Busy Times!

We are ending our third week back to school and it's been pretty crazy. 

Soccer has also hit at full speed and we tend to have soccer at least five days a week... Which is a bit crazy as well!

One thing that's really helped with soccer this year is Ella got contacts. She still takes a lot of balls to the face but she's not breaking more glasses!

She's done really well with the contact so far - she can wear them all day and she can take them out by yourself.  Getting them in herself is still a bit of an issue. 

I can't remember if I mentioned that we are tearing out the ducky bathroom and redoing it because it started leaking...

This was a few weeks ago actually before school started and it's finally starting to come together. 

Justin ripped down pretty much to the nubs and started from scratch. 

This has taken us down to one bathroom or at least one shower, which is a royal pain in the butt for five people, especially with school starting :(

But it's going to be beautiful when it's done! 

Other than getting back into the swing of soccer and school, I've been working a ton, Justin's been working a ton and I've been trying to get out running, biking and walking as much as possible. Especially since we have the trail at Frank's park now that runs about 4 miles round trip. It's been great for getting a runner, bike or walk in every day. I take lots of pictures when I'm out!

I also got out for a 20 mile bike ride this past weekend, the farthest I think I have ridden my bike at least since college!

I love our Rails to Trails! 

This past weekend we also gathered to honor and remember Elijah. I can't believe it's been a year since the accident :(

We lit lanterns and sent balloons up from the cemetery. 

Still all so very hard to believe sometimes. 

I took Ella to a school night concert last night. Probably not a very good idea, but we had fun and we were both extremely exhausted today!

We saw Grouplove and Portugal the Man. 

I've been doing most of my blog updating via my iPhone for the last month or so. Otherwise I don't think I'd be getting any updating done. My computer is so old and so full from music and pictures and it barely runs anymore. 

It's hard to believe that today is the 13th anniversary of 9/11.  Still so vivid in my mind even 13 years later...
Never Forget. 

So, that's it in a nutshell for now! Ta-ta! 

Gratitude and Humor

Many of my friends on Facebook and blogs are posting their 30 days of Thanks. I love reading what everyone is thankful for.

When I saw this picture, it was like my 30 days of Thankfulness all rolled into one.
It's so so rare to get my kids into a picture together. And to get them in a photo for ME is almost impossible.  We had Melissa work her magic recently and I just love this picture. Little Miss Silly Boo, Smiley Siley and this (edging towards maturity) teenage (Ma)son that I barely recognize sometimes - I haven't yet become accustomed to looking UP at him.

I admit, I am very biased, but when I see this picture, I see not only their handsomeness but also each unique personality.  We have some very smart kids. Very quirky kids. Very funny kids.  If there is one thing that I want my kids to have in life (besides happiness of course...) it's a great sense of humor, which I think breeds happiness.  The ability to laugh at yourself, connect with others through humor and to find some way to laugh in just about any situation life brings on. 

I'm thankful everyday for many things in my life.  Laughter is at the top of the list.  The ability to laugh in good times and bad, to hear the kids laugh and know they are happy, when you know someone hurts but still can experience even a moment of peace with a laugh.  I really am very thankful for humor and the ability to laugh.

I think we've created some pretty amazing little people...and we're so blessed.

Video and picture links

Video of Ella ice skating.

and from the Globetrotters:

And photo links from our recent fun:
Si's birthday...


Ice skating:


Zoo lights:

Photos from NY

You can see some here:

11.7.2010 NY

More pictures than words

I know that I've posted a LOT of Cleo pictures lately but this cat is just a trip. She sprawls like a Playboy pin-up.

rrrhhhh, growl like a Tiger girl!

Mr. Silas does NOT have a death grip on her -
she is quite happy to be there in his embrace...really.

And this is NOT a pity shot of Zoe...who never gets a picture taken any more...

We've laid out blankets, kitty beds, etc - she likes the PopTart box...
to each her own.

though Ella did try to go around saying
"kitten for sale...5 dolla kitten for sale..."

And this is a tree. And a really pinky sky...2 of my favorite things.

I've had a very rough time taking pictures lately. My most favorite lens is going to have to be shipped off for repair. It just bit the dust which bums me out greatly. But I have a plan...

Parties, Baseball and Zoo Fun...

Well, I did an update last Thursday and already, more to update again because of such a busy weekend. It's hard to keep up with the blog when I'm so busy DOING stuff!

Saturday we helped Sam celebrate his 2nd birthday!

My kids are the ones that never smile!

Sunday we went to the Clippers game. First time at the new
Huntington Field. Very nice! Very expensive food!
And it was VERY hot out.

Chowing on some cotton candy

Kevin and Mason looking too cool!

Monday, Jen and I took Mason, Tyler, Sam, Ella and Silas to the zoo.
I didn't get any pictures of the kids but got a few animals :-)

This stingray was eating lunch - I've never
seen a stingray eat, or even realized where the mouth was.
He's much nicer looking from this angle, when you can't
see his long stinger.

And Mr. Monkey guy was very cute and even
smiled at the kids (seriously!)

'

Today was Margie's 3rd and hopefully final surgery! It went very, very well - it did not take as long as Dr. L said it might and he was practically tap dancing when he gave us the post-surgery update - he was very pleased with how well it went. Thank God and thanks for all the prayers!

This week is busy with getting everyone ready to get back to school.
All 3 in school this year - wow!

Mother's Day Pictures

Mother's Day was a beautiful day. Gorgeous, sunny weather. Justin took us to buy some supplies for 2 projects he wanted to help the kids make for Mother's Day. They painted ceramic pots - each kiddo making their very own. We also bought some flowers to go into the pots. The 2nd project was a cement handprint kit. Mason could barely get his handprint to fit (seems he's got ginormous hands for a 13 year old!). I enjoyed watching them, while taking pictures and drinking mimosas (my traditional Mother's Day drink :-)

Here's how the pots turned out - love them!
L to R: Ella's, Si's and Mason's

Mom and Dad came over for a visit that evening.
They gave her a pot too with their handprints on it.

I even got them to pose for a picture together for me!

Such love bugs!

Cinco de Mayo

It was a nice evening on Cinco de Mayo and since I still needed some shots for my shutter speed assignment, I decided to break out the camera.

There wasn't a lot of movement with Ella in the hammock but she
certainly looked cute

Silas and the other kids were running around, throwing balls,
playing golf - so I was able to get some "action" shots.

Justin was working (the Baker's room and garage addition officially kicked off today!) and Mason was hitting golf balls with my dad so it was just me, Ella and Si. We invaded the neighbor's and hung out with a margarita or two...

Jodi was kind enough to feed Si some tomato soup (one of his all-time favorites)
which he somehow got sloshed into his hair...

and began dripping down his forehead which he wasn't thrilled about.

Silas is getting to be a big-boy. He has never been able to say "vanilla" - he has always called it "va-ella" and then gets a kick out of it because it has his sister's name in it. Last week he said he can now say "vanilla" the right way. Makes me sad :-(

Late Start at the Library

Thursday was a late start day for the schools so Mason went to school 2 hours later than usual and Ella didn't have school at all since she is a.m. kindergarten. I decided we needed to get out of the house for awhile, so we took a trip to the library. Needing to do some practicing, I took the camera.

Ella did some writing...

Silas did some looking...

Ella did some browsing....

We all said cheese...

This morning Ella and Si stayed in bed and watched a little Saturday morning TV. I came in to check on them and saw them holding hands. At least they started the day being nice to each other...it's gone downhill from there!

My New Class!

Something that I have wanted to do for a LONG time but never made the commitment to is taking a photography class and learning how to use the equipment that I have. I love, love, love taking photos - especially of the kids and various nature scenes.
Yay for me!!!! I finally signed up for a class through www.betterphoto.com.
It's actually more time consuming than I thought it'd be (about 2-3 hours per weekly lesson and then the taking and submission of 4-5 photos for critique).

So I've been putzing a lot with the camera and seeing what I can catch...

our lovely Canadian Cherry tree...

our lovely Silas James swinging....

our lovely Zo-zo....

Silas in the kid recliner with a good book...

We'll see how it goes...hopefully I won't flunk out!

Cheese!

Taking some pictures today..just trying to get some everyday shots.

got miss boo...sleeping, or at least pretending too...

and got miss boo again...acting like a crazed girl...like she is...

and got mason shooting some hoops after being sick and it being COLD all week...

and, well...si...what is there to say?