Surgery #3

 Before the BIG day I surprised him w/ tickets to a movie he's been excited to see.

 Truth be told, Brannon HATES being in a hospital.  It's like hanging out at your job after work I guess?  Anyhow he's quite an impatient patient and is always ornery when he comes to.

 His para-meniscal cyst that's been hurting the crazy out of him.

 Awww, he looks so sweet!

Sweet til he woke up and wanted to go home.  He tried to hobble his way out before they blocked his way and made him wait for a wheelchair- guess those running shoes didn't fool nobody! ;)

End of soccer season

Last game of the year for the SweetTarts!  What monkeys!








Confession:  These are the best videos I've got, I can barely watch Belize's games yet alone tape them. Mayan is constantly running onto the field and Rio gets into mischief.  I'm super proud of the way Belize has stuck it out this season (soccer socks and all), she clearly loves playing (she also plays every recess at school with mostly boys) and she's learning a lot.  It's so fun to watch her play.

My not so little girl

One day her tooth was there- and then the next it wasn't.  I mean, she's already lost her two bottom ones but for some reason this one felt different.  It felt- important.  I feel so blessed to witness these milestones but part of me doesn't want them to happen at all! <3 nbsp="" p="">

Belize is getting quite responsible- own her own she started making sure all the scooters and bikes covered under the awning.  And if she notices that they are wet she grabs a dry washcloth and wipes them down.

 In preparation for Thanksgiving, Mrs. Kroons gave each kindergartner an indian name- Belize's was "Fearless Fawn."  She nailed it on the head.  Belize is brave and courageous, she has beauty and grace and she is full of truth, wonder and inquisitiveness.  I love my almost 6 year old.  I'll keep her. :)

Bottega Louie

 Just so happened that as my mother was visit, Keri and her mom and sisters were visiting LA.  They were here to shop the fabric district but we convinced them that visiting Bottega Louie was a LA MUST!!

 Keri and her nephew, Oscar.

A New Era

We moved!  

We moved into a house!

We moved into a house 3 minutes away from our apartment!

We moved into a house 3 minutes away from our apartment with 3 bed, 2 bath, a garage and a BACKYARD!!

We moved into a house 3 minutes away from our apartment with 3 bed, 2 bath, a garage and a BACKYARD and we will NEVER live in an apartment AGAIN!!  (I am type screaming this!)

And for the first time in our 9 year marriage and Belize's 6 years of life we will not share walls with anyone and oh, did I mention, it has a BACKYARD!!!  My excitement can barely contain itself.  

Its the same size as our apartment but its mostly updated and well maintained and feels like a MANSION!

 No joke, Belize was BEYOND excited to get "Command Strips" she's had the commercial memorized for a while now.

 Taking a Dorito/Internet break.

 We had to set up a blockade around the kitchen so we could unpack it- that didn't last long.
Below (My favorite in the house is this chair my friend Melody bestowed upon us in the move- the sunshine streams in the window and hits it just so- heavenly).

 We have a playroom!  Bonus!

 The kids get good use out of the favorite chair.

 Our backyard is all brick- at first I was concerned it would be a little dangerous- then I remembered what kind of kids I have.  They are obsessed with riding their razor scooters out there.  Mayan just likes to be let in and let out- over and over. :)

Oh, and did I mention it costs $2750 (thats the only part where I cry tears of sadness instead of joy).  We are now living our vacations instead of taking them but it is completely and utterly worth it- ants and all.

Tulita Western Night

 Dad made it home in time for Western night!  Yeehaw!

 Leggings again!?!  Are you seeing a theme?

 All you need is a truck Babe! :)

Loving on his girl!

Halloween 2012 The Gardeners

 Nana and Uncle Kyle came for Halloween!!!!  Okay, it might have been to help us move (Nov. 1) but we sure enjoyed having them for the festivities- oh and the move!!!! We could NOT have done it without them- seriously they were invaluable.
 Nana brought a bunch of hats for the girls, Mayan insisted on wearing them all- taking them off- making someone put them all on again- and on and on and on- it was stinkin cute!  Girl loves hats and shoes - two things I also loved as a kid.

 Rio's preschool had a Halloween Party- he was so excited to bring Nana and Kyle.  I asked him to do a scared face in the haunted house- pretty good little actor if I must say!

 We officially packed our plates and had to eat out in the evenings.  I think Kyle had just run the kids at the park- Belize practically fell asleep at dinner.

 Tulita Elementary's annual Parade- it was freezing (meaning it was only cold for those who live in Cali).

 Because my fam was here, I got to stay and help with Belize's class party.

 Mayan opted out of Trick-or-treating by way of bedtime.  But that didn't stop her from finding a before-bedtime snack.  I should have taken a picture of the box wall in the living room- darn!

 This blur was the kids SPRINTING from house to house- Kyle and I took bets on who would biff it first- it was Rio.

 He decided to be a dragon for treating- I'm pretty sure that both the kids wore the same costumes last year.

 Belize was mad- yet again- because I insisted on leggings- hence the mad face.

 Kind of a subtle theme this year: Garden party- Bee, Garden gnome, Lady bug, and two gardeners w/ green thumbs.

 (Someone just handed me this nerf gun!  I might be peeing my pants right now I'm so excited!)

 Bishop Cottle was the MC for the Redondo 1st Ward party.

 Zara came too!  So fun!  Don't you love her snake costume- her grandma made it by special request!!

 Mayan got the gist of Halloween!

 I just want to kiss that little face every time I see it do something like that!