Sleeping Soundly

The post-church Sunday naps just seemed too sweet today not to photograph. 

Too bad we have that awful 1:30-4:30 time slot now and this was just a fluke.  Heaven help us make it through this year! ;)

 I love the hands tucked under her cheek - so sweet!

If that isn't the cutest little stink-bug you've ever seen, I don't know what is!

Annual Super Bowl Party

Our friends, the Parkins host an annual super bowl party that we look forward to every year.  This year certainly lived up to the hype (well, all except the game itself, that is!).

 Brad with Scott and Skylar enjoying the game...well, trying to at least! ;)

 They have a great playroom right next to the family room, so the kids were all in heaven and running around like crazy the whole time.  Libby thought it is was pretty fun to be a bridge over the slide.

 This is only half the kids that were there - yeah, it was pretty loud.  Someone was commenting how the commercials just aren't quite what they used to be, but then we all thought, "well, maybe they are, we just can't hear them, so who knows?!?"

 Melinda and Scott with quite the spread.  And this was AFTER we ate the majority of it!

 Scott even provided some extra entertainment this year by setting off fireworks after the Seahawks demolished the Broncos.

The picture says it all - those were some seriously exhausted girls by the end of a great night.  Can't wait to do it all again next year!

Visitors from St. Louis

One of my good friends since kindergarten, Julie came into town from St. Louis, so we got the kids together at the park and then had dinner at our house afterwards.  It was super fun and always so good to see them!

 Libby hamming it up with Julie and baby Iko.

 Lexi and Andi giving loves.

 Libby wanted in on the action, too, while Dimitri looked on.

Such a fun visit!  Thanks for coming, Sideriadis'...and for getting us super pumped on planning a trip to St. Louis.  I've never been to the Midwest and I hope we get to come check it out soon! 

Finals Week Fun

Finals week is a heaven-sent for teachers!  We work so hard all semester long and then it's up to the students.  So, as we like to say, "Test and rest, baby; test and rest!"  But, even better than that - Finals Week means 3 minimum days in a row!  Woo-hoo!  More time to spend with my girls! ;)

 As you might have guessed...first stop was the beach!  The last week in January and we're still running around in our bathing suits!

Though lots of sand castles are built, none manage to survive more than a few seconds with these two "destroyers" around.  But they sure do love it! 

 We didn't quite have it ALL to ourselves, but it was pretty close!

 Chasing seagulls was a favorite pastime.

 We found more starfish and sea urchins to touch.

 But nothing tops the sea anemones - the girls LOVE touching them!

 Have I told you lately how much I love this girl???!!!

 Libby found her own little tide pool that was just her size....and she was crazy enough to jump in it!  Brrrrr!!!

Sand jumping has also become a big draw for the girls and Libby was a jumping queen.

Yep, so far I'd say I'm loving Finals Week!  It did not disappoint! :)

The End of an Era

As they say, "All good things must come to an end," and so it is with Disneyland passes.  Booo!  Ours expired on Friday and it was a sad day for us.  But, not too sad, because we got in some of the best Disneyland experiences yet on our last day.

 It started off with a bang!  Ariel, Aurora, and Cinderella were all right there at the entrance as we walked in, ready and waiting to greet us.  Lexi LOVES Ariel (and calls her "Ari"), so we had to see her first.

 Then it was on to Aurora.  Is this pink paradise, or what!?!

 But the most amazing thing was after she chatted with the girls for a bit, she asked if they'd like to walk with her.  Of course, they were more than happy to oblige!

 They got to parade down Main Street with her like no kids I've ever seen before!  It was AMAZING!  Truly, it IS the happiest place on earth!

 One last hug for their best buddy in Princess Paradise!  It was a sight to behold!

 After all that princess-ing, Libby was ready for more, so we headed to Fantasy Land where they got to meet another Ariel....

and another Aurora!  Wow!

 Grammy and Libby on the carousel.

 The fair maiden on her trusty steed!

 We're so grateful Grammy got passes with us!  What great memories!

 Then Brad arrived and we got to take Libby on some "real" rides!  She just reached the 40" mark, making her tall enough for rides like Star Tours, Soaring Over California, and ...you guessed it...Tower of Terror!  Our little princess in line for the "terror" - oh no!!!

 After it was over Libby just said, "Mommy!  I was so frightened!"  but she never screamed, squeezed my hand, or ever indicated she didn't thoroughly enjoy it.  What a champ! 

Proof that she did it!  The face says it all - not overly thrilled, but not hating it either.  She didn't want a second go-around on that one, but couldn't wait to go on Soarin' one more time!

Well, Disneyland, it's been real!  We bid thee adieu with the fondest of feelings.  We've LOVED it and certainly felt like we got our money's worth!  Memories to last a lifetime...and some very happy (and tired!) little girls!

Biking Bliss

Libby got a new helmet from Santa and was so super excited to put it on.

 All set and ready to cruise!

 This picture of Lexi was just too funny not to include!  I love the belly-shirt she's sporting!  I swear, that girl and her gut - what to do????

 And she's off!  Like a herd of turtles, mostly, but still, she's doing it!  All by herself and so proud of her accomplishments!  Yay for Libby!

Garage fun

The post-Christmas garage re-organizing turned out to be a huge hit with the girls.  Brad....not so much!  Amazing what some leis and glasses will do for kids!

 If that doesn't scream COOL, I don't know what does!

 Style epitomized!