A Free Trip To Disney!

Mickey and Family!

Brothers...they are sweet together now...

Darien with his buddy Noah on the tram ride in!

We have a super awesome friend and neighbor who was able to get us into Disney on Thursday for FREE! AJ and Don didn't come because they went to Magic Mountain together this summer for her birthday but the boys and I had a ton of fun! Darien's favorite things were the Carousel, The Buzz Lightyear ride, The Nemo Ride, seeing Mickey Mouse and watching the parade! Keenan loved Buzz Lightyear and the Teacups, Small World and seeing Mickey too! He was really happy to see Darien enjoy the experience too. There were a lot of tears on the car ride to Disney because Darien broke Keenan's favorite Silly Band and then tears again when Keenan didn't get chosen for the Jedi training camp this time...but he was chosen twice already. Anyway, not a ton of pic's from the day because we were just trying to get it all in. A fun day and many thanks to ALICIA and NOAH for keeping us company! We love you guys!

Something Funny!

Harvest Time Cupcakes!

The kids and I had a lot of fun making these cupcakes together but AJ and I really did the bulk of the decorating late into the night! We were making them for a bake sale for MOPS and the Pre-school but there were so many baked goods donated that we were able to bring most of them back home...thus the extra five pounds around my waist! Anyway... so much fun to take the time to do this with my girl! She and I felt like we were on Cupcake Wars--the bake off show on The Food Network! We make a good team!

First Day of School

Even Sugarfoot the Bunny, Livvy (our dear friend, neighbor and fellow schoolmate) and a sand box couldn't keep Darien happy enough to stay in pre-school. We'll try again in January, but my sweet boy just isn't quite ready to leave his momma's side yet!

AJ had a good first day of school in spite of not having her closest friends in class or the most coveted teacher! She loves having our neighbor braid her hair...I know, I need to get with and learn to French Braid!

Keenan has a wonderful teacher and although he looks too cool for school, he did have a few

hard moments letting me leave, not the first weeks but like the third week when he realized this whole going 5 days a week thing was not temporary!

So... alas another school year has begun and I still do not have an empty house in the morning to clean or be lonely in...but Darien and I have many goals to read every library book there is and see every Dora and Diego episode ever made! AJ will continue to pursue her studies as Keenan still has another year or so to have nearly endless playtime---Lord help me fill it wisely!

Fall Family Fun!

I know it's been a while. Here are some fun pics of the kids at the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival.

This was our first year...we've always wanted to go but it's been so hot in years past! Anyway, the kids had loads of fun riding rides and ooohing and ahhing over the huge pumpkins!

Backtracking...

Well, I know it's been way too long since I have blogged, but it is that need to be thorough and comprehensive that compels me to be be complete in backtracking this year's milestones, memories and "ah Ha" moments!

So, bear with me as I travel a few months back to December 31st, Darien's 2nd Birthday! It was over two years ago now that we had been so caught up in the debate of the timing of his induction but arrived on New Year's Eve Day at the hospital hoping to have the last baby of 2007 at our hospital...and we did! I just couldn't help sharing the one good photo of me right before I had them turn down the epidural so I could feel to push (not the brightest of my ideas). Anyhow, what a whirlwind two years we have had with this surprise blessing from God. Darien's name means "upholder of the good" and let me tell you that in the midst of Don's degree, his joy and wonderful affection, has upheld the good in our family. He is a such a fun boy and is so attached, that the photo below of the two of us, exemplifies our last two years together...securely attached and bonded for life! He loves to be loved-no doubt his love language is physical touch! This year to celebrate Darien's bday, Don and I were offered two free tickets two Disneyland back in November and so we took Darien one day while the Christmas decorations were up but before the mass chaos of the holidays ensued. Both Alyssa and Keenan went on their bdays so it was an amazing blessing to have been afforded the opportunity to take Darien alone and spend the day just celebrating him...albeit a little early but it was a neat time for us after the crazy weekend we had spent moving within our complex. So, needlesstosay, this year was the last year that we won't have a big party for him. At one, we merely celebrated with Don's parents who were here. This year, we had our other family over to celebrate turning 2. The Bailey's have a girl close to AJ's age, a boy just a year older than Keenan and a little one, just three months younger than Darien. So a party with them and our family in our small place is just about the largest one we can have! We loved being with them! The girls watched a movie, the boys played, we all ate cake and Darien was super happy to be the center of the day! So, we ended the year with our baby turning 2 and a prayer for a year of blessings to heal the year of challenges we faced with lots of issues with cars, accidents and mishaps! And trust me, so far, we have lots to share about the blessings that have come our way each month of 2010. So, stay tuned for more posts about how our family is learning and growing in faith each day!

Taken in the last moments of 2009, Happy 2nd Birthday, Darien! 2 years ago, the look of an expectant mother expecting another contraction!

Spider boy and his momma! (Taken by Keenan)

Darien, last year, turning 1!

My last baby...how the time flies!