If Davis could talk....

"Why do you let him do this to me?  I wish exersaucers  came with a force field."

Warren loves being a big brother.  He loves having matching neck ties, and I know they will have a fun time wrestling when they are older.

A Holly Jolly Christmas With Grandma And Grandpa Solano

We all had a super fun time at Grandma and Grandpa Solano's house.

        Here is Ashlyn sneaking into 'Santa's Workshop' to see if she was nice enough this year to get any presents.

A new Puppy!!!!!!!! a very quiet perfect puppy that doesn't bark, eat, or wheedle on anything...good dog.

@

Here is Davis' first time in the workshop.  Brock's presents were put in the workshop when he was little.  There is Grandma's dog Annie...nice photo bomb Annie.  Unlike Ashlyn's new dog, Annie barks, eats, and wheedles.

 Here is Warren trying to blend in with the nutcrackers and giving Grandpa hugs.

Here is Claire showing off her loot.  The girls all got matching pink snow jackets, and Dolls with some dresses, and pets.

   A highlight for Lara was her very own jar of Maraschino cherries. 

She kissed them when she pulled them out of her stocking.

 We found patches of snow near Paradise Lake.

The snow was slippery and freezing cold.

There was a park up the hill from the lake, that we played at and had "Pine Cone Wars".

Don't trust these innocent faces...pine cones can be deadly.  When washing Warrens pants mom discovered a whole arsenal hidden in his pockets.

                                                            

The trees were awesomely huge.  We don't have forests like this in San Diego.

Davis will be eight months soon.  Here he is sporting a Jamie Johnston original beanie.  Luckily we enjoyed great weather in Paradise this year. It was a little chilly for us wimps but sunny and dry.

We got to drive to Sacramento on the Sunday and see the Shafers who were down from Washington visiting family.  The kiddos had fun playing and let the adults have time to chat and catch up.

 Ben could hardly believe we were able to get together, and Emily ate all the cream cheese cranberry/jalapeno spread Whitney made.

For Lara, Warren, and Claire watching the mini minion movies with their Shafer buddies and playing fetch with their dogs was the best!!

Matchmaker, matchmaker, Make me a match....:) 

This Post was brought to you in part by Ashlyn Tracy Solano.

Claire's kindergarten Graduation

On June 5th, I graduated from kindergarten.  My favorite memories from kindergarten were the monkey bars, Bono Bucks (green paper money given for good behavior), and the treasure box.  Mrs. Miller was may teacher.

For the graduation ceremony I slid down the slide.  (represented sliding into first grade).

Claire and Jimmy Whiting with their diplomas

The class got to sing the song "This Land was made for you and me" to all the parents.

 Now I am in first grade at Paloma Elementary. My teacher's name is Ms. Feinberg, She is very nice.  Here is a picture of me on the first day of school August 19, 2013.  My favorite thing in school is doing math word problems. 
After school we helped decorate a chocolate cake that mom made to celebrate our first day back to school.

Moms side note: Claire is reading so well, and is already doing multiplication.  She is in a first grade/second grade combo class and is soaking it all in. 

Warren's third BDAY

Cousin birthday parties are the best!!!  Julia and Warren are the 15th and 16th of September, so they get to celebrate together.  Grandma and Grandpa Plumb got them these fun animal chairs.

 Grandma also made them each an angel food cake ice cream cake.  I can't believe they turned three already.

YUM!

What a group of Plumb cousins!  We are missing the 10 from UT.

 Great Grandmother gave some fun PJs,

Daniel did some gymnastics, and Kate held the bows; it was a fun time had by all.

The next day was Warren's actual bday and we celebrated with the park, presents, eating at the old spaghetti factory inside their old trolly car, and having chocolate trifle.

Lara's 5th Birthday Celebration

Lara's narrative: "I was so excited when I woke up on my birthday, I couldn't wait to open all the lovely presents people gave me.  I loved all of them, and I can't wait until it is my next one.  Dad took me to Trace's house and we went to Playwerx for my birthday.  Trace gave me a Lalaloopsy and I loved it.  I loved it so much.  We had a lot of fun at playwerx. Don't forget to say we had balloons, candy and stickers that smelled like bubble gum.  Ashlyn got me another Lalaloopsy so I got to play it later with my sisters."

Playwerx 5 level play structure

Lara and trace at their Joyschool graduation

 

"I loved it when mom made those yummy crepes.  We put raspberries and chocolate whipped cream in them.  I loved them, they were so yummy.  I love it when it is my birthday.  Last year for my birthday Great Grandmother gave me that blue pretty shirt I am wearing  and this year she gave me a pink dress and came to eat dinner with us."

"I love my Great Grandmother so much.  I hope that next year we go to Ruby's"

"Claire got my some dress-up things. and Warren got me a fluffy pink unicorn. ('It is so fluffy I am going to die!!!' name that movie). And Davis took a good nap when I rocked him in his car seat."

Mom is now taking over the story :).  Lara has developed a deep appreciation for Maraschino Cherries and was very excited to have several on her birthday sundae. That is what they do at the Ruby's Diner in Carlsbad thus her request to go there for her bday diner next year. Grandma Solano put a whole jar of Cherries in Lara's Christmas stocking this year and she kissed it when she pulled it out. :)  She  ate the two cherries they put on my birthday sundae when we were at Ruby's for my birthday. She had them half way to her mouth before they even finished singing my birthday song.

Here she is day after her birthday wearing her pre-school birthday crown and some sunglasses she colored for a preschool art project.  She says in conclusion "This was my best birthday ever, and I hope people remember my birthday next year." :)