Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Thanksgiving in Cali!

We took our 2nd Annual Thanksgiving trip to California this year, it was a great time! Its so nice that when we cant be with family, we get to be with our second family!

We drove up early Thursday morning and headed to Maureen's for a DELICIOUS dinner, wow it was good! The kids had a blast playing with Duke, I think he was shocked at the two crazy kids that came to dinner!


 
Friday our tradition is to take the kids to Knotts Berry Farm, that is one of my new favorite traditions. I LOVE a good amusement park and the kids are getting to the age where taking them to those kinds of places is actually enjoyable...let's be real! It's not too crowded so the lines really werent too bad!

 This one...she is me made over!! She LOVES the fast rides! Her two favorites, the swinging dragon ship that basically goes vertical and the log splash ride. That is my favorite too! We rode each of those rides three times and I definitely wouldve done them all again!


 He was alot more cautious but he rode everything with us that he could if he was tall enough. But his faces in the pictures in the log rides were hilarious. If a 6x8 wasnt $16 I would've bought all three! They were great. He was a great sport though.


 Saturday we went to the Adventure to Santa experience with the Knapps, it was alot of fun. Owen was a little cautious but did walk up to Santa and tell him what he wanted...a monster truck remote control. Hannah wanted school/teacher supplies, clay, a baby doll and baseballs.


We went back to Maureen's for the UCLA/USC football game and the kids just played and played, then played some more at Chik Fil A! They were so tired every night!

We headed back Sunday morning after breakfast with our favorite second family! It was a great 4 day trip and just what we needed!

2 weeks until our flight to KY!! We are counting down for sure!

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Character Counts!

I am SO proud today!! This girl is a rock star. We have had our moments (and still do!) she is strong willed as ever, and we have some hard days but she truly is a KIND, hardworking, caring, girl.


I got a message from her teacher about the first award ceremony of the year and that Hannah was getting an award. I had no idea which award but I was very excited to see her.


They were giving our character awards and honor roll awards. I still had no idea what award she was getting so I just kept filming until I heard her name.

Then I hear her teacher say, "This Exemplary Bobcat award for excellent character goes to Hannah Adkins". My heart just BURST. We work REALLY hard at home on being good friends, kind people, caring people and doing what is right. That might not always go on in our home, or even out in public but for the most part, this girl has Amazing character. In her conference, Ms. Martinez told us she is always so helpful to others and will tell her teacher if another friend needs something.

It meant so much to me to know she got this award because I have always said, I just want to have good, kind, caring, empathetic, loving children. It doesnt matter their test score, how good they are at sports, I just want them to be good people. We are working on it. And in 5 years she has really grown. I was just SO proud of her.

I found her after the ceremony and gave her a huge hug and she just burst into tears. It's really hard for her when I come to school because she knows I have to leave. It broke my heart. So in a couple of these pictures she is on the verge of tears, poor girl.

Hannah you are awesome. Always be a person of character, it means more than any grade, any award, any first place team you could be apart of.

Love you my little Exemplary Imagine Mountainview Bobcat!!!


Monday, November 9, 2015

Closer to 4, than 3!

My little baby is O turned 3.5 yesterday, how on earth is this kid halfway to 4?! I never in a million years knew this little boy would steal my heart the way he has. I am so glad I turned him into a cuddly, snuggly, mama loving little boy! He rarely turns down my request for a kiss or a hug, which is sweet because I ask him ALL day long. I cant really get enough of the way he smells, how soft his cheeks are, or how squishy he still is. I tell him I love him 24/7 and he always responds with "love you forever". I ask him to live with me forever too :) He is saying yes for now!

Even in just the last few weeks he has changed so much with his talking, learning and things he is doing. He started preschool this year and seems to like it. He definitely won't be my school lover like Hannah but he is a good little student and tells me a few things here and there. He is still WAY more interested in playing with trucks and dirt and watching The Axel Show on his ipad than learning anything I want to teach him. What is most important to me right now, is that he is a good friend and a nice kid. The rest will come :)

 We spend alot of time in the carpool line so we play games, I usually tickle him til he cant stand it, we sing songs or just catch up a movie :) He is usually pretty patient. Since he only goes to school Tues and Thurs, we still spend alot of time together. I love the one on one time I get with him. He is a funny kid!
 Love that big smile!
 And some days he unbuckles himself and jumps up front with me! He tells me, "there's no police man, I no get in trouble".
 LOVE this picture of him!
 And then he got a haircut! He hated haircuts up until this last one. He usually screams the whole time saying "it hurts" ha ha but this time he sat on my lap and didnt cry, we were pretty proud!

 We had some rain and he just had to wear his rain boots!


 He still loves trucks, playing in the dirt, running around outside, and being Hannah's "baby" (she tells him when to cry or eat or move ha ha). He is a GREAT brother. For the most part, he puts up with her requests. They can get along so well or 2 seconds later be fighting like crazy. Those two dont really know what to do without eachother.

He sleeps pretty well in his big boy bed, I need to post some house pictures, we did his room in an adorable alligator theme, it turned out so cute. Sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night but for the most part he sleeps great by himself and just wakes up yelling "Mommy, I NEEEEEDDDDDD you!" That's a heck of a wake up call! 

He is still doing great with all his pottying, he wears diapers at night but Im not too worried about that, he sleeps HARD. Hannah can wake very easily so Im glad I have one that sleeps pretty sound. He's a pretty big boy! At 3.5 he wears anywhere from 4T to 5T. I bought a bunch of 4T pants at a sale and now he needs 5T's, and that was like 2 months ago! 

He is so funny, so loving, so playful, and usually always smiling. He is a wonderful little boy and I couldnt even imagine life without this kid! God knew what he was doing adding him to our family. Hannah will look at me sometimes and say, "Owen is so cute" or "Owen is so funny". She recognizes his accomplishments and always looks right at me when he does something to see if I've noticed. She is a great big sister. 



It's not always sunshine and roses, we have fits and tempers and he's learned a really good pout, but it's hard to take him seriously. Those lips and those cheeks make him irresistible!!

It's just hard to believe he was 10 months old when we moved here. Time really flies when you have these precious kids in your life. 

We love you sweet boy, keep on being you!!!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Little Halloween Pirates

Even thought Owens little heart desired to be a ninja turtle or spiderman or something "man" I wanted to see if I could squeeze in at least one more year of matching costumes :) Yes, blame me kids! These cute little pirates didnt put up too much of a fight, but no one will wear the earring :))

They look pretty darn cute! (pictures achieved with the bribery of halloween cookies) 















 that was his scary face :)



 they look like they're looking for something!























 he looks like a lost boy!



 Her pirate face!






We've already had 4 trunk or treats, so Im pretty much over all the candy! 

Happy Halloween!