Farewell Summer!

Tomorrow school starts. Lucy is thrilled and can't wait, and I'm sad.  At the beginning of the summer I was a little worried and wondered how we'd fill our days and stayed scheduled. I shouldn't have stressed, summer was bliss.  We woke up late (this has NEVER happened. Granted late is 7:30), hung out with Katy and Grandmas, had all day play dates with cousins, and went to Target more times than I can count.  Lucy will be in first grade which means all day school. It seems way too long to me. I will hardly even see her! I'm sure we'll all get used to it, but for now I'm missing summer.  

I picked some pics that will allow me to reminisce about our August:

One day we went to the zoo with Marilyn and the Blodgett boys. It was a really fun trip-with quite an age range of kids I was surprised that everyone was interested and had a blast. I needed some help going up the last hill:

 We have spent lots of time at the Leinfam enjoying their view and backyard. After one dinner Lindsay brought out smore makings and Lucy declared it the best day of her life.

 I found this outside a home in Danville with a free sign on it! Danny was nice and let me bring it home. The kids love playing house in their own little house now.

 One week we saw Bennett every day. He came for a playdate one morning and he and Lucy played all day long-I hardly saw them.

 Lucy loved summer running club. She ran a total of 19.5 miles and was very pleased to get a medal.

 This past week I have been to Cream in WC a total of 3 times. Loved every sandwich I tried:) It is our special place with Aunt Katy.

 Lucy really wanted this Ariel dress from the Disney store. Ariel is her favorite princess right now and she really wants to be her for Halloween (we plan ahead around here).  I told her she'd have to earn the dress by reading 100 books. I made her a chart and was interested to see if she'd follow through. It only took two weeks:) She was thrilled to go to the store and pay for it herself.

 Last week Grandma Marilyn and Lindsay let us tag along with them and the Blodgett boys to a Vivarium in Berkeley. The kids were fascinated by all the turtles, snakes and lizards. This place had lizards hanging off the light fixtures!

 The kids got to hold a bearded lizard and a snake. No one was scared-they loved it.

 The worker thought it was hilarious to pass the snake to the adults. Lindsay and Marilyn were brave, but I squealed the whole time.

 We had a back to school bbq at Leinfam and I was lucky enough to get to hold Anna during the corn hole championship.

Farewell Summer! Back to School we go.

30, Flirty and Nerdy!

This is the most exhaustive birthday post ever written, but I really want to remember my wonderful 30th birthday.  My family went out of their way to make this the greatest birthday ever. 

It started August 1st with Birthday Month. I've never celebrated birthday month, but after this year I think I'll start! On the first of the month Danny brought this home:

The next day there was a note on the bathroom mirror along with this card:

too true huh?! Danny did a lot of little things to make me feel special. My favorite was the morning he brought home my car freshly cleaned with the carpets shampooed-best gift ever!

My birthday was on a Sunday this year (always a bummer:) so we really celebrated all weekend. On Friday night we went to the temple with Marilyn, Steve, Jason, Lindsay and Bryce. It as so fun to go all together. Afterward we went to Habit burger and I opened the most generous gift. Marilyn was so clever and really kept to the birthday theme: 30, flirty and nerdy:) I wish we'd gotten a picture all together, it was such a fun night.

 Is it tacky to post pics of gifts? I just want to remember you know? The little Captain America is from Danny. I love the little Pop plushes of action heros-wouldn't they be cute in a little boy nursery? May never happen but I'll hang on to him just in case.

The next morning we drove out to Davis for the day. We haven't really been back since we left school four years ago, so it was really fun going to our favorite places and showing Lucy all the spots she used to love. 

We started the morning at the farmers market. They have the best one in Davis!

The farmers market is held at central park. There is a really cute little carousel that is pushed by a bicycle-only in Davis! The girls loved it.

 

We have lots of pictures of Danny throwing Lucy here as a baby. Now shes a big girl and it takes  a little more effort.

Danny's fav fresh apple juice and exotic pistachios:)

We walked through campus and the UC Davis bookstore then made out way to the commons for lunch. The garlic fries at Plutos were just as good as I remembered.

 When we got home that afternoon we took the kids to Grandma Karen's and Danny and I went out on a date. Driving to downtown WC Danny mentioned he was really tired and would love to just sit somewhere for a while, would I mind getting a pedicure with him? Danny loves a good pedi! So we got a walk in appointment and enjoyed some pampering-I was unprepared and had to walk around downtown in these beauties:) Afterward we did a little shopping (used my Gap gift card from Marilyn!) and then saw Wolverine.

Sunday was my birthday-for real this time! We went to church and hung out at home until that evening.  Katy told me she was going to pick out dinner and dessert-and surprised me with a Dr. Who themed party! Katy started watching Dr. Who years ago and maybe two years ago got Becca into it. I rolled my eyes and thought they were nerds. Well, I've joined the club. I've only watched the first four seasons, but I am committed. 

Katy made the cutest decorations. My favorite was this giant Dalek:)

Love my cake. 10 is so cute with the adipose!

The pizzas were adorable. Not pictured: a k-9 pizza, cyberman pizza and tardis pizza-with allonsy in pepperoni:)

In full nerdy style! LOVE the three Dr. Who shirts I got:)

 The kids loved my little Daleks.

Couldn't quite blow out 30 candles-is that bad luck?

My gifts by category: 30, Flirty

and Nerdy.

I was so spoiled this year. Thanks fam for making 30 so fun.

Sweet Baby Jane

A couple of weeks ago my mom invited me to drive with her to Utah when Becca had her baby.  I was thrilled-super excited to be there when baby Jane was born and to be with Becca through the process. Becca had a planned C section for Monday the 29th and our plan was to drive out on Saturday the 27th so we'd be there a couple days prior for last minute prep and then I'd go home the 30th-just long enough to see baby Jane through her first night. After Katy offered to babysit we decided to surprise Becca and show up at her doorstep on Friday afternoon for a whole extra day of fun. 

So when Becca called on Wednesday morning feeling lots of painful "pressure", I told her to go to labor and delivery and to NOT have the baby. I took the babies to their doctor appointment and survived twin toddler immunizations.

 Afterwards I went to my moms and we both discussed the texts we were receiving from Bec. At about 11:30 Becca said she was being monitored and dialating and that she'd likely have the C section that day.

That was when things got crazy. First Mom and I had to decide if it was feasible to leave that very afternoon to get there. I called around trying to find babysitters for the three days I had not planned on being gone. I raced home and threw everything I could think of in a sack and then raced back. We packed the car with the TONs of things we'd been planning to take to Becca, including a partially painted dresser for her nursery.  After taking my kids home and saying a very hurried goodbye Mom and I were on our way by 2 PM!

 Had to stop at In N Out first or we'd have died of starvation.

 The drive went really fast. In Fillmore we stocked up on soda and candy to keep us going. My Mom drove the WHOLE way. I kept asking her if she was tired or wanted to switch and she said she was good. My mom likes to drive-no complaints here-by 10:30 PM I was exhausted and wouldn't have been safe-Moms a trooper. I did keep her entertained with chatter and kept her diet coke refilled so I had some value on the drive.

 At 1:30 when we arrive at the hospital.

 We drove straight to the hospital and saw baby Jane. She is the cutest baby in the world. Becca's wonderful friend Celia had been with her the whole time, we were so glad she was well looked after in our absence:)

 I'm no good that late so I went home to sleep and Mom stayed at the hospital to gaze adoringly at Jane. I arrived back at about 8 AM and got my turn.

 Becca was in the hosptial for three more days. Mom and I switched off spending the nights with her and spent days switching off too.  During the day Kyle and Ruby would come hang out and I would often sneak away for a Target run or Bajio trip.

 Ruby was a big help to me as we cleaned Jane's swing and put together her dresser.

Going home!

 I felt so lucky that Jane came early so we could spend so much time with her.  She is an amazingly good baby and I loved being there during her first days.

Playing babies has had a resurgence at our house since Jane and Anna have entered the world.  My girls love their new girl cousins and talk about them constantly. Love having all these babies around to enjoy:)