MONSTER BUS

We were driving along in Brentwood when we saw a sign that said "Monster Bus Rides" - Zach saw that sign and we had to check it out. It really was a "Monster Bus" - a monster truck with a bus for people to sit in. And they would take you for a ride (for a small fee, of course) - actually it was more like a small ride, filled with donuts - the kind you turn on the street! Mason, Zach and I rode the bus, while Dad and Arie looked on. Okay, seeing a monster truck up close is pretty impressive - but taking a ride in one was AMAZING! We were bouncing all over the place and once the donuts started - well, lets just say the tea cups at Disneyland are tame in comparison! It was a blast - oh, yeah - and the boys had loads of fun too!

8 months!

Arie turned 8 months on April 1st! WOW! Time sure does fly! It seems like only yesterday she was curled up in my lap, content to just lay there and stare at me! Not so much anymore! These days she crawls all over the house (I've realized quite quickly that I need to re-baby-proof my house!), she has two lower teeth, she eats a lot of "big kid" type foods, she can crawl and then sit, and she is beginning to pull herself to standing! It's been so much fun to watch her rate of learning and growth. It seems like everyday, she picks up on something new! She is so happy and so very content to be crawling around, following in mom's wake! She's quick with a smile, and we just love when something tickles her and she starts to laugh. Pretty soon we are all laughing - it's infectious! I still love the mornings - when the boys have left for school, and she and I have time to read and play. That's what we did this morning. So I snapped a few pics. As you can see, she's starting to get a bit more hair, so I took full advantage of this by putting in a clip! Dressing a girl is just so much more fun than it was with the boys. Sorry, but that's the truth!

Easter

So, I've received no less than 6 phone calls about the fact that my blog is way past due! The good news is - someone out there is actually following along! So, I'll try to play catch-up best I can. About a month ago I found the cutest dress at Gymboree for Arie and thought it would be the best dress for Easter. It was purple with a bit of green. When I brought the dress home, Zach was adamant that he match Arie! Mason quickly agreed, although he wasn't too sure he'd be able to wear an all-purple tie. So, I found ties with both purple and green in them. Then Aaron announced that of course, he had to match Arie (by the way, he has matched his tie with Arie's outfits on Sunday since the first day we went to church with her!). Then the Zach told me that unless I was wearing purple, it wouldn't look like I belonged in the family. So, yes! We were all quite matchy-matchy on Easter! We've actually always more-or-less matched on Easter. But I think that since we now have a girl, it's a bit more obvious! It did my heart good to know that the boys wanted to match with Arie - so, yep! She is definitely made a permanent mark on our hearts and home! (ps - the grainy pics were taken by the boys - I'm not a good photog, but I can at least tell when they need to be re-done!)

Friday Night = Pizza Night

For several years now, Friday nights equate to pizza and movie night. When the boys were younger and I had been working and was tired, we'd order a pizza and rent a movie. But as the boys have gotten older, they've really enjoyed making their own pizzas, with the toppings they like the most. This year, we've branched out and made pizza boats (made out of french bread), which Aaron made quite a bit while on his mission to Spain. A few weeks ago, I pulled out pizza's I remember having as a kid: English muffin sliders (as Aaron calls them). These have become quite the hit - and Mason and Zach love to have contests to see who can eat the most sliders! The boys even get into it seeing how creative they can get with how their sliders look! Once we all create a slider, we sit down to watch the movie. Tonights selection: Oliver! Gotta love a classic!

Pretty Poser

Arie is now 7 months old! She can now clap her hands, she is scooting forward (versus backward), she can sit up, and she's starting to eat some solid-type foods. But this is the latest and greates "can-do". She loves to lay on her side with her arm resting on her hip, and pose for us! It just cracks us up! Whatever did we do for fun before having kids? I'm not thinking she's going to grace the covers of Cosmo, but if there were a BabyVogue - she'd be March's cover model!

YUCKY!

A few weeks ago, we started Arie on veggies! It's kinda the next step in her progression, and I gotta say, I was a bit excited! The first time I fed Mason food, I got the full, 3 course meal (in Gerber jars): chicken, green beans, sweet potatoes & applesauce! He yummed it all up and I felt confident that I was the worlds best mother! Then I spoke with his pediatrician, and he just about flipped! He informed me that I was to start with only one food at a time, and that foods like chicken should be very last. So, Zach came along. I learned from Mason, and chose only sweet potatoes for his first big meal! I was so proud, and he yummed it all up! Again, I visited with his pediatrician and informed him of my reformed ways. However, instead of praise, I was chastised! It's better to start babies on veggies - like green beans, instead of something sweet. Okay, so, third times a charm, right? WRONG! I did buy green beans, and only one jar at that! I also bought one jar of carrots. However, as you can tell, it didn't go over quite so well. One bite of the green beans and Arie was gagging and doing the shimy-shake! You mom's know that move, right? So, green beans were out! Next the carrots (to heck with what doctors say!). That's a big NOPE on the carrots. Same gagging and shaking. However, that night we happened to be having steamed carrots for our dinner. Aaron promptly squished some of his up and fed Arie, to which she gulped down and wanted more! WHAAAT! Needless to say, she doesn't like canned food, only freshly steamed. So, I've struck out three times - (and I won't be getting any more at-bats!) But, it's kinda fun to make her food for her, and it's a lot healthier, so it's a good thing!

Fun Day

To celebrate President's Day - we decided to do some bowling and eat out - isn't that what President George Washington would do, afterall? It's been a super long time since any of us bowled - and it showed. We mostly just laughed at ourselves and had a good time. Thanks to bumpers, Zach was the big winner with a two-game score of 153! He's was pretty proud of himself and felt sure that if there was an Olympic sport for bowling, he'd be the proud bearer of a gold medal! When I informed him that if it were an Olympic sport, bumpers would not be allowed, he suggested that he just stick with baseball! Great idea! Afterwards, we let the boys choose the place to eat dinner - it was a unanimous decision: Red Robin (yum!) And just so you are aware - we do not eat from the kids menus anymore! Oh no! Instead, both boys eat from the adult menu - and lick the platter clean. Wanna guess why we don't eat out much? It was a great day! I love spending time with my boys (oh, and my girl too!)