Backyard Campout!!

Last week, while I was on my Steering Retreat for Mop's, Sam put his tent up in the backyard one afternoon, and let the boys play in it! Ever since, they've been begging to have a backyard campout! SO...tonight, its happening! Hence the reason I am actually able to finally catch up on this blog!!

No...Drew is not spending the night out there with the big boys...but before I put him down I had to get a picture of him and daddy in the tent!
Logan and Grant with their Flashlights...making shadow shapes on the top of the tent! They were so excited when they heard daddy was putting the tent up, i'm surprised they ever got to sleep! BUT, its 1215am...and I haven't heard a peep out of them!
I just love that they will have fun memories like this to look back on! My babies are so blessed with such an AWESOME daddy...think I kinda lucked out too!
Goodnight boys,

I love you!!

Park days...

Last week I found a new addiction...selling old kids clothes, blankets, bedding, toys, etc. to a local consignment shop! Of course, while I was there Logan and Grant spotted these super cool Batman shirts, that they just had to have! Lucky for them I made a few bucks that day...so I got them each one. Now, if I could only get them to wear something else!

22 days until Logan starts Kindergarten! He is SO excited...every time we pass his school he informs me that "there is my new school...Alta Murrieta"!

Here we are, back at Harveston for a Playdate with a few friends! This is, Logan, Dylan, Grant, and Jack! Who needs a Playset...jumping off the wall is just as entertaining!
Grant and Jack watching the "biggER" boys!

Independence Day!

One of these days i'll get this right...but for now...here is our 4th of July Celebration, starting at the end! We had some friends over for a BBQ, and water fun! The Donley's were kind enough to bring over their super fun Inflatable Water Slide, so we set it up, along with our little pool, and let the kids go to town! This is them finishing off the night with FireCracker Popsicles!

Me and my some of my new friends! This is Michelle, Deena, me (of course), and Melissa! I have always been blessed with the most amazing friends...i'm always so thankful and blown away by the wonderful friendships God has given me!
BEFORE we had our BBQ, we went to Front Street in Temecula for a good old 4th of July Parade. NOT the best parade we've ever seen...but heck, we got a couple cute pictures from it!
Drew's First 4th of July! What a face!

All 3 in 1...

It really is so challenging to get all three of these boys in a picture together...so when I do...even if its not perfect, i'll share it with the world!! Here they are at our friends community pool, waiting for everyone to be ready so they can jump in!

Summer Summer Summer Time...

...time to sit back and unwind!!

I LOVE the summer! This year we purchased a new "inflatable pool"...and we plan to be in it all summer long!

These pictures are not in order...oops! But I love this picture of Grant just drying off after a dip in the poolah!
And the two "bigger brothers" posing for a pic!

This year...If that dog from below even thinks about breaking through the gate to pop my pool, he is gonna have to deal with me...and this year there is no baby bump slowing me down!

3 year appointment!

Here is Mr. Grant at his 3 year appointment...just trying to keep entertained while waiting for the doctor!
Sweet baby Drew...Just waiting patiently for his big brother to be done!
In case you can't tell...Grant is FULL of personality! He is so silly...keeps us laughing constantly. Now that this appointment is over with, he is officially enrolled in Preschool for next year! He can't wait to play at Mrs Hinckley's!

Mother's Day!

Friday May 9th...Myself, Melissa, and Colleen...in a limo, on our way to Glen Ivy for a very special Mother's day surprise!!

For Mother's Day this year Sam thought he would surprise me with a "Day Off"! The plan was for me to just follow his lead, by being ready to go Friday morning, and he would have all the details planned. Fortunately for him, I was onto the fact that something was up...and had to "ruin" the surprise by reminding him that Logan had a Mother's Day program at 11am that I just couldn't...wouldn't miss. SO...last minute change of plans...I ride with the girls down to Glen Ivy...Sam picks me up...I go to the progam, and then head back up the 15fwy for a day of fun with my gal pals!
Me and my sweet baby!
This is apparently Logan and Mrs. Hinckley's special hug! She greats the kids with a hug every morning...and noticed one day that when Logan hugs, he picks up his right foot. She thought it was so cute, that it became a "thing"! Now everytime he goes to hug her he just giggles! He is going to miss her next year...but Grant is in for a real treat!

Harveston Lake

Harveston is a "Lakeside Community" here in Temecula! Its one of our favorite places to visit! Its perfect for walking, playing at the parks, and feeding the ducks...and if you know someone who lives here, the pool and splash park is pretty amazing too!

This is a picture of Grant, Logan, and their buddy Dylan!
Drew...On the move! I'm not sure what is going on here...but my baby is CRAWLING! At 7 months, neither one of the other boys were even close to this! Guess he is just trying to keep up!

Here we are with a few of our friends feeding the ducks! Well...we were trying...think they were a little full from all the other kids who fed them this morning!

We Support Our Troops!

On May 4th, our family headed down to the Navy Ship Yard in San Diego to show our love and support to my brother, as he, and his ship mates set off for the P.G.

If you ever have the opportunity to be there for this type of experience, I highly urge you to do so. It is such an intense moment that I personally think every single American should have to witness. Whether someone you love is boarding the ship/plane, or you are just their to watch, you can't help but be moved by the sacrifice that the men and women who proudly serve our country are making. As well as find a newfound respect for the families they leave behind.

When Josh went out a couple of years ago I was moved in a way I hadn't expected...but this time brought on an entire new set of emotions. Knowing that he is headed to a war zone, and that while he is gone his first child will be born, made it all so much more sad.

Here he is with his sweet nephews! "We love you Uncle Josh!!"

Move over Drew...when he gets back, those arms will be for Brodie alone!

As soon as the ship was well on its way out to sea, we all hopped in our cars, and headed out to Point Loma, in hopes of getting one last glimpse of the ship before it was too far out. We made it just in time! Here they are on their way to serve and protect!

We are SO proud of you Josh...come home safe! We love you!

Today...

I just went outside tonight, and snapped a couple of pictures of the boys, before we walked down to get the mail!

In case you were wondering...Drew is always smiling! Such a sweet, happy, content baby! Just loves to be talked to, and all is well in his world!
And as you can see...his brothers love him! Don't know that i'll ever get a perfect shot of them all together, but I thought this was sweet!

I'll get online later, and post more...hopefully this will satisfy those of you who have been on me to post more pictures!! You know who you are!!

My little firemen!

In March we got to go on a tour of one of Temecula's Firestations! I forgot my camera...OOPS!! So I just snapped a couple of pictures of the boys when we got home!

They had a great time! My favorite part was when the Fireman giving the tour asked all of the kids how old they were! All of them shouted out their ages...and then, when it was good and quiet Logan shouts out..."My mommy's 32!" Since I had just celebrated my birthday, I guess it was fresh in his mind! As the other mom's and I were laughing hysterically the fireman said..."i'm sure your mommy is thrilled that you shared that with us"! OH MY!! What are you gonna do!

Old Friends....

A couple of weeks ago my friend Karyn came down to Southern California for Spring Break...with all 4 kids in tow!! It was fun to watch our kids play together! Lisa came along too, with Noah and Ivy, and while the kids played we enjoyed catching up!

I've known both Karyn and Lisa since the 7th grade! Thats what, for like 20 years already?! Are we really that old? Its really always such a treat to hang out with old friends, cause no matter how much time has passed, we can always just pick right back up again!
Love you girls!

Disneyland

This year for Christmas we got Disneyland passes! I think we've already paid for them 3 times over by the number of trips we have made already! I just picked a couple of pictures of the kids enjoying their time! They are all from different trips...

Logan and Grant with Tigger! The Pooh ride is an absolute favorite!
Here are the boys, our friend Maddie, and her daddy Scott in line for Matterhorn! I had no idea they could even get on this ride! They LOVED it! Since it requires 1 parent per child we'll have to do this one only on special trips though!
Daddy and the boys on Dumbo!
And...Memaw and the boys on Dumbo!

Can never ride this one too many times!!

Happy Birthday Grant!!

This year for Grant's birthday, I was just going to invite a couple of friends over for "Cake and Ice Cream"...yeah right! This ended up being so much more than just a cake and ice cream party! Grant had so much fun though!

His "theme" was Backyardigans...which goes against everything I ever thought i'd stand for when it came to kids birthdays...but how can you deny the lit of face of a child who just spotted "Pablo plates", and wants them desperately for his party!
Here he is saying "thank you" after opening up all his presents...Question: How do you all feel about saving the presents for after everyone leaves? I have mixed feelings about this, but opening presents is craziness with all of the kids at your feet trying to get in on the action!
On his actual birthday, we went to Islands for some free birthday dinners!! Thanks Jane for the links! Sam and I had ours from February, and with Grants, all we paid for were fries and Logan! Best way to go!

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma!!

On February 2nd (Groundhogs Day) my Grandma celebrated her 90th Birthday!!

In honor of the big day, Sam and I thought it would be a awesome gift for Drew and I to head out for a visit...so, last Friday, I said goodbye to the boys, and Drew and I hopped on a plane to Missouri to surprise"Great Grandma Smith"!

When we walked in the door, she hardly saw me past the "BABY"!! Good thing all the passengers on the plane warned me that I would be chump change when she set her eyes on Drew...don't I know it!! I don't think she took her eyes off of him the entire weekend! And everytime we walked through the Terrace (retirement center she lives in) she introduced him to all of her friends!!

Here is a picture of the 4 generations!! I love it!!

I really couldn't be more happy, that I was able to make it out for such a great celebration! Thank you Sam, for supporting the trip...and Momma and Uncle Eddie, for letting us tag along!90years...can you imagine?! What a life!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!
We love you SO much!

BTW...if you are reading this...Grandma was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday with Pnemonia...so please keep her in your prayers. We want to blog her 100th birthday party too!