Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Year in Review: April

Easter break finished, including a ski day for Elijah with Grandpa, Aunties, and cousins.  Then back to the regular routine of co-op and just-us school days with some L.A. field trips thrown in and a road trip up to Fresno. Another beach day, shockingly unphotographed. Josiah turned 5! 
Shared rest time


We went to the Natural History Museum's free day with cousins. Dinosaurs--what could be better?!?



His shirt says it all

Samuel graduated to the big tub with adoring siblings to bathe him

Claire wearing the dress that was my mom's at her age

Fresno! Meeting new baby cousin, celebrating uncle's birthday, playing with 1st cousins and 2nd cousins -- lots of fun!

Grandma with all her grandkids -- 2/10 people smiling isn't bad....


Life as a 4th born: brother's picture of his (dirty) toes and baby's head

She loves swings!




Co-ordinating hand-me-downs from me and my brother

Sweet morning snuggles happened a lot



Then Josiah turned 5!
He celebrated with cupcakes with the 1st grade co-op.

Cake planning/decorating is taken very seriously around hear. He expanded and adapted plans from Elijah's cake.


Birthday dinner with Grandpa and Grandma: shrimp & rice

His first big Lego set


The birthday celebrations continued with a trip to the L.A. Science Center per Josiah's request.


Then Grandpa & Grandma and Great Grandpa & Grandma joined us for hot dogs and s'mores.
Dustin put together another treasure hunt

Marshmallows & cupcakes for birthday celebration #2

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Year in Review: March 2016

March began with cozy newborn days:

Claire spent lots of time taking care of her babies; they napped better
than mine.


Best big brothers!


Which came to end when I went back to work a day early (my sub's toddler was sick and it was easier to just teach than to find a sub for my sub) on the day our solar panels were being installed while Dustin was gone on a business trip. Dustin came back from that trip ready to start job hunting in earnest.

But beautiful day for a picnic lunch at the park!



I took the kids to the Aquarium as my first big solo outing with all of them:





Long Beach at sunset


We celebrated a friend's birthday at the fire station:


Josiah is usually the first kid up and busy working on something
while he waits for the rest of the household to get going

Palm Sunday in her favorite Mother Gooose dress
made by Aunt Heather


Baby smiles!

We started off Easter break with a trip to Reptile Zoo with school buddies + picnic lunch at the beach.


Claire missed her beloved school friends while
I was on maternity leave.




Easter Sunday!

Started the day with a pancake breakfast at church.
I promise Samuel has never been dropped.

Easter egg hunting in the yard

Easter egg hunting


Then down to my parents for Easter dinner.


 
He's steadily filling up her lap.

"Chronicles of Narnia" with Daddy

Easter break fun continued with another visit to the aquarium with cousins.


And a cousin visit is never complete without a beach trip -- Crystal Cove this time!




She adores her Grandpa