Little Wizzard

Here is a video of our Harry Potter in training...

Breaking Dawn Party --- SPOILER ALERT

Vampires and Werewolves and Edward...Oh my!

A few days ago I hosted a party to discuss Stephenie Meyer's book Breaking Dawn in the Twilight series. It was a lot of fun and nice to talk about the book. After I finished the book I felt like I wanted to talk about it with someone.
I decorated the living room in white Christmas lights, just like Alice likes to decorate. We had bleeding heart cupcakes (hearts with oozing cherry filling), vampire fruit punch, and my friend Allison even brought deviled eggs (Bella craved eggs in her pregnancy.) We did trivia on the first 3 books to see what we remembered. Anyone know the river Bella and Edward cross to get to the Cullen's house? OK, we decided that one was not very important. But some of them were fun anyhow. Like how old is Carisle? Try 362 years old.
After we were finished talking about the book I wanted to re-read the series. I almost e-vited Stephenie Meyer just for fun because, well she lives about 10-15 minutes from my house, but well, then I would just have to admit that I really am a crazed fan.

What's your vote?

We want to hear from you! Do you think Samuel looks more like Becca or Phil? A lot of people say Phil and while he has such a similar sweet personality and even his mannerisms match Phil, we want to know what you think.
Leave a message - also say what the similarities are of each.
Thanks!

A few of Samuel recently...






































These are a few of my favorites of Phil...


















































Here's a few of me...








































I had to add this photo b/c it's one of my favorites - I am 3 years old and I have a black eye that I got from running around way too much...remind you of anyone?

Legoland

We took a trip to California last weekend. First we stopped in Yuma, AZ in the whopping 117 degree heat and we had lunch with some old friends and their 2 beautiful daughters, that was fun but we were glad when we made it over the mountains and into San Diego, the temperature then read 85, we promptly rolled our windows down and enjoyed it (although Lizzy was actually COLD!) When we got into San Diego we spent some time and had dinner with a close friend that I haven't seen in 10 years. We had so much fun we didn't want to leave, her children were so sweet and it was really a lot of fun.

The real FUN started when we went to Lego land for the day. Some of the highlights were Phil and Lizzy building their own lego cars and racing them on a track, Liz and I riding the dragon roller coaster (same one Phil and I rode on our honeymoon 8 1/2 years ago), and Sam LOVING the stuffed animal legoman we bought him (he kept hugging it). We were wiped by dinner time and went back to the hotel to swim (and I read my Breaking Dawn book.) The next day We went through Los Angeles to the American Girl store. Lizzy has been reading the books and is really into the doll Kit. She was able to use allowance that she has been saving for many months and we ate at the cafe there. She giggled and had a HUGE smile on her face the whole time.

We had lots of fun and I was sad it was so short. The kids were GREAT in the car on the way there but on the way home they both had their moments of unhappiness, oh well.

Here's some photo's. We stopped by the beach while we were waiting for Lego land to open and since Sam was asleep in the van Liz and Phil went down and took a few pics and i got to stay in the van and read more of Breaking Dawn (they forbid me to take it in to Lego land- so I just stayed up all night Sat. and read it).

That's it for now.

Earplugs

I love earplugs. I have worn them every night since my daughter was born. Some may think this is funny but I believe most of us just need a goods nights rest and that is what ear plugs can offer. Phil is the one that gets up with the kids at night when they cry. Over the years I have had friends ask how in the world I get my husband to wake up with the children at night when they cry. To this I go on about what a wonderful husband he is and how much he cares about me, you know the usual compliments one would give about such a wonderful person as Phil. Well, what I don't tell them is that it all started with something called earplugs. If you can't hear them then how can you get up with them, right? Well, for some reason a few months ago Sam started waking up at night again and crying until I nursed him. Phil and I were going nuts, because even ear plugs cannot protect me from the sadness I feel knowing that my husband is up with the baby almost every night. So 2 weeks ago I bought Phil and I some ear plugs and told him that we were going to let him cry it out, while checking on him and comforting him every 10 minutes. We decided to switch off nights for who was up with him. I took the first night. Phil put his earplugs in and I saw him relax more than he had in 2 months, all he said was, "now I know why you wear earplugs." And he fell asleep. It only took 2 nights for Sam to go back to sleeping through the night but Phil still wears his earplugs just in case, and both of us have slept remarkably well for the last 2 weeks.

post script...
Just so everyone doesn't think we are horrible & irresponsible parents, I am a VERY light sleeper and despite earplugs I do hear when the children wake up at night, earplugs just help to take the edge off.