does this really still work?!  i cant believe i am back in again!

Plays in May

Philip had play practice. Then the big night came, so of course I went to the church with the camera cause he just doesnt do plays.













He kept narrating from behind the curtain and I kept waiting for him to come out on the stage ... which he did. But he wasnt supposed to so ... he hurried back behind the curtain to narrate some more.

And that was Philip in a play.


Then there is the baseball play.
A hit and a run scored by Aidan.

Of course, there are spectators that will brave cold weather and rain to wait for these great plays. Becky (trying to reach out as far as her arm can go to take the picture causing her to have a worse double chin than she really has), Ty, Hilary and Philip.

Tide pools, Waves and Strips

May 6th, Beach Day! Before we left the hotel, one of the kids captured Philip with the butterfly net! I always laugh at Jonas lining up all his toys. He loves a neat line up!

Our first stop was the tide pools at Laguna. We got there at a good time to find and see the sea life.

Ila was the first one to hold a living sea creature. Then Cora found a couple. She absolutley loves animals and sea creatures and knows a lot about them.

Jonas wasnt to sure about touching the things we found. But Tara found a sea cucumber or something big and slimy and he finally agreed to pet it.

I just love "Strips" at the beach! Sometimes I just crave them. They aren't as good as they were years ago but its just part of my beach life. So the tradition continues ... I can't go to the beach without getting some!

Ila is not intimidated by much. She loved the tide pools, the waves, the sand!

Grandpa with his kids.

Will and Philip just enjoying the surf and sand.

I told you she has no fear. However, she was a little unsure of the wave that knocked her right down.

Will and Tara having fun with Cora, Ila and Jonas in the late afternoon. My personal favorite time at the beach!

Whats a trip to the beach without burying someone? Jonas wasnt in for a full burial.

And whats a visit to the beach without playing with some seaweed?

Or playing in the waves as they go in and out?

Or letting your feet get buried as the waves come in and out while you stand in one place?

Or just enjoying the sights and sounds of the beautiful ocean?

Or getting pooped on by a seagull!?!?!? Now this I could have done without! It was on my chest and shirt ... sick!!!

Theres nothing like just snuggling up in your towel and feeling all warm and cozy.

Jonas found a lady bug. I dont think I have EVER seen a lady bug on the sand. But this one was his pet. It stayed on him and crawled around for about 45 minutes til we let it go to shower him off before leaving.

Back at the hotel, Whitney had come down from Oxnard to spend the evening with us. She hadnt seen Will's family in a long time and had a ton of fun with them. Of course! She is fun Auntie Winky!

We all went for a late dinner at Buca di Beppo. The kids went in their pj's! You can see Captain Jack came too. It was a long but fun day with Will, Tara and family ... and Whitney.

Disneyland and the beach and lots of good memories in the 3 days we shared with them in the middle of their family vacation. Thanks for inviting us!!!

Philip at Disneyland?!?!?

May 5, 2009



Today is Jonas's 4th Birthday and a fun filled day is just beginning. Grammie found a really cool gift. A Pirate set that had a sword with skulls and gun that both made noise when you used them and a Captain Jack eye-patch. It was a HUGE hit.


We all headed down to breakfast where Philip found some new friends. A girls sports team from Idaho! haha Not sure why he didnt sit with the rest of us? Tara found the Birthday muffins and added the candles. The birthday boy was far to excited to eat to much but did blow out the candles and ate a muffin.











Right off the bat, Jonas got his map out to figure out where we were and where we should go. Jonas and Cora both love to have a map whenever they go to the zoo or places that offer one. They keep them in their pocket and bring them out periodically. Its a crack up.



Cora gave a huge hug to Donald Duck. It reminded me of the picture I have of Will when he was just about 3 1/2 hugging Winnie the Pooh and we couldnt get him to move for the longest time!

Tyler, Tara, Jonas, Ila, Cora and Will posing for the family picture in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.



















Philip and Cora on Dumbo.
This is Philip's first Disneyland ride in 14 years! He said he was never going to Disneyland again. See what Grandkids do to a person!

Will and Ila together and Tyler riding beside on the Carousel.


Ila, Will, Tara, Cora, Grammie, Jonas and Tyler ready for another fun ride!

Three girls in a tub ... oh I mean a teacup!

While we were waiting for the group that went on Space Mountain, Tara spotted Buzz Lightyear, one of Jonas's favorites. He went to say hi and showed Buzz he got a "Buzz guy". So Buzz took it and held it while I snapped the picture. Up to this time, Jonas didnt want to have anything to do with any of the Disney characters.


Jonas, Cora and Ila on the Storyland boats.

Three little honey bees at the end of a super fun day at Disneyland. Even Philip had fun. Even if he won't admit it!!!

Calgary in April

Calgary in April. Spring? Not so much the days I went even though it had been warm only days prior. Karly says it always gets cold just for me!

I think it is a standing joke that every time I go to Calgary I have 2 HUGE suitcases full. This time I had 2 suitcases full of baby items of all kinds! Crazy but things can be ordered in the US for so much less money so I was the transporter. Josh picked me up at the airport and we arrived home just after midnight, Friday.

Karly was far too excited to go to bed cause "the stash" needed to be opened and admired and ... put together! Once I took the stash out of my bags, they were both nearly empty. Now Sophie is not only a curious cat but she is a lover of luggage. And she just happened to find a nice little cozy place to hang out while all this new baby stuff was being admired. Stuff that she isn't 100% sure of just yet. Stuff that there seems to be getting more and more of it every week!So at 1am instructions in Karly's hand, bouncy seat parts in Josh's, the new baby apparatus was assembled.



Josh had to admire the new baby monitor I got them and then put it on a charge so he could test it ASAP. After all, it is electronics and he is a guy! By the next morning, he had the camera and the monitor staking out the babys room. They showed me the nursery and it is adorable and very unique. A typical Karly and Josh project. With all that, we hit the sack ... late!

Saturday we had fun out running around in the chilly, snow showery weather. We went to the Lazy Loaf and Kettle for lunch. Yummm, one of my favorite sandwich shops anywhere! And a couple of their good cookies were a must! Across the street to browse a boutique and we were off to the baby stores for this and that, fabric store to pick flannel for baby items, the Mall and a couple miscellaneous stops. We went to the movie to see "Earth" which was incredible.

Sunday we had a lazy start, got some breakfast, a few errands and it was time to take me to the airport for the afternoon flight home. A short but sweet visit. I loved having a chance to visit and feel more a part of the pre-baby experience. These are times when it stinks living so far away from the kids!

Easter week 2009

Easter Sunday we had the Reilly's over for early dinner since I had to work for a while. When I got home we had an egg hunt, silly times and played Apples to Apples.

During the egg hunt. Aidan was the egg hider but the rest of the gang scurried about hunting.

Brogan got the egg with the surprise to tell everyone about the Spring Break Sleepover and Funday.

Everybody got a duck quacker whistle and they started a band. Not too animated at first but once they got going they really rocked some cool quacker music!

Later in the week we had the sleepover. We went to see Aliens vs Monsters. Later we ate In n Out with Cranpa. The next day we just hung out and they had fun doing a little this n that.

The boys were being silly with the dress up stuff and told me they were "The Boys Pearl Club"

Finn wasnt going to let the boys be the only pretty ones!