the bates motel

every year i always say "next year i will do a christmas card". well this year was no different, but we were close. if i would of got on the ball a little quicker we could of had a card to send. next year for sure!! as always it's interesting trying to get 4 kids to look and be cute all at the same time. for the first pics cash was only happy w/ the stuffed penguin in the pics, and then later he was crying, so we gave in and gave him a bottle. cash is normally a good little biscuit, but lately lots of his tears are being captured on film!!

one of my favorite things about the christmas season is going to pick out the tree!  we have been going to home depot the past couple years and have been happy w/ our trees!  this year was a pretty nice night as you can see no one has a coat on!  after that we came home and had some hot cocoa and watched frosty the snowman.  then when the kids go to bed we put on the lights and i finish putting the ornaments on the next day.  one year i'll get a fake one and the kids can have their own tree to decorate :).  sometimes i'm too anal.

after months of a loose tooth, brennan was finally able to convince savanna to pull it out!  wrapped the string around and out it came w/ the lots of pre tears it ended up being really dramatic, but when she finally pulled it out, she didn't even peek!  she said "that didn't hurt".  then after we noticed the one right next to it was pretty close, she freaked out and said not yet.  oh boy how quickly they forget!!

the older the kids get the more fun halloween is.  we always love going to the ward trunk or treat.  grandma took them all (minus cash) to go see frankenweenie, so they were in the halloween spirit early!  as always a night w/ friends and ward members was a good time.

we went to mexico a couple years ago and had so much fun.  but the next year cash was just a baby, so we decided to not go.  so this year we looked into our little hook up and were able to stay at this amazing house right on the water!  the first time we went i was kind of nervous to go, but this year i was ready and so excited.  gav keeps saying he "i don't want to live in az, i wanna live in mexico".  we had a great time and the weather was warm w/ beautiful sunsets.  we played games, watched movies, played in the water, and checked out the tide pools.  hope to go again next year!

once school starts the summer actually starts to go by fast.  i know it's not original to complain about how hot az is, but it really is, so when school is in and we have our normal routine it goes by a lot faster (which is good).  i got to sneak away and go to pajaro dunes w/ just cash and had a blast!  and then came back and celebrated bren's bday.  sad no pics.  i've recommitted to being a better pic taker!!  anyway, gavin turned 3 and is such a loveable, crazy, wild, monster.  he is so fun and full of life!  we are so happy he is in our family!

gavin is going to the same pre school that carter and savvy both went to for the past 4 years!  i am a fan of tradition, so it's nice to have someone we know and love.  we love mrs. stacey and hope for a great year for our gavin boy!  he goes from 1045-115 and gets to bring his lunch and loves going to school!  he says he's 5 all the time and wants to go to kindergarten.  funny kid!

it's crazy to me that our kids start school in july, but being in the chandler district and being on a modified yr round schedule that's how it works.  even tho it's kinda sad, it's so flippin hot it's almost nice that they can be busy w/ a school schedule.  carter started the new cta program in 2nd grade with mrs. murphy and savanna started regular kindergarten w/ carter's old teacher mrs. douglas.  we love both their teachers and are hoping for a great year!!

since brennan and i went to maui for a week, we were only able to make one trip to ca for this hot summer we deal w/ in az, but we made every day we were there count!!  we know how to live it up!  lots of beach, beach club, pool, and mission lake!  and tons of playing and cousin time!!