February at the Beach

Yesterday morning I woke up, went to the gym and then realized it was gloriously warm and sunny outside and my body was aching for the beach. I called my mom and an hour later we were on our way with the kids. It was perfect and just what I needed. The beach is the most perfect playground there is. Oliver can always find something to do and I don't care how loud or how messy he is getting. Amelie got to debut her very first swimsuit. I got it on sale when I was like 6 months pregnant and I can't believe she is already wearing it. It also reads 6-9 months and let me tell you that girl is packing some pounds. Her poor thighs could hardly fit. I might already need a new suit in a month. I love that she is so fat, I just love it. In other news, we put an offer on a place and are just waiting to hear back. Exciting stuff! And we get to go see two of our favorites, Ryan and Mary, tomorrow night in Vegas. Hopefully I'll remember to bring my camera...

Valentine's Revelation

As Ryan and I were house hunting this weekend, I realized just how fickle I can be in my decision making. I mean really, I have this thing I like to refer to as buyers remorse. Thing is, it's not like purchases, it's just like life. I have a hard time trusting the decisions I make and sometimes wait for others to tell me what to do. Even after making a decision, including really small ones, I go back over it in my head wondering if I could have made better use of time, money, whatever it is. In realizing this, I said to Ryan, "I think marrying you was the only decision I've made that I was absolutely sure of", and immediately after saying it, I knew it was completely true. That seems like a pretty good thing to be sure of, and for me, it's the best kind of answer. Every day we're together, I know it's just where I need to be.

4 whole months!

Well I took these pics on the 28th when Amelie officially turned 4 months old but my computer was acting funny so they are a little late. I can't believe I'm even saying she's 4 months. Ryan and I thought we could just stop time for a bit to just enjoy her being little but she is already getting so big. Really though, she's already wearing all her 6 month clothes, girlfriend has some thighs on her! She is talking so much and pretty much smiles at anyone and anything. Everytime I take her with me somewhere people just love her. She's like a little smiling doll. She wants to grab and chew on anything close. She is very interested in Oliver and everything he does. All day she just watches him running around and she smiles and smiles at how fun her brother is. He is already starting to play with her a little which makes me really excited. I think he's starting to realize that she's getting more fun with each passing day. Little does he know, he gets to be the group leader!

Oliver is total chaos and joy, yes those things can go together. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this boy has more energy than any kid I've ever seen. He is go go go, and I try my best to keep up. Ryan has been working hard on his spanish with him lately, having him repeat everything in spanish if he wants something, "quiero..." which has been working really well. The poor kid has been so confused about languages I think he's finally starting to get it. He tells Ryan and I "te quiero" all the time, which is the best. He's really getting good at talking and it's so fun to hear him put all these words and sentences together and realize he's getting to be such a big boy.

In other news, we are on the house hunt! Well there's nothing for sure, but we've done a lot of looking and are thinking this is the time to get in and buy since the market seems to be going up. We've been recently looking through Orange County and most recently Oceanside. We drove to Oceanside yesterday and were amazed at how nice and clean it was, and close to the beach for so cheap! So we'll see what
happens...

Ryan's job at Dreamworks is going great. He finished his commissary job and seriously did an amazing job. The main project finished in March and then it looks like he'll be getting transfered to Irvine or San Diego. There couldn't have been a more amazing job out of college than the Dreamworks job and Ryan is so happy he got such great experience there, not to mention the guys he's worked with.

Not much new going on the mom front. We love living at the Facer's. It has honestly been the most wonderful thing to be close to them and watch them with Ollie and Ami. Both our families are pretty amazing and I didn't realize how much I needed them around. I think it will be harder than I thought to move away. I know it will for Ollie since he has been asking for "grandpa" (my mom) every day even though I keep telling him she is in Utah. But at least we'll be in California so we won't be far.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how my life is pretty amazing and I have a lot to be grateful for.

A new addition!

My younger sister Annie just had her very first baby! A little boy weighing 7 pounds 1 ounce, 20 inches long. Gage Lynn Brower is the name I think but I'll have to make sure. I talked to Annie a few hours ago when she was at an 8 and she sounded excited and happy that her little guy was arriving 3 weeks early ( I would be too)! So I'll get another update going as soon as I hear more. I love to watch our family grow!!!

Griffith Park

Griffith Park is a pretty cool place. We went to this really old merry go round that was built in 1926. All the pictures around the top were hand painted and half were destroyed by water damage. The tails of the horses were real horse hair and they had a old organ playing music as it went around. My mom and I agreed it was the fastest merry go round we'd ever been on. I would LOVE to know the story behind it. I tried looking it up but couldn't find much. Oliver was pretty excited about going but about half way through I think he started getting really dizzy. The motion sick gene lives on.

Amelie decided to opt out of the ride and just enjoy the pretty lights and sounds. Oh I just have to mention how cute Ollie is with his little sister. In the car Ami is not very happy. It's gotten a lot better but she still has her moments and poor Oliver has to be in back next to her screaming. Well anyways, he always get really concerned and asks for her binky (which she never takes). Then if that doesn't work his says "hush, hush, don't cry baby sister". He says "hush" really drawn out and soothing, just like momma does. Then he tells her "almost there, almost there". And then if all that doesn't work, he covers his ears with both hands. Everytime he gets in her face, you'd think she wouldn't like it but she just smiles and smiles at her silly brother. I can't to see them grow up together.Then Ollie got to go on a real horse. There is a lane for the slow ponies which he's only done. When he saw the bigger kids trotting and even galloping on their horses, he started trying to move his horse along to follow. Next time I think we'll let him go in the fast lane. No fear I tell you. I remember that I was totally a horse girl growing up. My mom had Annie and I in riding lessons and we LOVED it. I had this horse mobile, yeah you heard me, hanging from my ceiling that I loved. I could easily ride horses every day. Maybe I'll sign myself up for some riding lessons again. Find the inner horse of my childhood:)

This guy had all these birds on his car, not for sell or anything, just enjoying the great outdoors. I secretly wanted to open all the cages and see them fly away.

The Lot

This is mainly for my brothers and sisters to see since they are not here. My parents have been working on building a house for sometime now (depending on who you ask the time may vary), and it is really starting to come together. My dad has a real knack for building and designing houses and he's a banker, not a builder. An expensive hobby if you ask my mom but still pretty impressive. Anyways I thought you guys would want to see Dad's hard work.
The front of the houseBack of the house

Backyard and pool area

Front entry stairs
Living room and kitchen area to the left
Kitchen windows that look over Pasadena and La Canada

Master bedroom view

This is the stairwell that leads to a seperate entrance 2 bed 1 bath apartment above the garage

Ollie being the worker man that he is. The lot is Oliver's domain. You know those kids that are very cautious around ledges, stairs, basically huge drops over the sides of a mountain, etc. Oliver is not one. This makes for a few heart attacks for mom every time we're up there. I am contantly saying little prayers in my head that he will not fall out a window. But he has such a great time there. Like father like son, Like grandfather, like grandson...

This is the bedroom facing the backyard with those gorgeous mountains. If we ever get to stay here, I call this room.

Miniature Golf

We decided to do a family date night on Friday to miniature golf since Oliver is basically obsessed with all things Dad and he can't do the real thing so this is next best. He didn't want ANY help, a reoccuring theme of the 2's I've noticed, and killed a few small animals along the way. Ok he didn't really but that kid has a crazy fast swing. He was in toddler heaven. He was the only one out of us all that actually got a hole in one. Ami sat like an angel in her car seat and watched the festivities. Ryan and I are still amazed that we have two kids and we are having actual "family outings". I totally remember going on dates to this place when I was in high school. If you ever were to tell me then that I'd be married to Ryan Facer, mother of his children, I'd probably tell you, it makes perfect sense...really.

Christmas, Anniversary and New Years

So the holidays are officially over and it's time to report...

Christmas was a huge success. Ollie got this sweet train set and I surprised Ryan with a new wet suit. Christmas seriously is the most fun when you're excited about giving presents. It's so fun. Ryan and I were asked to give talks the Sunday following Christmas and I decided it was the best gift I got. I do not give talks well so it's something I really have to rely on the Lord to do. I gave my talk on LOVE and that is what I felt on Christmas. I have so much love in my life. My resolution this year is to give others more of the love I've been given.

We celebrated our 4 year anniversary on the 30th. I think it's pretty amazing we've been married that long. What's funny is that I feel like we just got married but yet I can't remember life without Ryan. I don't think I really want to. I am not a believer of opposites attract. Ryan is absolutely my other half, cheesy cheesy I know. He is also the better half if you ask me. Every single day I feel lucky that he is by my side. He tells me everyday that he loves me, that I'm beautiful, that he missed me while he was at work. He is an absolute romantic and reminds me when I need reminding of how in love we are (with two kids I sometimes need reminding). Basically what it comes down to is...we still got it...and will continue to have it on our 10, 20, and 50 year anniversaries. I love you Ry, more than I can say in words.

(By the way, this picture was taken this afternoon at the beach in Malibu. It is January 2nd my friends and it was 75 and sunny. You gotta love that).

On New Year's Day we went surfing at Silver Strand. It was chilly that day but still blissfully wonderful. Ollie and I hung out and played while the boys surfed and Nana hung out with Ami in the car. Ryan got to try out his new wet suit and the surf was pretty decent. I tried to get out there to take pictures but was coming out as everyone was coming in. I got a good one of Jeff.

New Years Eve we went to our friends Robin and Daniel's house and hung out with Parker and Jessica and all 4 of our kids, soon to be 5. We lasted till about 11:00 and then Ryan was falling asleep so we decided to drive home, so lame but necessary. We pretty much turned on the TV when we got home a few minutes before the ball dropped, watched that, kissed and then slumbered. Ahhh, just how I love New Years.

Last night we went to the party of the century at our wonderful friend Emily Brown's house and boy was it truly the party of the century. I can't believe I didn't get pictures. (Ems, if you ever retrieve your pics, please send me some). We left Ollie with my mom for the night and pretty much partied like it's nineteen ninety nine all night. Seriously we went to bed at 3:30 am. I can't remember the last time that's happened. It was like living moments from pre-kids. Ok who are we kidding, pre-marriage is more accurate. Thinking about the events last night seem like a dream, we were that tired. Amelie slept in a room upstairs the entire party, through two bands and music playing all night. Did I mention how much I love that child? The Browns are such a rad family. Ryan and I have goals to be just like them. This afternoon we went to the beach, because it was glorious, and enjoyed the last of our weekend. It's going to be a good year.

Repeat the sounding joy...

The past few weeks...

We've been enjoying some rainy days. I love how fall lasts months and months here. The leaves take their time changing and falling. I think I could have a home with the color scheme entirely of fall leaves.

Then we went to visit Santa at the Americana. It was so gorgeous! Oliver ran up and gave Santa a big hug while all the other sissy kids screamed. I was so proud. He even held Amelie and of course, she was pretty unphased. Grandpa bought Ollie a toy he will go crazy for. After all, he did play with it at the booth for about a half hour then I finally had to tear him away kicking and screaming. He didn't see that Gpa secretely bought it for him. What a lucky boy.

After all the rain and cold, we got a few really warm days. The boys went surfing while Ollie kept busy on the beach. He can hardly wait to be old enough to go. I basked in the sunlight enjoying a warm, sunny day at the beach in December! When I think about how ridiculously expensive California is and how high our taxes are, I wonder why do we want to live here? Then a day like this comes along.

Sunday night we went caroling to friends and family. Caroling is hands down one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Tonight we kept the Christmas cheer rolling by making gingerbread houses. Ryan used his construction expertise to make us a nice sturdy house. Oliver used his small hands to get those hard to reach places to put candy on. Amelie ate and then smiled while she had her daily nightcap with her Dad. She talks more at night when he gets home than she does all day. She loves her Dad. And after his crazy long work days, she's just what he needs.