A Sandy Christmas

With the help of the "Adopt a Nobmann" fund :) and a strong desire for family, beach, and a good time, we had the priviledge of spending Christmas this year on the beach of North Carolina...Pine Knoll Shores to be exact.  Rain was in the forecast everyday, yet the only day we saw a drop was on the day that we left for home (which made it a little easier to leave).  It was perfect weather.  Sunny and blue skies, just the way I like it.  It was so good that the boys (and kiwi girls) got in the ocean and swam--multiple times!

 The house we stayed in fit nearly the whole crew, which makes for good times 24 hours a day.  The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and getting loved on by their aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

We played, made goodies, and relaxed--listening to the sound of crashing waves the majority of our visit.  We loved every minute and from the moment we got there, I thought it'd be a great place to live.  The sand and salty air does that to me.

So from now until forever (maybe it won't be a dream that long), I'll be dreaming of a sandy Christmas once again.

Tight quarters

Recently all 3 boys have been sharing a room...which means occasional mornings of finding them giggling like this.

Santa Cruz

{Oshyn would call this a "double meaning" word :) }

Consistent

{2011}

 {2010}

Oh Happy Day!

We celebrated Tyce's 2nd birthday with a Dinosaur bash.  We stomped like dinosaurs, pinned some tails on a dinosaur, "passed the parcel" like the down under crew that we were hosting, and of course enjoyed some cake and ice cream.  Simple and fun!

Like every birthday for each of my boys, I cannot believe Tyce is TWO YEARS OLD.  Wholly cow.

Some sayings he says about 500x's a day are...
How fast I run mom!!
Oh my tenders!
I like it!! (about songs that are playing on the radio)
Hold you! (when he wants to be picked up)
Have some cereal/milkies?? Sure mom!! (his own conversation)
Can I Mom??
Oh...okay
Sure!!
What? What? What? What? What? What?
Up until about yesterday when someone asked him what his name was Tyce always answered "Isaac".

I love this little crazy pants to the moon and back!

I'm sitting inside with a sweater on.

It is 54 degrees out (in the sun).  Is that 154 degrees in little boy temperature?  I wouldn't be caught dead with that little of clothing on in "winter".  And I MADE them wear pants today.

We may not be related after all, but I sure do like them. :)

Oshyn came home with this letter he had written to Cruz.  After I read it to Cruz he got a huge grin and gave Oshyn a ginormous hug.  I love--when they love.

Lodi Lights

I enjoy living in a smallish town.  I love that there is tradition here and that when activities go on, nearly the whole town is there.  The Lodi Light parade is one of those things.  The parade is after dark and people decorate floats, cars, horses and crazy grape picking machines with lights.  It is awesome, cold and can last for a reallllly long time, but it gets us all feeling the Christmas in the air.

And it wouldn't be the same without hot chocolate (its usually better when I don't spill it all over the sidewalk).  This year we were blessed to have our cousin Phoebe with us from New Zealand.  She was enamored with the lights (in NZ during Christmas lights aren't a big deal--b/c its summer, so it doesn't get dark until 10pm :)

YMCA

Cruz worked it this year playing bball for the Y.  He handled the ball well and was one of the only 4 year olds that could really dribble :)  We all had fun cheering for the little big man.