Just a quick drop in.....

As I look and see how long it has been since I posted something I start to panic. How much have I forgotten?? They have changed so much, I just can't keep up. But this is what I have to realize, that I will never keep up, they will always be ahead of me, and thats how it should be. I keep saying that I want this for them to look back on, but I need to trust that they have their own memories, not just what I feed them.

• But lets not forget that I like to control things
• So heres a few tidbits

Maddon: Playing basketball, baseball and soccer. Still learning how to control his body, but works hard for his coaches (working on how he works with Dad as a coach). Does very well in school, just had his conference this morning. He enjoys learning cursive, which was quite a surprise. He loves ART, Mr. Z is very impressed with naural ability to create abtract creations. 

Finleigh: Two weeks from turning 5, and can't wait until the day arrives. She is very smart at school, had a great preschool report. Talks out a little during class but I think that will improve with age. Loves to color and create cards, pictures, etc. Playing soccer and now T-ball for the first time. She is having lots of fun and is very fast running around the bases (Passes all the other players). Will clean ANYTHING if given a rag or any kind of towel. LOVES BABIES.

Together: THEY ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY! Lots of fighting and bothering of one another. When they get in trouble they are the best of friends, coming to together against the evil forces of me I am sure. They both are working on how to be a little less selfish, the universe does not revolve around them. Althought I think they would say otherwise. I love them to pieces, they are such unique people as individuals, and quite the duo together when  their moods align.

Summer Trip 2013

So we headed north again to beautiful Bend Oregon, and this time we brought the Nussbaums along. A drive that started at 4:30 am and finished around 6:30pm. Wendy and I met Conrad and Brendan in Sacramento, they had been on their own little journey the last few days. So we are here safe, and ready to have a great trip. But first, some much needed sleep.

Summer Mode

We are cruising into summer, beach, baseball and lots of pictures. Everytime I post I realize how fast the kids are growing up. I just want them to have this blog to look back on and see all the things they did when they were young. Maddon had a great baseball season, including his first experience with All Stars.

He hit his first in the park home run, and also had a tough lesson in sports. His team played great but they came up a little short in every game of the tournament. By the end he was having more fun and focusing on the game and not so much on the score.

The Beach is always a hit, I hope they never tire of it. It was a very busy day on the sand, people everywhere. Maddon had his first go at boogie boarding. Finleigh is loving the water and loves to run up and down having the waves chase her.

Career day

Bear had a chance to share what he wants to be when he grows up. Of course a football player!

I am a slacker!!

Wow,

I looked and realized that I have not posted this year. I am so disappointed, my main goal is for the kids to have something to look back on, all those little pieces that will be forgotten after a year or two. So lets see if I can do some quick catch up:

December 2012
Kids had a amazing Christmas, Santa was very good to them, leaving a Barbie cruise ship and a Kareoke machine. Had a nice dinner at Cailin's on Christmas Eve, and a delicious prime rib at Chad's Christmas Night. A tough holiday without Gramma, but she was with us in Spirit.

January 2013
New year and we are busy!! Maddon is playing basketball for the first time, and is very lucky to have a team with lots of his classmates from school. They are the Orange Monster crushers and they are good!! Finleigh is into changing her outfits 3 times a day and wearing any high heel she can get her hands on. She is such a funny kid, always trying to get a laugh out of us at the dinner table. She wants to do whatever Maddon is doing, which is sweet but tends to make him a little crazy after a bit.

February 2013
Very busy month with coaching and life. Maddon is doing very well in basketball, undefeated season so far. Baseball has also started up, he is on the White Sox and Brendan is coaching, should be a fun season. We tried dance class with Finleigh in December but she wasn't quite ready. I think we will be waiting til the fall for her to start soccer. She wants to go to Country Day so badly already, hard to beleive she will be testing this time next year. Brendan and I got away to Vegas for a weekend and the kids got to stay in Hemet with their cousins. Lots of fun to be had.

Phew......now some photos

The River

Had a great time with Grandma Jo and Poppa. And Aunt Kasha Uncle Donnie and Cody. What is not to love about boat rides, arcades, treats, playing in the water with your cousin?

Silly fun

Nothing like a little Carly Rae on a Saturday night to shake things up.... Call me, maybe.

SOOOO Behind!!

Ok, this is where I throw my hands in the air. July was my last post and now its October!! How does this happen?!?!? Time for a quick kids recap: (remember this is for me to reference in 2-5 years when I have forgotten everything!)

• Finleigh is a crack up!! Such a people person, we call her the "mayor" of Beach Babies.
• Maddon is loving 1st grade, says every day is "awesome"
• They fight like cats and dogs anytime they are in a 3 foot radius of one another
• Then they hug like crazy when they see each other after school
• Maddon is playing AYSO soccer and having a blast
• Trying to find time to see family, going to the track and went to the fair

Ok, I feel a little better. Now if I can just post some pictures. Maybe by January, just kidding.

Summer in the South bay

Having fun, camp, day care, summer school and work is what we are up to. The summer is nearly half gone and I feel like we just saw Bear graduate from Kindergarten. I worry that time will just continue to fly a little faster every year, where I find myself wanting it to slow down!!

Saying Goodbye to Kindergarten

The year has flown, and he has changed so much. He is such a sponge for knowledge, yet he is very sad to say goodbye to what he knows to be familiar. I don't think there has been anything in my professional life that has compared to having my son within walking distance everyday. I feel so blessed and lucky to watch him have all his experiences, good and bad, as he grows and learns the way of the world. Like any parent I am so proud and excited for what is in his future.

Shopping for Sis

Brotherly love. Maddon had received a gift card for his birthday to Target. Yesterday we got a coupon book from there so he decided to take a look at what he might be interested in. At first it was toys for him, looking for the good deals. Then, all the sudden on his own he starts picking out things for his sister and asking her what she would like from the ad. No prompting from me, I just stood back and soaked it all in. And the best part when he told Finleigh that she would really have to say thank you after he got her the toy. Priceless.

Spring in the South Bay

So much is happening!! Maddon is well into baseball season, playing on the Phillies and having a blast. He is almost to the end of his Kindergarten road, and it has been an amazing year. It has been incredible to see him transform and learn so much in such a short span of time. Finleigh is such a busy girl, and a character! She is always making me laugh, I love that about her. Recently she has decided that she wants to go in the potty. We also got the big girl bed in the room, kind of hard to say goodbye to the crib, knowing that its not coming back.

   Maddon and I had a great Spring Break, hanging out, trying new things. He had his first outing to the driving range and did a great job hitting the ball. We were so lucky, the two of us were at Dodger Stadium for Opening Day. What a great memory. The family took a weekend trip to Ventura Beach with Chad and Amanda. We brought the bikes, made smores and had some quality time to just hang out. Summer will be here soon, looking forward to watching them enjoy the beach and other adventures we have in store.

Momma

This Silly Little thing makes me laugh, exhausts me, and always keeps me guessing. She is such a character that marches to her own beat, I hope she never loses that quality.

BED HEAD!!!