Happy Birthday...

Trenton Michael

Born: Tuesday, October 27, 2015

At: 11:00am

Weight: 7lbs 15oz

Length: 22.5 inches

Status: Our adorable little man is finally here, eight days after his due date! Mama was in pre-labor for five LONG days before his arrival. He is a precious boy with adorable little dimples and loved immensely by his parents and two adoring sisters. He spent three days in the NICU after birth due to breathing issues, but is doing well now and came home today, October 30th, 2015. We are all so in love, our family is complete.

Memorial Day Trip 2015 - San Jose & Santa Cruz

Morning trip to Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz

Momma and the girls enjoying a relaxing beach day

Exploring a bit of Santa Cruz and climbing the whale

Checking out the view of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Visiting our cousins and littlest nephew in Campbell, CA

Alina loved cuddling Baby Gabe

Adorable Baby Gabriel snuggled up and asleep

Alina did not let him out of her sight all day

Alina's Preschool Field Trip to The Pumpkin Farm

Alina's preschool field trip to The Pumpkin Farm

Enjoying having Nana & Papa all to herself!

Daddy and Alina by the corn maze

Enjoying her field trip with her preschool classmates

Recreating the same photo three years later, so cute!

Last Friday was little Alina's annual preschool field trip to The Pumpkin Farm in Citrus Heights. This was her first school field trip without big sister Elise (who is now in Kindergarten). Alina had such a great time, and was spoiled a bit with both Mommy and Daddy AND Nana and Papa all there to share the day with her! She had been talking about her big pumpkin patch trip a month in advance and was so excited when the day finally arrived. I think her favorite part of the day was getting Nana and Papa all to herself! She also really enjoyed feeding the goats and pigs. She even braved the spooky haunted house and the best reward for a fun filled day was getting to pick out her own little pumpkin to take home. She made sure to pick out the littlest and cutest one that she could possibly find.

She loved feeding the goats and pigs

With Nana and Papa in the corn maze

Picking out her little pumpkin

All smiles in the haunted house

Las Vegas Trip 2013: Excalibur and Family Time

The Excalibur in Las Vegas

The cousins excited to visit the castle

 

The kids had a blast at the Excalibur arcade

Outside the Excalibur Castle walls

 

Last weekend, we took our first out-of-state road trip with both the girls, the destination: Las Vegas, Nevada! We went to visit family and the girls got to meet some of their little cousins for the very first time. The trip was lots of fun, and the little cousins had the best time playing together. We managed to get all seventeen of us together for a group family photo, with all the kids looking at the camera, which really is a feat in and of itself. After spending time with family the first day, in the evening we made a trip over to the Excalibur Hotel as the kids were enamored by the prospect of visiting a castle. We stayed at the New York, New York Hotel, so the Excalibur was conveniently located right next door. We took the kids to the Excalibur Arcade and despite being tired from a long fun day (and restless road trip), they dashed around and had a great time playing all the arcade games. When the night finally came to a close they both crashed out the second we put them in bed...this NEVER happens in real life, only on our vacation alternate reality, HAH. Suffice it to say, we also crashed out the second our heads hit the pillow. Ahh, vacation bliss!

 

 

Little Alina meeting Baby Kellan; all hugs!

Ticklish kiddos and big smiles

The little cousins had a great time playing together

Group shot of the family; super cute

BerryFest Roseville - Celebrating Mother's Day 2013

 

Celebrating Mother's Day weekend at BerryFest in Roseville

Plenty of strawberries, locally grown vegetables and fun

The girls with their new parasols; it was one HOT day!

Daddy and baby girl make one sweet duo

Papa braved the big slide for a bit of fun

 

The girls at the petting zoo

 

John, Christy and cute Baby Audrey joined us for the day
 

Family time is the best possible Mother's Day gift
Happy Mother's Day 2013!

April Fun

A warm April day at the pool with our water babies

The girls new little friend, Baby Audrey

Chillin' in the crib. Audrey all tuckered out in daddy's arms

 

Alina missed Baby Audrey, but luckily she has her
dolls at home to baby, and daddy to play with

 

These two have the sweetest smiles :)

Happy First Birthday Alina!

Our adorable birthday girl at one-year-old



 

 

Baby doll Alina,

 

Today you are one-year-old and it has us wondering just where the time has gone! It feels like only a few weeks ago, we were holding you in our arms at the hospital; a tiny and perfect bundle of newborn joy. You were so fragile and beautiful, and your birth was the most joyous occasion.

 

Over the course of your first year, you have brought immeasurable love and fulfillment to our home; our family feels complete. Mommy, daddy and your big sister, Elise, are absolutely smitten with you. You are the biggest sweetheart and we all affectionately refer to you as our "doll". You are an adorable little girl, and we can't get enough of your precious chubby cheeks, pouty lips and sweet baby doll eyes.

 

At one-year-old, your little spirit and personality has begun to shine through. You are the most mellow and easygoing little girl. You rarely ever fuss, and you always wake up with a smile on your face. You're our little love bug. You love cuddling, giving hugs and kisses, waving hello and goodbye to everyone, and you relish your time in mommy and daddy's arms. That being said, you are also quite an inquisitive and determined baby. You were an early walker, and have since moved on to running, climbing, and daredevil stunts :) You are not afraid to get messy, and allow nothing to stand in the way of a good thrill. We see you as a very active little girl at heart, and foresee this being a trait that you will always keep.

 

Mommy and daddy are so overjoyed by your sweet-natured personality. You have been a breeze to care for over this first year, as you are just always so lovable and content. We foresee you as being our little adventurous optimist; full of love and high spirits. We hope that you will always think positively and keep your zest for life close to heart. We know that you will follow the right path in life, with a bit of adventure along the way, and that you will surround yourself with people who love and care for you as much as we do. Sweet Alina, you will forever be our beautiful, loving baby girl; remember that you are in our hearts always.

Love,

Mommy, Daddy and Elise

Sledding in Tahoe for Daddy's Birthday

Driving up to Tahoe on a snowy Sunday morning 

First family trip to the snow

Baby Alina's first snow day - she tried to taste the snowflakes

A snowy winter wonderland

Daddy and Elise playing in the snow

All bundled up

Grandma's snow angel

Forget snowballs; Elise throws heaps of snow haha

Exploring the hill

Happy Elise enjoying the snow

After what has been the warmest and driest winter we've seen in years, we were thrilled to hear that snow had finally arrived in Tahoe last weekend. We took advantage of the snowy weather and decided to celebrate daddy's birthday weekend with a family sledding trip. Elise had been begging us to take her since Christmas, so she could test out her very first sled (a surprise gift from Santa). The last time we took Elise to Tahoe was when she was around 11-months-old. It was during May and there was no snow. We jumped at the opportunity to take the girls last weekend, as it would be the first snow experience for both of them. Elise was ear-to-ear smiles the entire day. Grandpa and grandma also joined in on the fun.

We had to drive all the way up past Kyburz before we even saw any snow. Thankfully, once we got there, we were greeted by plenty of snow; in fact, when we first arrived it was snowing like crazy and very cold. The cold did little to slow us down (especially the warm-blooded twosome of daddy and Elise; those two double as fully-functional heaters) and after about a half hour the snow stopped and the temperature rose.

Elise has been a little daredevil since she was a baby, so she absolutely loved sledding; so much so that she insisted we let her go down the hill by herself (which we didn't). Daddy found a way to semi trick her into thinking she was going by herself, but instead he held the rope and ran with her down the hill. Once she caught on, she kept yelling, "let go of the rope, I want to go by MYSELF", I swear she could have caused an avalanche she was so loud. People were laughing and amused by our two-year-old daredevil. I kept waiting for Elise to get cold, tired, hungry, etc, but she didn't; she wanted to keep sledding and playing. She really is a little trooper. It was a great experience, and one I hope we get to do more than once every year. Eventually, we want to teach the girls how to snowboard, so they can join us on the slopes.

Sledding in Tahoe

Elise (the mini daredevil) sledding on her own

Peering out down the hill

Keeping warm :)

Little snow bunny having fun

Beautiful snow covered trees

Got snow?  Silly cutie after a fun snow day