Play Ball!

Last Saturday marked the first baseball (and T-ball) game my boys got to play in. Since Peter broke his arm right at the start of the season last year, this is his first time too. I can't tell you how much fun it was to watch the boys play. We were able to get them on teams coached by our friends with lots of their friends on their teams so it makes it extra enjoyable. And they practice at the same time! Makes my life sooo much easier, I tell ya.

Benji all ready to bat - he's on the Angels. 

Look at that tiny little man (he's #13).

T-ball is just as hilarious to watch as we thought it would be. The kids move in clumps and there were several who ran the wrong way to the bases. I'm sure they'll improve but it was so funny!

 Peter, #16 on the Giants, first at bat. He did great for a newbie, we are so proud! I think baseball might be a bit more his speed since you don't have to be quite as aggressive to enjoy it.

  A solid hit and he's off!

Love these kids and we can't wait for more games.

Nora turns two

Another pi day and we get to celebrate our sweet little lady turning TWO!!

Poor kid will never have cake on her birthday, but just look at this gorgeous apple pie we enjoyed! Yum.

Nora, however was more a fan of the banana cream.

 She kept demanding "mor! mor!"

Turns out after the flurry of Christmas, this girl has become a PRO at opening presents. In fact, she got quite huffy if any of her brothers tried to help and kept telling us "I got it. I got it!"

 The little Frozen dolly set from Grandma Lisa was a huge hit.

It had to be opened right away.

 All is right with the world now.

 Nora also got another of these princess nightgowns - because the one she already got from Grandma we have to peel off her in order to wash it at least every 3 or 4 days - and she loved it too. No joke, I have to hide these dresses from her because she will find them, take off all her clothes and put it on so she winds up wearing them to places like the dentist, Costco, or cub scout meetings. 

Luckily, everyone thinks she's adorable (which is true).

I just wish people would say the same thing about me when I wear my pjs out in public.

 The birthday girl also got her own set of 'chakstiks' (chapsticks) because she likes to take (and eat) mommy's.

 Our Nora is the happiest little thing. She loves to sing and twirl and will run around the house singing songs from Frozen or anything, really, at the top of her lungs. Nora talks non-stop now and has started on simple 3-4 word sentences and is sure to repeat anything her brothers say, even if we maybe don't want her to. 

She is fearless - if the boys can do it, then by golly so can she. She's already mastered climbing on and off the trampoline and is determined to ride a big kid bike before she turns three. And beware anyone who wants to help the child dress or undress! Independent and strong-willed, she constantly keeps us in stitches with her little voice and silly antics.

 We love you super girl!

Daddy's taking us to the Zoo tomorrow

To celebrate Nora's birthday we went as a family to the LA Zoo. She is in the what-sound-does-that-animal-make stage and got so excited to see each different one, pointing to each animal and yelling 'Dat!' (that)

The weather was perfect and the kids were especially excited to see the elephants, cheetahs, and otters.

  Little Monkey

and navigator

 I still can't believe this little stinker will be two tomorrow! She has so much personality these days - you might call it sass - and talks and sings nonstop.

Nora got pretty tired by the end of the day since she missed her nap but she refused to fall asleep until we finally made it to the car, despite her head bobbing in the stroller.

 Where she and Benji immediately sacked out.

Legoland!!

Last month we got to go back to Legoland with Peter's Jr. First Lego League team. This year, Travis coached the team through Peter's elementary school and they had a great time. This years theme was 'waste wise' and so many of the teams did their models/posters on recycling etc. but since Travis isn't your average coach, the kids did theirs on the Space X reusable rocket - who actually came and answered a bunch of the kids questions about the rocket, and the Air Force Bomb Disposal Squad robots - who came to one of their meetings and brought a few of the robots and let the kids drive them. It was pretty cool and the judges were super impressed with their projects.

Travis and Peter spent most of the morning presenting with the judges so I took Benji and Nora around to ride the rides.

 Benji was thrilled to be big enough to ride more rides this year and had a ball on the race car track.

 Nora especially liked the carousel. We walked by it and she about jumped out of my arms, yelling 'ponees!' (ponies). I kept thinking she would be too scared to ride many of the rides but every time we got off she'd yell 'agaan! agann!' (again). My little dare devil.

 We met up with the boys again for the 'high five ceremony' and then set off for more adventures.

 What a bunch of crazies.

 Why do they look like they're about to sail to Rivendell?

 One last group selfie before going home - getting everyone in the camera frame isn't as easy as it used to be. 

We love Legoland and look forward to going again next year. The staff are incredibly helpful and the park was just so much fun. 

Peter's Baptism

Along with turning 8 years old, our sweet Peter decided to get baptized a few weeks after his birthday. 

Travis baptized him and we were so happy to have so much of our family to come celebrate with us.

Peter with his adopted Grandma, Barbara

It's probably impossible to get this many (young) people to look at the camera at the same time, but we gave it a try.

Jono and Kristi and Cami, Brookie, Spencer, Grandma Lisa, Tracie, Us, Grandma Deb, Jenn and Taiz, Paxton, Callen (or Calvin as Benji calls him) and Lincoln.

According to Peter, the best part about turning 8 is getting to start cub scouts. That kid is in heaven and loves going every week! I just can't stand how grown up he looks now! Who is this kid?