future fashion designer

This creative, ambitious and spunky girl! She worked tirelessly on this outfit she had concocted in her head!

it's the simple things...like flying a kite

wannabe cowgirl

Wannabe cowgirl, that would be me! I love me some country music and some cowgirl boots! I think someone might follow in my footsteps...

Love her blankie rigged up to be her cape and her princess crown created by her own little four-year old fingers!

Yes, that says "I love Mommy" I 'm going to have to remember this picture when she's about 13.

shenanigans

This boy is always up to something and for the most part, we love all the laughs that come with it! 

And I'll leave you with this one...

leaves

It had been a busy day of work, running errands, dentist appointments, and then home to prepare dinner but thankfully I stopped and I grabbed my camera to capture this sweet fall evening in our backyard.

mowing the lawn

It was another one of those moments when things just got too quiet and I noticed Liam wasn't right under my feet. So I went looking for him and this is where I found him...just watching his daddy mow the lawn.

there he is!!!

Liam gets the biggest kick out of this and as a result, so do we! I didn't want to forget.

P.S. I take no credit for the way he was dressed. I'll just say him and Daddy were watching a little NASCAR that day. 

soccer

Our girl had her first soccer practice! She did great and more importantly, she had fun! When we asked her that night what she liked best: swimming, dance or soccer, her reply was, "I like all of them!" We were happy to hear that! We're so glad we are able to give her a variety of experiences and look forward to all of the positives that come with extra curricular activities!

my little bakers

Just a random collection of my kids helping me in the kitchen. 

Addie and Liam I love you two!

In just a diaper and an apron, Liam is helping me make THE most delicious strawberry shortcake! It's called Bishop's Cake and it's from one of my oldest recipe books that was given to me by my Aunt Pam.

On this occasion, we were making chocolate chip cookies and Liam snuck up on the stool, got the spoon out of the cookie dough and had himself a little sampling.

Aprons and kitchen mitts! 

Who knew they could be so much fun!

What's the saying...Good moms let their kids like the beaters. Great moms turn the mixer off first. Phew! Looks like I made it into the "great moms" category. 

sibling love

I just love their love for each other...

Addie got a time-out for giving her brother a little shove off a chair and Liam couldn't resist joining her in timeout. Now, tell me you could keep a straight face.

Liam is giving his sister a goodmorning hug as she came down the hall from her bedroom. I wish I had been at an angle that captured the smile on his face!

snowing in august

When I need a shower and miss my very early, before he wakes up, opportunity, I baby gate Liam in our master bathroom, while I jump in the shower. I've tried bringing in toys, snacks, books to entertain him and all he wants to do is empty out the drawers and cabinets. On this particular day he decided to empty out the powder. Good thing he's cute!

liam and the little blue truck

In a house full of pink, we are finding that Liam is fitting into most of the male stereotypes and has a natural inclination towards trucks, cars, tractors, trains, even Sister's pink doll jeep. What I love most is how he picks out his Little Blue Truck books (and a few other tractor books) and brings them to me to read. They are clearly his favorites. He gets so upset if I don't stop what I'm doing and read to him. So most of the time, I do just that. I stop what I'm doing and sit right where I am. Then he hands me the book, climbs into my lap and I read to my baby boy.

Today, I was doing the dishes and he kept coming down the hall and talking to me in his caveman language (love those sounds!). Then he would run to his rocking chair in his room. He did this a couple of times and while I acknowledged him, I kept doing the dishes. I think he finally gave up and when I looked over at him, he had climbed up in his rocking chair and was "reading" his Little Blue Truck books. 

timeout

Addie was sitting in timeout for allegedly pushing her brother. As she was sitting there, this transpired...

Hmm...I'm wondering what really happened now!

a little trip to sausalito

Kevin was gone in Utah last week and sometimes I go a little stir crazy being the kids' sole provider 24-7, so it was great to get out and hit the Discovery Bay Museum in Sausalito!

Yep, that's the Golden Gate in the background!

Grabbing some lunch from the Slider Shack Truck!

I love this pic of Liam looking at books while Addie makes a craft in the background.

Look at that view!

am i really this lucky?

naked chef

Look who made us dinner while Grammy was here!

rub-a-dub-dub

Rub-a-dub-dub... 

two sweet kids in the tub! 

They really are very sweet to each other. 

I'm not making it up. 

we got new wheels!

No, still no new car...but we did buy a modest little bike trailer! I've wanted one since Addie was Liam's age! So the kids and I have been taking it out for a few spins! We (meaning I) need a little practice before our upcoming trip to Sunriver! Whoo! My thighs were burning! 

Here's a few pics from our first bike ride down to the Baskin Robbins!

They are so sweet in there. I thought it might be trouble confining them in such close quarters. But while I'm pedaling I barely hear a peep out of them. 

Happy girl eating her "balilla" ice cream. 

Poor buddy has to have sister's hand-me-down helmet. Hey, it's mostly blue! Addie wore it maybe twice before she outgrew it, so we're going to put it to use before Liam outgrows it too! I promise I won't make him wear the princess helmet!

going for a ride

Could they be any cuter!?!

fun with buddy skylar!

We got to have Skylar over for a day! Here's the fun that was had!

Dress Up! Skylar says to Addie, "You don't look very scary. You look like a good princess."

Lunch time! Skylar even put his dishes in the sink for me without asking! Such good manners!

Addie's helping Skylar put on his shoes and socks so we can go to the park and Liam 's just taking it all in. 

Skylar's turn on the princess bike! Hee! Hee!

They have so much fun together!

 Lots of laughter!

This was the quietest they had been all day! They have plates of baking soda and in the ice cube tray is food coloring and vinegar. They take the dropper and fill it up with colored vinegar then watch it bubble up on the plate!  

Then they made ice paintings. Just water and food coloring frozen into cubes with a little toothpick sticking out for the handle. 

And little brother got to hang out and watch!