Baby Ezra

It has been almost a week since little baby Ezra joined the family!  

Such a sweet picture with proud Mama, Melanie.  I can't believe it has been almost 14 years since our first son was born and Ezra's Dad was there...or outside the room.  :)

Ezra Lee-7lbs 15oz  

(Isn't he perfect?)

Favorite picture.  Big sister Amelia. Sooooo cute. 

 We can't wait to meet you little Ezra!  Thank goodness for modern technology so we could enjoy these sweet snapshots in meantime.  Lots of good wishes of sleep and easy feeding going to Arizona right now!  

Joshua, Annie, and Sophie Wrapup

This is one of Sophie's favorite activities, she loves to ride with Joshua when he is mowing the lawn.  

I never posted this picture of Joshua heading off on a major back packing trip with the scouts this summer.  They carried everything they needed themselves and had a lot of fun!

Some of the crew...the night before the big trip most of them slept at my house.  I was worried they would be too tired to hike.  

Payton, Joshua, and TJ after the campout getting their awards. These are some great boys.

A few weeks ago Joshua and I took a short trip to Utah-just the two of us.  It was really fun.  We stopped to say hi to my cousin Emily and ended running over to a minor league baseball game.  It was so fun.  It was a perfect night for baseball and all these girls are so cute. 

Annie started Preschool.  She just loves it.  She wishes she rode a bus like the boys, but the Suburban will have to do for now. 

She always wants to be prepared...water bottle and all, just like the big boys.

 She gets goodbye kisses from everyone. 

This little girl is growing up big time. 

I had to include this picture of Sophie since she makes this face all the time.  I don't want to forget it. 

Sophie "helping" Annie get out the door. 

"Enough with the photo shoot already, Mom, sheesh." 

These are our awesome neighbors.  This cute little baby, Lola, is their NINTH baby.  You heard me right, nine kids.  In their spare time they organized a HUGE community fundraiser for Randy's brother. He has a rare form of Leukemia and is in need of a bone marrow transplant.  These guys did an amazing job and it was a great success. 

Joshua (along with friend TJ) got in on the action and served yummy pulled pork sandwiches all night long.  (We are talking 1000's here.)  They had a lot of fun doing it.

Annie had a ball too...she was able to pal around all night with her two favorite girls.  

They waited in line forever to get their faces painted.  Pretty fancy. 

She can't figure out why they have to go to school all day.  (They are both in 1st grade.)  I don't know what she would do without them down the street. 

Well...these are a few things that Joshua, Annie, and Sophie have been up too.  I will catch you up on James, Michael, and Luke next time.

Garage Sale Party

A couple weekends ago something pretty exciting around here happened...some neighbors had the MOST amazing garage sale.  Back in California we were used to fabulous garage sales.  My MIL is the Queen of finding anything and everything at garage sales.  I always lament that the sales around here just don't compare! (And they are usually over priced!)  However, this garage sale was insane. I wish I had pictures of the actual sale. These neighbors had a whole barn FULL of great finds.  Many of which were brand new.  I was the first in the family to head over at about 6:45am.  I found a few Christmas decorations, a brand new stainless steel garage can for the kitchen...you know, things like that.  That was just the beginning of our many trips back to the garage sale.  

Once the kids woke up they gathered their cash and headed over to the sale with great excitement.  They all came back with some loot.  But that was not it...they went back over, and over, and over again.  :)  It was great entertainment for the weekend and worth every penny spent!  There were a few things they lugged home that I was just like, "WHAT?  Seriously?"  I told them we have to get rid of some stuff to house all the new items. I will share a few favorites...  

This was perfect.  Joshua had JUST begged me at Target to buy a new exercise ball since our last one somehow was stabbed in a violent crime.  I told him, "NO."  I just can't handle one more thing bouncing around the house right now, even though I do like these things.  Well, good thing I said no.  He found a BRAND spanking new one at the sale.  (Do you like Ryan's sexy leg in the picture...it is a good look with his gym shorts and black church socks, don't you think?)

Luke was excited about the Halloween decorations he scored and wanted to start decorating immediately.

This is a not very good picture of the best find of the day-a new bedroom set in mint condition.  It is still sitting in our living room. 

This almost wins the award for the best "find".  You are seeing right, it is a brass, life size, monkey bust.  It is HEAVY.  It now sits on Joshua's desk in his room.  So beautiful.

This was the most heavily contested item...Michael claimed he saw the Lava Lamp first,  but Joshua grabbed it.  Tears were shed.  Joshua ended up giving it to Michael for his birthday so it all ended well. 

The kids came back after one of the trips..."Look, Mom!  We got these awesome pillows!"  They even added them to the current throw pillows.  (Think "Troll" hair, you know the little ones from the 80's.  This is the same material.) Thanks, guys. I am always looking for some new pillows to update our decor!

Who knew that the boys would find TWO life-size busts to bring home.  This one of Albert Einstein is now gracing James' desk.  

New Alarm Clock

And the final purchase I would like to share is this beauty that I bought as a surprise for Michael.  It is actually a really nice wolf, if you are in to wolf decorations. 

Unfortunately, these items were not all we trucked home that beautiful first Saturday in September.  It sure did make for an exciting weekend though.  The kids all seriously had so much fun.  I had a little too much fun too (see furniture above).  I am ashamed to say that if I had had more cash I would have spent more.  There were a few more great finds, but I tried to control myself!  Seriously though...it was the most exciting thing to happen in the neighborhood in quite a while!  Cheers to fun garage sales!

Happy 9th Birthday, Michael!

I think this is the longest post ever...I just could not narrow it down!  I was enjoying my trip down memory lane too much, and can't believe where the time went.  As usual...it makes me want to get my pictures organized.  So many before the digital era that I need to get together, and so many that I still need to get on my computer.  Oh, well. I think that just judging by how many pictures I have here-  I found enough! 

I was happy that I have a few digitals from right after Michael was born.  (He weighed 9 lb 5 oz)  So cute!  

Michael was such a happy baby and that is why I could NOT narrow down the birthday tribute! He was always so easy take pictures of because he would smile so easily!  He just had so many happy pictures!  Here he is with Aunt Krista.  (About 3 months old)

His first birthday...(with his brothers on the left and good friends on the right). 

Still first birthday and still crawling...he walked soon after. 

Hard to believe we just had three boys. 

He was such a solid little guy, love this picture of him from the back waddling around in his church clothes.

Halloween 2004

I love this action picture of the boys running in circles around Nana's living room!  I love his face even more!

Michael loved making rows with his cars and he would do this ALL the time.

He is still particular about organizing his "things". 

 One of my all time favorite pictures...we were on vacation and couldn't find Michael.  He was hiding under the SINK in the hotel with a little treat he had found.  So funny.

 Another favorite picture of mine...We were trying to leave the beach that day.  I was WAY pregnant with Luke and couldn't carry Michael any further.  He had had enough of the beach and refused to move.  

 So many of the picture I found revolve around food.  Michael LOVED to eat when he was little...you wouldn't know it now!  Apparently he found a watermelon here and took matters into his own hands.

Even though I have a really messy face, I sure am cute! 

 Michael holding his new brother Luke for the first time. 

 This picture of the boys cracks me up.  Michael had the funniest faces in just about every picture.  Man, these guys were SO hard to get posed for a picture.  I think we took about a million. 

2nd Birthday, not quite ready to leave the dinner table. 

Gifts...

Cake time...

Hooray!

I love sleeping babies...this picture shows how "thick" and soft Michael was.  Where did the chub go?

 Michael would always be the last one at the dinner table.  He would climb up and try to finish everything off. 

Little Michael with Uncle Michael (Bear Lake)

Again...look at his face, such joy!

Having a ball with Aunt Melanie and Uncle Dane.

Taking a spin with Papa...

More fun with Aunt Krista and Uncle Gary...

This picture was taken at the Airport.  Michael wanted to be up in the window so he could see all the airplanes coming in and out of the Airport in San Francisco.

THEE picture from Hawaii..."oops, Nana was talking on her cell phone so I was just trying out the lipstick!"

Beach in Maui

Michael went NUTS over the mango's in Hawaii.  He still loves Mangos.  He really just loves fruits of any kind, but Mango's are a favorite!

When Michael turned three he was obsessed with sharks.

I decided to cut his hair so he would look nice for his birthday party.  I got distracted and someone grabbed the clippers and shaved off a big chunk of hair right smack in the center of his head.  Luckily we had a best friend that is a barber.  He came and saved the day.

Michael got a new look for his 3rd birthday...

I have so many pictures of these two together...they are my closest in age.  It is pretty fun.

"Don't mind me, I am just relaxing on the stairs." 

He colored everything, and I mean everything!  

Michael was always wearing crazy outfits.  He loved dressing up in costumes.

Aunt Carly lived with us for a while and Michael adored her.  They had a special bond!

Reunion with Aunt Carly in Southern California...

Family Vacations can be SO exhausting! 

Another thing about Michael is that he has always been fascinated with animals.  (We even had his birthday party this weekend at guess where?  That's right, the zoo!)

He has also always loved all things military.

The summer Annie was born, James and Michael flew back to Idaho with Grandma. It was his first time away from home for that long.

Grandpa took him fishing for the first time...something he still LOVES to do!

Didn't have any digital pictures of Michael's 4th birthday, so on to number 5!

Another favorite of mine with Luke and Michael.  The two little missionaries!  I think I might have to frame this one.

Michael with Annie as a baby.

"I sure do love my Nana, she let me come to Lodi Lake and get a real fish to take home!"

Preschool Graduation

I love all creatures, big and small.

More fun with costumes...

First day of kindergarten

Happy 6th Birthday!

He loved this costume.

He has been really into making music and creating his own "band."  Here he is performing a number on the drums. 

 Birthday #7 with a favorite treat...Mentos! 

AND a gun...he loves those too.

I told you he loves the Army....

Still need to transfer all those baptism pictures from his 8th birthday.  For now, all I have is a scout picture.  Michael earned his bobcat award and is giving me the mother's pin.

It sure is great to be eight!

 I have really become the entrepreneur this year...I started by own Pet Business and was able to take car of two dogs, chickens, and a bird.  I made over $100 this summer! 

I hold frequent lemonade sales and if I am not getting enough business I go door-to-door. I also have sell used toys and at Christmas I sold Candy Canes and made over $20! 

Like I said, for Michael's 9th birthday, we had a party at the zoo.  It was a great day!

Michael, I love you!  Happy Birthday!

You are no ordinary boy and have brought so much joy to our family.  I was so happy with Michael this year on his birthday because he showed so much appreciation for everything!  I even took him to get a slushy at Sonic and he told me, "Mom, you spent too much on me, I can pay for this one."  He is a hard worker and I can always depend on him to do his chores.  He is also so great to give me massages, and play with my hair whenever I ask. He is very independent and is becoming a great little cook. I don't know what I would do without him!  I sure do love you!