Nativity -narrated/sung by Amy Wiseman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmZBaphvAqs

Newport Beach-September 2010

Thanks to Don and Alison's hospitality, we were able to hang out right on the beach for a week in September. It was so nice. Waking up every morning, going for a run while staring at the ocean to the right, people watching right in front, and hoping that the cool houses had opened their blinds so we could look in. Having no agenda except that someone needed to put the beach chairs out in the morning. Making runs to the taco place for $1 tacos. Biking to circle K for a soda refill. I think one of the reasons that I loved this vacation so much was that it was just that... a VACATION. Everyone is there for the same reason-to do nothing. I loved biking on the boardwalk and watching everyone on their patios, bbqing, laughing, playing cards, playing with their kids, reading US weekly, people napping in the sun at 4pm. It totally fostered that feeling that you don't need to do anything or go anywhere.
Max was in paradise.
All he needed was a shovel.
Trying to be safe, even indoors.

Olivia loves her cousin Max.
My 3 boys
Cal made friends quick-here he is with the downstairs neighbors kids' hanging out on the patio. They did this for so long-requesting fives from all the boardwalk bikers. He loved it.
More fives. Most people were eager to give the kids some skin, however, there were a few who blatantly ignored-they clearly had no souls.
Cal and Luke hanging out people watching-a favorite pastime when doing nothing at the beach. bliss

A whole lot of nothing-perfect vacation

Passed out after crying the whole walk back from the surf shop-they didn't have the exact same hat as Daddy's-tragic.
warming up to the new hat
I love this picture of Garrett and cal-Nice totally cheesy smiles!
Soaking up all the media they can get.
Father son bonding

"We should probably just play in the sand all day"

Gabrielle, Olivia, and Max.
Taking turns is an acquired taste.
Olivia and Gabrielle getting warm after fully committing to a full day of chilly ocean swimming.


So much more than cousins:)

A little Bocce

"Just gotta get my bowls for the game mom"
Too close to call

"Am I standing too close dad?"
They have the same exact stance-it's hard to tell from this photo, but it is exactly the same. genetics. fascinating.

More beach memories

Zoomanias!!
Cal in action
Gabrielle couldn't stop laughing out of fear/excitement on this sling shot thing.
Luke with Cal and Garrett on the Ferris Wheel at Balboa-I went on it with Gabrielle and I was honestly a bit nervous when it stops at the top and it is not high. I think it's part of aging....
Garrett, Cal, Gabrielle, Isabella, and Olivia. Thank Goodness for cousins that are the same age and love to be together-a lot to be said for coordinating pregnancies with those you love to spend time with

My favorite Max

We love this guy. He is now 17 months. He is just as intense, if not more, than our other kids. He is the only one of our kids who loves to be thrown up in the air-Cal and Gabrielle were scaredy cats. He can somehow whistle, not on demand, but when he sees me doing it he will form his little mouth into an oh, inhale/exhale, and we start to hear the little high pitched whistle-I love it. He's making requests constantly, saying "MINE", sings, runs, fakes like he wants to hug me and then grabs my hair and doesn't let go while laughing hysterically. He spins around while saying, "whoa, whoa, whoa!!" He's also my only kid who gets scared of the vacuum, gets super scared of loud noises. Obsessed with any kind of ball and watched more than a few innings of Giants baseball with Luke this season. So glad he's here with us!

4 year olds

Cal and his cousin Garrett couldn't resist the lure of the girls' roller skates
After some hot tubbin, London, Cal, and Garrett take in some educational TV-love London's tude
Cal loves Melissa and is never too shy to show it

Thanks Melissa for hanging out with ALL the kids!

A Cal of many colors

Our kids have 2 settings: high/off-not a whole lot of in between. Cal always keeps things interesting. He is such a loving kid and so funny, however there are many moments where Luke and I find ourselves looking at each other with wide eyes that are communicating "who is this kid and what do we do with him??"

"Sing to me when I was a baby" -Cal

One bedtime, I was singing to Gabrielle and I changed the words to You are my sunshine. I started sing "When you were a baby....." I was pretty much just rambling off any possible memories I have left in my brain, KIND OF to the tune of the song. Anyway She loved it, wants me to sing memories to her almost every bedtime. Cal heard me and made the same request in his little high voice, "Sing to me when I was a baby". The challenge is trying to remember. I have been with these kids everyday of their lives, you'd think I'd be able to remember more, but I can't so I will start keeping record of all the random, semi boring mundane things because I do want to remember those things and apparently, so do they. I just received this pic (thx Kari) and it took me a second to put together which boy it was. Because I have the same car seat and Max wore that onesie too, I had to refer to the arm rolls, Cal had lots, Max has none. They actually look pretty different, Cal's forehead is taller, Max's chin is a separate entity from his cheeks, lips are totally different, and the hair-Cal's was so easy to stick up and Max's needs some effort.