California Trip Part 2

Our trip to California was a little different than usual. The main purpose was to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday. But, of course, we also had a great time visiting with cousins. What made it so different was that the cousins were all still in school the whole time we were there. That actually made it really fun for me. The kids got to see all their cousins after school, but then I got to have them with me part of the time, too. Usually, I hardly get to see my own kids when we're there because I don't want to pull them away from their cousins who they don't get to see very often.

Leah and Michael

Playing in the park

Swinging

and swinging - Leah couldn't get enough.

climbing

digging

all aboard

playing on the train

Leah and Will hanging with Scott

So much fun is exhausting, especially if you're also working hard as a handyman.

And this trip got us even more excited for our next trip . . . to Hawaii. We're there now - pictures soon.

California Trip Part 1 (Martha's Birthday)

Before I start my post, I just want to issue a formal apology to Holly for letting over a month lapse since my last post. I will try to do better for you.

We just got home from a fun trip to California. Our main reason for going was to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday. It's always hard to think of a gift for my mom that she will really love. This year, though, we had such a killer gift for her that I absolutely had to be there when we gave it to her.

We almost surprised her by showing up at her door unannounced but decided a couple of days before we left that it would be a bit much to drop a family of 8 on her without any warning. We got there on Saturday and started a week long celebration with barbecues, pool parties, lunches, dinners and lots of family. With so many people's schedules to take into account, sometimes you have to have several parties so that everyone can be included. It was awesome!

Amy comes up with the best gifts. She is my hero.

Zach, Timmy and Lily's 60 favorite things about Nana for her 60th birthday

The best day was the family dinner the Friday night after her birthday. Rich and Becky did surprise her by flying in that afternoon and showing up at the restaurant.

It's so fun to make Martha cry.

This was also the night we gave her her big group gift.

It's so exciting - what could it be? Something out of this world from Anthropologie maybe?

She knows it's something good. She just doesn't know how good . . .

. . . and that it's been in the works for over 2 years.

Uh-oh. Here come the waterworks.

Steaming up

Better lose the glasses

You started working on this when!?!

Yep, over 2 years ago with Amy as the whip hand.

Thank you so much Amy - it never would have happened without you.

Yes, I know it's blurry, but it's the only picture I have that shows most of the group.

Two years in the planning and executing, with a final scramble in the last couple months to get it done, and Martha has a quilt made by all her daughters and embroidered with the whole family's signatures. It was an awesome birthday week!

Rock On

Where did Sam learn to rock out laying on his back 80's rocker style? Does Sponge Bob do that?

I desperately need a real video camera. The phone cam just doesn't cut it. Although the poor quality at least somewhat disguises the mess of the room.

Christmas Cookies

Yes, I realize it's May. But I found these as I was going through the past few months' pictures and realized I'd never posted them. This is one of my absolute favorite Christmas activities.

Christmas Cookie Decorating Ed***n Style
(Do-Rags Optional)

We start with Nana's awesome rolled sugar cookies. She makes them thin and crisp. Then we dip them in a thin layer of white or pale green icing. Nana's buttercream icing that she makes with browned butter is AWESOME! Let them dry.

Then they're ready to decorate. We put every color of icing we can come up with into little squeeze bottles. The icing is mixed on the thin side so it will easily squeeze out of the bottles.

Hands are always washed first. Does it do any good? Probably not with all the finger-licking going on.

Intense concentration is a must.

The competition is fierce.

Everyone is trying to one-up the cousin next to him/her.

Thin cookies = thin frosting = thin participants?? Maybe not.

Anna is the most fun for me to watch.

She takes her time and comes up with the most detailed designs.

She's an artist through and through.

Some of this year's favorites:

Look at all that detail! Squeeze bottles are by far the best cookie decorating tool there is.

Edible art is the best. Especially when made with black icing!

Yummy!

Thank you, Melissa, for the awesome pictures!

Puerto Vallarta

Travelling is stressful. Travelling with a baby is extra stressful. So imagine my level of panic when, the day before we were to leave, I opened the dryer to find mine and Leah's passports mixed in with the towels looking like this.

Add to that a missed flight and full blown PMS, and what do you get? Complete emotional meltdown.

It's a good thing we had such a beautiful home and beach to speed the recovery process.

Leah can't wait to get out into the sunshine and pool . . .

and relax in the hammock overlooking the ocean . . .

(Poor Amy's a third wheel)

and watch the beautiful sunset.

In spite of the rocky start and the swine flu media event that got into full swing just as we arrived, we had a great time!