Newport Beach 2010

So first, let me apologize for the novel that is about to ensue, but I haven't blogged in like forever, so you will forgive me right?!? So this year we went a little later in July, we rented our own house, and Matt's fam stayed in another, and things were different, but still great. We were determined to have fun before our life was literally turned upside down with the move and we did just that!

Matt and I celebrated our 8th anniversary in Newport this year. It was really great. We woke up and started our day with Colby locking Brody in the master bedroom that had no key, and later that night on our date, the battery died in our car. But the good news is, thanks to Papa's handy wood whittling skills, and Matt's smooth hand with a credit card Brody was free in about 15 minutes. Even better news, Matt and I were still able to go to a fabulous dinner at Ruth's Chris, enjoy a movie, and get the car home before the battery totally died.

This year the boys played so great with their cousins and we actually got to lay on the beach and chill, so I took entirely too many pictures of them! I just wish the sun would have been out, I came home still white as a chicken!

Colby could not keep his pants on, it was too funny.

It's not very often that I get both of them to cuddle on the couch. I love this picture!

We spent hours looking for crabs in the rocks. We learned that crabs are super fast, the rocks are stinky and super rough, kitchen tongs make the best crab catchers, and falling into 4ft crevices head first is no fun.

The day before we left I turned around to get our bucket and tongs and ask Colby to come down lower with me because he had ventured too far. Mistake. He tried to climb down, got distracted and fell head first into a crack. By the time I turned around he was no where in site, and as I looked for him I heard a faint, "mama" When I found him he had fallen about 4ft and was lodged inbetween two rocks. Luckily though his head was down first it missed all the rocks and he was wedged from his chest to his feet. In fact, all I could see was his feet when I came up to him. Yeah, heart attack, ya think?? I was so scared. We thought he might have broken his arm, but he turned out to be just scraped and bruised. We were so thankful!

Brody flying a kite.

I love those chubby little foot prints.

After a few days on the beach we discovered that some neighbors from Cortina, the Opfels, were right there with us. Our kids were actually butting heads for part of the time, but they worked it out. They built this giant hill one day and our kiddos thought it would be fun to make it a slide with their boogie boards! I love the faces they are making!

I'm not sure how this picture got here, but I am too lazy to change it...Matt built a seriously awesome sand castle one day with Colby and Andrew. Their arch nemesis was Brody who tried with all his might to crush everything they built.

The boys played so hard in the water. Brody loved it, but wanted Matt or I to be right there with him. He loved when we would hold him down in the water and lift him up just as the waves would hit him. After a few days he did venture out on his own.

The waves were huge this year. Bigger than we have ever seen. It was great!

Colby absolutely loved the water. He didn't care if he was freezing or got knocked down, or completely wiped out by a wave. He and Andrew were buddies. We sure do miss our family already.

Brody loves babies, and he did not want to let go of Braxton. Check him out. Seriously that kiddo is a beast! He is such a miracle and totally a mini me of his daddy!

We always walk down to the pier, and this picture cracks me up, number one b/c the boys are wearing their cools (sunglasses) and number two b/c we all look very serious and concerned.

Our last night at the beach was perfect, ate fantastically greasy beachy food for dinner at Jane's corn dogs, had the best lemonde, walked on the pier and saw all kinds of fish and a sting ray, ate dessert (mmm frozen bananas are my fav), and then were able to have a sweet stranger take a great picture of us!

We had a great time, and it truly was just what we needed before the move!

Swim Lessons

This year week took swim lesson much later than we have in the past because of all the craziness we have had going on since we decided to relocate to Texas. It was hot, hot, hot, and that was no fun for me, but the boys sure had a great time, and they absolutely adored their teacher Tamarah!

When it was all said and done, Brods could jump in, jump off the step and attempt to swim to his teacher, and was beginning to monkey walk. He loved every minute of it, and thought he was big stuff!

Colby was so lucky. He only had one other little girl in his class, so it was almost like a private lesson. He is just a little fish, but he likes to cheat because he is so tall. He mostly bouces off the bottom with his feet and likes to float, but by the end of lessons he was kicking stronger and working hard at coordinating his arms and legs!

One awesome thing Colbs can do is hold his breath for a really long time. It is amazing! He loved his teacher and especially loved the little army guys she had as prizes every day! Seriously they were so spoiled! Thanks Tamarah! This sure was a great way to end our summer in Arizona.

Holy Moly I Have a Five Year Old!

Colby turned 5 almost a month ago! We had a Star Wars birthday party in our backyard this year. Simple, no frills, just snacks, cake, and water. The kids had a blast!

We almost didn't get this adorable cake. Friday I spent at least and hour and went to 5 stores before one agreed to make me a cake! Thank You Fry's and the sweet bakery lady! Everyone else turned us down because graduation cakes were more of a priority.

We bought a simple little slip n' slide and turned on the splash pad and the water fun began!

I was pretty impressed with some of the moves the kids were braving on the slip n' slide. Especially Meghan Winward! Holy cow that girl can jump!

Is there a safety code against this? I am sure there is...don't worry...as soon as I got the picture we made them get down.

What would a water party be with out good ole' water balloons.

Some of Colby's friends around him are: Cassidy in the pink bathing suite, Meghan in the turquoise, Jacob right behind him, Andrew next to Jacob, and Carter Wyeth behind Cassidy.

On Sunday his actual birthday, Colby had lots of fun setting up his trick tracks and playing with Brody!

At Mimi and Papa's Sunday night he got another cake, and had another birthday celebration.

He had a great birthday, and so did we for that matter. Our love for our sweet Colby grows more and more each day! We are so glad he is a part of our family. He is funny, silly, and too smart for his own britches! I can't believe he will be in kindergarten next year! We love you so much Colby!

I Give Up!

I gave up a long time ago on being showered every day, on putting on makeup every day, on not growing up and older, on taking naps, on eating a quiet meal, keeping things organized just so, and on doing most of what I want to do when I want to do it.

Today I am adding to the list! I give up on keeping up to date with my blog, trying to remember all the details of the zillion things I have to get done in the next two weeks, and feeling guilty when my sweet boys do not have my attention 24-7. Ahhhhhh, life is crazy, there's too much good to be worried with all this stuff. Will I still worry about it? Sure, I would't be me if I just didn't care, but at least for tonight I am gonna forget it! Well, okay not the blog part...tonight that's my escape!

We have been incredibly busy the last several months and things are just getting started around here as we prepare for our move to Austin.

Today Colby was totally rude (unintentionally of course), and brutally honest with me. This morning he told me that he didn't like my hair down because I "looked like and ugly man." Nothing like hearing you look like and ugly man to start the day off!! Then this afternoon we were out on an errand and he crawls up under my arm and is looking up and laughing and says out loud in the store, "uh mommy you have a lot of hair under your elbows." What he meant was arm pits. He calls most body parts elbows. He used to call boobs elbows :) Now shoulders are elbows. Not sure why because if you point to the body part he gets it correct everytime, but any way that's beside the point!(I know, spare you the details), but mind you this is out loud in the store with people around. All I could do was laugh and explain to him that mommy doesn't have time to shave every day. There ya go! I'm gross and I give up!

What I don't give up on, are these two incredibly adorable and precious gifts I have been entrusted to raise! In fact, I would gladly give up all the things I mentioned and enjoy a laugh with them, even if the target is me just so I can see their smiling faces one more day!

I walked into the kitchen one morning to find Brody like this. He wanted to be pulled around in this block tub. He has done this before with the laundry basket, but I thought it was hilarious that he crammed himself into this tub!

Guess who loves daddy's size 14 shoes? He puts them on and then walks around squealing and say "shoe, big"

My crazy smart Colby just graduated from preschool last Monday. I can't believe he is headed to kindergarten next year! He is knows all his numbers (counts to 100), reads, and adds and subtracts! We are so proud of him!

Lately his favorite thing is Star Wars! He doesn't go a day without playing with action figures, begging to watch the movies, or playing lego star wars on his DS. Colby also turned 5 years old. Oh, how time flys! Hopefully, I can post more soon. I would really like to post Colby's birthday pictures and some other fun stuff, but I'm not guaranteeing anything and I'm not feeling guilty about it! :)