Apple Hill

We took our annual trip to Apple hill a few weeks ago.  It was short and sweet.  Having been there numerous times now, we know that we can have just enough fun in a few hours.  We did our typical apple donuts, followed by some time around the lake, a hayride, and a hay maze.  The boys had fun just being outside and seeing all the fun things around.  We didn't do the pony ride this year since the line was 30 kids deep.  Life has been so busy with Steve gone so much that I haven't had time to relax much.  It was so nice driving to that beautiful area with my family and just enjoying doing something different.  

It's a Girl!

Ok, so I know that after having 3 boys, I have lots of doubts about my ability to carry a baby girl.  I have looked and looked and looked at these pictures and I am still not sure how people can see a huge difference.  Girls have three lines, but boys have three other things, and well, that whole gender region just looks a bit obscure to me.  I don't think until I get further confirmation that it will truly set in.  For now, I am buying up a few girly things and in the back of my mind I am holding on tight to those receipts, you know, just in case.  

Any of you girl mommies, don't hesitate to tell me if you think that those three lines look suspicious to you.  The tech has been doing it for 37 years and has never been wrong.  But you know that never say never business is around for a reason.  I get to see more pictures of this sweet baby in 3 weeks, and I think just maybe if they say it's a girl again, I will finally let that squeal of delight finally eek out.  

Official

When we walked out our front door to this, it really felt official.  We have known since before Labor day that Steve would be taking a new position with Ikon as they merge their two businesses, but seeing the "for sale" sign made it all real.  I have so many mixed emotions about the move.  There just seems to be too many life changing moments happening around here lately, but we are trying to roll with the punches.  Instead of being without Steve 3-4 days a week, he may have to travel just 2-4 times a year.  With baby #4 on the way, I know this is what we need, but the timing of it all just seems a bit unfortunate.  We are planning to leave in January so the boys can finish the semester of school.  It will be so hard leaving here, because this has felt more like home than Arizona and I lived there almost 30 years.  

Quite the sense of humor

This little boy can be absolutely hilarious some days.  We were all in getting ready to go somewhere the other day and out comes Landon in my Halloween wig from last year, a sports bra and underwear.  I don't know where he comes up with the ideas he does, but there was not a straight face in the room.  We all laughed so hard.  It was tough to even get a picture.  He has always loved costumes, but this kind of dress up is well....questionable!  Crazy boy!

Soccer

Soccer is well under way.  And let's just say this has been an amazing year of growth for Landon.  Not that I am an ultra, die-hard, gotta be the winner, kind of mom, but we do happen to be 4-0.  Landon is making huge improvements at his goalie and offense positions.  He loves soccer and says it is his favorite sport.  He dedicates the most time to practice and is often bossing Cohen around the back yard making him play soccer with him.  Our last game was a tough one and Landon did amazing.  I think he had 5 saves at goal just in the last quarter.  We ended up winning 3-2 and if he had let any of those slip by, we would have tied or lost.  I was so proud of how hard he worked.  

 Grey loves to be at the soccer field.  He is going to be amazing at some ball driven sport in his life.  He is rarely found without a ball in his hands or at his feet.

 It appears that my baby bump is well under way, too.

First Day of School

I'll start with Cohen, because that is less complicated.  This year he is enjoying 3 day (MWF) all day pre-school.  He is back at Adventure and Mrs. Pearson is his teacher this year.  Not once has he looked back when I have gone to leave.  He was so excited for his first day and feels right at home.  His best buddy Mavrik is in his class again this year, and I know they are having a blast together.  He loves bringing his own lunch every day.  He loves that they take a 30 minute rest and he loves to be able to go home with my neighbor that I carpool with.  He feels like such a big boy and he is loving every minute of it.  

 Landon is a bit more complicated.  I couldn't decide what to do with him this year.  We gave the public school a whirl and well, we'll say that it just wasn't for us.  We were asked just 2 days before the public school started if Steve would take a job that would keep him solely in the Bay area.  My gut told me just to put him back in private school for the next few months, but I felt like I had to try public and see how it went.  He seemed to love it, but the enviornment and education at Adventure just can't be duplicated.  After the first two weeks we thought we would reassess while on vacation.  We went on our southern Cal trip and enrolled him back at Adventure when we got home.  He is loving every minute of it.  Mrs. Lewis is his teacher this year and there are many familiar faces in his class.  From computer lab, spanish, PE, science, art and music he is experiencing so much.  The other day he came home and said I put my hands at "asdf jkl;" when I use the keyboard.  So cute!

 I realized too late that I didn't get a first day pic for Adventure.  Oops.  This is through the window of his classroom.

 This was his first day at Twelve Bridges.  And yes, my baby is still in his jammies.  We don't pretend to be organized in the morning!

Disneyland 2010

Agh! I have been a terrible journal keeper. By now the memories of our annual southern Cal trip are quickly beginning to fade into my ever worsening memory. But, here is a bit of what I do remember from Disneyland.

1. The boys LoVeD Disneyland.

2. I hate being pregnant at Disneyland.

3. Being pregnant allowed me to go explore all the baby rides with Grey and led to some great one on one moments together.

4. The big boys partied until midnight the first night we were there.

5. Grey loved the baby water slide at the Disney Grand. And I loved the hotel.

6. The boys loved building their own race cars at Ride Makerz. Thanks Daddy!

7. Landon was obsessed with the pins that people collect. He talked Cohen into starting a collection with him.

8. Landon said California Screamin' gave him a little headache and Cohen loved it. A first for both this year.

9. Our family loves churros at Disneyland. Must have paid $60 for churros alone!

10. My boys loved meeting my best friend and her family there. I dream of days when we can just enjoy the rides and watch the kids. Maybe in 6 more years!

11. Grey loved It's a Small World and loves to rewatch the video I took on my iPhone.

12. I didn't get enough and I am itching to do it all over again. Every year seems to get more and more fun with the kids.

I am so grateful we are so blessed and able to afford those wonderful experiences with our kids. I know they will remember these trips for the rest of their lives.

The rest of our vacation down in Newport was amazing. For the first half we had the best weather we have ever had. No marine layer even! The last half the marine layer seemed really bad to make up for the first few days. We enjoyed several days at Balboa Beach, one at Crystal Cove, one at Salt Creek and many hours at the pool. We were having so much fun in fact, we failed to take one single picture after we left Disneyland. Seriously?!?

-I missed Landon learning to skim board. He got really good in just 2 days!

-I missed hours of Grey digging in the sand and following the older boys around.

-Hours of digging for sand crabs and collecting sea shells.

-Balboa bars and bananas.

-The boys meeting their great Grandma Gioia for the first time at Old Town Mexican Cafe.

-My Grandma's reaction to me saying I was pregnant. This I would pay lots of money to have on video. Shell-shocked and disgusted come to mind. Lol!!!

It seems like there were so many other big moments, but we enjoyed our time and I am sure next year I will do a better job. I think this is a first for me on this vacation with no pictures to remember what we did. It was an amazing time for us. Steve sticked to his commitment not to work and we enjoyed his company immensely. Hope we get to enjoy it again next year!!!