Catching Up

A lot has happened since I last wrote on here and I've realized I miss it. I miss being able to look back on everything. I kept feeling like I needed to play catch up on everything I've missed, but that became impossible. So I am just going to start from now.

Roman just turned 8! How can it be? We just celebrated with a surprise weekend at Universal Studios to visit Harry Potter and Hogwarts. It was the perfect trip. He is enjoying 2nd grade and has really come out of his shell this past year. It is great to see him confident and happy. I am proud of how hard he tries at everything. He loves basketball, baseball and swimming, especially with his friends on his teams. Math is his favorite and he has become a good reader this past year. He is a sweetheart and has such a tender heart.

Paisley is 6 1/2 and in her 1st year at Valle Verde. She loves being in Kindergarten and has the best teacher. She has quickly made some nice friends at school and at the children's afterschool center. She loves doing artwork, cooking, swimming and doing anything with Mom. She is my little buddy and always up for an adventure. She is just starting to read, which has been fun to see. She is becoming more patient and learning to take her time to complete her projects. She loves life and is always observing everything around her.

We are excited for another year of fun memories, adventures and activities as a family.

Christmas Eve and Day

Such a beautiful Christmas Eve and Day. We always start off Christmas Eve by going to Grammy and Papa's to exchange gifts and eat breakfast. They always make it so magical and fun with a scavenger hunt thru their house. The kids just love it. 

Paisley got some cool new tools to use in the kitchen. My little helper. 

Roman and Papa had fun on their new air hockey table. Wonder who's going to win?

Christmas Eve service at Saint Matthews. We brought Nana a special Christmas tree. We miss you Nana, can't believe it has been 1 year. Always feel your presence so strong during the holidays since you loved them so much. 

The kids ready to sprinkle "Reindeer Food" on the grass. Paisley makes it at preschool and the kids get a kick out of it. Oats, glitter and sprinkles. 

Christmas morning at Pop's house. 

Pop got Paisley her favorite "Paw Patrol"

Roman was happy with lots of legos 

Scott with new rollerblades and Roman with his Big Hero 6 blaster

Paisley and Kira

All the grandkids with Pop

Ready for dinner with their paper crowns

Happy Birthday Pop! Our Christmas Birthday. 

Christmas Season

This Christmas I felt the kids were getting old enough to start remembering traditions and also to realize how fortunate they are. I wanted this season to be about giving back and having fun enjoying all the beautiful things around us. 

We always adopt a family at Saint Matthews. This year I let Roman and Paisley pick each pick out a family and help with the shopping. 

Roman picked a family with 12 old twin boys. Here he is ready to deliver the presents. 

No surprise, Paisley picked a newborn baby. The layette team delivers baskets to new mom's that include all the essentials. She LOVED picking out all the gifts. 

Here are just a portion of the gifts they collected. 

Paisley and I went to the Teddy Bear Holiday Tea. It was fun just to do something for the girls. We got dressed up and she brought Pooh bear along with us to enjoy some tea and yummy lunch. 

This girl loves to help me out. She put stamps on all our Christmas cards. 

Our 2nd time ice skating in Downtown Walnut Creek. Much easier this year and the kids had a blast. 

By next year I think Roman will be able to do it on his own. 

Our annual lights tour. We went to an amazing house in Clayton that even had snow that flew around for all the kids to catch. It was pretty cool! 

Paisley loves her crafts. We made ornaments, cookies and lots of other fun art projects. This girl could craft all day, especially if glitter is involved. 

All dressed up and ready for her preschool Holiday performance. She loved singing and I was so proud of her. 

The 4's Class

Roman performed in the Gingerbread Man Musical. They even made little gingerbread men to hang on the tree. Loved this so much and was so impressed with all the kinders. 

Getting ready to sing

They got to bring home their decorations. 

Meeting Santa

Riding the holiday train

So many fun things to do during the holidays. I think we had a pretty awesome December. 

Halloween

A little doggy and Captain America for Halloween this year. Everyone was excited to dress up and trick or treat. 

Roman in the Valle Verde Halloween parade. Loved seeing my little superhero smiling. 

Roman's class all dressed up

Ready to head out for some candy. Cutest dog around. 

A little Halloween Woodlands Pre-Party

The gang ready to go. 

Paisley's 4th Birthday Party

Paisley celebrated her 4th Birthday with a party at Pump It Up. She was certain that is where she wanted to have it, so it made it easy for us. She wanted a rainbow cake and was so excited to jump with all her friends. 

She loved her cake and all the colors. 

I wasn't sure I could pull it off, but loved how it turned out. 

Paisley and some of her special friends celebrating at Pump It Up

Tyler and Roman must have gone down the slide 100 times

Her favorite part of the whole party was being able to sit in the "special chair" while everyone sang Happy Birthday to her. 

Her rainbow party favors. She loved putting these together with me. 

She couldn't wait to open up her gifts. 

On Paisley's actual birthday we celebrated with ice cream cake that she got to pick out. Of course, she went with one of her favorites Oreos. 

We also went out to lunch at Lazy Dog, her favorite. 

Happy Birthday Paisley! 

What a special week we had celebrating you turning 4.