I am going to miss this

These are the moments that are perfect. 

Kitties

I actually feel bad that we don't buy Emme a cat because she seems genuinely fascinated with them.  It's adorable.

Picture Perfect Morning

What a site to see.  This is what we all enjoyed one morning as we ate breakfast.  I hope you two remember living here when you are older...it's truly breathtaking. 

Pumpkin Picking Time

We had so much fun at our annual pumpkin patch!  Although when we got there Zackary was way more into the pills of dirt that he kept throwing everywhere and Emeline just wanted to run and push her stroller and through dirt as well!  So we quickly picked out 2 gorgeous pumpkins, paid and moved along!

You think the pumpkins actually grew right there but they lay knew ones out every morning that look perfect.  Makes sense, but I wanted to pull them off the vine! Actually I did buy most of our pumpkins at Trader Joes.  Oh come on, 3/4 the price there!

She was at one with all the animals.  Not afraid and having a blast.  Definitely my little girl!

He looks like he just worked a shift at the farm, organizing all the pumpkins.  :)

It was so funny, she kept trying to pick up all the pumpkins.  She's pretty strong so I wouldn't have put it past her!

The kids just absorb the freedom of farms like this and have a wonderful time exploring and being one with the dirt, animals, and surroundings.  I love watching those moments.

This is what I mean...picking off the vine.  Amazing how they grow.

I love getting the corn pictures.  I finally got one of her too.  She wasn't having it in the beginning.

So there are two parts to this farm.  One is the vast pumpkins you can choose from up on the farmland and the other is the games, food, petting zoo and pumpkins that are already picked for you.  We made our way over to the second part of our experience while stopping to give props to our wedding site on the right!

Kodak moments with the kids.  They held each other like this for awhile...love it!

We all fed the baby goats, adult goats and pot belly pigs for a long time.  It was cleaner this year (key is to go in the morning) and the animals were so gentle.  I think they should offer grooming instead of pellets but that is just me.

I think Zackary wants one.  

After an early morning pumpkin fest we took our nasty shoes off, got back in the car and drove home eating our dark chocolate covered strawberries!  YUM! 

First Day of Pre-K

I can't believe that Zackary is already back to school, his second year!  Pre-K!  Doesn't he look so adorable.

Emme came along to wish her brother a wonderful first day of school!  She seriously would have been fine if I left her with him.  She's ready for Pre-K too!

Room 2 this year!  He tells everyone he was in Room 4 last year and Room 2 this year.

Ms. Hett, the lead teacher.  She's good with him.

Mrs. Johnson...don't know her well at all...not as warm and down to earth as the other teachers, but that's okay we will just focus on Ms. Hett.

 Ahhh...well it's been a week now and he's doing awesome in his new classroom.  Not at all like last year where he was crying until about a month before school was over for the year.  He had finally made some friends-Dylan and Gavin (I feel in debt to them for helping my son get over his fear of me not being there and feeling so alone).  Because he did summer school he has made more friends and now it's easier for him to leave me and be with his friends and learn!  Phew!

Disneyland at 4

4 years old...WOW!  I thought that Disneyland was the most appropriate way to celebrate my baby's (I will call him that forever!) 4th birthday and seriously, we had a lot of fun.  Between meeting all the Mickey Mouse characters (minus Pete, Clarabelle and the Professor), Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore, going on Small World, Jungle Ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, Nemo, Cars Ride (which by the way is amazing) and the gigantic Ferris Wheel, Goofy's Kitchen for a birthday breakfast...and staying in a great room..WE HAD FUN!!!  Zackary got our undivided attention for one day and then Emeline came along the second day.  She had fun too, was a little nervous with the characters at first, especially Goofy, but warmed up and soon was screaming in excitement every time she saw them.  Zackary did really really well.  He behaved himself, endured the rides that made him nervous, stood in the lines and genuinely ran after the characters to give them a hug and try and play with them.  It was fun for us to watch him, at the most magical place in the world.

Um...how cute!

I love this shot.  They brought him a breakfast birthday cupcake and Pluto was right there for the whole event...it was special!

Finally, Mickey!  The first day we were at the park the wait to meet Mickey was too long for me.  I knew we would be able to meet him the next morning with our early entrance into Toontown.  But then there was a parade we went to before going back to the hotel that night...and guess what, Mickey's float broke down before reaching us and they had to reroute the parade but Mickey never showed up.  So sad. With the second day finally upon us, guess what our mission was...find Mickey and give him a big hug.  We got to Toontown bright and early.  We waited over by Mickey's house...and all of a sudden he appeared but he was walking over to the courtyard.  Well, my precious child took off after him, me after Zackary and Ben and Emme after us!  It was hysterical.  

We went over to the new Cars Land...it's amazing.  We all felt like we were in the movie, actually at Radiator Springs...which I guess we were.  The fast ride there is worth the wait, amazing.  Ben was a little hesitant about taking Zackary on it but I felt confident that he would love it...(he loves the movie Cars).  And HE LOVED IT!  So did we!  Lightening McQueen came out driving through the town where you walk...and that was cool too.  Zackary was just in ahh!  

We had a birthday party for him and our family the night before his birthday.  His favorite character is Martian Mickey...so my friend made him a Martian Mickey cake.  It was yummy!  It was more fun to watch him open his presents this time..he was very appreciative of all the cards-he kept going, "ahhhhhh." 

Here we are in a tea cup!  My babies!

This was our view from the hotel.  Zackary ran over to it and never left it until we left the room!!

If he could have he would have ridden the carousel over and over again. Cute pic of him and his Dad!

Silly Donald!
Zackary's really showing amazing growth both with personality and language.  He loves helping in the yard, collecting things (currently rocks, sticks, pine cones), waterfalls/fountains and he makes his own creations that if not perfect he becomes very frustrated about.  He's a great eater, tries whatever we ask, and loves running around with his sister.  He has a lot of new and exciting things happening this month and I can see it catching up to him...it will be nice when things calm down.  He still takes about a 1-2 hour nap a day, wakes around 6:30 and goes to bed now with school around 7-7:30pm (summer was 8pm).  He misses my Mom as she is taking care of my Stepdad at home.  We have a new nanny that watches them on Friday while we both work (BC) and she is really good with the kids.  Our other nanny (AP) still is with us Tuesday and Thursdays, and we love her!!!
We love you Zackary...very much.  Congrats on turning 4!...now slow down.  :)

Family Pictures

 Impromptu pictures, but I liked them!

The boys-Ben's father (missing my Dad and John)

 The girls-Ben's mother and my mom and grandma (missing Kathi and Baba)

With the Great Grandmother (GG).  They love her, especially Emeline.  She runs to find her and then walks right up to her and just smiles...for a long time.  It really is precious. Emeline is so funny too with picture taking, she doesn't like to just sit there while you take them...you really have to distract her or be ready to take the shot and move on!

Adorable, my kids!  I am so happy they have each other.

With their Grandma.  They both love her so much.

 My  little 4 year old.  WOW..can't believe it.

Ben's parents...grammy and papa.  They were visiting and got to spend a lot of quality time with the Zackary and Emeline.  The kids loved it.