Worn Out

Guess we stayed out a little bit past this guys bedtime....

Thanksgiving

*Most* of the grandkids from the Andre' side....

Garage Addition

We were given this piano recently!

I've loved going out in the garage and sitting down and spending some time playing.
My skill level is ridiculously low, considering I had lessons until I was 13....
Sad.
I've started back up with some basic scale work, and easy music. I can still read the music, but getting my brain to tell my fingers what to do at the right time is something that I have to totally re-learn.
In the meantime...baby steps.

Hopefully the piano can survive the anxiety chewing of Lily.
She's slightly bonkers lately...

 
 

Little Lake Getaway

I took the kids up to Clearlake to hang out with the sacramento cousins. The weather was beautiful! Water was freezing, but that didn't stop Nolan from getting in. Might as well swim, cause, you know, water temp of 56 degrees isn't too bad.....
{He's crazy.}

The kids played, and jet skied, and preformed dance shows for us.
The adults chatted, and shared a bottle of really nice wine, and enjoyed the weather.

Nice little over night get-away!

Random Kid Pics

These guys bring so much joy and laughter in my life.
So. Much. Laughter!

Doesn't get much better than this!

A date night where the gift card perfectly covers the bill!

Patchwork Show, Oakland 2014

Brynn wanted to sell at Patchwork this year. 
She came up with an idea, made a sample, and I submitted to my boss for consideration.

 
And she was approved!
So she made a ton of product, came up with a display, and off we went!
 
 
 
 
 She did so well! I am so proud of this one!
{kid gets all her talent from me....not really}

Happy Daddy

I think this guy is happiest when his kids are all over him...
literally.

Nolan Turns 4

The little guy, who vascilates from being the sweetest kid on the earth to the craziest, turned 4. 
I took a deep breath, because we survived the 3's.

Not that it gets much easier from here on out, but I do feel like I deserve a pat on the back that no one was harmed or permanately injured during the 3rd year of life.
{3 years old is rough}

Appropriately fitting, the day and party were monster themed. A monster breakfast, monster shirt, monster decorations that Brynn helped with. There were monster party games, monster snacks, a monster craft, and a monster cake.  There were monster party favors, and a very tired little monster when it was time for bed.
And the little monster seemed to enjoy it all!

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Win Win Weekend

Rich took the kids camping again by himself.
Its becoming a habit....a habit that I really, really like.

They had a lot of fun (so I heard), and I had two nights at home by myself.
I threw a dinner party for my friends, while he tromped through the woods with the kids.

 

















 Total Win Win!