Angels V Dodgers

On the way home from school today, Ryan was playing with his baseball bear so Austin & I were talking about baseball...

I told him that I liked the Angels & he said, "What about the Dodgers??" I said, "Nooooo, we don't like the Dodgers!!!" He couldn't understand why & I explained that it was because the Angels are our favorite team! I reminded him about the games he had gone to & he said, "and they WON too!!"

I asked him how he knew about the Dodgers & he said, "Daniel told me, they are his FAVORITE!!"....

I told him to tell Daniel that the Angels are the best & he said, "Cuz they hit more home runs, right???" Daddy would be soooo proud!!!!

He's got it all figured out...

So, Austin's started Kindergarten this week & each day I ask him about his day, what he learned, who he had lunch with, etc... Today, I was asking who he sat with at lunch and he said, "Brooke again... She likes me SO much!" I said, "Really?? So, is she your girlfriend?" and the conversation from there had me in stitches:

"Yes, she's my girlfriend... I'm gonna marry her when I get older!"

"Oh really, you're gonna marry her? Are you going to be a good husband??"

"Oh yes! I'm going to be a great husband..."

"And how many kids are you going to have?"

"Four, no, wait, three... just like Ethan!" (Ethan is my best friend's oldest of 3 sons.)

"Three kids, huh? Are you going to have all boys, all girls or a mix?"

"I'm going to have 2 boys and 1 girl!"

"And do you know what you're gonna name them?"

"Yes, Samuel, Marshawn or Marshmallow, and... um....."

"Marshmallow?? You're gonna name him Marshmallow?? What are you gonna name your little girl??"

"Rebekah, just like you!!!!"

I was rolling laughing... He's got it ALL figured out, doesn't he!?!

Austin-isms!

For fear of those cute little things he says being forgotten, I wanted to post Austin's "Austin-isms" for the week!

Driving home from school on Friday, I was talking to Austin about Creation... this was our conversation:

Me: "So, how long do you think it took God to create the Earth?"

Austin: "Two days?"

Me: "No."

Austin: "7 days?"

Me: "No."

Austin: "100 days!?!"

Me: "No, it was 6 days!"

Austin: "Oh yah, then he took a rest on the seventh day!!"

Me: "That's right!!!" (Feeling very proud!)

Austin: "So, if God created the earth, then did the workers create the rest of the stuff?!?!!?"

Me: - can't stop laughing - "Yes, Austin, God created the Earth & the workers created the stuff!" hehe...

And when I asked him if he was excited about my dad (his Papa) picking him up from school the day before:

Austin: "Ya, I was soooo excited that I ran as fast as I could over to him & hugged him... but you know what, when people get old, you can feel their bones when you hug them!" hahaha... Mind you, my dad isn't a small man! haha... Leave it to Austin!

Austin sure keeps the laughs coming...!

Spring is over... Here comes Summer!

Once again, the time has flown by & I'm still not sure where it went... The last time I blogged, it was just the beginning of the year & now here it is almost Summer! Where, oh, where do the days go??

January was relatively quiet... Jason & I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary with an overnight trip to Morongo Hotel/Casino in Cabazon... we had an amazing dinner at the restaurant on top of the hotel & just enjoyed spending a little quiet time together....

The following weekend, we joined our best friends & their family for a birthday trip to Disneyland.... It was a fun day celebrating Ethan turning 7 years old! (Boy, talk about time flying ~ He was born the day before we got married!)

Valentine's Day is always fun around our house... this year the boys made cupcakes & cards... They love baking & decorating... It took some convencing for Ryan to put the sweethearts on the cupcakes instead of in his mouth! It was a very sweet day!

Another milestone was reached in February when Austin turned 5! I can't even begin to believe that my little boy is already five years old! We celebrated with a Lightening McQueen ~ Disney Cars party... he had several friends come over for his party. Everything turned out perfect, the weather, the food, the friends.... it was a great day!

March was also fairly uneventful... Jason was working nights so our weekdays were pretty routine with the boys going to school, me working & then dinner/baths & a little play time in the evening... Austin did get a new bike in the end of March & Grandma & Papa went to the park with us to watch the boys ride their bikes. We also celebrated my mom's birthday with dinner at Northwoods Inn. Her sister came down from Agoura Hills to meet us for dinner... my mom was pleasantly surprised.

We also took a day trip to the Ocean Institue in Dana Point where we met up with Austin's friends from school, Skyler & Dakota & their parents. The boys had a great time tourin the tall ships & checking out all the sea life. The Institue is a "hands-on" facility & the boys could touch most of the fish & animal life. They had a blast!

March weather was perfect for yet another day at Disneyland... we took a family day & went for a few hours.... Ryan discovered his love of corndogs on this trip... Jason, Austin & I have always made a point to stop at the little corndog stand for lunch... we brought Ryan a snack-pack figuring he wouldn't be interested in the corndogs... Oh My, were we wrong... he saw my corndog, grabbed it & wouldn't give it back! He ate all the "corn" and more than 1/2 of the "dog"! Guess we'll be getting him his own from now on! Austin was in awe of the "new" Small World & loved seeing all his favorite characters among the dolls of the world.... I know there's been a lot of controversy about the change in the ride, but I, personally, loved it... it was a fresh new approach that my kids loved!! Even Ryan recognized Nemo!

Easter is always a big time for our family... Saturday afternoon we had dinner with my parents & an egg hunt in the front yard.... This year, Ryan understood the concept & was running around grabbing eggs & throwing them in his basket... He especially liked the jelly beans...! You can see his mouth-fulls in most of the pictures! Sunday morning, we attended the early service at church then went to our best friends new house for lunch. We had a beautiful lunch & the boys (all SEVEN of them) had another Easter Egg Hunt in the back yard.... These eggs had $$ in them & it was so fun to see them counting their loot to see who got the most dollars!!

In April, it was also Ryan's turn to celebrate a birthday... his 2nd! We celebrated with a quiet family day... waffles at Grandma & Papa's house then water play in the backyard.... It was simple & very relaxing & he enjoyed the one-on-one attention. Another benefit of being 2 is that he was able to return to the same "school" that Austin attends.... it's so nice to have them together in the same place.... it's amazing how much less stressful it is having one less stop to make!

I guess April signals the beginning of the "busy" season for us! The boys school starts getting busy with activities... one of the big events of the year is the open house.... this year, the theme for Austin's class was the ocean.... He learned all about the oceans... Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic... and he told me, "I've never seen the Pacific Ocean!!" I explained to him that when we went to the beach, that was the Pacific Ocean... and he said, "Ohhhh... so when that wave came & knocked off my glasses, that was in the Pacific Ocean???".... I told him that yes, his sunglasses were still somewhere on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean!! He wanted to know what ocean it was that was in Hawaii & why he'd never seen the Atlantic Ocean.... He's always full of questions & I know the day is going to come, probably sooner that I'd like to admit, when I'm not gonna know the answers to those questions anymore! But for now, I do my best to answer his questions & keep him learning! Ryan's class theme was dinosaurs & although he had only been there a few days, they did a great job including him in their presentation!

Austin is currently busy preparing for graduation.... his Pre-K graduation is in a few weeks & he just brought home his cap & gown last week.... Oh my gosh, sooo stink'n cute! The took graduation pictures 2 weeks ago & yesterday he was singing a song & told me it was a song for his graduation program! He has learned so much this year... he is a little sponge & I can't wait to see how he does in Kindergarden.... Ryan has also flourished in the Teddy Bear class.... when we took him for his 2 year well-baby check, we had to think about it when they asked us if he said 20 or more words.... In the 3+ weeks he's been in the Teddy Bears, his speach has at least doubled! Sunday morning, before church, I walked by Austin's room & heard Austin saying, "This is Blue... Ryan, say Blue!" and Ryan would say, "Boooo" then Austin: "This is Yellow, say Yellow!" and Ryan: "Lea-Low".... I peaked it & saw Austin showing Ryan the book of different colors page by page & patiently teaching his little brother the colors... it was priceless! In a time when Ryan is testing the terrible two waters & his new favorite words are "No-way!" and "Don't!", it's refreshing to see the sweet side peek out again!

This past weekend, we got our 1st taste of summer.... on Thursday, Jason & I had a Disneyland Date Day.... since we were both off work, we went to Disneyland while the boys were in school & went on all the big-kid rides we haven't got to ride in quite a long time.... it was a different experience to not have to try & navigate the crowds with a stroller & check the height requirements at the ride entrance.... It was a beautiful day & a great relaxation for us. On Saturday, our best friends came over & we played in the pool for a few hours, then in the water in the backyard for several more hours. We BBQ'd & watch the boys have a great time! It was a gorgeous day & we didn't want it to end! The boys swam & slid & jumped in the sprinklers... it was our 1st taste of summer & if it was any indication, it's going to be an amazing summer!! (As soon as I get those pictures downloaded, I'll post them as well!)

So far our plans for the summer are pretty casual.... nothing major planned other than having fun! I want to hit up the beach at least a few times & try to get camping on the menu as well... Austin has been talking about going to Sea World so hopefully a San Diego weekend will be in the cards as well. Jason & the boys are trying to take a trip to Arizona to visit his parents in the next few days so that should be a nice kick-off trip for them....

Whatever summer brings, you can be sure there'll be lots of memories & pictures! And I promise to try to not take as long to get them to you! Thank you for being a part of our lives & so many of these memories!