A Boy and 3 Girls: September 2008

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Her Sweet Name...

Kai is growing up so fast! We just can't get enough of her! She's so special and so sweet. We were truly blessed with some wonderful kids! Kai is now showing interest in books. The book we are reading is first 100 words. The book has pictures of dogs, which she loves!! Everytime she sees a dog she goes totally crazy.

Look at those long lashes and full lips! What a beauty!

The book...

So intrigued...

Daddy's Girl

Mom's crooked smile and dimples and Dad's teeth!

Play ball...

Kai's (fuzz ball as Ryley calls her) newest trick...

She's learned to climb down by herself...YES!

Let's play!

We love having family over! Ryley loves it because she has someone else to play with rather than just good ole mom and dad. Okay we love it cause we get a break! She loves to play ball. A while back we bought her a tee-ball set with an automatic pitch. Her dad has taught her to keep her eye on the ball, how to pitch and hit the ball. She bats right and left handed too!

Ryley pitching the ball underhand.

Batting left handed

Eye on the ball! Batting right handed...

Ready for combat!

Ryley riding her bike...she says it's broken and doesn't work because it goes really fast down the hill and it scares her.

Watching Ryley ride!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Everything!

Kai is standing and is starting to take her first steps. We're so excited! YES excited!! Most of you may think why in the world do you want her walking? Well let us tell you...Our life is already over. There's no resting with this little one. This kid is a human vacuum! When we say everything goes into her mouth, we mean everything!! We're hoping once she starts walking then maybe she won't notice everything on the floor, ground, and carpet. Sure she'll be getting into everything else but hopefully she'll stop putting so much "stuff" into her mouth.

Watch this...

She looks like she's about to fall asleep standing up.

The girls saying goodnight to each other with a bear hug!

And a kiss...Kai is so into kisses right now. She understands when asked in Spanish for "Besos". All day she gives us all kisses whether she's asked or not. So get ready for some kisses next time you see her.

And another hug...

And another kiss!

At the end of the day when the sibling rivalry ends this way, it makes the entire day worth it:)

Ball

Ang & Danny this one's for you! Lucky Lefty...

This is to cute not to share.

Kai is just fascinated with this ball. For about a month now she has been playing ball with Da Da. It was so special to see her understand what the word ball means. We tell her to get her ball and she immediately looks around for it to pick it up and play.

Triplets

Can you believe the triplets turned 4? Dad and Kai had to stay home so Kai wouldn't get anyone else sick...so they missed out on the Tri-Tip cooked Santa Maria style...on Oak Wood! We had a good time. Ryley didn't want to leave she wanted to play with her cousin Caroline.

Ryley with her cousins...The Triplets

Ryley and Caroline

Ryley and Caroline playing

All of the cousins blowing the birthday horns.

The Triplets...Michael, Caroline, Edward eating their individual birthday cakes!

Like we've said...she cracks herself up every time she hits the pinata!

Pummeled

We really haven't done much lately because both of my girls were sick since Labor Day. Ryley started out with a sniffle and a little congestion at night, followed by fever for four days that wouldn't break unless I gave her Tylenol and Motrin together. The fever kept coming back day after day, night after night.

Our little baby Kai...she was pummeled. She started off by having "blowouts" in every possible place imaginable (even while changing her diaper). This lasted for a full WEEK! With a diaper rash in tow. She then moved on to fever, cough and congestion (which makes for a FUN night). Then just when you think you are done with the illness, you notice your baby tugging on her ear and crying. You decide you're taking her to the Dr. first thing in the morning. When morning comes, her eye looks like she's been bitten by a bumble bee. The Dr. takes a look and agrees with...just what you thought... A PINK EYE! Good grief! Ryley has never had a pink eye, but then again Kai is all over the place and puts everything into her mouth and rubs her eyes with her dirty little hands.

This is our first experience having both of our girls sick at the same time. It was stressful, hard, and with sleepless nights to add to the mix...you know...it makes it a real experience, one you hope won't happen again for a while!!

My little pink eyed princess!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

We Remember...

Seven years ago our country was attacked. We remember that day and we truly will never forget. One quote that stands out is the one from George W. Bush, " Terrorism against our nation will not stand". We are so grateful for our freedom and for the opportunities our nation provides! We are thankful for our troops who have the courage and are so brave to fight for our freedom.

We remember 9/11 vividly. We were scheduled to fly from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA that afternoon. We had planned to visit the Sears Tower that morning. We were awakened by David telling us to turn the television on. He had gone done the street for a morning newspaper and saw the first tower on fire and then tumble down. We saw when the second plane hit the tower and when that tower tumbled down. Every year on 9/11 we are reminded of just how precious life is. We need to remember this daily. Live your life like it was your last day everyday.

Below is a list of all those individuals who lost their lives on 9/11 in The Twin Towers and AA Flight 11 & AA Flight 175, The Pentagon & United Flight 77, and United Flight 93 in PA. Some of these heros never got to meet their unborn sons and/or daughters. Some never said goodbye. They never came home. This is one of the most heart wrenching days for so many families. So many innocent children and people who never had the chance to grow up with their Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents or simply a friend!

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-name/index.html

In Memoriam to all the people that were hurt or killed in this terrible, barbaric attack. The Twin Towers Memorial Lights UP!

It was "blue" day at Ryley's school. So to remember those who parrished we sent her in RED, WHITE, AND BLUE! Proud to be an AMERICAN!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Bonfire

We all decided it would be fun to have a bonfire and let the kids roast marshmallows. It was a complete sacrifice for us parents because the kids were going to be past the point of no return...if you know what I mean (plus this was our second time in one day going to the beach=lots of SAND!!). I must say it was worth it because the memories alone that the kids created and will remember are priceless. We all had a really good time. We enjoyed roasting and eating marshmallows. The first thing Ryley said to her Daddy was...hey dad we had a bonfire.

Kai, Garrett and Grant on the way to the beach for a bonfire.

Out for the count...

Adorable...

The Bonfire!

The kids roasting marshmallows...

Patiently waiting for their marshmallows...

On their 3rd mallow...

On their 4Th mallow...as Ryley would say, "because I'm 4".

Splashin'

Ryley was so excited she was going about the beach! I'm glad we got the chance to take her. I think our summer is pretty much complete.

Splish Splash!

Surfer girls!

Ryley and Emma splashing around with Kai.

Caleb and Ryley in the wagon on their way back to the house. These two kids adore one another.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

My first time...

So maybe this isn't exactly Kai's first time to the beach, but it is the first time she was able to get wet and dirty, play and eat the sand, and crawl to her hearts content. So I will count this as her first time officially.

Kai was squealing with excitement when we got to the beach! I can't think of anything better than this!! I know if we still lived at the beach both of our girls would grow up surfing. They are both such water girls. They love the water. The cold water didn't even stop Kai. She was racing the entire way down to the ocean. She kept stopping to pick up sea shells, rocks, and clams. She would test them by putting them in her mouth. Yuck!!

Eager Beaver...