A Day of Firsts for Tyler

Yesterday was Tylers first field trip. He has been so excited about it and I really think he has told everyone he knows or anyone that he has seen in the past week. His kindergarten class got to go to a farm and pick strawberries which just happen to be Tylers very very favorite thing to eat. Not only was it his first field trip, but it was also his first time on a school bus. He was amazed that the bus didn't have seatbelts. All in all he loved every minute of it and when he got home he told me everything without leaving ANY detail out...so cute!

Dodgers

Thursday night Spencer and Mike went to the Dodgers game with Scott and Grant. Scott had 4 tickets for the game and they were all excited to go. Mike said the traffic was really bad but that is to be expected driving to downtown during rush hour. Regardless of the traffic they all had a great time. This was Spencer's first Dodger's game he has been to the Angels game before so he was very excited to watch them. He LOVED IT! Doesn't hurt that they had great seats. Thanks Scott what a fun night for the boys.Mike took these pictures with his phone they actually didn't turn out that bad considering.

Happy Easter

This was a very fun Easter that all came together very last minute. I guess sometimes not planning for something is very stress free and easy. So Friday or Saturday Mom called and invited us out for Easter dinner, because she knew that everyone else already had other plans or probably didn't want to make the drive out last minute. After a few hours of figuring everything out we ended up having everyone out for dinner except Wendy and Tom (which we really missed). I'm sure if they had a little notice they might have been ale to make it. They are awesome at always driving out to be with the family. Mom made a great dinner of ham and funeral potatoes...yum.
Once again I have to say how much I love my family and how well everyone gets along. The cousins always have so much fun together. We had a very fun Easter egg hunt. Griffin and Grant hid the eggs for the younger kids and then the doors opened and it was a free for all of Easter eggs and candy.Of course as soon as the kids were done finding the eggs it turned into a huge egg fight between all the kids against their uncles. I think my brothers find way too much fun in the pain and torture of the kids. Funny thing no matter how hard they throw the eggs and how much it hurts the kids are loving every minute of it. My favorite pictures have to be of Jake he couldn't throw an egg without jumping first. He would get so excited it was so cute to watch him.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a great Easter!

Santa Barbara Hike

The weather has been so nice lately we decided to go on a hike. So 3 friends of mine and 19 kids later we were caravaning to Santa Barbara to hike up to a waterfall. This was my first time taking Jake on a hike and was a little apprehensive but he did great. It was about 2 to 3 miles to get to the waterfall and all of the kids were loving it. Of course Tyler was already telling me he was tired, but he kept going, like he had any other option. He cracks me up while we were hiking the entire way he had his hands in his pockets. I kept telling him to take them out because if he falls he is going to fall flat on his face he just looked at me like I was crazy. All in all it was a great time and we got through the day with only a couple scratches and tears. That's not bad for 19 kids ranging from 11 down to 3 1/2 months.
You can't beat the Southern California weather
I love it here!

Spencer's 9th Birthday

All I can say is wow where has the time gone. I feel myself saying that more and more often as I watch my children growing up before my eyes. Spencer has been such a fun loving sweet boy that I feel once again blessed to be his mom. Spencer was probably my easiest baby and toddler. He never got into trouble and was always looking for ways to make Mike and I happy. Spencer has an awesome personality he is never far from a crowd it seems like people are just drawn to him and his infectious personality. He is always trying to find new ways to make people laugh he is my little comedian. His mind is always working overtime to be a high achiever or just to be able to create or build something. Since about age 2 until now you will usually find Spencer in his room building anything from blocks to 500 piece star wars Lego sets. He has an audience of his 2 younger brothers who look up to him and want to be and do everything he is and does and I am so proud of the example he is to them.
Each of the kids went with me to the store and wanted to buy Spencer something with their own money...I helped Jake out with some money. I love that Brooke and Tyler were so excited to spend their own money that they had been saving. As a parent those are the moments that make us smile watching our kids find joy in doing things for other people. This year Spencer asked for Star Wars Lego sets, Bakugon (magnetic balls that transform into creatures), and he wanted some Pokemon cards to trade with his friends.

When Spencer woke up on his birthday he was so cute I asked him a couple of questions of what he wanted and you can tell he had put a lot of thought into his day. He wanted doughnuts brought into school for his class and then he wanted me to take him out to lunch (that's my tradition on their bday). For dinner he wanted Brookie's spagetti and meatballs and for desert a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I love celebrating the kids birthdays it gives me a chance to spoil them and give them all of my attention.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER!

Spencer's Birthday Party

Spencer has really been wanting to see Race To Witch Mountain and has been wanting to go to the movies with his friends. So logically it was an easy decision to combine everything and have a day out with his friends going to the movies and eating junk. Spencer has a great group of friends they are very fun and polite kids.
Spencer is always such a great big brother little Tyler really wanted to be included in his party and Spencer was awesome and invited him to come also. The movie was great and the best part was watching the boys react to everything in the movie they were so in to it. They hardly even took their eyes off the screen to eat the candy I had brought them they were in complete concentration of what was happening in the movie.

After the movie Mike and I were going to take the boys out for ice cream and they all decided they wanted frosties from Wendys. Everything is a competition to boys they all raced to see who could finish first and in the process were all getting brain freezes. It was a fun day Spencer and his friends seemed to have a great time.

Crazy Hair Day

About twice a year our school like many others has a crazy hair day. It is always a funny day seeing what all the kids come up with. Of course Tyler was not to sure of being that crazy so he decided to put a little gel in his hair so he is my conservative one, well in some ways.
We carpool with our good friends the Wallers and Nikki came prepared with the spray paint for the kids hair. They looked so good definite picture moment.

So by the time school had ended Tyler had a change of heart and decided to join in the fun. We gave him pink and blue polka dots. Of course Jake could not stand to be left out. He was so excited when we sprayed his hair. I think he looked in the mirror about 20 times and kept on laughing at himself.

Season comes to an end

Well Brooke's basketball season came to an end this weekend. Her team improved so much with every week and I'm sure that was impart to a fabulous coach. Mike had a ton of fun coaching the girls this is his third year coaching Brooke's basketball team and in those three years he has a pretty darn good record first, fourth, and second. This year the girls made it to the final game and came in second place. One of the parents said that you can tell how good of a coach you are by 3 things. 1) Did the girls learn something new 2) Did they have fun and 3) We will they return to play next year. She gave Mike a really nice complimant that he truly succedded in all of these areas with all the girls. One of Mike's goals every season is to make sure that every girl scored a basket and he was very happy that in the second to last game that happened.

I missed the final game (I was so sad) but one of the moms took this picture so I would be able to see Brooke get her trophey. She had a great season and had a blast. It was a little challenging trying to juggle her soccer and basketball but we managed and had a lot of fun in the craziness.All the girls on Brooke's team made Mike a candy gram to say thanks for a great season. Mike loved it and I was barely able to get a picture before the candy was devoured.
This was Spencers first year playing CYBA basketball and he also had a lot of fun. His team did not win very many games, but Spencer quickly realized that he needed to focus on his game to see what he could improve instead of worrying who was winning. Spencer played point gaurd and was the most aggressive defensive players I think I have ever seen at his age. I bet he averaged 4 steals a game along with 2 blocks.
Even though this picture is a little blury I loved it. There is so much concentration on his face and the tongue out reminds me so much of my brothers. Spencer is left handed and I think one of his biggest improvements was by the end of the season he was dribbling and driving to the basket using both hands. He was awesome and I wanted to keep him going so I signed him and Tyler to play YMCA basketball.

Day at the Park

The weather was so nice yesterday it was definitely the perfect day to go to the park. I took Jake and his friend Kai and we were off. First we stopped by good old Mcdonalds for our picnic nothing beats chicken nuggets and apple dippers well at least to a couple of toddlers. The boys had a lot of fun playing in the sand making a very yummy birthday cake with sticks for the candles.
Next we had a fun game of baseball. They were so funny and independent they did not want my help at all. They took turns pitching to each other and then if they actually connected one of the crazy pitches they dropped the bat and ran their bases. This is one of the many reasons I love Southern California. I was able to spend a beautiful afternoon in the park playing with my little guy when in reality we should have been bundled up inside.

My Favorite Dad

Last week Mike and Brooke got into an argument about Brooke having an attitude. I know my precious little Brooke has an attitude well she has her moments like we all do. Anyway she went to bed a little upset and decided that she was wrong and she loves her Dad. She is such a great kid and so quick to make things right. So the next morning Mike woke up to a poem on his desk that she had written before she fell asleep.

My Favorite Dad
My Dads got talent to share
even though he has no hair.
Hes got the goofiest smile
but he can run a mile.
He reads the longest books
have you ever seen him cook?
He teaches us the scriptures
and has a wife that takes pictures.
He can fix anything
but he doesn't like to sing.

I LOVE YOU DAD!!!
Brooke