Pumpkin Carving 2015

 Nick, Meghan, and Natalie came over for pumpkin carving and dinner.

 Grandma and Grandpa came too!  Meilynn with Grandma

 Emma working on making a fish bowl pumpkin

Grandma helping Lily with her scooping

 Whoo………!

 Meilynn and Kami's pumpkin

 Meilynn and Kami

 Jilliana's was so cute!  It had two sides with two different cat faces.

Forgot to get a group photo before Grandma and Grandpa and Meghan, Nick and Natalie left.  But we did get this one with me and the girls.

Emma, Lily, me, Meilynn, Kami, and Jilliana.

Lyla and Lily Together Again!

It started with two little girls growing up in an orphanage together and has grown into two families doing everything they can to keep that connection.

 Lily and Lyla in Saint Louis

 Jilliana has always had a special attachment to Liam

 Lyla, Lily, Meilynn, Jilliana, Emma and Liam

Saying good-bye has gotten a little easier since they know they will meet again.

Spring Break 20014 Carlsbad

Today we went on a little hike.  Daddy was back at home at a funeral so we decided to head out and explore.

 Everyone tried their hand, or should I say their bodies at balancing on this rock.

 Lily

 Jilliana

 Meilynn

 and Emma, "They Gymnast"

We came across this teeter totter that someone had made by putting a log in between the tree trunk.  It was a little longer on one end, so I thought it a perfect opportunity for a little math lesson and working together.  Our girls just do not get enough of this kind of play/problem.  I decided to watch and let them figure it out.

 Hmm…it won't work with two on each side like it is supposed to.  One side is shorter?

 Maybe if we pull down?

 Still trying this method,

Hey, I think we got it, but how do I get on now?

 It works!

 Cuteness and Sassiness!

It was another fun day!

Plank Warz!

I started going to a Fit Body Bootcamp this last year.  Two weeks ago they started a plank war.  A plank is where you hold your body weight up with your hands or elbows and your toes.  It is supposed to be good for your core.  So I was down in San Diego when I found out the plank war was starting.  The rules were to do a plank that could be held for at least a minute.  Two planks a day maximum could be submitted.  I was in a bagel shop when I got the e-mail with Kami and the girls.  I told Kami about the plank wars.  I jokingly said, "I should just do one here."  And that is how I got started.

 Yes, there were people watching and yes I was super, embarrassed.  But as you will see I ended up getting over that!

 Here I am at a museum in San Diego with Kami holding up my feet.

 The girls got in on the action here in front of the fountain.

 I always say, "Mind Over Matter", so this bench was perfect.

 Planking on the rail at Panera.

 I think I am a little too old for these games.

 Trash Day!  My Dad is looking on and he thinks I am nuts!

 In La Jolla overlooking the seals on the beach.

 Getting braver

Ignoring the signs

 This is actually on a cliff

 In front of the Hotel Del Coronado

 In front of a sand castle

 This was one of the hardest ones.

My mom told me not to climb on the furniture!

 Then I started climbing other things!

 Meilynn getting in with the fun

 Panorama Point

 Meilynn and Jilliana doing the plank

 Reading on Mommy

 Playing cards on Mommy

 Emma planking on Mommy

 I tried to get Lily on, but this was the most I could hold.

 Now getting more creative.  Planking during a cooking demonstration at our house.

 Stefania came from Italy to teach us to cook!  She just kept on working.

 At Church between services.

 On my motorcycle

 On top of the owners of the bootcamps car.

 At the Redlands Bowl

 Little fingers in the picture are Jilliana's.  The girls were my photographers.

 Planking on the pool table

 Holding a plank while I plank

 Planking in t he pool

 It was cold.

 Walking the plank with Emma

 Planking on  the plank

 A wall plank at my boot camp

 A group plank at my bootcamp

 Now I am very brave!  Planking at the shampoo bowl

 Planking in a storm

 Planking over a ditch in the rain

 Planking in the snow

 Planking on some pipes I found on the side of the road

Our grand finale was a video done to music.

I won!