My B-day

Friday was my 31st birthday and it turned out to be the most gorgeous day outside, what a gift all in itself. My friend Jenna (Emily, my sis in law's sister) made lunch for the kids and we all had a picnic lunch at the beach at Gene Coulon. It was so much fun to watch Emilio and Gabi play in the sandy water and dig to thier hearts content on the beach. I had a nice time visiting with Jenna and was really thankful for the nice b-day lunch she had made us. Side note:I feel quilty she went to all that work now though, it turns out her bag of waters had ruptured that morning, but she wasn't sure about it. She went into labor that evening and had her baby early the next morning. There is something about hanging out with me and then having a baby, same thing happened to Emily. She spent the day with me and her water broke the same night, wierd. Anyway, we all had fun at the beach and now Jenna has a beautiful baby girl named Kaitlyn! Please keep her in your prayers as she was tested postive for the Group B strep and was infected and is in the NICU with a good progonosis, but a week stay in the hospital.
Skipping on the beach!

Sandy buddies
Gabi working her two piece!

For dinner on my birthday evening we met Michael, Emily and the kids at Red Robin (easiest, quickest place for food with four little ones). We had a great time hanging out altogether and the kids thought it was fun when the restaurant staff made a big deal about Mommy's birthday. They also liking digging into the ice cream sundae!



After dinner we visited at our place until Mom and Dad got in from Portland. What a nice birthday I had. Thank you to everyone who sent me warm wishes!

Mariners and Mothers

After church on Mother's Day we took the kids into downtown Seattle for a Seattle Mariners/Chicago White Sox game at Safeco Field. We had a good time at the ballgame, although I wouldn't say it was relaxing with the potty breaks, need for more snacks, and inability to sit still. The kids were so happy with their hot dogs, cracker jacks and cotton candy snacks, loved watching all the people (especially the vendors that walk through the stands), and boogying to the music over the loud speaker. We learned our lesson with Emilio though and will never get him cotton candy again! He got a sugar high and was obnoxious, even gathering popcorn (that wasn't ours!) from the floor and eatting it! Goodness, are kids humbling or what? It was a fun new experience though and I think they will grow into it more and more.
It was also cool to recognize some of the White Sox players that we rooted for when they won the World Series a few years ago.




Obviously someone didn't want to be in the picture.

Autumn Avery

We just became an Aunt and an Uncle again and the kids have a new cousin! Their Aunt Jennette (John's sister) delivered a baby girl via c-section at 1:01a.m. in Des Moines, IA. After a long and difficult labor, Jennette and baby are recovering well. Autumn Avery weighed 8 lbs. 13 ozs and is 22 inches long with a head full of hair. Thank you Lord for a healthy baby and mommy. Happy 1st Mother's Day Jennette! Congratulations to you and Nathan.

Party at the Park

Our time at Gene Coulon Park was fun this morning, although a little cold and windy. I was very impressed that all the moms followed through and brought their little ones to help Gabi celebrate. Gabi had a good time, especially when we finally sung her "Happy Birthday" and she got to eat her cupcake cone. She was reminding throughout our time at the park about it. She really basked in the celebration when we were singing to her too, smiling the whole time like she was a princess! (unlike her brother who both screamed and growled at his guests when we sung to him at his last birthday). Anyway, it was a very nice time with all her little buddies. Thanks Ingrid, Anders, Marco, Eloisa, Christian, Mia, Cooper, Cannon, Will, Logan, Aizlinn, and Emilio for making Gabi's day super special.

The Birthday Girl
Emilio and Will
Aizlinn
Amy, Anders and Ingrid
Marco
Logan, Susanne, Cooper and Cannon
Say Cheese!
Yummy to my Tummy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Gabi Joy!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our beautiful girl, Gabriela Joy today!
Today we are heading to Gene Coulon Park to meet a group of Emilio and Gabi's friends for lunch, play, and cupcakes (check them out here)
I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post them later. The park playdate today is an informal birthday gathering for Gabi (no presents, just fun with friends). I figured we'd celebrate formally next weekend along with my b-day with family.

What happened to my baby?

Tomorrow is Gabi's 2nd birthday. I really can't believe that she will officially be a little girl. It has been obvious that she has been changing. She started in about two months ago saying, "I do it," whenever I tried to lend her a hand. While I was gone in SC in March I came home to find that my mom and sister in law had potty trained her (believe me, I didn't mind, I am eternally grateful). And boy, does she look darling in her big girl princess, Dora, Hello Kitty underpants (you see, she still has the baby chubs and so the underpants look ridiculously cute on her). She's been speaking in full sentences and expressing herself so well. And ah, the little 2 year old tantrums, yes, she has started having those as well. So yes, the signs have all been there, but I'm still baffled about how the time flies.

Gabriela Joy is a blessing from God. She is a snuggle bug, a girly girl, stubborn, sensitive, an independent player, artistic, and gosh darn pretty (but I'm her mom.... smile).

Here is walk down memory lane.

Wiggle Worship

Last Friday we went to church for Wiggle Worship. The 2's and 3's classes performed songs and then there was a Family Fun night with bouncy houses and treats afterwards. Emilio was up the night before worrying about the performance and telling me that he was too embarassed to sing, but that he wanted to go on the bouncy houses afterwards and eat a hotdog. I told him he wouldn't get to do those fun things without performing (what a mean mom right?).

We got him dressed up in a plaid shirt and jeans with a bandana around his neck (he was supposed to wear Western gear, the theme I guess). He decided to forego the bandana because he was worried the other kids really weren't going to dress up. The whole car ride over to the church he talked about how he was nervous. I reminded him that he would be singing with all his classmates and teachers, not doing a solo.

Once the children started walking on stage we could tell Emilio was reluctant to go....one of the helpers had to practically drag him on and stay by his side the whole time. He got excited when he saw his Daddy and very quietly sang the first song. He saw Gabi and I in the audience before the second song and gave us a big smile and then gave his notorious pouty face, but he joined in once they started, "My God is so great." He did a nice job, no yelling, screaming, growling at others. I was impressed and proud of him for doing it despite his feelings of embarrasment. I knew he could do it since he's a kid who loves to be the center of attention when it is his idea! I asked him how he thought things went afterwards and he said, "I didn't like being a cowboy." He did enjoy the bouncy houses, hotdogs, chips, juice and popcorn afterwards though! So did Gabi!

I have a video of the performance, but I haven't been able to figure out how to get that on here yet. I'll take some tips if fellow blogger friends have them on that!