LIVING & LOVING LIFE!

Mila and her Fairy house.

Celebrating their victory with a snowball

I have been the one to take out Mila's first two loose teeth. I tried with this one but it just wouldn't come out for me. She was starting to get frustrated and didn't want to try anymore but we were able to bribe her with a snowball. I know, real healthy for teeth. Anyway, the bribe worked and she let Brian flick it out. I'm glad he was able to get it in one shot. If it wasn't hurting her so much to stay in I would have had her wait, but it was going to be uncomfortable either way. She was very excited once it popped out and wrote her note to the Tooth Fairy right away.

The bunny was a little heavy on the footprints...

He made a real mess in Ivan's room

The kids getting ready for the big hunt

Ivan with his loot

Mila already counting her eggs

The kid enjoying some Easter Wii with Grams

Brian calling it a day after a big Easter dinner.

Although the weather was really horrible AGAIN we made the best of it by hunting indoors. I guess it's all the kids have ever known but I can't stand it! I would love for them to enjoy at least one beautiful Easter Sunday outside. We had fun anyways and enjoyed our time together as family.

Enjoying the beautiful weather

Oregon is known for its rain and this year is no exception! Amazingly, we actually had a break from the rain and the kids were able to decorate eggs and play outside. Wish it was like this every year!

That yellow smudge was on my camera lens.

These were the 4 wall colors I sampled. We chose the top left.

The only big project left is painting her dresser a shiny black

It took me FOREVER to post these pictures. I have her "old" bedroom in my front dining room waiting to go on craigslist, but I'm glad that this project is almost over. I still have to finish her dresser, but I am waiting until the weather gets a little warmer so I can paint with my garage door open. I also have to order her new sheets and comforter. Once that is done the room will look complete. So close yet so far....

The dunes are steep! Every day the kids wanted to come and play extreme hill running.

Ivan was keeping warm while wearing the scarf I knitted!!! My first knitting project:)

The kids loved to squish the sea anemones!

Shell collecting and inspecting the muscles that were anchored really tight on the rocks.

Ivan swinging on the rope swing. You can't see me but I am yelling "DON'T LET GO!"

Mila swinging on the rope swing. I was also yelling at her not to let go!

Jo's condo is right on the beach so we could sit inside and knit while the kids played on the dunes.

I had to take a picture of the boys working together to get the beach toys over to the play area.

Great teamwork!!!

Our family tradition is to go to Bruce's Candy Kitchen and get wax pop bottles. Yummy!!!

Playing on the playground at the Cannon Beach Elementary School.

Going crazy in the pool!

Ivan rocks water bball:)

We had the best spring break at Cannon Beach with the Riggs family. They generously invited us to spend the week with them at their condo. Unfortunately the husbands couldn't join us but we made the best of it:) I think the kids would have spent all day every day in the pool but luckily the weather worked with us. We had many sunny moments and were able to ride scooters into town to hit the knitting shop and the Candy Kitchen. We were also able to spend a lot of time in the sand, running up and down the dunes and playing outdoors. Jo showed me the glory of the Vitamix blender and helped me finish knitting Ivan's scarf. We relaxed a little and had a lot of fun!

This March we had to say goodbye to our two little guinea pigs. Unfortunately the kids are just too young to take care of them properly and I have done it for the past 10 months and can't do it anymore. They also cost a FORTUNE to take care of! Who knew bedding, food and hay could add up so quickly. This was the saddest day ever and I am probably the worst mother ever but I think it will be better for our family. Here are the sad pictures of the kids saying good bye. I dropped them off by myself and cried like a baby?!?! I have probably scarred my children for life:(

We ended the year with 2 birthday parties and started the year with a baptism. 2 weeks later we celebrated my grandmother's 80th birthday with a big dinner party. 2 weeks after that was my sister's birthday and then baby shower and then it was Brian's 34th birthday on the 22nd.

On top of that I have been pretty busy with PTA at the kid's school. Mila also has Girl Scouts and Activity Days through our church. I am also still mourning the loss of my wonderful phone and have not quite formed a working relationship with my new one:( I feel out of touch with the world.

I have also completely redecorated Mila's bedroom. I am almost finished and then I will put up before and after pictures.