I've learned something new!

I made this for dinner! And it tasted DELICIOUS!!
And these are the best dinner rolls ever. All thanks to my new (to-me) breadmaker. Mmmm...now let's just hope my pants keep fitting!

The Dads in my life

Happy Father's Day Chase! You are the greatest dad our kids could ever have. I've never seen a dad spend more time playing with his kids than you. From baseball to hairstylist, butt's up to wrestling,

you show your girls and your son just how much they mean to you every day. And I can't tell you how much that means to me.



And to my own Dad. Thank you for being the best dad ever. I can remember those super early morning when you would drive me to swim practice in the dark in your big truck with the obnoxious horn.

And those family vacations fishing off the dock at Lake Berryessa using bread as bait, and catching more carp (the junk fish) than we could keep up with! Thank you for always making time for me. Even more, thank you for still being here, being a faithful attendee of my own childrens' activities. Thanks Dad!

"Big Gul Bed"

Bye, bye, crib!

Hello, new bed!

Here it is, our now thrice used toddler bed, new to Sarah, which officially moves her status from "baby" to "big gul." We made the switch last weekend, and she was so excited. Actually, all of them were super excited for her.

When bedtime rolled around, she climbed in and let Caleb and Emma spread out her covers.

Then Caleb read everyone a story.

And she was ready to sleep, right next to big sis Emmy.

Finally lights were out, and Sarah's words were "No, want Mommy bed." And now begins the up and down time, getting babies, dropping her num-num (pacifier, yeah I know, she should be past it...one step at a time here) and retrieving it, and peeking out the door looking for Daddy. I had to sit next to that little bed, in the dark, putting her back into bed, for about 45 minutes, but finally, she fell asleep.

Before I went to bed I snuck in to snap a picture, but darn those little cameras, I couldn't get anything without the flash, and with it it looks like daylight! But trust me, it was 11:00 at night in this one, Perhaps I'll turn on the nightlight and try with my other camera, but it seems a lot of work to snap one picture of two girls sleeping in bed.

Ride 'Em Cowgirl!

Howdy cowgirl!


Emma's big day is coming up the weekend after next. Here she is posing for me before we went to have "real" pictures taken. (Though from what I saw, these are just as good!)

This girl is one of a kind. She loves to draw and do art work. In fact, she started an art class today that's all about learning how to draw. She seemed to do quite well...but that's not what this is about. Look at that charming smile. What a girlie girl!

She seemed to have so much fun in her dance class and made a couple good friends, really nice girls, yet she wants to quit because "the ballet shoes are too hard on my feet." I'm not sure if I'll be able to coax her into staying with it or not, but I hope so, because it's so good for her to be involved in something.

The last day of kindergarten was last week. I can't believe that I now have two children past kindergarten! She's reading, really reading, and I couldn't be more proud of her school accomplishments. I am so lucky that school has come pretty easily for the first two. Of course having a great teacher like Miss Lawson helped!

It still amazes me just how quickly they change. My first baby girl has turned in to a big-sister-mommy, true helper, little reader, mostly charming young lady. I am so blessed!


Oh, I found this one on my sister's facebook profile, from her wedding. It just seemed like it would fit here with this little description of Emma...we've come so far!

No, I have not fallen off the face of the planet!

I'm still here!! But man oh man, life sure can keep you busy. And it's not like it's things I don't enjoy, except for maybe laundry, but so many good things have just filled me up lately...so here's the quick rundown...pictures will have to follow later.

1) I'm almost out of school! I was so looking forward to a nice, calm summer, but somehow, our calendar is already quite filled up. Between swim lessons, baseball camp, VBS, Yosemite (yay!), art class for Emma, mom & me class for Sarah, and of course the library & D-land, I don't think we'll have a dull moment.

2) Sarah is sleeping in a bed! HER bed, not mine & Chase's!! 'nuff said.

3) Caleb played in two baseball tournaments, one back on Memorial Day and one last week. The first one his team placed 3rd of 16, and the second one they took 4th of 30!! Not to brag, but he is one awesome 3rd baseman!

4) Emma graduated from kindergarten!! Yay for my little academian.

5) Emma is gearing up for her first dance recital...can't wait to share those pics.

6) I am becoming much more adept in the kitchen. Homemade lasagna, dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls (thanks to my new breadmaker) are so yummy!

7) We have become a money-saving family. We've made a few changes and I'm amazed at how much we've been able to put away each month! Last month we had our lowest electricity bill ever!! Now that may not be exciting to you, but it was a real family effort to make sure we all conserved.

8) Daddy will be home for the summer! Yes, I'm trying to make this one a postive. Chase has become another victim of lovely state budget cuts. Now you can understand why #7 is such a big deal for us!

9) I think I just ran outta steam...what else can I think of? Caleb is reading chapter books? Sarah can pedal her trike herself? Emma can do her own ponytail?

10) I have the BEST family ever!!

Glad to be back! Now that school's out (almost) I'm going to try to practice my photo-taking skills and attempt to post them up here...we'll see what happens!