Zoo Day!

I love going to the Oakland Zoo with the kids.  It is the perfect {small} size of zoo and still has all of the animals a kid would want to see.  You can rush through the whole zoo in an hour!  Or, just take your time and spend 3-4 hours there like we did today.

We didn't have any plans, but my friend Kristina invited us, and we always have fun with her and her kids.  The weather was perfect, and the kids were so excited to spend time with friends and animals on a no school day.

It couldn't have been a better day.  Beautiful weather, fun friends, and not at all crowded...until we got to the picnic area.  We set up camp, and got out food while the kids played by the lily pads, the bunnies, and on the pretend giant bugs.  Kristina and I were in the middle of a fun conversation when I heard some yelling.   I look over to see a woman yelling at the "rabbit hole" slide.  Apparently a child was blocking her crying child from getting through.  I recognized the pink leggings and knew it was Laney.

I almost ran over, but stopped myself when the lady's friend joined in trying to get Laney out.  Because they were yelling, I stayed back, embarrassed and not wanting them to know Laney was mine.  Isn't that horrible!  I am kicking myself for not running over now.  I should follow my intuition.  But it isn't exactly the first confrontation I have had about Laney.  Sometimes I just want the whole situation to disappear.

To make a long story short, Laney was at the bottom of the slide.  This woman's daughter went down the slide and bumped into Laney, so Laney turned around and scratched her.  Yes, Laney overreacted, but she is 6!  I wish I would have gone over and figured out what happened and thanked the lady for ganging up on my 6 year old and scaring her to death.  But I didn't.

The best part was that after all of that "avoiding" I tried to do, Laney then comes running over to me yelling "MOM! Crew is in the bunny cage!"  I then had to run past all of the mom's who were looking for me during the first shenanigan and then coax Crew out of the bunny cage.  Poor Crew was just being a 2 year old and was having the time of his life chasing rabbits.

I also wish I would have said something sarcastic to the woman who said "He is scaring the bunnies to death!" when I passed her to find Crew.  Seriously, those poor bunnies probably loved getting some exercise today.

Laney got a "talk" about treating others the way you want to be treated...the never-ending saga with her.  I tried to explain to Crew that we can't go in the rabbit habitat, but he was just so excited to tell me about it I don't think our talk sunk in.  After all was said and done, I also wish I would have taken a picture.

Ne-Five

Reading tonight with the kids...and Crew started saying Ne-Five over and over...

It only took us a few minutes to realize he was saying "Nephi".  So cute.  I love toddler words.

Crew is becoming quite the talker.  He actually doesn't ever stop talking...or eating...or running.  He is also very good at climbing and can now "Jump" up on the counter.  You know, with the jump and then leg swing move...
Oh yes, and the drawing.  He seems to think that saying "pease fishy?" in a cute questioning voice means "please draw with me?"  I think it is because I was always saying "Do you want me to draw a fishy?" when we first started drawing as a distraction at church.  Now Crew always has a crayon in hand and wants to draw on everything.  If paper is present he will go for that first {thank goodness}.  He is particularly obsessed with "spidermans" right now which are spiderwebs and spiders of all shapes and sorts.  He can spot a spiderweb outside from 10 feet away.

I love my Crew boy.

School! And some other stuff...

School has started here in San Ramon.  I am now the proud mother of a big {tiny} 3rd grader and a kindergartner!  It is weird.

Kadie got an awesome teacher.  We are so excited.  She gives the kids hugs every morning.  She started out as a social worker, a profession that pulls at my heart strings a bit.  She discovered that she loved teaching through that.  Her name is Mrs. Smart...how much better can that get?  Kadie is loving school and has already completed a class presentation and learned 4 cursive letters.  She loves 3rd grade.  She is also doing so great at piano.  She has already started composing her own little songs.  I think she truly has a talent, and she loves it.  We found her "thing".  Yay!

Laney has another awesome teacher for Kindergarten.  She didn't get Kadie's old Kindergarten teacher, and we were sad about that because we loved Mrs. Young.  Laney's teacher is Mrs. Mochizuki...she is Australian born, and has lived all over the world.  She seems very structured {good for Laney}, organized and fun.  Laney is having over-sensory issues with the ginormous class size.  24 kids...could become 26 through the year.  So sad.  When Kadie was in Kindergarten she was so lucky to be in a looped class of 10 Kindergartners and 10 first graders.  It was so cool to have so much time with the teacher.  Her teacher truly knew her.  I am hoping among the chaos of a larger class that Laney will be fine.  But one full week of her having anxiety attacks is getting me worried.  Every night she cries and says "There are just so many kids!"  In the morning she does the same.  It took me 30 minutes to get her to go into class on Tuesday.  We made a star chart, and for every day that she goes into class and is brave {and doesn't come back out of class looking for me and Crew} she gets a star.  5 stars gets her an ice cream cone at the ice cream store, or a prize from the dollar section at Target.  I love bribery...hopefully it works...and really it is actually just an incentive because she gets the reward after she goes to class.  I feel good about the star chart. :)

Crew is having WAY too much fun bossing me around with no one else here.  He started this new conversation thing where he starts out with "So...mom..." and waits for me to say "What Crew"...then he talks in French or something that sounds like French...although I can usually make out "Buzz, Woody, Cars, Daddy, Kadie, Laney..."  He is a cutie.  He is constantly asking for kisses, hugs, and saying "I Yuv You _____!"  He says everything like it has an exclamation point at the end.  He is so enthusiastic.

Josh is back to a busy schedule...I mean wait...He is just the same.  Busy.  But we came up with a plan where Sunday nights we choose one night that looks a little less busy in his schedule for him to come home and have dinner with me and the kids.  It worked this week!  Hoping we can keep it up.  It is so nice for the kids to see their Dad during the week.  He got awesome reviews this last year, I am so proud of him.  Senior Manager here we come!

I am busy with projects of course.  Just finished wedding invitations for my cousin.  I also painted and redid Crew's room and Laney's.  On to Kadie's room {painting}, the primary program, Waldron Family Cookbook, and Children's swap!  Bring it on September!

Leisa :)

Crew is Two! 2! Two!

I can't believe that Crew is two years old!

He is growing up too fast.

We spent the weekend in Reno for baby Harper's blessing, and because all of the family was there, everyone also got to celebrate Crew's Birthday!  It was also a birthday celebration for Alex and Mike's brother Nick.

Party Hardy!

Crew is more than obsessed with Disney's "Cars" right now...

and he got his share of Cars toys for his special day.

The Girls having fun with Crew's "Cars" stickers. :) 

Crew is also enchanted with Disney's "Toy Story" and one of his first words was

"Buzz".

Crew's Milestones!

at 2 years

Crew is learning all sorts of boy noises...mostly sounds of engines.

He can throw a ball pretty far, and almost anything else.

Crew sounded French at first, but is quickly gaining and American accent.

He can jump off of almost anything and "stick-it" on the landing.

Crew is hollow, and eats all day long trying to fill every crevice.

He can open almost anything, including child protective pill bottles and DVD cases.

Crew still likes to eat dirt and sand, even though he spits it out every time.

He can spot a piece of candy from a mile away.

Crew can pronounce his letters very well, our favorite sounds are his "sh" and "z".

Crew's words, (and their meanings)

Cars Cars Cars Cars Cars - I am obsessed with Cars and that is why I say it 5 times

Nigh Nigh - Goodnight

I wu woooooooooooo - I love you

Heh-wow - Hello?

Nanny Nanny Nanny - I am almost as obsessed with Candy as cars, so I say it 3 times

No! - No!

Dive Dive Dive - I am pretending to drive my car

Shoe (lips puckered again) - Let's put on my shoes

Ow-Sighee - I want to go outside

Eh-Pane - Airplane!

Keeeeey - Kitty!

Up - Lift me up (or sometimes it means put me down)

Down - Put me down (or sometimes it means lift me up)

Dweeee - I want a drink

Pess Pay - Press Play

Show - Turn on a show

Shek - Shrek!

Pah Perzzzz - I would like some Crackers

Wishy Wishy? - Can I have some Fishy crackers?

Buzz an Wooeeee - Buzz and Woody (Toy Story)

Pizza - Pizza, Quesadilla, really anything cooked on the stove he calls Pizza

Jesus - hey, there's Jesus! (when he see's a picture of Jesus of course)

Apple - I want an apple (his favorite fruit)

Ah-sauce - I really want some Apple Sauce

Hi Dad! - (Says it any time he see's me on the phone)

Marmie, Mommy, Mom, Mam - ...I don't know why he says my name so many ways

Kayeee, Nayneeee, Tu - Kadie Laney and Crew!

Doose (lips puckered) - I am thirsty and want some juice

Ball - I want that ball!

Peese - Please

Ownge (lips puckered again) - Can I eat an Orange?

Nana? - Can I have a Banana?

Feh Fize - French Fries

Wow!  I didn't know he knew so many words.

Happy Birthday Crew Boy!

We love you!

Merry Christmas!

This last year of 2010 was one of the fullest we have known!

Crew Boy!

• learned how to walk and immediately began RUNNING and JUMPING!!!
• words so far:

mama

daddeeeee!

Dee Dee (Kadie)

Nay Nee (Laney)

Mineeeeey! (Mine)

no no no! (while pointing his finger and smiling)

awe (putting his head to the side when something is cute)

joo (juice)

ha dah (hotdog)

• Crew also knows to fold his arms in prayer and he dances to all kinds of music
• He gives the sweetest little kisses, and he has a baby doll.
• He is a monkey and climbs on EVERYTHING, and breaks most things he throws.
• Crew stole the title of Messiest from Laney, and probably also owns the title of best tantrum thrower. We will continue watching him closely in 2011. :)

Laney

• Learned to write her first name as well as f-o-x, c-a-t, l-o-v-e, n-o, y-e-s, t-o, and m-o-m and d-a-d. She leaves notes everywhere in the house.
• She is always right at my feet when I am upset about something telling me she loves me.
• Laney LOVES flash cards. Any and all kinds!
• Laney discovered the world of girly toys and things this year. She still has a special love of dinosaurs, but she and Kadie play all sorts of princess and fairy games.
• Laney has also started "crafting" with her sister after school.
• Laney still owns the title of Most Curious child, but Crew is a close match!

Kadie

• Kadie became a big kid in my eyes this year which really makes me happy and sad at the same time. :) :( But mostly happy. :)
• Kadie was baptized this year, she pays tithing, and she reminds me now of family prayer, scripture study and family home evening. I even put her in charge of one lesson and she is a natural at teaching!
• Kadie's favorite thing in the world is NATURE. Anything and everything about it.
• Kadie changes her brothers diaper sometimes, she even offers to vacuum on occasion.
• Kadie is a WIZ at math and loves it almost as much as her Daddy. She rarely comes home missing more than one problem on her math or spelling tests.
• Kadie has even dabbled in jewelry design this year, and wears one of her most recent bracelets almost every day.
• She wants to be a mom when she grows up, and I think she will be such a patient mother.
• Kadie still wins the award for Most Dramatic in our family, and she can add a touch of Sassy to the mix most days.

Josh and Leisa

Leisa started a few new hobbies this year including party throwing and her Sassy Pepper blog. She discovered a new obsession with organizing, which doesn't last long with an 8, 4 and 1 year old. Instead of trying to be the perfect mom this year, she tried being more fun, and the kids voted to keep the fun. :) Leisa is also in the Primary Presidency as an intern... I mean, counselor. She now knows the secret to making it all work at church is just that...a SECRET that she hasn't discovered yet! :) Leisa wins title of Most Crazy, but a good crazy, not "crazy" crazy,

at least not yet.

Josh was so blessed to be given the opportunity to go back to what he loves again for a career. Josh is now an Audit manager with a full staff at PWC and absolutely loves it. His engagements include Twitter and Zip Realty! Somehow, he still finds time to play the Wii with Kadie, bake cookies with Laney and wrestle with Crew. We are back to our old schedule of working hard in the week and playing twice as hard on the weekend! I think Josh deserves the award of Most Thoughtful because although he is overworked and underpaid...he does anything I ask, even without the asking.

This upcoming May will mark 10 years in our marriage! And we plan on celebrating in style.

We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that your year to come is full of joy and happiness. We also are so thankful for all of you, and most of all our Savior.

With Love,

Josh, Leisa, Kadie (8), Laney (4.75), and Crew (1.5)

{Green} Halloween

The night of the trunk or treat for our church, I decided last minute to go as the wicked witch of the East, which meant I would have to be green.

Laney followed suit. She even requested a gross fake mole.

Crew was originally the tin man, but his costume was too small and showed too much diaper.

He became a last minute "Toto" with one of our older costumes from when Kadie was a wee one.

By the end of the night, being green didn't seem to excite Laney as much.

Hole in the Fence

Having a backyard is one of the best things about the house we live in.

The kids can go play care-free, and I can get dinner made while they do it!

Even though we have a fence, and there really is no way my kids would escape I still check in on them. I have to make sure no one ate something they shouldn't or is climbing on something they shouldn't, or sometimes it is just plain quiet which is not often a good thing.

When I peaked out the window while making dinner the other day, I didn't see Crew. When I walked outside, I still didn't see Crew. So I casually asked the girls where he was.

Kadie answered, "He's over there mama..." pointing to the side of the house. But when I walked over, still acting casual but starting to get a little nervous, I just said "No. He's not". So Laney yelled "Crew boy!" and we heard a little man yell back "Mam!" which is what he calls me now.

It was coming from the other side of the house, so we ventured quickly over there. Still no where in sight, we all started yelling "Crew!" and he would yell back "Mam!"

It went on for a few times...

"Crew!"

"Mam!"

"Crew!"

"Mam, MAM, Mam!"

Then Kadie started laughing and pointing at the fence. Looking through some loose boards was a smiling little boy with a strangely acquired southern accent. "Mam!" I quickly ran over and snatched him from our neighbors yard. We were all laughing, and I am pretty sure our neighbors were spying on us through their window.

I love when people ask if we have a dog, and I can honestly say Crew is the next closest thing.

Pumpkin Patch Number Two...

Windmill Farms. It is one of those places that I take for granted, but if we ever moved I would really miss it. A little outdoor market of fresh produce from local farmers.

Every year they have a low-key pumpkin patch. But this year...they stepped it up a notch!

I am still sad we only went once. :(

Crew was in love!

We actually found pumpkins! And we got busy carving right when we got home.

And here are our pumpkins. All carved and in their happy scary Halloween glory!

Can you guess who's is who's?

Pumpkin Patch Number One...

I decided that next year, we will be treating the pumpkin patch like a park. I was so sad that we waited until just a few days before Halloween to go to the pumpkin patch this year because the kids LOVED it. Crew acted like he was at Disneyland, trying to pick every pumpkin up and running all over the patch like a mad man.

Laney put the first pumpkin she touched into our wagon.

After 15 minutes of not finding the perfect pumpkin, Kadie found a ladybug.

Crew found his M & Ms...

Laney tried to help Kadie find a pumpkin because she was taking FOREVER to decide.

Kadie always wants every moment and item in her life to be absolutely perfect.

Then we found the CORN PIT.

I wish I had one in my backyard.

The kids played and played and played!

Crew attempted the tunnel with success!

Crew also tried climbing on a fence for the first time and succeeded at that as well.

What a go-getter!

And the slide was the end to our show.

Sadly we didn't even end up with pumpkins from pumpkin patch number one.

It was on to the next!

Costume Day

I am a little behind posting these, but school costume day was my favorite this year. There was just something really fun about sending my second grade Dorothy and her little witch sister off to school with their lunches and backpacks.

Kadie loved the parade, and was looking kind of grim and worried (scanning the by-standers for any sign of mom) until she heard me yell "KADIE!". She was all smiles after that!

Kadie and her little tin man.

Baby Announcement

In an effort to save time and money, our little Crew is being announced in modern tech style through email and blog.  Thank you everyone for the calls, emails, meals and support.  We feel so blessed and are grateful to have such wonderful friends and family.  

Love, Josh, Leisa, Kadie, Laney and baby Crew

Here are some extra photo's from our little Elf Hat photo shoot. :)