Noah's 5th Birthday!

Our sweet, sweet Noah turned 5 last week!  We could not be more proud of the caring, smart, funny little boy that he is.  Someone, please, SLOW down the time!

 On his actual birthday, we made cupcakes and opened gifts from our family.  Our neighbors Callie, Josiah, and Evangeline came over just in time to join the celebration!

 For his party, "Our Reptile Guys" (and apparently gals) came with some slithery friends ...

 Nothing says happy birthday like a lizard on your head.

 I mean, 5-year-olds and reptiles - you really can't miss.

According to Noah, it's not a party without a pinata.  (So, yes, Mama got online a found a blue lizard pinata - not an easy feat, in case you're wondering.)

Happy birthday, Noah!

Play Ball!

We had a Chicago Cub and an Oakland Athletic this season. 

Noah developed his own hybrid golf/baseball swing.

Ben's league started the season with a parade of teams.

 It was seriously the cutest parade ever.

 The A's, and Ben, had an awesome season.

For this, his last game, he insisted on getting sunflower seeds to keep in his back pocket to snack on throughout the game ("because that's what the pros do"). 

Bows and Neighbors

A new era has begun at our house:  Hair.  Eliza donned her first pigtails this month, and now often insists on having them.  When we see strangers she points to her hair and says "bow," expecting them to compliment her "pretty" hair.  Oy.

And have I mentioned how much we love, love, love our new neighbors,

Evangeline (yes, they're drinking from the slip-n-slide)

and Josiah?  Cutest partners in crime.

Chicago/Michigan 2012

We made our annual road trip to Chicago and Michigan at the beginning of July.  The kids always like to go down and ride on the Chicago Lakeshore path, so that was stop #1.

 Davis Kids Totem Pole

 Last year:  Sears Tower.  This year:  Hancock Center!

 Smoothies atop the tower.

 It seems I packed my camera away and forgot to take it back out once we left Chicago, but we had a great time visiting Booma and Papa and Aunties and Uncles and cousin Austin in Michigan! There was lots of bike riding, 4th of July festivities,  and a certain class reunion (20th?!).  Always love being back home.

Waiting for fireworks.

Nobody Loves You Better ...

Than a big brother!

I love that, coincidentally, there's a shot of every sibling pair combination possible.  Amidst our fair share of bickering, it's reassuring to know that they actually do love each other.  A lot.

Beach Trip 2012

The beach is always one of our favorite destinations, but it felt especially great this year that nobody was trying to eat the sand.  Celebrate every milestone, people.

 Surf lessons!

Okay, so these were supposed to be lessons for the boys, and they were, but Jess and I had to get in on the action too.  And then it got competitive.  I got up a few times!  This was one of the times just before (and to be honest, the actual "up" part was so brief there may not have been time to get a shot, but I'll take it).

This was the scene on the way home.  I think it's safe to say they had a good time.

Ben's 7th Birthday

Every year I say the same thing, only the years are definitely getting shorter.  Because I know I was just writing that we couldn't possibly have a 6-year-old, and now we suddenly have a 7-year-old?!  How is this possible?!

 Ben got lots of baseball gear, which has turned out to be one of his favorite sports to watch and play,

 but his BIG gift was revealed as the garage door went up ...

A cool new bike that he's still growing in to.

Seriously, 7???