Being a kid...

So being a kid is super fun, so exciting, and very very messy. The messy part is where I can get tripped up because as an adult that has to clean up the mess I can get somewhat uptight. So the other day when we went to the San Diego Children's Museum and we got to do all the fun kid stuff (like painting their metal whale form) and leave the mess behind, I was a very happy mama. They were able to paint, play with clay, chalk and blow bubbles, water color, a bunch of other stuff and I didn't have to clean up anything (except for their little hands of course).

I love being their mama...even if it is a messy job.

Ella's Choice

This is the result of letting Ella pick her outfit herself...and look at that pose to go with it! I love that little personality! She felt beautiful all day.

School is Out!

So today was the last day of school. I now have a second grader and a kindergartner. Ahhh! This picture was taken on the first day of school. Ella's very first day of school. And this picture was taken today! They look different and they feel different too. Bryce has matured so much this year and become such a good reader. We are so proud of his growth this year. And Ella has had a fun year making friends and getting ready for kindergarten.

And Ella has grown a lot! Yay Ella!

Still as feisty and as goofy as ever...I guess they haven't changed too much.

I am so proud of you both and all the hard work you did this year.

I love him

I love this man. Like I really really love him. I love that I get to do life with him. I love that I got to have his babies. I love being his girl.

Lord-thank you, thank you, thank you for him!

Laura's Wedding

Such a wonderful day! I love weddings. I think it is so wrong that you don't get to remarry your love every ten years or so. Okay who am I kidding that is way too much work for me to pull off. But anyway, I love weddings. Isn't this just so romantic. Ella's dress ripped a couple of times before the ceremony was even close to starting. We were still just taking pictures with the handsome couple when the dress literally started to come apart at the seams. And Mrs. Alden and I had to come to the rescue with a needle and thread and sew that baby back up. Thank goodness we had it all fixed up before the wedding so Ella didn't look like a homeless flower girl while walking down the aisle. I love those little things that happen at weddings that make it memorable. You always need a good story right?

I loved this cool flower girl basket. So pretty!

The cousins.

I am sorry, but look at Bryce in this picture. What a stud right! Good thing he is that cute because sometimes that is the only thing that keeps me from putting him up for adoption. Okay that is just a joke, haha funny funny. Kind of...
I love this picture. So scary though that it is a small preview of what is to come someday at her own wedding. That thought alone makes me want to cry.

Just doing their job. They are professionals you know.

So pretty! I love that Laura couldn't wait till the end to kiss Peter and that she tried to sneak a kiss in before the pastor gave the official green light. May you keep layin it on him forever Laura. Yes, that is my official blessing by the way.

I love the flowers.
How cool is that blue metal wall? We love you guys so much and we so enjoyed being a part of your big day. May you kiss lots and fight a little and after your little fights may you kiss a lot.

First We Practiced

So a week ago yesterday my cousin Laura got married. And the Friday before that she practiced getting married. We were lucky enough to be there because my kids..wait for it...were in the wedding! Bryce and Ella had the honor of standing with my cousin Laura and her husband Peter on her wedding day. We had so much fun being there with them. The wedding was at Saddleback church, which by the way is not beautiful at all. Pastor Rick, maybe you should work on that a bit. No really I am being so ridiculously sarcastic, the place is gorgeous. I told Jarrod that we should take a bunch of pictures in front of their whole waterfall/beach/fire pit area and just tell everyone that we went on an incredible tropical vacation, that is how beautiful it is!

So some of the highlights from the rehearsal besides the tropical oasis were:

Laura and Peter of course because we love them and wish them nothing but the best.

Bryce running as fast as he could right into a cement structure and almost breaking his nose. He was bleeding from his nose and also got a nice big bump and bruise on his forehead that he got to sport on the wedding day. Yay Bryce!

Meeting Pastor Rick Warren and his wife Kay.

Finding a sound proof indoor basketball court room that I could lock the kids in!

And the yummy food and good company.

The bride and groom, love them!The fun "bouquets."



The ring bearer and flower girl.

Bryce after he rammed his head into a wall.

The tropical oasis.

Tomorrow I will post about the wedding!

Cheese is my Favowit

So nothing exciting happened today. I took kids to school. I took kids to the park. I played Barbies. I played store. I did laundry and I made chicken tortilla soup for dinner and that is pretty much the extent of it. (I know...you all are jealous.)

So tonight we were eating dinner and I put cheese on top of the soup and Halle said to me "Mommy, cheese is my favowit... Cheese is my favowit color." (That is how she says favorite.) And of course Bryce being the ever present and helpful big brother, told her that cheese is not a color. So Halle said "Cheese is my favorite color, green." Bryce quickly corrected her "Cheese is not green!" So I told Halle that cheese is orange. To which she reassured us that yes orange is one of her favorite colors. I always love dinner conversation!

Ella is 5

Ella is my beautiful, red headed, freckled, 31 pound, independent, lover of life, mischievous, little girl. And now she is officially 5. Five seems like a red flag that is waving around saying "watch out because I am growing up, and there is nothing you can do about it." Five is like a big deal and so is Ella, so together they are a really big deal.

Ella, you are a big deal to me because you are one of my greatest gifts from God. He made you so wonderfully. The way that he gave you your beautiful red hair and your adorable freckles, even on your elbows, is so completely perfect. I love who you are. I love that you love people so much. I love that you are so curious about life. I love that you love chicken nuggets and ranch and sweets and books. I love that you like to sleep in Brycey's room and play dollhouse with Halle. I love that you like to wear dresses and that you would like to be a princess when you grow up.

Thank you for being my Ella Rose.

Saying Goodbye to 4

Today we tried to say goodbye to four. Ella will be five tomorrow and so today we said farewell to four. We had a good day but it is slightly painful to realize that Ella is done with those baby years. Five definitely starts childhood rather than babyhood, I guess you could say. How did we get here so fast? (By the way I know that I am pathetic, so you don't have to tell me.) Luckily she is like 30 pounds, so sometimes I can just pretend like she is still three.

So on another note, last night Jarrod stubbed his toe on a brick in the dark. It was a pretty good stub and so there was blood and all of that. Well this morning when Halle saw it she said "What happened Daddy?" Jarrod told her that he hurt it when he kicked something. To which Halle responded "What did you kick Daddy? Momma?" Anyway this was hilarious to me because of course he never kicks me and so it just seemed hilarious to me that Halle thought that perhaps he had hurt himself kicking me! That kid man she cracks us up.

Okay so one more side note. We ate frozen yogurt for dinner tonight (what don't judge me). That is what that gooey nastiness is. Anyway, so somehow it was spilled. The reason I took a picture of this nastiness is because I feel like my whole life is spills! No I am not being dramatic! Every time that I sit down to eat or relax something is spilled. Today it was Craisins, bubbles, frozen yogurt, goldfish, Halle's whole cereal bowl. Seriously just listing this makes me think what is wrong with my children?! Can anyone else relate to this problem or am I doing something wrong?

So Happy!

This picture just made my whole day! Kelsey took this picture and posted it on Facebook and so I stole it... and now I am happy. The End.

My Sister the Graduate!

I am so proud of my sister! She is officially a graduate of Cal Baptist University. Way to go Court! Such a huge accomplishment.

Giants

Well our Giants season is officially over. It was a really fun season. Bryce got to play with some of his best friends and his team did really well. I loved watching them play. There is just something about little boys in uniforms that kind of makes my heart melt. We won't miss the cold afternoons at the sports park, but I will miss that cute uniform!

My Loves

This post is just purely a"look at my kids post." I just transferred pictures tonight for the first time in months and I just wanted to share a few of my favorites!