LA County Fair

Yesterday we took the kids, Julie & Zachy to the LA County Fair in Pomona. 1st order of business: Ice cream.
2nd: Mini Monster Truck races for the big boys.
3rd: Strawberry Shortcake show for the little boys.
4th: Some goat feeding. Always a lovely smell in these areas but they loved it, laughed the whole time. One goat got up close & personal with Julie, they are very brazen little animals.
My blond preying mantis's.

Zachy & Ty trying to act all innocent & cute on the snow when in fact they had snow balls hidden behind their backs that they ended up trying to put down the backs of shirts of unsuspecting adults.
The closest we get to a winterwonderland in SoCal. Lots of kids & parents slipping around on the snow, kind of funny.
Mace & I taking our turn at sledding. I guess in the Midwest they have indoor waterparks, here we have indoor snow-parks!!
Brave Ty on the super steep slide. Nothing I would have gone on!!!
A big smile after a successful ride.

The Big 3!!

My big boys are 3!!! We took them to the water park on Saturday, it was so fun but so different from when Ty went at that age. Ty was and still is my little daredevil. He will try anything & usually loves it. Luke & Mace are pretty much, as much as Eric hates to admit it, mama's boys. If I don't go, they don't want to. So much to my amusement, they would only go if I went, and I'm not so much of an tryer-outer at the water park so our trip was limited to the wave pool & the lazy river. I just don't care to get water splashed in my face or super cold water doused over my body, is that such a bad thing???
We had a Mickey Mouse party for them Saturday night, they LOVE Mickey and can't get enough of the clubhouse.
Luke & Drew
The younger kids in the sandbox, big hit.
The big kids having been forced into a picture. 'Oh mom...'

We sang three times: Mace, Luke & Julie.
It's fun to sit at the bar and eat, especially if you are 3....
A tough game of basketball.

Mass Chaos....

Full Circle

I got this radio alarm clock at the 1997 Merrill Lynch holiday party. I still have it. The first time Eric saw it he asked 'Is that so you know where to go in the morning?' He's still super funny 10 years later. So I have had it almost eleven years and last week I thought about getting a new one or just using my cell-it really only plays static at different levels at this point, it's just so old..and old school..but I couldn't part with it. I have been with BofA for 2 years now and have missed Merrill ever since...and after 1st quarter of 2009 I can look at my clock again and be reminded of where to go in the morning. Good thing I didn't get rid of it..... :) I feel like I'm going home... I get to work with Vern again and all my Merrill buddies-Tammy, Toni, Donald, Lisa (my twin), V....Randi too although you are too far away...How happy am I?

Happy Birthday Sweet Boys!!!

September 15, 2005 : Into the world come Mason & Luke, 8:30 & 8:31pm, 6lbs 3oz & 5lbs 7oz. What beautiful & healthy boys we have been blessed with. I cannot believe they are 3 years old today!! They have brought us so much joy, a bit of anxiety, taught me to relax and let things go that aren't so important, gave Eric that foursome he has always wanted & gave Ty the opportunity to be the best big brother. Some people say 'Double trouble' well, maybe...sometimes, but double the joy, the love, the hugs, the silly faces, the warm snuggles, the smiles, the blessings & heads nestling in your shoulder...absolutley!!!

This was about 3 days before they were born, Eric thought is was quite funny that I could balance a plate of brownies & ice cream right on my belly. Of course it got kicked quite a few times but that just made it funnier!!

This was a month before, Ty was talking to his little brothers.



Dr Gurwit & the boys, what a wonderful doctor, I am so glad he delivered all of my boys.


Sleeping beauties. We had them in the same crib for about 3 months. We always put them about 2 feet apart but they would always end up like this, one of my favorite pictures.











First Haircut.

2nd Birthday.









Our favorite pose.

Emily-I can't say enough about her!! Thanks for sharing 2 1/2 years with my boys, making them happy, teaching them endless things, and for loving them so much!!!

First Day of School.


We took them to the water park on Saturday & I asked them to cheese for the camera for a 3 year old picture, this is what I got!! Typical for them. We are so lucky to have them!! We love you LukeyMace!!!

Kiddie Kollege

Mason & Luke had their Kiddie Kollege birthday party on Friday. I can't believe they are almost 3!! Where did the past 3 years go??? It was so cute & Miss Claudia made them crowns of their favorite colors, they got presents & had cupcakes. They loved it!
Mason looking extra sweet.
On Friday Ty did a little presentation of his summer trip to his class. We pasted tons of pictures to a poster board and went over all of them. He was initially really nervous (so was I!) but the class swarmed him when I brought the pictures in and were so excited to check them out and kept asking him questions. It went so great and I was so proud of him. This is his teacher Miss Joann-who is wonderful & so encouraging.
Ty and Dean-inseparable at school.
Ty & Peyton-since Peyton goes to 1st grade now he never gets to see him enough!!

The last of Minnesota

A few more of the cabin, this is our last day with the boys showing off their catch.
Ty tubing with his brothers.
My two mini fishermen in the making. Oh, and watch out when they cast, it's still a bit dangerous..
Mason & his monster fish.
Our last night we took the kids Uptown Minneapolis to Famous Dave's for dinner. As we were driving there we began to question our sanity at bringing 3 young boys out to dinner at 7:00 on a Friday to a crowded place-the outcome-they were great!! We had so much fun and of course it helped that Eric's friend 'Crazy Dain' as Ty calls him, works there so not only did we have great service-Ty loved seeing Dain, as in, could not get enough of him-hanging on him, hugging him, just loves him, it's pretty cute. Ty gave a little presentation at school yesterday of his summer trip and I heard him pointing to a picture and saying 'See this guy, it's Crazy Dain and he only has 9 toes.' Funny the things kids keep in their head as defining. Thanks Dain for the fun night!!