Our baby girl is ONE!!!!

I can not believe that she is already one!! I think the time has just flown by so dang quick!! She is just so funny and active. She loves her daddy, of course, and loves to so shopping with mommy. Every time we go anywhere she/we get compliments on how cute she is. So, to celebrate her turning 1 Derek got her her first rose and every year he will add one more. So here is a picture of her looking at her rose in the middle of the night. I still can not believe that we have one of each and they are healthy and so funny! Picks from her party will be coming soon:)

CHOO CHOO

We are official DORKS! Yes, we went to the train show at the convention center. There were many different types of people there, but we are happy to say that we fit into the group of 'people who have kids that love Thomas' group. Drew and Emma loved the show and the Lego train land/track was so big and unbelievable..so great. Yes, we go to things like this, but man is it fun to see our little man so interested in it. Right when we got home all Andrew wanted to do was hang out with his choochoo and watch Thomas movies. It was a great time.

Bella's Party!

We had so much fun at the park for Bella's b-day party! Derek did not have to work, so he was able to join us for some park fun. Of course, Becky and Chris threw a great party, the kids had fun, as you can see from the pics Drew loved the cupcakes, the mom's chatted it up, the Papa's BBQ'd up a storm, some horses stopped by, the kids built their own bears, we all got bags full of candy goodies, AND IT WAS GREAT WEATHER! Bella turns 3 and we all got to have fun!!!!

Our princess Emma M-A

Emma is the princess of the house & this picture sooo proves she loves her role! Most kids do not like to have hats, headbands, sunglasses, or hoods on their little heads, but Em does not seem to mind at all:) So when Drew found a princess hat set in a toy box outside WE HAD to put it on. She sat with the hat on for a moment and played with a ring that also came with it..then she was off. She ruled the sidewalk in her walker, joggers said "Hi little princess," and Ms Melissa and Mr. Al loved it as they drove by. Thanks Auntie Em for passing that darling hat down from Hailee to baby Emma.

Happy birthday Casey!!!

One of our friend's little girl, Casey, had her 1st birthday party!!! She shares her birthday with little Miss Bella Rose, but I think that Bella would be more than willing to share it with this cutie pie. I KNOW I ALWAYS TAKE PICTURES, BUTTTTT today I forgot my camera!!! Let me just say this, the food was great, the decorations were adorable and finished off with a cute pink boa for Casey, and the kids loved each other! Lori and I have known each other for many years now. We went to the same college, worked together, share some mutual friends, found out that we were both having girls on the same day, and had our kids the same month. Thanks Lori and Mike for thinking of us on Casey's first of many birthdays..see you next weekend for Emma's!

Thank you Grandma!

Drew is now going pee-pee in the potty! Thank you Grandma Linda!!! Here is a pic of Drew & Emma hanging out in a recent gift that G-ma Linda gave Drew. They had so much fun in the pool yesterday and today...they do not even want to hang out in the other little pools we have.

Madison turns 1!!!

Madison turned the big '1' last week, so of course there was a PARTY!! She got a ton of presents, everyone had fun and the Z family can not believe that she is already 1!!! Happy b-day Madi & do not worry...your friend is following right behind you:)

??? people may have

People may have many questions about my blog, so I thought I would answer what some people may think:) #1- man why does she posts some of these VERY late at night!? I never sleep, it does not matter if I get 12 or 4 hours of sleep..I will stay up till about 2am or so. #2- What is up with the Over the Rainbow songs on the play list? Well, one of my sisters (Emma) asked the name of a song, Hailee & I talked about the rain, I told my baby Emma about the Wizard of Oz today, I spoke to Suzie about her wedding and daddy, & it is one of my fav movies, so why not have a bunch of different artists play while people looked at the blog. #3 Why does she take so many pictures? I do not have a lot of pictures from when I was younger, so I take a lot right now. #4 How many are in each of Derek and Sara's families? Derek- 3 brothers, a sister and each parent. Sara- 2 younger sisters, a mom and dad, plus step of both...well and a few extra a long the way..but who is counting:) Combined we have 3 grandparents living, a ton of aunts and uncles, so many cousins, & 4 nieces & 3 nephews.

4th of July

Well, for the third year now we have gone to the Dale Lee family house for the 4th of July. For the past two we have missed the parade in downtown Huntington Beach, but we always come afterwards. Papa D, Derek, me, Drew, Emma, Dale, Suzie, Hannah, Michelle, Saige, Connor, & Robbi all sat around eating, playing and talking on that beautiful Friday afternoon. The younger boys went into the little pool, Dale BBQ'd, Emma tried to walk, Hannah looked pretty in one of her two 4th outfits, and of course there were fireworks!! Since Dale and Suzie live a short distance from the beach we walked to it to see all of the fireworks from Seal Beach to Newport. It is an awesome view and besides Drew falling into the sand face first (in the dark) all in all it was a great time. We hope everyone had a great 4th!

Andrea got married:)

My (Sara's) cousin Andrea got married on July 5th in Vermont to a wonderful man, Chris..yes another one in the family now:) In the left picture is my Uncle Chuck, Auntie Kim, Andrea and her new HUBBY Chris. We hope to see them very soon out here in Cali and wish them the best of luck!! Andrea you looked beautiful.

Round Two in the POOL!

Before Auntie Em and the kids came over last Wednesday I thought I would try out the pool again, but this time in the backyard. EM loved it!! I let it sit for a bit on the hot cement to let it heat up and in they went. Drew of course loved it and when Emma finally went in it was like bath time for her. Or maybe she just liked to be in her two piece instead of the cute one piece?? hmmm

Marlene & Sam are engaged!

My bestest friend in the whole wide world is getting married! Having known Mar since 5th grade I can tell you that Sammy boy is the best guy for her in every respect. Next June they will wed in S. Cali then off to France to party there with Sam's family and friends. We really like Sam and know that he will always take care of her & she to him. Isn't this picture cute! Congrats to Mar and Sam

Kelly B turns 30!!!

Since January many of our guy friends have been turning 30!! I do feel so sorry for all of these boys..hahaha. Kelly B was the latest to hit this milestone. He had a fiesta at his house and it was funny to see that after all of the years of knowing this group of guys..not too much has changed. YES THAT IS A KEG BEING THROWN! Derek of course won, my strong handsome man even hurt his foot. Happy b-day Kel.