The Simmons Crew

New Years Eve

2012-01-17T14:40:00.000-08:00

To celebrate New Years Eve, we attended the annual Lundquist-Divine minute to win it party. As always, its full of good food, good games, good costumes and lots of fun. We were excited that Dallin and Kayla lived close enough to come with us....and together we made the Swiss Ski Team. Derek's boots (actually his Dad's) were the envy of the night!

We played all sorts of games....Around the world ping-pong, blow the egg, gummi bear toss, pass the M&M, vaseline/cotton ball, pop the balloon, human fire hose (mouth), and more.

The night ended with, food, toasting the ball drop and a hilarious mustache serenade.

A good time was had by all....can't wait for next year!

Jack Turns 4!

2012-01-15T20:39:00.001-08:00

On Dec. 28 this little guy turned 4.

I couldn't be more amazed and in love with him. His enthusiasm for life is contagious, just as his smile and laugh. He is such a great example for Teddy in being sweet, kind to others, making friends, sharing, a zest for learning, and polite. He just loves people, especially family and close friends. He is such a sweetheart, still picking me flowers, asking for snuggles, and always wanting to play. He idolizes his Dad and will do anything he is doing (including finding him in the bathtub with my razor trying to shave his head like Dad does too). As much as I am sad to see him get bigger, I am loving it at the same time. I am loving each new stage he grows into and am excited for what is in store this next year.

As usual, we were away for his birthday. Luckily we were in Utah where his little cousins and some good friends were as well. To celebrate, he and his cousin Sophia had a joint party at Jumping Jacks.

Who wouldn't love to climb, bounce and eat junk food?

Per request, Derek and I tried our hand at creating a spiderman cake. We are pretty proud of how it turned out :)

We also had a little celebration with Derek's family in Park City.

More food, treats, food and fun! It was a fun day and appreciate everyone joining in on the fun!

Christmas in Utah

2012-01-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

Life as a student is pretty sweet....considering we get over a month off of school! As soon as Derek finished his finals, we packed up and drove out to Utah. Certainly not the shortest drive in the world, but we survived.

First on the agenda to hit was a horrible stomach flu epidemic. It was a rough and horrible way to start out the vacation...

We also had the pleasure of watching my brothers' kids. They were kind enough to let us stay with them a few days, so it was the least we could do. We lucked out with the only snowfall while watching them, so we suited up all the kids and ran outside to play. Jack was so excited and the first thing he did was make a snow angel.

One of the main events of break was that my little brother got married. I am SO happy for him and just love his wife Kayla. It was so special be a part of the endowments, the wedding party, the ceremony and everything. Despite a few hiccups (i.e. horrible traffic on the way to the temple ceremony and literally running to our seats) it was a beautiful wedding and so fun to see how in love they are.

It was a walk down memory lane staying in Provo for the majority of our time in Utah. We hit up lots of great places to eat, a visit to the Bean museum, BYU basketball game, lots of swimming at the hotel, played at the Provo Beach Resort, caroled at the nursing home...

...and of course we saw Santa. It was chaos with all the cousins, but made the wait worth it (everytime we passed a Santa in a mall Jack begged to see him, but then remembered all his cousins were waiting to go together). What a classic picture, thanks to Teddy :)

Christmas Eve with my family is not one to miss! Sugar cookie decorating, manger re-enactment, and of course a legendary talent show. Jack showed off his whistling skills this year, by whistling "twinkle twinkle little star". We all then participated in a family shuffle party to "I'm 'sixty' and I know it" followed by the "Party Rock Anthem". Never a dull moment with the Bills family.

We were also able to spend a few days in Park City with Derek's family. I just love Park City. ....if only Utah had gotten more snow!.....

We also celebrated Jack's 4th birthday!

Can you believe this sweet little guy is 4 years old? I can.....he is more like 4 going on 14 these days. But we had a fun birthday party and family celebrations....more on that to come....

Three years old and skis?

2012-01-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

For the last couple of months Jack has been dying to go skiing or snowboarding. ...he even asked Santa for his own pair of skis and snowboard....I hope he wasn't too disappointed. So while we were in Utah over the break, we were so excited to get Jack up on the slopes.

Derek and Tyson took Jack and Landon up to Sundance for their first ski run.

Doesn't he look so cute all suited up?!?

Here is a snippet of his first run....

A few days later, I got to join in the fun when we took Jack up to Parley's Summit where we could ski with him. It was awesome! We were the only ones to go from the top of the 'ski hill'.

By the end, Jack was a total pro! I am so proud of the little 3 year old and how dedicated and brave he was! What a stud.

Thanksgiving in San Clemente

2012-01-09T08:22:00.001-08:00

This Thanksgiving was spent in Southern California with Derek's family.

We had lots of family time, and even got to meet up at a park with some other cousins as well.

Of course we were able to squeeze in a few beach days!

While there, we also celebrated Bill and Nina's 50th Wedding Anniversary. We prepared a nice family dinner and told memories and stories of the two of them. They are great grandparents and we look forward to 50 more years!

San Francisco Half Marathon

2012-01-08T14:58:00.001-08:00

After 2 months off from blogging (and a still broken computer) I'm back. A few months ago, my friend Megan and I ran the San Francisco Half Marathon. It was a gorgeous day in SF, lots of beautiful views, and of course a few hills in between.

My personal cheering crown made the trek to congratulate me....just what I needed when my legs felt like noodles.

Thanks Megan for signing up with me!

Discovery Bay Museum

2011-11-21T22:00:00.000-08:00

A week or so ago (finally catching up!), some friends and I decided to check out the Discovery Bay Museum.....and it may be my new favorite 'discovery' in the Bay area. First of all, it is right at the base of the Golden Gate bridge, housed inside of and old US Army post, Fort Baker.

It was a really different museum, because there were separate buildinsg with different play and learning areas, as well as lots of outside discovery areas in between.

Teddy especially loved the stream....any excuse to splash and get wet!

They had a really cool stage/puppet theater area!

Lots of fun indoors too...

But I think we loved it outdoors more....

We had a GREAT time, and will definitely be back very soon!

Rain

2011-11-21T21:37:00.000-08:00

Winter is coming.....and that means so is the rain. we've had a few rainy days as of late, so we are trying to enjoy them. Luckily my boys LOVE any excuse to be outside, get wet, and dirty.

oh, and don't let this sweet little face fool you....

he is a crazy maniac and always on the go. But I love him for it.

And this guy rides his bike any chance he gets....even with big clunky rain boots.

The Sweetest

2011-11-21T21:18:00.000-08:00

At least a couple of times a week when I pick up Jack from preschool, he gives me one of these. He picks it at outside playtime and either sticks it in his drawer or his pocket. How precious. Even the tiniest little flower he will keep safe for over an hour. I don't know how long this sweet gesture will last, but I hope it lasts forever!

Trick-Or-Treat

2011-11-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

Halloween night felt like it was never going to arrive, and we were all excited when it finally did. Attempting to catch these two little rascals to hold still for a moment....they were just could not wait to go trick-or-treating already. We even tried to lure Teddy with a lollipop.

After handing out a few candies of our own, we hopped in our car and were on our way. We went back to the same neighborhood spot as last year. Jack was an old pro, and Teddy was a quick learner!

After a while, Teddy was getting a bit tired so we stuck him in the stroller with yes another lollipop. We also bumped into some friends....and Jack was pretty excited to have some big boys to walk up to the door with.

One of my favorite things about the night was being able to see the unique Berkeley homes up close.

The end of the night....this pretty much sums it up.

Halloween at Jack's Preschool

2011-11-21T19:18:00.000-08:00

Jack just loves preschool....and so do I! He is such a big boy and I just love seeing all that he's learning, and how independent he is getting, and hearing about all the fun activities they do. It was pretty fun to see him in action with all of his buddies at school. All the kids looked so cute all dressed up.

Getting all lined up for the parade around the block.

Teddy dressed up in his skeleton jammies and loved being able to participate.

After the parade they all sat down with their handmade 'trick or treat pumpkins', and waited for some goodies. Jack got put in between all the girls at first....

but then he went and squeezed in by his other buddies Nahji, Julian and Ian.

And finally one last pic with the best preschool teacher ever....Teacher Nelly :)

Annual Pumpkin Carving Party

2011-11-07T09:26:00.002-08:00

We had our annual pumpkin carving party, filled with chili and other yummy food, good company and of course pumpkin carving! I can't wait to have a bigger place to host and be able to invite anyone and everyone!

Jack was excited to actually participate this year. Look at that concentration!

The final products

Until next year!....

No More Training Wheels

2011-11-07T09:07:00.001-08:00

Jack has been dying to get his training wheels off the last few months. He sees his dad go on bike rides, and REALLY wants to be able to go on bike rides too. So sweet. Finally, one weekend that we were all home and didn't have much going on, his wish came true.

We took off the training wheels

Went out to the parking lot

Gave him a few pushes

And he was off.

We are SO proud of him! And he was so proud of himself. The whole time, he kept asking, "Dad, now can I go on a bike ride with you?" and he'd say, "Almost, but you need to be able to start and stop by himself". So he just kept on going. And every person that came outside he'd proudly exclaim, "look no training wheels!".

A few little falls, but no tears. And they haven't been on since.....and now he is even faster than he was before......oh no.....

First Day of School

2011-10-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Jack is officially enrolled in Pre-school this year, and as you can tell from his face, he LOVES IT! Seriously. I hope this enthusiasm never leaves (and now 2 months in he still loves it just as much or more).

(indulge me for a second...this is for journaling purposes too...)He is growing up so fast. I know I am a bit biased, but I think he is just the most handsome, sweet, fun, kid around. He loves learning new things, visiting new places, reading, playing sports, doing crafts, the list goes on. He loves talking and telling stories. I guess he is quite the participant in primary and in school...and I just love that about him. He is my little sweetheart. He always gives me kisses, he'll always say sorry if he accidentally bumps me or someone/something else, he's great at cleaning up (primary at other people's houses oddly enough), obedient,he's really good at his please and thank yous, and has a genuine love for his family (he does have his moments with Teddy though). I love how quickly he makes friends no matter where we go. And I just love his enthusiasm for just about everything he does.

The other day in the car he turns to Derek and says "Dad I just want to be like you....let's take our shirts off". The first half of that phrase really sums up how much he adores his Dad...and the second part, apparently Derek is shirtless around the house quite a bit???

I just want to freeze this moment forever.

New York, New York

2011-09-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

After a few weeks at my parents house, we joined Derek in NYC for the rest of the summer. It was such a fun adventure and one I will never forget! We explored the entire city and took full advantage of the short time period...and it is also where Teddy took his first steps!

We sublet a one bedroom apartment and learned we can all sleep in the same bedroom if necessary. The apartment was a decent size (minus the non-existent kitchen...tiny even for NY standards). But we had fun keeping each other entertained.

The location was great, on the upper west side. Central Park was our backyard playground and we would explore it almost everyday! There are so many great things to see and do there!

Belvedere Castle

Old people dancing

Turtle Pond

Improv performances

Model Boat Sailing

I would so look forward to my Saturday runs where I could enjoy moments in the park like this:

It was awesome not having a car and being able to just walk everywhere! The kids were great in the stroller and they loved taking public transit. Jack became quite the know-it-all with hailing taxis and navigating the subway system. Of course, if it rained that made it a bit more difficult...

Also while there, Jack got obsessed with the "Everyday I'm Shufflin" song and video. He loved the breakdance and the dancing robot; so that became our summer theme song :)

I also took him to a 'real' NYC barber shop. He felt like such a big kid there!

We kept ourselves really busy going exploring and seeing all of the sights! (Warning: Picture Overload...)

Lincoln Center

Chelsea/Meatpacking District

The NYC Transit Museum

Seaport Village

Water Taxi Ride

Brooklyn

NY Fire Museum

Boat Basin Cafe - a fun spot on the Hudson. Fun people watching and very child friendly.

We even had some visitors during the short period we were there!

I just loved discovering all the wonderful things there were too see!

Exploring

2011-09-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

One afternoon my Dad took us exploring in the back forest. We got our hiking gear on, insect repellent sprayed and were off on quite the adventure!

We traversed across a log,

Hiked through tall grasses,

Forged the river (Gpa fell in) and even found a great fishing spot along the way!

I have always loved exploring in the backyard, and it was a memorable adventure to share with Derek, Jack and my Dad.

Happy Birthday D-Rock

2011-09-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Derek! It was hard to hold a big extravaganza for Derek's birthday with him being in NYC, traveling back and forth, celebrating Teddy's birthday and fathers day, oh and our anniversary. But, we loved having him for a day or two to celebrate early and enjoy his favorite homemade ice-cream pies! Our niece was so cute and made a card for everyone to sign to make him feel extra special.

You are the best Dad/big kid/husband I could ask for. The kids admire you and so do I. I love you sweetheart and we sure loved having you all to ourselves!

4th of July

2011-09-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July weekend the whole fam was in town (minus Dallin). It was filled with slip n' slide, a parade, golf, runs, BBQs with friends and family, fireworks and fun!

The kids held their own special 4th of July parade the day before to include Landon and Chloe. There was some fierce competition and lots of creativity!

Of course the 4th of July wouldn't be complete without the ward breakfast. Shane was in charge and did a great job! The kids swam, listened to patriotic speeches and of course yummy food.

This year, because of the babies (and the fact that Derek was in NYC for the actual day of), we opted to have our own fireworks show. My Dad had a huge stash of fireworks he picked up in Pennsylvania and boy were they a hit! We made regular and carmel popcorn, sat out on lawnchairs in our PJ's, enjoyed great music, held umbrellas, and had great company:) Plus, the fireworks did not disappoint either!

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T21:31:00.001-07:00

I can hardly believe a decade has gone by since this tragic day in history.

It seem just yesterday I was woken up in my freshman dorm room by roommates with the news...as I am sure you remember the exact spot you were.

May we all take a moment to remember those who passed and look towards a brighter future.

Teddy turns 1

2011-09-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

While at my parent's house, Teddy had his first birthday! I can't believe my little guy is one year old already! He has grown into being the biggest ham, the silliest kid, full of smiles, loves other people but also will just roam and explore and play on his own, is incredibly wiggly, a little chatterbox, and we just LOVE our little Teddy Bear to pieces!! It has been so fun reliving all the little baby moments and watching each milestone along the way (and not being stressed about it!)

The Classic "I Hate My Hat"

We kept his party super low key (I mean, why stress and overdo something he isn't even going to remember?) but just had fun keeping him as the center of attention. My whole family minus Dallin was there to celebrate. It was fun having other cousins to celebrate with! I also figured this was the only year to have a 'Teddy Bear' theme while he doesn't have a choice. So we had presents and cake and enjoyed almost every bit of it.

Just as I thought, Teddy loved the frosting but not so much the cake part. He didn't like eating a ton of table food yet.

Please don't make me eat another bite!

Sprinklers

2011-09-07T19:24:00.001-07:00

With all the heat and humidity, the kids loved cooling off in the sprinkler. It was their go-to activity! They would run through it in the grass, spray it on the tramp, and even added bubbles to make 'snow angels'. What a goofy group of kids! (And please not Oliver's broken arm. The poor kid broke his arm playing at the park- isn't it just the saddest thing ever?!?)

And a lot of times it was just too hot and buggy to let these two little rascals out. Sad.

Slip N' Slide

2011-08-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

For the 4th of July instead of heading to a pool, the Dads went and bought a monster tarp and made a slip n' slide. A couple of different locations and bottles of soap later, it was a big hit!

Homestead Farm

2011-08-25T22:21:00.001-07:00

One of the perks of my parents living out in the boondocks is that there are lots of farms nearby. Homestead Farm is our go-to. It's a great place to let the kids run, feed the animals and pick fresh fruit.

The other perk is that the farm has two beautiful golden retrievers. Both Jack and Teddy LOVE dogs so they were in heaven whenever one wanted to tag along with us for the day.

Every time we went, it made me want to live on a farm. Life is just so simple and beautiful and it truly is a little boys playground.

Summertime in DC

2011-08-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

For part of the summer we got to spend hanging out at my parent's house. It is always great to be back in the DC area and take advantage of all the things there are to do. One of those being all the great museums! They keep up the highest standards and never disappoint. Did I mention they are always free?!?

So here's to our museum tour. I limited which museums we went to being it tourist season and the fact that I have 2 little boys on the loose....

National Zoo

"baby lion cubs" aren't so baby

Nat'l Postal Museum

Natural History Museum

Air and Space Museum

Williamsburg

2011-08-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

On our way back from the OBX, we decided to make a pit stop in Williamsburg. I hadn't been since my 5th grade trip and Derek hadn't been since he was little as well. We met up with Shane and Hannah and the kids.

The downtown area is so charming, full of great little boutiques and specialty food shops.

We had fun wandering the dirt roads and showing the kids the colonial way of life. Jack was especially intrigued by the cannons, the jail, and the horse poop (chocolate cake) in the road.

Despite a ridiculously hot and sweaty day I'm glad we took the time for a fun little historical detour.

The Summer Adventure Begins

2011-08-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

This summer has brought a lot of changes, a lot of adventures and a lot of memories. As soon as Derek's school ended in May, we flew back East for the summer. We planned on spending a few weeks at my parent's house before Derek's internship started up in NYC.

OBX 2011

But the first adventure was going to the OBX (Outer Banks, NC) with my family. I grew up going to the OBX and it had been a few years since we last went. It really is the perfect vacation spot. You can rent really large houses so that everyone can stay comfortably together, have a pool and be right across of the beach. The beach we go to is not very crowded, the water is warm and it is just heavenly. We lucked out with good weather and no big problems or injuries (pretty good for a house of wild dads and crazy kids). We had fun swimming, playing at the beach, visiting the lighthouse, exploring neighborhoods, running, surfing, playing tennis, playing games go-carting and eating.

Car Ride :)

On the drive up, we wanted to stop off at the Grave Digger monster truck site...purely southern hick, right? Well, to our surprise, they were having a monster truck remote control car race too. Jack (and Derek) thought it was really cool.

We also tried a new dinner tactic. A few of the nights we waited to have our adult dinner until after the kids were asleep so we could eat outside and actually hold a conversation. We each took turns cooking dinner, so we had so new and yummy meals! I so looked forward to this time :)

One day I took the older kids to talk the Currituck Lighthouse (poor Lando was sick). They did great walking up all those winding stairs, and the view was beautiful!

One night we got the kids all excited for ice-cream and they started an 'ice-cream' chant to get pumped up.

Afterwards we decided there was nothing wrong with a little friendly Bills competition, so we raced go-karts with the older kids. P.S. I just love Tyson's face in it, but I love our cheering section more :)

Our attempt at a family photo...we opted for no grown-ups in hopes of getting the grandkids more focused....

And Dallin's attempt to be 'Uncle of the Year'

We also took the kids crabbing one evening. It was so fun and picturesque. The boys were all very patient (kids and Dads) and were so excited when they each caught one!

Of course we had plenty of pool and beach time! (more pictures to come)

Who wouldn't want to snuggle these adorable little monkeys? I am the luckiest Mom and Aunt!

I just love spending time with my family and love that my kids love it just as much or more.

Mother's Day

2011-05-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to get to be the mother to these two sweet little rascals. Every day is an adventure and they constantly keep me smiling. Not to mention they are the most handsome two little boys ever!

Mother's Day was filled with hugs and cards, flowers, an outing to Muir Woods and a delicious dinner cooked by Derek. I just love spending time with my little family and am enjoying this time that we have Derek around!

Caught....

2011-05-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

Caught red handed.

This little rascal is a mover and a shaker. He is such a busy body crawling all over the place and getting into everything along the way. He has discovered a love for dancing and music, loves to talk and point and absolutely adores Jack(he follows him everywhere!) He is such a sweet little guy to be around.

Happy Easter

2011-05-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

This year, I had surgery on my collarbone the Friday of Easter weekend, but that also meant that my Mom got to spend it with us too!

Saturday Derek took Jack to the Primary Easter Egg Hunt. They looked for eggs, and played a ton of games! Looks like he had fun....he's getting SO big!

Sunday morning we looked for Easter baskets, even Grandma got one :) The boys loved looking for theirs and digging through all the fun surprises!

That afternoon we had planned an Easter dinner and Egg hunt with some other MBA friends...and even though I had surgery 2 days prior, I didn't want to miss out! It was a beautiful day and yummy food and a great Easter!

Fishing

2011-05-03T12:52:00.001-07:00

We decided to take Jack fishing for the first time at the Lafayette Reservoir. Jack was SO excited to try out his new Star Wars fishing pole and would practice casting in the backyard. Our dear friends the Pearce's joined us. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and Jack waited so patiently. Unfortunately no fish were caught (it'd probably help not to fish in mid afternoon) but we had a ton of fun and can't wait to go back again!

Really?

2011-04-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

Almost a week ago, I tripped on uneven sidewalk running downhill and spent the holiday weekend dealing with this:

(fyi- this is not my x-ray)

What are the odds? A broken right collarbone that I had to get surgery on....a metal plate and some screws...that I'll have to re-operate on at the end of summer and get it removed....with 2 kids and a move coming up. Thank goodness for a doting husband, angellic friends and a loving mother who is literally taking over for my hands the next 2 weeks. I supposedly can't lift teddy (what I'm basing my healing process around) for 3-4 weeks. Atleast I'll become quite creative and talented with my left arm in the mean time. So sorry for my lack of posts for the next while.

Spring Break

2011-04-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

One of the many perks of going back to school is having a Spring Break!!! Aside from Olympic week freshman year of college, it's been a while since I've had a spring break (BYU never has one). It was awesome! It was SO nice to have Derek around for a whole week to do nothing but hang out, talk and play. And even though it was a REALLY long drive....one I don't think we'll do again, at least we got to see beautiful scenery like this:

The budget-concious side of us decided to go somewhere within driving distance and free lodging? Lucky for us, our good friends the Lyman's (Megan's parents) had an awesome house in St. George.

To break up the drive, we took a detour to San Clemente. Oh how I love that town. We were able to hang out with the Grandparents, surf, run the trail, see some friends, and introduce Teddy to the beach for the first time. It really made me miss the beach and the area.

Jack will always be our little beach bum.

We even had time for a little fishing ;) ...Derek taught Jack how to cast and reel. Now he's obsessed!

We then headed on up to St. George for plenty of R&R. It was a perfect break. Lots of hanging around, playing games, NCAA, golf, hiking, running, and eating out. We were even able to score a babysitter one night to go to dinner sans Jack and Landon.

The first day we got there, Megan and I indulged ourselves in a little spa day. We got massages and had lunch at this awesome healthy girly spa resort. What a great way to kick off the week!

This was my first time to St. George. The red rock is so beautiful! I loved exploring and hiking around, but also visiting the historic town square, learning about the Tabernacle, and seeing the temple.

Megan and I took the boys to explore the Dixie rocks. They loved it, and so did I. Jack loves anything outdoors- especially hiking and climbing- so he was in heaven. I love these photos of the boys together.

I promise I didn't pose him....Jack is such a ham with the camera!

We also took a day to check out Zion's. We definitely weren't prepared for how cold it was, but the kids were troopers and it was well worth the visit. First we hiked up Weeping Rock and could not believe the frozen ice and snow at the bottom of the falls.

We then took a stroll along the River Trail. The kids had a blast throwing rocks and finding sticks. I'd love to come back again someday, better prepared, so we could explore even more!

Here we are at Samurai 21 (like a Benihana's). It was definitely entertaining, but Jack was deathly afraid of all the fire!

Most of all, we just got to enjoy family time! I loved being able to play games together and hang out. Jack is at such a fun age right now, and Teddy wants in on the action too. I love my family boys and all the excitement that comes with it. 'Til next Spring Break.....

Tunnel Time

2011-03-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

Never ending rain in the Bay Area means more inside fun. This time we busted out our tunnel and tent for a few days and let Teddy practice his crawling skills.

9 Months Old

2011-03-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

This past week Teddy turned 9 months old! I cannot believe how fast the time has flown. What happened to my tiny little baby?

For over a month now he has been crawling and sitting up, trying to keep up with Jack. He's even starting to pull himself up on his knees and feet! Teddy has a ton of energy, emotion, and is SUPER wiggly (I dare say more than Jack had- which kind of frightens me!...what is it with us having high energy kids?...it certainly keeps life interesting!) Teddy loves to explore; he's always dumping out baskets, crawling in tiny spaces, throwing the books off the shelves, trying to go after plugs and shoes and things he shouldn't be.

He loves to play catch with the ball. He can even wave "Hi"! I know, he's really gifted. haha.

He loves to be where the action is and absolutely adores his older brother. He is our little snuggler and certainly our little Teddy Bear!

Strawberry Canyon Trail

2011-03-12T19:42:00.000-08:00

This morning I went on a run with some girlfriends in the beautiful Berkeley Hills. I had been wanting to run this particular trail and was excited to learn that they were planning to do just that. It was absolutely beautiful! We went early in the morning, before it got too busy and the morning dew was still fresh on the ground.

It was so green and full of lush vegetation...lots of moss-covered trees, rock walls, soaring red woods, all while following a running creek. Oh, and don't forget the gorgeous views of San Francisco and the Bay which never gets old. It was such an inspiring atmotphere and left me feeling so thankful to be living in such a beautiful area! ...now if only I could do that run every morning...

Soccer Star

2011-03-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Jack is in his first organized sport, and it is so exciting! There is quite the group of 3-4 year olds in our ward and complex, so rather than paying $150 for lessons, we formed our own team and hired our own coach for MUCH less. The first week was rainy so we moved practice to the church building. Jack did really well and was so stoked to dribble, shoot and score with his new soccer ball. Derek was just as excited and came from class to watch this exciting moment. Coach Lauren is so good and patient with all of the crazy kids.

Unfortunately, this week wasn't as successful. We had practice outside and Jack focused for about 15 minutes, then got distracted by all the fun things around....stairs, trees, etc... Baby steps... Atleast he looks good in his uniform :)

Mommy Wow, I'm A Big Kid Now!

2011-03-10T13:34:00.001-08:00

I finally bit the bullet. I have been putting it off, only wanting to do it when I knew Jack was fully ready. So then when I learned that Jack could control his number 2s, I decided it was time. Monday we had a "potty party" full of new underwear, treats, games, crafts, etc.... He did so great!!! One time he tinkled a bit in his underwear but then stoppedand so "oh Man!" He was so disappointed in himself. Today he went to preschool without me there and did not have any accidents. In fact, I think he is overly careful with not wanting to have an accident b/c apparantly he went potty 4 times on him own. Better safe than sorry :)

So the last couple of months, we have been talking about what toy he'd want once he starts to wear big boy underwear.... and it was the Batman Cave. After we picked it up and brought it home, he played with it for hours....longer than any other toy! Glad it's getting it's money's worth!

Go Jack!

Movie Night

2011-02-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

So we started 'Movie Night' with some other families every weekend. One couple has everyone's kids over for popcorn and a movie while the other couples get a night out on the town. It has been a lot of fun and definitely saves money on babysitters! Plus, Jack gets SO excited for it. Last weekend was our turn to host. We watched "The Sword and The Stone". It was one of my favorites growing up and Jack LOVED it. Here is a picture of the kids watching the movie. It's a bit blurry but I just had to post it. They were all so cute- laughing and cracking jokes (we're missing a couple of kids who were out of town).

Mother Nature, make up your mind!

2011-02-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

The weather has been so crazy this past month. It has been as warm as 80 degrees and as cold as the upper 20s. We had spectacular weather a couple of weeks ago and decided to take advantage and go on another family hike. This time, we went on a different trail. It ended up being about 3 miles roundtrip. Jack did a great job! Of course we'd play games along the way to keep him interested (hide and seek, chase each other with a pokey stick, looking for creatures, etc...).

Just a few days later, it was back to a typical northern CA winter....rain, rain, and more rain.

After being cooped up inside for days straight, we decided to just grin and bare it. Playing out in the rain can be a lot of fun if dressed appropriately :)

Then, Mother Nature took another turn and San Francisco got its first glimpse of snow in 30 years! Unfortunately, it happened in the middle of the night so we totally missed it. Bummer. I was hoping to make some snow angels with the boys!

Jack-isms

2011-02-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

So the other day Jack and I were building with legos and here is how our conversation went:

J: are you building me a surprise?

M: Do you want me to?

J: Ya-

M: Okay. Don't look

.....he proceeds to inch his way over to help...

J: Mom, I'm going to build you a surprise

M: But I thought I was building you one.

J: No- this is for you. Don't look. It's super special. It's a present just. for. you. I'm going to wrap it up and put it in my backpack....but it's too big for my back pack, so I'll just let you open it. I'm almost ready. You can almost see it. Don't knock it over. It's super special just for you.

Gotta love this kid.

Also, yesterday he called his friend Landon "Sweetheart Bud". Cute. I think that's my new favorite.

Best Buddies already

2011-02-14T12:40:00.001-08:00

I just love watching my two boys interact. It is the sweetest thing in the world! Jack is such a great big brother- always eager to play with him- and Teddy just adores Jack. Whether it's hiding together, or building lego towers for Teddy to knock over, I hope this phase never ends! Here is a little peak into some of our downtime fun :)

For a few days there, Jack was really into building pirate ships out of couch cushions. So that's what we did morning, noon and night :)

The rest of them are just fun playtime pics. Usually Jack is doing something funny and he asks me to go grab the camera so I can take a picture of him......modest and shy? I think not....and I think Teddy is following in his footsteps..

Jack-isms

2011-01-25T15:06:00.000-08:00

Jack was being incredibly chatty today (what's new?!?) and I pulled a funny face.....to which he replied, "Mom, I don't want to you to be super funny, okay?" At least somebody thinks I'm funny!

The other day in the car I was putting on some lipstick, and he asked if he could have some of that pink gluestick. I'm kind of glad he didn't know what lipstick was!

I was folding the laundry and Jack walks over, grabs one of my bras and puts it on saying "Look Mom, armor!"

....only in Berkeley....

(don't worry, it's water)

L.A. Day

2011-01-24T22:33:00.000-08:00

Probably my favorite day of the break was spent up in L.A. with the family. I love going up to West L.A. and Malibu....some of my favorite days have been hanging out on Main Street or Abbott Kinney or driving up the 1 to the Malibu beaches. So we did just that. And I loved every minute of it!

We walked around Main Street in Santa Monica to shop and have lunch; then headed up the 1 to check out some beautiful homes and spend some time at the beach. It was a beautiful day...perfect for digging in the sand, looking for sea urchins, and watching the waves!

We then went over the hills to hang out with one of my best friends from high school, Laney and her husband Zach. She made us a delicious dinner, and Jack had blast playing with their dog Connor....and Connor loved Jack a little too much.....

Christmas in San Clemente (Part Deux)

2011-01-22T21:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve day we headed on over to Derek's parents house in San Clemente to celebrate with them and spent about 2 weeks just hanging out and enjoying the down time.

We were lucky enough to have John and Scott cook Christmas Eve dinner for us....and what a spread it was!

That night, after tubbies and tucking the boys in, Mr. and Mrs. Claus were busy assembling toys and presents for Christmas morning.

*first and only so far matching outfits. I must admit, it is pretty darn cute :)*

This was truly Christmas morning.....all the things that Jack had so sweetly written to Santa about and told him earlier in the week were there. I know that Jack and Teddy loved all the attention they were getting!

*hm....so Santa really did eat the milk and cookies!*

And of course the BIG BOY BIKE! Now doesn't that smile on Jack's face just make it all worth it? Pure happiness!

Teddy's first Christmas....was spent mostly trying to figure out how he could fit that big bow in his mouth....

We spent the rest of the morning relaxing and playing with our new Christmas gifts.

*no we do not teach our children how to flip off the camera!*

We love coming to Gma and Papa's house and looking at the twinkle lights. Jack and I decided to have our own little photo shoot....he loves to be the photographer.

Angry Birds was the new phenomenon around the house....it has become the bain of my existence.

Hanging out on the Beach...oh how I miss the beach! Jack was in heaven!

We loved being able to see friends, go to the beach, run the beach trail, surf, shop and just hang out! We miss it and everybody already! Thanks for a great week all!!!

My little guy is 3!

2011-01-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

Over the break, Jack turned 3! We woke him up with a decorated room and headed over to HARBOR HOUSE for a delicious "waffle dip dip" breakfast in his jammies :)

This birthday could not come soon enough. He has been so excited for his 'Pirate' birthday party. We decided to throw him a little party at my in-laws house with just a few of his Southern CA buddies. This was my first real kid party, so I had fun coming up with ideas and activities for the kids.

We got this giant cardboard pirate ship the kids could color and play in. Actually all 7 of the kids fit in it at one point!

We also decorated foam pirate swords and have sword fights in the garage. Uncle Tyson was a great sport and played too and even held Jack ransom :)

We played pin the sword on the pirate skeleton.

Had a treasure Hunt.

Of course we sang to Jack and had cupcakes.

Jack was in heaven. To have pirate stuff, friends, family, and chocolate....his world was perfect!

*opening family gifts*

Turning 3 meant graduating out of nursery and into Sunbeams! We took him on Sunday to his new church class, and got a little choked up. Our little guy is growing up. He has been so much fun!...he is little sounding board and sponge constantly asking questions and learning new things and new words. He can navigate a computer and ipod....angry birds is his favorite. His attention span is getting bigger and he is getting more and more independent. He is still the best brother to Teddy! We just love him and are excited for all that he'll learn in the next year.

Christmas in Newport (Part 1)

2011-01-13T15:44:00.000-08:00

Derek had a 6 week long break between semesters (it's still going on right now). We decided to drive on down to Southern CA and enjoy some R&R as a family.

The first week we spent in Newport with my family. It has been nice to have my family come out to CA the past couple of years so that we get to see both families over the holidays. My entire family gathered together....I was in heaven, and definitely all the grandkids were in heaven! The only bummer was that it rained almost the entire week straight! So we did a lot of hanging out at the condo, hot tubbing in the rain, and finally just ignoring the rain and got wet anyway! From the Newport boat parade to Fashion Island excursions to trips to Main Beach Laguna we had fun and still enjoyed the outdoors.

Building Forts and Building Blocks

*Oh to be a fly on that wall....

Playing Games

Snuggles from Grandma and our Christmas hotel decorations

Outings in the drizzling rain at Main Beach in Laguna

Sophia and Jack share a birthday, so we decided to celebrate Sophia's early this year and let her have the spotlight. We had delicious cupcakes (seriously the best ever by Hannah), had a dance party, and played Ghost in the Graveyard. I love how kids are so easily entertained! Jack was talking about Ghost in the Graveyard for days!

Went to Fashion Island to see Santa. The photo of Jack on Derek's shoulders is when he catches a glimpse of Santa. Jack was SO excited to tell him that he wanted a Big Boy Bike. It was fun to have his little cousins with him :)....even though poor Zooey girl didn't think much of Santa...

To make Christmas work for all families and in-laws, we bumped it a few days ahead to enjoy the festivities together. Christmas Eve was filled with talent show, great photo montage videos by Mom, and of course the Live Nativity.

Christmas morning we woke up to Santa's footprints, presents and stockings. Jack really understands and 'gets Christmas' now. Kids make the holidays so much fun!

*giving Gma and Gpa their handmade ornament from Jack

Thanks for making such a memorable Christmas everyone~....even with the rainy weather.

*disclaimer.....we had just woken up Jack from a nap and Teddy needed one...

Tubby Time

2011-01-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

Teddy had a few blowouts over the break....and this is how he got bathed. His bottom two teeth broke through just before Christmas, and we are all hoping this teething process will be done soon! He is starting to figure out how to scoot around a bit and can even balance sitting up (with me well within catching distance!). He is in love with his brother Jack, and it is so cute to see the mutual affection...Jack regularly mentions that he can't wait til Teddy gets bigger to play toys with him. It just melts my heart....let's hope it stays that way!

(and yes, I did just notice the bubble coming out of Teddy's bum....how embarassing!)

Oakland Temple

2011-01-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

Just before we left for the Holiday break, we went to the Oakland Temple to check out the lights and meet up with some friends. Jack loves temples! His favorite song is I Love To See The Temple and he loves to see and talk about Temples.

He obviously had fun running around with his partner in crime, Eve.

The Nielsons

Our Fam

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-18T14:00:00.001-08:00

We are off to Southern California to hang out with both of our families for the Christmas/School break. So without my desktop, I'll be taking a blogging hiatus. Have a safe and happy holiday with family and friends!

Thanksgiving

2010-12-09T10:21:00.001-08:00

This year we went back East for Thanksgiving! It is always a special treat to go to MD because we don't make it out there too often. We had a lot of fun hanging out with family, having a house and a yard to play in, and bundling up in the cold weather. Derek flew out with us, but came back at the end of the weekend for classes. I stayed with the kids for an extra week and flew home separately...I was incredibly nervous flying by myself with 2 active and sometimes needy boys, but they impressed me and and were so good for the long journey back.

Thanksgiving day consisted of a victorious Turkey Bowl game for the boys (thanks to Derek's winning T.D. catch), a hike in the woods, passing of the corn jar, and of course lots of yummy food!

The weather turned freezing cold while we were there, so we got creative at times with our time. Jack was in heaven having Oliver to play with 24/7 and Sophia when she wasn't at school. They were both SO good to him...even when we was being a bit difficult. We just love our cousins and love having such a fun and close family!

We had lots of jucuzzi sessions.....

lots of trampoline time....

lots of cousin snuggles...

and Teddy got lots of love and attention all around!

We built gingerbread houses...

had some dance parties...

rode big boy bikes (it was way too cold outside!)...

celebrated Hannah's birthday...

used Uncle Derek as a jungle gym...

met Zooey girl for the first time...

and posed for photo shoots.

One night, mom and dad stayed home with the kids while us grown ups went out on the town. I think it was the first time we've been out without Teddy along! We decided to go to this amazing icerink downtown. It is nestled in the sculpture garden on the DC mall, with the National Archives building lite up behind it- truly picturesque. It was a lot of fun skating around...Derek was by far the best of us! The higlight had to be when my brother 'proposed to his wife". Long story short, we cleared the ice to all Hannah to the center, while Shane skated in on one knee and proposed. The crowd cheered and oohed and awed and congratulated them all night. It was really funny and spontaneous and will perhaps keep this as a tradition to propose somewhere new each year! We then stopped by the ______ Hotel to take a look around- it's an amazing hotel where Presidents have stayed and MLK finished his "I Have A Dream" speech there.

My Mom and I took the kids to the Botanical Gardens....a tradition of ours at Christmastime. It is a really neat place- with lots of space to run for Jack in the rainforest- and they always have neat exhibits during the Holiday season. This year they had this magnificent train system going throughout all the wonders of the world, which were all made out of natural materials (bark, pine cones, sticks). It was amazing! Jack sat in there for a good 30 minutes just staring at the trains going. My favorites were the Eiffel Tower and also a mini White House they had out in the foyer (swing set and all).

Thanks everyone for a great time and a memorable Thanksgiving!!!!

Teddy's (almost) 6 months!

2010-12-08T21:19:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that Teddy is almost 6 months old! The time has absolutely flown by. I want him to stay this tiny little thing who snuggles in bed with us forever. But time goes on and he is just getting cuter and cuter and his little personality is shining through. He just loves his older brother and loves to be around people. He has a contagious smile and such a sweet little face. He loves to nuzzle into things when he's falling asleep- whether it be his blanket, a stuffed animal, or your arm; he's definitely a snuggler. He is most chatty late at night and early in the morning...and he is quite the talker!....(or squealer!). He likes his excersaucer better than anything else and is getting better and better with his hands.

He weighs in at a sprightly 13 pounds and is 25 inches tall. We love every tiny inch of him!

Uncle Dallin

2010-11-16T14:27:00.000-08:00

My little brother Dallin was in the area for some job interviews, so lucky us got to hang out with him! We picked him up Friday night in San Jose so we hung out Santana Row...and had some fun in Urban.

Saturday we ate breakfast at Cafe M and walked 4th Street. We then headed to Tilden to go on a hike. We found a new trail last week at night and wanted to come back in the daytime...and I am so glad we did. It was beautiful! We are already planning to go back again soon :)

We then drove around campus, hung out back at home, and of course we had to introduce him to Zachary's before sending him back to San Francisco.

Thanks Google and Intuit for bringing him out here! Come back again soon Duncle Dawin!

Big Brother

2010-11-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

Jack has been such a great big brother to Teddy.

He loves to snuggle him, share toys and blankets with him, and hold him and give him kisses. And Teddy loves every second of it!

In fact, Jack was the first to get a true giggle out of Teddy. I caught some of it on camera, now I just need to figure out how to upload it :)

Jack is such a sweet ball of personality and we just love him to pieces!

What's not to love about his adorable little face?

Hiking

2010-11-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

Last night we drove up to Tilden Park to try and take advantage of the fall weather and little bit of sunlight that was remaining. It was pretty dark when we got up there, but we still had fun exploring. Jack even brought his little flashlight along.

digging for squirrels

(yes I did go brown again....the fall weather and a student budget inspired me)

A whole new world

2010-11-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

We introduced Teddy to the exer-saucer (or whatever its called).

It's a whole new world with a whole new view.

I think he kinda likes it :)

BitterSweet

2010-11-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Congratulations SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS for winning the WORLD SERIES!

The surf industry suffered a great loss yesterday. Andy Irons, pro Billabong surfer, 3 time world ASP champ, brother to Bruce Irons, husband, and soon-to-be father passed away of Dengue Fever.

He contracted the illness in Puerto Rico and was on his way home to Hawaii when he passed. It's crazy to think that we just saw him at a surf premier a few weeks ago and he left at such a young age (32) with a child on the way. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.

*on a side note, Derek contracted dengue fever on his mission....what a scary a serious illness!

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

Church Halloween Party

Jack was SO into Halloween this year! The decorations, the fun treats, and of course dressing up! Everyday he wanted to be something different, but finally we came to the decision of BUZZ LIGHTYEAR! He wore his buzz wings everywhere the week of Halloween...and he was definitely the cool kid when he wore them :) The rest of us followed suit and went Toy Story themed. Derek went as Woody, I went as Jessie, and Teddy as Mr. Potatohead.

The ward party was a bit crazy....we have lots of little kids in our ward....but of course Jack had a blast!

Hanging out with some of his buddies

Abby, Issac, Jack, Jack, Ollie and Ike

Playing Games

Going Trick-or-Treating through the halls

he loved every minute of it!!!

Trick-OR-Treat?!?

Sunday was quite the memorable Halloween for a few reasons. It was a beautiful day outside, and after a long week of rain, we wanted to take advantage of the sunshine. So we went on a walk to look at the gorgeous houses in the Claremont area. On our way home, our car died. We were about 3 miles from home, and decided to walk part of the way and maybe catch a bus the rest of the way. Long story short, we ended up running home, grabbing the Jeep and Jack's buzz costume, then heading to the Jensen's. The Halloween party was a lot of fun....lots of ward friends, yummy Halloween food and fun!

With two of his buddies Landon and Isaac

Once it was dark enough, the trick or treating began. Jack was SO excited and felt so big. He had been practicing all week at home and now was the big day....ready, set, GO!

I have to admit I got a bit teary eyed. He was so cute walking from house to house with his buzz wings bouncing along; then climbing the stairs to each house (he'd carefully hold on to the railings- the steps were as big as he was);

then knock and ring the door-bell....he'd wait around for even the slowest responses to loudly but sweetly proclaim trick-or-treat! He'd take his time picking out his candy

then say thank-you as he turned around to do it all again.

He would even stop to notice all the decorations, and even fix the pumpkin tops that were a bit crooked :)

His feet finally got tired and his bucket full to the brim so we turned in. It was the perfect night! The weather was gorgeous, we walked around with good friends in such a great neighborhood, and just enjoyed the holiday as a family of four.

Festive Fall Fun

2010-10-29T19:46:00.000-07:00

5th Annual Pumpkin Carving and Chili Chow

This year, because of apartment space and expanding families, we had a more quaint pumpkin carving party...but just as fun! The Pearce's came over to have some chili, play, and carve pumpkins. I always love an excuse to get creative with food and decorations!

Then one night Jack helped me make Halloween Cats for my young women. He's such a good little helper!....although he did sneak a few more m&ms than what we actually used :)

We decided to make one last pumpkin patch visit. This one is extremely local and a bit ghetto....but it did have a bouncy house and slide :) We ALL had fun playing around!

Mission Accomplished

Habitot

2010-10-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

One rainy day, we decided to check out Habitot, an indoor play area for kids with some friends. Everyone else had the same idea, because it was a zoo. But, Jack had a blast doing all sorts of fun activities: 'car wash', painting, playing with clay and dress up.

A great place for a kid to be a kid.

Jackisms

2010-10-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

So I was inspired by my friend to record more of Jack's funny sayings (and eventually Teddy's) on the blog instead of always in my journal...or atleast make sure it's recorded! Toddlers are just so funny with the things they come up with. He always has me laughing (but not at night these days!!) at the things he is saying and doing.

1. The other day Derek was moving the car in the parking lot and told Jack he could hop in the front seat. So Jack buckled up and turns to Derek and says, "But is the police man going to come and get me?" ...perhaps we use the police man threat a bit too much...

2. The last couple of days I've gone to get Jack in the morning or at naps, he is doing a headstand in his crib. We've got a little acrobat on our hands!

Lake Anza

2010-10-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

Last week brought 90 degree weather, so we headed to Lake Anza to cool down. Jack had a blast playing in the sand and water, with his his friends and of course he made some new ones too. It was absolutely beautiful and was a good substitute for our beloved southern CA beaches...for now anyway...

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

Fall is officially here! After having a week of 90 degree weather, cooler temperatures have come so off to the pumpkin patch we went! It was a busy day- full of a 50 mile bike ride for Derek up Mt. Diablo, then a BBQ with friends afterwards in Moraga (thanks again Rawley and Mithona!). A bunch of our Berkeley friends were heading up to Clayton Farm so we decided why not make the day even more awesome than it already was?!?

It was a lot of fun! Despite the fact that there was no bouncy house, it was a true farm experience. It had hay mazes, water duck races, "pumpking seed" pools, basketball through tubes in the hay and bean bag tosses, animals to feed, trains to ride and kettle corn. Oh, and of course pumpkins.

It was nice to be way out in the country, where all you see are the rolling golden hills. After the kids were done playing, we continued the party in the town of Clayton at Skipolini's. It is definitely THE pizza joint in town...tons of team dinners, crazy kids and families. (**on a side note, Skipolini's is where Derek and I ate in Walnut Creek to attempt to induce labor. We ate the Prego Pizza, and sure enough Jack came just a few days later. haha**)

It was a blast to kick off the fall season with such fun fall activities and lots of great friends!

First Visitors!

2010-10-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, we welcomed our first visitors! Derek's parents and older brother Jeff came in town over Conference weekend. It was a short visit, but we enjoyed every minute of it!

Friday we hung low....went to Aquatic Park and out to dinner in Emeryville. We then some amenities at the hotel, where Jack could go swimming and us parents could relax in the hot tub (my first time in since getting prego!)

Saturday we took everyone to our favorite breakfast place in Berkeley, Cafe M on Fourth Street. You must try it if you are in the area! We then drove into San Francisco to explore Golden Gate Park. It was my first time, and despite the crazy traffic, I'm glad we went.

Here is Jeff and Jack at the outdoor ampitheater area...the location of S.F.'s first World's Fair in 1894.

We then walked over to the Japanese Tea Garden. It was beautiful and serene....and of course fun for Jack! He especially loved climbing the Moon Bridge and jumping over the little canals.

We then walked over to the Children's playground (one of the first playgrounds in the US and houses a carousel from 1912). Jack got a little antsy in the stroller, hence the silly photo. The carousel was actually really fun- it was longer and faster than usual. The playground was redone a few years ago, and had some neat ideas and equipment.

Who said parents can't have fun too?...btw, these little things spin so fast!

Sunday we hung out at home in the morning, then took the gang to Tilden Park. Jack could not wait for everyone to go on the Steam Train! We then gave them a little tour of campus...showing them where Derek spends most of his time. We went to the Haas School of Business then over to the Clock Tower. Everyone loved going to the top (especially Jack who was yelling at me below!). We stopped off at Cheesesteak Factory, one of our favorites, before they had to drive back down to Orange County.

I just love this little face!

Yelling in the train tunnel

Future student...

Thanks Bill and Nina for taking time off of your mission and Jeff for flying up! We had fun seeing you guys! Come again soon!

Sausalito

2010-10-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

A few Sundays ago (still catching up on photos) we went over to Sausalito. Derek and I had been there before, but we knew Jack would love seeing the boats....and we were right. It is a quick and easy drive (just drive on past San Quentin, which is frighteningly close to our house).

Jack loved walking up and down the docks and picking out his favorite boats. He liked to root for the underdogs by picking the smaller boats; that and anything with a pirate flag.

We then walked around town and had some snacks on the dock. Jack was enjoying feeding the seagulls and running around/making friends. Then he heard some music playing in the neighboring restaurant, and decided to put on a show. He got up on this grassy area in front of tons of people and started dancing. That kid is too much. I wish I had gotten some better pictures!!

btw- isn't that an awesome tree?!?

Stopping by the fire department before heading home with Jack in all his crazy wind-blown hair glory.

Teddy loving life.

It was a beautiful day. Great views of the bay, beautiful blue water, and the best company a girl could ask for!

CAL football game

2010-10-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, one of Derek's classmates gave us his tickets to the CAL game. It was so much fun to go take the kids to a college football game.

Parking is a pain in Berkeley, so we took the bus to the stadium, the same one Derek rides every day. I think this was Jack's favorite part.

It was one of the hottest days of the year! We were all dripping in sweat the whole time. Jack, the smart little bugger, sought the only shade around....under Derek's legs. So for the most part of the game, he sat under there eating his popcorn and who knows what else (kind of gross if I really think about it). Teddy was a champ and either slept or hung out under his hat.

It was a lot of fun to be in that energetic atmosphere.Go Bears!

Do Not Try This At Home

2010-10-06T18:24:00.001-07:00

So apparently when you put a Diet Coke in the freezer it really can explode.

...so much for a cold D.C....

Fisherman's Wharf

2010-10-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, Derek and I took the kids into the city to see the Seals and sights at Fisherman's Wharf. Despite some traffic and lots of tourists, Jack was excited to see the seals and it was a nice afternoon to spend together. Even though we have been in the city dozens of times, I played tourist and took some car window shots. Enjoy!

I liked this pic of the Bay Bridge b/c of the annoying little meter maid in the lower corner

Ferry Building

proof Teddy was there too

That big fat seal came over and pushed one of the other ones into the water. It was rude, but entertaining!

Giants Game

2010-09-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

One thing I love about San Francisco is going to ATT Park to watch the Giants play. It is such a great stadium with a beautiful backdrop, being located right on the Bay. A friend of ours gave us his company tickets so we decided to take the boys (and our friends Rawley & Mithona).

Jack did amazingly well! He loves baseball the most of all the sports right now. He loved looking around at the crowd and watching all the spectacles. We got him his own bag of popcorn so he just chowed down pretty much the whole time.

At the 7th inning stretch, Derek took Jack for a walk around the stadium. Apparantly they have this kid zone where you can hit baseballs and go down a big slide. Who knew?

We made it the whole game (the innings were unfortunate for the Giants, really short). Teddy was a champ too! (and no I am not feeding him in this picture! That'd be creepy!)

Thanks Ted Davies for the tickets!!!

Oakland Zoo

2010-09-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago some girls in the ward and I took the kids to the Oakland Zoo. It is a smaller zoo, but a perfect size to actually keep the attention span of a two year old. The guerillas and giraffes were the hit. The new male guerillas were marking their territory by yelling and throwing boxes and rocks at the windows (one of them even shattered). This scared the kids a bit, and admittedly me too. It was also fun to watch how the giraffes drink water.

We took a break to let the kids get their wiggles out, and to feed Teddy. There was this frog pond with rock lily pads the kids can jump across on.

Jack was of course all over it. He then thought it would be fun to swim jump in the water. All of a sudden, a sopping wet Jack comes running over and said "Mom, I went swimming!" He was so proud of himself I couldn't help but laugh. Needless to say, he spent the rest of the time in the stroller with no pants and his extra sweatshirt. Boys will be boys!

3 Months Old

2010-09-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Look who's three months old already!

I am trying to savor every minute of Teddy's baby stage. I can't believe how quickly he is growing, but with a move and busy schedule here in Berkeley, time is certainly flying by.

Teddy just goes with the flow of our hectic days and is such a sweet natured, alert and (mostly) happy boy (he definitely likes to be held, as most babies do). If you so much as glance in his direction, he lights up with a smile. I think he is going to love attention just as much as his older brother! He loves to 'talk' to you and have little conversations back and forth. Lately he has been discovering his hands. He will clasp them together, shove them in his mouth, and try to grab toys that are in front of him. He also loves to suck on his bottom lip and suck on his hands.

All pooped out from Tummy Time

Sucking on that bottom lip

Now if he'll only continue that concentration in his school years!

I think we have another blondie

Channeling some Blue Steel

Having a little baby in the house is just so much fun. He is so precious and we all LOVE to shower him with kisses and hugs! I am not ready for him to grow any bigger yet!

Jack is growing up

2010-09-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

So today Jack pulls a skateboard movie out of the drawer, turns to me and says, "Hey Mom, look at this....check it out!"....Check it out? ...since when did he become a teenager?

Atleast 10 times a day he says "I'll do it myself"

He actually has a preference of what to wear

He often grabs one of our phones, talks for a while then says "Bye Mom, Bye Derek" (we definitely won't let him call 'dad' Derek, but it is kinda funny at this young age....)

He loves going to 'school' and gymnastics class and music class

Before bed he ran into his room and said "I'm going to clean up" and proceeded to clean up his magneatos (which he likes to build triangles, squares and rectangles)

When introducing Teddy to people he says "this is Teddy. Isn't Teddy so cute and tiny?". Then when Teddy starts to cry he already gets annoyed by it.

He is really into pretend play, and even does voices,

He amazes us every day with his knowledge, his imagination and vocabulary. He is growing up so quickly!

Tilden Park

2010-09-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

Berkeley is blessed with lots of great parks, the greatest of them being Tilden Park. It covers over 2000 acres in the Berkeley hills, with beautiful views of the Bay and San Francisco. There are all sorts of fun things to do there.....Petting Zoo, Carousel, Golfing, Hiking, Biking, mini Steam Train, and a Lake to fish and swim in. We have been hanging out there quite a bit.

The first time we went we found some wild turkeys roaming around. Jack is quick and fearless and would have grabbed them if I let him.

Here we are visiting the animal farm. You can bring lettuce to feed to the sheep, goats, cows (or moo cows as Jack calls them), turkeys, ducks and pig. When the fog rolls in, it can get pretty chilly up in the hills; but it is kind of fun having that climate change!

There is this amazing miniature steam train that takes you on a loop through the Redwoods and lookout over the Bay. I took the boys to check it out one afternoon, then decided we had to come back and show Derek. It'll definitely be one of those things to take visitors on.

This is what Jack's face looks like pretty much the whole ride. Sheer joy!

GIVEAWAY!!!

2010-09-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

So I am holding my first BLOG GIVEAWAY! It is a chance to get some professional advice on a room of your choice. I'm also hoping it will expand my blog readership. Check out my design blog loveofinteriors.blogspot.com to become a follower and enter the contest! Winner will be picked at the end of the holiday weekend. Good luck! And spread the word :)

Skate Park

2010-08-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

There is a skate park a block from our house, and it is Jack's favorite thing to do with his dad. Teddy and I decided to tag along one day to see what it was all about.

Jack warms up by riding between Derek's legs. Then he will sit on the skateboard and ride around. Then once he gets brave he stands up and scoots along (usually holding Derek's finger). He's definitely a daredevil, but also knows his limits.

Here's a little video clip of them riding around.

I just love my not-so-little-anymore guy!

80s night

2010-08-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

For the final day of orientation, there was an 80s night at Bimbo's 365 in San Francisco. All of the students were already out partying and eating all evening, so us partners came and met up separately. After getting a babysitter for Jack and dropping Teddy off at a friend's house (a BIG thank you to Teddy Sr.) I made it to the club with my dancing shoes on. It was a lot of fun to meet all of Derek's peers. He has a great group of people in his class; everyone was really nice (and hammered) and I'm glad to see that Derek is making some good friendships.

Unfortunately I didn't take a single picture there, so all I have is our 'getting ready' photos. Hopefully I can snag some pics from other people.

Derek's getup was classic....people hardly recognized him...and he kept up the persona all night. Thanks babe for a fun night out!