Low Key...

Things have been pretty low key around here.. which I LOVE. Sometime I just feel like there is so much going on and I am running around like crazy and all I want to do is lay on the ground and play with my kids. I know half of my busy-ness is my own fault. And it is a fault. I love projects and playing and Disney and beach and just hate to miss out.

Simplifying has been a personal goal I keep in the front of my brains. {If I didn't then I would get to excited about the next fun thing and end up crazy again.} Really I don't do half as much as I used to but I am doing 3 times as much with my kids and having a child in school, so I just feel busy. ok. Enough rambling.

So lately I have been training for a 1/2 marathon! Excited about this one. In fact today we {my girlfriend Anna and bro-in-law Nate} did our 12 mile run. AND!!!! I hurt. I'm not going to act like some super woman. Running is hard and beats me up. It is fun and we run hard and I love it. But I also pay the price. I've been battling a hip injury this race. Its not bad enough not to run but just enough to be annoying. But I guess my lungs and heart are solid even if my joints aren't. The race is coming up on June 2nd! Wish me luck!

 More importantly..

 This little man Crew.

He is just everything to me. I love him so much. He climbs everything and makes messes in everything loves to throw his food. (Wish he would stop that). He loves his brother and sister. He is just so sweet. I love him. Alot of love going on here.

 He had his one year appt. the other day and was 75th for height and 25th for weight! He's only 21lbs. My skinny boy. And I can officially call him walking as of the last 2 days. He walks more than crawls now so I think it counts? 12.75ish months old. Not too bad.

 

 We have also been hitting up Disneyland every now and then. What would my kids do with out Syd and Jackie?

 ... and the beach. Does anyone else love that picture as much as I do?! I might just frame it. Iphone cameras RoCk.

 Other awesome news....

 Brandon passed his first board exam! He's got 2 more to go, but this is one step done. AND he officially had his last day of class ever this Wednesday!! AH! I am thrilled about this. We are on to rotations this next semester. His first is at a Kaiser Hospital. He'll be gone alot still but at least when he gets off at 5 he will be ours!! Not in his cave studying. (until the next boards approaches).

 He did some exams on the kids a few weeks ago and I was impressed to see him work. It really set in that he is an "eye doctor"! I kinda love it. ... I think I will really love it when he gets paid for it. All the years and $$$,$$$.$$ might just be worth it. Still have another full year of rotations, but it is getting closer.

And now I want to go read my book.

Crew Had A Party

 Yes! My little baby is 1! I can't believe how ridiculously fast this last year has gone. It really makes my heart ache. Being a mother is just one of the most wonderful things in the world and having your special little babies keep growing is hard. Especially when I have a 5 almost 6 year old who seriously was just a little toddler running around! Don't get me wrong.. I love the progression and fun stages, but it just takes me back when I really stop to think about it.

So Crew is growing and changing and just the funniest thing. Such a spazz of a baby and sneaky. I can't already tell he is going to be mischief maker. Always stealing binkies and taking others toys and chucking them across the room. Sneaking in pinches when I'm not looking. Sneaky.

But he does have his sweet side, where he loves to sit and watch his brother and sister, maul other babies with kisses, snuggle up when tired, and giggle like crazy. Love the giggles. Nothing better that a good baby laughing.

He has his new stages these last couple months have brought... Sleeping soundly in his crib and actually reaches for it when doing our nightly routine (MIRACLE with this kid... the one who used to cry for 1-2 hours). HE LOVES to be naked.. as so as it take off his diaper, he waits for it to be wiped then flips around and bolts. Stinker. And at that LOVES to be chased. He is a small thing. (No 1 year appt yet, insurance is in limbo..) But I know he is small because all the youngin's a few months behind are passing him. He still wears some 6 and 9 month onesies. Who is this kid?! Even though he is small he eats like a horse. I put him in the highchair to fix dinner with some snacks to eat, he eats that and then continues to eat while we eat (sometimes more than the kids) then drinks a 4-6 oz bottle with in the hour to go to bed. And he is still tiny! (You can guess wear it all ends up, joy for me) He loves to have babble conversations (so fun), loves to climb (scary), Loves to throw things (a pain), and just is a little rockstar baby. Love him Forever.

Ok ok.. I'll get to the party. It was a simple little party. Cupcakes, drinks, pizza, salads, bubbles, friends, the pool and fun. I didn't go to crazy on any theme. Too hard with 3 kids. So we just had a chill party, but it was perfect. Plenty hot to enjoy the pool and plenty of awesome friends came to show love. I didn't have a ton to stress over so I completely enjoyed it! Plus we held the birthday party on my birthday, so it was nice to have a fun time.

Ready for picture overload?! That's just what happens on a first birthday.
Ready.. Set...


Go!

 Birthday Banner rocked the house! 

Fascinating. I can stare at them for hours too. 

 Stellar Friends

 The cutest lil boy right there.

 Baby Buddies. 

  Bubbles just make things sweeter.

 At the end of the day.. I still turned another year older but wiser I might add. (Ok maybe not wiser but I am realizing how much I really don't know about life compared to my invincible 20 year old self.) Some one said something like that.. the more you know the more you don't know. Truly how I feel. I just have a lot to learn.  And can't remember the quote. (Another problem with getting older!)

My lovely visiting teachers brought me some flowers along with Carly's beautiful bouquet, Toms and a new Iphone.. I was actually kinda spoiled this year. Spoiled or Blessed. Both. Thank you life, for being good right now. 

Fitted for Easter

 We had a very lovely Easter.Nice and relaxing. Every year for the past few years we have had an Easter Potluck with our other school buddies. We are all in the same boat away from family but still want to do some thing special so its become a fun little tradition. Our little family had an extra special treat and had Des and her family over at the potluck. We have been so lucky to have them live close. Our kids just love each other and there is just something special about having a sister close. 

My mom was here just a few weeks before Easter and we went shopping a picked out some Easter clothes for the kids. And OH MY!! I love them! {I love the girls dresses especially} When are designers going to catch on and make kids clothes adult sized? I can't tell you how many times I've looked at the little girl clothes and seriously thought.. I want that. For me. 

The girls dresses were so posh and boys just looked dashing in their little suits. Its fun to dress up once in a while. Just before the Potluck, Des took a couple of pictures for us. Mind you this was after a morning of baking and running around church so not totally polished but I think they are fun. A good snapshot of our little family at this time. 

Sometimes I just want to squeeze my kids so tight. The longer and tighter I squeeze I just might be able to stop them from growing so fast. They are so sweet. 

 My stoic Bryce. Won't smile for the camera. And Crew smiling all the time! 

 We did do a couple of Easter egg hunts with friends, but alas no camera at those events.. these are a few borrowed pictures.