Someone still loves trains...

Of course Woody takes the cake!

We took the kids bowling today with their cousins...

They were so excited... all day they kept asking if it was time to go. I called the bowling alley around 3:00 and they said there was an hour and a half wait for a lane! Wow - I didn't realize bowling was so popular! There were several birthday parties and they also had cosmic bowling going on -- music, videos, laser lights and glow in the dark balls!

Sam had such a great time. Even if he only knocked down one or two pins he would smile and yell "One pin!!" When it was my turn he would cheer me on and get so excited. Ben only lasted about 10 minutes and then was too busy trying to walk down the lane, shove balls down into the ball return etc. So Brian ended up chasing him around most of the time.

Lizzie and Sam...

Note from Sam

Sam sent me a message from Brian's email account the other day... it read:

hi

sam

mara

i

love

you

so

mush

mommy

Crush

Sam has a a friend at school that he just can't stop talking about. A few weeks ago he went to her house for lunch and a play date and has been smitten ever since. Every day he asks me a million questions.... Can Corinne come over? What's her phone number? What time does she go to bed? Next time we go to the beach can she come? How about the gym? Can you call her mom and find out??

Since this spring break week, she came over Wednesday morning to play. Tuesday night Sam asked "Mom, in the morning can you help me get my clothes on right away...? Because Corinne is coming over and I have to be ready before she comes." So we did - and that morning he watched the clock...counting down every minute until 9:30am.

Once she got here Sam was the typical boy... Corinne played while he ran around, jumping off the couch trying to get attention. We had a great time playing, building forts, doing art projects etc.

When she left he pouted and moped around for a while.... Funny how he is already so emotional at 4! Can't wait for those teenage years.

Sam loves to chase Reilly...

He'll throw a bone or a toy and then run after him just cracking up. Reilly looks a little crazed here.

Sam chasing Reilly around the dining table in his swimming suit....?

Reilly decided he would rather chew the bone than run around the house...

Sam pouting...

Public Enemy #1

This monkey has definitely hit the terrible twos... it's almost as if he sprouted horns overnight.

Both boys have been little monsters this week. It seems like they passionately disagree with anything and everything I ask them to do... and are both getting really good at sitting in time-out!

Ben did manage to do two things this week that pleasantly surprised me:

1. He let me leave him in the daycare at the gym twice! He never lets me leave him anywhere! The second day I had to drag both boys out crying because they didn't want to go home!
2. He went potty twice yesterday! First time ever!!

The boys love to chase, tackle, tickle....

What a perfect day on the mountain!

I spent all day skiing with my friend Kim today. There was a ton of fresh powder and not a cloud in the sky! She is fearless and convinced to to spend some time on the double black diamonds in Heather Canyon. Too fun!

Another break in the weather...

After the kids took naps the sun peeked out again after a major hail storm! We walked down to the beach again for some digging, wading etc.

Sam played in the sand while Ben, Brian and the dogs took off for the ocean.

I love the clouds and reflection off of the sand and water.

We have had such wild weather. I am surprised how much we have been able to go down and enjoy the beach in between bursts of rain, hail and snow. Brian is leaving in the morning as he has to get back to work. He is technically on spring break, but has a few projects in the works that need attention. The rest of us are staying until Tuesday and hoping for some more time outside - Sam really wants to fly his kite tomorrow!

We woke up to snow this morning...

Around 10am it started to clear up a bit so we went out for coffee and headed to the beach.

Ben LOVES the ocean - always has.

Sam likes the idea of the ocean but has always been a been a little more cautious than his fearless brother.

We all left pretty wet and cold but had a good time before the next storm rolled in.

More fun at the coast...

Ben playing "Scrambler"...

Sam and Superman...

Ben with Papa...

Puddle jumping outside the Bread and Ocean. I think this photo looks like an album cover... ha!

At the beach...

Brian is officially on Spring Break. He booked a beach house in Manzanita and surprised me with a few days away for some family time. Mom and Dad are joining us for a few days as well. The kids are very excited. Last year we came in May and it was over 100 degrees at the Oregon Coast. This weekend they are calling for freezing temps, rain and even snow! We arrived this morning and have had wind, rain and hail...

The kids have been asking to go down to the ocean... so we ventured down there. Check out how black the sky is...

The wind was blowing so hard Sam could barely stand up... Sand was blowing in his face and he was not a happy camper! He lasted about 5 minutes and then I carried him home on my back while Ben, Brian and the dogs explored some more.

They were all bundled up....

If you look closely you can see Brian and Ben down by the water and the dogs running wild....Brian finally convinced Ben to head home when rain started coming down sideways...

Dare Devil

Ben has been acting just like a 2 year old lately - wants everything his way, is perfecting the word "no" and does a lot of things he knows he isn't supposed to do!

Here is a pic of Sam doing the same thing at that age!

He strikes again...

Here is a link to Brian's most recent interview with KGW:

http://www.kgw.com/video/?z=y&nvid=337643&shu=1