Miss Isla bird turns one.... wahhh!

Our sweet girl turned ONE! I'm a bit of a blubbering, emotional mess of a mama these days! How in the world has a year with her gone by so quickly?! She is just the sweetest. Her eyes light up when she sees you, she already has the ability to make you feel like you are her favourite person in the whole wide world. She loves to climb, be upside down and giggle. She thinks the sun rises and falls upon her big brother... and when she wants to, she gives the best and I mean best snuggles! Our sweet little Isla bird. 

I dragged her out in the "freezing" west coast weather ;) and got a few snaps of her in her little birthday dress. Just couldn't resist the cuteness!!

On Sunday, Nov 30 we had a party for our little miss birdie. Isla clung on to mom or dad for the first bit but warmed up quickly and was happy to see all the lovely people that came to celebrate her! It was chaotic and perfect! I am so thankful for the amazing family and friends (both near and far) that take the time to love on my girly. It means the world to me! and I know her one day too. She was happy as a clam and I can't say she devoured her cake but she ate more of it than Pax did at his first party :)

Paxton turns three!!!!

Sweet little Paxton-bear is three. Rob and I have been trying to wrap our minds around this fact! I felt super emotional about it this year, the marking of another year gone by. Likely because it went by even faster than the last two. 

Paxton is just the sweetest three year old I know. (obviously!) He's sweet, caring and MOSTLY gentle. He has the kindest soul and I truly believe he is wise beyond his years. (if I can say that about a three year old) For the longest time, I thought we weren't even going to have to go thru a "learning to share" phase. He never seemed to mind sharing toys, or even if kids took them from him he would just look surprised and then find a new toy. BUT alas, that phase is over. When my sister and her family moved to Abby he got thrown into big cousin mode very quickly, and we had a few difficult episodes of sharing... but he's doing awesome now. And is doing such a good job being big brother. Although sometimes he forgets that Isla isn't big enough to "tackle." I'm so thrilled that Isla has such a kind and protective big brother! He loves to play and make believe, I hear him making up little stories with his play mobile and it just makes my heart so happy. And of course he is still the biggest little athlete I know. His latest love, to join the other dozen is tennis. I'm definitely on board with this one! Tennis or golf, those are the two I'd love to see him do. But I'm learning very quickly that what he loves he loves and it has nothing to do with me. haha.

We had a fun little party for Paxton. He totally got it this year and was so so so excited for his party! After it was all over he looked up at me and said "Mama is my party over??" with these huge sad eyes. After that comment I wanted to throw another one for him the next day! He had a lot of fun playing with all his friends- whom are all becoming very important to him! and he loved his cookies and cupcakes of course. He was awesome opening his gifts too. He said thank you and gave hugs for everything he got. I love that he's so well mannered, it sure makes this Mama and Dada proud. 

                                   Here's a few photos from his special party!

AND....

Pax got his very first set of goalie equipment from Grandad. Anyone that knows

me, knows that that is the VERY last position I'd want him to

play IF he plays hockey....

BUT he was stinking cute in it...

so I had to post a few pics!

... and you  may have spotted BIG BOY undies on him! He's doing great in the 

potty department ;)

A little tradition that I started last year and want to do for both kids every year, is on their actual birthday for them to have a little one on one time with both of us parents. Birthdays for my siblings and I were always so special. I love that there is a day that each child gets to be CELEBRATED!!

This year I asked Pax what he would like to do and all he wanted was to splash in puddles!

So, decked in rubber boots off we went to find puddles.

We had a little date at the new mall... we found lots of puddles, did lots of jumping and were soaking! I'd say it was a successful outing, finishing off with a starbucks date :)

(thanks Gigi for watching Isla while I took Pax out!)

Daddy's date with Paxton when he got home from work was taking him to the skating rink for the first time this year. Pax had a blast! I love that they can do that together. Daddy's phone died right when they got there, so sadly he couldn't take any photos. 

Happy THIRD Birthday Paxton-bear. We love you soo soo soo much!!

xox

a decade together.

August 8 marked TEN YEARS. Ten years! ten years ago, Rob and I got married. Typing that out looks so unbelievable. I'm so proud of us for making it to number 10. We've had an incredible decade together. Lots and lots of ups, some hard times, an incredible 6 month trip seeing so much of the world and not one but two beautiful babies. If that's what the first decade held, I can hardly wait to experience the second one. 

(Babe- I'm so thrilled to be on this journey with you. I'm so glad you chose me. I'm so glad you're the one walking beside me thru the good days and the bad days. I love waking up with you beside me and I love that we are now parents together. Life just wouldn't be the same without you. I love you dearly and I can't wait to take our kids and show them some of this incredible world together. xx)

I feel like its incredibly important to celebrate the big milestones, to cheer us on and to TAKE pictures! Life is short. Many marriages don't make it these days, so I felt like I wanted to have some anniversary photos done to celebrate us, where we are and that we still CHOOSE each other every day! We got the very talented Sharalee Prang to snap some for us. We had her do some of our little family and some of just the two of us. They are so special to me and I cherish them from the bottom of my heart. 

mexico... a second trip!

 We FINALLY got to Primo Tapia to visit Rob's sister and her family... they moved there to run an organization called Casa de Luz, THREE years ago! about a month before Paxton was born. Needless to say, life's been busy on our end and getting there with the kids just hadn't happened. But this winter when MaryLynn and Cal got married they wanted to have us all together at some point and the Mexico/SanDiego idea came about.

I'm so thankful that I finally got to see where they live and work. I expected before I went down that they were doing an amazing job, so seeing it in person wasn't a surprise. They pour every ounce of their entire lives and beings into Casa de Luz. It was such a beautiful and inspiring thing to see. The community and love that they have there is just so special. (We are SO proud of you guys! and think the world of the work you are doing... thank you for showing us around and sharing what you do with us!) I feel sad that it took us so long to get down there, but so grateful at the same time that I now have been there. It was a whirlwind trip. 4 days! Travel with an almost 3 year old and a 7 mos old is NOT for the faint of heart! BUT this was important to us so we decided to just go for it. I SO look forward to the day that we can go down for a couple weeks and really get involved and do life with them for a bit.

It was such a quick trip that I hardly took any photos. I figured I'd post the few that I did take... we finished the trip off with an afternoon at Sea World with everyone (minus Toni who had to stay back with a team) and also met up with Cal's daughter and her family. Sea World was a huge hit and the perfect way to end the quick visit.

Special thank you again to MaryLynn and Cal for the trip...

a trip to Mexico

For Grandad's 60th Birthday, he flew his kids and their families to San Jose, Mexico for a big family vacation!

The vacation rentals booked were perfect, and the pool and grounds were total paradise. It was great. Rob, the kids and I were there for a full two weeks, which was so nice. Minus the unsleeping children (but really that's just life anywhere these days!) and then Erin, Toni and the kids joined us for the last week. This was SO special cause our kids haven't gotten to spend a lot of time together, and Pax is finally at the age where he was so excited to have them around to play with. Him and Bella had quite the connection, it was so sweet how she took him under her wing and loved on him. Sure makes it hard having them far away, knowing what we are missing out on :( BUT we made the most of the week together and had a blast. Thanks again Grandad for such a wonderful trip and making such special memories for our kids! Pax has not stopped talking about "Grandad's house" and has even yelled at planes to stop and come back so he can get on and go see Grandad in Mexico :)

and the best one of all of us... kindy tricky with so many kids :)