Jonah going down the big super-slide

Almost game-time!

The field is right on the bay--such a beautiful setting!

Cute girl on a cable car

Cute boy on the cable car. He was a bit bummed he couldn't hang from a moving cable car so compensated here.

Daddy and Joe at the game

Momma and crazy Ava (and this was before the cotton candy)

Waiting for some action

Double-fisting it with the cotton candy (the white chunk on the right looks like it's part of the lady's sweatshirt, but it's all candy)

Sticky face, sticky fingers!

Ava with her squishy ball they threw out from the field. I'm surprised she doesn't sleep with it at night.

At Yuerba Buena Gardens before we had to catch our flight. The sun was a little bright, I guess. Ava is displaying the Gobstoppers she was given at Mel's Diner after breakfast. I can't believe I neglected to take a picture of Jon eating at a Mel's Diner! One of his all-time fav movies is "American Graffiti" and a lot of it takes place at Mel's. The food was good, too! Well, I guess since I don't have picture-proof that we were there you all will have to watch for Jon wearing his new t-shirt.

The Easter Bunny (Nana) was good to us this year!!

Brynne didn't quite know what to do with her basket full of goodies (at first). Now she asks for "Canky!" every few minutes.

Ava sure loves those Nerds!

Jonah was happy to see some spearmint gum (he informed me that he's moved on from Juicy Fruit) and chicken that lays eggs in his basket.

I couldn't resist this photo of our little princess trying out the piano (just like Jo-Jo and Sissy).
We had a wonderful time at church worshipping the Savior (He is Risen!) and had William and Heather (E-um and Hearer) over for some ham and fixin's, including my first ever attempt at Hot Cross Buns. They were yummy!
Happy Easter Everyone!

Easter Models

"Brynne is wearing an adorable pink dress with satin top and tulle skirt made by. . . uh, Costco."

"Ava's looking quite stylish in her purple layered flower fairy dress and matching sequined bunny purse."

"Here she is doing a little gig. . . "

"Jonah's looking handsome this year in his striped blue and white shirt and matching blue slacks."

"Ginkle Ginkle"

Brynne's rendition of Twinkle Twinkle. We think she's pretty cute! She gets asked to sing this SEVERAL times a day...

Chai Tea

I posted about this yummy homemade Chai Tea on facebook, and a few people asked for the recipe. I got it from a catalog I subscribe to at Beeyoutiful.com.
So I thought I would post it here.
Here goes:
4 Cups Water
3-4 T Evaporated Cane Juice or Rapadura
1 Toe of fresh ginger, grated or diced finely
2-3 Cinnamon sticks
8-10 Whole Cloves
1 tsp Cardamom
1 tsp Nutmeg
Pinch of Tumeric
Pinch of Black Pepper
4 T Loose Black Tea or Black Tea Bags
1 tsp Pure Vanilla (a vanilla bean would prob work, too)
Cream or Milk

Add water, Rapadura or other sweetener and spices to a 2-3 quart pot and bring to a slow boil. After about 15-20 minutes, add loose tea or tea bags and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes (I covered my pot at this point so I didn't loose too much of the liquid). Remove from heat and strain through a tigh mesh strainer into a 4 cup measuring cup. Stir in vanilla. Some of your liquid may have boiled away. Add back enough hot water to make 4 cups of tea. Serve with 1/4 cup warm cream or milk in each cup. I cooled mine in open jars and stuck it in the fridge to enjoy for a couple of days. Makes about 5-6 cups of Chai.
UPDATE: I will definitely make this stronger using more black tea and trying to save my liquids in the beginning rather than adding water back in. Also, just add a teensy bit of cream.

A Park of Our Own

When we first saw the selling flyer for this house, the slogan they used was "Own Your Own Park" (cuz the house is on a bigger lot). Well, now we can say it's true! We used to have to walk/drive to go play on the swings or slide but now all we have to do is open our back door. The kids were so excited and even stayed and helped assemble it!

A Few Happenings

They were very interested to see what the new toilet Daddy ordered looks like!

Ava spelled this out with Trader Joe's alphabet cookies

Then when I came back in the room she had been busy once again. I guess she ran out of letters for Brynne! Notice how the "h" on Jonah is backwards and once was a "d"? Also, the 2 for an "s". Great improvising, Ava!

XY

It's a BOY!!
We took the two older kids to the ultrasound today and as soon as the technician told us it's a boy, Jonah starting jumping up and down and yelling! Ava's reaction was a little different; she just sat quietly.
Everything looks great and the baby is very healthy. Hopefully he won't be as big as Jonah was at birth, but we are very blessed to have him and now we have a girl sandwich.

Fortune Fortuna

Jonah's fortune cookie tonight read: "There will always be delightful mysteries in your life."
He said, "OH! Like when I'm walking down the street and see a hole in the sidewalk, I'll say, 'What a delightful mystery!'"

Ava for Jonah?

Our friend's son Autry kept asking his mom to read him the "Ava and the fish book."
Ava and the fish? I'll bet Biblical Jonah wishes it was Ava in that fish instead of him!

Lunch Time

This was on the table when I came out of the kitchen. The kids have to clear their own dishes, but Jonah asked if he could go up to play the drums in the practice room.
It reads, "Mom. . . . Do not take this plate back yet. --Jonah"
I guess he wanted to make sure I knew he wasn't done yet.

Ava's Tea Party

Ava had her birthday party last weekend. We had 13 girls here aged 10-4. This was one of the tables (check out Ava's zoned-out smile)

The second table--some of these smiles make me laugh so hard! (click on photo to enlarge)

Playing "Tape the spout on the teapot." Try not to envy my awesome artistic skills.

Opening presents! The girls were so cute all dressed up and each brought a stuffed animal or doll as a special guest (all Ava's stipulations). Happy 6th Birthday Avie-Lou! (we're happy the week of birthdays is done!)

Only Ava. . .

As the food arrives at Red Robin last weekend, right in front of the server Ava said loudly, "Dad, didn't you get sick from Red Robin last time you ate here?!"
Then later the staff sang Happy Birthday to a different table. After they were done, Ava leans over and yells, "Um, excuse me! We have a birthday over here, too!"

More Birthdays. . .

Brynne trying on her first jammie dress

Ava getting the bumps from Poppop and Nannie

Our family party on Ava's birthday yesterday

Yummy!

A Few Birthdays...

Ava is now SIX! I can hardly believe that it's been six years since this little girl was given to us! She is a joy to be around, says really funny things, and loves all things girly. Here she is hugging her new Hello Kitty blankie she got for her b-day.

Brynne is now TWO! She's a dickens with a strong will that defies even the toughest discipline sometimes but we are praying that she lets the Lord use that endurance for His will as she grows. (Oh, and she was copying brother "Do-do" biting his nails as seen below)

Jonah had a lot of fun eating cake and was a wonderful sport for all the birthday celebrations.

It was also my birthday last week! I am now too old to be asked how old I am! (J/K, I'm 32)
My friends surprised me on the morning of my birthday with yummy pastries and my fav coffee! I have the best friends!

Our Girls

BooBoo with her first hair clip! My sis Jamie (click on her name to see her blog) just put up a post about how she was able to put her daughter's hair in two french braids...Well, we're just happy about this one little clip and not jealous at all...

80's Rocker Girl--She dressed herself that day. Jonah taught her how to do the rocker symbol with her fingers...What can I say except "Rock Band!"

Ava made this crown out of foil and construction paper and was very proud of it! (Jonah made one, too, but alas, wouldn't let me document it on film)

Just a cute pic of the Boo. It's so crazy how different these two girls look and how different their personalities are, too! Jonah just saw these pictures and said, "They have the same smile! I just saw it!"