Lizzie's Biggest Littlest Birthday Party...

Here's some pictures from Lizzie's birthday party. We had it at the same park we always do (it's Lizzie's favorite, plus there's lots of shade... it was crazy hot that day) and we waited until the weekend after memorial day in hopes that a few of our friend would be able to make it then. Worked out way better than last year, but we may have to try the weekend before the holiday weekend... Lizzie didn't like waiting a whole other week for her party.

We had sidewalk chalk, a cooler filled with water balloons, hula hoops and of course the playground at the park.

 Abby was the last one standing with the water balloons. She called it her baby and did everything possible not to let it pop. It was way too cute. She made it through the whole entire party... it even came home with us and survived a good portion of the evening until she dropped it in our entryway. To this day every time she sees a broken balloon she cries a little bit... my baby, my baby!

Trying to keep her candle safe from the wind... poor Ben must have used up almost a whole pack of matches.

Yay... success!

Mmm... cupcakes!

Lizzie's favorite part... presents!

Happy birthday week Lizzie! Thanks everyone for coming out and celebrating our very special big, little girl with us!

Last Day of Preschool...

How quickly this year has flown by... Lizzie's already done with a whole year of preschool. Here's some pictures from her last day. They had a little mini graduation ceremony complete with sing-a-long songs and the teachers calling each student up one by one to share the things they'll miss the most about each of them (the kids that is). There was food and cake and plenty of watery fun to be had outside, and Auntie Heidi was there with us too!

They made shirts the last week of school with everybody's hand print and name on them... I think they turned out really cool.

Abby was in the pool for a little bit, but the big boys were a little too rough for her liking, so off to the play-set she went.

Kindergarten here we come!

Summer is Here...

Ah, summer... you are everybody's favorite season in my house and you're finally here (we do live in LA for more than just the awesome job opportunities)! On Memorial Day we went to our good friends Ruth and Chris's house for a backyard barbecue. So fun to run around in the sunshine, play with all the little kids, eat some great barbecue, enjoy a drink or two, and just relax with friends... how summer was meant to be! Thanks Ruth and Chris... by the way we are all envious of your ginormus, fun, and wonderfully private backyard!

Playing with the big green ball... look lemons!

Abby trying to figure out the bubble gun

Her poses make smile and giggle on the inside

Lizzie dancing in little Ben's bubbles!

Do You Think She's Excited...

Some things just never get old and this is one of them. Ben and I would give her presents forever if we received this reaction each and every time. I sincerely hope Lizzie stays this way forever... absolutely love it!

Happy 5th Birthday Lizzie...

My little Lizzie turned five years old on May 27th. Yikes, I can't believe I have a child that old... makes me feel way too old! We had a small little party here at home with family presents, a Lizzie picked dinner of pancakes and sausage, and yummy cupcakes.

Opening gifts from the grandmas and Heidi

A Lizzie birthday would not be complete without something Littlest Pet Shop!

Happy birthday my biggest littlest girl... we love you!

Spontaneous Adventure Back in Time...

A couple of weekends ago we received a facebook message from the guys from Ben's work that they were taking Steve to the Renaissance Faire for his birthday and wanted to know if we wanted to join in the fun... of course we did, so we all hurriedly got ready and piled into the car and off we went. Nothing like last minute decisions and planning... funny how all the guys on Ben's team are incredibly similar in regards to time management... maybe it's an artist thing?!

The renfair was absolutely crazy, but in a fun, way over the top kinda way... they took their costumes very seriously!

They had all sorts of shops and games set up for you to get your inner geek on. Abby was incredibly curious about how the crossbow worked. Angeline (Steve's girlfriend) was totally freaking out in the background the whole time Abby was handling the loaded weapon... it was way too funny.

Ben trying to ring the bell...

Abby waiting for the miniature ponies (hee-hee's as she calls them) to come around so she could pet them.

Snack time... nothing like a little dirt as a topping!

Getting some dirty kisses from my little one!

The girls participated in a turtle race and Abby happened to pick the winning one... she wanted to take the turtle home as her prize, but they wouldn't let you... thank goodness!

Daddy throwing axes... he actually hit the bullseye a couple of times.

Treasure won from the turtle race.

The archery setup was Ben's favorite... he wanted to take the bow and arrows home with him. Like we need more things for him to shoot the girls with! : )

And look what we found on our way home... a Sonic!!! It was our very first time and the girls totally digged having our food roller-skated to us and eating in the car.

Abby totally jacked my cranberry limeade and held it hostage for a very long time! What's up with her always stealing my drinks?!

Geocaching and More Birthdays...

For Grandma Jean's birthday we went geocaching around Ventura (we kinda like to go there a lot) and from the pictures you can see it was a somewhat cold and rainy-ish day... so much for coming to Cali to get away from the rain, at least it was for only one day, bummer it had to be a birthday day though. But despite the weird socal weather it was still a very fun day of adventure. Our first stop was a picnic lunch right along the beach where we witnessed a pod of dolphins, sea lions riding the surf, pelicans dive bombing the ocean waves, and a very large, very hungry family of squirrels.

These little guys were so not afraid of us... Heidi even got to stroke this little guy's back.

Even Lizzie had them eating chips out of her own hands.

After lunch we went in search of treasure... unfortunately the first couple of attempts were duds... the ocean is still breath taking in rotten weather though!

I think Abby was more than ready to move onto the next cache... or at the very least to a spot off the road where she could run around.

She found it... and some of her very own treasure.

Lizzie was hiding in the car waiting for the rain to stop.

Yay, finally nicer weather and a really cool fort amongst the rocks right before the beach.

I think they might have finally found something...

Yep, sure enough... who knew that SPOR meant special placement of rocks... we know now! : )

Nothing beats a warm cup of coffee, or in Abby's case a big glass of milk, after a long day of searching for treasure!

Happy birthday Jean, sorry it rained on your birthday, but hopefully you were able to enjoy your grandkids no matter what the weather decided to throw your way. We love you!