Rylee's Official Birth Date

Doughnut face! This is what she wanted for her birthday breakfast of champions. After eating a whole box of doughnuts we all felt sick to our stomach...though they did taste good before going down. Today was a lazy day for all of us. We all got to enjoy Rylee's new toys. Thanks to everyone who made her birthday special!By the way, Rylee got a letter from her Great-Baba, which she read with ease and giggles:She immediately wanted to write her back and this is what she said,

"Oh you are so sweet. You are so kind to send me a letter and you are much sweeter than before.
xoxoxoxxooxoxox From Rylee"

I refused to send it because it was in my handwriting. I asked her to rewrite it. She refused and said that it was so much faster because I already wrote it down. True, she is smart.
This was a cute pillowcase Aunt Christie had made for Rylee's birthday. It was nice because all her family signed it and she now sleeps on it.After being lazy we decided to work off those doughnuts and go to Sky High Sports for some jumping!

Rylee's 5th Birthday Party

You've had a birthday shout Hooray!
We'd like to sing to you today!
One year older and wiser too!
Happy Birthday, to you!

This year I wanted easy. So we decided to let Technique Gymnastics be our guide. They set up, entertained and cleaned up. The cake was WONDERFUL. Everything was edible and handmade by Becky Cherry. She is amazing!!! Thank you so much!! All the kids had such a great time! Rylee specifically wanted a round cake with Pocahontas and John Smith on top with green grass and the white powdery doughnettes. She even drew a picture of the cake she wanted. Then we went to the Disney Store to see if we could get the small Pocahontas figurines, but they didn't exist because she is so outdated. Her second choice was Rapunzel and this is what Becky created.

Singing in the Rain

Here we are on a rainy day after dinner and the kids thought it would be funny to run around outside in shorts and short-sleeve shirts with rain boots...in the rain. They crack me up sometimes. So here is Rylee showing off her muscles like Jon......and Brody giggling with excitement...
...and cutie baby Taylee riding on Jon's back...After singing in the rain, literally we attempted to make these really tart Lemon Tarts, which turned out wonderfully...tart!This is Brody's pouting face, which I think is hilarious with the huge lip pucker.

San Francisco

Rylee has been asking if it is windy enough to fly kites and finally it was. We took another family day to picnic at a park and fly kites. Jon found us a beautiful long patch of green grass right in front of the Bay. The weather was perfect and the both of them were able to do it all by themselves, which made them very proud. For Brody's birthday Rylee picked out the pirate ship kite and for Rylee's birthday, Rylee picked out the Tinkerbell kite.Muscle man!!!I love this picture of the boys. I want to always remember this look of pure enjoyment on their faces.Lovin' the crazy kids!The kids were mesmerized with a man at the park that was flying a very large kite. It was about 8 kites hooked together. He was amazing! He had such control and was teasing the kids by almost touching them, but then flying right over their heads.Tackle!They both were wasted from all the running around. Here they are falling sleep in the car. That has to be so uncomfortable, but I guess if you're tired enough then you can sleep anywhere.

Discovery Museum

Today Jon got home from a long 4 days (96 hours straight) at work and we are blessed to have him by our sides once again. It's hard for me to ever feel complete when my other half is away. Life is so much better when he is home...though at times I swear the kids act like a band of wild animals when he is home. I guess it is there primal way of expressing their excitement when the ring leader arrives. Seriously, they just don't do that when you are at work. Usually Tuesdays is Rylee's "dance day". I asked her if she wouldn't mind skipping it today so we could go do something fun together as a family. She said, "Of course". She is so sweet and loving. We decided to go to the Discovery Museum in Sacramento. We had a great time. Outside they had a human sundial that was...well, correct. You stand on the month and where your shadow points is the time. I guess time just stands still when it's overcast, since there would be no shadows to be found. Upon entering we learned about whale bones, bugs, animals, outer space and physics.See Rylee standing on March and her shadow is pointing to 1:00p.My cutie sweet little baby Taylee. Lately she's been mostly on my back pulling my hair while sitting in the backpack no matter where we are; at home or out at play. I wonder if she forgets what I look like since she is always staring at the back of my head?This was so funny for Jon and I. This picture reminded us of Dark Helmet in the movie Space Balls. The helmet is oversized for his little head and he talks with his hilarious Darth Vader voice. Brody looked just like him in this plastic space helmet for kids with this rocket booster jet pack on his back. He did not want to take it off.Here Rylee is looking through different prisms learning about light refraction. She loved seeing the different patterns of rainbows that different prisms made.This is how the astronauts sleep in space. Since there is no gravity they have to be strapped to the walls in an upright position. They are pretending to be sleeping.Thermal energy with their handprints.Rylee and Brody loved all the different things they could touch and learn about. Lately when I explain things to Rylee she asks, "How do you know that?". Some day she will find out that I don't know everything and that we are all still learning. It was fun for me to just watch the kids take their time and explore. Not feeling rushed is a great feeling since most of our life is rushing. I need slow it down and enjoy the little things. Life is going so fast and it partly makes me feel sad that I am missing things that are right in front of my face. I love our little family with all my heart. Somedays I'd like to quit everything and just be with the ones that I love.

Happy Birthday Taylor!

You will always have a special place in my heart. Taylor Spencer was Rylee and Brody's nanny for about a year while I worked. I am so grateful for her and her love for my kids. Happy Birthday!!! We miss you!!

Snow Skiing

This is probably the last time this season they will go skiing. Unfortunately this was Rylee's only time this season. Jon said she is getting better and better and will probably be able to do it all by herself next year. She still needs to get over the fear factor. I have to give her brave credit for at least trying it and smiling through it. They had a great time together on her Daddy-Daughter Date.