Baby Gus Gus turns 1!

This year has flown by, and baby Gus has added pure joy to our family. Its to remember what our family was like without him. He came out with the happiest of dispositions and makes his pressence known in a positive away. Baby Gus is mix of Levi and Felix. He has Levi's intense curiosity and 'busyiness' and Felix's strength and happiness. He's the chattiest of of the boys at this age and like most #3 babies, he just gets right in the middle and doesn't miss a beat. His favorite thing is to follow his brother's around. He also LOVES water.

Baby Gus weighed in at 24 pounds and was in the 90% for height. He's going to be a big boy!

Playing with his friend Zachary

Learning to color with Levi

Incredibly proud of his ability to climb up and sit with his brothers

Learning to walk at 1 year

Laughing with Felix

Felix helping me make Gus Gus birthday cake!

We closed out the day with a romp on the beach and a ride on the horsies at Santa Monica Pier!

He's absolutely delicious!

Thanksgiving in Paso Robles

We spent Thanksgiving 2013 at a ranch house in Paso Robles, CA. It felt like Eastern Washington meets Texas. John's dad, Granny Franny, Uncle Jenks, and the cousins joined us! The cousins played surprisingly well together, we made lots of yummy meals, and took in the landscape.

King Hank

Our local Llamas

 Afternoon walk

Uncle Jenks, Lily and Xander

Felix on the loose

Baby Gus exploring

Not so happy Baby Gus

Super sad and sick baby Gus

Cousins bath 

Morning breakfast

Levi's made me a clothesline

Brothers in their element

Grandaddy and baby Gus

Thanksgiving Dinner

Xander (6) and Levi (5)

Levi and Xander made this fort

Gus almost 1 and Felix 2 1/2

Our favorite parkin Paso Roblas

Levi and the Big 5

Levi turned 5! John and I are a bit amazed at all that has happened in the last 5 years, and we have loved watching Levi grow. Levi requested a party at our local park complete with a bounce house (slide attached), pinata, red velvet cake and pizza. That is exactly what we did!

What I love about Levi at 5...

1. He is insanely funny. He not only makes up his own jokes but he has a fabulous sense of humor

2. He is incredibly passionate about art and is particularly good at orchestrating ideas in his head and then building them out of paper, tape, wood or any material he can get his hands on

3. He's a lefty and it shows in sports

4. He definitely is the oldest child. Likes to take charge and get things done

5. He's very sensitive

6. Levi's very compassionate, particularly for his brothers 

7. He's a simple eater. His favorite foods are Mac and Cheese, Risotto and Mickey Mouse Pancakes

8. He loves books

9. Levi loves to cook and bake

10. Levi has a major sweet tooth. His favorite ice cream chocolate chip mint

11. Levi is an early bird. He wakes up at 5am most mornings (just like his Mama and PopPop)

12. He loves movies. Favorites include: Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, 101 Dalmations, Bustor Keaton silent films (narrated by Dada)

Birthday Breakfast

Cake #1

Cake #2

Levi's pinata

The bounce house complete with slide!

Candy and baby Gus Gus

So Cal Holmes

Cuzzie Sadie Blue!

Grandad in town from Houston!

The loot!

Frankie and Ava!

Artie and Levi!

Levi and Grace!

Baby Gus doing his thing

LENS 2013

We kicked off the holiday season with my Children's Hospital Guild raising $250k from this year's concert LENS. I'm so proud of everyone in my Guild. This year's concert was themed around the idea of 'what happens when you take the busy out of life and what do happy and sad moments actually look like.' It was hands down my favorite concert!' I can't wait for the boys to be old to volunteer and experience the concert. There really isn't anything else like it!

Celebrating with my family