Madden's 2nd Birthday

This year I opted out on the big birthday parties for the kids and I planned on doing things mellow this year. We are having a small get together on Skylar's actual birthday to celebrate both the kiddos, but I wanted to still do something on Madden's actual birthday. 

He started his day at 6:00 AM (yes for some reason he is waking up very early lately), so I put together a special birthday breakfast.  Jake was flying home and Skylar was still sleeping so it was just me singing Happy Birthday to him.  He was very cute all morning.  When you asked him who's birthday it was he would pound his chest and say "Me," and if you asked him how old he was he would hold up five fingers.  

That night we went to Benihana's for a big group dinner.  We had all of Madden's favorite people with us.  His best buddy Johnny and his second sister Sophie were so sweet to join in on the celebration.

Bub's loved every second of it. He had the biggest smile on his face during the whole dinner. When the chef was cooking our meal he was clapping and laughing the entire time.   From the miso soup, to the fired rice, to his shrimp, he cleared his plate like a champ!

The Birthday Boy!

I think Madden was really starting to like the birthday attention.  He loved having us and the staff sing "Happy Birthday" to him.  He ate about half his sundae because I think he was so stuffed from his dinner.

It was such a fun dinner and I was so glad that Madden enjoyed every minute of it.  He loved having all his family and best friends with him.  It was the perfect way to celebrate our little man.  

 Madden best buddy Johnny singing him "Happy Birthday"

Easter 2014

Spring is here and I couldn't be more excited.  It's not like we had a really rough winter, but its nice knowing that we are just a few months way from summer.  We started our Easter celebration by having Sophie over for some egg dying.  Good thing we did it outside, because Madden spilled the yellow dye twice.  

On Saturday we headed up to Aunt Elsa and Uncle Jon's to celebrate Easter with my family.  I  love that we have a good group of little ones in the family now, makes the holidays so much more special.  We hid around 150 eggs and did a giant egg hunt with all the kids.  Skylar, Madden, Carmen and Jaylee all got a head start before we let the older kids loose.  

Skylar loved every minute of the egg hunt.  Madden was a little slow moving.  He would pick an egg, opened it, eat some candy from it, then go for the next one.  When he found an egg with quarters in it he would open it and throw the coins into the fountain in front of the house.

All the little ones indulging in their candy! 

 It was a really nice time with the family.  Madden and Skylar had fun with their cousins.  Skylar felt like such a big girl having little Carmen follow her around and Madden loved watching all the older kids swim and play.    

Sunday morning the Easter Bunny arrived.  This year the Easter Bunny went for a summer theme baskets with swim suits, swim goggles, pool kick boards, sandals, and hats. Skylar wanted to go to the pool and use her new kick board that morning.

We had brunch reservations that morning with the Rossitto's, Goodrich's, Elizondo's and Johnston's at Tommy V's.  They had the Easter Bunny, face painting, coloring books and bottomless mimosa's.  Brunch was a blast.  It was such a fun group and the kids couldn't of been more entertained.

Easter Besties!

Madden is still terrified of the Easter Bunny so getting a picture with him wasn't going to happen.

Madden and Johnny ran loops around the restaurant.

Spiderman, a Unicorn, and Minnie Mouse.  

After nap Jake and I put together a small egg hunt for just Skylar and Madden in our front yard.  They were having so much fun Skylar made us re-hide the eggs twice.  Easter was a ton of fun this year. We were able to celebrate with friends and family and just seeing how excited the kids are really makes the holiday special.

Flower Fields 2014

The kids and I took our annual Flower Fields trip last week.  I was very happy that we decide to go when we did since last year we kind of missed the boat and ended up going the last day before they were closing for the season and most of the flowers were on their last leg.  This time the flowers were in full bloom and everything looked gorgeous.  

First thing first, the kids wanted to do the wagon ride.

After the ride I took the kids into the fields in attempt to take pictures of them in the flowers.  I was pleasantly surprised to see how excited the kids were to take the pictures.  I had the kids jump over the rope (which is a no-no, but anything for the perfect shot right) and they put on their best poses.  

Madden saying "CHEESE!"

They loved racing from color field to color field and jumping over the "do not cross" rope. 

Madden was getting over it by this time.

After our mini photo shoot I got the kids some kettle corn and we walked around the fields.  We ended up in the playground which was very crowded since I think lots of kids were out of school because of Spring Break.  Madden got pushed down by a older boy which really upset Skylar and she wanted to head home.  

We hit the big tractor on the way out and I would consider our trip a huge success.  The kids had fun and I got some really cute pictures of them in the fields.  Until next year.....

The Next American Ninja Warrior

For those of you who have never heard of American Ninja Warrior, it is a obstacle course competition series where adults race to achieve the fastest time, and ultimately the one with the fastest time becomes the American Ninja Warrior.  After you watch the video below, you will see why I titled my blog what I did.

For months now Madden has been in swim class and sadly he started hating it.  He would clinch on to me as if his life depended on it and I couldn't handle it any more.  I thought it was best to take a break and try something new.  I decided on the Mommy and Me gymnastics class at the Y.  He has been watching Skylar do gymnastics since he was 8 months old and I figured it would be something he would enjoy.  Last week was his second class and he LOVED it.  He was all smiles the entire class and didn't stop running, jumping, bouncing, etc. the whole 45 minute class.

So he ran the obstacle course at least a dozen times and couldn't get a enough of it.  

Last week he wouldn't even let Ms. Tracy (his instructor) come near him, but at the end of this class he gave her a big hug.   

Madden has to tag along to all of Skylar's activities so I love seeing him having his own fun, not to mention after class he took a three hour nap.

  

Brandon and Tiffany's Wedding

We had a great time last weekend at our friends Brandon and Tiffany's beautiful wedding.  Brandon is one of Jake's best friends from college.  They met during Jake's junior year of school.  After graduating Jake moved to Ocean Beach, three houses away from Brandon.  To say the least, they spent a ton of time surfing and partying together that year and half in Ocean Beach.  Sadly, Brandon ended up moving back home to Fresno so we don't get to see him very often, but whenever he does come back into town he always makes the effort to stop by for a visit.  About a year after our wedding Brandon introduced us to his new girlfriend Tiffany and we all welcomed her in with open arms.  She is the sweetest and she and Brandon are a amazing couple.  

A few months before the wedding Brandon and Tiff graciously asked if Jake would officiate their wedding, which of course, Jake said yes too.  This being his second time performing a ceremony he did a fantastic job and I couldn't of been more proud of him.  He said he just wanted to make it as special as he could since it was for one of his best friend.

The Beautiful Bride and her Dad.

The married couple!! Love them!!

Another plus about the wedding was being able to see our friends.  Jenn and Matt came in from Vegas for the wedding.  It was so great being able to spend such a fun evening with them.

Heather, Me, and Jenn.

Matt and I

Jake and Matt

#selfie!

A group #selfie with the Bride and Groom.

Congrats to the happy couple!  Wishing you guys a lifetime of love and happiness!