it's almost easter!

On Wednesday nights while Madeline goes to Awana and Nathan goes to the coffee shop to catch up on reading and grading, the boys and I hang out and have some rough and tumblin' time...or we invite miss teseena and aubrey over and play dress up...ssshh! Nathan's completely in the dark.

swing, swing

under our great big tree in the backyard

visiting our family

We went to Aunt Bettie and Uncle Bill's house for the day, where we met our sweet cousin Ian for the first time - what a fun and memorable visit!

my hero

My Grant could play outside for hours and not realize that any time has gone by at all. While I scramble to get ready in the morning, I can tell he's getting the itch that comes before a complete meltdown. So I ask him, "Do you want to go outside?" He nods and says, "Outside!" He'll play with his dinosaurs and bricks, and will find sticks and rocks to bring into the house. Here he is showing me that he conquered the fort, climbing into it all by himself.

Evan the Great Jumper

Well, sort of...he doesn't really understand that he's the one controlling the jumper. He twirls around and looks at me as if to say, "Help...I'm spinning!"

visit with Gigi Nana

Evan and Gigi Nana


Madeline learns to tell time


Grant sharing some veggie sticks

my view of Grant

while brushing his teeth on the floor - this is the best way to get his teeth clean with the least amount of squirming...he'll actually get his toothbrush and say "teeth" and go lie down on the floor.

just me and my daddy

Underwood Family Farm

Oma and I had such a blast taking the kids to this wonderful farm for the kids to roam around freely, feed carrots to emus and goats, ride ponies, climb haystacks and the wooden train and travel on the mini train!

picnic at the park

bath buddies

LA Zoo Outing

2 infants + 2 preschoolers + 1 toddler = 2 mommies willing to do anything for grown-up time (even take 5 children to the zoo)





heather, you're a great friend to venture out with!

a day at the arboretum

This is one of my most favorite places to visit with the kids. Sticks and rocks become their favorite toys while peacocks and ducks become their new friends. There is never enough time to spend just exploring.

our trip to palm springs

happy birthday to pops, uncle gabe and uncle stephen...thanks for a fun weekend!

three months old

all smiles on my three month birthday


and here I am putting on my serious face

what tiger?

homemade peanut butter chocolate playdough

and yes, edible....

need I say more?

lazy mornings

I love them...slowing down enough to just laugh and be with the kids (and to fight myself to not cook, clean or do laundry)!

monday nights...

are the hardest for me...Nathan goes to work all day and then heads to school and doesn't get home until 10pm. While I'm still figuring out a system (which never work because my kids are people and people are constantly changing), one of my biggest a-ha moments was realizing that Madeline can feed Evan while I put Grant to bed.

She loves nothing more than taking care of her baby brother.

bath boy

happy valentine's day

from our serious and boring family to yours

warm days are coming

Today we enjoyed a wonderfully warm day. Madeline and Grant enjoyed berry smoothies on our back porch - I did not even think about what that smoothie would do to Grant's white t-shirt...oh well.