Quick 17 month old photo shoot

lookit:

Happy SIXTH Birthday to our little boy

We had a great cat and snake birthday party for Curtis over the weekend.  We had beautiful weather, good friends, and a nice little party to celebrate our favorite guy.  I love that Curtis is his own unique person and he was pretty specific about the kind of party he wanted. He wanted a CAT and SNAKE Party.  So we did what we could.  Actually Curtis was very helpful in making the decorations for the party which made it more fun because he got to create what he wanted.
I can't believe this is our 6th party celebrating Curtis James.  He gets sweeter with every year. Even if he gets brattier.  I love this kid. 

he wanted a banner around his pictures with different colored cats and green snakes. 

We collected all the cat and snake things we could find from the various toy boxes around the house. 

And we gave out Cat ears and tails to the guests so everyone could be a cat.  

And there were snakes. Six of them (one for every year?) Actually there were a few more in a case but one of the locks wasn't working so they stayed in - I'm glad I didn't know that until after. 

A classmate's mom and dad were sweet enough to bring a few snakes for the kids to see and hold if they wanted too.  I did really good I thought for having so many snakes in my house - I kept my cool and Andy took all the pictures. But the kids seemed to love it. 

Some were braver than others. 

These two. Trouble.

 

 

Water balloons. It's not a curtis birthday without water balloons, right?

 



And the snake cake!

Solvang and Happy Father's Day!

We headed to Solvang last week to visit Mio, Rikka and Patrick.  Despite the torturous car rides(betsy) and fevers(curtis and betsy), we had a great time.  It was beautiful weather down there and it was so nice to get away from home, if only for a few short days. 

 

 

 The clog got a paint job. Betsy was not so into this photo shoot.

 

My Beautiful Mio. When I was a kid she told me she was 102 years old.  I believed her. 

Aunt Sally thrifted some super cute vintage dresses for Betsy. 

 

 

Out of order but on our way home we burned off some energy at Pismo Beach.  I could have stayed in the sand all day.  

 

 

 

We had a great time just hanging out at the house!

 

While we were visiting Mio she kept telling me what a great dad that man I live with is and how patient and good he is with the kids.  And as cute as these two are, they need a LOT of patience. I agree with her, he is amazing.  I'm glad we got to celebrate him for father's day.  Daddies are the best. 

And we got to take a little hike to Nojoqui Falls! It felt like such a long hike as a kid. 

Curtis is the sweetest boy to his Mio. Probably because she gives him gum. 

Betsy was not into posing for a picture. 

 

And just like that, he's not a kindergartener anymore.

First day of school

Last day

School is out. Or as Curtis says, "I beat the whole level of kindergarten! I'm a first grader!!"

It's useless to even comment on how fast time goes by because everyone already knows.  But man-oh-man it goes by so fast!

This boy is something else.  He is a handful and has taught us A LOT about patience to say the least. For all the hair that has turned gray or been pulled out in frustration, we wouldn't change one second. He is just the sweetest, most imaginative, funny, stubborn, silly, kind, loving little boy we could have asked for. Not to mention that his dancing skills are incredible. Betsy is pretty lucky to have this kind of role model. 

Curtis and I were noticing in these pictures that at the start of kindergarten his ears were below the line in the door and now they are above. 

Mors Dag

"I lorve you monm." Sounds like talking with your mouth full.

 Mother's day. Nailed it. I have the two cutest cutes in the world. I'm so lucky I get to be their mom.
 We packed up a picnic and slathered on the sunscreen and headed out to the beach. Of course the parking lots were full and it was way too cold for sandcastles and one child needed a bathroom RIGHT NOW and the other one was screaming her head off.  Ahhh..Perfection! We did get to take a short foggy hike and play in the cypress trees.  We ate our PB&J's on the drive home, Gram J came over in the evening and Andy cooked up some yummy turkey burgers for dinner.  Curtis and I threw the frisbee in the back yard, Betsy entertained us all just being her funny self. All-in-all, a pretty great day. This is the life. 

Seriously, who are these kids?

 

 

Oh, and this is a thing now. She climbed up there all by herself. So proud.