bloggy world

I like the blog world. You get to meet people. People that you would never have the opportunity to meet in real life, until you meet them in the blog world first. Sometimes you meet mama's that turn out to be the sweetest of friends. That like coffee as much as you, and that your kids get along so fabulously together, and those said children write stories at school about how they can't wait to get together with your bloggy mama friend. This is the case with my friend Ashley and our daughters Lexi and Tori.


This is also the case with my friend Catherine. Catherine happens to be an AMAZING photographer, so when I wanted to capture all the memories of Tara's 4th birthday, I could not dream of having anyone but Catherine come.
I like the bloggy world. Its fun.

pictures of kids

Who has the best Bumpa?

WE DO!!!!
When my parents came over for dinner the other night my dad (Bumpa) let the kids "surf" on his chest. They had such a great time!
Jake catching a wave

Tori was a lot more tenative about the whole process, but figured it out!
Tara was having a blast!!

I dont have any pictures of Elijah, but he was ummm a little to big to catch this wave!

Houston, I think I have some swimmers on my hands.

I know I wasn't surprised. Jim and I both swam competitively, however this summer my dreams of having swimmers, came alive!
Jake is doing so well, as long as he has someone pretty close to him he can go the entire length of the pool this way!

Tori listens ever so closely to all of the instructions to make sure she gets it exactly perfect...she does. She loves following directions, so it works perfect. Her back stroke is the yummiest backstroke I have ever seen...ifidosaysomyself...as retired swim instructor! Jake working on his back stroke not quite getting the thumb up pinkie in part...wish I had a picture of Tori's, but all the ones I snapped just has her face, no arms.

Tara is really getting the hang of her "back floats" and keeps saying "No I do do all myself". She just sits back and chilaxes.

Last session my sister and niece (Sarah) and nephew (Ty) took it with us too. I snapped this picture of my sister and Tara...sweet I know!

Have you ever seen a sweeter girl getting ready to be a monkey getting ready to be snatched right out of a tree? I think not!

I have also decided to put Jake and Tori on a swim team this year. There is one that I think will work perfect for them for the next little bit, its just a community swim team here in La Verne, and only goes 3 months, so its a good taste for both of them. If they like it, and I can hack the back and forth with everything else I have on my plate then we will go for a competitive team. Wish us luck!

The natives are getting restless.

So, looking back, I have not posted ANY pictures of the kids on here since April. Well, they have grown...sorry.

I think the biggest news, is that they are in Swim lessons. They LOVE it! Tori is seriously turning out to be my little swimmer. A few days ago she did the most beautiful backstroke to me. About 20 yards of it. I am thinking that after a few more weeks of this I may decide to put her into a US swim team. The Claremont Club (where I swam at) is not far from my house, so I am thinking there! You know, because I am not busy enough. Jake as well is doing incredibly well at swimming. He can swim a bit unassisted, but I dont think he will be able to go on a swim team quite yet. I might look into lessons thru the year? We will see. Tara as well is doing GREAT! This girl L-O-V-E-S the water. You can't tell with the first pictures I am posting...well, because she screamed...the entire time! but the second day she loved it...I promise. She is now floating on her back, all by herself, kicking like a maniac, blowing bubbles, and loving every minute of it. I think it helps that her very best friend/mortal enemy is in swim lessons with her (Sarah my niece). Elijah did not go into swim lessons this year. He didn't want to. :(

Elijah also has some big news. He has been saving money since January to buy a bike. Like a lot of money. He managed to save $280. Not bad for a 12 year old! So he got his long awaited bike last week. We bought it for $300 so we had to put in a bit of money, but lets just say it was a job well done. Plus I like to "own" a portion of his bike. You know, in case I need to take it away. :)

Tori as well got a new bike. Its HOT pink and black and super cute. She loves it, and is doing well on it. We still have the training wheels on it, she is umm lets just say SUPER coordinated, so we will keep those on for a bit....

In other big news, Tori starts kinder in just 2 short weeks. :( Have no doubt there will be pictures for that! And tears for mom as well. sniff. My baby is growing up!

Jake and Tara also start Sonrise pre-school on Sept 1st, Taras 3rd birthday is coming up in Sept. Big party of course! The annual Carlson Backyard Birthday Bash with Blood Drive of course! Tentative date is Sept 11th for the party (so mark your calenders), still need to confirm with the blood donor people. Trying desperately to get American Red Cross, but am thinking its going to be USC blood drive again, they were so incredible to work with last year, and super sweet. I would rather do American Red Cross to choose where the blood goes, but USC was great and donated half of the blood we collected to Huntington for us. So we will see!!!

Well, Jim has my camera today, so I only have these 2 pictures, but be rest assured I do have more, and hopefully will post later today. But for now, hopefully these will calm the natives....and by natives I mean Grandmas.

How amazing are these

I am changing some things on my blog today. Today I moved someone from People I think I know because I crashed their blog, to friends we love. On Sunday we had the privledge to meet Catherine. http://www.catherinelaceyphotography.com/ She took some AMAZING photos of our family, and truely captured the best of all of us as you can tell by this sneak peek. You know, just a few of the nearly 1300 pictures she took of us!! If you are looking for someone to take some amazing pictures of your family, I highly recomend Catherine. Amazing, and I am so glad I can now call her a friend.

you can see more pictures on her website www.catherinelaceyphotography.com and go to clients.

Waffle Morning

Every once in a while Jim takes the morning off, and does a Waffle morning. Its the kids favorite time, (and mine too) Jim cooks waffles for everyone (from scratch not bisquick), and I am just in charge of making coffee (handled). The kids get soooo excited and pull up chairs to the counter and "help" dad. And of course by "help" I mean taste test! yes folks, he is THAT good. He works, eats, and makes waffles.

He is actually talking to one of his clients in this one. Real work saying "yeah, I am running a bit late, I wasn't getting out of the house with out making waffles for the kids this am".

the 4 munchkins ready to "help".

Jake had to go pee, but I still loved this picture!

Tori is soooo very excited. Waffle days are usually her idea...and by idea I mean she says "dad, remember that your the best dad ever and you make waffles better then anyone?" "yes Tori thanks" "can you do that again so I can remember?" She suckers him in every time!

Jake a bit to busy eating to actually smile (yes folks, he did get dressed during the process)

Tara thinking she was a big girl with a fork, and by big girl I mean hold the fork in your right hand and eat waffles with your left.

Great Week

Jim and I had an amazing time on vacation (so did the kids!), so I will show you just a few pictures (we took like 250 of them, so only a few!) to leave you green with envy! It was just beautiful, and belive me, pictures do not do it justice! Swimming with turtles, fishies, and hiking in the lush rain forest was just amazing! We had a great time ~not relaxing as we were busy the entire time~ but great time! Met new friends, and slept soundly all thru the night! What more can you ask for!

Jim and I hanging out on the beach after a long snorkle along the island "Kline Bonaire"
Jim snorkeling!

Fishies...did you know that each fish "poops" about 1 ton of white sand per year from eating coral? Just a little bit of useless information for you!

beautiful coral (that the fish eat to poop the beautiful white sand...)

We suffered thru this beach in Grenada! I know, it was just amazing!

Lush rain forests, with beautiful water falls in Domonica

one of the 365 water falls in Domonica (they have black sand beaches there from the volcanoes.)

What we woke up to in Grenada

Jim and I in St. Thomas right after we finished swimming with the sea turtles.

Amazing time! Next vacation....hopefully soon!

some pictures for the week.

Well, I decided to upload some more pictures for this week. Most of these Elijah took with my camera, no to shabby!
Aye matey! Well, actually "Aye mater" if your jake!

What do you do when your niece dumps a box of cereal on the floor and the table? Oh thats right, ou go and find your camera and tell her to say cheese....

our project at the house...We took out a slider (it was to the right of where the tv is now, and the tv was cornered above the wood coffee table) now its centered on our covered fireplace that was all brick and looked hideous, a wall where the slider was, and a cabiner will be put all around the tv to "build it in"....and hide all the cords! I am really happy with how it looks, but wish it was going faster! Beggers can't be choosers! My BIL is doing the work for us!

Elijah snagged my camera and took some pretty cute pictures!

Tori thought that after the bath her and Tara should wear matching panties...that lasted about 2 minutes, but I did manage to capture a picture with them in it. I know Toris hair is long!

Well ok....

I guess I should post some pictures...because you love them! Even if you don't comment (mother) and ask for me to update the blog by a phone call....:)

Tara has the greatest curls ever! I love them, and just after we get out of the bath before she sleeps on her hair they are the perfect little ringlets. So for those of you who are not here at bathtime, enjoy my babies ringlets...that she must have got from the milkman, that and her blue eyes...

pretty little girl freshly out of the bath and smelling pretty!

moms vaccuming, feeling a little tired, so I guess I will take a nap right.....here.

Tori playing with my camera, cute Jakey boy, even out of focus with somthing on his nose, but I did promise Tori I would post it on the story with Jakey in the mud....

Oh, and for anyone who thinks I dont have any pictures of Elijah, I do...he is just up and is saying "dont post that I dont have a shirt on" well, the most recent pictures of him...he doesn't. So I will respect his wishes with a warning. Put a shirt on at home or I will post them....