Sacramento Zoo

This seems to be his go-to face whenever I have my camera out these days. Of course, I still think it's pretty cute ;)

Mitch told them, "go stand over there so that Mom can take a picture of your heads next to the monkey heads." This is the best that they gave me. Look at how thrilled they are LOL!

The highlight of Sutton's day - cotton candy!

Simon spent most of the trip like this...

...or like this. Cute, I know. That's what happens when you go to the zoo at naptime with a teething toddler (he's working on 3/4 of his two-year molars, poor guy). It wouldn't have been quite so late in the day, but we were already well on our way to the zoo before Sawyer pointed out that Sutton wasn't wearing any shoes, and we had to turn around and go home to pick some up. Thanks a lot, kid!

I can't stay angry with this sweet face though!

Yeah, I think I'm Cute

Pool Time!

Filling up the new pool! This one is only 30" deep vs 36" last year. We bought our previous pool for a steal on Craigslist, but since these pools aren't really designed to last more than a few years we decided to invest in a brand new one this year to maximize the time we get to use it (the old one may have been a steal, but it only lasted us a year!).

Simon hasn't been in it yet after it was completely filled up, but he might be tall enough to stand up in this one on his own. It'll be close. We'll see later on today, I'm sure! The big boys spent most of the day in the pool yesterday, and it's really a great size for them. The shorter water level is nice because they finally realize that it's not safe for them to jump off the ladder into the water over and over like they kept doing last year.

"Swimming" in their jammies first thing in the morning! Mitch started to fill up the pool, and they jumped right into the freezing cold hose water! Crazy kids!

Just to give you an idea of how high the pool comes up. This is the only pic I could find where anyone was actually standing next to the edge to gauge size! Gotta love that ratty dirt patch in the background there! Hopefully in a couple of weeks it will be converted into our second garden area for pumpkins, gourds and melons.

"Hi bubbas!" Simon went in the pool a bunch while it was filling up, but then it was time for a nap and a water break. He couldn't resist coming over to the fence to say hi to his brothers from time to time though.

He was happy to hang out with Mom in the garden and munch on the first strawberries of the season.

"Mmmm, nummy."

He also had fun hanging out in the shade with his sensory bin. This week it's filled with dyed green rice, a bunch of little cups and spoons for digging, and a couple of cars, naturally.

Water Play

Simon's first water balloon fight!

Playing air guitar and sliding at the same time takes skill!

Best Buds

(kind of makes you realize just how tall Sawyer has really gotten!)

The Graduate

I shot my youngest sister's high school graduation portraits this morning, and they came out really great.  Luckily she's a sweetheart with a huge heart and personality to match otherwise I might have to hate her for being so gorgeous and photogenic! ;)


She actually graduated {early!} last year, but my parents held off on her graduation celebration until the end of the traditional school year since her graduation fell right in the middle of the winter holiday chaos. She's now in the middle of her training at esthetician school, and I can hardly believe that she's so grown up! I know that probably makes me sound like her grandma when I say that, but let me put it in perspective - when Mitch & I started dating she was even younger than my big boys are now! I've definitely been able to watch her grow up every step of the way, and I couldn't be more proud of the beautiful woman that she's become!


Okay, okay, enough with the sappy stuff...here are two of my favorite photos from today. She hasn't chosen the one that she wants to use yet, so I'm just going to hold myself back and only show two, but they are all so pretty! ♥

Congratulations! ♥, Your Big Sis

Ladies Man

Lunchtime at School with Ruby, Grace, Maren & Destiny

(photo by the lovely Sarah Phillips)

School Play: Friendly Neighborhood Helpers

Today was Sawyer's school musical, "Friendly Neighborhood Helpers," a collaboration between the kindergarteners and first graders. His role was a garbage truck fan, and he was front and center for his group's song. They've been practicing for weeks, but he was still really nervous about performing in front of a huge crowd today...so much so that he forgot the words a few times! He made up for it with some great dance moves though! ;) The entire show was really cute, but he is SO glad to have it over and done with! Ignore the glitch at the 1:14 mark - my camera gave me a random "Recording Stopped Automatically" error right in the middle of their song!

This Week, in Instagrams

Baseball wears these guys out!

You can't have a great art party without a rainbow of tape! Getting ready!

A double "ice cream cone" waffle - Sawyer's "Person of the Week" cooking project that we shared with his class last Friday.

Party decorations are going up already!

EVERY ball that they could find.

Someone is ready for haircut #2!

Boys Rule

New seats for the whole family

Old rainboots, ready for some plants and their new home in the garden.

The raised beds are planted! Corn, sunflowers, basil, rosemary, lettuce, carrots, strawberries, three colors of peppers, sugar snap peas, and cucumbers are in...but we still need to do our zucchini, potatoes, pumpkins and melons on the other side of the yard. The tiny blueberry bushes are blooming, there are bean-sized nectarines on the tree, and the apricot tree is heavy and drooping from the weight of all its fruit. Fingers crossed that we have a good harvest this year!

I stopped by and freshened up the flowers at my grandparent's gravesite. I love Fair Oaks Cemetary.

New artwork by Katie Daisy is up. This is going to be surrounded by brightly colored whimsical frames full of art and family photos. There just might be more Katie Daisy work included in there too, because it makes me happy. 

Not an Instagram, and not from this week, but I just found this photo from when I surprised the boys by taking them to see the Lorax in 3-d a couple of weeks ago. They were bursting with excitement (and the 3-d glasses were freaking out Sutton's eyes lol)!