Happiness

Father's Day. Awesome. Presents.Steak. Potatoes. A smore dip (chocolate chips and marshmallows in a cast iron pan broiled for 3 minutes and served with dippable graham crackers). Great Day!

Declan,      You are two months old!      You are growing and changing so much! You like to:         -Coo and try to talk and sing when we talk to you. It is so cute!         -Laugh if we shake your hands and then tickle under your arms.                -You are super long- your head hits the arm of the rocking chair when          I feed you and you barely fit!         -You love to listen to music- you smile and coo: anything on Pandora, especially Baby Rock songs (rock songs set to lullaby music- so creative). When you cry in the car, I put Pandora on my phone, put my phone in your car seat and you are good to go! (we learned this on our trip to Cali!).          -...

My sister Molly was visiting and we got all of the cousins together except for a few (Kalea and Charlotte)! Cousins are the best!!! Amy and baby Arthur. He is two and a half months older than Declan and such a chill, happy cutie! Grandpa and tiny Declan    My sisters Amy and Molly (and Arthur) meeting Declan for the first time! They said he looks like such an Abbott!    At the beach on Saturday- Elizabeth and some yummy carrot cake!     Elizabeth Renee and Anna Elizabeth    Jonah after a ride on the boogie board!     Ethan building in the sand.   Declan's first time at the beach. He slept through it!   Elizabeth as a sand mermaid.   Josh taking a ride with Uncle Doug in Carpinteria.  (Thanks, Picstitch and Instagram for the picture design- scrapbooking meets blogging?)     Santa Barbara Mission and a sidewalk chalk show.   Us...

I still have pictures to post but I have a baby is my arms and I wanted to write something for Father's Day. About my Father. Father, You loved me, You cherished me. You wrote songs-     Baby lullabies For me. You taught me about Honesty, Hard Work, Integrity    and Love. And on my Last night before I left home for college, You told me you loved me And sent me off into     the world- Cherished by the man I call Father. Love you, Dad!

**Happy (Late) Birthday to my younger sister Amy! Love you!** I went to the Drs. today and he asked me what I did for myself. I replied that I swim (the pool is warm enough to swim in the morning) and do yoga (sometimes) and blog. Then, I remembered that I needed to blog! Since I last blogged:   -Declan has slept through the night! (until 5 am) 4 times! He's on a roll and it's been lovely to get longer stretches of sleep! -He also mostly puts himself to sleep. Sometimes I hold him until he's pretty drowsy and then put him down, but he sleeps pretty well   -He turns 8 weeks tomorrow! I went to my 6 week check up last week and everything is fine! The nurse said that she met another Declan four years ago and his twin sister was named Ireland. what sisters teach brothers!   -The kids have been out of school for 2 weeks! I'm not gonna lie- it's been kinda hard having them home and not being to nap whenever I want/need to. On top of t...

    This little one is starting to smile! A lot! We love it! He also has laughed twice- once when I was bouncing him in front of a mirror and once in his sleep- loved it!! Ethan and Jonah got some inflatable pool sharks for their birthday- fun in the pool!   Eating Healthy- yum!   ***Happy Birthday, Grandpa !! We love you!***

Jonah turns 10!    Ethan!   The Boys!    Jonah and his red angel food cake! (It was supposed to be red, but it turned out pink and he rolled with it!). Angel Food is a favorite at our house because it is simple, big and yummy! We realized that if you give the kids their presents before the cake, they are even happier for pictures with their cake- yay!   Ethan liked the Fresh Strawberry Pie from Mother's Day so much that he requested one for his birthday- can do (a bonus since it doesn't have dairy!)   The kids are all very similar in height now- especially Asher and Ethan and Jonah. Elizabeth's eyes and the twisted curtain capture a little of the craziness of the moment!   Presents!     Ethan loved this super flying kite and Jonah his red, flying bird!     Ethan and Jonah got some fun gifts this year! I noticed one of Josh's sisters with lots of boys has a Bir...