Easter on The Ranch

We spent Easter Sunday on the ranch together with just our little family - a rare event coming from big families on both sides! We had intended to go to Easter mass in Fort Jones - even stopped by Saturday to check the time at the adorable little church in town! - but after a late night at the neighbors the girls were all sound asleep at 9am and seemed ambitious to get up, fed, dressed and have pleasant church goers ;)

but the Easter bunny still found us!

and then we had an egg hunt up behind the house

my Ukrainian egg attempts. Not winning any awards here ;)

the girls found them and hid them all again 

JJ in her finest Easter ranch wardrobe

her curls are the best after she actually has a shampoo ;)

and this kid made fast friends with a pet Lizard - carrying it around everywhere and insisted on bringing it home in a Tupperware habitat with straws for air holes. #sorrylizard

and there were many lizard shows. JJ was Francie's loyal assistant (just don't ask her to hold the lizard)

I love my view from the cozy couch in this little cabin :) happy Easter!

and another reason to celebrate - the end of Lent means Heff and I can drink our road trip Diet Cokes again, woohoo! ;)

Happy 5th Birthday Maisie!

Maisie turned FIVE up at the ranch Friday April 18! We had a great day celebrating as a family. She's such a sweet girl and doesn't need much to make her happy. 

presents and breakfast in the morning then hanging outside all day - sweet little five year old 

snacks on the four wheeler headed out to the fields 

and team work to get it done - Maisie on the wheel line with dad 

they love their dad

making lunch- egg salad of course!

and a surprise for parade in the middle of the day!!

and this was her present waiting for her from uncle jerry her godfather when we got home from the ranch. Good picks Jer!

happy birthday sweet Maisie. We all love you!

especially your sisters. You are always so kind to each one and thinking if them and their feelings. We are lucky to have you as a part of our family that's for sure!!

Winter Lodge Skating Show

Jannie has been faithfully taking the girls to ice skating lessons for two seasons and this year they got to be in the show! They practiced every week, cousin Kristy was their coach and cousin Karie were so sweet to make the girls feel so special. 

Getting ready to go - they were in the "Rush Hour" scene as taxis! 

Friday night - girls went in early when Jannie dropped then off with the cast and we took our seats in the stands!

the second act! They rocked it!

and then got to sit in the stands with us to watch the rest of the show. Dad gave them flowers ;)

after the show with superstar coach cousin Kristy!

and the second show Saturday night with cousin Karie!

and lucky girls got to take the poster home!! 

they had a sleepover at Jannie and Grandpa's - loved seeing this post from my mom

and they sure were spoiled by Auntie Em and Janes who all watched the show and brought flowers for the stars ;)

Fiji Getaway - October 2013

Maisie and I escaped to Fiji for a weekend with friends - it was a looong trip out there and back but totally worth it for some sand and sun! Francie had to option to go but was more excited for her walk-a-thon :) and the littles were finally all big enough to stay with Dad too! So Maisie and I had some quality time together hanging out and recharging for a few short days. never long enough on island time!

we're here!

Maisie ran in to put on her bathing suit, cover up and camo hat #thatsmygirl

let's go have some fun

peace, love and fiji

ready to go exploring on the tender to the beach

Post swim/paddle/hike hot tub and treats :)

happy kid (happy mom)

hike to the top of a mini-mountain, inspired us to do some gymnastics of course

backbend - realized after I was in it it wasn't going to be easy to get out of it :)

paddle boarder Maisie

my little bug

ready for dinner

sweet girl snuggling mom

sunset - see you next time!

sea plane ride to the airport (Maisie fell asleep sitting before we even took off - and it was a BUMPY takeoff!!) and then the long flight home to my other stinkers!

Skater Girls

The girls have turned into little skater girls :) Their new friend Breaker taught Francie and Maisie how to skateboard last Thursday night when we had dinner - I came out in the cul de sac and the girls were crusing from the top of the hill down where the boys would catch them. I almost had a heart attack but they looked like they knew what they were doing!

At the end of the night Breaker GAVE Francie his skateboard to keep. For reals it might have been the best moment of her life to date :)

Francie slept with her skateboard all night and when Emmy came over she opened the door and said "EMMY. A 12 year old boy... named Breaker... GAVE ME his new skateboard." 

and we were the first ones in line at Skateworks in Downtown Los Altos Friday morning for skate helmets - they used their 100 bonus points, hard earned helmets!

Dad and his skater chicks (oh JJ always got to be the joker)

Skating the afternoon away with Dad

CrayCray JJ

and one afternoon we went to the park so they could skate around and around.... Tess and I had time to catch up on the swings

Then Friday they had their first official skate lessons!! Skateworks has a half pipe in the back and gives lessons - all three at the same time!

Maisie taking it seriously - J not so much

Francie looking like a pro

and Tess is happy to watch from the sidelines!

Go skater girls! Now let's hope we don't end up in the ER anytime soon...

No More Binkies!

Just had to record the date to go down in history. May 19th, 2013 THE BINKY FAIRY CAME TO OUR HOUSE! The girls fairly willingly rounded those things up, put them in a bowl on the porch and went to bed hoping for treat :) She traded for some See's candy and a coloring book!

BYE BYE BINKIES

The first night Maisie said "Maaaayyybe I do want that binky?" but we talked her down and neither have asked since. And since Tess has no interest - we are binky free!! Oh besides that one day Maisie found a binky in the couch cushions - holds it up like a golden ticket and goes "OH YEAH. OH YEAH. Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!" and runs upstairs

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY MAISIE!

Happy Birthday Maisie Moo!! I can't believe you are FOUR. You are such a sweet little girl and a light in our family. You LOVE babies and your little sisters and ask me probably 12 times a day if you can 'hold Tessie' which you do with a big smile on your face. Yesterday I found you sitting on the front porch in a tiny chair holding her around the belly in her little onesie (you had gotten her OUT of her crib!) and had the iPod next to you playing music for her. You were whispering to her telling her what a good baby she was. You are so sweet Maisie!

we had a birthday celebration for you in the morning. You woke up and said "let's go see if there are decorations!" Emmy got you sprinkle donuts and Jamba Juice as you requested. You had cards from Jannie and Aunt Marge and your sisters. Mom and Dad got you art supplies and outdoor stuff. Walkie -Talkies even!

and Gladys our awesome housekeeper got you a HUGE hello kitty pinata filled with candy. She knows you well! She brought it two days early and you had it sit at the table with us every meal.

Dad got you dressed in your cute skinny jeans and tank top (you are bean pole Maise!) and brought you down to see

love all your cute little Maisie faces

opening presents

You wore a pretty pink dress to school (after Francie spilled a Jamba ALL over you at breakfast) with your new sparkly pink shoes from Emmy and a pink headband and pink bracelets. Not sure what your favorite color is? ;)

You love that you get to spend so much time with your god-mother Emmy - she made this cute collage for you - Maisie by the years!

Dad and I took you to school for your special birthday morning. Teacher Jamie was sick but Francie got to sit with your group for morning story time and a birthday candle

and even Tess, Emmy and JJ came to watch!

you were so cute up there - your friends were so excited to sing to you

then DAD got to read your favorite book to your whole class! (The Sneeches! thanks Aunt Maureen)

you looked pretty proud to have your Dad up there

he did a good job reading the whole book

we just had some family and neighbors over for dinner for your birthday. You made treat bags at PLAY in the afternoon and then we all went to Baskin Robbins and picked out a cake.

you and Francie decorated

then it was pinata time!!!

it's a spectator sport

Daniel did it in!

bye-bye kitty!

Gladys and her buddy Tiny Tess

more after dinner fun

and CAKE!

maybe already had some chocolate cookies face

make a wish

love that little face!

HBD MM!

presents

and the long awaited blanket Jannie MADE FOR MAISIE!

she was SOOOO EXCITED!

pretty good birthday :) here's to being FOUR!

Maisie the Mayor

Maisie was "The Mayor" of preschool and got to raise the flag in the morning and pick a "Vice President" as she called it :) We all went to school in the morning to watch her - she was so proud! (Heff actually took the girls skiing that day and waited to leave later since Maisie did NOT want to miss being Mayor.

Teacher Jamie asking her who she wanted to pick to be Vice Mayor -

She picked her little 3's group friend Chloe

spectators

proud Maisie

Raising it up

Teacher Jamie asked "Do you want to say "Ok have a great day!" and Maisie said "No thanks :)

JJ thought she was so cool to get to play for awhile. Emmy walked over to her and she looks over her shoulder and said "Emmy - go away."

walking home with the babies!

School Photos 2012

wow - great of Francie but not Maisie's best :) This was the day Francie insisted on a headband AND bow/hairband and Maisie came out dressed in too-short leggings and a hand-me-down "San Jose State Princess" pink and purple t-shirt with a crown on it (thanks Emmy :) I MADE her promise to put this smocked dress that was mine on for the picture. They came back and I said "wow looks like Maisie is out of a polygymist cult" and Heff goes "that's because you made her wear that dress!"

Sorry about the watermark - not springing $99 for the originals of these images!