Two Videos

Toby sure does love his Daddy! Misses him too, I think. It's the first words out of his mouth in the morning ("daddy?") and after nap. You should see the dance of joy he does when Mike pulls into the driveway. I'll try and get that on video sometime!

Ellie explaining in detail her playdough creation.

A Busy Few Weeks!

So we'll pick up where we left off -- Ellie's birthday party. After her happenin' party we all slept well and went to church. After church Mike and I packed up to get away for the first time ever! Repeat those last three words! It was great and really not sure where to begin. The kids did wonderful and we are forever grateful for some amazing friends!


Mike and I went down to LA to the Rose Bowl for the U2 concert. The concert was amazing and so so so big -- 90,000 people! The pictures above are of Mike in downtown Pasadena and the two of us waiting oh so patiently for Bono's apperance. Yes, we're tired but happy! We're not used to nightlife! But it wasn't too long ago (okay, it was 10+ years ago) that we met in college for our "dates" after the library closed at 1am. Oh how life changes!
This is a very short clip of their song "Elevation." Halfway into it they turn on the houselights and you can get a feel for how big the concert was.

This video is a little longer but you get a better show of lights and sound. I told Mike I would pay some money to watch the crew set-up and break down that spider-looking stage for every show. I can only imagine! After the LA show they were off to Paris.

......And then we came home -- and loved it! Great to get away and even better returning home to our family. Ellie was sick this week and Toby got some shots so we sort of just hung out and rested.
Ellie was adament the nose was a 7. What can I say? She's into numbers now...




Trick or Treat! The gang before we left -- lots and lots of Star Wars this year! Our two cutie-pies on the end on the right.

Four Years of Ellie

4 yrs old

3 yrs

2 yrs

1 yr

3 months old

Ellie's 4th Birthday

Happy Birthday big girl! Ellie eating her favorite lunch on her favorite day of the year. The sunglasses were a gift from a preschool friend that morning and the crown? A preschool craft too! Mmmmmm grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Ellie opening her presents on the 21st -- what fun! Look to the left -- do you see a pudgy little hand trying to get at those ribbons? I wonder who that could be....

Ellie's birthday party! (Saturday) Continuing with tradition, we had it be a costume/birthday party. Cute little bumblebee and dinosaur, don't you think?

All sitting down! 12 kids, 3 toddlers (under 2), 10 adults. Appearances were made by Spiderman, a trio of Star Wars characters, Tigger, Buzz Lightyear, 2 fairy princesses, Alice in Wonderland, a ballerina, football player and 1 little boy who liked to wear a muscle-man costume (think: Incredibles).

Pinata-time! Everyone waiting patiently for their turn.

Yes, homemade pinata. Colton taking a swing at it. (Costume is long-gone -- too fussy, he said.)

The classic: everyone singing Happy Birthday photo-op. Note her chewing on her cheek. Hm, this girl is becoming more and more like me by the minute. Yipes! Happy Birthday pumpkin!

Our Flowergirl

Ringbearer Zac and Flowergirl Ellie!

Ellie's best babysitter got married this weekend and asked her to be the flowergirl -- what fun! And what excitement. And what a hard time it is to explain what a wedding is, let alone a flowergirl's job description to an almost-4 yr old! She did great, few bumps in the road, but really, she did great! The wedding was outside and at 1pm... we were having a rare heat wave and I'm almost positive it was pushing 95 degrees with no breeze. Phew! Despite the sunburn, we had a great time with just our Ellie (Toby was home napping with a babysitter) and it was an honor to be a part of their special day.

Practicing beforehand... not sure about this mom.

Practicing..... (250 guests were just arriving)

Practice makes perfect -- or at least comfortable, right?

Waiting for it to start.... phew -- it's hot! "Can you see my shoes guys? They sparkle!" (exact quote from ellie)

All done! Now I can really smile :-)

Pumpkin Patch

Toby was, well, looking at the tractor.

Ellie posing, Toby in mid-sentence wanting to know why he can't throw the potatoes.

Yup, just like her shirt says.

Cute, what can I say?

Autumn in California -- this is about as colorful as the leaves get. Behind the hills is the ocean and sometimes Mike and I jog from this place to the beach. It's a nice winding trail through the fields, wineries, past a golf course and ending in the sand. Gotta love California.

Ha HA HA HAAH! The sheep just licked me!

Buck, Buck -- goes the chickens. As Toby says.

Again, Toby staring at the tractor. I gotta get that kid to the John Deere store in town....

Bye pumpkins, see you next year!

Toby Wan Kenobi

Everytime Toby wears his navy blue sweatshirt we've nicknamed him Toby Wan Kenobi. May the force be with you.

What? I'm supposed to
smile? I'm working on an apple here and the seeds are the best part!

Okay I'll smile! I love you. Cheeeeeeeese.

I promise the lighting gets better after a few seconds! This is Toby officially saying "Ellie" -- which is quite darling. Poor kid is trying to tell Mike about the baby on the yogurt cup later in the video. Mike didn't catch it and when I told him afterwards got a big kick out of it. Lost in translation... toddlerese is tricky!