Spring Break...

So, right after school and our squadron's change of command, we took off for our road trip to Arizona. We have all been spoiled the last year and a half only having to drive three to five hours for a nice vacation. None of us was looking forward to the almost nine hour drive to Mesa. But, everyone did well. We stopped in Palm Springs for dinner and made to our hotel before mid-night. This was Daddy's and Maren's first time visiting the Phoenix area. They were warned before hand though, that we ALWAYS have terrible weather when we go there. (Two years ago we went for Cubs Spring training and a friend's wedding. We actually ended a 142 day drought on the wedding day--sorry, and one of the games we had tickets to was rained out.) This trip was just as expected. Prior to our arrival temps. had been in the low 80's. When we got there--about 59 degrees! At least it didn't rain this time...

We actually did have a couple of nice days. On Saturday we went to the pool after breakfast. The girls loved playing in the pool with Dad while Mom tried to get a little sun and a few pictures.

Carsyn swimming--with Daddy's help...

Logan...

Carsyn...

Maren...

After a fun day of swimming and partial sun, we got cleaned up and got ready for dinner. We asked the girls where they wanted to eat...one guess what they chose? Luckily for us, and ironically for them--there are California Pizza Kitchen's outside the state of California.

Poor Carsyn fell asleep during dinner...

Logan and Carsyn went with Mom and Dad to the game on Sunday. (Maren stayed at the hotel with Nana and took a nap.) We were so excited because we got to see Carlos pitch--he's our favorite! The girls were really good, especially after we bought them cotton candy. Daddy was smart and bought pretty good seats in the shade. It was very sunny, but pretty chilly that day.

Carsyn and Logan right before the first pitch...Go Big Z!

Carsyn wanted to get a closer look...

After the game we hung around to try and get autographs and pictures. We saw most of the team, but they all play the "sorry, I'm on the phone" trick. oh, well.

Come on, Carlos. We're your biggest fans...

After the game we went to mass for Palm Sunday...it was not your typical Catholic church--yikes!

On Monday the weather was sort of nice again, so we spent some time at the pool.

Maren is a real water baby...

Time to dry off...

Later that afternoon we went to Scottsdale for a little shopping at Fashion Square and to meet Nana's friend, Debbie. Afterward we ate dinner at Buca's in Old Town Scottsdale.

What sweet girls...

We also had tickets to the game on Tuesday. Before the game we were able to see a lot of the players and finally got a few things signed and some pictures.

Carsyn and Logan with Sean Marshall...

Maren wasn't too sure about Carlos (Marmol, not Zambrano)...

Since all six of us went to that game, we tried to sit out in the outfield for a while. But, it got pretty hot and very sunny that day--Daddy should have worn sunscreen!

To keep the girls entertained, Nana took them to a shady spot to play for few innings. This was the highlight of the game for them.

Monkey Logan...

Monkey Carsyn...

Monkey Maren...

Our family in front of Hohokam Park, Spring home of the Chicago Cubs...

It was a great trip. Every Cub fan should go to Spring training at least once! They went 2 and 0 while we were there--hopefully that's a little foreshadowing for regular season! We checked out early in the morning on Wednesday and headed back to California.

Easter Party...

Logan's class had their big Easter party and Easter egg hunt at school. She had so much fun. When it came time to find eggs, most of the kids just ran to collect any and every egg they saw. Not Logan! She was very particular, only picking up eggs she liked and thought were the prettiest. Needless to say, she was one of the last students to find all 16. Today was also the last day of school before Spring Break...we're off to Mesa, AZ right after school!

Logan with her favorite egg...

daylight savings...

having lived our entire lives in indy, we're still adjusting to the concept of daylight savings time. we were sooo tired yesterday. we couldn't get going in the morning to make it to 11 o'clock mass. so we decided to go to evening mass in hanford. what a nightmare. that mass is so long and we didn't get home until after seven. then we had to eat dinner late and the girls didn't get to bed until after eight. honestly, we do not like changing the clocks (except in the fall when we get that extra hour of sleep!) but, even indiana does it now. i guess we'll have to get used to it...unless we move to arizona or hawaii!

All about Maren...

Little Maren...

Wow! Maren is a year and a half now. She has grown a lot. Thursday was her 18 month checkup. She is still very anxious and afraid at the doctor's office. But, apart from her four shots, she did much better. Before the doctor came in the room we were talking about the body parts that the doctor was going to check. Maren knows these and can point to them when asked. Of course when the doctor asked her to do so, she just stared at her like, "Are you talking to me?" Maren is quite small. She weighed in at 22 pounds and measured 30 and a quarter inches--the 15th and 10th percentile, respectively. However, her head is in the 90th percentile : ) Maren was a pretty late walker, starting at 16 months old. She's going full speed now, but she can be very clumsy. It shows too--she has boo boos and bruises all over. Maren talks a lot and is very affectionate. She loves her sisters and enjoys playing with them. She also loves being outside. Maren is probably one of the messiest girls around. It is very common for her to dump her bowls and plates on top of her head when she is done eating. Maren is potty trained and has been for almost two months now. She's a pretty good girl, but still a bit of a whiner. That isn't likely to cease anytime soon since her older sisters have the same bad habit. They make a perfect trio!!!

Checking out her many Boo Boos...

Gung Hay Fat Choy...

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Today at school Logan's class celebrated the holiday with a dragon parade--how fun!

Santa Barbara and more...

It is an unwritten rule that you must go out of town for President's Day weekend. So, we went to Santa Barbara! We had never been and wanted to cross something else off our list before we move. Of course all trips are well-planned and always cross-checked for proximity to missions. Naturally, on the way down the coast we stopped at a mission in Bullerton--La Purisima. It was very large and very spread out.

The girls by the mission bells...

A long walk...

Thanks for posing, Logan...

When we arrived in Santa Barbara we walked along the Harbor and went to Stern's Warf. It's a very pretty place, but we were chilly all weekend.

Maren @ the harbor...

Downtown Santa Barbara was very cool. We also did a little shopping and we ate at...wait for it...CPK!!!

Carsyn and Logan outside of CPK...

We also went to the Santa Barbara Mission and even attended mass there. That was the first time that we went to an actual mass at a mission. The mission was super-pretty, but very crowded.

Old Mission Santa Barbara...

Knock, knock...

What a sweetie...

On the way home we also stopped in Solvang, which is a very quaint Danish town. The streets are lined with shops, eateries, and windmills. There is also a mission in Solvang--Santa Ines. It's funny because we were the only people at that mission.

The girls at Santa Ines mission...

Logan's always up for a picture...Maren doesn't mind a snapshot either...

Overall we enjoyed our (chilly) weekend--seeing much of the coast and adding to our Missions mission!

Happy Valentine's Day...

Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day. The girls sure did. Both Logan and Carsyn had parties in their classrooms today. Mommy went to Logan's school, and Daddy went to Carsyn's. They had tons of yummy food and candy! Too bad for Mommy that Lent has already started : (.
Little Maren was not left out, as she raided the girls' loot bags when they returned home. Plus she got to go with Daddy to Carsyn's school.

Carsyn and Logan ready for school parties...

Maren=our littlest sweetheart...

Happy Valentine's Day...

GO WILDCATS!!!

Last night was the girls' first basketball game to cheer for. This season the girls picked red and white uniforms and are calling themselves the "Wildcats"--as in High School Musical. Since their coach from football season moved, mommy and another friend's mom volunteered to "coach." We have eight girls on the squad plus four younger sisters--go Carsyn! They had a lot of fun last night. Especially Logan who was in heaven when her "boyfriend" showed up. What funny girls...Go Wildcats!

Super Tuesday...

VOTE!!!

Just doing our part to get out the vote!

100 days of Kindergarten...

Today was Logan's 100th day of Kindergarten (well, technically she's missed a few.) She had so much fun. Her room was decorated with 100 balloons, they practiced writing numbers all the way to 100, counted out 100 different snacks! In preparation for this super-celebration, they also had to write 100 words and collect 100 hugs--we had a lot of fun with this.

Super Sunday...

Since we don't have a team in the Super Bowl this year, it's a lot less exciting. Although, since mommy despises the Colts so much--we'll be for the Patriots!!! Actually, who knows if we'll even watch...

Countdown to LOST...

It's been a long eight months, but LOST is finally back tonight!!! We're so excited. Only ten more hours (seven for anyone on the East coast or Indy--lucky dogs!)

Dancing Queens...

Both Carsyn and Logan are taking dance class at the youth center. (This is in addition to the dance team that Logan is in at her school.) They are in different classes this year, but they are in the same gymnastics class. They really like it, especially since a lot of their friends are in class with them. Logan starts cheerleading in a couple of weeks too, so we're going to be busy, busy. Here are a couple of shots from tonight's dance class...
On a much sadder note, we've been kind of down today with the news of the passing of Heath Ledger (well, especially mommy.) What a tragic loss. His performance in Brokeback Mountain was truly amazing. And, his little girl will grow up not knowing her dad--so very sad. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family!

Pismo Beach...

Pismo Beach, CA...

A three-day weekend is definitely an excuse for going out of town...actually any weekend is. Over the MLK holiday weekend we went to Pismo Beach. Since we only have a few more months here in CA before we move, we are trying to see anything still on our list, as well as revisit our favorites! It was a bit chilly on the coast, but it was just as gorgeous as ever. The girls had a great time. We ate at our favorite pizza place, Del's Pizza, shopped at the outlet mall, and found a few more shells for Logan's collection. On the way home we stopped in San Luis Obispo to visit the mission again--daddy had never been. Their downtown is such a neat little area.

Our hotel was right on the bluffs...

Cheetah Girls...

Here's a picture of the girls getting ready to go to school. (Enjoy the style freedom this year, because next year you'll be in uniforms.) Logan was so excited to wear her new black boots and Carsyn loved wearing her fluffy "Cheetah Girl" sweater.

And, just so Maren wouldn't feel left out, here is a picture of her in her "Cheetah Girl" outfit...
Aren't they hilarious? Don't know where they get it...

Snow Fun...

After the huge weather system that moved through California last weekend and dumped nearly 10 feet of snow in the mountains, we decided to take a drive and let the girls play in it. We drove to Sequoia National Park to a snow play area. The weather was pretty mild, there was still tons of snow. We borrowed a few sleds and tubes and just had a ball. This was Maren's first time playing in the snow and Carsyn's first memorable time. Maren loved being pulled around in her sled. Logan and Carsyn had fun trying to build a snowman, making snow angels, and throwing snowballs. It was a workout trying to get up the hill because the girls refused to walk, so mommy and daddy had to drag them up in the sleds. But, it sure was fun going down. Even Maren went down with us. She loved it. She didn't want to walk around in it, but she was quite content sitting in her sled and touching it with her mittens. What a fun time, and such a beautiful place!

Back to School...

It was hard to get back into the school routine after being on break for three full weeks. But, we were all ready for school to start. Adding to the excitement, Logan's friend Grace stayed the night at our house Monday while her mom was having a baby. Welcome little Lucy! Needless to say, it was a very excited couple of days for us...Logan's first sleepover and a new baby on the block!

Good Bye to 2007...

We went down to Disneyland for New Year's. We figured since we did the whole Rose Parade last year that this would be something else cool to do. It was! Of course is was super-duper crowded, but we had a blast. The girls (especially Logan) have been so adventurous lately, wanting to try new rides. We discovered a new kiddie roller coaster in ToonTown that was pretty cool. Both Logan and Carsyn enjoyed that one. We also did all the "mountain" rides and the Matterhorn. We also had some character sightings and took some pictures. And, Carsyn and Logan did the Junior Chef thing--thanks girls, free cookies!

Three Royal Sisters...

with Pocahontas...

with the Mouse...

the cutest Junior Chefs...

We found a great place to watch the fireworks from and be for midnight and decided to grab it at around 6:30 p.m. We took turns staying there and holding our spot with whichever girl was napping.

nine o'clock and still going strong...

Unfortunately, because of the high winds they were not able to shoot of the fireworks. But, we still had a great time and did the count down thing. They do a live feed from right in front of the castle to Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve show. Maren slept through it, Logan woke up with all the horns, and Carsyn was wide awake!

Happy New Year (Chicago time)...

Maren just couldn't hold on... It was super fun! Happy 2008!