Jacob is EIGHT!

Yesterday was Jacob's TRUE birthday. I can't believe its been eight years since I became a mom. Best thing EVER even on the not so great days.

Since Nana made Jacob his birthday cake. I told Jacob I would make him cupcakes to take to school for his friends. I made him chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes. That is right a cupcake with cookie dough in the center and butter cream cookie dough frosting. Lets just say they are the BOMB. His substitute teacher said they were the best cupcakes she had had in years and the kids were so cute saying "Mrs Heller can you tell my mom how to make these". That made me laugh. I was so glad they were a hit. Jacob had a great day at school. The sub had all the kids make him birthday cards which are adorable to read. I think he really felt loved which made me happy.




I LOVE my new cupcake holder! It was a total impulse buy but I had to have it. Ian thought it was a pretty silly until he saw it also has little sleeves you can put over the cupcake holes so you can transport cookies, pans of food etc. Then he was totally on board. I had people stopping me asking me where I got it. LOOOOOOVE it!:)

For dinner Jacob requested Chicken and Dumplings. It turned out yummy and he loved them. He had fun talking to Corban and Auntie Christina on the web cam and even played them a tune on his new harmonica. He also enjoyed his legos and book from Gramps and Lolly (and was not happy when he had to put the book down to go to bed:) and the new DS games and can't wait to build his Erector set. He is chomping at the bit to spend his money from Grandma and Grandpa. All together I think he has had a pretty good birthday WEEK.


I just had to share this last picture of Owen. He has been dying to play with Ian's nerf gun and cried for literally hours yesterday (and it is already beginning today...ugh) so last night Ian let him. He tells me "I gonna shoot you momma" and I took this and then he did right smack in the forehead. Gotta love boys.

Hodad's and Birthday Cakes!

Yesterday my biggest "baby" turned EIGHT! I am still in denial. Its been a few days of doing the things he has been requesting. First was Saturday when we went to Sea World. Then on Tuesday both to celebrate his birthday and Nana's last night here we went out to dinner down in Ocean Beach to a little hole in the wall restaurant (which is also a San Diego Icon) called Hodad's. It is this quirky little place with license plates all over the walls there is a huge table shaped like a surf board to eat at along with a few booths and then also the front of a VW Bus sticking out of the wall that has a table inside of it. The boys, especially Owen LOVED that. The food is really decently priced and in HUGE portions. Talk about yummy! We still have a huge bag of the onion rings and fries in the freezer for a rainy day to heat back up.

Ian's double (I think) burger. It was obscene! And that is AFTER the onions were all taken out. I don't know how he finished that entire thing. I will say though the burgers were GOOD!

Me and the boys. Note the top of Owen's head in my lap. And even better note Jacob's face. Nathan had smacked him somehow so he was all upset of course Nathan is grinning away. Gotta love it. Just totally depicts the "norm" around here:)



I just love this one of Ian and Owen. Owen was a total bear because of a way too early nap and after this picture he cried for at least a half hour because daddy was NOT holding him but I just love the sweet look on his face. He adores his daddy.

The Hodad's Bus:)

When we got home we surprised Jacob and Nathan with a new Nintendo DS to share. We had been debating on whether to get them one or a kinect to go with Ian's xbox and finally decided on the DS. The boys were shocked and overjoyed to put it lightly. I took this picture of Ian setting it up and it cracked me up:)

Nana has told Jacob she would bake him a birthday cake. He requested (randomly) a chocolate banana one. She scoured the Internet and found a recipe and holy cow was it a good one! So we enjoyed a slice and she gave Jacob his present. A HARMONICA! complete with a book to help him learn how to play and a pretty velvet bag to keep it in. He is in love. It really is cute. He had a fun time last night putting on a show for his cousin via web cam. Ian's comment to his mother was "you hate us don't you mom?" That made me laugh just a little bit.

"I DID IT MOMMY!!"

Owen is slowly going on the potty more and more. I am not asking or pushing him but just allowing him when he asks. As he has been going through tummy issues due to the stomach flu and the antibiotics he is on I am more than thankful to let him go on there. Less diapers is always a great thing. He was very proud of himself this morning so I snapped this picture. I just love when he smiles. He can be such a grump and a handfull that the smiles are like a little payment for the not so fun times.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day a day late!:) Ian and I celebrated early and finally cashed in on some gift cards we had for The Cheesecake Factory. It was so nice to have a date for the first time since my birthday. Jeanne watched the boys and they had a fun movie time while we were gone. It was much needed and we are very appreciative to her for watching them.

Yesterday Owen and I went down to Nathan's school for his Valentine Strawberry Pancake breakfast party. It was really cute. His assistant teacher, Mrs. Her, made all the kids placemats and they enjoyed their pancakes with whipped cream and fruit and each had a heart cookie. Owen quickly stole Nathan's cookie but it was remedied when I got him another:) Owen loves playing in Nathan's classroom. They have this little fort reading nook that he was climbing around in and got one of the little girls in the class to read with him. I was just glad I was able to participate since it was in the morning.

After the boys got home from school they got to open their Valentine goodies from Gramps and Lolly. They were all really surprised and excited to get presents! Jacob did not really have a party at school but they did exchange Valentine's.

I think they all had a pretty good day. Next event Jacob turning EIGHT tomorrow! Yikes. I can hardly comprehend it.

Sea World- Finally

The boys, especially Jacob, have been BEGGING to go to Sea World since we moved back here. Why we did not go last year, I don't know but as a Salute to Heroes one day a year active duty military and up to three dependents can go once for free. Jacob said for his birthday he really wanted to go so we thought it would be fun to go while NaNa is here visiting. Even though the boys still are not feeling all that great we decided to just go anyways. Sorry people if we got you sick:) There were a couple of hours where Owen was a pain but overall the day was a great success. I think the boys and I are going to get annual passes so that we can have something fun to do while Ian is gone. The boys especially loved the rides and touching the Stingrays. Owen loved the Polar Bears and Penguins. WARNING Picture Overload. The boys are already asking when we can go again.

The boys with Dad on the Journey to Atlantis ride. They LOVED it.

We decided Owen could use a little splash too while he not so patiently waited for them to get back.



They boys all climbed into a "Polar Bear Den"











Oscar the Grouch summed up Owen's attitude so well I had to get a picture.



I love this picture of Jacob. I can't believe he will be eight tomorrow.


Owen on the way out of the park. Begging to go to sleep in his bed:)

February beach days!

As much as I miss Chicagoland and the seasons how can you not love being able to enjoy 70 degree PLUS weather at the beach in FEBRUARY. One word:AWESOME. The boys and I along with their NANA enjoyed a few hours of fun in the sand and sun yesterday. The only drawback was that Ian had to work:( Owen is getting braver about the water which in turn drives me nuts but we had a wonderful time with the kids burying eachother and playing in the surf. We are already looking forward to the next time.