From Christmas Program Cohen

From Christmas Program Cohen

From Christmas Program Cohen

From Christmas Program Cohen

From Thortons Tree Farm

From Thortons Tree Farm

From Thortons Tree Farm

We have many reasons to give thanks this year. First and foremost, Chris and I feel VERY fortunate that our immediate family is involved in our daily lives. Not only are we blessed and better because of this but we also get the pleasure of watching our boys build a beautiful bond with their grandparents. It truly is amazing!

We love you all!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanks to Camas Photography
http://www.camasphotography.com/

To see full size pictures click on slideshow to view in Picasa

We had so much fun carving pumpkins last night. After swimming, Grandma and Grandpa came over for some soup and cornbread and to help us decorate. The boys loved helping daddy scoop out the pumpkins guts and H liked to stick his head in the pumpkin and talk to it. It was so cute. Thank goodness for the Mr. Potato head pieces - it makes decorating pumpkins awesome for the little guys :)

From Boo Bash

From Boo Bash

From Boo Bash

Paper Shredder - Part 1



Paper Shredder - Part 2

Up at 7am and off to the pumpkin patch by 8am...it was a perfect Saturday morning. The kids and I kissed daddy goodbye, wished him luck on his game, and headed out the door to pick up Grandma and Starbucks for a fun packed day at Plumper! Between the farm equipment, pumpkins, slides, animals, pony rides, and tractor rides and much much more...Cohen didn't want to leave. Every year is getting better and better as the boys are able to do more and more. Even little Henry was a trooper - even without a nap he did fabulous!!

From Plumper Pumpkin Patch

From Plumper Pumpkin Patch

From Plumper Pumpkin Patch

Click on the slideshow to view videos in Picasa :)

click on slideshow to view in Picasa - In Picasa you will be able to see the videos

Our Oklahoma adventure began promptly at 4am on Wednesday morning - and to our surprise we had 3 happy children ready to go! The flight was so smooth and easy...my mom and I had to pinch ourselves. We totally hauled & configured 2 car seats, 4 back packs, a stroller, and baby pack like nobody's business. (we were quite proud of ourselves) Everyone was giving us "high five" looks and complimenting how great the kids were listening and behaving. We were definitely feeling good...and it was a good thing everything went so great on the way there because on the way home it was a "whole" different ball game! I won't go into too much details but I will try to paint a picture in a few words...here we go - It begins with a super long line to get through security, a little boy who had to go to the bathroom(which I had no extra clothes), a random security check (lucky me), running to plane, no time to get milk for Henry (who was upset & tired), 2 over tired children who wouldn't sleep on plane, 1 screaming child, spilled drinks, more crying, super slow flight attendants(who didn't get it), Henry kicking the seat in front of him(man in front was not amused)and on and on. My mom and I just had to laugh. Everyone was giving us advice(which we gladly took) and even tried ear drops for Henry from some lady in 22A. Unfortunately, when we tried to pin down a screaming baby, the ear drops missed Henry and spilled all over Olivia and her baby doll - which resulted in another melt down. Good times!!!

But we'd do it again in a heartbeat!!!! We had so much fun with our Oklahoma family. When we get together it feels like no time has passed. The kids were in heaven and Cohen is already asking when we can go back! Watch out Aunt May and Uncle Jack, you have a big fan in Vancouver. There were many highlights of our trip...like playing and driving the farm equipment, going to the fire station, feeding Coco, diggin' the red dirt, playing at Aunt Bea's and Uncle Ken's BIG house, the excavator riding toy, Aunt Bea's fire truck, playing with Chance, going to the Sawmill cabin, fishing, swinging, boating, eating, making mud pies, morning snuggles with Aunt Fran, going to the airport restaurant, and on and on (Cohen is helping my write our story).

Can't wait til Summer 2012 in Oceanside!!!

From Oklahoma Trip October 2011

From Oklahoma Trip October 2011

From Oklahoma Trip October 2011

Rowan: "That was the BEST wedding I've ever been too!" Rowan has always been wise for his age...and he was so right! Nani, Maurice, and families planned and executed the most intimate, loving, and fun for all wedding to kick off their new life as a married couple. It was so much fun to see how they incorporated the kids into the festivities - complete with their own "fun tent" with toys, bubbles, balls, stickers, and so much more! We loved the band, the food and especially the cake!! it was a perfect wedding for the most amazing couple! Cheers to many years of celebrating!


click on slide show to view in Picasa and save photos

From Maurice and Nani's Wedding

Click on Cohen to see him dance!!!! So funny!!

From Maurice and Nani's Wedding

From CoHenry Birthday 1 & 3

From CoHenry Birthday 1 & 3

On Saturday we celebrated Nani(& Maurice's)upcoming marriage in August. It was so much fun to get to know one another and hang out. We created mini wedding cakes, ate a delicious BBQ, wine tasted, talked, laughed, played with the 7 little ones, and even squeezed in popcorn & movie after we put the kids to bed! I am so glad Nani and Maurice found each other... they are truly a perfect match!!

From Nani's Family Shower

From 4th of July

Don't forget you can view the videos in Picasa :)

From FB blog

Olivia was absolutely beautiful as she danced, twirled, and leaped across the stage on Saturday night. She was beaming from ear to ear and had the best time! All the boys loved to watch as well and brought 1 rose to give to her at the end. So sweet!

From FB

From FB

From FB

It's hard to believe Henry is already 9 months. He is really beginning to show his little personality. Henry loves his people and never hesitates to smile, kick and throw his arms out to those he loves. ~ but I think his favorite person in the world is Cohen. He lights up whenever Cohen enters the room. (let's hope this lasts)

From H 9 months

This morning we experienced our first "Groupon" purchase and it was GREAT! The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is best known for the original Spruce Goose but it is home to over 200 aircraft and exhibits. Whatever your interest, they have it covered with military aircraft, helicopters, commercial and private aircraft, and an entire building dedicated to space flight.
There was even a kids play area which all 3 boys loved! It was definitely an awesome start to our 3-day week-end. If you click on the slideshow and view in Picasa you will see the videos.

From Evergreen Air & Space museum

From Evergreen Air & Space museum

When I opened Cohen's door this morning, he said, "Mommy it's Dozer Days!!! I need my digger shirt and I need my sliver out...then I can go to DOZER DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cohen's waits and waits for this day all year and this year he got VIP tickets "thanks" to Edie. Having VIP tickets allowed Chris and Cohen go two hours early - without the crowds. (what an amazing opportunity) Then at 11am we all joined the fun with the rest of our family. Enjoy the pics!

From Dozer Days 11

Diane "hit the nail on the head" when she choose this venue to for Candy's birthday celebration. What a fun evening to celebrate one of my favorite peeps! Happy Birthday Candy! ....ps. The lead singer was very close to pulling Candy on stage with him as she knew all the words to every song - in fact we announced to the crowd that all he had to do was look at Candy if he forgot any words :) Too funny!!! Love ya

From Tony Starlights_Candy

ps. click on slideshow to view in Picasa to watch video clip :)

Cohen loves school and today he played "teacher" as he read a story to his students (a dump truck, tanker truck, tow truck, cabbage patch kid, etc.) and me. The song he is singing, is a song they sing at his school. What a character! Enjoy...

From Blog

From Blog

We had such a wonderful Easter this year. Highlights included dying eggs, making cupcakes, a couple Easter egg hunts, and brunch at Chris' parents new home. Enjoy the photos!

Our little Henry has figured out how to move forward without doing the centipede and/or scooting backwards and sitting to get to his destination. I guess it's time for the gates to go up! Watch out Cohen - here comes Henry :)

From Melissa DC_Dee trip

From Melissa DC_Dee trip

For the first time ever, I took a trip without my boys. Deanna, my best friend from college is in the Navy and has been working in DC at the Pentagon. In June, she will be moving to Japan (hopefully - her orders are on hold right now due to the earthquake)But regardless, I wanted to visit her and her family before she left and luckily all the stars aligned which allowed me to go! It was hard to leave but I did it and I'm so glad I did!! Chris and the boys called me via "video phone" everyday if not a couple times a day and every time I talked to them everyone was happy :) Being able to see and talk to them everyday allowed me to relax and have an amazing trip. It was heaven hanging out with Dee all week. Just like old times - eat, sleep, drink, walk, talk, shop, pamper - etc. Enjoy the pictures...if you click on the slide show and view them in Picasa slideshow, you will see the captions.

Every year the teachers at my school 'Helen Baller Elementary' perform a dance at our Spring Program. This year we went with a country theme - Boot Scootin' Bears! All 600 kids perform a dance routine choreographed by our PE teacher Amy Wing and I organize a routine for the teachers. This year was really easy...all we had to do was learn the line dance to "Good Times" and of course, add some HB special touches! This video is from our dress rehearsal...unfortunately, we were only able to record half of the real performance (forgot to bring more memory) boo. But, regardless, I will post what we have because the best part of the teacher dance is listening to kids go wild and chant "TEACHERS" "TEACHERS" TEACHERS"

Performance Night at Camas High School!!!!

From Spring Program 2011

From Spring Program 2011

From Drop Box

Almost all the cousins together for a group pic! Henry was the rep. for the Butler Boys

My Happy Happy Henry!@!!!! How did I ever get so lucky!

From HENRY 6 MONTHS

This week-end we headed to Bonneville Resort and Spa for our first time away from the boys in 6 months. Lucky for us, Cohen went to the beach with Chris' parents and Henry went to stay with my mom. Both boys were "loved on" and spoiled to death! They loved every minute away from mom and dad and we, in turn, soaked up as much alone time as we could in 24 hours! It was a wonderful birthday- one to put down in the books!


When we returned from Bonneville, I was greeted with the most beautiful shell from the beach and a really cool "edible" bracelet!

From Bonneville Trip

Today, Chris and I did a joint birthday party for ourselves at Big Al's :) What a fun afternoon. The kids and the adults had a blast. Then we came home for dinner and cake...what an awesome day. Next week-end we're off to Bonneville Spa and Resort- ALONE! Woo hoo! We can hardly wait for a full night's sleep. Thanks in advance to our parents for taking the kids.

From Chris Melissa Birthday

From Chris Melissa Birthday

This dedicated to our very own "Boss Baby" on his 6 month birthday!!! We love you Henry!