Date nights

Ahhh....date nights.  We treasure them so much.  We have been trying to get out every other weekend and it's been pretty easy to do since we had Ms. Lydia booked 6 months out.  Now that summer is here things are changing a bit and we won't get out as much as we like but hopefully we'll squeeze in a few dates to sit on the patio at CHoP or catch a few summer blockbuster movies.  There's nothing like being out together alone and catching up on life.

We tried

Mimi tries wants to capture the moments we're all together in hopes of getting a photo that's Christmas card worthy.  We were all together for Dillon's 21st birthday and thought we could try to get a photo of all of us together.  It's OK but definitely not card worthy.  Also, Jared looks like he's about to drop his baby ;o)

Then we tried to get all the cousins together for a photo.  That was an even bigger hot mess!!  At least the party was lots of fun.

Parade of Lights

We walked in the Parade of Lights in downtown Chandler and had a blast with our girl scout troop.  They are such a sweet group of girls and it's so cute seeing them all dressed up in their GS vests with their patches.  What a fun night!!

Thanksgiving 2012

We had a fun, relaxing Thanksgiving this year.  We started off at Mimi & Papa's house around noon and the kids played on the trampoline. We ate outside because the weather was so gorgeous.

I still got a little cold even though it was 80 degrees.  I thought it was cold in the shade :)

Mimi's turtles joined us for dinner.  They are too cute!

Reese took photos of Ryan.

Ryan took photos of Reese.

I took photos of Ryder with his crazy face.

We were trying really hard to get a photo of Mimi & Papa withe the kids by the fireplace but it was a no go.  We did snap one cute photo of Mimi & Ryan together.

And one of Mimi with the grandkids minus Will.

Then we headed over to the Whytes to eat some more turkey and dessert.  Cory's grandparents were in town and let me tell you that I just love Gigi & Great Poppa.  We helped Gigi set up her Gmail account on her Ipad.  I hope when I'm almost 90 I will still be emailing people and using my Ipad or whatever latest gadget is available.  She is so awesome and I love her to pieces.

Ryan, Jasmine, & Haley posed for us.

Then Reese jumped in.  The girls performed a Winter Wonderland show for us and I didn't get any photos because I was too busy smiling and watching the show but it was the cutest skit I'd ever seen.  They are the four sweetest girls I know!

A superhero Halloween

Our Halloween was so much fun this year.  The kids are all at such a great age and it was so awesome to walk the neighborhood without using a stroller.  We all dressed up as superheros and it was a hit in the neighborhood.  I have to say that Halloween is my new favorite holidays!!

Ryan the sassy little Batgirl!!  

She just took out her Mexico braids for a nice wavy 'do.

 Reese was here to save the day as SuperGirl!!

 Ryder had a repeat of Spiderman even though we purchased Captain America & Iron Man costumes in the correct size :)

 Our entire trick-or-treating crew!!

 Cory and I were the masked, caped crusaders.  He was looking for the Bat sign in the sky.  Such a funny dork!

 Love our superhero family SO much!!

 Can't wait for next year :)

Our San Diego trip

Our trip to San Diego this year was very relaxing.  We didn't do too much because Ryder boy got sick on Monday and was down for the count almost the entire week :(  He mad a recovery on Friday just in time for the sun to come out.  We mostly just beached it since Ryder wasn't feeling great.  The girls made friends with 2 kids next door and all they wanted to do was play with their BFFs at the beach.  I always love 4th of July at the beach but we just wished for a bit more sunshine and warmer temps.

 Happy 4th!!

 We were really excited to make a flag cake this year.  Reese was over the moon for this cake.  We found recipes and designs online and spent the morning of the 4th making it.  It was SO yummy with the fresh raspberries and blueberries.

 A vacation is not complete until you roast some S'mores.

 Finger lickin' good.

 When the sun appeared on Friday we decided to rent a paddleboard.  We all took turns riding on it.  It's seriously a great core workout.  The kids loved it too.

 Little Reesie on the paddleboard.

 Our twin surfer girls.

 Ryder was still recovering.  It was hard to get this kid to crack a smile.

 He sure did love Auntie Jess' pregnant belly.

 SUCH a pretty belly.  She makes pregnancy look so good.

I'm so bummed that we didn't even get a photo of the 5 of us.  I seriously spent most of the week on the couch with Ryder.  He just laid in my lap while I read book after book.  (I finished 2 books in less than 4 days).  We are hoping for more sunshine and less sickness when we return to our beloved beach house next year.

Easter Sunday

We had such a fun Easter this year.  The kids are at a great age for hunting eggs and the annual scavenger hunt turned out awesome.  Haley & Romelo spent the night on Saturday so they all woke up and did the hunt together.  Romelo and Haley took turns reading the clues that led them to their Easter baskets.  Then we headed outside to find the plastic eggs filled with treats and money.

Here they are, waiting to start the hunt, still waking up.

I really love scavenger hunts.  My mom did them for us on Easter and I love carrying on the tradition.  It was fun to put different presents at each location and see how excited they were.

Here is Ryder's new Spider Man sleeping back hiding in the closet and a Fancy Nancy sticker book for the girls.

Next clue leads us to art supplies and stamp markers in the fridge.

Reese found the wooden blocks on the sofa.  She was so happy!

Don't think that I made up these little rhymes and clues all by myself.  Wish I was that creative.  Maybe if I had given myself more time.  No, I found these nifty little clues on Pinterest.  I loved that they talked about Jesus' being alive as it's the most important thing about Easter.

Last clue led us to Easter baskets that me & Auntie Casey put together.  Girls had flower baskets...

and boys had sports and cars.

It's all about the cars.

They found all the clues.  Now it's time to HUNT!

Can we come outside yet?  I love the toothless grin.

Ryder had a blast hunting eggs and he was really good.  He found some tricky ones that I thought the older kids would get.  Side note: I love this new shirt he's wearing that says "Always Hungry".  He is. Always Hungry.  Reese & Ryan aren't big snackers but Ryder boy is.  He's always asking me for food.  He's like a mini Cory with a super charged metabolism.

Run, Reesey, Run!

Haley found the golden egg, Round 1.  It had $5 inside and she over the moon.

Here we are checking out our loot.

We had the rest of our family over around 11 for brunch and another egg hunt.  The weather was gorgeous and our food was waaaay too yummy.  It was the perfect day with family except we missed Grandma & Grandpa, who were in Las Vegas for the weekend.

Reese won the golden egg, Round 2.  It was all so exciting.

Ryan looks like she's going to snatch that money from Reese, but she truly was happy for her sister.

Mimi & Ryan.

All five of us together :)