Carly & I have been busy little bee's making stuff for this....

Lil’ Lighthouse Preschool’s 4th Annual
Holiday BOUTIQUE
Saturday
November 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Lighthouse Coastal Community Church
Fellowship Hall
301 Magnolia Street - Costa Mesa 92627
(corner of Santa Ana Avenue & Magnolia Street)

COME JOIN US!!

Batman & his little chick

We had such a fun Halloween this year. This kids were so pumped and couldn't get out the door fast enough.

Kenyon, Gavin, Luke, Nate & Elliott

Etta & Luke - After Etta got her candy, she would just stand at each house until I made her leave. She walked into a few houses and even got picked up by a few residents (she was pretty cuddly in that soft chick suit). She was certainly making herself right at home.

Etta was constantly trying to keep up with the big kids....she had a blast.

Peyton - the cuttest little pirate ever!

Luke getting into character - he had the best night sprinting from house to house.

the gang

One tired little chick

READ THIS...

I'm obsessed with this book. It's one of those "can't stop thinking about, can't wait to go read in bed, sad when it's over" books. Now someone else please go read it so that we can talk about how good it is.

No exaggeration....

the lizard was HUGE!

So I'm standing in the kitchen and out of the corner of my eye, I see something sitting on top of one of our Halloween lights hanging over our sliding door. I get a little closer and realize it is a huge lizard. Luckily Jason was home or I would have totally freaked. Let me remind you that we had been out of town for 3 days...so how long had this thing been in our house, how long was it watching me in the kitchen, where else did it roam, did it have babies, and how did it get in? Nasty!!

Seriously, do you see the size of that tail? It's like a snake.

Jason captured it in a cereal box and then we set it free. Not even 5 minutes later, I walked into the garage to do some laundry and saw a baby lizard with the same exact body shape and tail. Jason's getting pretty good a catching lizards. Now we all (including Luke) walk around the house looking for lizards and hoping not to be startled by one.

San Francisco

Jason & I just got back from our annual SF Bridge school benefit concert weekend. This was our 9th year going to the show and it never disappoints. All year we look forward to spending the weekend in the city with friends and then attending Neil Young's benefit show. This year's lineup: Gavin Rossdale, Wolfmother, Fleet Foxes, Monsters of Folk, Sheryl Crow, Jimmy Buffet, Chris Martin, No Doubt, and of course Neil Young.

We had a perfect weekend. Shelly & Trevor picked us up from the airport early Friday morning and then we headed to the best breakfast I've ever had. I can't stop thinking about the french toast. Thanks Shell! We spent the rest of the day shopping, hanging out with Paul & Holly, cruising through the park, a delicious dinner, Mitchell's ice cream, and then Where the Wild Thing Are. To complete the San Francisco experience, we saw a naked man walking down the street and finally to top it all off, had perfect sunny weather the entire weekend. I LOVE that city...sadly it had been an entire year and a half since my last visit (not going to let that happen again).

Chris Martin

Saturday we had yummy brunch, spent some time with our dear friends the Elliot's, shopped & had lunch on Hayes (love shopping on that street) with Dave, Anne, Ben & Dana...and then off to the show.

Paul, Holly, Dave, Anne, Me & Jason (Ben & Dana we're off enjoying the high life on the 2nd row - jealous)

Mark & sweet little Luca. We had the best time hanging out with Mark, Pepper, Oslo & Luca. We love them to pieces! Thanks for hanging out with us guys. Come visit us soon!

Thanks mom & dad for letting us get away!! We are so lucky to have your help and appreciate it so much.

Lately...

BFF's - Norah, Etta & Ruby

Etta's first time on the teacups at Disneyland.

She loved it.

Ruby & Luke

I have a picture of Luke doing the same exact thing at that age. My kids love to climb and balance on things.

JEN & TROY 10.10.09

Jen & Troy's wedding turned out so beautiful. Jen looked gorgeous...everything was beautiful - the flowers, the cake, the dress, everything!! Congrats you two!!

Luke & Etta danced their little hearts out. They loved the lights on the dance floor.

Kenyon & Etta dancing

Streiff grandkids (minus Trev & Dayton)

Workin' it!!

Luke & Carly

Etta Jane - hit of the party! Jen & Troy's friends were loving watching her on the dance floor.

Etta & Ava


Luke kept wanting to hold my bouquet

Our little family

E & Papa

Shell, Trev & E

The cute Morris family (Janice you look so hot in this picture!)

Luke has some growing to do to catch up to Elliott

Shayla, Me, Jodi, Tricia - we had a quick lunch at TK in between the ceremony and reception. I love to convert people to TK....especially the veggie burger. It was so fun having family here for the wedding. Jodi & Tricia stayed at my house and we had a blast. I love my family!!

Sea World

I've always loved Sea World and I still do, so I'm glad my kids love it too. My dream job growing up was to work at Sea World as a trainer and I must admit it does still look like a lot of fun.

Madde, Luke & Elliott feeding the eager seals. The seals and the birds were going crazy over the fish.

I was so tempted to let Luke get this, but Jason would have died if we came home with a giant dolphin. We sent him a text with the picture instead....his reply was "don't you dare bring that home".

E & Luke showing us their shark faces

One of the highlights of the day...getting a picture with Laird Hamilton!! I was soooo giddy. He was watching the seal lion showing with his wife Gabrielle Reese and his 3 cute daughters. He was super nice. Love him!

Jen & Troy - it's great going places with these two...they are like traveling nannies. The kids love them. I love that they were at Sea World with all of us just 2 days before their wedding.

Luke feeding and petting the dolphins...he was in heaven!

Etta was a little more hesitant

I had to put this picture in because this is what Etta always does when someone is kneeling down at her level...she backs her little self up and sits right down.

Elliott & Luke checking out the dolphins

Jen's bridal shower a few days earlier. We had a great time with both my family & Troy's and a few of Jen's high school friends.

Fall Favs

Wow, it's been a month since I last posted. October has been an insanely busy month. Every weekend has been filled with either Jason being gone for school or with family stuff. My sister Jen and Troy were married on the 10th, so we had a fun and busy week with the entire family in town. I've got lots of pictures coming from the wedding week.

Etta's first goose egg

Mandy Jane's bridal shower - it's always so great to see these cute girls. It needs to be more often though.

Ready for Halloween - Luke has been dressing up all month. We had to reuse our globetrotters costumes for a ward party since we didn't have time to scrounge anything else up.

Center Street roomies reunited for Mandy Jane's wedding...she was such a beautiful bride!!

Etta gives dolphins loves every chance she gets. It's only allowed when Luke is supervising or not looking.

Missing Dad

Both of my boys are in school...Jason started school the same day as Luke and has been gone for a "USC Residential" week. We are so excited that he will be home soon. Every time Luke walks into the house he yells "DAD!!" as loud as he can.

And a funny Luke quote from today...
"Mom, I wish our car would break, so that we could get a Porsche tomorrow. They have super powers."

First Day of School

Monday was Luke's first day of Preschool. He'll be going 2 days a week and I know I'll get use to it, but for now I'm missing my little guy.

Looking a little unsure

Luke & Laura - I'm so glad he has a few buddies in his class

Luke & his good buddy Cameron survived the first day.

Reunited with Etta Jane

Hanging on to Summer...

Luke's first solo boogie boarding experience.

Luke requested a sand dolphin instead of a castle.

Luke laying out - he looks so akward

Zonked

love these little sandy toes!

Slip N' Slide Birthday

I guess it's been about 3 weeks since this party. My nephew Trevor turned four and let us share his party to celebrate Etta's birthday since we were out of town on her real birthday. We had a blast. Shelly got a bounce house and the kids played in the hot tub, blow up pool and slip n' slide for hours.

I love this picture of them with those crazy heads of curly hair together.

Trevor & Luke

Kenyon, Etta & Luke

Etta loved the slip n' slide - Jason was launching the kids down in on kick boards. I realized how tough Etta is on this day.

Slip n' slide pile-up!!

Etta loves to sit on things...including her birthday presents while she opens them.

Pushing her new shopping cart (love Plan Toys)

Etta's first Cabbage Patch doll (Jenny- this picture is for you)