Ronald Reagan Library

So, while andy's parents were here we visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Which is really funny if you think about it -- 4 die hard liberals + Ronald Reagan? Anyway...

It was really fun. The grounds up there in Simi Valley are breathtaking and there are a lot of neat things to see, including a plane that had been used as Air Force One. There were a few things that the kids enjoyed, but mostly it's for adults. Even 4 liberal adults. :)

{a piece of the berlin wall}

{harry checking out the planed used as Air Force One}

{the plane used as Air Force One}

{the big boys playing a labryinth type game with Ma. they loved it so much they wanted to do it again later}

living with Harrison

I must say, lately, Harrison is not the easiest person to live with. Now, I can take my lumps, he was an exceptionally good baby AND he's the youngest of 3 boys. I *know* toddlerhood is full of mischief under these circumstances.

Aside from the hitting, pinching, shouting, asking about others bowel movements in public, his real issue today is addiction to sugar. Lollipops, more specifically.

I should have known when there was no noise coming from the hooligan. But, instead, I chose to bask in the silence, catching up on latest facebook status'. The time came when I had to check on the little monster.

And, what did I discover? A man with 6 lollipops. Yup. 6. Luckily 2 were still in the wrapper so I confiscated them. I gave up on the rest, not willing to fight the fight.

where were these lollipops that this 23 month old could access them? Why does this BABY have free reign over sugary goodness? I don't know WHY, but we keep them in the pantry. Never been a problem until now!

Not only is the boy full of ... spirit. He's also a total fashionista. Yup. Socks with Birkenstocks. It's a good look.

Happy Friday!

Brothers

While I'm sure that sisters have a "thing" that they do, I'm not sure what it is. And, I'm sure brother-sister siblings do, too. Again, I'm not sure what it is since I have no siblings myself, and I'm a mother to only boys. (DUH, you already knew that!)

Anyway. What brothers do is fight. Not like argue (though they do that too!) but wrestle. Most everything becomes physical. In my boys case, it's not just because they are angry or upset, but because that is just what they DO.

For example. Take a pleasant day in a public place. This didn't escalate, no one was hurt and there was no crying. BUT, there was a little bit of rough housing. It was all in good fun and both parties seemed to be amused by it, if not derived some enjoyment from it.

{here's where it begins. it looks as though sawyer started it, yet cam is participating}

{cam doesn't seem bothered or happy with it}

{cam's starting to enjoy it}

{the end. and thankfully, everyone is happy}

Brothers, not a bad thing to be.

He's gonna be a soccer player, he is, he is!

While those are the words spoken in one of my favorite movies - they don't really translate written. It's the WAY they are said that is so funny. Anyone know the movie??

Anyway. Harry already fashions himself a little soccer player and I suspect he'll end up being one in a matter of time. He's at practice 2 nights a week and at 2 games each Saturday - not to mention just all of the TALK about soccer. It's a lot and if he manages to escape the game, I'll be quite surprised.

Plus, if he's anything like his biggest brother, he'll be a mighty fine soccer player, indeed.

Jon Gosselin ought to just be quiet

Quite frankly, Jon doesn't sound very smart. I always used to think he was fine, a bit dumb, but fine. I'm completely done seeing his face and hearing his blather all over the place. He's just not helping his situation at all.

Anyway. Back to far more important things. Like, my adorable kids. Still funny, still cute and still lovin' life. And, for the record, Harrison will be 2 one month from today. Completely and totally bittersweet.

We've been experiencing some near perfect weather (sunny, highs right around 70*) here for the past few days and we've been trying to take full advantage. I mean, why not? Colder days (55-60* for the high, ha ha!) are around the corner and then well...I don't know.

So after a couple of fantastic (and winning!) soccer games on Saturday we stuck around to play outside. Little ones played cars and rode scooters, big ones played ball. Great fun!

Another day

What's a little boy who is nearly 2 to do? Play, of course! It doesn't hurt that we're having some gorgeous fall days here...temps in the 80's with sunshine. We want to be outside all day!



What do you do with a hose? Try to drink from it, of course.

All about fun

We're all about fun here. Our moments are jam packed with good times with hardly anytime for the boring, mundane and must-dos.

Lately, playing outside and soccer have consumed the big boys and the baby is loving Duplos, and of course, all things train.

Cloth Diapers, my way

Harrison is cloth diapered. We started with the cloth bum when Harrison was 6 months old.

I tried all kinds at first and settled on Fuzzi Bunz. They were my favorite for Harrison -- they fit well and they were trim underneath clothing. It was a HUGE learning process, however, since I'd not used cloth with the other two. (I'd wanted to with Cam but it seemed really daunting so we never got to it) I tried All In Ones (AIO), fitteds and finally settled on the pockets. (Fuzzi Bunz)

We used the Fuzzi Bunz for nearly a year. They were so good for us. I had a stash of 13 diapers I washed every other day and it worked famously. However, we started to have some problems. Soon, I became aquainted with Goodmamas.

Goodmamas are a fitted diaper made of fun prints and organic bamboo velour. They are soft and sweet and oh so adorable.

Here is our stash after a trip to the diaper spa. (A wash with RLR -- super for diapers every now and again. They even saved our old Fuzzi Bunz that I thought would never see Harry's bum again!) They are drying and getting ready to spring back into action!

Here they are all ready to go!



And, for fun -- my favorite diaper of the day. It changes regularly. This one is near the top ALWAYS. In fact, it just got used for the first time the other day!



Here's Harrison actually wearing the diapers!

{in the backyard}

{at the beach}

{at the pool}

9 years

It was 9 years ago today that I wore a huge dress and drank as little as possible all day. I mean, after all, I was wearing a beautiful wedding dress with a hoop slip underneath - how is a person supposed to go to the bathroom in that?

Anyway. At 3 pm on a rainy (it was a pouring, drenching rain!) Saturday afternoon, Andy and I were married. It was the single best day of my life. I am so incredibly lucky to be married to the best husband in the entire world. I know lots of people say that and they might mean it. But, Andy is truly the best. He's a hands on dad, he cleans, he cooks, he works hard, he coaches, he's nice, he's a friend...but best of all, he's my best friend.

I've loved these last 9 years...and I can't wait for the next 9 and beyond.

And, a picture of us taken on Sunday by photographer and friend, Emily Southerland. I think she captured us.

Everything, by Michael Buble

You're a falling star, you're the get away car.

You're the line in the sand when I go too far.

You're the swimming pool, on an August day.

And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy but it's kinda cute.

Ah, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.

Baby don't pretend that you don't know it's true.

'cause you can see it when I look at you.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you, you make me sing.

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,

And you light me up, when you ring my bell.

You're a mystery, you're from outer space,

You're every minute of my everyday.

beach baby

Beach baby, beach baby give me a hand...

Harrison really likes the beach. He calls it the beak. He's got all sorts of funny words. Most of them involve the "K" sound. (Beak, helk, noke, etc) I digress...he loves to dig in the sand, walk around, splash in small pools of water that form in various locations.

Until this past weekend, he didn't enjoy the actual ocean. Friday, that changed and he managed to have a little fun. So incredible to watch this boy grow and his personality unfold.

A lot of snapshots of our Friday afternoon frolic...

You know what else? Harrison really likes cupcakes. He can say "cake" just fine. Maybe it's that K sound...maybe it's just because they are good! Either way, Harry is a big fan of Sprinkles Cupcakes! (As are we all!)

Our haul of cakes -- yum for 9 cake loving folks!