Future golf pro Braydon

Craig has taken Braydon golfing after school at least once a week.  Craig is handing down his golf skills :)  They have a great time, often they run into our friends the Cascianis and Northwoods (Braydon's friends Molly and Julia) at the 19th hole.

Braydon's favorite part is getting a root beer and chips afterwards.

Lake Tahoe Fall trip for Jessica's 40th!

Our good family friend Jessica was turning 40 so they decided to celebrate by renting a beautiful house in Dollar Point to have the party.  Jessica, John and their four boys stayed at this beautiful house, Mimi, Grampy, Wee Wee, Dylan and the McNultys all stayed at a house a block down on the beach and the Greene's and us stayed at a cabin in Tahoe City.

The kids and I flew in early Thursday morning, Siena did a lot better this plane ride but still a little high maintenance.  When we took off there was a beautiful blanket of puffy white clouds under us.  The kids thought that was the most amazing thing ever.  Siena kept yelling "Whooaaaa!"  and Braydon was doing the same.  The weather was beautiful when we landed so we went to the Farmers Market at Commons Beach with Mimi and Grampy and played on the playground and on the beach throwing rocks into the lake.  That afternoon we hung out on the beach at the Dollar Point house, riding on Grampy's kayaks and playing in the sand and water.  It was a great day!  That night the kids and I snuggled up to a movie by the fire at our cabin, it was perfect!

On Friday the sun was shining again so we went back to the beach at the house and hung out there.  We played on the beach and in the water, it was a great time!  That night all the adults went to Sunny side for dinner.

Saturday we woke up and it was hailing!  The weather turned so quickly!  We went to Bridgetender for burgers and then the Gatekeepers museum to see the Bear exhibit.  That early evening was the big party!  It was so much fun!  They had a play room for the kids and a movie theatre room with popcorn. A delicious dinner and dancing after.  Siena was the dancing hit, she took center stage and danced herslef away all night.  Grampy said she dances like Gangham style :)

On Sunday we had a late flight out so we all went to the Greenes for a BBQ.  It was a great weekend!

Siena's first favorite movie

Siena has NEVER been interested in any sort of television show or movie but for some reason "The Cat in the Hat" movie with Mike Myers has made her a couch potato.  She is obsessed and gets mad if there is anything playing on the TV other than her movie.  Each morning she comes downstairs, grabs the remote, points it to the TV and yells a bunch of incomprehensible words that are supposed to make out "turn on Cat in the Hat".  When I put it on she claps and yells "wooooo" and then sits on the couch or ottoman and attentively watches the movie, pointing and laughing.

Family 'S'mores night and Labor Day weekend

We had a great summer weekend at home.  We went to Braydon's friend Sophia's pool, Grandma and Grandmas for a pool day and hung out in our backyard.  We had a 'S'Mores night which Braydon was over the moon happy about.  The kids are starting to play so well together, Siena follows Bray around everywhere.

Braydon's 1st day of Preschool

Braydon has officially started Preschool.  He is going to North Coast Calvary on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  It's a great school, they have a huge playground with a beach and pirate ship.  They do chapel every Thursday and Stretch and Grow which is a program to keep kids active.  His good friend Zoe is in his class.  He loves it!

Family vacation at Terranea Resort and our 5th Wedding Anniversary

We decided to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary as a family at the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes.  It was a very memorable weekend, we had such a great time.  The resort is situated on a cliff above the ocean with beautiful panoramic views.  We saw schools of Dolphins and a whale.  There was a family pool with a water slide, beach and water play.  The Smiths came to visit us as well as the Polhemous Family.  We spent each day out at the pool playing.  Braydon and Connor found a big grassy hill that they rolled down over and over, Siena attempted to join them :)  The first night we went to dinner at a restaurant called Nelsons where a live band played and we watched the sunset over the water.  They gave the kids instruments to play along with the band.  Then Craig and I sat on the patio with a glass of wine and watched the full moon reflect over the ocean, it was unforgettable.  The next day we threw rocks on the beach, and spent the day at the pool until around 5pm.  Then we had dinner at the Catalina Kitchen in our pool clothes with the Smiths.  We ended the night on our patio again.

I love our family and have enjoyed the past 5 years of wedded bliss.  Craig is a perfect husband and father and we have the best time together and with our funny kids.

Braydon's first crush

Braydon has had an obsession with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lately.  He has all four costumes from Toys r Us and he studies the paper that came with each costume saying all their names.  We were driving and he said "Mommy, I want to marry April"  I said okay buddy, you like her?  He said "Yeah, but where do I find her?  She only knows the Ninja Turtles"  

A few days past and we had the following conversation

Braydon:  Mom what day is it?
Me:  Wednesday, why?
Braydon:  When will it be Friday?
Me:  Tomorrow is Thursday and after that is Friday, why?
Braydon:  Because I'm going to marry April on Friday.
Me:  Oh really?  That's great honey!
Braydon:  Yeah and I want all the Ninja Turtles to watch us get married.  And Mom, can she live with us after?