Happy Birthday, Sydney!

I cannot believe my baby is already ONE year old.

To celebrate...

let's start with a cake... 

And then dress up for dinner...

at your favorite neighborhood grill

(well, my kids' favorite, anyway)

then let's open presents...

And then let's EAT cake!

A Great Weekend

We spent most of it outdoors

at the park,

going for walks,

playing soccer,

jumping on the tramp,

etc. etc.

This afternoon was great.

After church, we headed up to the Bountiful Temple for a nice stroll.

This time, we remembered to grab the camera.

Tired... Time to Go Home

We ended the day by baking and gorging ourselves on milk and cookies.
(we all felt better after that!)

Post-Christmas Blues...

I can't believe Christmas is over.

I'm always a little bummed this time of year.

It's back to school tomorrow which means
we actually have to get out of our pajamas before noon.

And I get to put all the Christmas stuff away
(and you know how it multiplies).

We had a wonderful holiday season, though...

Our Annual Christmas Eve party with Ryan's side was
a lot of fun this year.

We hosted a pajama party with an All-You-Can-Eat
Appetizer and Dessert Buffet, Live Nativity,
and White Elephant Gift Exchange (of course!)

Below are some pics from the evening... enjoy!

the kids in their matching jammies

(hint to grandparents, click to enlarge)

Merry Christmas Ya'll

Have a Wonderful and Safe Holiday!

LOVE

The Oakes Family

The Most Wonderful (and Exhausting?) Time of the Year...

I really do have a blog, even though it has been a bit neglected of late.

We've been busy...

Christmas shopping

and

baking cookies

and

decorating

and

looking at Chritmas lights

and

making gingerbread houses

and

drinking hot chocolate

and

making snow angels

and

snuggling

and

watching movies

and

wrapping presents

and

spending time as a family

Whew... I love this time of year.

Happy Halloween 2009

We had a lot of Halloween fun this year. Enjoy the pics...

At Lagoon's Frightmares

Trick or treat

There are more pics on my facebook page. Too many to post here.

On a side note - we had to say goodbye to Rainbow House. After renting from Alisa and Tyler for 8 months (it was only supposed to be 2), it was time to start the demolition and remodel. Unfortunately we still haven't heard back on our short-sale offers, so we get to rent a little bit longer. Yes, that means we get to move our stuff once again. sigh

Anyway... we're all doing well and enjoying this wonderful time of year (my favorite!)

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Ryan!

Look at this fabulous tie designed exclusively by Summer and Joshua.

Yes, he wore it to church!

Grandpa got one too!

Another Year Older...

31 feels OK, I guess.

I had a wonderful birthday.
Ryan surprised me by taking the day off, which meant I got to sleep in.

Summer eventually came to wake me up with some flowers that she picked out.

She and Daddy had decorated the kitchen with balloons and happy birthday signs.

Joshy and Summer helped Daddy make some very delicious and colorful waffles

(we love food coloring around here!)

We took a fun hike, even though it was a bit chilly and rainy.

There were tons of grasshoppers and crickets and beetles

(yikes! I tried not to be too scared)

Later that night, Ryan and I dropped off the kids and went to dinner just to two of us.

What a GREAT day!

Third Time's the Charm...

I must say that this time around, the baby experience has been a bit different.

First of all, the pregnancy was tougher - I threw up more.

(I didn't throw up at all with Summer, and only once with Joshua. )

Secondly, the delivery was easier - a pretty speedy affair. She was earlier, too. Summer was delivered on her due date, Joshua a week late, but Sydney a week early, making her our smallest baby.

She was our most yellow baby, too. We had to do the billi lights for five days - not fun.

Aside from all that, though, things are different in other ways.

I find myself more relaxed this time around.

Maybe it's that I have more confidence in myself as a mother, who knows.

******

When we had Summer, I was a basket-case! I was afraid I was doing everything all wrong. I read all the books, which my wise mother told me not to, and they made me crazy (especially Baby Wise). I was terrified of creating bad habits like nursing my baby to sleep (which I later discovered was no big deal). My mom just kept advising me to follow my instincts, the problem was I didn't know I had any.

When we had Joshua, I was a basket-case again! This time I was overwhelmed with caring for 2 children. I was so emotional, too! I would feel guilty that I wasn't giving Summer the attention she needed. I worried that I wouldn't love Joshua as much. Again, I discovered these fears were unnecessary - it IS possible to give each child the individual attention he or she needs. It IS possible to love another child just as much.

And then the third time around... bringing Sydney home has been so much easier. Maybe it was because my mom and sister were here virtually every day for the first 6 weeks, helping me out with meals and cleaning and child care. But, I suspect it's more than that. I've finally gained some confidence and discovered, yes, I do have instincts. Instead of worrying so much, I am just enjoying this baby. I love her so much.





Yes, my babies are a lot of work, but the joy they bring into my life is more than worth it.

More Christmas Break Highlights

One of the many highlights of our Christmas break was our house guests. We're so glad that Kimi, Casey, and Jacob were willing to leave the 80 degree weather of Los Angeles to spend a snowy holiday with us.

The kids absolutely adore their cousin, Jacob. It was so fun to see them interact with him. My favorite was when Kimi and Jacob would come up the stairs in the morning and Jacob's sleepy face would light up when he saw Summer and Joshua. It was so cute the way Joshua would say "Good Mornin', Jacob."

(Joshua feeding Jacob some lunch)

(successfully sharing toys)

It was tough when they left. Joshua kept asking, "Where'd Jacob go?" Summer and I would try to explain that he went home to California on an airplane. It took a few days of more "Where'd Jacob go?" before he realized he was gone.



Besides the fun with the kids and all the Christmasy stuff we were able to do, Kimi and I were able to have some fun girl time together, which included:

• Shopping and more shopping (lots of cute jewelry, outfits, and of course, shoes for Kimi. More maternity clothes for me)



• Good Eats! Our favorites - sugar cookies from Cutlers, Mom's fudge and butterscotchies, Nielsen's Frozen Custard, and loads of Chicken Tikka Masala from Royal India.



• And of course, lots of movies... DVD's - Dan in Real Life, Mansfield Park, The Family Stone, Mama Mia (a few times) plus, a few rentals that were so dumb, not worth mentioning). In the theaters... Doubt (Meryl Streep is awesome), Valkerie, and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. All very enjoyable.

• Some days (especially when it was totally snowing) we'd just stay home in our pajamas all day. Everyone needs days like those!
  

As usual, her visit went by too quickly. I can't wait for the next one! I love you, Kimi Koo!

Looked who just turned 4!

Happy Birthday, Summer!

We had a wonderful time celebrating...

(click to enlarge)

lots of cake, presents, balloons, a pinata, and of course, princesses!

Tricks and Treats...

We had a wonderful Halloween

(that was celebrated so many times during October!)

A few highlights from the many activities and parties throughout the month...

(these are pancakes that are suppose to look like pumpkins!)

(a spooky/silly salad)

(a beautiful princess - at Emily's party)

(spooky "glow-in-the dark" jammies)

(all dressed up again - I lost count of how many times she wore this costume this month)

which is why she chose a different princess dress to trick-or-treat in...

Look at that handsome fireman!

(fighting over the doorbell - I'll be they rang each doorbell about 10 times each)

We hope you had a wonderful Halloween too!