Oh Henry!

 Micah and I took Henry on a walk tonight and we took these pictures.

He is such a sweet dog! I love Newfoundlands. They are smart, obedient, calm and sweet. Of course, they also grow huge and are expensive. I think its worth it.

May Happenings (thus far)

 This is Henry. He is now a 16 week old Newfoundland puppy. Isn't he cute?! He will someday be 180 pounds! Now he is 40 pounds.

 

 Pinewood derby was the beginning of May. Albert helped Gavin with making his car and it looked really sharp. It won a couple of races (better than last year when his didn't win any). Gavin was excited to be with his friends and eager to watch his car race. His cousin won 2nd place! Go Dallin!

below: Micah watching the racing festivities. You can't really see it but he wore his Curious George racing a car shirt just for this. (:

  

When Micah climbs into bed with us, this is how he sleeps. (: We have a Cal King size bed but if he is sleeping sideways and kicking, its still not big enough! He often brings stuffed animal friends with him too. This occasion it was just one squirrel. Once recently he brought about 15 animals. Needless to say, they all ended up "jumping" out of bed onto the floor.

 Linnea's Advanced Orchestra traveled to the Bay Area to compete in a music competition. Her orchestra won first place! They played very difficult pieces very well! Afterward they all went to Great America. Linnea is the third from the right (with the headband).

 Today is crazy hair day and Gavin looks a bit like Jack Frost. He's a cutie!

I WISH I had a picture of Jacen but I have to brag about him anyway. He had his Eagle Scout Board of Review last week and passed! He is an Eagle Scout!! SO much time and effort went into this and he is such a better person for doing it! I'm so proud of him. Especially at the end, he really initiated finishing up. We won't be able to have the Court of Honor before moving but we will come back and have one here later on in the summer so I will have pictures to post then.

We are moving next Friday and escrow still hasn't closed so we are on pins and needles! Lets hope we aren't homeless. I am busy packing up our house and also really busy with the end of the year activities of the kids. Wish us luck!

April Go-ings On

 We have had several beautiful weather days for the beach. I have wanted to take advantage of them because we will be moving in another month away from the ocean. That part of the move is oh-so-sad.

 Linnea had a field trip for school. They went to San Francisco to the Academy of Science and the De Young Museum. She had a great time. Below, the picture was a huge room simulating a rainforest. 

 Below, a butterfly landed on a parent's head in the rainforest room. Linnea said that they were checked for butterflies before leaving.

 Below is an odd-looking creature...

 Below, the picture is taken from the roof of the observatory of the De Young Museum. Linnea said they had quite a view of San Francisco.

We have also been busy with tons of baseball games (Gavin) and finally got the paperwork in finishing up Jacen's Eagle Scout Project (Yay!) I will post baseball pictures later and hopefully soon a Court of Honor for Jacen's Eagle. We hope to be able to have that expedited and have the court of honor before we move but its not likely. We will probably need to come back for it. That's okay, we'll wait until the worst of the summer and then welcome a break from the heat when we come back. I have been busy sorting through closets and cupboards, taking tons of trips to Goodwill, and even have packed like 15 boxes. Our move date is May 31st/June 1st. Escrow should be ending in the next week to two. Busy, busy!

February and March

 I'm playing a bit of catch up. Here are Gavin and Micah on Valentines day decorating cookies. They love this! It makes me a bit nervous.

 Below, Jacen's birthday dinner on his birthday.

 Sushi

 And I actually made steak. He said it even tasted good.

 Angel food cake with strawberries and cream for dessert. Jacen, look happy! (:

 Gavin's cub scouts had a blue and gold dinner in which each boy was to submit a cake. Dallin and Gavin made one together. Their is a button on the tent that lights up the inside of the tent.

 All of the sudden my very neat eater has gotten messy on me. ): I think he is just enjoying playing with his food too much.

 Then Gavin had a birthday and turned 9! Here he is with his bow and arrows. Too fun.

 Happy Birthday to my sweet boy! Jacen was slightly more lively then he looks. (:

 I didn't have time to make sugar cookies for St. Patricks day to decorate so I reluctantly bought some from Whole Foods. They didn't taste anywhere near as good but the kids were still happy.

 Gavin with his sugary creation (and wearing his baseball shirt! -it's started!)

 Funny Micah. (:

 We went out to Sapporo's with Tera's family to celebrate both Jacen and Gavin's birthdays together. Here Carter is catching a piece of meat in his mouth.

 Then we threw together a little kid party for Gavin as well with a few friends from school. We played balloon games and had a pinata.

 I expected some wildness. It didn't disappoint. SO much energy!

Our nice and calm water balloon toss quickly turned into complete craziness!

 Plenty of sugar here. Yikes.

 I had to include this uncharacteristic picture of Micah. He is cute.

Happy 17th Birthday Jace!

Jacen is 17 today!

I well remember today, seventeen years ago. I was so happy to finally be meeting my sweet boy. I had yearned so many months to meet him and hold him. I already loved him more than I ever thought possible. It's been so rewarding to raise him and grow with him and teach him as well as learn from him. He is a great one. He is. I am privileged and proud to be his mother. In the things that really matter, he is true. He will always hold a special place in my heart as my first child and the first to capture my complete devotion.