Combined Birthdays

Since we would be camping on Melina's birthday, Isabelle decided it would be okay to have a combined family birthday celebration. We kept it simple, Isabelle's favorite chicken sandwich from Jack 'N Box for dinner followed by opening presents with Grandma, Papa, and Mackenzie, and then cake and ice cream.
Melina absolutely adores her Papa and sat in his lap while blowing out her candle. She even cried when he left!

Happy First Birthday, Melina!

We celebrated Melina turning 1 by having Mom and Mackenzie over, opening presents, and having cake and ice cream. Melina had a great time playing with the gift bags and wrapping paper and didn't waste any time with her birthday cake. It was a very memorable 1st birthday!

More pics at Dropshots...

Isabelle's 5th Birthday!

Isabelle had a great birthday! She started out her 5th birthday by celebrating with some friends at John's Pizza; then swimming at Pinney Pool followed by one of her favorite dinners, tacos; then presents and cupcakes and ice cream! Then she and Melina played outside in the newly filled sandbox. What a busy day!







more pics at DropShots

Isabelle's Scooby Doo Party

Isabelle is very "in to" Scooby Doo right now (thanks to her Aunt Kitty!). So needless to say, she wanted a Scooby Doo birthday party with her friends. The party went very well (although Jeff and I were exhausted for the next few days and will maybe host another in 2-3 years??), and everyone had a great time. We had some excitement at the end of the party when we had a torrential desert flash flood! (more on that later).

A Scooby Doo pinata, of course




playing Shaggy, Shaggy, Scooby (otherwise known as Duck, Duck, Goose)


See more pics at our DropShots site...

My Birthday and more!

Today, the first day of summer, we celebrated my 33rd birthday. It was a wonderful day. I got to sleep in, eat some yummy French toast and then later some delicious lumpia made by my friend Vivian, and later, a very tasty dinner with Jeff (just Jeff, no girls--they stayed with Morgann, our babysitter). It was one of the best dinners we've had eaten out in a very long time.

We then came home and my parents and Mackenzie came over for some birthday cheesecake. My Grandma Slay (Dad's mom) used to make me a cake of my choice every year for my birthday, and I always chose cheesecake. I have her recipe and try to make it for my birthday every year now that she is gone. Thanks, Grandma!!


And to make my birthday even more special, Melina decided to really start walking. While she's been taking steps for a couple of weeks now (2-3 steps at a time between 2 objects), she now decided to just walk with no need to grab on to anything. She is walking!! We now have an almost 11-month-old toddler! (Here is a quick video of Melina walking. It's not the best quality as I'm all over the place trying to keep up with her, but it shows you nonetheless that she is walking).

And, earlier that morning, while Jeff watched the girls while I slept in, Melina pushed a toy to the coffee table, climbed the toy, and then proceeded to try to climb onto the coffee table. Do you think we have a climber on our hands?...