Trick or Treat 2010!

Halloween was a total blast for the kids this year! They had their first "real" trick or treating experience this year in our neighborhood. The past three years we have just taken them to go trick or treating at their grandparents houses, and this year we did that plus "the real deal".

The Halloween festivities started at about 2:00 today...first stop was to north Portland to see Grandma Flo and Grandpa Les, and then we went to Mema and G-Pa's, then to Mam and Pa's, then to Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Joe's, and Last to Auntie Katie and Uncle Ben's house. Aunt Katie and Uncle Ben went trick or treating with us around our neighborhood sine they are essentially our neighbors now:0)

The girls made out like candy bandits! I think we have enough candy to last for a few months! They also got some nifty new rain boots, umbrellas, and new pajamas from their grandparents which was the highlight of their day...they liked that way more than the candy believe it or not! They are such girls already....so excited at the opportunity to be able to accessorize their outfits!

We had great fun with our Beautiful Butterfly, Majestic Unicorn, and Adorable little Owl....hope your Halloween was just as fun:)

A Very Happy Mothers Day

The day started out in the bright early morning (at least for us that is....) at Breakfast at Ben and Katie's house. They cooked the whole family a scrumptious meal of cinnamon swirl french toast, cheesy potatoes, a green chili egg dish, peppered bacon, fresh pineapple and strawberries, and strawberry Bellini's....it was delish! As usual, Katie hosted the event with such elegance, thanks Sis for spoiling all of us Mom's on Mother's Day...we love you!

We had a wonderful morning visiting with my Grammies and my mom, and we were able to shower each other with gifts in showing our love and appreciation for one another, thanks for all of the goodies mom and grandma! I have been SO blessed to be raised by such a wonderful mom, she really is the epitome of "the best mom in the world"! I think I can also honestly say that I have the two best grandmas in the world as well, they have been such a big part of my life for these past 26 years and have played a huge role in shaping who I am today, I don't know what I would do without them...I LOVE you guys!

Each year Mother's Day has become more significant for me. I have received the three most precious gift's any Woman could ask for. Getting to look into the eyes of my three beautiful children every day is such a surreal experience of what a true miracle this life really is! There are no words to even describe the way it makes a mother feel, and I feel so blessed to be able to shower them with love everyday and have that same love reciprocated back to me times three!

After having breakfast with my side of the family, we headed on over to celebrate with the Stoddard side of the Family. As usual, grandma Julie hosted her usual Sunday lunch for the whole gang, on today's menu was: Spaghetti, salad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert! Of course I forgot to bring my camera, therefore I didn't capture any of the action, but the afternoon was definitely fun-filled with trampoline jumping, running around in the yard, and the kids spraying each other with the hose. Thanks goodness we finally had a sunny day!

Keslin and Bronwyn finished of the day by swimming in their pool and playing with their water table. They had a blast! It seems like forever since they've been able to play outside for more than a half an hour before it starts raining! Raelyn finished off her day by taking a long snoozer, the festivities and sun wore her out:0)

It's been a day filled with lot's of luvins for the momma! I hope all of you mom's out there had a wonderful Mother's Day as well!
Grandma Flo-Joe and I.

Mom and Katie Cookin in the kitchen.

Look at that beautiful boquet.

Denise and Rae-Rae.

Me and my Momma.

Keslin and Bronwyn enjoying some delicious breakfast.

Me and grandma Mam.

Mommy and Raelyn.

An attempt at a family portrait:0)

Me and my girls!

Enjoying the sunshine!

Little Raelyn enjoying her afternoon nap!

11 weeks and growing....

Well, it's official, our newborn is no longer a newborn! Eleven and a half weeks has already flown by since our third little princess was born and before we even knew it our little miss has already started growing up on us! At her two month appointment she weighed in at 11lbs. 1oz (which is almost double her weight), and was 221/2 inches long which put her in the 50th percentile for both her height and weight!

Raelyn is the sweetest baby ever! She has such a calm demeanor and is happy 99.9% of the time! She has been the biggest blessing to our family! Oh, and better yet, she only wakes up on average of once a night...I am in complete awe and amazement at how easy she is making things on me!

She is provided with 24 hour entertainment from her two older sisters, which I'm sure is why she doesn't really feel the need to fuss ....there's just no time for that with the constant sensory stimulation:0) Keslin and Bronwyn love on her every minute! She gets the Royal baby treatment from them all day long with tons of hugs, kisses, and taking turns holding her.

We are continuing to cherish each and every moment with our three precious girls and are enjoying what each new day brings. I count my blessings every day that I get to be the mom of such three wonderful little people!

The 5 Hip Cooks!

Yesterday was my Sisters 23rd Birthday and we celebrated by taking the whole family to a Thai cooking class at Hipcooks! Aaron was solo and had to stay home with the girls so I could join in on the family fun(thanks babe!) It was Katie's idea and we had so much fun learning to cook together, and my oh my was the food delicious! Our Thai Cuisine consisted of an Eight course meal which included: Veggie spring rolls with tamarind dipping sauce, Chicken saute with peanut sauce, Coconut rice with shrimp and cilantro, Pad Thai, Papaya salad, Green curry with eggplant, mushrooms and peas, Red curry with chicken and peanuts, and Black rice with cocunut cream for dessert! Our stomachs were bursting at the seams when it was all said and done! There were Fourteen students all together, we had a great time getting to know some new people and had some great quality family time together. The class was well worth the money and it was a fabulous four hours of entertainment! Better yet, they sent us home with all of the recipes...so if any of them sound appealing to you let me know and I will pass them along to you:0)!

The Fam minus Aaron.

Our veggie spring rolls.

Coconut rice with shrimp and cilantro.

Chicken Saute with peanut sauce.

Mom and Katie.

Dad and Ben.

Me and my Sis.

Some fellow hip cook classmates.

Our very cool teacher Tristan.

More pictures of the gang.

Easter 2010

We had such a fun filled Easter this year with both sides of the family! The day started off with an early morning Easter egg hunt that Aaron and I had for the girls when they woke up, and of course then Keslin and Bronwyn were on the hunt for their Easter baskets as soon as they popped out of bed! The Easter Bunny was good to them this year...lots of goodies for sure, I think we have enough candy to last for weeks! Then it was off to Grandma Julie's and Grandpa Dennis' for a huge Easter feast and a ginormous Easter egg hunt with all of the Stoddard cousins! The kids had a blast playing together and jumping on the trampoline! They are so lucky to have each other as cousins...especially since they are all relatively close in age. With the combined energy of the 9 cousins, there is never a dull moment:0)

After visiting with the Stoddard Fam, we were off to celebrate Easter with my side of the family! My Aunt Rhonda hosted Easter this year, therefore we didn't have to travel very...just on the other side of Scappoose:0) We then proceeded to eat MORE food and have another fun Easter egg hunt for all of the kiddo's, just in time before it started to down pour! We also celebrated my Aunt Rosie's 72nd birthday! She recently was diagnosed with lung cancer, so this was a very special birthday, I'm so glad our entire family was able to be there to celebrate with her. She has been a trooper through her chemotherapy treatments and is holding strong, please keep her in your prayers for our family:0)

All in all we had a wonderful day filled with so much fun and love! Hope you had a happy Easter everyone!

Aaron and the girls scoping out the goodies.

The three princesses Easter baskets.

Two fancy looking girls!

All of the Stoddard/Kangas cousins minus Raelyn and Darius.

Bronwyn looking tired out...her 3rd Easter egg hunt of the day.

Makena and Kelin comparing who has more eggs:0)

Morgan holding Raelyn.

Some fun and delicious cupcakes my mom made for the kiddos!

Keslin and Bronwyn painting Easter eggs earlier in the week.

The finished product!