M&Ems

Trick-or-Treating

2011-11-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

S. was invited to be in the parade, but she threw a fit and wouldn't wear any costume.
She walked for a little bit with B. though.

Captain America going to save the world! (ie. Score some candy)

There they go!

Last minute M. has the brilliant idea to have S. wear a Shark costume. She loved it.
Almost as much as she loves C-A-N-D-Y!

Carving Pumpkins

2011-11-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

We like to get together with friends to carve pumpkins. I guess if you are going to make a big mess, you might as well make a REALLY big mess.

Yup, we use power tools around here :)

Mario preparing his masterpiece

Madelin with the first jack-o-lantern that she carved by herself!

Ghosties

Oh!

Roar!!!

A really bad photo of the decorations on the front of our house, but since Mario spent so much time putting it together, I figured you have to suffer through it :)

Argh... Halloween

2011-11-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

We attended 3 Halloween parties this weekend (Yeah, we ARE crazy)

Here's the first

3 Captains and a Fairy

Blue candy = Blue teeth I don't think Sofi's teeth were white all weekend :)

Ben bobbing for apples

Can he get one?

Yes He Can!

Is it a Pirate Ship?

Or is it a Porsche... You decide :)

Ben's Garden

2011-06-26T16:00:00.001-07:00

We don't have much room for a garden where we live right now, so this year we have 4 pots and a planter box. Actually it's just about the right size for Ben and I to take care of.
Ben was so excited when we got to pull radishes a couple of weeks ago. (He even tried one- it was hot until I peeled the red skin off.)

Yesterday he got to use a KNIFE to cut squash.

(What is it with boys and kinves?)

Here's our little garden!

Visiting Old Friends and Making New Ones

2011-06-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

While we were in LA, Mario got the chance to catch up with a couple of his old friends. We also FINALLY got the chance to meet Ali. What a sweetie.

Yes Sofi, I will take your photo now!

Look out it's a monster! (I don't think they got the memo)

The 3 Amigos.

(Thanks for letting us crash at your place Mike, and Sorry about the keys Eric. Mario promises that next time we visit, he will train the kids to not maim you up and take away your livelihood :))

Disneyland

2011-06-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

We finally took the kids to Disneyland!

Here are some silly faces to start the day.

The first thing Ben wanted to see was the Castle.

Neither Sofi or Ben wanted to get too close to the Disney Characters. I guess they were "star-struck."

Nice Ears Sofi!

Nice Ears Em :)

"Just wait until I'm 16 and can drive Papa's Porsche."

Ben and Mario enjoying a ride.

Mater and McQueen seemed like nice guys.

Nap-time in line

Done for the day

Monster Party

2011-06-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

For Ben and Sofi's Birthdays this year we had a combined Monster Party. We all had a great time!

Sofi was pretty excited by the cake and balloons

She wasn't too excited about hitting the pinata though.

Ben was happy to take a whack at it.

Monster Cake! (with roses?)

My Baby is 2!

2011-04-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

Look how much she's grown!

Abuelos are visiting

2011-01-20T18:39:00.000-08:00

Abuelos are visiting. They brought Miley to play with us.

Mario took everyone to Monterey for some fun.

Winter Program at Preschool

2011-01-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

Ben had a Winter Program at his preschool.

All the kids sang a song about Snow (Ben didn't sing a WORD - I guess he gets stage fright)

But he sure knows how to show off his "Cheesy" smile.

Thanksgiving Point

2010-10-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

Photos from August again... I'll catch up, don't worry
I had never visited Thanksgiving Point, and so we took the kids to the Natural History Museum and the Farm.

Here we are, trying to take a photo of the boys

Got one face...

Now just stay still so Abuela can get out of the photo...

OOPS...

Two made it back on the dinosaur...

Oh, forget it... Let's go see something else.

LIKE A SHARK!

After the Museum, we went to the farm.

Ben enjoyed the carriage ride...

And the "Jail."

Sofi enjoyed the wide open spaces... She wanted to run everywhere.

Time for a rest!

Good Times!

Rafting the Green

2010-10-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

OK, I know... We went rafting in AUGUST and I am just posting it now... (My shoulders hunch and I lower my head in SHAME! Ok, all better, let's get on with it.)

Ben's first time rafting (Maissie & Jensyn's too if I am correct, which I am - sometimes)
Rafting the Green River is a Lemon Family Tradition Thing. I remember floating down "The RIVER" with my Grandma & Grandpa Jensen, (G.J. had the best rafting hat) Uncle Curt (who isn't really my uncle, he's my cousin, but I remember him as Uncle Curt; weird!), ALL of my friends, a scout troop, lots and lots of cousins, & even my In-laws who can't swim and fear water.

Unfortunately Mario didn't make it this trip, but the rest of us had fun. (BTW- Thanks Jess for watching Sofi... YOU ROCK!)

Everyone is all smiles because we just left and no one is wet :)

Ben: What's A "Twinkie Killer?"

Someone fell on the wet bag during a rapid and smashed the Twinkies inside, so Mark called the rapid the "Twinkie Killer." From then on, rapids were no longer "Wabits," but Twinkies. They remain Twinkies to this day... Next time we go, we'll have to try and explain again, or not.

Sofi vs. THE MANGO

2010-10-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

This girl LOVES fruit!

Swimming

2010-07-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

We had swimming lessons! Baby Sister loved the water; I couldn't get her to climb out to practice getting out of the pool. She would just get mad and push to get back in.

Big Brother wasn't so sure he liked jumping in the deep end of the pool, but liked everything else.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

2010-07-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

On our last trip out to the Bay Area, we took the kids to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Ben and Sofi both loved looking at the fish.
Sofi was more willing to smile for a photo, while we had to catch Ben off guard.

"Papa, let's go!"

Where's the pearl?

I can use my "Super Strength" to keep it open!

Where's the Shark?

Watermelon

2010-07-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

What is it with my kids and watermelon?

Big brother 2007

Baby Sister 2010

Memorial Day

2010-07-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

We went with my parents to put flowers on my Grandma & Grandpa's graves. I hadn't done that for about 10 years, and I am glad I was able to give my children the chance to do it once. (Even if they were too small to remember it) It's interesting how one can forget about these important holidays when you don't have the opportunity to live close to family. I'm glad my parents still keep the tradition and make it an important part of their Memorial Day weekend. In my family, it's not just remembering people in the Armed Forces, they also remember family.

Ice Cream!

2010-05-18T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sofi has decided she likes ice cream.

Look at what a big girl she is sitting and eating that yummy stuff. She must be related to her Grandpa!

Mountain Fun

2010-05-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Uncle Dave and I took Ben and Sofi up into the Uintah Mountains. It was Sofi's first time in the wilderness. I'm not sure what she thought about it. I can't believe it took me over a year to get her out of the city; I guess I'm a "city-girl" now.

Ben got to pee on a bush for the first time. Ok all you people who think this is something normal. If you knew how hard I have tried to potty train this kid, you would think this is the monumental achievement that I do. The only problem is that I forgot how cold it could get up there, and it was windy on top of that. The poor kid was freezing when he was done.

Sofi wasn't sure she liked the "Great Out Doors" She was just starting to walk and didn't like the bumpy ground. Besides that it was windy, and the gusts of wind almost knocked her over. After a while she decided the truck was better than being outside.

Sorry about the fingerprints on the windows Grandpa.

Ben can't wait to go again so he can go camping and fishing with Uncle Dave.

"Super" Birthday!

2010-05-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

We had good guys...

And bad guys... (Thanks Auntie Liz; I OWE you!)

There were Super Heroines...

And Super Heroes...

There was CAKE! ("Super Ducks")

There were presents... Lots of presents... I might say too many presents, but I'll bet the kids would never say that.

There was an adorable "Baby"...

And a "Superfast Yellow Bumblebee Spider Bike"...

Yes, we had lots of fun!

I'm 1

2010-04-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

I had my first birthday yesterday. All I can say is that I like cake! Mum says that when Papa comes home, I will get to have a big party and eat more cake!

Too Tired to Eat!

2010-04-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

I woke mum and papa up really early and then I fell asleep while they prepared my breakfast!

Happy Easter

2010-04-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

We got to celebrate Easter twice this year. Once at my brother's house and once with the Abuelos.

Check out the fun!

It's a good thing that egg dye wears off! (Clorox helps)

It was warm enough to go swimming.

At Abuelo's house it wasn't as warm. It actually snowed Easter Sunday. We had fun anyway collecting eggs and showing off our Easter Duds.

I'm not quite walking by myself, but I can get up and down pretty well

Look at the "Primas!"

I don't know what it does, but "IT HAS CANDY INSIDE!"

I'm a Bunny/ In a Box

2010-04-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

What a cute Bunny!

(The funny thing about this is that Big Brother doesn't like carrots and he was actually eating it)

Baby Sister in a box.

She likes to climb into anything she can. Toy Boxes, Laundry Baskets, Suitcases, the Bathtub. Climbing is her thing!

Once there was a Snowman!

2010-02-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

We had some good snow a couple of weeks ago, so I thought it was time to take Big Brother out to get used to this white stuff. He didn't want to sled too much, he thought snowballs were OK, but he LOVED making a snowman. We rolled the base, body, and head, and while I was scrounging around for something to use for a face/ arms, my boy went to give the snowman a hug and knocked his head off. He was pretty upset. I told him it was OK and started repairing the head. When I looked up, he was sitting alone across the yard with his arms folded. I wondered if he was trying to make a snow angel or something, so I went over to help him. I asked him what was going on, and he told me that he was on "time-out" for hurting the snowman. I tried not to laugh... didn't succeed.

Unfortunately the weather warmed up pretty quickly so the snowman died within 3 days. Big brother was pretty bummed, he didn't want his friend to melt!

Christmas

2010-02-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know it's February, and almost Valentine's Day, but I'm working on getting settled in and so my posts have definitely taken a hit.

I still wanted to post a couple of Holiday photos, so here goes.

Big Brother and I made a Gingerbread House. It came from a kit, so it was pretty easy. He wanted to know what the gingerbread tasted like, so he decided to take a bite of one of the people. I thought he would just eat the "people cookie" and then get back to decorating, so he surprised me when he wanted to stick it back with the house, and then he ate the other one!

Big Brother loves his baby sister, and she loves him too.

What a Happy Family! Check out those matching turtlenecks. (Papa planned it :) )

Here's a photo of Baby Sister and her Papa. She has him wrapped around her little finger!

Baby Sister and Grandma!

What do you mean I can't have candy yet!

Grandma with her grandkids.

Yup, Mommy made us pose again... But we are pretty good at it now! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yeah... I can crawl! :)

2009-11-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

Baby Sister started crawling last weekend. She is so determined to catch up with her big brother and loves being mobile. Now mommy and papa just need to make sure to keep the floor clear because she puts EVERYTHING she finds in her mouth. She's also working on waving as you can see in this photo. (Sorry to everyone that wanted to see the video of her crawling... I can't get the video to upload)

Halloween "Snaps"

2009-11-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

Halloween was eventful this year... I had surgery on a kidney stone on the 30th and got to attend our ward party slightly medicated :) On Saturday we took Ben and Sofi trick-or-treating at the mall. Ben had a great time asking for candy and now everytime we pass the mall, he wants to go inside because they will give you candy. Mario did a great job decorating the front of our house and we got about 75 Trick-or-Treaters which is a lot more than the 10 or so we got last year. Ben was so excited about Trick-or-Treating that Mario took him out again around our neighborhood.

"Bless the Monsters"

2009-09-30T11:19:00.001-07:00

I had a funny experience last night, one which I am sure many of you can relate to. Ben usually won’t say his own prayer, he will just repeat what I say, but last night he wanted to say the prayer. It went something like this. "Heavenly Father, Bless Papa & Ben & Oreo & Baby Sister & Papa & Ben & Mommy (I did get in there once) & Sofia & Ben & Papa & Danny & Papa… & the monsters & the dinosaurs ( I am cracking up now… How do you stop yourself from laughing when they do that?) & the monsters & dinosaurs & bless me to be quiet because I don’t want time out…" I started laughing, and then Ben looked at me like I was in trouble, and I knew I was because you aren’t supposed to laugh while someone is praying, and I didn’t want to get "time out" myself. Some example I am!

Gilroy Gardens

2009-08-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

Here's some photos from a trip we took to Gilroy Gardens with our friends the McMurrays in July.

"My Baby"

2009-07-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

Ben is now a "Big Brother" and he loves playing "baby" with Sofi. He will lie on her play mat and read books to her. He got pretty jealous when his cousin Danny said that Sofi was his baby and not Ben's. Ben is a little over-protective of his little sister. Maybe that will come in handy when they are older.

Sofia's Blessing & Superfun weekend with Family

2009-06-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we had the blessing for our little girl Sofia. On the days preceeding the blessing, we spent time with both my family and Mario's family doing some of the fun things the Bay area has to offer. It's odd how you can live in the same place for 10+ years and still find new things to do. (PS we REALLY missed you Uncle Dave and Auntie Jessie)

We went to an A's game...

(They won in the bottom of the 9th which made the game really fun.)

Maissie, Ben, and Danny prefered to play in the kids area. (At least they had TVs so I could watch the game while they played)

Yes I know you know what a baseball diamond looks like, but there are 2 things I like about this photo: 1. It was taken right before the hit that put the winning run on second base, and 2. If you look REALLY closely, you can see my dad who moved up to be closer to the action. Go A's!

Sofia was a little bummed that she had to stay in her carrier for the whole game. She wanted to see the action. (Actually she slept through the game and only woke up when I was cheering to tell me to be quiet as she was trying to sleep.)

We picked strawberries at Gizdich Ranch...

(Of Course we ate as much or more than we picked :)

Picking your own strawberries is a dream of Mark's. Everybody needs to have a dream, and we are happy he got to have his dream come true.

My mum and dad picked like they were working in their own garden and might never see a strawberry again. We couldn't get them to stop! Needless to say, their hard work is still paying off for me as I has strawberries in my yogurt this morning. (Thanks Mum & Dad!)

Tia Carmen got a bucketfull of strawberries, and Danny helped his "Buela" fill her bucket.

Mario and Ben were really good at finding the "Big Ones." Ben was really good at picking, but he didn't really eat too much. (He doesn't like strawberries- must be something he got from Mario's side of the family JK)

Maissie was really good about doing everything by herself. She helped Grandma and Grandpa Lemon by eating out of their buckets and giving them more room to fill.

Blessing Day...

My mum made Sofi's dress. It was perfect. Thank you Mum! I'll post some photos of Sofi in her dress later (ie- when I get them) The blessing went really well considering our ward was kicked-out of our building the week before the blessing and we forgot to call everyone to tell them until Saturday night. I'm blaming it on Post Partum Forgetfullness. We ended up in the same building we blessed Ben in. I am proud of myself as I got to church with time to take photos before the meeting.

I am hoping that someone else's camera got a photo with all of us looking in the same direction. Actually this reminds me of a photo my family took when I was 6 or 7. We were at my cousin's wedding (maybe Gordon and Arbetta?), and everyone in the Lemon Family was getting family portraits. I think everyone in my family was looking in a different direction but my mum who was looking straight ahead with a beautiful smile. I also think I had pigtails or at least ringlets in my hair... That was a long time ago, but it was a good picture.

Anyway, that was our weekend, and what a fun one it was.

Which one is which?

2009-05-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

Which one is Ben? Sofi?

Baby Photos

2009-05-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Look at those cheeks!

Ben feeding his "baby sister." Notice how the toolbox never leaves his side.

(He might have to fix the bottle or something )

Check out my sexy leg!

Check Me Out!

2009-05-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a cute photo of Sofi showing how well she holds her head up. Just look at those cheeks!

New Baby New Blog

2009-05-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

I decided since we have a new baby, I should start a blog to keep everyone abreast of our activities. Please be kind... I'm new to this :)

Here is a photo of Ben and Sofi to distract you while I figure this thing out.

Love, Hugs, Kisses and Poop (We have lots and lots of poop)