Easy to please

The excitement of putting 6 ornaments on an 18 in. tree was fabulous.  As we went upstairs to bed last night Oshyn commented "Doesn't it look wonderful down here?"  I love little reminders of how simple life can be and still so highly enjoyed.  Thank you little men.

I love him

and sometimes want to lick him--mmm! chocolate toddler.

Dadee!!!!!! (Friday night and Mommy's flying solo)

Maybe its because he...

gives them "bathshowers",

makes the best swedish pancakes,

likes to wrestle,

shares his ice cream,

dotes over both of them,

drives a red truck,

is just himself...

i've stopped trying to figure it out, but all i know is that when friday evening comes the boys are over mommy and will not even hold my hand.  they both want daddy all day-all weekend and i become the 4th wheel (i guess i balance us out right?)  you are the best daddy around mr. 'human jungle jim' and we love you.

Safari West, Reno, and the Easterners

Africa was booked up, so we went to Safari West for next best thing.  We jumped in a double decker jeep and went into what reminded me a little too much of Jurassic Park.  Thanks to Jim (Sue's brother-in-law), our family saw some animals--and parts, closer than I could have ever imagined.  A real Safari.  I think I am caught up on making zoo trips until 2020 after this goodie.

Dad and Sue bought a new view in Reno (and got a house to go with it--what a deal!)  We hung out for the weekend and got some nice Grandpa and Tutu time. 

Chad and Marcy traveled to the left coast all the way from PA to spend Thanksgiving and some bonus days with us all.  They took off on Tues. night and by Wed. Oshyn had already written them a letter saying, "I really really am happy that I just got to see you at our house.  We love you and hope you would come to our house again."  They are definitely a prize to be had.  And WE had them. 

The Turkeys keep Trotting

We started the tradition 3 years ago, to run (or walk...or strut) a race on Thanksgiving no matter where we are.  Just figure its a good way to start out the glutinous day and fun to start our own family traditions.  

1st Stockton,

 

then Redding, 

and this year Novato, got these turkeys trotting.   Oshyn has always been pumped to do races--the kids portion was a mile this year and he worked it.  I apologize for thinking it must have been shorter because he didn't even cry or want a piggie back ride.  Cruz was just ready to "det owwt" of the stroller...sorry kiddo, you will have your chance guido. 

Beau, Nicole, and I did the big kids 2.8 mi run.  Very cool through the back trails--good company too.  I hope everyone gets to have fabulous sister-in-laws like me.  Beau decided it wasn't hard enough, so he scooped up both kids (Oshyn isn't two headed, that's Cruz's dome in the middle) and 'iron-man'ned it the last loop.

Sorry Nikki, I couldn't let that guy beat me... (don't worry all, he didn't :) 

The Wall

I have been lagging in posts lately, but as most, we have been out of town and been having much family time.  I will probably overload soon, but until then, here's Oshyn climbing the wall at the gym.  

Can I get one of these walls to-go?  So so fun.  

(Oh wait...I already have one of those, except its called the outside of the stair railing, silly me.)

Perma-grin

Surfing in Santa Cruz.  Never thought I'd want to because of the cold cold water (55 degrees!), but wetsuits, booties and gloves are a grand invention.  I had a SUPER day.  Tons of fun.  Tons of rides for this happy girl.  I couldn't stop smiling.  And I wasn't even cold--not once in almost 2 hours of water time!  Wahoo!  

Thanks for keeping my kids alive Joneses.  They too had a fabulously sand gritty day.  

Oshyn (another "perma-grin" member of our family) even got to paddle out with Beau.  He stood up twice and probably only swallowed 2 gallons of water.  

Life is good.

The best day ever

Golfing w/daddy

H: What was the best part?  

O: EVERYTHING was the best part!

*Daddy, feel free to expand upon this most excellent day with you. :) 10/19/08

Summer in November?

On our way home after a ride on the nature path at Lodi Lake, Oshyn sighed. I asked if he was tired (it IS a 3 mile bike ride). "No, I just wish I would have brought my swim togs so I could jump in Lodi Lake and swim".

Lodi Lake (Nov 2008)

Nice and drained for the winter...

He seemed to think there was enough water to swim in. Oshyn still seems to be in denial that summer is over (he may get that from me...).

Cruz's thoughts, "Yeah, whatever he says Mom!! Let's do it! More candee too!!" STILL on a sugar-high from Halloween.

I'm not joking about the summer-time denial either. Oshyn has been wearing tank tops all week. He was playing outside yesterday in his arm-less apparel unphased. He was running around so I wasn't afraid of him being frozen, but I was getting frosty just looking at him. And YES I am a wintry weather wimp.

I miss the summer already too. I dream of living the endless summer.

Backpacks...CHECK!

Ever since reading this, I decided to get the ball rolling again--slowly, but surely towards getting more food storage and emergency preparedness goods (thanks Leah). We had a FHE and broke out the backpacks with our 72-hour kits in them and everyone added a few things (and we are still working on a few more). A week or so later Beau saw Oshyn's backpacks (with ALL toys in them :) hanging from the top of the stairs and asked Oshyn what he was doing with them. He told Beau his stuff was ready just in case we needed it for an emergency. I'm glad someone's ready.

The End of the Closet Era

Friday afternoon at around 2:30p Oshyn and I heard some doors opening and closing, we thought that Cruz was just opening and closing the closet door (aka. his bedroom) during his nap.  Then we saw some little prancing feet run across the hall making their way downstairs.  No crash, no boom, but the little crazy man climbed out of the port-a-crib.  

Friday night Cruz slept in the regular 'ol crib in the short guys' room.  I'm sad to see the era come to an end.  It worked so well for all of us.  Darkness, solitude, late mornings...I'm going to miss the benefits.  Hope he doesn't bang his brains out, he's a pretty smart guy and I don't want to see that disappear.  Note to Cruz: it hurts to rock on wood.  

(Note to Sean: I'm sure Beau would want me to tell you that head locks hurt too)

Holy Oshynisms

What are you doing with that fly swatter?!  Jesus doesn't want us to kill his creatures.

A tooth is going to fall out next week.

Thank Heavenly Father for making this wonderful wonderful world Jesus made for us.

Thank thee for the grass.

Thank thee for towels.

O God the Eternal Father

We ask thee in the name of they son Jesus Christ that we can eat good food and that we can have more faith than anyone and see your finger.  Thank thee that we can be a silly prayer.

*As for the pictures...the 1st and 2nd time Oshyn has ever fallen asleep on us.

GGma's knitting

O: Who gave these to me?  Wait I know!  GGma!

H: How did you know she made them?

O: Because I knew she made wonderful things like these.

We love you GGma and all of your "wonderful things"!

Caught in the back seat

Found this one on my phone too :) Glad I took them even though i didn't know how to get them off at the time...

Nice pirates don't like too much candy

O: We have so many pumpkins!!  Should we just "harvest" them right now? (carve :)

Cruz: Punkins!!!!

O: They're sugar for big boys, but they're called "sugar babies".

Cruz: Canneeeeee!!!!!!

H: How'd you like being a pirate tonight?

O: I didn't like it at all.

H: Why? (my thought, he must be tired...)

O: I didn't like it because everyone that saw me kept thinking I was a mean pirate and I'm nice.

Cruz: More!  More!!!  More!!

O: Highs/lows Mom!

H: What was your high?

O: Trick or treating

H: Your low?

O: No lows today!

Cruz: Pirate..ho ho ho!

O: I need to lay down because I'm too full.  Ahh, Uhhhh....my tummy.  Did you know this would happen to me?  Too much candy.

Cruz: Seen with jello legs, laughing and talking to everything...in bed yelling "OSHYN!  OSHYN!" many minutes after Oshyn was done for the day.  Can you say sugar-high?