Mexico

One of my old co-workers had been planning her destination Cabo wedding for about a year and a half! And I felt soooo lucky to be able to join her in her special, wonderful, GORGEOUS day!!!! We invited our old neighbors to join us for a QUICK gettaway, and kidless we went!!!! (Yeah I know, I wasn't sure I was going to survive! -- luckily I did!!) Here are some shots of our amazing trip! Thanks babe for making sure this trip happened!!
Here are the guys ready to PARTY!!! Mexicana's flights offer FREE mixed drinks as well as beer which was a nice touch.
Jenny and I still a little shocked we were leaving our babies behind...
Here are the pools at our timeshare.
And here is the outside of our room.
The first morning Tommy and I woke up for a stroll on the beach. It sure was nice to sleep in (our girls are EARLY birds and up by 6AM EVERYDAY!!!) and not worry about anything but the waves hitting our feet:) And YES I DO LOVE TOMMY!
This one caught him a little off guard:)
Some nice gal took our picture.
So... when we got to Mexico everyone was trying to sell us a timeshare! But during one of those conversations to get us to their resorts someone told us that Cabo was for the "young" people and San Jose was for the "old" people. Friday morning we decided we wanted to be YOUNG so we went to Cabo! WOW, do they party!!! We went to this place on the beach where the drinks just keep coming (although they have your card and you pay at the end)! But they also send these "shot" girls around who just keep shoveling shots down your mouth and then ask for money right afterwards, even when you say no over and over and OVER!! Needless to say we didn't make the Dinner Cruise that was planned for all of the wedding guests! We sure had a good time though. This was Tommy after one of his shots.
And me after one of the MANY times I was on stage (Yes me, imagine that!!! -- editing those pics for our viewers though:)!!! LOL hahaha)
Here are our friends:) They were having a lot of fun too!
We hadn't eaten all day so we moved our seats up to their "restaurant" and Denny kept falling out of his chair. I believe this was his 3rd fall:) LOL!
And now the important part! The WEDDING! My pics don't do this place or people justice but GORGEOUS venue, reception, guests, wedding party and of course bride and groom!!!
Nina looking back at her parents.
JUST MARRIED!!!
Nina arriving at the reception.
First dance, with the cake, flowers, center pieces! It was soooo beautiful. And yes, for those of you wondering she pretty much did this all by herself!!!
After spending Sunday morning in the "old" town of San Jose where we had a great lunch and got some souvenirs we had to head home:(
We arrived home, on Mothers Day, to a clean house, kids in tip top shaped and SUPER excited to see us! It was great:) And this was the gift Lexi and Linzi got for me. Perfect ending to a perfect LONG weekend!!!

Spring and gymnastics

We have been so busy this spring, attending birthday parties, hanging out with Bubba -- he spent his spring break with us this year, hanging out as a family and starting gymnastics. Here are a few pics from our fun:)
Here is one of the beautiful horses we saw at our friends 1st birthday party.
The girls were having sooo much fun playing in the water while their friend was opening his presents:)
At the beginning of the year we were looking for a gymnastics gym for Lexi to start taking classes but were having a hard time finding one somewhat close that was not a "warehouse" type. Growing up in the gym myself I didn't have a problem with the warehouse type but Tommy wasn't going for it! So... I had just had a conversation with Tommy as we passed a bunch of open warehouses in Natomas that we should open a gymnastics/cheer gym when I found out that there was a new gym opening up in the Target shopping center!!!! I'm sure you can imagine my excitement! The most important part is that Lexi wanted to start and that thus far she seems to enjoy it! Here are a few pics, and a video, from her first class.




Here is a video:)

Easter

This year Easter seemed to sneak up on us!! But I did take pictures:) It's so awesome watching our children grow up and seeing days like Easter through their eyes. Teaching them about Jesus and the true meaning of Easter is sooo cool:)
These first few pics are from the Easter celebration at our WONDERFUL daycare/preschool that the girls go to. Irene is sooo awesome with the kids and they just love her! They held it on a Friday, my normal day off, so I took them so they could celebrate with their friends. They invited me to stay for lunch and I got to partake in the Chile Rellano's!!! Oh my... they were SOOOO YUMMY!!! It's a good thing I can't cook like that;) LOL!
Cheese!! Linzi enjoying a cupcake (it was also one of the babies birthdays:))
Lexi finding eggs.
Linzi on the hunt.
Playing ring around the rosey.
Easter morning! The girls baskets.
Some of the eggs in the playroom.
Linzi found her basket!!!
And Lexi was soooo excited to find hers.
We were invited to share Easter dinner with our good friends the Adamson's and here is a group shot of all of the kids that were there! Sorry didn't get the adults or the food! Which was fabulous by the way:) We had ham, asparagus, creamy loaded mashed potatoes, salad... you know everything:)
And DeAnna was there also so she took a picture of all of the families! Thank you Dee!!!! (www.deannagallardophotography.com)

The Origin of "Clipper" and Linzi's party

Since I can't remember exactly when your sister started insisting you were "Clipper", I figured this post would be perfect for it! As a baby your daddy starting calling you Squishy, and a lot of people followed... including Lexi. But one day, Lexi came home from "school" and told us, "No, her name is Clipper." At first it took us awhile to figure out that she was saying Clipper and not Clifford, the Big Red Dog!! Shortly there after we dropped you off and school and realized not only did your sister call you Clipper but all of your daycare friends called you that too!!! To this day, a few months later, we still don't know how it got started, or why, but that's what we all call you know:) (And if we call you anything else your sister quickly corrects us!!!). We all think its super cute, but I wanted to make sure and tell you where it got started:) You can thank Lexi later, but for now, you answer too it!!!
Now to your birthday... We partied all week for your party this year which is always nice:) Figured for the first one we should do that!! We started off the weekend before with your cash smash photo shoot (the entry before this). Then Grandma Terri and Grandpa Tom came down for your actual birthday on Wed 3/3, and then you celebrated with your "school" friends on Thur, had your ladybug party on Saturday and your BBF's 1st birthday party on Sunday! Makes me exhausted just thinking about it, not sure how we did it all:):) You were a trooper!
This year we had a ladybug party and you had a LOT of friends come and join the day with you:) I think you had a great time which is the most important part!!!

So happy!
Getting tickled and thinking it's sooo funny:)
Grandparents von Lahr
Daddy and Linzi at her Birthday party!!
Your BBF Addison!
Mommy made you ladybug cupcakes
Before
After!! And we PROMPTLY took you upstairs, gave you a bath and changed yours and mommy's clothes! And as you may be able to see, you were NOT happy about being messy!
Auntie Hannah
Presents!!! You are such a blessed little girl!!
Here were part of your favors you gave to your friends courtesy of Jenn's Bebe Bows (www.jennsbebebows.com)
Here was the "Stick the Dot on the LadyBug!!!
You had sooo much fun and I'm so glad!!! We love you Linzi, you are such a joy!

Linzi turns 1!!!!

Linzi,
Is it true??? Has the time really flown by so quickly?? It felt like just yesterday we were bringing you home and now you are a year old! Right now you are walking, saying momma and dadda, you are so expressive (even though you don't say a lot of words right now you definitely get your point across!!), you love to smile and laugh and it's very infections, you "talk" to your sister, play with dolls, push the strollers! You have a Little People pet giraffe that you don't go anywhere without, and NO ONE can get you to laugh like Lexi can. You don't mind that Lexi crawls into bed with you EVERY NIGHT, you are pretty laid back, you like to dance (or bob which is soooo cute!) and you love to read! It is not uncommon for us to find you on Lexi's bed with a book flipping through the pages! Shocks me every time!!! You are just so much fun and literally melt my heart every time I see you!
Your 12mo appointment went well. I had a lot of questions (very typical for me:)!!!) and Dr. Lucien answered them all. Your stats were: Height 27.5" (7.55%) and Weight 18lbs 2.8oz (7.42%). You don't get to turn around in your car seat yet, but soon enough!!! You have dropped off your "curve" quite a bit since you were born and only gained 2lbs in the last 6mo but the Dr. is not concerned at this point, so I won't be either. You like to eat so that was his biggest concern. You are still nursed and don't really like to take the bottle if I'm around so we are trying to change that a little! Here is a newborn picture and a few from your 1st birthday "cake smash" shoot (which you LOVED!). And a special THANK YOU and shout out to our photographer DeAnna who always amazes me with the pictures she captures!!! www.deannagallardophotography.com And another THANK YOU to Jenn's Bebe Bows for the awesome tutu's and hair bows!!! www.jennsbebebows.com