"blurbing"

Yeah... it's a verb. Book 2006 is almost complete.

Thirty-two plus Five equals Awesome

I know that my five-year-anniversary was two months ago, but we just celebrated with a little getaway to the Grand America Hotel sans kids.

This was kind of a big deal for me, as I haven't been away overnight from my kids ever. Okay, I take that back-- I left Jake at home with Blaine while I was staying in the hospital when Sarah was born. I think I may have some attachment issues. :)

Anyway, we figured five years was a good time to ditch Jake and Sarah, and Steve and Chris (Blaine's folks) volunteered to come stay the night at our place. (Again, thank you!)

Staying somewhere this fancy-pants was so wonderful. I felt like we were on our honeymoon again and it was so refreshing to feel those romantic, fleeting feelings again--you know, without the kids snoring on the baby monitor... It was just nice to be reminded that my marriage is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me and that Blaine rocks my world. Sometimes it's easy to caught up in my identity of "mommy mode". I loved spending time alone with my husband, He's pretty freakin' great.

In the morning we ate our breakfast in our room donning snuggly robes and slippers, and then I was off to bask in my birthday morning at the spa. (Seriously--does it get any better?) After a facial, massage, manicure, eucalyptus steam, and hot tub with my hubs, Blaine and I headed home to hang out with the kids until dinner and dessert with family at our house. 32 feels pretty good.

These first pictures are from my phone. I didn't bring my camera to the hotel, but had to snap a few anyway.

Best chocolate cake ever, thanks to Ange.

Blaine and Sarah.

Doug and Jen.

Poor, starving, exhausted college student, Brett.

Scotty and May May.

Laurel and Scarlett.

Jack.

Isabel helping me open my present.

Jake saying, "I want to pick you up!" to Blaine.
(Or, maybe he's begging for someone to cut his hair already.)

He looks pretty determined to me.

That's my boy! Eating all the chips and salsa.

These kids of mine

It's been a while since I have spent some time on here talking about what my kids are doing. I mean, Sarah is nine months and Jake is almost 2 and a half. When did they get so big? Geez.

Sarah Sweetheart: 

She is calm and happy almost all the time. 

She loves the sound of her own voice and likes to babble and yell. 

She loves attention and will flirt with anyone who will flirt back. 

She looks so much like Blaine that sometimes it's freaky.

She scoots everywhere. She will crawl for a couple steps, drop to her tummy and take off. She's got the "wounded soldier" thing going on.

She has five (almost six!) teeth.

She's in the 98th percentile for length.

She's finally getting some hair (and it look like it matches her dark eyebrows... yay!).

She is pulling up on everything and will often be standing when we go to get her from her naps.

She adores her big brother. No one can make her laugh like Jake.

Her laugh is awesome. Not as giddy as Jake's, but a hearty-chuckle just the same.

She looks cute in everything.

She says, "Mamamamama." (I pretend she is talking to me.)

She loves sweet potatoes and peas.

She loves little puff treats and bits of deli turkey and ham.

She's not really into the sippy cup just yet.

Her eyes are a beautiful brownish-green.

She wants to play with Jake and his toys (much to Jake's dismay).

She is really diggin' her lullaby seahorse lately.

She loves to play patty-cake and is trying to bring her hands together on her own.

She is starting to mimic us.

She is reaching out to people to hold her.

When we sing "Twinkle, Twinkle" at night, she perks up and throws her hands up in the air.

She responds to her name.

She gets in trouble for playing with the books in the living room.

She is wearing 12-18 month clothes and size 4 diapers.

{Reaching for Daddy.}
 

Jake the Snake:

He is talking up a storm. I am amazed at his vocabulary and ability to put sentences together.

He is obsessed with his trains. I think they have actually replaced the cars obsession (for now, anyway).

He is beginning to pretend and make-believe. I love it. I will often hear him exclaim things like, "Uh, oh--Percy, are you okay?" While playing with his cars and trains. Or, "Oh no! Hit the brakes!" While running through the house and crashing into things on purpose.

He also loves to pretend to talk on the phone to various family members.

He gets himself apples all day long. (I don't complain about this one.)

He is usually very sweet to his sister, "Saiya". (The day he starts to say her name correctly, my heart will break.)

He loves stickers. LOVES them.

He's starting to say his own prayers, and always makes sure we don't leave anyone out when we mention nursery. i.e. Alex, Lily and Tessa... AND Rachael.

He is crazy about Micky Mouse in all forms.

He asks us about Disneyland all the time.

He loves tunnels. We tell him that the underpasses on the freeway are tunnels too.

He knows all his shapes and colors, and we are working on numbers and letters.

His eyes are a gorgeous blue and his hair is turning less "dirty blond" and more brown.

He sings ALL the time. (I love it.) Usually to the tunes of "Jingle Bells" and "Twinkle, Twinkle".

He's not even close to being potty-trained.

He loves to eat rice, beans, tortillas, chicken-nuggets, chips and salsa, noodles, cereal, and chocolate milk.

He loves screwdrivers and batteries.

His laugh is contagious.

He always comes to Blaine's side of the bed in the morning.

He is usually very polite. (Something I'm always trying to work on.)

He loves his "star blanket" so much that I made up a song for it:

...

Star blanket, star blanket, blue and white

I love to hold you and squeeze you tight

You're with me when Mommy turns out the light

Star blanket, star blanket, say "goodnight".

{Check out the pancake syrup on his face.}

Jen and Van's Shower

Markelle and I jumped at the chance to help Jen's sister, Jamie throw a baby shower for little Van.

Good food, good company, and a lot of presents make for a great time.

Now, if Van could just get here already... :)

Jamie and Janet (Jen's sis and Mom) made this darling diaper cake.

And, Markelle made these killer pom-poms.

The spread: Cafe Rio salads and chips and salsa.

Markelle and Chris. Aren't they pretty?

Jamie.

Jen's sister-in-law, Ashley and mom, Janet.

Michelle and Ben.

Mommy.

Lauren and Marcie.

Carly, baby Molly, Anna, and Molly (the original).

Megan, Markelle, and Michelle.

This is our mother-in-law, Chris telling me not to take her picture. I can't help it, though. She is too good-looking.

Judy.

You would believe the amount of presents... Seriously, Jen--SCORE!

Three cheers for Mexican Coke!