Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

This Thanksgiving Grandma Cindy came down from Bakersfield to see us! We spent the day first at Papa Wayne's and then at Grandma Sharon and Papa Joe's house.

Lauren didn't take very long to make herself right at home...So thankful for Ben's sense of humor...Grandma Sharon had the most beautiful table...

Happy Halloween 2011!!!

Optimus Prime (Ben) and our cute little black kitty (Lauren) had a great Halloween. John took Super Mario (Sean) and Optimus Prime trick-or-treating and mommy and Lauren stayed home and handed out candy!

And so it begins...

This weekend for the first time I heard a steady stream of "MOMMY! "Moren" wont leave me alone!" or "No "MOREN" - I'm serious - don't touch that!" Lauren chases that poor kid EVERYWHERE - sometimes he likes it - sometimes he doesn't. If Ben is playing football - Lauren takes the ball - if he's playing soccer she starts kicking the ball - and if he's in the playroom playing trucks she wants to be right by him.

It looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship ;)

Just hangin' out...She had actually stolen Ben's pop tart and finished it for him...Daddy and Ben strategizing... What...it's supposed to be a scarey pumpkin...and it is :)

The Morning at Underwood Farms!

We spent the morning at Underwood Farms!

Mommy and Daddy's Anniversary Trip to Disneyland!

John and I celebrated seven fulfilling years of marriage at one of our favorite places - California Adventure and Disneyland! We rode almost every single ride - ate great food - and ran into our good friends Amy and Cindy (trust me, Cindy would KILL me if I didn't give her a shout out) ;) haha!

Our Top 10 Memories of our Trip:

10. We loved the kids flying rides - The Zephyr at The California and the flying rocket ride at Disneyland
9. The view during lunch at The Hungry Bear restaurant - right on the water
8. The shrimp and grits are amazing at The House of Blues...so are the pumpin pancakes at The Original Pancake House on East Lincoln in Anaheim...
7. Our favorite ride at Disneyland - Splash Mountain - followed by the Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster
6. A really great lunch at the Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand California resort - amazing ambiance
5. Our favorite ride at California Adventure - definitely California Screamin'
4. The Extreme tea at ESPN Zone - Downtown Disney - an energy drink with Jägermeister - it was awesome
3. The Abraham Lincoln and history of Disneyland museum is actually really cool
2. Shopping on Main Street for the kids
1. Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen beignets in Downtown Disney...crazy good
Splash Mountain take 1....
Splash Mountain Take 2!

Happy 1st Birthday Lauren!

Happy birthday baby girl. It's been an entire year since you've blessed our family. What a gem you are. We love your spirit, your smile and your attentive bright eyes. You are constantly on the go - you don't like to be in one place for too long - walking and running everywhere. You love to talk and sing - most of the time, the only reason we know you are awake in your crib is when we hear you sing. You have the most dramatic little smirk when you are unhappy with something - you scrunch up your nose. Daddy says his favorite thing is to walk in the door from work every day and you say "hi da-da"! Ben tells me all the time, "mommy, she's so cute!" He does like to reprimand you though - we often hear him telling you, "I'm serious Moren (he still can't say Lauren) - stop it!"

We absolutely adore you baby girl. I was a little nervous to have a little girl, but you have fulfilled our lives far beyond our expectations. Love you, mommy, daddy and big brother Ben.

1-year stats:
Weight - 22 lbs., 110z (85%)
Length - 31" (98%)
Head - 18 1/8

Grandma Sharon and Papa Joe made sure your big brother didn't go without... That's all folks...

So Proud...

John and I just couldn't be more proud of both babies. Ben is making amazing progress with soccer. Each week he's getting more and more confident. And Lauren started walking on 8/31!

Soccer last week...
3 of his biggest fans - Lauren, Grandma and Papa...
Soccer this week...standing next to his best buddy Sean.