Running Partners

Tyce and I are good running jogging/walking partners these days.  He spends some time in the stroller and some time stretching his legs out and running as fast as he can.  I'm amazed at how far he can really go and laugh out loud when he tries to pull out the pouty, woe-is-me moments.  He is a cutie and occasionally asks me to get him (aka run over him with the stroller).  I love my mini exercise buddy!

The Tramp

I love this tramp and all 3 static-haired boys inside!  Oh how thankful am I that they are all safe from the hot lava because of their stepping stones.

Porta-caged animals

The good times you can have when you flip your brother's bed over and start acting ferocious.

Date Night

Cruz and I had a fun little outing on Friday night.  The rules were to hold hands whenever possible and have lots of fun.  Topics of conversation went about like this...Cruz is most excited about kindergarten because he gets to learn a whole lot more than preschool (Oshyn tells him about the Jesus Christ was born song).  He is most excited that when our baby is born he'll be bigger than two brothers.  He wants to be a motorcycle guy when he grows up--a police motorcycle, so he can help all kinds of people.

I'm 110% sure that Cruz picked this "ice cream store" because of what you see in the background.  He made sure to bring quarters along.  I deemed it a success when we left, holding hands--of course, and Cruz said, "That was soooooo fun!"  It's the little things. :)

Numbers on the Back

I just finished ironing some leftover numbers on random t-shirts because shirts without numbers in this house are hardly shirts at all (and definitely NOT cool).  Cruz likes the big digits!

January?

I'm not complaining one bit...just a bit dumbfounded at the marvelous weather we're having.  Hopefully this doesn't mean rain, fog and cold all summer!  We are enjoying the sunshine daily!

Mr. Smarty Underpants

Tyce is officially a part of the "big boy" club.  He rocks his new underpants & sings Potty Power.  I'd have to say either I was expecting it to be WAY worse or he has been pretty easy.  We went hard out for the 3 days and he got it.  I'm still reminding him and we've had a few mishaps, but all in all, he is a CHAMP.  No more diapers for me! (at least for a few months)

Testosterone

 Oh yeah--we got it over here at our house.  A lot of it.  So much that Baby #4 couldn't help but join the crowd...he's A BOY!  Oh man is he a cute one.  I love ultrasounds and I can't get over how much better & clearer they have gotten in the last 8 years.  He was a good little picture taker and did just what the tech wanted.  He showed off his calves, spine and even waved to us! (I swear!!)

I can't help but want little man to come out so we can all hold him.  The boys were dotting over him during the entire ultrasound, "OHHH!  He is SOOO cute!!!  Isn't he the CUTEST?!?"  Then when the ultrasound tech printed out the pictures they started kissing them and fighting over who got to hold them.  My heart just gets a kazillion times bigger with this type of love going around.

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.

Wet, Dirty and Happy Turkeys

The turkey trot was in the rain this year!  That didn't stop us from running our hearts out just to enjoy a big fat meal later on in the day.  We had a delicious dinner and a wonderful time with the Panttaja's, Pop Pop and Ya Ya, the mish doggs and some friends.  We stayed 2 nights and had tons of fun with cousins.  The day after Thanksgiving we had a nice trail walk/run/bike ride and all of the kids romped in the red mud.  Good times that we are truly thankful for!