'65 GTO

Who do you think will get Francis' 1965 GTO when they turn 16??

Zoe?

or Maddox?

Father's Day 2012

I know this post is a bit late but it doesn't mean we didn't have a great Father's Day!  It just means that I got too busy to update the blog until now  :)

Grandpa Wayne decided to come to Santa Barbara to spend the weekend with us - he and Natalie babysat the kiddos Saturday night while Francis and I went out to a 10th wedding anniversary celebration (thanks again you guys!) 

Father's Day morning was spent on the patio at Paradise Cafe - never been there for breakfast but I can't wait to go again - so good! 

Here are my lookalikes:

 Grandpa Wayne and Zoe spent some time fishing in the backyard....

Waiting patiently for the fish to bite...

Almost got it....

Got it!!!

 ...while Francis and Maddox napped off their food coma....how cute is this??

Zoe decided to join :)

Best Hair

I can't decide who has the best hair.

Maddox with straight, thick hair...

...or Zoe with her crazy curls?

8 months!

Happy 8 month birthday, Maddox!

He is now army crawling, attempting to give slobbery kisses, is obsessed with his sisters (yes, Maya counts) and is still as adorable as ever.

A few of his favorite things:
 
Mangoes and peaches
Corn, carrots and sweet potatoes
Bread (like a true Frenchie) 
Oatmeal
Baths
His sister
Getting tickled


A few of his dislikes:

Bananas - no matter how many times I try to trick him into eating them, he hates them
Getting his face wiped off
Maya barking
Being thrown in the air

We love you, sweet Maddox!  We can't believe you're 2/3 to a year!

Zoo Train

Zoe's favorite thing to do at the zoo is to ride the train.  Here are a couple of pictures we took last weekend on Santa Barbara Zoo's new train, Emmett.  It was all handmade by Chase Rides in Wichita, Kansas, and is a replica of a 1863 locomotive called the C.P. Huntington.

 

Seattle!

Francis, the kids and I decided to take our annual trip to Seattle this year to visit the Parras!

We started our vacation out in LA and made a pit stop to visit our friends Jorge, Paty and Sunny. Sunny is a year younger than Zoe and almost just as tall! I love seeing these kids grow up :) We can't wait to hang out again soon!

The Dudes

Sunny's Porche was a hit!

Playing with markers and stickers

Ready for crafts!

I was really worried about taking both kids on the plane but they were both very well behaved. I think it helped that we brought enough toys and snacks to keep about 15 kids occupied.  But it seemed to be just the right amount for Zoe.

My attempt at documenting our plane ride (note the snacks).

Maddox's first of many plane rides!

Seattle was amazing - it reminded me a little bit of San Francisco and Boston. Everyone seems to be very active and in shape - although they could work on their tans.

Family picture!

We spent a good amount of time at some of Seattle's amazing parks. Zoe and Gavin loved playing together!

 

Rachel even came up from Portland with Isaiah to see us - it had been WAY too long since we last saw each other.

Gavin and Isaiah

Rachel and Maddox

Enjoying the scenery at Gasworks Park

We even had some great BBQ back at the Parra's to celebrate Trevor's birthday.  Look at this guy - he doesn't look a year older!  Although Zoe did keep asking where his hair went. 

The Parras (+1 due in July!)

Z and Isaiah

Of course we had to do our fair share of touristy things while in Seattle. So we visited Pike Place Market (yes, we saw a fish being thrown), did a "Duck Tour" (Zoe and Maddox loved it!) and had lunch in the Space Needle (totally worth it).

Pike Place Market

The Duck Tour!

Happy girl!

Enjoying the amazing view 605ft up in the Space Needle

 Here are some more adorable pics of Gavin and Zoe playing, I couldn't pick just one!

Buddies!

Bath time has never been so easy

Zoe can't get enough of Gavin - this is her attempting to hug it out.

If you can get past Zoe's crazy hair, look at G's arm around her. Too cute!

Gavin pointing out the birds to Maddox - he's going to be a good big brother :)