4th of July Weekend

It was a very busy but very fun Fourth of July weekend! We headed up north to Healdsburg to spend the weekend celebrating Damien's Dad's 60th birthday as well as celebrate our Nation's birthday!

With a lot on tap, we packed up and prepared to have a lot of fun! The kids were really excited to be with their Papa on his birthday. They loved the fact that the party was themed with cupcakes! Apparently, Mark's grandmother used to call him cupcake when he was little so it was a little nod to her. I don't know if my kids understood the true symbolism or not. I am pretty sure they were just really excited to eat a lot of the gourmet cupcakes Auntie Lani was going to bring!

Mark's birthday was an absolute blast. Marlene (party extraordinaire) had a bouncy house water slide in the front yard for the kids, a cotton candy maker, and a cupcake pinata all ready for us to enjoy. All of my kids loved it and ran around all day until they passed out later that night.

On the morning of the 4th, our little family enjoyed Mass in the morning and then prepped to head over to Sonoma to attend a great 4th of July bash held by Lani's in-laws. We've gone to this party many times before and the kids were begging to go this time, too. They have a great pool with a slide and we always have so much fun there! Getting my kids dressed this morning in their red, white, and blue gave me great satisfaction. Last year, we were so bogged down with trying to learn how to juggle four kids schedules let alone coordinating outfits! This summer, we are much lighter and more free now that we have all adjusted to our new life with four kids. Claire just adored the fact that she and Emily had matching outfits. Michael and Matthew wondered why theirs weren't matching, too! Whoops. After mass, we spent the morning relaxing with Damien's parents in their backyard while eating a delicious breakfast from downtown. It was a beautiful sunny morning and to think we had a great afternoon and early evening ahead made the day even better. Happy 4th of July everyone!

Emily's Second 1st Birthday Party

We love parties around here so it was no problem at all to ramp up and celebrate Emily's First Birthday . . . again! Her party was at the tail end of our visit so we got to enjoy the week without having to go into party mode. We decided to just invite family because even if we just had family- it was a full house! It was so wonderful to see everyone and the vibe was so laid back and gave us all a chance to catch up and just relax!

Emily loved all of the balloons and decorations. She was also completely mesmerized by the new 'birthday shoes' that Nonna and Grandpa bought her. They are officially her first pair of shoes and very necessary these days as she is starting to walk more and more. It might still look a little 'Frankenstein-ish' but it is still considered walking in my book!

Emily annihilated her birthday cake much like she did at her first First Birthday Party. The kid likes to eat and get messy! What can I say? All the kids kind of attacked their cakes on their first birthdays. Claire and Emily were the ones who completely dove in- while Matthew methodically picked away at his until it was everywhere! Michael, when he was a baby, HATED getting dirty. If I remember correctly, he did dip a few fingers into his cake and had fun, but didn't go for the cake explosion like his siblings. I love how very different they all are! It is what makes life so amazing! All my kids were created from the same two parents but journeying down their own distinct paths. So cool.

I was thrilled that my Dad's family could make to the party. They are really so special to me. We don't get to see them very often because of the distance but when we do get together, I really love it. My Grandma, who turned 90 this year, is so incredibly amazing. She has so much energy, is so intelligent, and is just such an important person in my life. I love her very much and am so glad that all four of my children have gotten to know their Great-Grandmother!

Most of my Mom's family was able to join us which was really nice. My aunts and cousins are so supportive and always make a special effort to see us when we are up in Washington. I was so happy that my Nana (my Grandma and the kids Great-Grandma) was able to be with us to celebrate. Just like my other Grandma, she amazes me with her strength and grace. She loves seeing the kids and my kids were loving that she wanted to play catch with them at the end of the party. I thought Michael was going to pass out from sheer amazement!

Well, I guess this officially marks the end of Emily's First Birthday Extravaganza. Part of me is sad that this is our last 'first birthday' but another part of me celebrates all we have been through during the last year. Having raised four children to at least the age of one, I am ready to say goodbye to the newborn/little baby stage and look forward to raising kids who are a little older and make our family more durable/portable. I have loved every minute of Emily's first year. Well, in all honesty- there were quite a few minutes where I was completely losing my mind! But on a serious note, this year was everything I could have dreamed it to be. Little Emily has only been our hearts for a year, but none of us can imagine life without her. Happy Birthday Emily. You're the best.

On the Lake

We are having a great time up here in Washington. It's great to have time up here to enjoy life to the fullest without having our time so budgeted with events. Today, my Aunt Monica asked us to come over for dinner and our entire family had the most lovely night. Not only was the food unbelievable, but her home is just so gorgeous and inviting. We love going over there and it is just so nice to be able to walk out on her dock and take in Lake Washington and all of it's beauty. Not to mention Mount Rainier peeking through behind us.

Photos taken by the water provide the most gorgeous backdrop. It doesn't hurt that the water here is surrounded by the deep green of trees most everywhere you turn. I am so happy with the pictures we took. I know that a few of these are pictures I will cherish forever! Also, please note that I was only able to pry Michael away from the video games long enough to snap the family portrait. I just wanted to state that in case someone thought I was being preferential with my snapping! Or if Michael ever looks back at these blog posts and says, "Where was I?" Enjoy.

Summer Vacation in Kirkland

What a great way to start the summer! After a crazy Father's Day weekend, we hopped on a plane bright and early to visit my family. Michael, Emily and I flew up to Seattle in March and most of my family had visited San Jose since then Even though we felt connected with my family and had seen them fairly recently- we hadn't flown up to Seattle as a family since February (Emily's baptism)! This trip was long overdue. We didn't have much planned except to celebrate the birthdays of my Dad and Emily. I couldn't wait to settle in and enjoy this week long break from my usual chaos!

We arrived on my Dad's birthday and were so happy to be able to celebrate with him. My Mom made an amazing dinner of pulled pork sandwiches, fresh homemade coleslaw, and my Aunt Monica brought her famous potato salad. It was all delicious and we all caught up with each other after the post food coma set in. Before we flew up to Washington, Emily's walking record was seven steps. We were all out in the backyard when my Dad came out and said to her, "Emily, walk for Grandpa's birthday!" I kid you not- Emily stood up and walked seventeen steps! It was pretty comical because were all amazed that she listened to her Grandpa! What a birthday gift!

This trip is all about relaxing into the beginnings of summer. Last summer was so chaotic due to bringing a newborn Emily into our family. This summer is more about enjoying our family of six and taking some time to have fun and make some fantastic memories! All I know is that it's great to be home.

Happy Father's Day

I couldn't do what I do without Damien. My kids wouldn't be as funny, strong, confident, educated in all things Star Wars, and loved if he weren't in their lives. It's great that today we can honor his dedication to us all and thank him for making us so happy! We woke up this morning in Burlingame after a great night at our friend's wedding. We quickly hopped in the car and came home to spend the morning with our kids and shower Damien with some fun gifts and love! The kids really put a lot of thought into this morning. Michael made Damien a saw at school that was decorated with his picture and the phrase, You're the Best Dad I Ever Saw! Pretty clever, I thought! Claire made Damien a framed picture of herself (always a crowd pleaser) and she was really proud of her efforts! Matthew had made Damien a card and for the first time- was able to write his name (or at least Matt) . Emily drooled on Damien and he loved it. As usual, the kids got Damien gift cards so they could go out on 1-on-1 dinner dates with him. Michael chose Cluck U., Claire chose Red Lobster, and Matthew chose Red Robin. The kids LOVE picking out these gift cards and we love seeing where they pick!

After our own Father's Day celebration, we went over to Mark and Jocelyn's house where Damien's whole family gathered for some good food and a Chubby Bunny competition (seeing how many marshmallows you can fit in your mouth while still saying Chubby Bunny). The kids thought this was hilarious! Afterwards, we headed to The Riley's house to celebrate their daughter Issy's 2nd birthday and also judge a BBQ Rib-Off. There were eight people who brought and made ribs for the group and then the people in attendance voted on which one was most delicious. Damien loved this as he is a rib lover. Perfect Father's Day activity for him! The kids swam with their Daddy and we all had a great time. We needed to head home though because bright and early the next morning we were flying to Washington to see my family. It was a great but crazy weekend and we are so happy to have Damien in our lives.

Here are the reasons my kids love their Dad the most!

From Michael: "I think my Dad is the best because he is always there for me and comforts me and helps to learn. He always tries to make me laugh. My Dad talks in funny voices and always is so funny! I love to play soccer with him and eat lots of turkey jerkey and chocolate together. Well, not eat both of those at the same time but you know what I mean!"

From Claire: "I think my Dad is the best because I always think he is talented, supportive, great at sports, and loving. My favorite thing to do with him is read books together and go to lunch different places with him sometimes. I think the funniest thing about him is his jokes. I love it when my Dad tucks me into bed at night and says prayers with me."

From Matthew: "My favorite thing about my Dad is we going to go to Chuck E. Cheese's. We going to go get something to eat and get jelly beans. Daddy is very sweet. Daddy is always going to take me places. I think I am going to draw a picture for him. My Dad is funny. He always throws me on he's bed and read books with me. He told he how to say, 'Sorry for partying!' I love Daddy.

From Emily: "I love my Dad because he never ignores me even when he is really busy. He will always pick me up and see what I need. Dad makes me laugh so hard. He chases me and already taught me how to use funny voices. So far, he has taught me how to sound like a pirate and a scary monster. Daddy also loves to tickle me until I laugh so hard that Mommy tells him to stop! I love my Dad.

Jack & Anne's Wedding Extravaganza

Sometimes it's hard to schedule time away from the kids as a couple. That's why it's great when someone schedules it for you! A few months ago we received a gorgeous invitation for our dear friend's wedding. Damien's friend, Jack, went to grammar school, high school, and college with him. I knew Jack in college, too so it was so great to be invited to his wonderful celebration! We met his fiance many years back at our ten year Santa Clara University reunion. I remember thinking how well suited she was for Jack and I couldn't ignore the fact that they just seemed really happy together! It's always great to see your friends find someone who makes their life so much more rich and blessed.

When we received the invitation we thought it would be cool to stay the night at the hotel with all of our friends. We had heard that a lot of people were going to make a weekend out of it and it peaked our interest! Hmmm. Could we swing this? Lucky for us, my sister-in law Heather offered to watch the kids overnight so we could just have fun at the wedding and have a night away from the kiddos! The wedding and reception were held at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame and it was so beautiful. There were so many wonderful touches and the scenery, flowers, and beauty was everywhere you turned. Anne looked absolutely stunning in her dress and it was so great to be able to take part in their special day. To top it off, so so many of our friends were in attendance. A lot of us have kids and it is growing increasingly difficult to find time to get together anymore. This wedding gave us all the opportunity to just be adults and have fun!

All in all, it was a fantastic night. Damien and I had so much fun with our friends but truly enjoyed the time we had together, too. There is something that comes with being at a wedding that reminds you of your own wedding day. I can't believe we are nearing our eleventh anniversary ourselves! Has it really been that long since our wedding? Hearing Jack and Anne say their vows threw me right back to the very moment we said ours. It was wonderful. A great reminder that love conquers all. It's been a while since we have spent a night with this group and I must say that this Santa Clara bunch is a rowdy one but so much FUN! So I guess there is only one question to ask. Who is getting married next? I need another night out!

Emily's 1st Birthday Party- San Jose Edition

Today, a wonderfully loving and supportive group gathered around my beautiful Emily to celebrate her very first year of life! We still can't believe she is one. It is just crazy to think that an entire year has passed since she was born! I am sure I will never really understand how quickly the lives of my children pass before me.




Before Emily joined us, we didn't have any summer birthdays in our immediate family. Seeing as that Emily's birthday is going to always fall near the end of school- I doubt there will ever be a lot of calm surrounding it! I also learned that it is a hard time to get people to come to a party because everyone heads out of town to start their summer fun! But you live and you learn and I know now that I need to give myself a little extra time to plan this sweet baby's birthday!

I was thrilled this year to learn that my sister, Jill and her son Kyle were going to be able to join us for the big event! They flew down from Washington to be with us and we were all so happy to see them! There was a special thrill around having cousin Kyle here to run around with which was great! My kids were occupied with a friend while Jill, Damien, and I rushed to get everything ready! We didn't have a theme for her party. Just lots of pink and sugar! We got a bouncy house for the backyard and had a pinata stuffed to the seems with candy. Sounds like fun to me! The one thing we didn't plan for was the heat. It was projected to hit at least 90 degrees today so we went out and got a covered tent to put the tables under. We weren't interested in seeing how many people would melt!

The focus of the day for me was on Emily. Sure, I wanted to show my guests a good time and feed them well, but more than anything- I wanted Emily to feel special. I knew she wouldn't know that it was HER day, but I wanted her to have fun and feel loved by everyone there. I made posters showing her growth over the past year, I got her a bubble machine so that she could laugh while trying to swat at the big bubbles, I had balloons, and made some of her favorite little munchies. I know that she didn't notice but I just wanted to do the very best I could for her. You only turn one once you know!

Everyone at the party had a great time. I will go as far to say that the highlight of the day was watching Emily eat her cake. I know she is my daughter and yes, I am insanely proud of her. That being said, please trust me when I say that she attacked her cake like no baby I've seen before! It was unreal! I have a video where she is just poking in a finger here, poking in a finger there, then she grabs a small handful of frosting and then out of nowhere she just pounces! I can't even do this moment justice in describing it! She just attacks the cake and it practically disintegrates! The kids all are laughing hysterically around her, adults are cracking up and Emily is just loving it! It was all fun and games until it got in her hair and eyes. After all that eating it was time for a Birthday Bath! She was not pleased. We got her cleaned and dressed and she made another appearance for gifts and the pinata. She had so much fun and I could tell she just didn't want it to stop!

The day was wonderful and the party was just exactly like I wanted it to be. I could've done without breaking my digital camera (I dropped it when taking pictures of the kids smacking the pinata) but every other element was wonderful. A lot of work? Yes. Worth all the time and effort for my BIG ONE YEAR OLD? Of course. Happy Birthday Emily!

Emily Turns One!

Oh, Emily. One year ago today- you stole my heart. You made both Mommy and Daddy cry tears of joy. Your sweet chubby face melted me and I haven't been the same since. You made Michael and Claire's mouths drop open in pure amazement that you were here and you were a girl! You made Matthew (who was the baby until your arrival) a big BIG brother.You changed our whole family, the course of all of our lives, and made our family complete. All of this happened one year ago today. We are so happy you are here. We thank God for the gift of you. You are our little miracle.

In just 365 days, you went from a little tiny baby to a sassy, I-can-do-anything-I-set-my-mind-to, determined, sweet, emotional, happy, slightly dangerous, giggling, rough and tumble, adorable, focused and loving little baby girl. You fit into this crazy family immediately and add to the excitement of it all. As you grew, you amazed your siblings with your new tricks and sounds. Your grunts turned into coos. Your coos turned to screams. And now you have sounds and words which help us better understand your world. Michael keeps telling me you are a miracle. "Mom, can you believe that our baby is crawling before one year old? That's a miracle! She's a miracle baby!" Claire has been your little Mommy since you first came home. She has loved your sweet evolution and been such a source of love and security for you. Matthew thinks you are so funny and always has. Since you came home from the hospital, there has been no real jealousy on his part. He has instead put you under his wing and shown you the way. And to tell you the truth- you try so hard to be like him. You have no idea that you are only one and shouldn't be attempting things that a three year old does. Somehow- trying to jump out of your highchair, climbing up ladders, trying to get on a bike, diving into the bathtub, climbing and pulling stools over on yourself, and walking around with sharp objects seems natural to you. Well I have something to say about all of this craziness. Please slow down and be more careful! You are too precious to keep getting hurt all the time! (Although I do admire your tenacity.)

When you were born, you weighed 8 pounds and 1 ounce. You were a big baby and came four weeks early! Unfortunately, in your first week- you lost a whole pound. The doctors were a little concerned and we needed to get you to put on some weight and start moving in the right direction. Well, you must have heard what he said because you started gaining weight at a rapid pace! At your one year check up, you weighed in at 26 pounds and 8 ounces! No wonder you have the most wonderfully plump legs and arms! They are so kissable and I can't resist you! You had a very healthy check-up and are doing great. You were devastated when you got your finger prick and every time you looked at your finger with the bandaid on it- you burst into tears! If you can remember, you got sick when you were two months old and had to be hospitalized. After being discharged five days later, you were put on daily antibiotics that were going to help prevent another UTI infection. Every night before Mommy put you to bed- I gave you antibiotics and after a year of it, you and I were tired of it! Thankfully, your pediatrician took you off of them today and we'll see how your body responds without them. We are so happy to get rid of those nasty antibiotics! Yippee!

You are such a funny girl. As you grew older, you really seemed to have a grasp on the world around you. You know what you want and really aren't fearful of trying to get what you want. You are by far my most dangerous child to date. You take risks that the others would've never attempted. In fact, you have earned the nickname Little Houdini from your siblings because no matter how I restrain you, you manage to get out! Emily, you love to explore the house and the backyard. You crawl around and find the most teeny tiny things and sit and investigate them. First you manipulate it in your chubby fingers and then you always put whatever you find in your mouth. You are a very physical little girl, too! You love to do things in a BIG way. When you get excited, you like to bang your hands on whatever you can find. A common hello to someone who offers their face to you is a heavy slap right on the cheek. You are not trying to hit them but it is just your way of saying Hey, how you doin'! You also are very sweet and gentle. You have learned the word nicey and when you are rough, you calm down when I say this. You are a good listener and understand a lot of what I am saying to you. You love to hug and kiss us and like to cuddle the mornings. You won't let anyone take you away from me when we wake up! I can't lie. I LOVE THIS!

You started saying some words around the middle of your tenth month. Right now you say Brrr (Bird), Bub (Boob), Beh (Belly), Buh (Bug and Bye bye), Mama (Mom), Da (Dad), Tata (Cracker) and Nuh (Num Nums). You shake your head 'No' when you don't want something. You can sign More and All Done. When you want something- instead of pointing you stretch you arm out palm up and wait for us to get it for you. You had taken several steps in your eleven month and by your first birthday, your step record was seven steps. You love to pretend to sing, you love to clap and wave hello and goodbye. You think it's hysterical when the kids or Daddy chase you saying, 'I'm gonna getcha and then I'm gonna eatcha!' You are scared of dogs and whoopie cushions.

Emily, Emily, Emily. Thank you for all the smiles you give me, the pat-pats on my back when you hug me, the pinches on the backs of my arms (ouch), the millions of times you have put your fingers in my mouth (why you like this, I don't know!), the thrills, and the many moments of pure bliss that come with having you for a daughter. We couldn't have dreamed of a happier and more wonderful fourth child. You make all of us so insanely happy and melt us with those big beautiful blue eyes! This last year has been a learning experience. We had to figure out how to fit you into our hectic but fun lives. Lucky for us, you go with the flow and have made the transition so natural and just perfect. We love you with all of our hearts and wish you the happiest birthday ever. Here's to many years of memories, laughter, love, and learning ahead. Happy First Birthday Sweetheart!

Goodbye 1st & 2nd Grade

Well, it happened. SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER! Yeah!!! Our family is so happy! Michael and Claire are just so happy to be free from the structure of school, I am happy to rid myself of uniform/lunches/homework duties for a while, Matthew and Emily are excited to have two more playmates around the house, and Damien just loves everything about summer and is happy it has commenced! I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of pajama wearing past lunchtime, Beach Boys CDs playing, water fights, popsicle eating, and fun activities on our horizon!

Today's school schedule was a little silly. The kids started school at 9:00 a.m. and ended school at 10:30 a.m. Basically, it was just enough time for them to go to school, participate in the end of the school Mass, say goodbye to their teachers and friends, and get their report cards. They had to wear their "Sunday's Best" to school today and both Michael and Claire were happy to not have to wear their uniforms! It seemed like no sooner did I drop them off at school did I hear a knock at the door when they came home with our carpool. I quickly changed them out of their nice outfits and into something summery! Woohoo! Summer vacation is finally here! I told Michael and Claire to pick a place where we could go have lunch and celebrate! They chose Damien's favorite restaurant Red Robin (please notice the sarcasm in my typing). I love it there but Damien pretty much loathes it. It kind of makes me laugh when the kids choose that restaurant because I know that Damien will put on a happy face even though he is dying on the inside! We all loaded in the car, rolled down the windows, threw on some Beach Boys, and off we went!

We actually had a great time at lunch. The kids expressed what they loved most about 1st and 2nd grade. Claire said she loved her teachers Mrs. Ahlers and Mrs. Duncan. She is sad to leave her teachers and first grade all together. She really had a great year and is so sad to see it go. She did say that she is looking forward to not having to get up in the morning. Amen to that! Michael was very sentimental. For the second year in a row, his teacher is leaving the school. So . . . for the second year in a row he had to say goodbye as opposed to saying, 'See you in the halls next year!'. Ms. Zisko was a great teacher and really guided Michael to success this year. We will miss her next year. Michael is so looking forward to sleeping in and staying in his PJs all day. Good for him- he worked hard to get almost three months off! I couldn't be happier for Michael and Claire. Summer is here and they deserve every last lazy minute of it!

Emma Prusch Farm

Today is the last full day of school for Michael and Claire (they have two half days left). While I am anxious for summer, I am sad that my alone time with Matthew and Emily is going away. I do enjoy the quiet mornings where the three of us hang out and enjoy the peace of the morning. I get to sit and watch Emily crawl around and explore the house while Matthew plays with his toys and isn't threatened by Michael or Claire taking his stuff! Now that I have two school aged children- I totally understand how absolutely precious this time is with my two littlest babies. I know to cherish, enjoy, savor, and breathe it all in.

Damien didn't have a lot of meetings today so I asked him if he wanted to take Matthew and Emily to the farm. I was so happy he could go! We loaded them into the car and I think we were both looking forward to spending some time bonding with them. Matthew starts preschool in the Fall so these school-less mornings will soon be a think of the past. I can't believe how fast these kids are growing! To think that next year I will be home alone with Emily two mornings a week is just crazy! We arrived at the adorable farm and Matthew and Emily were going crazy! Ducks, geese, chickens, roosters, and other birds roamed the property freely. You get to experience a special kind of closeness with these animals that you can't experience in any kind of zoo or other habitat for animals. And the best part? It's free!

At the farm are birds/chickens/geese, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, bunnies, and some horses. There weren't a lot of people there so we could really take our time and explore. Emily loved touring the area where the birds lived. Matthew turned into Mr. Cool Guy and made his fingers into the 'rock on' sign. He was looking at the three toes on the chicken's feet and made that sign with his hands thinking it would make the chickens come to him! Hilarious! We headed into the barn area and Emily was immediately freaked out by the mooing of the cows. Poor baby. She was practically clawing Damien with fright! She didn't mind the pigs until they snorted. Basically, the whole barn experience was a little overwhelming for her but she did a pretty good job overcoming her little fears. Matthew saw a woman walking a cow and insisted he get his picture taken with it. By the time the woman had set the cow up to take the picture, Matthew decided he wanted to go on the play structure. I told him that he had to take a picture with the cow first and then we could play. Clearly, by the look on his face in this picture, he wasn't too pleased. I didn't care that he was pouting at all. We thought it was so funny and knew that it would make a great picture. I will have to think of a funny caption for this one!

Although it was a fairly quick trip to the farm, it was wonderful to give all our attention to these two beautiful babies. Soon, they will be running (and crawling) amongst their siblings who will be released from structure for three long months! Life sure is good and I am glad we took a little time out of our busy life to enjoy our time with them to the fullest. Matthew and Emily loved being at the farm, they got a kick out of each other (Matthew laughed at Emily when the cow scared her), Emily loved seeing Matthew play on the toys and slide down the slide, and it was nice to have Daddy with us for this fun little adventure. Life is short. You have to live it up. I am proud to report . . . we did!

Seamus & Alex's Graduation

School is almost out for summer which will free up a lot of our weekdays. Yet as a summer approaches, it is crazy to see all of our weekends fill up so quickly! This weekend, we drove north to Sonoma to celebrate a number of different celebrations for two of my nephews. First off was celebrating the graduation from 8th grade by Seamus and Alexander. I can hardly believe these little guys are going to be in high school next year! When I started dating Damien, Seamus wasn't even born yet! The quick passing of their youth reminds me again to grab hold of my kiddos as best as possible and live every moment to the fullest with them. In addition to the graduation celebrations was Alex's birthday! It was a day full of celebrating! Let's see . . . birthday cake, graduation cake, Swedish fish, yummy appetizers and a full BBQ dinner were on deck and one thing was for certain. I knew that despite all efforts to eat healthy- I was going to derail HUGE from my diet. Whoops!

The party was held at Lani's In-laws home where we always have so much fun. My kids beg me year round to go there so it was no problem getting them dressed and out of the house this morning! The house is perched on top of a mountain offering views of San Francisco, Oakland, and practically the whole bay! They don't call it the Sky Palace for nothing! It truly is breathtaking. But do you know what isn't breathtaking- the very real chance that we will see or even encounter wildlife up there. For those that know me, I am a little skittish when it comes to animals. I know, I know. I should be better at staying calm when I am around them but it is just the way I am! I get the most scared when an animal darts of comes out of nowhere. My freak out is a sight to see for sure! Well, we were all down by the pool and having a good time. The older three of my kids were in the pool and Damien was in a lounger with Emily. My nephew wanted to use one of the floating rafts in the pool so he swam over to the side right in front of Damien and lifted it up off of the hot concrete. Do you know what was under there? A baby rattlesnake! (It was a pretty decent size, too!) It slithered around and everyone was screaming because no one knew where it would go! Would it go into the pool, towards Damien and Emily? Thanks to some quick thinking from my brother-in-law Eric, he quickly handled the situation by dropping a heavy cinder block directly on top of it. Ewwww! But at least we were out of harms way! Eric explained to us how baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adult rattle snakes because they don't just bite you and give you a certain about of venom. They just release all of it when they bite which could very well be lethal! I can't say I ever really fully relaxed after that point but we did have a very nice evening celebrating two awesome guys!

After an amazing dinner which we ate all too much of- all too quickly, we sat down to toast Alex and Seamus. My sister-in-law Lani is such an amazingly strong woman. I knew her in college before I started dating Damien so we have a very unique and awesome history together. From the day she became pregnant with Seamus, I admired Lani's ability to persevere through anything and everything. I am so very proud of her and proud of the amazing way she has mothered Seamus over the years. As she spoke to the loving group of family and friends surrounding Seamus today, we all felt so moved by her heartfelt speech. She was emotional when she spoke about her son and her emotion spoke volumes. Lani and Seamus have been through so much and they are both very deserving of this moment! Alexander, the oldest of the eleven grandkids, is such a great kid. Always happy, always willing to help and just a pleasure to be around. We were so happy to celebrate his graduation from 8th grade as well as his birthday, too! Both of these boys brighten our lives and we couldn't be happier for them and we are so happy we could share in their special day! High school- look out for these boys!

Signs That Summer Is Here

I am starting to get that feeling that summer might officially be here. No, not officially according to a calendar but officially in the hearts of everyone in my family. As the weather has warmed up and it is continuing to get lighter outside at night- we are talking more walks, playing outside, swimming, playing sports in the backyard, barbecuing, and are just seemingly more relaxed these days. A change is a comin' and I can't wait! It's almost summer vacation!

Yeah, I know what it means. Summer vacation with all my kids in one place. Four kids running/crawling around the house all day long. To some that might sound like a lot to handle but I am so excited I can't hardly stand it! No more washing uniforms and deciphering if Michael and Claire should wear their PE sweatshirt or their regular sweatshirt. Did I mention I can't wait to not have to pack lunches at night? Sometimes after a long day, I can't wait to put my feet up and watch some mindless television. Nothing spoils that more than knowing that I have to pack lunches. But soon, I will have a three month break from that! And you know what else comes with summer vacation? A welcome break from the alarm clock. Soon I won't have to listen for a beep beep to wake me up but instead, Emily. Michael, Claire, and Matthew will wake up and go watch cartoons and leave me sleeping. (How nice is that? Oh, and Claire will get up and pour them all cereal! Summer is the best!) And although I love my carpool, I am looking forward to not having any pressure on me/Damien to make sure other people's kids get to school on time. At this point, summer vacation can't get here fast enough! (If you are wondering what is wrong with the right side of Matthew's mouth- he got hit in the face with a swinging hammock. Anything on the left is probably just something sticky. Lovely, I know.)

This summer will be so much different than last summer. I gave birth to Emily the day after school got out so my summer was all about survival. I tried my darnedest to enjoy my kids last summer but it was a lot of work. For one thing, it was super hot so we stayed inside most days with the AC on. I was afraid of sweet newborn Emily overheating! I was also on a mission to lose a good portion of my ginormous baby weight gain. This summer I can be happy knowing I got the large bulk of that off and now am focusing on toning and just working out to be happy! As a family we are a lot more durable and less weighted down now that Emily is older and more independent. You have to pack sooooo much stuff when you travel with a newborn. And lastly, I think that as a family we feel very content with where we are in our lives. Not a lot of change going on here. Just trying to stay happy, make sure everyone gets what they need, and a few fun tricks up our sleeves to guarantee a fun summer.

I asked the kids what they were most excited for this summer and their responses go a little somethin' like this:

Michael: "I am excited to go to Lake Chelan and have fun with my family and friends. I want to play a lot of soccer and tennis. I am also excited to listen to The Beach Boys!"
Claire: "I am excited to go to Lake Chelan and probably Raging Waters. And play soccer, basketball, and probably tennis. I'm going to have a fun time!"
Matthew: "To get wet! To play with water guns and water balloons. I can't wait to eat chicken nuggets!"
Emily: "To have my sister and brothers around all day. I missed them when they were in school!"