First Hair Cut!

This the first hair cut for either of our kids.  Clara's hair has been allowed to grow out on its own in an uneven and crazy way.  We were heading that direction with Coleton, he was looking more than a bit shaggy, and Jordan decided it was enough, his hair needed to be cleaned up.  I was against it at first, I just knew he was going to lose is baby-ness with his curls.  And I was fighting back some tears when I saw the final result.  I missed his curls, and he looks so so so much older, so sad!  But now I can say that it is growing on me, I love how his hair isn't constantly in his face, and I love my big grown up looking boy.  He is too sweet for words...

Promotion Party!

Jordan recently promoted at work, he is an Engineer now!  He has every little boy's dream job of driving the Fire Engine, and he loves it.  We had a promotion party for him over the weekend and friends, family and coworkers came to help us celebrate.  We had shooting, barbecue, bonfire, smore's, home made ice cream, slack line, horseshoes, popcorn, and a movie..  Everyone had a blast, and although it was a lot of work, it was definitely worth it.

Jordan, we are so proud of you, you work so hard for our family and we appreciate you so much, congratulations!

I love camping.  I love the bonfires, smores, great food, playing games, and spending time with family.  We made this trip into a little birthday celebration.  My family came down for the first day, we dropped our new tent trailer off at our camp site in Carlsbad, then headed up to the timeshare to spend the day.  We played in the water, all three of the kids face planted into the waves at different times...ooops!  Went to dinner at Norte, a great Mexican restaurant right on the grounds of Carlsbad Inn.  I opened my wonderful presents which included an ice cream maker, and Jordan immediately whipped up a batch of delicious vanilla ice cream to go with my mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies.  We went back to our camp for the night, and Debbie and Brian stayed with us and hung out the next day.  Matt & Jeannine came down early afternoon and camped with us that night, they are our wonderful camping buddies, and no, three little ones in a tent trailer doesn't equal much sleep ;) but it is all worth it in the end.  This phase of life is not restful, it is crazy and chaotic at times, but we are trying to soak it all in and enjoy this time with our little kiddos.  Clara slept in a regular bed in the trailer, which was her first time, and she loved it.  It was crazy how she would just wake up after a nap, and open the door and come out all by herself, wow she is growing up fast.  Coleton ended up sleeping with us both nights, and he is actually really good at it, that boy can cuddle, and I loved it!  The first night back, when I didn't let him sleep with us, I could tell he was bummed, he thought that was going to be the norm...soorry.

My sister's in-laws were visiting from Massachusetts.

Love her beach curls :)

Skate boarding with daddy was a favorite pastime.

Yummy BBQ dinner, Brats with peppers & onions.

Roasting marshmallows!

I turned another year older, 28 years old and I think I feel a little bit wiser ;) but seriously, I do feel like I have been learning a lot.  Learning about being content, and putting your all into what you're doing, like being a homemaker and a mother.  It was a wonderful birthday, and here's to a wonderful year!

Coleton's 1st Birthday!

We had a little Birthday BBQ for Coleton on Sunday...his actual birthday was Friday, the 20th.  It was so fun celebrating this sweet little guy.  He really has been the best baby, and now he is moving on into toddler hood!  He is walking all over the place with a little assistance, and as long as he has a finger to hold onto he is content, and would walk forever!  He even took his first little steps on his own at his party!  He is losing his baby chub way faster than I would like, and is majorly slimming down, which is just making him seem so much older.  At his 12 month check up he is 2'6" tall and weighs 23.7lbs.  He loves to dance to music, blow kisses, and laugh, he says thank you "gu goo" when you give him something, loves to point to pictures in books, push buttons, and is a serious mama's boy.  We love this little man more than words can say, and are so thankful to have him in our family!

 

Happy Birthday Coleton!

Spring Break

Now that we have one kid in school (part time) we get a spring break!  We took a family day and went to Sea World with Jordan's family, my mom & niece Ella, Jordan's Aunt Jacki and cousins Nina and Cami, and Jeannine and Elora met us there for a couple hours as well!  It was such a fun day, and our first time getting to see Jordan's brother Jesse in his show, he is Biff in the Sea Lion & Otter Show, and it was definitely the highlight of the day.  We let the kids play in the "Bay of Play" area, saw the Polar Bears, Beluga Whales, Penguins, the Pet's Rule Show, and the Shamu Show.  I am so glad we have season passes, and can't wait to go back, the kids love it!

 

 

Easter was just around the corner, and Clara was so excited, she kept calling it "Easter time day."  We went to church, which happened to be Coleton's first time showing separation anxiety...screamed until I went and got him :( He did the same thing this last Sunday, hopefully it is just a phase.  Then we go to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a big Easter party with my dad's side of the family, and extended family and friends are always welcome.  They had a barbecue potluck and an Easter egg hunt, and everyone brought treats for the kid's baskets.  After the party, the Abeel's came to our house for the rest of the evening, the kids played with their Easter baskets from Grammy and Pappy, had another Easter egg hunt...can you say spoiled! Had a light dinner, and hung out.  It was a fun week, I always love family time, and now back to the usual routine!