Beachin' it

Lodi style

and lovin' it!

There is something about a bit of sand between your toes wherever it may be. Everyone loves going to the lake to swim and play, even though there is a pool in our complex, so that tells you its not just about the water. It's just that much different and exciting. We LOVE summer and are excited for the 4th!

Green Eggs and Ham

"If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good."

Dr. Seuss would be proud. Cruz is making his "cool" face not an I-don't-like-green-eggs-and-ham face and Oshyn is always that nutty. To say they keep me entertained is an all-time understatement.

If you give a Cruzer a

Bruiser,

he's going to want a popscicle to go with it.

(berry color ice hides bloody tongues well too)

Perfect Fit

I love this sink and the choice size it is for Tyce boy right now. No bending over for this tub!

Baseball Obsession

We are runnin' with the baseball passion our boys have had lately and actually got to go to a Stockton Ports game last week. They loved watching the real ball players (...but truly seemed more into all of the food guys that came around every 2 minutes). It was a beautiful summer evening. With all of our D-Back hats one might have thought we were watching a game in AZ, but nope, just a plethora of snake gear.

Happy Father's Day

Loud Naps

Before I forget (and I'm assuming one day this will be long forgotten...) when afternoon naps roll around it is far from quiet around here. We have Cruz banging his head on the wall--which is surely a sign of intelligence (at least that's what the internet has told me :) and Tyce whompping his legs down on the bed--that must mean he'll be a great kicker?

Regardless of why they do what they do & what they'll become, from downstairs it sounds like we have a band. Awesome.

Mr. Rise and Shine

I have a love/hate relationship with the 6'o clock hour my newest born has taken to waking up in since our vacation.

Other children of mine have been banished for similar type of behavior but we have run out of banishment rooms :) The lack of excitement I feel as I get out of bed dissipates significantly as I see Tyce's grin that even makes his eyes sparkle. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he made babies so dang cute and lovable.

After he eats a bit and talks/smiles/laughs a whole lotta bit, I pop him in the stroller and we are off with the people that catch the worms (the early birds, if you missed that).

And that is when the love with the early hour steps in.

Just me and the wee one strollin' along by ourselves in the still, cool morning air. Stretching my legs and getting some fresh air.

And I like it. I am happy to be up and about. I am thankful that if I am up that early that I have the freedom to get out of the house (Beau is done with Seminary so I'm not deserting my other two) and have some quiet time before the day truly begins.

So I'll embrace the hour while it lasts.

But as great as it could be, I'd be lying if I said that I would continue to wake up if everyone else was sleeping. Its amazing how fabulous another hour in bed sounds.

Note to self: go to bed earlier and your eyes won't burn so bad.

It's OUT!

After weeks of preparation and a face plant on the carpet from his loving brother, Oshyn's tooth fell out Sunday morning. He was pretty pumped and kept asking people at church if they noticed anything different about him. He couldn't wait for the Tooth Fairy to come and was happy to add his tooth to her collection. The sweet lady even wrote him an itty bitty note.

Oshyn told me yesterday that he thinks Tyce is getting to know him without his tooth, probably because he can recognize him from his glasses. I love that he thinks he's a different man now...drinking through and squirting water out the hole, wondering how we will floss the empty spot, and showing off his tongue through the gap. O said the other one is beginning to get loose now...

AZ goodies and gratefulness

Cowboy getup

Hikes less than a mile away...in the DESERT :)

Swim sessions multiple times a day

Nakie runs to drop suits outside to dry

Koi feeds

Ranbug and all the sweet, nasty boys

Cruz "Freddie"

Sprinklers at 8 & 4

GF pizza DELIVERED

Fabulous cousins to talk & hang with

Aunts and Uncles that love unconditionally and will do ANYTHING for you

a closet for Tyce

The church of wine

Climbing a tree with the boys

Grammie

Crazy birthday boys and anxiety watching presents opened at high speed

Kind strangers at a familiar church I've never been to

Seeing old stomping grounds

Family get togethers

Forever friends

Did I mention cousins? :)

Little swimmers

Sweaty lake walks

Megan Marie

Ashley Rae (and awesome fam)--seriously no pics?!?

Sweet sweet happy smiley baby

More fabulous friends/roommates/kiddos--OCC oh yeah

A hotel NORTH of LA

Rad kids on a LONG drive

We had TONS of fun. I never knew I was so brave until 9 out of 10 people couldn't believe I drove from Phx to Lodi and kept commenting on how brave I was to do it by myself with three kids. They were so good and the drive was pretty uneventful (minus the homeless couple I screamed at in Blythe--out of shock of seeing them in the bathroom at the "park"), that I would do it again for sure.

The only thing that would have made it any better would have been to see Grampa and Tutu. Thanks again for letting us stay at your house for our little desert summer camp.

To be Dad

As hard as being "Mom" can seem at times (or multiple times daily :) I can only imagine what its like being "Dad". When your family takes off for the desert for over a week, comes home when your not here--is gone when you arrive...

For mornings that your son mistakens Friday for Saturday (it is summer break now) and is crushed when he realizes you have to go to work. Crocodile tears try to hide but with magnifiers like he has, nothing can go unnoticed. And as "Dad" you hug and kiss him one more time before you have to go even though you'd much rather stay.

I can't imagine being "Dad", but am forever grateful for all you do and work for so I can be "Mom". We appreciate and love you.

THREE

years ago this morning you entered our lives at freeway speed and haven't slowed down since.

We love you and all of your craziness Cruzer.