These kids love playing and swinging in this hammock. I couldn't resist taking pictures of them being so cute with each other. 

The Dentist!!

We have a GREAT DENTIST!! We are so lucky that Mark's brother, Brigham, is a dentist!!  He is so sweet and my kids actually love going there.  He just bought a new practice and the place is beautiful!!  

Even though Braeden brushes his teeth morning and night and actually does a good job at it, he ended up with 7 cavities.  All of them were in between his teeth.  So let's just say that he now flosses his teeth.  

I love his crooked smile. After he was done and still numb, he tried to smile straight, but couldn't.

The office has a fish tank with a puffer fish.  (which is behind him in the picture)  We all want to see the fish puff up but I guess it takes a lot for it to puff.

Caleb was very patient for me while Braeden got some of his teeth worked on.

Braeden did a great job even while getting the shot.  He just sat there and watched the movie Garfield like nothing was going on. So proud of my boy!!

Hummingbirds

There just happen to be a hummingbird nest in our tree in the backyard.  It was in an odd spot.  I would think the Mom would build the nest on a more hidden branch, but she built it on a branch that is very noticeable. 

If Caleb was in a sad mood, we would ask him where the birdies were and he would stop and say, "I dunno, where'd they go?" It always put him in a happy mood.

But my kids loved going out everyday to see if the Mom was still sitting on the eggs or if they had hatched yet.  But here they are about a week old.  They were tiny when they first hatched and their beaks barely stuck out of the nest, but I can't find the pictures I took of them at the time. 

My favorite is the poop all over the leaves. Makes such a pretty picture.

This was just a couple days before they flew away.  I miss them now because Caleb doesn't have them to cheer him up. But oh well....

My Men!! And Little Girl!!!

These were taken on Mother's Day.  I had to get pictures of my men in their suits and Elli in her cute dress.  I am one lucky Mommy.  I love these little kids and even though we have our good days and bad days, these precious little kiddos make me the proudest and happiest Mom.

He is such a sweetheart to me. I know Braeden will always be there for me. He has a soft spot for his mommy. As do I have one for him!!!

People say she is my Mini Me!!  And that makes me pretty lucky!! 

Let me explain.... Elli is really into The Squeakqual with the Chippettes.  She thinks she is Brittany. And I don't know if you have noticed pictures of her in this pose, but almost every picture we take these days of her, Elli is doing this.  Well, she took some pictures of me posing and this was how I was advised to pose. 

I can't believe I got all of them to be this cute in one shot.  Even Caleb was smiling!!!

Mark got a new suit for his birthday.  I have some pretty handsome men in my life!!

California

We have had kind of a crazy month.  Mark was diagnosed about 6 years ago with Diverticulitis and just the past year and a half, he has had about 8-10 attacks. He was hospitalized for a couple of them.  And after each attack, he would say, "Well, if it happens again, I'll get surgery." He finally decided he should get the surgery.  Two weeks before his surgery date, he lost his job.  Which we have decided was such a blessing. So we decided to drive to California and hang with his family and relax and have nothing to do before his surgery.

We didn't tell Mark's mom we were driving out and we totally surprised her.  When we got there, we had Braeden go in the house and just stand behind her.  When she turned around, she screamed and was so excited to have us there.  Braeden loved doing that.

USC Trojan Huddle

It just so happen to be the weekend of the USC Trojan Huddle (which basically is a scrimmage game) So we packed up the kids and went to the game. Braeden & his cousin Austin had fun together.

They had some jumping houses and things for the kids and Caleb had the time of his life.  All I did was follow him around while he went from each different thing. He forgot I was even there.

This was by far his favorite thing to do. 

He would throw the football.  It was the cutest thing watching him throw the ball that was about the size of him.

We went to Uncle Brett and Aunt Kristi's house and played with some of their toys.

Elli and Nicholas

Sunday with the family

We will be arranging Caleb's marriage.  This is McKenna who is one of Mark's best friend's daughter. They are about 6 months apart. She is the cutest thing ever. 

Elli had fun with her too! Look at McKenna's cheeks.... so cute!!

My sweet, crazy Caleb loved Reggie's dog water.  We found him many times like this. GROSS!

The ice scream was scarce so Stacy got out the whip cream and let the kids have at it.  They enjoyed it!!

My innocent little guy!!  He is a sweet boy underneath all his mischievous deeds.

Elli posing...... Surprise, surprise!!

Caleb loved playing with Reggie.  I don't think there isn't a kid that doesn't love playing with him.  He is such a great dog.

I love their faces in this.

Playing at the Park

Simi Valley has a fun park that we love taking the kids to.  The kids loved feeding the ducks.

There's a little stream that had some fish in it.  Well, Mark was determined to catch one...... without a fishing line.

And believe it or not, he actually caught the fish!!  And right when I took the picture too.

PROOF

Caleb's cute little face and Elli thinking how cute it is.

Then we headed to the playground.

My favorite is the girl who is holding the red ball.  Her face is classic.

The Beach

We went to the beach on an overcast day. But it was still fun. Caleb wasn't very talkative this day.  He was very quiet and did his own thing.

I love this picture.  Such buddies.

This picture is pretty amazing too.  Isn't she just adorable??

Had to find a shell for her collection.

Poor guy, he was gone the day I was doing haircuts.  So he didn't get one.  But he's still cute!!

Not sure why, but he kept trying to eat sand.

The next day, we were trying to pack up and Caleb was everywhere so Grandma took him and read him a book.  It had been a while and it was very quiet, so I went looking for them.  She made Caleb fall asleep.  So cute!!

Hmmmmm, what's this......

So right before we left Grandma's house to go stay at Mark's brother's house, the kids went swimming. Caleb had taken off his diaper and when Mark picked him up and I noticed poop on Mark's arm.  He had no idea Caleb had poop on him. Well Caleb had taken a squat and pooped on the cement.  Mark noticed him squatting in the corner for a while but had no idea what he was doing there. What was he thinking??

It took some courage for the kids to go down the slide.

Whenever they get cold, the kids lay on the ground to warm up.  They were all laying in a row and I had to get a picture of my naked baby!!!

We stayed at Kirk and Stacy's but for some reason I got no pictures there.  Oh well.  But we had such a fun and relaxing time.  I'm glad we went.

On the way home, we stopped and ate at Bob's Big Boy.  I haven't eaten there since I was a little girl.  I loved their hamburgers.  But they have changed since then, not a big fan anymore.