California

We have been trying to get back to California for a month now and the scheduling just never worked out. I was so happy when we were finally able to go back to visit. We stayed with my parents over Easter weekend and then spent a week up near San Francisco.

The kids had so much fun with the Easter egg hunt this year considering that my sister and brother, April and David, hid probably 300 eggs. Way to go Dad for stuffing all of them!!

Here they are ready to go out back to start the hunt.

Mike helped Austin at a neighborhood egg hunt

This was Austin during the entire Easter egg hunt. He didn't care much for finding the eggs- only opening them and enjoying the spoils.

Makenzie finding some well-hidden eggs on the rock waterfall

Unfortunately, we didn't count the eggs before we hid them so it took everyone looking to find them all.

Tyler and Makenzie with their eggs

We discovered on this trip that Austin has NO fear when it comes to water. As long as he has his arm floaties on.. he's good to go. He started jumping from the rock ledge along with Makenzie and Tyler and then he even started DIVING.... yes... DIVING!!! This kid is crazy!! He would dive off the edge of the pool by the hot tub into the big pool, swim to the edge, pull himself up, jump into the hot tub and then start the cycle all over again.

Easter morning

my sister, April, and I

I was horrible at taking pictures when we were up in Fremont and San Francisco. I got some with a few friends but not nearly all of them which makes me sad now. We did get to spend a day at Happy Hollow with a whole bunch of friends and the kids loved it.

Makenzie and Brooke.

Tyler with Markus and Linkoln

Kori and I

We also had time to go down to the Monterey Bay Aquarium-- a tradition for us.

We spent a day at the Beach and you couldn't have asked for better weather.
Reminded me of old times!

Buddies

Family picture at the beach-- I despise any picture of me pregnant, by the way.

Ashley and I

Our last day we spent in San Francisco. The kids had to ride the carousel at Pier 39 of course.

Austin on his horse. I don't know how I got bullied into going on with him. Not the best idea when you're 7 months pregnant.

Family picture in San Francisco

February and March

It is impossible to get a smile from this guy for the camera. Literally.... impossible.

I think I can count on my hand the number of pictures I have of him smiling in his short two years. Which is crazy because he is generally a very happy boy.

Lately anytime that Austin sees me in my bed reading he feels like he needs to join me. This always includes him grabbing ALL of his books and piling them on my bed along with 3 blankets and 2 of his favorite stuffed animals. I don't mind though-- anything for some good snuggle time.

My brother, Jon, and his wife, Angie, came to visit us last weekend. It was fun to catch up with them and have visitors. Here is my attempt at a picture of all the cousins.

I wish I could say this was a picture of us on our way to Disneyland as Makenzie's ears might suggest. But no.... it was on our way to visit Antelope Island - 10 minutes from our house. Unfortunately, not a lot of antelope were spotted. Just a few buffalo here and there. Not too exciting.

We did go to the zoo earlier this month. The kids loved it.

Oh man--- I am so tired of the snow. But the kids aren't. This was our last big snowstorm earlier this month. I hope it's our last but probably not. The odds are against us.

Reminiscing

I am soooooooooo ready for a vacation. I think I got spoiled in California going on so many weekend trips and getaways. I am needing a new adventure right now. Wish I could be back here.....

Or here....

Or here....

Or here.....

Random pictures

Tyler entered into a spelling bee contest at his school. He came in 4th place in the entire school.

He has such a crazy memory!!

Makenzie doing her homework

Austin and his trains-- this is what he plays with all day- trains and more trains

Austin found the boy costume box. He decided on a combination of peterpan, batman and Mr. Incredible.

I can never get this kid to give me a good smile for the camera. It's near impossible!

House pictures

Finally I am posting some pictures of the inside of our new house. It's only been 4 months since we moved in :) I still have quite a few projects I need to get done like repainting Makenzie and Austin's room. And hopefully in the spring we can finish our fence.

Our front yard-- obviously this picture was taken before winter came. Now we have the ugliest hill of snow in our front yard -- A month ago Mike made a gigantic snow slide for the kids. They loved it. Only problem is now it will probably take the next 4 months for it to melt.

Our backyard

This is our entryway. Straight ahead is the living room and then it leads to the kitchen/dining on the right. To the left through the french doors is Mike's office. To the immediate right are the stairs leading up. In the hallway is the door to the basement. I love the archway here-- there are so many archways in this house.

Hallway upstairs. Straight ahead is the kids' bathroom. Makenzie and Austin's rooms are at the end of this hall. They are a work in progress still though. To the left is the laundry room and I am standing in the master bedroom doorway.

Master bedroom

The hallway from our bedroom to bathroom. His and her closets on each side-- one of my favorite features :)

Master bath-- with his and her sinks-- one of Mike's favorite features

Back downstairs--- Mike's office. Funny story-- I had some cute pictures up on the wall behind his desk and Mike came in and just said-- "nope.. that's not going to work. My office can not be cute." So he found this awesome canvas of NYC at IKEA and I love the way it looks. Definitely more manly.

Living room -- don't mind the valentine's day decorations :)

Kitchen

Kitchen and dining room

Dining room

Straight ahead is the door to garage-- bathroom on left-- closet on right

This is our basement living area-- I should refer to it as Mike's room since he loves to spend a lot of time down here

More basement

There are 2 bedrooms down here, one storage room and one full bathroom.

This will be our guest room. Right now it is our computer/piano room.

Tyler's room. This is the room that flooded 3 days after we moved in b/c it is right next to the furnace/water heater room. I'm glad it's been put back together.