30, Flirty, and Thriving...

Ok, so I don't know about the "flirty" part, but I am now offically 30 and feel (on most days) to be thriving! For my big "3-oh!", I didn't want a big party, I just wanted to go to Disneyland with my little family and celebrate. Mark was able to take off Thursday as well as Friday (my actual b-day), so we ended up being able to spend 2 fabulous days at the "Happiest Place on Earth", including some time over at California Adventure. This was my first trip post-pardum, which meant I got to finally do one of my favorite things--ride the ROLLER COASTERS!!

This was also Will's first Disneyland trip and we had such a fun time introducing him to one of our family's favorite hang-out spots! (First trip out of the womb I should say--I mean I did "almost" go in to labor at 38 1/2 weeks with him there at the park! HAHA! We almost had to name him Walt instead...)

Meeting Minnie--Will was trying to grab her ear!

The park was all decked out for Halloween. They had even decorated the Haunted Mansion and Space Mt. all up.

The girls got to meet a bunch of princesses--Ariel was so darling with the girls and they all kept waving and blowing kisses to Will!

Ellie as Pluto

Having a tea party at Minnie's

Hanging out in Toontown

Mark actually hates the tea cups--so I always take the girls

Ellie plays us a tune at Mickey's

Will bangs the drum

Will meeting Mickey for his first time--can you tell he's impressed?

This picture is for Grandpa Roy--Ellie is making her "yucky tomato face" just for him

Just like his sisters, Will is mezmorized by "It's a small world"

They had a fun parade at the end that we stayed for on the first night. The girls got chosen to go out to the street and dance with the characters and even got to participate in the conga line! (I only got it on video, but it was cute!) This is them waving to the characters who kept coming by to give them high fives.

Our family's tradtion is to buy each kid their first pair of mickey ears on their first Disneyland trip

It was a great birthday! We spent the rest of the weekend in Orange County shopping, going to the beach and relaxing. Such great times!

Too cool for school...

Ellie had an "AWESOME" first day at kindergarten!! To get them used to going to school everyday, they only go until noon until September 10 and then they will go full day. But, so far she thought everything was a blast--from walking to school with the family, to eating out of her new Disney fairy lunch box. She even has a play date already next week with one of the girls from her class that we just met--who happens to live right down the street! I think she is really going to love kindergarten!

Ellie and Mrs. H--her new kindergarten teacher

We are excited for this new chapter in our life!!

And I think to myself...what a wonderful world!!

July 29th--We celebrated our 10 year anniversary! I know, I know--crazy how time flies! Since Mark and I actually came to San Diego on our honeymoon, we thought it would be perfect to go out to eat at Seaport Village at the same restaurant we went to as newlyweds.

We watched the sunset over the ocean and watched the sailboats go by...

while we enjoyed some YUMMY food!

Will--our little stowaway--you couldn't ask for a better baby! He sat in his carseat for 90% of dinner (awake the whole time!) and the waitress and those around us didn't even know until the end!

Afterwards we walked around this neat little memorial to the soldiers

Someone had put a pair of sunglasses on one of the statutes and I thought it was funny, so I went to get a closer look, when I turned back around, Private Gomez had a special "treat" for me :) He's so nice isn't he?!

Beautiful roses from Mark

We were able to getaway up to dad's condo in Orange County for the weekend while our good friends watched the girls. We had to sneak in a visit to Crescent Bay in between all of our other fun activities of course!

Happy 10 year anniversary to the most amazing husband (and father) EVER!

Newport Beach

For a week in July, we had a wonderful family reunion with Mark's family in Newport Beach. This year we were there to celebrate Roy and Connie's 50th wedding anniversary. The girls had so much fun playing with their cousins, aunts and uncles, but also getting some special alone time in with grandma and grandpa--they were so spoiled with attention all week! Ellie and Mark went to Disneyland for a day, we spent lots of time at our favorite beach--Cresent Bay, we did some shopping, got in some pool time, had lots of good eats, and went on a fun train ride with grandma and grandpa. We also played lots of cards and games, watched movies, relaxed and we also got to spend the day at the OC Fair. Thanks for the fabulous memories--we had such a wonderful time!!

The past 3 months...

So Will turned 3 months old today!! I can't believe it! We have been so busy around here and yet having so much fun, that time has just flown by!! And I know that I have been really bad about keeping my blog updated lately and I really want to apologize to my 5 faithful blog followers out there (you know who you are!). So, this is a quick glimpse into what our family has been up to for the past 3 months...

P.S. To the five f.b.f., (and all of you other occasional followers) I have now updated my blog, so check out all the new old posts--I think there are 9 new ones in total! and some even date way back to February...

So after being crazy enough--or maybe it was stupidity?!--we decided last minute (um...I was one month away from giving birth to our 3rd child--you don't get any more last minute than that!!) to add a fourth bedroom to our house. Let's just say--definitely NOT something I would wish upon my worst enemy!! The thing about construction, is that even a small project (like adding an additional bedroom to your house--HAHA!! Did we really think it would be small?!) escalates into a HUGE project. So after 3 weeks, the construction crew left so that we could have our beautiful baby boy and then 2 weeks later, they were back ripping up our floors and laying down new ones. YIKES!!

So this first picture represents the way our house looked for about a month...construction messes everywhere you looked. A new floor/ceiling had to be built for the 4th bedroom, along with all that that contains (lighting, walls, etc...). We also put ceiling fans in our bedrooms and family room, added a drop down ladder for our attic, put in new surround sound speakers, new baseboards in every room, new paint in every room, new closet shelving for the bedrooms, and then the new floors in all rooms minus baths. Fun times!! And let's not mention the work we have done outside in the yard...or the 20 foot dumpster that sat in our driveway for 10 days....

You can't find ANYTHING when every room in your house looks like this!!!

But now the construction is done and we absolutely LOVE the new additions!! (I'll add new pics of our house later...) So the reason for not updating more often, (besides having a new baby, and having our house under construction you ask??) is mostly because...

~We have been to Utah twice (refer back to my new posts in May...)

~Maddy is now potty trained!! Yeah--only one in diapers now!!

~Ellie graduated preschool in June

And now that it is finally summertime, we can finally enjoy a little deserved R & R, like this....

Or this...

LOTS of cuddling with Will

And we get to stay in our pj's all morning... even if we don't want to (Get with the program Will!!)

We do occasionally get dressed (in our swimsuits) and head here about twice a week....

And here...

And about five days a week you can find us doing this....

And if we are not at those places or the park, or at a friends playing, or trying out some new museum, you will find us just hang out with this little stud all day!!

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AHHHH!! We love the lazy, crazy days of summer!!

Happy Birthday, Mark!!

Today is Mark's birthday! (So get those well wishes out there!)

Mark, we just wanted to tell you how much we love and appreciate all that you do for us. We hope you have a wonderful day! Love, us

Mark's b-day celebration updated....

We got to spend the weekend in OC hanging out, relaxing, shopping, eating, watching "Up" with the family and just celebrating!

Lunch at the Cheesecake Factory

Daddy/daughters moment

South Coast Plaza for some b-day shopping at Nordstrom

With a few rides on the carousel

Grandpa even got in on the action!

All in all a great birthday celebration week!! However, I think Mark is still owed some golf...

Our Darling Kids

This pic was taken at my sister, Mandy's wedding back in May. Will was only 3 weeks old!

Preschool's out FOR-EV-ER!!

Well, for Ellie it is anyways--she is now officially a preschool graduate!! She had such a great time at school this year. The school's program is terrific, and they got to experience so many fun things. Ellie enjoyed being in Mrs. Turner's class and had some wonderful teacher's helpers and made some really great friends!

But now, she is off to bigger and better things! Ellie is so excited to go on to kindergarten next year and even more excited that we get to walk to school everyday!!

Now we are ready for an awesome summer!!!

This was Ellie on backwards day at school in April

Ellie at the preschool end-of-the-year Open House where they had 2 bounce houses, treats, activities and displayed some of the children's artwork and had a special surprise guest

Meeting Clifford the Big Red Dog

Ellie and her good friend Lily

Ellie with the girls from her class on the last day of school picnic (Allie, Jenna, Lilly, Ellie, Kierra)

Ellie and her teacher Mrs. Turner

This is my favorite shot! I love comparing Ellie's growth on the last day of school to her first day.
And of course we had to take it at the "rusty door"!

First Day of Preschool

Last day of preschool

Goodbye Preschool...Hello Kindergarten!!!

Not so little anymore!!

Believe it or not, Will is already 7 weeks old (and a little under 13 pounds!!!!) I'll post more pics soon--but, here is just a sneak peek...