Our annual trip to Florida this year was so good! It has been stressful and chaotic in the past and was definitely harder when the kids were younger. This is our 5th trip! The stats - it's a road trip (although one year I flew with Helena when she was a few months old); there is lots of fishing; lots of blueberries; and lots of family time. Ryan's grandmother lives right outside Pensacola in a town called Milton. We stay with her and she has a one 2 acre pond and another 1 acre pond - reason why there is so much fishing. It is a very laid back trip. I was happy we took it immediately after school was out. We all needed the down time and time away from schedules, obligations, and commitments. Here are a few pics of the fishing. There are hardly many pictures, because we were just too LAID BACK!

If you know Helena, then you know Reese. Reese is her BFF. They spend lots of time together and constantly talk about one another. Helena asked every day if it was the day of the party for at least 2 weeks. Reese's tea party was this past week and Helena had a blast. She may have overstayed her welcome by staying late and watching Reese open her gifts.

Reese had an all girls' tea party and now is 4, which is also very exciting to Helena. Now all she can talk about is when she turns 4. I have several pics from the party to post. I am also going to post a few pictures from the MANY I have of these two friends over the years. The have enjoyed being in a playgroup together, many trips to the beach, school, camps, ballet, and just anytime the mommies get together.

Sarah took a picture of each little girl and her mom. I thought this was a wonderful idea and it was amazing to see how much all the girls look like their moms. I am enjoying having a little girl so much and sharing the experience with other friends and their little girls.

Helena & Reese

Ready to make hats!

Making hats


Helena & Salome


Making Frames


Singing Happy Birthday!


Reese, Helena & Daddy Reese

The latest pose Helena makes for pictures. Very frustrating, but still my cutie! This started during the recital. She is taking this chin up thing a bit too seriously.



First moments 2008



Beach 2009



Winter 2009

Spring 2010

Clowning Around

Water fun

Pool 2010

Beach 2010

Buying first ballet shoes.

At the start of last week, I was excited that we had no afternoon activities and that every afternoon after school would be spent relaxing and not rushing. Monday was the only day we did that! I wasn't disappointed, because we ended up doing a lot of unexpected FUN stuff the rest of the week. Girls movie night to see Water for Elephants; signed up kids and got them tested for Kumon - which was actually fun to them, Asa's end of the season t-ball party; dinner with Marc & Felicia, and celebrating Ryan's bday.
Wednesday was Ryan's bday. The big 33! I made a sea bass with a miso soy glaze. We had a very relaxing night in. He is not big on celebrating his birthday, but one of these years I plan on having a big party. It will have to be a surprise since he is totally against it.
I am a total mess today, because I had big plans of getting a lot done today for the kinder memory books that are due Thursday, finishing my CLE, and helping Ryan with anything trial, but stuff kept coming up! And now at 7:31 PM, I feel very behind. Here's to somehow getting it all done by Thursday.

Random pics from last week. Will post memory books next week!

SCHOOL PICNIC

Helena & Zoe

HELENA & REESE

MY CLOWN ASA

LANEY AFTER A SWIM

LANEY TAKING CARE OF HER BABY

HELENA & FINN

We are back!!! I have decided AGAIN to try to blog. Once a week at least. I can't seem to work on actual scrapbooks so I am hoping this will provide me at the end of the year with a digital scrapbook I can print! I thank my friend Jamie for this wonderful idea. It is much easier for me to type, drag, upload, and save rather than pull out all my scrapbook materials and leave them out on our dining room table for days (or weeks if Ryan is reading).

Our little family is almost done with a great and very blessed school year. Asa has completed his Kinder year and we hate to say goodbye to his teacher, Mrs. Silva! An amazing teacher who has gone above and beyond all year. My first experiences with the school have been so positive. I am blown away by the structure and tenacity of all the administrators, teachers and PTO. Some other firsts this month - Asa's first piano recital and Helena's first ballet recital.

Asa has been taking piano for a little over a year and this is his first performance. He has been in a group class of 3 and now will start private lessons in the fall. Here are a few pics.









Helena started ballet and tap lessons in January. At first I thought it might be too early, but I and so many other friends of mine started at this age. Plus who can resist a little itty bitty ballerina! The introduction was positive. We had a few freak out moments, especially when we started rehearsing for the recital. She was use to dancing with her classmates in front of the mirror not to a dark audience while on stage. The rehearsal schedule was a little grueling for this mom who is already tired out on activities this spring, but it was all worth it. She was so thrilled that night with herself and came off stage yelling "I did it"

So much for being on top of things. I HAVE NOT BLOGGED IN FOREVER!! However, I must admit I am very excited about 2010. 2009 was a bit rough. Lots of unexpected things happened. I was truly devastated by the loss of my Uncle. I have done 3 grandparents, but they were much older. Out of all my uncles and aunts, he was definitely the closest. He was at all of my major milestones and then some. Esp. for being so far away he took the time off to come to everything. It has brought everyone closer esp. with my cousins being in China & Israel. It feels like they are right around the corner.

So what am I hoping for in 2010? Not too much. Little things mostly. I can't complain about what I do have. That is an amazing husband and fun loving kids. It is like Ryan gets what it is like to be home all day with kids - because when he does come home... he comes with a bottle of wine (that is chilled), grabs Helena, puts her to sleep, and then plays with ASA. So if I have not taken a shower all day, I can take an hour long one!! I hope to work out now after my 2 month hiatus. I won't even say anything about eating better, because i like my BAD FOOD. I am so excited about Pam, Joanna, & Karen's weddings this year!!!! I do hope to get my house in order. We have been in the new house 10 months now, so no excuses. I also really hope for our family to attend church. That too was on hiatus for awhile, because right when I finally got Asa to sit and listen, I had Helena all over the place. And when I got her to be good, then every other bad bad kid in the nursery would come over and recruit her!!!!! I could barely hear the sermon and it was just overall disastrous!

There are also lots of valley babies on the way. Very excited about Landon! He should arrive in the next 2 weeks. Katherine, then Somer, then Rubi, then Vanessa .... I am so excited for ya'll!!!

Days before Christmas

Not too much running around, but lots of getting together with family and friends. Asa made cookies and notes for his class. His last day of school was the 18th, and they do not go back until the 11th! So excited though because Helena and Asa will go together that day for the first time. We had some great picture opportunities, but I only took a few pics! I am lucky to get out the door in one piece so the camera gets left behind.


We decided to head to Houston for a few days to see cousins and spend time at Aunt Dora's. Then we drove with her down to Corpus. The kids were ...well not too good on the plane. They just love to irritate each other. They go back and forth between loving on each other and then fighting. They were great on the drive though.






Helena! She ate through everything while in Houston.

My cousin Joey's son, Ben. He totally took care of Helena all through dinner.

My great friend Felicia!

One of Shenna's fabulous parties.

Asa's cookies for his friends at school.

Asa wrote notes to all his friends to put on the cookies. This took a long time (24 kids). I was impressed with his patience.

Ready for the roadtrip. Wulfie wanted to sit in the back with the kids. We were stuck on the highway at a standstill for an hour! The kids were really really really good.

This is Aunt Dora & Uncle Ian's home. You can't see it all in this picture. It is beautiful and I feel so relaxed there when I visit. It has so many amazing things, but at the same time it is hard to be there without Uncle Ian. It was entirely his work of art and it is filled with so many pictures and articles of him. His library is amazing and reminds me of everything he accomplished during his life.

This month, we had two great reasons to get together. Mari's baby shower - for Luke Aidan Panko and Joanna's Engagement party. I have know these girls for almost 20 years and 2 of them 25 years! Cannot believe it. From our days at Windsor Park & Carroll High. We all went to different colleges and live in different cities now, but it takes no time at all to pick up where we left off everytime we get together. And thank god - the husbands/fiances all like each other!! So glad we have lots of parties the next year to see each other. We also take a yearly trip in the summer.




I love this pic. Stephanie and Bianca with their daughters, Kimberly & Julianna.

Hostesses!

Pam & Julianna.

Engagement party in Corpus. Congrats Joanna!