Blowing it Up

These are the last of my pictures from San Diego and I just realized when I was uploading these I didn't get any of the big kids with Memaw and Pepaw (sorry guys!). However, I LOVE this genuine smile of Sarah's and my moms'. And for the record I uploading these pictures in the order I took them, so I wasn't torturing my child to make her make the following faces.

Obviously unhappy about sitting there or something. 

Then the death glare over at Memaw (remember she was just smiling previously!) I should probably pray more regularly for her husband.

Then the shocked 'If you get any closer I will be so scared that I might just have to shank you!' look.

Then something appealing on TV.

And then she felt really cool knocking knuckles and blowing it up.

But she can't just do it once....

No she has to do it lots of times typically. But hey, her smile came back!

She is such a joy and I can't wait to see how her personality will come out more and more. She knows what she wants that's for sure and has no problem voicing her opinion. She is our little Tasmanian Devil, fearless, but loves her cuddles too. I can't believe she is almost 18 months old! They change so fast between 1 and 2 don't they?

Surprise, Surprise!

On Sunday of our trip we were able to surprise my grandparents and it was such a blessing to me. We had Grace and Aaron open the front door and I was in the background like a paparazzi snapping pictures. I think she was surprised. :)
Of course I had to bribe my stubborn last child, but worth it....and before you knew it Nana had a lapful! 

 

I just love this picture, (I think Grace was playing with her tank top right as I took it) I can't remember what he was teasing her about, her tongue or something?

See?... a lapful.

It warmed my heart and an answer to prayer to watch my children snuggle with their great-grandparents.

 

 

Love You Nana and Papadaddy! 

Aaron's 3rd Birthday Part 2

I guess blogger didn't like how many pictures I posted, but here is a quick wrap up of the rest of the presents. Batman...

Spiderman... (and Sarah is holding Ironman from us) 

My best present his first toy gun bought for .25 at a garage sale, it clicks when you pull the trigger. 

 

Happy Birthday my son! I can't believe how quick 3 years of staying at home and being your Mom has flown by. You are so precious and such a thinker with so much imagination. Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back! We can't wait to see what things you will do as a big 3 year old!
Smooches Handsome!

 

Aaron's 3rd Birthday

I'm going to try to keep this short and sweet as there are a lot of pictures I posted.  The day started off with the big kids sleeping in, which was hard becase Sarah was awake at 7 and I couldn't let her loose because she would have found the train table and un-sheeted the surprise.
I had to go wake them up at 8:30 as we needed to get going because we are serving at church and can't miss, but we wanted to let him play with his train before hand. I went in to wake him and he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I pulled him into my lap and was holding him while he stretched and fussed and then I whispered into his ear, Happy Birthday Aaron. His eyes opened wide and he said, "Today is my birthday?" Yep. "I 3 today?" Yes you are! "Is Maliya and Macin here?" (His friends. I had to chuckle that that was the 3rd thing he asked about when he woke.
Then of course he got up and was excited for the day and was even more thrilled to take the sheet off and see his train and table. Best present ever. Even though it was kind of a 'recycled' gift as he had already gotten the train set 2 Christmas's ago (I think) he of course didn't remember and now he can actually play with it at his height. All of the kids loved it, as you can tell.
 

 

I just LOVE this picture of Sarah and her little pooched out Choo Choo lips. And she was choo chooing away with that train.

 

 

Later tonight we had family and some friends over for a little dinner. I made "Cheesy Noodles" Aaron's favorite and it was a hit as you can tell. I was worried with having his cousins over that little eating would happen but no he scarfed his food, which makes a mommy happy.

And so did this one.

Cousins

This big sister has such a generous kind heart that makes her mommy proud. Today at church her Pre-K class made Oreo turkey cookies with Candy Corn feathers. She saved her 'treat' for Aaron since it was his birthday. At first I thought that she got to make two and she ate one and asked to make one for Aaron, but no she only made one.  And her teacher told her she could give it to whoever she wanted. She is always thinking of him and always brings an extra Dum Dum sucker back for him from her dance class too.

 

My sister in laws...Crystal and Rachelle they are pretty awesome.

This little doll baby Abby is just about 3 months now and pretty happy!

 

Ed and Curtis 

Loved holding baby Abby, and was so happy that Abby could wear some of my favoritehand me downs from my girls. 

Grandma was saying something very important. 

And of course Sarah is a big girl now and wanted to hold the "Bebe." Which just killed me, she looks so big. Sarah your MY baby!

Opening gifts

He loved this Mickey Mouse watch from Nana & Papadaddy.

 

Hanging at Papou's

They look so cozy, don't they?
 

 

I changed the setting on the next pictures so they turned out darker but Sarah was actually smiling and saying cheese even though Aaron was looking away. It's so hard capturing kids smiles!!

 

Grandma Krissy and Papa Michael's...A.K.A. "The Park"

The Saturday of our trip to San Diego was spent visiting our family in Ramona. Boy do we love going to Ramona. The kids love it because they can play and play on the swing set and the sand box and the trampoline and with their 'cousins'. And I love it because their 'cousins' play with them and entertain them and I get to have grownup talk. But really we love them and they love us so we just have a blast catching up. 
Of course the dare devil child loves to swing and will swing until the cows come home.
 

 

Trying to 'superman' like her sister does.

Emily and Aaron

Russell playing with all the kids on the trampoline, Sarah loved jumping too. (Was there any doubt??) 

 

 

 

Russell and Aaron, these two are both so tendered hearted. I remember when Russel was about 5 and Aaron reminds me a lot of him. Crazy that he is almost driving, I know my kids will be teenagers soon!!

 

We played and chit chatted the day away until Papa was able to come home (he had to work) and then we got dinner at Boll Weivel. And they got to play pin ball and get little plastic toys for $50 out of the machines and they LOVED that, as it was the first time they really got to do all that.
My kids are so loved...dare I say spoiled??
I guess that's what grandparents are for!