How to Expedite the Tooth Fairy...

Before...

After...

Landon has been really anxious to lose his 2 front teeth. We have spent a lot of time wiggling them, but they just didn't seem to be getting any looser. When I got home from my trip on Sunday, Landon asked if I would pull his tooth out. The upper left was ready, but I would have to use a string to yank it out. He agreed. I was so bummed that I didn't get a picture of the event, we decided to do it all over again last night. The upper right tooth wasn't quite as loose, so I knew it would hurt a little more. I did the same things, except I used a little ice on the gums to numb the area for him. He is so excited to be the first one in his whole kindergarten class to have lost 4 teeth. I love how brave he is! I love his new little lisp as he tries to say his "s" sound.

Cohen is so proud of Landon for being so brave. He cracks me up. When I pulled the one on Sunday, Cohen cried for a long time, because he was so worried I had hurt Landon. Landon never cried and we all told him it was ok and see how Landon wasn't crying, but that didn't make it better. He has such a tender heart.

Ragnar SoCal 2010/ Diva Mamas

5 with 5

4 with 4

3 with 3 =

50 kids home alone...

and 12 crazy "Diva Mamas"!

Running a mere 200 miles...from Ventura to Dana Point.

This weekend was so much fun, so exhausting, and left us all ready for seconds. I really wasn't sure why I let my friends talk me into this crazy race, but I am so glad I did. I am proud of our accomplishment (not to brag... but 2nd place in our category ain't too shabby!), I am so amazed by our endurance (no walking here!), and so happy to officially call myself a runner. I am truly inspired by all of these amazing women! Thank you for making this a weekend to remember. I am dying to see all of the pictures. With 12 cameras, we decided picture sharing was better than repeats, so this is all I got. Can't wait to see more!

Rocking the White Onesie

I love seeing Grey in just his onesie. There was a day when Steve hated having our kids in these, but now we think they are amazing. Something about the simplicity. He is so stinkin' adorable.

Easter 2010

Easter was great this year. Since we were at my moms, she did all the shopping for eggs and baskets and so forth for me. It was nice not to have to worry about all that, plus it helped keep things simple. We totally forgot to dye eggs because we were so busy with other things, but the kids didn't seem to miss it. They were super sweet with Grey trying to help him gather eggs. It was a great, relaxing day, and the boys loved sharing with my parents.

Grey turns 1

We were in Arizona for Grey's first birthday this year. Because we had amazing weather, we took him to the park and had a little party. I wasn't organized and didn't do invitations really, but because we have so many great friends, at the mention of a party for him, they came. I had a balloon lady come and do balloons for an hour, but other than that, the kids just ran around and we visited with a couple of families that we don't get to see very often. The kids all had fun. Grey did what he does best, and toddled around after his daddy and just had a great time. I made fun little cake balls and ordered a few pizzas. Pretty easy on me and I know that Grey was in heaven with all the balloons.
Some of the things about Grey at 1:
His eyes are blue.

Still takes 2 naps (about 2 hours each).

Loves all kinds of baby food still.

Likes cheese quesadillas, berries, bananas, pasta, mac and cheese, eggo waffles, pancakes, apple cinnamon cheerios.

Loves balls of any sort.

Loves to hit balls with any sort of bat-like object.

Loves balloons and can throw them in the air and then hit them back up in the air with the back of his hand (very coordinated).

Loves to kick balls.

Loves to be anywhere his brothers are.

Likes to be outside, especially if there are balls out there.

Doesn't care for swings.

Doesn't like any meat.

Doesn't need to be right beside me and often times I have to hunt him down.

Loves to snuggle on our bed after he wakes up.

Loves music and does a great bounce and arm wave to the beat.

Still goes to bed around 8pm (which is late for my kids).

Had 8 teeth (4 top, 4 bottom)

Loves dogs (he followed them constantly at my moms house)

Loves to shower with his brothers.

Still has very sensitive skin (still using dreft).

Sleeps through the night (just barely! since I finally stopped getting up with him)

He is a happy go-lucky kid and we are so grateful to have him in our family!

A few quick notes

Ahh...there just isn't enough time in a day. Well, maybe there is, but I just don't have it in me to run around all day every day, like a mad woman. If I have a very productive day, the next day I seem to flaunder. I never gets things done day in and day out. Unfortunately, I do best under pressure. Hence, my house is never picked up and clean, unless I am expecting someone or the cleaning people are coming. Deadlines motivate me, but I don't like having too many things on my platter. I haven't been taking the time to write many things down about the kids and noticed today that I have a laundry list of things that I want to remember right now. So here are a few of them...

Landon... I want to do a long post one day about "doggy", about how he got his name, about all the things he's been through, but not tonight. Tonight, I just want to remember that this week, Landon decided he was too big for "doggy" now. My goodness, I just welled up. He is counting the days until his 1/2 birthday. He is trying so hard to grow up. I am having a hard time letting my baby get big.

Cohen...He is going through a stage. He is a daudler. He always has his head in the clouds and never seems to be listening, no matter how loud you hollar at him. Today, I asked his six times before I finally had to whack him to even get his attention to get his seatbelt on. He hates to disappoint, but man he had the hardest time following direction right now. He is growing out of his super obediant sleeping days. He isn't trying to not take naps, but two days in a row without one and he is a bear. He is learning many of his letter, but still can't write his name. I think he could, but he still lacks a bit of the attention span and desire to do so.

Grey... He is trying to kick his morning nap. It makes for a hard transition, because he is ready around 11 to go to bed, but 3 days a week we have to leave at 11:30 to go get Co. And if he naps at 12 or later, he sleeps shorter amounts of time and is a bear from 4-8. Ahhh! He is starting to arch his back from time to time when I put him in his car seat. I thought we might pass right through that stage because I remember the other boys doing it much sooner, but now he figured it out, too. He is babbling so much. He is really trying to tell us these whole stories because you can the the animation in his eyes, but he is still only saying ball, boon, mama, and dada.

I know there are a dozen other things I thought of today, but this is a start. I can always add more. It's killing me I haven't done a post for Grey's 1st Birthday, but I leave in 1 day to do my crazy Ragnar race. So, until another day!

The Dentist

Last week we went to Arizona for part of our spring break. On the list of my to do's while in town, was to take the boys to the dentist. It is hard for me to think about taking them any where other than to my dad, but it seems like too long goes between visits. Cohen hadn't really had an official visit. I had worked on him here and there, but he had never had x-rays and never had his teeth polished. I knew he had a tiny cavity and had been reading him the Dora goes to the Dentist book for the last few weeks. I decided to let my dad and his hygienist work on them, so I didn't have to stress about it all. It was perfect. Cohen was a dream patient. He loved it all and was so proud when he was done. Nothing bothered him. Landon did well, too. At Co's age, I had to take him to a pedodontist and I was so bummed, but they both loved having Papa work on their teeth this time. Thank goodness Landon didn't have a mouth full of cavities this time! Grey loved helping the girls at the front desk. He did his usual wandering around and just kept himself happy and busy.

Hockey Game

While on our last trip to San Francisco, we went to a San Jose Sharks, hockey game. Because Steve was doing a recognition event through work, we had the suite. I don't know how much hockey anyone watched, but the boys had a great time. The others families there had kids as well, so the kids played, the adults talked and we just had an excuse to go do something different. Landon and Co shared a cotton candy, which was so cute to watch as they ate off the big ball of fluff at the same time. Cohen swore he didn't get any at all, hence the close up of his blue face, so I could show him the evidence on the cameras preview window. Grey continues to amaze me with his easy going personality. He toddles around everywhere, content just watching the action and playing with whatever little thing he can find.

San Francisco

We recently took a trip to San Francisco. We rarely do much that is interesting when we are in the city. This time, Steve took time to plan a few fun activities. One of them was going to the Natural Science/Planatarium Museum. They had a working rainforest, aquarium, plus lots of other cool real/stuffed animals. I hadn't heard many great things about it, but we had so much fun. The rainforest was amazing. I loved the butterflies everywhere. The aquarium too. I have a love for sea animals. Especially beautifully colored fish. The boys had a blast.

We still have yet to take them on a trolly car, but maybe next trip. We did hit the original Swensens ice cream. Too bad I didn't have enough cash to get myself an ice cream. The boys all loved it though. It was a crazy trip, namely 4 hours spent in the SF mall with 3 boys that hadn't napped all day, by myself, but that's another story.

From there we headed to half moon bay again. The weather was beautiful. I got to go for a run along the coast. It was a nice trip with the family. I love being able to do new and exciting things with the boys. I hope they know how lucky they are!

Happy Birthday Steve

Steve turned 33 on March 24th. I would post 33 reasons I love this man, but there are so many more than 33. (and I am sooo behind, that would take way too long!) I am grateful to him for being such an amazing husband. He always goes above and beyond.

He is a very superstitious man and wasn't excited about being 33, as it is apparently an unlucky number. I quickly reminded him that it just meant he finished his 33rd year and is now in his 34th year. So kind of me, don't you think!?

Basketball Winter '10

To say I am way behind on my posting is an understatement. Basketball is long since over. I started in January and lasted through February. I remembered my camera to a sum total of 1 game. I cheered a whole lot though! And tried to keep tabs on Grey and Cohen, both of whom were usually on the court.

This season was unbelievably fun. We played with a school group of kids, plus one church friend. Grey loved going to practice because everywhere he looked there was a basketball to bounce. Cohen was in heaven because his best friend from preschool's brother was on the team, so he had a set playdate every practice and game day.

They nicknamed Landon "Jordan", as in Michael Jordan because for some reason it all just clicked this season. His defense was aggressive, his shooting was accurate, his rebounding was amazing. I think Steve grew 2 more inches, just from the pride he felt watching his son own the game. And more importantly, he loved it. We are so proud of you LW! Great season.