Simi Valley, California June 24-28

TOMMY'S

We can't go to Simi and not get Tommy's. We crave this food daily here. It's a good thing we don't live there or we would be broke and really be eating 10 x the calories a person is normally suppose to eat per day in 1 meal... Oh I need more! I think we had Tommy's 4 times while we were there. You can never eat too much Tommy's. Did I mention Tommy's yet? MMMMmmmmmmmm! 

 There was a park just down the road from Derek's grandparent's house that we walked to. Derek found Elara this huge leaf and she totally loved it! We kept it until it finally fell apart. It was a sad day after that.

 Nana the Great with Kael and Eden.

 Papa Pat with Kael and Eden.

 These kiddos sure love their great grandparents! We sure had a blast staying with them for almost a whole week. They would follow Papa Pat around wherever he went and honestly I don't think he ever got sick of them. I think Eden has a special bond too. She would curl right up on Papa Pat's lap and be so happy and content there. They were instant buddies. This trip was much needed and we loved seeing all of the Aunt's and Uncle's and cousins. We were spoiled with beach trips and food and love by all of Derek's family. We feel so blessed to be numbered among the Pinkston family. I couldn't have married into a better family. 

 Meet Igor, the newest member of our family. He has traveled all the way from the grandparent's back yard to come stay at our home and amazingly he is still alive and eating the worms we feed him. Kael and Eden LOVE Igor. 

 The kids and I got to go to the beach twice this trip and I have to say I have fallen in love. I used to not love it so much because of the sand and salty water... Everything that makes up a beach. However, this trip, I embraced it and we played and we LOVED it. I can't wait for our next trip. I'm an official beach lover and want to get out there and boogie board or learn to surf as soon as I can!

 Derek caught Kael a crab after getting pinched a ton. Funny story. Derek and Kael took off to go play and I was watching Eden and Elara. Our big beach umbrella fell over and it was big. Meanwhile it knocked the bucket holding the crab over. I was scrambling for the umbrella that fell on some ladies and noticed the crab gone. I couldn't find it ANYWHERE. I was terrified it was going to get Elara. All of a sudden a group of people that were sun tanning near us started jumping up and screaming. I guess I found the crab! HAHAHA I grabbed the bucket, caught the stupid thing and apologized profusely! It sure made a good laugh for all of us. Thankfully the people laughed and weren't mad. Stupid crab. 

 Simi part two will come later once I get the pictures off my phone. Included will be Eden being Eve in the garden of Eden. She ran out naked from the bath tub to the entire family gathered in the living room to say a naked good night unbeknownst to me... mmm hmmm... And our first beach trip.

SIMI PART 2: 1ST BEACH TRIP

 Kael and Davis

 Eden and Heidi

 Pretty Elara

Al the kiddos piled on Davis!

We had so much fun going to the beach with Julie, Davis, Heidi, and another member family. The kids had a blast and Davis and Heidi were such good sports playing with the kids. I miss Simi already. I miss the people in Simi even more.

Picnic and Ducks

Family time is the best! We don't get that many opportunities to just go out and do something all 5 of us, but when it happens, we sure have a great time! Derek came up with a HUGE picnic feast. We got some popcorn to feed the ducks and broke out the blanket Grandma Heaton gave us for Christmas. These moments are when I know we can make it through medical school and whatever else life throws at us. These moments are the best! I LOVE my family!

Dad Date

Derek took Kael and Eden out for ice cream so that I could get a couple things done. We are trying really hard to make a conscious effort into spending more time with the kids one on one. We are going to try to do individual dates with each kid and make them each feel special. These two crack me up. I don't know how it is possible, but we love our kids more and more each day. They are turning into little people and changing before our eyes. I'm just going to enjoy each day with them. They give us so much joy. And how could they not with these silly faces?!

Sharice's Birthday Cupcakes and Flowers

We are silly like that. It wouldn't be a birthday without a treat. I made paleo chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting! LOVE THEM. I'm falling in love with almond flour and all things gluten free. No allergies, but cutting out white flour out of our diet and processed sugars is invigorating! We are trying to be more healthy and it is just as fun to make healthy cupcakes. These were make with no white sugar. Cocoa powder, almond flour, coconut oil, honey and a couple other things. They tasted so good the kids even ate them! Yup. We are cool like that! The kids got lots of practice blowing out candles and now Kael is officially ready to blow out candles for when it is FINALLY his birthday. 

And it just wouldn't be my birthday if my sweet love didn't surprise me with flowers! He sure loves me and I sure am lucky to have him!

Eden Started Dance Class

This adorable princess started her first ever class of some sort. It fits her personality that it is a dance class. She usually wears a tutu with this outfit. This was taken on her first class at the beginning of June. She LOVES Miss Jackie and she LOVES to dance!!! It makes me smile seeing her twirl around and how happy it makes her. I think Eden is definitely going to be a dancer. It makes me excited to see how grown up she is. I can't believe my little girl is a little GIRL!  You make your Mama proud Eden. Keep dancing like no one is watching for the rest of your life! You are so beautiful and I love you!

Hair cut time

July 2013

It was time. Love me some handle bars for sure. I think he wore them a full day or two before shaving them. Getting ready to look like the air force part in another month or so.

Kael hasn't had his hair this short in a while either.  Love these two boys!

June 16, 2013 Father's Day and A Birthday

This is what the kids and I did for Derek for Father's Day. I got them framed and on the wall already! I totally love costco. I don't really love all the people who shop at costco and give me grief! A man literally cut in line in front of me while I was holding Elara and had the other 2 kids. Did you really need your hot dog that bad mister?! Another lady complained about where I was putting my shopping cart while I kindly told her about my 3 screaming children in the car to which she replied, "Oh." Ya, give me a break people, I'm not out to get you! Back to Father's Day. I tried so hard to surprise Derek, but I am the world's worst liar... I don't think I've surprised him with anything. Ever. Kael was giggling and acting silly when I told him it was a secret and me trying to keep Kael from being silly made Derek catch on. Then, Derek was studying in the back while the kids were bathing and I had the baby and was looking at photos trying to pick which ones to print and then one of the kids needed something so I went into the bathroom and didn't turn the screen off thinking Derek was locked in the back, but it was right then he decided to take a break and get a snack. I came in and the screen was off. Ya, he totally saw the whole thing. I blew it again. He was a good sport and let the kids surprise him still.

I think that is the best about celebrations now is how excited the kids get. They love seeing us act surprised and happy about the little things they do for us. Kael and Eden also painted a picture and made a card for Derek. I totally love any reason to celebrate.

Derek of course spoiled me rotten for my birthday. We had the day planned and it was perfect. Since it was Sunday Derek made his own Father's Day meal and my birthday meal. We had homemade Hawaiian food. Pork, teriyaki beef, noodles and grilled pineapple. I made some chocolate cupcakes and the kids got to blow out the candles. Derek somehow got flowers on Saturday and surprised me Sunday morning. How can he hide flowers and surprise me and I can't even do one thing! It was so fun spending the whole day with Derek and the kids. I just love being with my little family so much. Here is to another great year. 

I totally love Elara's fist pump. "I totally got this down Mom!" 

New Bike

It was way past time for Kael to get a new bike. Another great walmart purchase. Hoping this one last a while. He can barely touch the ground with the seat on the lowest setting. He was so excited for his "new" bike. It was so nice to buy something new from a store. I'm glad he learned on a $10 KSL deal and a free KSL deal. It really got us threw. And I felt like learning to ride on a cheap bike was worth it that he really has earned this bike. He really outgrew his little 12 inch bike. He tried to ride fast, but it just couldn't. It was so funny. His little legs would peddle as fast as they could. It now scares me seeing how fast he can go. So proud of this kid. He is growing up way too fast. I just know I'm going to blink my eyes and the next two months will be gone and he will be 5! Slow down time. Just slow down.

Oh and can you tell what his favorite color is??? ;)

Let's Go Fly A Kite

We got $1 kites from walmart and flew them the other day. It was mostly frustrating, but the kids loved it! At the very end we finally got Kael's all the way up and staying up for like 5 minutes! Not bad walmart. Not bad. Can't beat $1 fun.

Kael's Last Day of Preschool

Bittersweet moment. Kael's last day of preschool was May 30th. It has been so hard to get him to and from preschool since October with Elara and Eden in tow. I had to sign him in and out of his classroom and couldn't leave any kids in the car. I can remember lugging newborn Eden in her carseat and Eden about 2 weeks after my c-section and wanting to cry from lifting the car seat and carrying it so far. We've all come a long way and I would do it again. Kael learned so much that I just couldn't teach him. Mostly people skills and interacting with other kids that is going to help him in kindergarten. His teacher's name was Ms. Shawn and her assitant was Miss Danielle. They were so awesome and helped him so much. For memories sake his two buddies in class were Avery and Joshua. I am so sad that they won't be going to the same kindergarten because they were such nice boys who played so well with Kael. We would be coming to get Kael and see Avery in the hallway leaving and he would yell, "Dad wait, I have to tell Kael his Mom is coming!". It was too cute. I hope he can make many more sweet friends over the years especially with how much we will be moving. And I can only hope his teachers work just as well and care about him as much as these teachers. I was so against putting Kael in preschool for so long. I wanted to have him to myself until kindergarten, but looking back, I'm so glad he had this experience.

Love you Buddy!!!! You are so smart and I'm so proud of you! Keep wanting to learn and grow and be your sweet self!

PS: Don't mind the sugary drink all over his face that he had for snack time...

Sisters

A sweet lady in my ward has two girls a little older than Eden and Elara and gave me these cute outfits for the girls to match. I was excited! I've been waiting forever to put them in matching outfits. I love these two girls so much!

A Saturday with Dad

 We had a big family day when Derek was done with his family medicine rotation. We spent a whole day playing with Dad and it was so much fun. We started out the morning going to Planet Play and used our pass of all passes. We did mini bowling which was perfect for the kids because they could hold the ball and roll it. We did some mini golf. Really hard for the kids attention. Then Derek took Kael to play some laser tag. Then he took both kids on the fast go carts. It was a fun morning for sure. Both kids had a blast and didn't want to leave.

 For the afternoon we went to the village apartments end of year party. They had an awesome obstacle course that both kids did completely on their own. I wish the line wasn't so long because they were awesome. I was so shocked to see that Eden climbed a rope all the way to the top and slid down all by herself. They had snow cones and pizza. They had reptiles you could touch. Kael wanted to hold them so bad, and the guy was nice and let Kael get a picture with one even though I'm pretty sure Kael wasn't suppose to hold him that much. I love how much my kids love animals and science and experiencing new things. I hope they keep this love over the years.

Eden Has Been Singing...

Eden has been singing a lot lately. It is the cutest thing really. The other day driving home I hear, "Jesus Love ME, and Kael, Elara, Mommy, annnnnnd Daddy.

Melted my heart a little and not just because it's so hot.

She crawls

Elara officially has picked up crawling on all fours today. She still does the worm when she gets tired, but the reality is that she can crawl across the entire living room on all fours. It is a bitter sweet moment. I'm so happy for her, but so sad this has come so soon. My 8 month old little girl needs to slow down, or better yet, let's just slow down time for a bit. Ok world. Is that too much to ask?!