Rich and Sophia

I can't believe Lincoln is starting preschool. He couldn't wait for this day to come and he was very excited. He loved wearing his new school shirt that Grandma got for him and he was ecstatic that he got to have sun chips in his snack for school. I took some pictures of the boys in the backyard and then we were off to school. Rocky wanted to wear a button shirt like Lincoln. We got to school and he found his name tag and what luck, he was in the red group. So we pinned on his name tag and waited in the hall way for his teacher to open the door. He was bouncing off the walls he was so excited! Passing some time, we had to wait between 5-10 minutes. They love to make funny faces and then look at them on the camera. FINALLY!! Ms. Cindy came out and welcomed the students and invited them to come into class and they get some free time to play at the beginning of every class. So we stayed for a minute to watch Lincoln. He ran straight in and started playing. He sorted the red bears ...

For Lincoln's 4th birthday he wanted a Hot Wheels party! He never wavered from his decision, his mind was set. Since I am the master at search engines on the internet I found some of the most clever ideas. I'm not the most creative person but I can find very creative people and copy them very well! So for a few days prior to Lincoln's party we made the preparations. I say we because I had two personal slaves. J/K. My sister-in-law Trish and my mother-in-law Charlene were visiting from Utah for the week so I put them to work. Trisha helped me spray paint all the box cars that the kids would get to decorate. Charlene punched holes and tied ribbon to go over there shoulders so they could run around with the cars. They cut out headlights and taillights and a myriad of other things pertaining to these silly cars. They ended up being quite a bit of work, but were really fun. Trish painted the welcome banner for me and Lincoln added his artistic flair with race cars and Rocky had ...

Today we decided to go to the beach. It was my sister Vanessa's birthday and so we met up with them, Norris, Brenna, James and Marshall. Aunt Trish and Grandma came along too. It was very fun and relaxing, which was nice!! Trish and I were also busy painting boxes for Lincoln's birthday party and Trish and the boys painted a banner while I went to Walmart for more paint for the boxes. The beach was really fun here are a few pics. . . Rocky likes to hide his face like this whenever he is mad or someone hurts his feelings. He is very sensitive.

Rocky saw these pictures, pointed and said, "Lincoln's track mama!" This is Lincoln's first time at the track with his new bike and riding gear (compliments of Nana and Papa, for Lincoln's birthday present). He looked very professional out there!! Grandma, Trishy, Norris, Brenna and Grammy came along to see Lincoln ride. I made a delicious pasta salad for everyone to enjoy!! Yummy!! Daddy helping Lincoln get set up at the starting gate. "Go Baby!!"

My cousin Nick has been on a mission in Taiwan for the last two years. We got the wonderful privilege to go down to LAX to see him return home. There is such complete joy when a family is reunited with their missionary. Here is the family keeping a look out for Elder Lawrence to come down the hallway. Rocky didn't want Grammy to let him go he was attached to her. Lately whenever we leave Grammy's house Rocky doesn't want to leave and throws a fit when I put him in the car. She is the greatest Grammy ever!! and the most beautiful!! Sam, Marshall, Monte, Norris and Rich hanging out! Prego Amanda!! The sweet reunion!! Well Done Elder Lawrence!! We had so much fun being there at the airport and after we went to In-n-out and got burgers and took them over to the grass area across the street where the airplanes fly over. We had all started eating when Nick piped up and said, "Can we say a blessing on the food." I love the spirit these missionaries have when they come h...

We were riding our bikes over to Grammy and Grampy's house for dinner which we have done a handful of times before. This was the first time on Lincoln's new bike. We are on the paseos for most of the ride over there. We got into their track and were riding along Via Macarena towards the paseos at the end of the street. Rich told Lincoln to get up on the sidewalk and all of a sudden down he went. It happened so fast. He was crying instantly. We went over to him and I noticed a small pool of blood on the asphalt and his finger was dripping blood. I grabbed the only thing I had in my backpack was Rocky's jammies so we used that to help stop the bleeding. Then we had Lincoln hop on his bike and continue the ride up to Grammy's house! He made it with the help of his dad. We cleaned it up and got Band-Aids on it. Lincoln sat on the couch with Grammy while we ate some dinner. He got hungry and came over to eat and started whimpering when he couldn't use his finger to eat ...

We went down to visit Briana and decided to go to this little beach she found in Corona del Mar. You have to hike over these rocks so we had all the kids, Vanessa was there with her two and my mom. My kids loved it because it's in this little cove with no waves and the boats are going in and out of the harbor. After the beach we went to this little hole in the wall mexican restaurant that had the best salmon tacos I have ever had!! It was a very fun day!!

All year Lincoln wanted a Nintendo DS for his birthday, we would go to walmart and he would want to go look at the DS's. But then we took him to the BMX track and he REALLY wanted a racing bike with skinny tires, like the other kids. So I asked him if he wanted a DS or a racing bike for his birthday and he chose a bike. So for a couple months Rich was trying to find a used bike because they are pretty spendy. Then we came across this intense online and it was a really good price. He doesn't need the top of the line for his first bike so we went with it. We ordered it and it came in just a couple days so Rich put it together and we are both horrible and wanted to just give it to him. So he got an early birthday present. A BIG thank you to all the contributers, Grammy, Grampy, Grandma, Grandpa and Trish!! We couldn't have got it for him without your help!! He was so excited to get his very own racing bike. We took him over to the North Fork Trail and he was going so much fast...