Valley of the SUN!

You have to love spring living in Arizona...nothing but pure bliss with warm weather, constant sunshine and tons to do.  Here are the kids enjoying a couple of beautiful days.

Cole "painting" the play structure one afternoon.  I think it was 80 that day but he never changed out of his clothes from church, hence the long pants and long sleeves.

A rare moment of the kids playing together without drama.  I think shortly after this Kenleigh threw herself on the floor in a fit because Cole wouldn't give her one of the Playdoh tools.  Ah well.

I'm also excited for my 2nd year of gardening!  We had great success last year with basil, tomatoes, broccoli and jalapenos.  This year we are growing basil, tomatoes, red onions, peppers, asparagus and cabbage.  Here's how the garden looked last weekend.  We've already got tomatoes growing!  We also have a hanging basket filled with strawberries.  Some almost ready to eat!

The kids had Bunny Breakfast at school this week.  Cole was happy to pose with the bunny but Kenleigh refused.  I think it was because they had jelly beans on the table and she was more interested in eating those than smiling with the bunny.  The kids have been learning a lot about Easter at school and Cole likes to remind us all that Jesus died for our sins, oh and that he had 12 disciples too.

Had to throw in this crazy one of Miss K.  Her hair is out of control but I refuse to cut it.  I think because she was bald for so long that I just cannot bear to cut any of it.  This picture proves someone needs to intervene and take her for a hair cut.  Auntie??

Chandler Fun!

Every year Chandler has the Ostrich Festival, which is basically a fair.  It's funny, the handful of times we have gone I don't think I've ever seen an ostrich there.  Hmm...

We packed up last Saturday and headed out...the weather was gorgeous!  Here a couple of monkeys ready for some fun!

On top of the ferris wheel, although he looks scared and appears to be holding on for dear life, he really did enjoy it.

One happy little dude waiting for the roller coaster!

Then we ran into a couple of our favorite people! Holy cow Mom, I thought they lived in California! Too cute.

  After lunch it was funny face time!

February Flew!

The older we get...the faster time flies.  Shawn always talks about how we are going to wake up and the kids are going to be heading to high school.  The way the past couple of have months have flown by, I am starting to agree with him.

We started February with a visit from Grandma and Papa John!  It had been a year since we last saw them so we were very excited for their visit.  We started off their first day with a trip to the zoo!  Here the kids are dragging Grandma and Papa John into the zoo.  You've gotta keep up when a 2 and 4 year old are in charge!

Here are the kiddos posing on the Komodo Dragon!

Up next brother rode a camel!

It was Super Bowl weekend while they were here so we had to throw a little party.  It was complete with themed food like New York Pretzels (homemade by Papa John!), New England Clam Chowder, Italian Sausage Rolls, etc.  Yum-o!

Here is Kenleigh helping Papa John cook dinner, she is still my little domestic diva!!

Another big event for Miss K was her getting her big girl bed!  She moved into her toddler bed last summer and last month she graduated to her full size bed.  She really looks like a little pea in the giant bed that is literally just a foot from the ceiling...it's so high!  As with most things with her, she took right to it.  Climbed up, cozied up and went right to sleep.  The most special part is her beautiful quilt on the bed.  Last year when we were in Virginia my mom and I picked out all the fabric and my mom made it for her bed.  It turned out so perfect and I am so happy that Sis will also have this special keepsake from her Grandma!

While February was filled with fun it was also filled with sickness.  The kids went through about a month of being sick.  We've had strep throat, ear infections and a pneumonia.  It has been unreal and I am looking forward to cold and flu season being done in our house.  While it's no fun to be sick, we made the best of it.

Here is K logging a little tv time with dinner on her tv tray!

Hair is finally long enough for the bath mohawk!

Okay, let's try soccer!

A new spring is upon us which means it's a new sport season in the Blubaum house.  We enjoyed giving T-ball a try last year...up next, soccer!

I am not sure if it's because he is a year older or if he maybe just really likes soccer better than t-ball (shhh...don't tell his dad!!).  Either way, soccer is going great!  Here are some pictures from Cole's recent game.  It's no World Cup, but these kids are cute!

Jersey distribution day!  Yeah for #6!

Game day!  His games are often at 8am...yikes!  The kids are barely awake by then so those Saturday's are a little rough around here.  Not only is it early, but the mornings are COLD!

 

He's already started talking about football, but luckily he has to be 5 to do that...so we have a few months.  Add this to his continued request for guitar lessons and his recent obsession with the Wizards of Waverly Place and we have one eclectic kiddo!  Love my boy!

Domestic Diva!

Kenleigh's teachers at school describe her as "the mommy."  She loves to help with everything, clean things up, help her friends, etc.  She is the same way at home.  Each night as we cook dinner, she gets her stool out and announces, "I help you!"

Last Sunday was no exception.  I decided to make some cookies and Miss K was first in line to assist me.  She ended up doing most of the work!  Love to see her so happy and excited about rolling dough, cutting cookies and being the most adorable domestic diva! 

Finished product!  Getting ready for Valentine's Day already!

Boise or Bust!

Thursday we packed up and headed off for 4 days in Boise with my sister and her family.  The kids have been so excited for this trip.  Cole was telling everyone he could that he was "going to Idaho, actually Boise, in xx days."  He's been counting down since early December.

The 4 cousins are adorable together.  They are all about a year apart at ages 5,4, 3 and 2.  It was fun to watch them play and it also reminded me how happy I am to only have 2 kids of my own! :)

Each night they "camped out" in the living room to watch movies and wind down for bed. 

Here they are all snuggled up again enjoying a morning viewing of Star Wars...Autumn's favorite!  I could listen to her say Darf Mall and Obi Nobi all day long.  Love that sweet, sweet girl!

Saturday we headed out to the Boise Aquarium!  It just recently opened and we weren't quite sure what we were getting ourselves into.  The kids had fun, so that's all that mattered! 

Equally as fun was cousin bath time...boys vs girls!

It was so much fun to all be together and made me hope we can make our annual Sunriver trip work this year.  Fingers are crossed, can't imagine missing it!  At the end of the trip all the cousins gave good hugs and loves goodbye and 2 Aunties cried as they said goodbye.  Miss you already Sister!

More Holiday Fun...

I forgot to share a couple of other fun things that happened in December.  The most exciting was that Auntie came to visit!  The kids love their Auntie and I quickly move to #2 when she's in town.  Here she is spending some time reading with the kids.

Rarely pictured with just each other...sisters!  We were bundled up headed out of church, it was so cold!

The next weekend we hosted the Inaugural Blubaum Holiday Open House.  Growing up my parents always had a Holiday Open House and I have such fun memories of their party.  We've wanted to start having one...but the last few years have been filled with newborns and nursing Mom and not really in the mood to party.  This year there were no excuses...so we had a party!  It was so much fun and we had a great turn out.  There will definitely be a 2nd Annual!

The highlight of the party (other than the chocolate fountain!) was that we had Santa make an appearance.  There were about 15 kids at the party and to see the look on their faces when they heard Santa's sleigh bells and all of a sudden he came in with presents for each kid was priceless!  While excited to see him, Cole was actually quite freaked out that Santa was actually in his house and for once Cole was speechless!  Here they are enjoying some time with the "big man."

They also got their picture taken with the creepy mall Santa a couple of weeks later.  Seriously...who's the chubby kid with the mug shot on the left?  Smile girl...he just might bring you presents if you do!

I always like to put a copy of our holiday cards on the blog.  By now you've all received yours so I am not spoiling anything.  Kacey Droz did another amazing job.  We've been working with her for 5 years now and each year the pictures and cards get better...we feel so blessed that she shares her amazing talents with our family.  Thank you Kacey!