Spring Break 2009

We had a wonderful Spring Break! It was great to have Caleb all to ourselves for a few days. Of course we had to go swimming and the weather was just perfect.

Crew--our little 'beach bum'

Miah, Caysja, Lexi

Crew's first time in the pool--not too happy about it either!

We took a picnic lunch to this AMAZING park in Anthem!! I have never seen slides that tall in my life. They have beautiful lakes, fountains, playgrounds, and also a train. AND, to make it even better, our good friends, the Morris family just happened to be there at the same time!

Crew and Camden spent the time lounging in their mother's arms

Kiki and Halle-BFF's--spent the time going down slide after slide

Crew's first time on daddy's shoulders

We took our bikes on the back of our car and rode them around the park

(The sun was in their eyes, as you can see.) Poor Crew was a little too young for the bike carrier as we found out.

We went on a hike up Squaw Peak near Phoenix.

The view from on top was incredible!

Here's Caleb--the new SUPER DADDY--one on front and one behind!

Photo Shoot

A couple weeks ago, my talented friend, Ashley, was so kind to take some pics of my kids for me. I'd mentioned that I wanted to make a birth announcement for Crew, but I didn't have photoshop, nor did I know how to use it. She whipped this out for me in no time. She's a pro, don't you agree?! I LOVE how all the pictures turned out! Thanks again, Ashley!!! You're the best!

We're so glad when Daddy comes home...

"...glad as we can be. Clap our hands and shout for joy and climb upon his knee. Put our arms around his neck, hug him tight like this. Pat his cheeks and give him, what? A great big KISS!"

Caleb had his last final on Friday and we are so proud of him! Only one more semester and then he'll be in his THIRD year already! We are looking forward to having him home with us for a few days. The best days are when Caleb is home and we can be all together.

On another note, Caleb's parents were supposed to come visit us this weekend, but his grandma has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and may only have months to live so they were not able to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Caysja could play with Caleb all day long and never tire of it!! He is the best dad in the world!

Somebody loves his daddy!

I had to include this picture of my handsome little man in his Sunday outfit!

Just for Fun

A couple weeks ago after church we came home and took some family pictures. A friend at church pointed out that we were all matching that day (not on purpose, I promise!). Caleb didn't match though, so he's not in any of these. (I should have made him go change his tie so we could have a complete family picture.) Anyway, I thought they turned out pretty cute!

Guten Tag!

Last week my friend Constanze came to visit us. She was an exchange student from Germany my senior year of high school and we became very close. (She also played the flute and we went to state solo competition together.) Then several years went by and we lost contact. Well, a couple months ago we found one another on facebook! Turns out, she was doing an internship in Washington D.C. for her degree as a journalist so when that ended the middle of Feb. she took a three day trip on a train and a bus to come visit me! We had so much fun and it was wonderful to see her after all these years. Thanks, Constanze, we miss you already! Maybe someday we'll be able to come visit you!

She loved our beautiful pool and the weather was perfect!

We went on a hike up Thunderbird Mountain and Caysja actually made it to the top!!! I was so proud of her! Constanze was so sweet and let her take some pictures with her awesome camera.

Constanze sewed this cute doll for Caysja BY HAND! Is she talented or what?!

Happy V-Day! (a little late...)

Sorry to all those of you who read my blog. I realize I haven't been posting as much as I used to. I just feel like my kids are more important than spending hours on the computer (and let's be honest, it's really easy to do that when blogging!). Anyway, I'll try to do better at updating more frequently.

These pictures are posted in reverse order, but I don't have time to switch them all around. (I always seem to do that by accident!!) We had a WONDERFUL Valentine's Day! Even though we don't have a lot of money to go out to dinner, we had a great time making dinner just the two of us after our kids were in bed. Caleb fixed me some yummy steak and made me a beautiful card. Thanks so much, HON! You're the LOVE of my life!

Valentine Dinner!

I let Caleb sleep in (he usually lets me sleep in on Sat.) and made him breakfast in bed complete with pink milk, heart shaped pancakes, and a homemade card.

For Playgroup the Wed. before Valentine's, we had a party in the San Lagos clubhouse. There were lots of yummy treats and the kids had fun making Valentines. What can I say--my girl loves suckers!

Kiki and Me! (Notice my fur jacket--it was actually rather COLD here that day--shock, I know!)

These are Caysja's two best friends here in AZ--Halle, and Miah. Miah is little bit older and she takes good care of them, as you can see.

The playgroup kids! (Impossible to get them all to smile for a picture at the same time.)

Caysja and I had lots of fun making Valentines for everyone.

Organ Stop Pizza

All those of you who are from AZ may have already heard of or been to Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, but for those of you who haven't, you HAVE to go! It is soooo awesome! We went a couple weeks ago with some friends of ours and had a blast! The organ is the largest whurlitzer organ in the world (so they say) and it has these huge pipes all around the whole room. In the olden days they used these organs for the silent films. You listen to the music while you eat pizza. You can make requests too. We listened to Star Wars, Sesame Street, Mama Mia, etc. while we were there.

The organist was amazing! He had all his music memorized and could play pretty much anything.

Alissa, Britni, LeiLani, Travis

Caleb, Caysja, Miah

Halle, LeiLani, Miah, Caysja--dancing to the music!

An Update-FINALLY!

I finally have a minute and I'm going to update this blog if it kills me! Here's a cute picture of Caysja last week before church. (Thanks for the dress, Grandma. Kiki loves it!)

This is a picture of Crew with his two best friends--Camden and Noah. They were all born within weeks of each other. We lined them up according to age just for fun.

Caysja likes Crew's "jungle gym" better than he does! She loves to lie under it with him.

Crew has THE most darling "pouty" face EVER!!! It is simple adorable! Caleb likes to make him mad just so he will make 'the' face!

Crew smiled for the first time last week! I love it!

He is getting so chubby! He already weighs 12 lbs. at 7 weeks old.

I just love my cute kiddos!

So, blog readers, you have to help me! Caysja is biting her nails and I can't get her to stop! This is a picture of her cute nails that I painted purple and then put pink flower stickers on them...and then she promptly bit them all off by the next day. (Sorry, the picture isn't that good.) Anyone have any ideas for me? I don't want this bad habit to continue!!

I'm a little behind...

So, I'm a little behind on my blogging lately. Seems like I hardly have time to get on the computer anymore, thanks to my two and half year old who has officially decided that she is done taking naps! I am SO bummed!!!! We are going on 18 days or so now with no naps and I can't begin to say how sad I am. That was the time I used to blog, scrapbook, clean my house, oh, and most importantly take a much-needed nap now and then!! I was so sleep-deprived the other day I would have done nearly anything to get Caysja to take a nap so that I could too, but to no avail. She is just not tired at that time anymore. Oh, and she's getting up a lot more in the middle of the night and coming into our room. Anyone have any suggestions for me? I feel like I never catch up on sleep.

On another note, Crew will be six weeks tomorrow and I can't believe he's that old already!! Time just has flown by. He is such a little snuggle bug. I love it! He loves to be held, rocked, kissed and hugged. Yesterday he smiled for the first time! Caleb was holding him after I'd nursed him (he was pretty content with life at the moment) and he looked right into his daddy's eyes and broke into a beautiful grin. I just love him to pieces! His dark hair seems to be staying dark for the time being and I hope it stays that way. We have officially found a nickname for him. He's our little "Crewser". It's so cute to hear Caysja say it. I promise to post more pictures soon.

I have to add that the weather here in AZ is just gorgeous in January! This is when I think to myself, "yes, I could live here permanently"...and then April comes and I remember why I can't live here afterall. We have been going to the park, on walks or swimming nearly every day. The temperature is usually just about perfect. We have to take advantage of it now before it's too hot to go anywhere! I've seriously forgotten what the snow is like at home in Idaho.

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa and other pics

These pictures are a little out of order...sorry...It seems like I hardly have any time to blog anymore, so I'm not going to fix them.

My cute kiddos!
Caysja has adjusted to being a big sister SO well!! Much better than I could have hoped. She LOVES helping out--getting diapers, wipes, blankets, burp cloths, etc. She sings to him when he's crying, always wants to hold him and "miss" him (kiss). She also wants a lot more attention. =) Her favorite thing to say lately is, "watch me, Mom!"

Crew will be one month tomorrow!! I can hardly believe that. He is sooo sweet. A very cuddly baby for sure. He loves to be held and rocked. He is a great sleeper, eater, etc. In fact, last night he only woke up once! (I'm sure it was a fluke.) We love him so much!

Crew's first bottle! Caysja never took a bottle. I LOVE that he does!

First bath--check out all that hair!

Caysja's baby and Crew swinging side by side

Caysja just LOVES to play "babies". Here we are doing just that!

I had to take this picture because Crew and Caleb were matching! (And they were watching football together.)

Kiki got a new "big girl" bed and she loves it! (She's only fallen out once so far...)

Kiki and Grandma swimming in the hot tub.

While my parents were here we went to the Phoenix Zoo. Here is my dad with the awesome double stroller they bought us for Christmas. Thank you guys!

Kiki and Grandma trying to find the lion.

Kiki and Grandma and Grandpa

While my parents were here we also went on a hike up Pinnacle Peak. The sun set while we were at the top so we ended up hiking down in the dark! That was quite the adventure, let me tell you!

Crew slept the whole way of course.