out some extra eggs just for my girls. What a blessing!

G money honey bunny:

 How cute is this  child!?!?

 And her sister is pretty awesome too; lots of hunting and perfect for little ones:

 Sweet sister carried both baskets-praise Jesus for servant hearts:

 After my rally, I came home and crashed, calling over my other mother. (I know I am more than blessed!). She came over to dye the eggs I had boiled for the girls. While I slept upstairs, the girls enjoyed a Easter treat with their Grammi.

Love, Lauren

Captured- March 27, 2012

Madeleine wanted to eat a picnic out on our lawn (and who wouldn't!). Tim took a few shots of her before she realized what he was doing. Then they just alternated clicking (her camera is also spill-proof).

Love, Lauren

Fred Hall Fishing Show-March 2012

Back in March, we went to the Fred Hall Fishing Show with my parents.

We watched the famous Dock Dogs do their flying leaps into the water:

 We enjoyed taxidermy, browsed lures, shopped boat supplies and had a $12 beer(me-not the kids):

 There were some large tanks for fishing  demonstrations & kid fascination:

 the new goofy-face:

 testing out some boats, someone looks river ready:

Love, Lauren

February 2012

After settling into out home fairly quickly, we picked right back up with a whirlwind of activities. Here are some of the highlights:

Tim takes the girls on what he named "3Ds" or Dada-daughter dates. Here the girls hold hands while peering into a pen where some large animals are kept:

 Madeleine and I went to cousin Abbie's princess party and we enjoyed all the wonderful treats that Auntie Lori prepared:

 Madeleine & I came home to find that Dada had built Mads' big-girl bed; she loved it:

 While the weather is sunny and warm, the girls play out back. Grace helps me water flowers and we all enjoy watching many local feathered visitors devour our bird feed:

 Madeleine has a special affinity for her "jungle" and wants me to come be the Mama cat. She even led G out by the hand to play with her and gather food in the jungle:

 C.C. cars!:

 Our friend Kaitlyn turned 4 and had a Neverland Pirates birthday. Madeleine & a friend enjoy a treasure hunt complete with spyglass and pirate hat (on friend S.):

 The girls at the party:

 Mama & Mads

 My parents invited all four of us down to the Fred Hall fishing show and we watched the Dock Dogs jumping. The girls also enjoyed duck races. I picked up the boater's course for water safety, so it was fun for me too!:

 Gracie enjoyed feeding and watching the ducks:

Last Tuesday night, came down with strep throat and Tim stepped up the hero action to take care of me and the girls for 3 days in a row (oh, then he worked one and then took another one off to baby me because I was still recovering). I barely saw the girls at all, he was so diligent to take care of their feedings, laundry, trips out, shopping and he brought me soup, medicine, even arranged babysitting so he could take me to the doctor's. (How can I not brag about this man?) He took work off on Friday and I thought I could manage with both my moms' help. We got a late start, but my mom, the girls and I made it to the Vintage Hills Easter Egg hunt and because we were so late, the coordinator laid out a huge spread just for us! It was so kind of her to bless us in that way- my girls had too many eggs to pick up and we ended up leaving some for another straggler who we saw coming.

Gracie was so adorable with that basket:

 Madeleine had a wonderful time, and enjoyed filling G's basket and her own alternatively:

 After naps, my mom left and my mother-in-law came over. Somehow I had managed to bake some eggs for the girls to color thinking it would be a fun experience they could have with their Grammi:

The rest of these are not chronological because they are from Tim's camera  and I am too lazy to go sort them!

Gracie's blue eyes benefit from glasses, and she looks lovely to boot: 

Tim had taken the girls on a previous 3D when we had snow down to 2000'. The girls loved in, in very different ways. At first they are both having fun:

 But G decided that she did not want ANYTHING to do with snow and Tim reported she would not stop crying until he finally put her back in her car seat and let her watch as he and Madeleine played. (She had a similar reaction to sand the first time):

Madeleine enjoys the snow & her snowman:

G enjoys her carseat and a snack cup full of animal crackers:

This sweet girl filled a Nalgene full of snow for her mama as a souvenir and when they all returned home, Dada put it in the freezer to save :)

 A few days ago, Mads wanted a picnic dinner and Tim snapped a few shots of her. When she saw him, she snapped a few right back:

 Love, Lauren