BYE BYE SUMMER

.

i think we did all the important things this summer like peeing on lots of grass...

.

.

trying new stuff...

.

.

Chris managed to steal me away...

.

.

LOTS of swinging...

.

.

cool little boys stylin' around...

.

.

LOTS of cinnamon toast with lots of butter of course- with the bike helmet... if you haven't read, Christopher wears it like it's a couture Chanel scarf or something boy like that...

.

.

spent some awesome time at the pool with friends... it was fun girls!

.

.

and growing...

.

my baby is 1...

.

.

Five Good Things

1. Next summer to look forward to
2. Hot Cocoa soon
3. Christmas... oh my!
4. Baking pies this year... look out, you may be asked to taste test!
5. Family

ciao~alicia

DAVID... MY REAL BIG BROTHER

.

You may not know I have a big brother... my Mom gave him up when she was very young...

She found him and met him this past week... I was so happy for them both.

I wonder if he knows I have always "looked" for him in airports, in restaurants... everywhere...

I fantasized I would see him when I was in Greece and he would just know me and .... well...

So, I'm working on a letter... how do you tell your brother you have always wanted him in your life and that you have a lifetime of memories that you wish you could have lived...

What a journey... I'm going to meet him soon~ I know it in my soul... Namaste

.

Five Good Things

1. Siblings
2. Intersections
3. Mystery
4. Moms
5. Me

ciao~alicia

THE NEW LOOK

i can take absolutely no credit for the new banner... Chris, my wonderful man saw me struggling for nights and took over, learned the software I was trying to figure out, put in his creative input... it's truly a family blog... Love you Baby with everything... it's the little stuff!

.

Five Good Things

1. Chris' patience
2. Chris' patience
3. Chris knows my visions... he gets that part of me
4. Chris
5. Chris looks good with the laptop on his lap typing;)

ciao~alicia

REMODELING

.

.

bear with me... a lot of "remodeling" going on here lately... schedules, blogs, home office in my kitchen and a cute surfer room for the boys... pics to come!

OUR DIFFERENT DAY

right before they went in... purely for my amusement... I'll take it!

.

Sometimes there are just no words... just the moment

.

Five Good Things

1. The look on their faces after they were buckled and knew they were actually "going" to school... this was the moment
2. Christopher getting dressed so quickly and setting and example for Nate
3. Cooper loves soy milk and is talking all over the place! "hi" and "cracker" are his faves... still signing and picking up more
4. Seeing little boys run to the door at school yelling "Mama"... I think we all loved the break!
5. Caffeine!!

ciao~alicia

CELEBRATE

.

it was over before I actually knew everyone was there and had drinks and saw Coop sit on his cake...

it was surreal... like a mini dream that you know you are in but just seems to kind of go along without... you just get to witness, say a few things and if you are lucky, feel like you were in moments... I just wanted to stand there and stare at him~ and I did.

when I thought about it, we didn't really have a Luau... we had leis and burgers... did I plan for all sorts of Hawaiian "things"... yep... did it happen... nope... that really seems to be how parties go with having kids for me... it's odd and yet so me... so disheveled... late... I'm rarely together anymore... babies and boogers and diapers have relaxed me some to a default...

so, I will be grateful to Chris who cooked some awesome burgers, kept our tradition with the leis and to Rachel for taking some rockin' pics and just remember how cute Coop looked on this special day... so I'm not the best kid party planner... there are worst things and they did leave with bubbles wrapped in some ribbon, the kids that is... although I'm practicing, I don't know if I'll ever truly be thrilled with my parties... I was happy with my cupcakes~ and I think a few others were too~

Time for b e d.

.

Five Good Things

1. Coop loved my cake~ I'm smiling just typing... you get it
2. Smelling plumeria
3. Coffee
4. Organic cream for my coffee~ thanks Babe!
5. Brothers

ciao~alicia

BAG BABY

.

I really want a new camera right now... did I say really? I feel like Coop may be the last baby and I want to photograph him all the time... All the time...

.

.

he's a little busy lately though, and has other ideas!

.

Five Good Things

1. Wal Mart is always open and I may be there at 2:00 in the morning when I realize I'm missing something for the party tomorrow
2. Chris' thoughtfulness~ I opened up a box from Hawaii today... smells sooo sweet in here!
3. Dad doing all the shopping~ thanks Dad~ love you
4. Dreams
5. Phone chargers~ it would be good if I could find mine;)

BACKYARD BABY

.

Coop is officially 1!

.

.

Stay tuned for pics from our Luau ~ Lee Style this Sunday!

.

Five Good Things

1. Cooper's sign language~ milk makes me melt
2. Coop's awesome sleeping schedule
3. Coop's 4 teeth and 4 more coming
4. Cooper's open mouth kisses~ my Besos!
5. The Littlest Lee~ what a year!

A DAY WITH NATERS

.

Nate & I hit the mall yesterday...

It was a glimpse into those little blueberry eyes...

We played ~we shopped ~we had lots of sugar ~we shopped & played some more

.

On the way home I thought...

he got the gumball out himself and told me he wanted to get brother one ~he was so patient when I had to try on clothes and told me I was beautiful ~our 6 trips to the bathroom (this is not an exaggeration either) just made it the ultimate kid day ~my Mama Heart is full ~ no ~overflowing

.

Five Good Things

1. The Great Provider
2. Nate Nate~ my little blueberry
3. Listening to Christopher & Nate say the blessing
4. Have I mentioned Caffeine lately?
5. Party planning

ciao~alicia

INDEPENDENT

.

Christopher either loves or hates to have his picture taken... I can relate... I love 4... it's a time for him to start revealing all the stuff I've wanted to ask him about who he is.

.

.

He makes "beds" in his room for all his little brothers... he chooses the blankets so carefully so that they have their ones Mimi made and also Coop's faves. I love that he is the biggest brother... my little leader

.

He is also our toy repair man... if you need more batteries Christopher is your man... Nate has already figured this out and gives him "jobs". Whoever marries Christopher will love the way he loves things neat and clean... he didn't get it from me and now we go clean together... he's inspiring. There is nothing like a first born son.

.

Five Good Things

1. Rain!!
2. Baby sign language
3. Parkfest in Willow Park
4. Coffee
5. Does that include caffiene?

ciao~alicia