Happy Birthday... to my hero!!

Today is a very important person's birthday... my dad!! I have the greatest dad ever... He has always been there for me (literally, he's job was so flexible most of the time he was home :) He has always been such a good listener and talker!! He is a wonderful role model, patient and caring!! And most of all, he is an incredible grandpa!!! I am such a lucky girl!!

Divison II Ohio State Champions... Anderson REDSKINS!!!

They did it!!! Anderson is now the Division II State champs!! Shawn and I were even able to watch every second of it... it was televised on Dish network. Yesterday was pouring rain all day and I was so excited to come home, watch the game and eat Cincinnati Chili!!! To my surprise, Shawn had the same thing in mine and when I walked through the door I instantly could smell the amazing aroma... it was a flash back in time of when on those rain days my mom would have a pot of Cincy chili sizzling on the stove! I couldn't have been happier!!! Kyle played great... had an interseption, knocked the ball away a few times... it was soo fun to watch!! It looked just like a college game, with instant replay, stats, etc. Kyle we are so proud of you!!! Great job!!!



"Anderson's (1) Kyle Nelson annd (5) Brian Schlosser break up a pass intended for Louisville's (9) Brandon Mathie in their OSHAA Division II State Championship game in Massilon Friday November 30, 2007."

"Kyle Nelson celebrates after Anderson's 35-20 win over Ashland in an Ohio Division II semifinal Nov. 23, 2007, in Dublin, Ohio"... way to go Kyle!!! His team is one game away from being the first Anderson team to take STATE!! We are so proud!!

Go REDSKINS!!!

Go, Go, G-O, Come on Kyle let's GO!!
My brother Kyle has his football play-off game tonight!! This is his senior year and the Anderson Redskins have had an incredible season. Last week they beat out our rival high school with seconds to go. I've been so sad that I haven't been able to attend, so this week Ory wanted to show his support for his awesome uncle! As my nephew Mese would say, "kick their as!!!" We are soo proud of you Kyle and know you'll do great! Love ya!

3 month pictures

So I've been trying to take pictures of Orin for weeks now... he's already not cooperating during my "photo shoots!" I thought they were suppost to be easy to photograph at this age!! Notice the stink face, he gets that from his aunt Jenna!! :) He's growing up soo fast. He giggles and grabs at things... he loves to take out his binky, but doesn't quite get it back in himself (he's gotten it back in upside down though)! Whenever we put him on the ground he moves his legs and arms around like a wild man... I think he'll be quite the mover!! He's just soo much fun!

monkey see, monkey do

We finally got the boys (Randy and Ory) together to take pictures in their monkey costumes! You can tell by the end they were really loving it!!

what a wild month...

We're finally back to blogging!! What a crazy... fun month we've had!! We have had something going on every weekend this month, which just makes life full of fun! We went to Disneyland (I haven't been there since I learned my ABC's..., but I've been to Disneyworld tons of times, so it was fun to compare!) It was such a wonderful weekend and we stayed at Dave and Chelsey's!! I swear she should open a bed and breakfast... I can't remember the last time I woke up to the smell of bacon!! They were such wonderful hosts! We went to the beach where Shawn tried to surf!!! It was fun to spend time with the Naef clan, we miss them tons :).

Nani turned ONE!!! Yeah... she is such a cutie!! That same day we went to the pumpkin patch twice, once with Nickie and her adorable girls and then later with Ryan and Jen and Randy and Ashley. I just love the fall... apple cider, pumpkins, and fall leaves, (which I miss HORRIBLY!!!)

Halloween was full of chaos... but with 31 fourth graders, I just embrased it! Orin was a monkey and I was his zoo keeper. The weekend before we went to Sara and Kit's house for a Halloween party and it was so much fun!! We dressed up as the USA world champion tennis doubles team or something like that!! Shawn did a good job getting together our costumes with in a few hours. So that was our fun filled, busy busy month and November seems to be just as jammed pack!!

One handsome lil man!!! Or at least his mommy thinks so!!

Like father, Like son

(this is not a recent picture... this is Orin like 5 pounds ago! :)

Stagecoach Town USA

YEE HAW!!! A few weekends ago was Stagecoach Days! Now that I am a very official Banning resident (I now know way more people than Shawn... which is a little weird), I always look forward to Stagecoach days. We took Orin to his first rodeo (which was absolutely freezing and I don't think he enjoyed too much), but it was Melina's first time too and it was fun! Then of course Saturday morning was the parade... about 5 of my students were in it... it's so cute to see how excited they get when they see me in public- I always thought my teacher's lived at school, so I try hard to explain that I have a life away from the classroom!

Luau... Banning style

The weekend we blessed Ory was the weekend of the Ward Luau... which we all look forward to all year long! Who can't resist good food, great music, Tahitian booty shakin, and half dressed, sweaty boys!!! Good times!!

we're still alive...

Wow... time is moving fast!! I can't believe we haven't written in a month! I started work september 17- hense the excuse for not blogging! It was really hard!! the whole week before I felt like my heart was breaking, but we're all getting adjusted and Orin is with Melina so he is very well loved and taken care of. But I still miss him... he's just too cute! Orin was blessed on September 23rd, and so was baby Randy. Both our parents were there and my sister... it was soo sad to see them leave and I was sooo excited from Orin to meet his papa!!

beach baby

Last weekend was Orin's first trip to the beach! We went to Oceanside with Mason, Melina, Randy and Ashley and some families from our ward. It was a really fun day... but it was definitely not the same as our baby free trips. Life's now a constant worry... is he too hot, too cold, is the sand on him, wind hitting his face... but I wouldn't trade it for anything! Orin was looking pretty stylish in his little beach hat! Check out those cheeks!

family

Orin has two wonderful families. My mom came to help us and stayed for two weeks! It was such a lifesaver to have her. I drove out toward LA to visit Christine and her family and it was great seeing them. Then last week Shawn and I went up to St. George to surprize his parents... we were both really excited and couldn't wait... Shawn loves surprizing people! Glenna was in on it and we met them at Wingers. When Dixie saw us she was is tears, it was the reaction we were hoping for!! We even made it up to Provo for baby Ifo's blessing, so Orin has now been able to meet everyone on Shawn's side of the family. I had been looking forward to having my sister meet baby Ory and it was so fun to be with her. We are looking forward to next weekend when Orin will meet his grandpa!!!

dad duty

A few weeks ago I went to school for the First Day.. so I could meet my class and basically do some intimitating!! So Shawn got the baby ready and took him to Melina's for a hour or so. When I showed up to pick Orin up, he had on the cutest onesie, but it was a bit large!! Umm... it was the one I made for him to wear next Father's Day, a 12 month size! I had to laugh because I thought back to my mismatched outfits and funny hair when my dad was incharge of getting us ready. But Shawn, you do rock!! You're an incredible dad... Orin's so lucky!

sleeping babies

I'm not sure there is anything cuter than a sleeping baby... I keep trying to get shots of Orin sleeping but he always seems to wake up!

and more...

more pictures

photo shoots

I know we haven't updated our blog much... I'm still learning how to do this. Anyway, Orin is doing great and we love having him... I think Shawn and I feel a little more complete. I've been trying to take pictures, and even get anxious that I don't have enough good ones and he just keeps growing everyday! (I get a little photo obsessed and need to chill... I know!!) We are a little sleep deprived but happy. During that first week home, Shawn was so sleep deprived that when he woke up and saw that I was nursing he asked me if the baby needed his cookies... random! Here are a few of the pictures from the past few weeks-