Super Student Hannah!

Hannah was the Super Student this week in her class. She was SO excited to share things about her to her class. She has been a bit nervous since switching schools and this was a great opportunity to tell everyone about herself. Ben was excited too and decided to help a little as Hannah answered some questions from class.

Bree didn't really want to share.

Anthony was the other star student this week. Hannah 'really' likes him!

Spirit Week

This week was spirit week at the girls school to pump the kids up for state testing next week. They dressed up for everyday, but I only got pictures a few days. Here are the best ones of Hannah on crazy day and Dani on School spirit 900 day (that is the score they want to get this year on the test). We wrote 3-peat on her forward because this would be the third year in a row over 900. Good luck girls!

Aubree turns 7 months!

We can't believe how fast the time has gone. Bree is giggling, talking, and smiling all the time. She can sit up on her own and turns from back to front very quickly to get to what she wants. She is also starting to push up and move backwards, but we know she'll be moving forward very soon!

Take me out...

To the ball game!

Here are some fun shots that we or friends have taken of the girls. They are having a blast playing and we love watching them learn and do something fun!

Special day for Faith

Faith Hall is the special girl that I have the privilege to teach each week. Faith has severe food and skin allergies and can't attend school. She took her first communion and we were invited to the open house. I was very proud of Faith because of all the preparation it took for her to get ready and for Saint Bernard's Church in town who took special precautions so that Faith could participate.

Congratulations Faithy!

What happens when Mommy is busy...

I did at least make him trim it so I don't have to style it everyday.

Danielle's painting of space

Happy Birthday to ME!

Wednesday April 7th, I turned 31. Thank goodness! I'm glad to be in another decade of my life. I'm hoping there will be a few less bumps, I know there were will be no more babies, and I just want to settle into life. (I know, fat chance but a girl can dream!) Brent had today off too, so we decided to take the kids to the zoo. I love just walking around the Oakland zoo. It is mostly shaded and has nice hills that go from exhibit to exhibit. Our buddies the Hatches came with us and we had a wonderful time!

Feeding Bree while watching the giraffes. One of my favorite spots at the zoo.

We took a sky ride while we were there and everyone loved it (but me). It was a nice 20 minute ride over the animals and we got to see beautiful views of the bay. I had Bree with me though and she was squirmy. I'm already a little afraid of heights and the whole time I was thinking to myself, "I'M NOT GOING TO DROP MY BABY! I'M NOT GOING TO DROP MY BABY!" I was so shaken up that I felt physically sick once getting back on the ground and gave Bree back to Brent to try to relax again. I'm glad everyone else enjoyed it though!

After leaving the zoo we were all hungry and I had a certificate for a free birthday burger at Red Robin. We stopped in Livermore for a quick bite. I had a great birthday with my friends and family!

And we tired out the kids for a third straight day. What is spring vacation for, right?

Benisms

Dani: "Ben are you a girl or a boy?"
Ben: "DANI! I can't feed babies. I don't got breastisis!"

Ben to Brent: "Daddy, what O'clock it is?"

Ben in the bathroom yelling to Mom: "MOM! My poop fell out!"

Ben, playing with Brent's measuring tape: "Mom, the Easter Bunny brought this for dad. I'm 19, 14, 16 long!"

Quick Trip Day 2

Day 2 we got up and had breakfast at our hotel, then drove down to Carmel to a state beach known for its Sea Lion population. It was a nice drive on highway 1 and didn't take too long to get there. We parked at the first spot thinking we could walk all the way around the loop.

Bree ready for her second full day in the backpack.

At the top of the cliffs. We stopped here to really look at the map and found out it was a 6 mile round trip. Knowing there was no way the kids (or me) were going to make it. We walked back to the car and drove to another location about half way through the park.

We decided to have lunch again before heading out. It was a nice up and down walk along the cliffs with certain areas open where you could go and look at tide pools. We saw LOTS of sea lions, a sea otter basking in the sun, crabs, and lots of sea gulls.

Some of the views were amazing! The water was really high so we kept our distance, but we got to see some really neat waves splashing against the rocks.

Round trip was about 2 miles. At the end I was carrying Bree and Brent took on Dani and Ben. Hannah was quite the trooper, and was still running up and down the whole way back to the car. It was only about 2pm, but everyone was so pooped that we decided just to head back home.

We had such a great trip spending time as a family! Thanks Daddy for the great idea and taking the time off to spend some special time with us!

Quick Trip Day 1

The girls had two weeks of spring vacation this year. Brent had to work the first week, but was able to take a few days off to get out of town. We took the kids first to Monterey to the aquarium.

Arriving, we decided to have lunch in the parking lot before heading in. The kids were so excited!

Once getting in, Ben decided he needed to be in charge of the map.

Touching a starfish for the first time.

Bree was a trouper in her backpack all day.

We saw so many cool things, but it was really hard to get good pictures of them. The jellyfish though were a favorite!

The very end of the day we took a quick family picture outside.

Needless to say, everyone was tired.

We headed to Outback for dinner (using gift cards from Christmas!) Then over to our hotel. The kids were even excited about sleeping in the hotel and kept asking when we were going to get there. Everything worked out well and we only paid for the cost to get in to the aquarium, a few souvenirs, and our hotel. It was a very fun day!