Our Pool

 Well it is done! The pool is in and besides a few little finishing touches it is complete. We are supper excited to have our own backyard pool and can not wait to be using it regularly.

The process started back in January with a lot of digging.

 We of course put the kids to work to save a bit on digging costs!

 The gas line was a major pain since a trench had to be made around the entire backyard.

This was the only way to get to the useable portion of the backyard.

Then rebar and pipes filled the holes throughout the yard much to the kids disappointment since they had been enjoying running around in all the trenches. 

The kids enjoyed watching each step as it happened.

 The pool really started to take shape after the gunite was done.

Then came the tile and the rocks. This was the kids favorite since they got to run around and play in the pool.

The cats even wondered in to inspect it. I think this will be the only time they are ever on the play shelf though.

The whole process and a small amount of rain created a lot of mud! I can not tell you how many times I had to strip kids clothes off before they were allowed inside.

 After 7 weeks our pool is complete and ready for some swimming. If only it was a little warmer. The cool weather did not stop Bry from trying out the pool though.

Both kids enjoyed the spa once it was warmed up.

The pool looks great and we are working on making the rest of the backyard just as wonderful. Can not wait for warm weather and pool parties.

Ponies and Rainbows Galore!

 This week Bry turned 4 and this weekend we had her birthday party. This year she wanted a pony party with rainbows. We were a little sad that our Texas friends were unable to be here but we loved having so many new friends and long time friends here to celebrate.

Every time we have passed a pinata in a store she has asked for one for her birthday so we surprised Bry with a pony pinata this morning. She was so super excited when she saw it! Her exact words were "just what I always wanted!"

By the time the party began my kids were bouncing off the walls with excitement. They are at such a great party age! When the kids arrived we headed out back to enjoy the beautiful day and  our new grass. The kids loved the sand table!

Andon's friend from school came with his little sister which was perfect. The two of them had a blast playing together.

 Brylynn was adorable in her new dress! This year I let her pick out the fabric.

My grandparents were finally able to make it to one of the kids parties. We are so lucky to have them living close by now. 

For the pony party I made sock stick ponies for all the kids. Luckily this year it was a small group only 13 kids plus my 2. The ponies were a hit I just wish I had gotten a better picture.

 The first activity was the pony parlor. The kids had barrettes, braids, and jewels to make their ponies extra special. The kids thought it was great and the ponies turned out awesome.

After the pony parlor we made sand art. The sand art was something Bry had been asking to do for a while now. I They were a bit of work but the kids enjoyed them. Thankfully I had my mom and sister to help out!

 After the sand art we did the pinata. It was a string pinata and so all the kids grabbed a string and pulled. Unfortunately the one string that nobody pulled was the string that opened it so it took an extra pull.

Emily made another fantastic cake! Exactly to Brylynn's specifications. A mommy and baby pony with rainbows.

 It was a bit windy so lighting the candles took some work. Bry did not like the wind blowing out her candles.

In classic Andon style he sang happy Birthday with his ears covered. At least he no longer runs away or screams when he get overwhelmed by loud noises.

After a bit more play time Bry was begging to open her gifts. She got a bunch of wonderful things which she and Andon played with the rest of the afternoon.

It was a wonderful birthday celebration! Thanks to everyone who made it out to help us celebrate our beautiful little girl's birthday!

Brylynn is 4!!

 Brylynn turned 4 today! For the last 6months or so she has been talking about her birthday and inviting everyone we meet to her party. I have never seen her this excited about anything.
This morning she woke up with the biggest smile and could not wait to start the day. She decided to help make breakfast. While she is enjoying hard boiled eggs in the morning the rest of us like scrambled. She is getting better at cracking and stirring every week.

Bry had her Celebrating of Life at school today. They talk about the high points of each year of their life and share pictures with the class. Then they do a special song about growing through the years and sing Happy Birthday. We also brought in muffins for the class. It was an absolutely wonderful celebrating and she was thrilled to have her special day at school.

At home we opened presents. Bry was super excited about every present.

For me the best gift of all was that Andon came up with his own gift for her. He also made sure that he did some very special things for her throughout the day. It was wonderful to see him so excited about her birthday and to be so kind and loving to her.

Before dinner we spent some time building the new girly Lego's she got.

Brylynn choose The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. She has been talking about ravioli's with cream sauce for weeks now.

Happy Birthday Brylynn! We love you more than anything!

Ballet and Tap

 Right before we moved back in November I asked the kids what activities they wanted to do. Bry said she wanted to stick with Ballet/Tap and Andon said he wanted to do it too. The studio where Bry was taking lessons was a bit of a drive from our new house (although we loved it) so I switched them to a much closer studio. The kids liked the idea of Ballet/Tap but the new studio was not working out and soon we were all dreading going to class. So although I usually will not change up our activities so quickly I decided to change studios again. When I told the kids we were changing they both asked to try gymnastics instead. So we are now doing gymnastics and everyone is much happier.

Here is Bry on her last day of classes. I just love this leotard!

Andon surrounded by pink!

It is sad that one studio could change the way my kids feel about dance classes, plus they are just too cute in their tap shoes. Who knows maybe by this summer maybe they will be begging to dance again. Until then we are loving gymnastics and the great class they are now in!

SoCal Part 2

 After our fun in San Diego we headed to the La Brea Tar Pits. Andon has been watching a some prehistoric shows all about the Tar Pits and the fossils that have been found there so when we mentioned going there he could not contain his excitement. It is all he talked about all week and it did not disappoint. We saw lots of fossils, some fun life size models, and the biggest thrill of all Tar or Asphalt as the scientists, and strangely enough Brylynn, calls it.

Daddy and Andon, look at that excitement in the little boy!

Mammoths!

Dire Wolf skulls. I have a bunch of these pictures of Andon in front of almost everything there. He thought it was all so cool!

Bry with Auntie Katie!

 After all the fossils we went outside for snack. Bry found this hill and rolled down over and over.

Andon was quite happy eating an apple at the bottom of the hill. I swear he would eat apples at every meal and snack if I let him. 

 Pit 91 where most of the excavation has been done. There are still fossils in the pit labeled and ready to be brought up in the summer when they work in he pit again.

 Auntie Katie, Uncle Kevin, and Bry checking out one of the little tar areas. It is amazing to see all of these little pits all over. The trees growing in the area were also leaking tar from them like sap.

The kids checking out one of the tar areas that was not blocked off yet.

It was a great day full of fun, education, and family. A good break from all the house work we have been doing.

After all the fun the kids were asleep before we hit the freeway!