Gratitude~

After reading a most Inspiring Book ('raising Happiness' by Christine Carter) and getting a few fantastic and simple ideas for making our mostly Happy home even HAPPIER (who doesn't want that right).  I have gone about trying to teach my kids and myself and my husband to be more Grateful or just more aware of all that we have to be Grateful for.  We had a lesson about 2 weeks ago on Gratitude and started a Gratitude BOX.  Each day or so we write and encourage the kids to write what they are grateful for.  Then once a week, for us it is on Sunday, we sit down and read the things that have been written.  We have been doing this for just over a week and already I am Grateful that I felt inspired to do it.  It has made me so much more aware of things to be grateful for and it has also helped my kids. 

So today I have decided to blog my grateful list because TODAY has been a truly good day.  I know the challenge is really in being Grateful on the not so good days, but why not celebrate when I can right!

• Noah finally learning to roll from Tummy to BACK!!! We all cheered him on and he was not quite sure what to think, but I am pretty sure he was thinking, "Well Holy Cow, this is a fantastic new move"
• That my good friends Husband and Children were not injured in their car wreck on Saturday
• That we had so much fun at dinner tonight and laughed while the kids drank their 'SMOOVIES' and got mustaches from them (that is how Tater says smoothie)
• That I fit into my 'skinny' jeans and by the end of the day they were kinda big
• That I got to work out today and my knee felt good
• For the Rainbow we saw
• For mine and my children's wonderful friends
• For Noah and his cuteness and his delicious kissable cheeks
• For Tater and his smile
• For Tyler not putting his backpack in the middle of the way after school
• For Brooklynn and her ever Happy Outlook
• For Steve and all his hard work
• For the Joy and Love I feel from my 4 wonderful babies and an Amazing Hubby
• For my faith

 

Spring Break!

We had a great spring break this year.  We convinced (it didn't take much) Kari and Jason to come down and join us in the OC for our break.  The kids and I left on the March 25th so that we could meet up with Kari and J and Steve joined us on the 26th (our anniversary - 11 years baby!) when he returned from a work trip. 

We spent time at the beach, shopping, swimming, Disneyland, the beach, shopping and just hanging out.  We had a great time and were so grateful to spend some much needed time with Kari and J and Jake and Maggie.  Jake and Josh are two peas in a pod and while Josh is a little bossy at times they had so much fun.  Maggie is a spit fire and so adorable, it was so fun to get to know her better. 

The beach was great, the shopping fun, the weather beautiful and really it was just great! 

Disneyland was the highlight. Jake was super excited to go and as we pulled into the parking structure started wishing everyone a HAPPY DISNEY DAY!  We were a little concerned about the overcast weather, but it turned out perfect and wasn't too hot.  Maggie and Noah were troopers and couldn't have been better the whole day.  Josh was also a super star and enjoyed all the rides including Space Mountain, but he says that Buzz and Pirates were his favorites.  He was even just fine with going to the Haunted Mansion and while his big Brother and Sister were being big wimps and crying in their cereal about it, he loved the Dancing Ghosts.

Sadly all great trips must come to an end.  Thankfully due to a delayed flight we got the added bonus of having Kari and J for an extra night/day.  It was wonderful and with the extra day we had we wandered around Laguna Beach and found a yummy little restaurant that overlooked the ocean.  Here are a few pictures for highlights.  I am not sure why I don't have any of J.   

Seven Months!

My sweet baby is getting so big!  Seven months has flown by and here is what he is up to lately.

• he still won't roll from his tummy to his back, but we are super close
• he loves Tater, Tyler and Brook - they all make him smile so easily
• he LOVES the jolly jumper.  In fact life for him is a jumper as he loves to stand and then bounce on my lap
• he love to eat, but is somewhat picky.  He doesn't love any vegetable mix type food and will eat it, but complains the WHOLE time.
• he is our Chubbiest baby.  He weighs in at 18 lbs 6 oz and is 27 3/4 inches long.  He is comparable to Tyler, but Ty was longer so didn't seem so chubby!  He has big solid legs and super cute cheeks that I can't help but smother with kisses!
• he sleeps great and is mostly getting past the 6 am wake up. 
• he has had TWO ear infections in the past month
• he is super vocal and talks and talks
• he has become quite skilled at putting his own soother/binkie in. 

Basically he is just super cute and we love him.  He is a great baby and while he definitely has his fussy times, he is easy to take places for which I am so grateful!