L.A.

We took a small family vacation over Veterans Day weekend. We had only one thing planned for sure...to go to the American Girl store!!! The girls had been waiting for this day since back in August. We had so much fun! Here is a little bit of what we did.

The girls would have done this the ENTIRE time (other than the A.G. store) if they had their way...swimming at the hotel pool. Kate asked when we were going back to the hotel to swim at least 100 times...no lie. They have turned into little fish!

Both girls figured out how to dive from knee position. They wouldn't stop practicing. Over and over and over...
We went down to the Santa Monica Pier on Veterans day. They had this display on the beach.
Love this girl!
Playing on the play ground on the beach.
Drew LOVED the swings!

We got a little drizzled on right when we got to the Pier...which is the reason I look like a drowned rat!

Had to get a picture with the dolphin! Love these two little ladies!

Trying to get a good picture of the pier...

The girls rode the carousel over and over and...

The smile says it all. I wonder how much fun he would have had if it had actually been running!

Diddy Riese's cookies- We had heard about these amazing cookies and that we HAD to stop and try them out. We pulled up to this "cookie store" after driving around the block at least 3 times and see a line out the door. We decide to wait it out anyway. Luckily the line moved fast but the small wait we had was well worth it! Diddy Riese's have the yummiest soft chewy gooey yummy cookies AND they also make ice cream sandwiches with them. You choose your cookie and ice cream flavor and they make if for you. I wish I would have gotten a picture of what they look like. We have now made Diddy Riese's a must anytime we go to L.A!

Even Drew got into the American Girl experience. He would not let go of Kit!!

American Girl

While passing time before going back to the A.G. store for lunch, we headed over to the funnest farmers market.

Macy eating the biggest pickle I have ever seen!

Playing in Kit's kitchen.

The mall was decorated to fun and festive for the holidays. It was so much fun!!

Right before heading into the store. Could hardly wait! I don't know who was more excited, me or them?!?

The funnest most girliest experience...having lunch at the American Girl cafe. Me and the girls enjoyed lunch with Kit, Molly and Julie while Jas and Drew went...shopping.:) When we were first seated, we were given a box of questions to ask yourself. There were questions like...if you could change places with anybody else who would it be? If you could be anything you wanted, what would you be? What would you like to be famous for? The girls loved it and didn't want to stop and eat. It was such a fun experience. I hope it is one of those memories my girls will always remember. I know I will.

The girls loved the little seats that their dolls got to sit in right next to them and the napkin rings that were for the girls to keep and use as hair bows. The warm cinnamon rolls and pink lemonade were my favorite.

Some other things we did that we didn't get pictures of...drove up and down Rodeo Drive and imagining up our own celebrities and driving to go see the Hollywood sign. We didn't get real close but got to see some very cool neighborhoods and streets! All together...it was a super fun trip!

Drew..

One year...one year has already passed since this little guy came into our lives and every day with him in it just gets better and better. There are no words to describe my love for this little man...really! I don't know if it's just that special bond between a mother and her son, if it's his contagious smile or if it's the fact that he knows just how to melt my heart. There is something so special about my Drew. To celebrate my sweet little babe, here are some things that I love about him.

Drew has a way of attracting people to him and not just because he is a baby. I often get so many strangers commenting on his big smile and big personality in such a young child and it is so true. I often forget that he is only one because of his fun and very funny personality. When we are out at the grocery store, I love to watch Drew looking around for who he is going to "make contact" with next. He just looks and starts to smile and people are attracted to this little blue-eyed boy.

Drew does not talk but is always making a kind of grunting sound. He does this constantly when eating something he enjoys or when he is playing with any kind of motor vehicle or when he is looking at a book. It is his way of "reading" I guess. When he is playing I can know exactly what he is doing just by listening to him.

My favorite thing everyday when Drew wakes up are his "cuddles". We have a routine, no matter what is going on, as soon as I pick Drew up out of the crib he lays his head on my shoulder for just a few seconds and lays there, sometimes making his grunt and then he lifts his head and goes on to whatever is next. I love it and I hope he never stops. Recently he started giving me hugs as well. Real hugs. He will squeeze around my neck and smile or laugh and not let go for a while...heaven.

Drew loooves my cell phone and he knows how to use it. Sometimes he will hold it up to his ear and grunt or sometimes he just pretends to have a phone and holds his hand up to his ear. It always makes me laugh.

Drew loves his binkies. I try not to give them to him often because I love to see his big toothy smile but if he spots one...there is no budging.

Something that I actually love about Drew is his sensitivity. His dad has not learned to appreciate it yet:) but I think it shows how soft he is and I love it. He is my little softy and I hope he stays that way.

HalLoWeEn 2011

Ms. Lovaas and Audrey Hepburn

Mrs.Williams (Luigi) and Pink Lady

our gang of trick-or-treaters

enjoying the loot

We had a fun Halloween. We got home from San Francisco just in time to jump out of the car and into our costumes. We went to the ward trunk-or treat on Saturday.

The kids were really excited about their costumes this year which made it even more fun.

Halloween day I helped at the kids school. Kate got to do a parade through the entire school. That night we went over to the Jones' for some yummy soup and bread (mom didn't get any pictures) and then off to trick or treat with the Rowes and the Remmels.

Kate

our pink lady.

She chose this costume because she has a fascination with glasses and with this costume...she would get to wear glasses!

Macy

Audrey Hepburn

in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

The girls became fans of A.H. this summer while at grandma Reed's house watching "My Fair Lady". When the Disco Queen costume sold out (dang;)) I showed Macy this idea. She loved it immediately! Who wouldn't?!?

Luckily we did a little photo shoot in the house of the kids in their costumes. Good thing because all of the "action shots" of the actual trick-or-treating turned out blurry.

Oh I love these two...

Drew

was an owl.

I came up with this idea when I had Drew in the tub pulling up the corners of his hair to see if it was even. It was perfect because he won't wear anything on his head and he sweats so easily so this costume was perfect. I had so much fun making his costume which went right along with my current owl obsession!