nine and feeling fine

Our first baby turned 9 over the weekend and we celebrated with a big slumber birthday party.  7 girls plus Megs ensured that the night was full of giggles, screams, Justin Bieber talk & lots of fun!  The theme was color blast which was perfect for our vibrant birthday girl (thanks to American Girl magazine for all the cute ideas & not forcing us to call my friend Mandy on the other side of the country & make her plan our party!!)

sweet feet

Sydney is on the move!  Her first steps happened on New Year's Eve, but she has been slow to take many more.  It seems she is plenty happy to have us all still carry her around.  Perhaps she knows her days of being the baby are numbered....

fun with friends

Sydney finds a plane at the airport that is just her size

Davis's friend celebrated his birthday at the airport.  Why do we ever think it is a good idea to try to take photos of kids looking into the sun???

Cookie baking time for 4 little bakers

The final product...colorful sugar cookies. Yum!

A special day for Megs.  She & her friend Rylie celebrated their January birthdays with a girls only trip into the city.  We love cheesecake factory!!

Ice Skating in Union Square

watching whales..and some other stuff

On New Year's Day we thought we'd start things off on a high note and go whale watching in Monterey.  They day was lovely and sunny..and much to everyone's delight we even managed to spot some whales!!

A gray whale tail

 Pelican

 Risso's Dolphins

Lots of Sea Lions

 And one Angry Bird..spotted only from behind!

sweet things

Sydney's chubby little foot in her new ballet flats

My salted caramel & chocolate birthday cake

(yes, it was as good as it sounds!)

just can't get enough..

I know, I know, Christmas is over. Time to change the music & the background & move on. But first I have to post the rest of our Christmas fun.  There were just so many good times during the holiday.  Can it really already be over???

This was taken just before we turned the corner to see Santa.  You will notice there are no Santa pictures to follow.  Let's just say this is the last time the majority of the group was not crying!!

Outdoor ice skating in California.  Who would have imagined???

(don't be fooled by Davis's gear.  It was more because he loves his new Angry Bird hat than anything.  It was sunny & 60 that day!)

baptism day

Sydney & her cousin, Teo, got baptized together just after Christmas.  It was so nice to have this special occasion together and we are very excited to be the Godparents to our little nephew!

The babies

All of the kiddos..it is so hard to sit still when you are excited about a baptism!

Mommy & Daddy with the precious baptism girl

Big Sis Megan played & sang "Away in a Manger" for the babies.  Way to go, Megs!

In the tradition of our babies, Sweet Sydney told the Priest just what she thought of water being dumped over her head!

The whole crew

Sydney still telling the Priest how she felt about him!!