Happy 30th Vaughn

I'm so wrapped up in my daily routine that I rarely have time to reflect on what a great husband I have. So after 30 years of life, 10 years of friendship, 5 years of marriage & 2 kids later...here's to you!!!

You are an awesome person, wonderful husband & the best dad that anyone could ask for. You work hard all day & still manage to find time and energy for all of us. You sacrifice sleep, your hobbies & sometimes your pride. You've taught me to loosen up a little and enjoy life. Thank you for providing for our family, listening to us whine & being a great example to each of us. We love you!!!

Vaughn's best birthday present came early in the form of a promotion. Here's the proof that even when you move up the corporate ladder you can still get away with balancing cookies on your forehead. Thank you Ammon for the congratulations package & the unknown entertainment it would provide.

Since Vaughn's birthday is usually neglected the day after Christmas, I threw him a little surprise party with some of his buddies. You know someone's truly surprised when they show up to their own party with a shopping bag & stick of deodorant!!!

Yep...30 candles. Kaden was so excited to see them all lit up. He had been poking his fingers in the side of the cake licking the frosting.

Licking the frosting off the candle is not enough, you have to try and bite it too. We didn't nickname her "Munchie" for nothing.

On Vaughn's actual birthday it's kind of become a tradition to make him his favorite German Chocolate Cake from scratch. It seems like a million steps but it's the least I can do for him on his special day. Only 3 candles this time (I prefer not to eat wax).

Our Christmas Festivities

So it finally came & went. We had an incredible Christmas holiday that lasted several weeks. We went to see house lights in Fountain Valley, the big tree at Fashion Island, Kaden's Christmas program at school, a party at Vaughn's grandparents in Vista, Christmas Eve with my family in Northridge & Christmas Day at home with my mom and Vaughn's parents.

The kids in front of the 115 foot tree at Fashion Island.

The kids running around like maniacs near the big tree...you'd think they never get out.

Ashlyn squealing with delight at neighborhood Christmas lights.

Kaden & Vaughn in front of a tree with a billion twinkling lights.

Ashlyn & Kaden playing Great-Grandma & Grandpa's piano.

Ashlyn amused with Kaden's white elephant gift. Without being prompted, Kaden waited patiently through several people opening gifts for his turn to swap his unopened gift with Great Grandpa's spinning light fan. It was funny that he grasped the concept without any explanation.

Kaden showing off a new car.

Kaden & Mommy at the Lechuga Grandparent's.

Kaden & Grandpa Dave putting together a Superman puzzle...over & over again.

Ashlyn & Grandma Crystal opening fruit for her new shopping cart.

The kids in their new ball house. They wouldn't come out to open other gifts!

The kids with their stockings. They were so patient it was amazing...maybe they were just overwhelmed by all the gifts. I think we opened the last ones around 4pm.

Kaden testing his new golf clubs from Grandma Roxie.

Grandpa Stephen, Grandma Leasa, along with aunts Kaitlin & Becca opening gifts.

Ashlyn loving one of her Christmas purses. She loves emptying them, talking on the phone & transferring items from purse to purse...such a girl!

The kids making a royal mess out of the sugar cookies with Grandma Roxie.

Catching up on December

So is anyone with me on how fast this month is going? Here's a recap of the first week in December...

5Movie night on our living room floor. Finally saw Ratatouille & everyone sat in one spot for the most part.

5 My sister was kind enough to invite me to Employee Night at Disneyland. It's been forever since I've been on so many rides. It was fun & I'm sure I talked her ear off.

5Uncle Dan the Surfer Man came to visit us mid week...long story but he's become my new best at home friend due to the recent strike. My kids are way more fun than new episodes of CSI. The kids were stoked because he brought them M&M's.

5 Ashlyn showing off her chocolate mouth as she digs for more!

5 Vaughn & Kaden at the Christmas tree lot. Vaughn went straight from work to T-Ball, then to dinner, then to get a tree...it was a long day.

5Not the greatest picture of me but I had to show you our freaking huge tree & how lovely it is trying to get our kids to take a picture.

5Huge, enormous, gigantic...Vaughn & Dan said this was the one. When we put it in our place it was so full I had to actually trim it back so we could get to our couch.

Fun November Pics

As if you haven't seen enough of our family this month...here are some totally random pictures that we took in November.

5Our clean little brownies.

5We met Vaughn's brother & his family at Disneyland...everything is decorated for the holidays.

5Shrimp anyone? One of my mom's favorite things to do is remind me that I used to eat shrimp when I was little. Well, apparently the nut don't fall far from the tree...or shall I say shrimp from the ocean. Amazingly she figured out not to eat the tail.

5Watering the plants is one of our kids favorite things to do...I wonder how long that's going to last because I consider it a chore!

5Ashlyn was way into drawing with the chalk...I think she just likes the mess it makes.

5For no particular reason Kaden wore this bandage on his nose ALL DAY & cried when we made him take it off that night.

5Cousin It? She's perfectly content this way & it really only bothers us.

5Puddles are so much fun...especially when you have one on your own patio! When Kaden discovered it was raining he went running for his rain boots.

5Why he needs one I don't know (Vaughn said it was on sale) but everything he does has to be "like daddy". At least the things we buy for Kaden get passed down to Ashlyn. I wouldn't be surprised if she gets more use out of the wetsuit than Kaden since we can't keep her out or above water.

The last of the fall leaves

With Christmas approaching we said goodbye to our fall leaves. Only a couple more weeks until winter is here. The kids are becoming best of friends & have a fabulous love-hate relationship.

5Big brother guiding his little sis.

5I bribed them with jelly beans to sit still on the rock. The only problem is that in all of the pictures their mouths are full of candy.

5Why would she try to eat the leaf?...only Ashlyn knows!!!

5Tree hugger Kaden...he was actually peeling off the bark.

5Trouble...how can you be so girly & such a tomboy at the same time?

5Picking flowers for mommy.

5Flower girl...rubbing flowers on her face.

A couple of Thanksgivings

So every year we celebrate Thanksgiving at least twice. This year we started a week early with a Lechuga meal at my sister's. Then on Thanksgiving we spent it with the Chase family. I must say we spent more time having fun than taking pictures this year. Here's a peek at the events...
The Lechuga, Comorre & Novotny dinner.

















They really can be so sweet. Kaden - I'd be frightened too with Ashlyn's slobbery kisses coming my way!








Kaden ate more cookies than anything else that night.


















Ashlyn in her favorite pose! Yes, she cries all the time...just call us & you can usually hear her in the background.















At the end of the evening the kids finished off with some groovy dance moves.

Anybody recognize this face on the dance floor? Have you ever watched his dad dance? Exactly!!!

Kaden played and played with his cousins. Here, he and Dylan are making trouble in Grandpa's pond.








After our meal the kids went to the park. Dylan and Kaden are only a month apart in age so they are best buddies.




Ashlyn with crazy bed head. She had fun too but she mostly preferred to play on the stairs.