Picture Outtakes

I thought I would post a few pictures of our pictures being taken, just to see the process. Young was taking pictures of the picture taker.

We had to get an early start before the sun got too high in the sky (Rachel loves to work in the most perfect of natural light) but it was cold!  Cameron had her blankie wrapped around her while we waited for Rachel to scope out the ocean spot.

Here is Rachel shooting the kids.  Being a mom herself, she knew what to say to get giggles and smiles out of the kids...and to get them to sit still long enough to snap lots of pics.

Timo found his little cave that he loved.  Daddy took this pic but when Cameron joined him he asked Mrs. Rachel to take their picture.

Timo the ever explorer, on the hunt for a stick, stumbled upon this massive pile of sticks! Oh, which one to choose??

And of course he had to know what every piece of equipment Mrs. Rachel had and what it did.  She was so nice to take her time and explain each thing to him as he kept pulling more and more out of her bag.  You can tell she is a Mom!

Once the pictures were all done, prints were framed, I hung them on the kid's bedroom wall. Cameron was so excited to see them that she wanted to do a family picture of her own.  She gathered all her "family" of stuffed animals together and told me she was like Mrs. Rachel taking pictures!  I'm searching for the perfect bedside picture frame to put the picture of her "family' in, then her room will be complete!

5 Year Pictures

We had our 5 year family pictures made back in March and we chose Land's End as our backdrop.  I like doing the family pictures around the kid's birthday so I can remember how old they where.  Our pastor's wife, Rachel, is an amazing photographer and has a gift of getting the kids to smile!  Sorry if it's too many pictures...I had over 250 to choose from...but here are a few of my favorites.

I wanted to bring the kid's security items to have them holding something so precious to them.  Cameron had her Dinkie...

And Timo had his Papi. Poor Papi landed on the ground a few times but it was worth it for some cute shots.

Timo found this little nook in the woods and asked Mrs. Rachel if she would take their picture in it...too cute.

I had talked to Rachel ahead of time about an idea to do 5 year pictures for the kids.  I had seen this on Pintrest and really wanted to try it.  She knew exactly how to do it and what the backdrop needed to look like, all I had to do was bring the props and change of clothes.  I LOVE how they turned out!!   I had a hard time narrowing down their likes at age five because they are all over the place, but according to Timo "Mommy, those are all the things I love!"  I guess I got them all right. Cameron was especially excited that Mrs. Rachel got her cape to fly!

Rachel took a few fun candid shots of the kids, which I tend to like more than posed pictures.  I think candid shows their real personalities...as you can see in the picture on the right.  A huge thank you to Rachel for her time and energy for our family, such a blessing to us!!

Silly Dress Up Day

The kids' school had a "Fashion Disaster" dress up day at school last week, which I translated to the kids as Silly Dress Day because they have no concept of "Fashion". Knowing my two, they both are particular about what they wear, so I wasn't sure how they would feel about dressing crazy and unmatched for the day. I started talking about it a few days earlier and how all their class mates were going to dress silly. I let them pick out the silliest close they had, think they would be more willing to wear what they pick out than what I dress them in...and it worked!  They even came up with the idea of wearing two different shoes.

Cameron thought it was so silly to wear her polka dot pants with her bone shirt and Timo thought it was outrageous to wear his football shirt while he wasn't playing football...such a crazy crazy boy I have (sarcastic).

I asked Cameron if we could put two pony tails in her hair because she doesn't normally like her hair up and she came up with the idea of four ponytails, crazy!  And Timo surprised me by saying he wanted his hair standing up!  I was so shocked he wanted something so crazy...so I moosed his hair up in spikes. (he wanted it washed as soon as we got home because his hair "hurt")

I guess silly faces have to come along with silly dressing, every picture I tried to take they has to put on thier silliest faces. We got to school and not many of their friends had dressed up. I knew it would be hard to get pre-schoolers out of their comfort zone and wear crazy clothes. Timo started getting upset because he couldn't find anyone dressed silly and wanted to go home, but then he saw his best friend, Finn, with his hair spiked up too.  Slowly he noticed more kids dressed silly and felt more comfortable, whew!  Crazy Kids!

Randomness

 Just some random activities we've been busy with over the past few weeks...

The kids' new school had their annual May Fair fundraiser that we attended and it was so much fun.  They had a huge rock climbing wall that I waited in line almost an hour with Cameron only to get up there not be able to climb.  There was not age/height requirement but she was too small for the harness to fit on her.  Oh, she was so sad.  The face painting cheered her up and then on to all the games.

Young and Timo made their rounds to all the games...Timo's newest love is basketball.  He camped out at this game.

 Speaking of basketball, Timo has been practicing his dribbling...

Sharona was in town to visit from London!!  We had a an awesome dinner with her and her husband, yes husband, under the Bay Bridge looking at the new bridge light show.

She came with gifts for the twins!  Cameron received this so cute "tea trolly".  Only in London would they sell a tea trolly!  She loves it and set up a little tea party for Cheetah and Dragony.

Timo received a pump rocket...she knows our Timo well!  We set up a target in his hula hoop being held by big Papi.  I love when they use their imaginations!

The newest card game we play non-stop...Crazy 8's!  The card game was in a recent birthday party favor bag and it's been a hit.

The Olympics are still alive and well in our house.  A few challenges they were up to the other day...I'm guessing they think it's harder with no clothes on?  Rock climbing and horseback ridding...

Always Something to Say

One thing you notice about Cameron immediately is that she is always talking. Anytime, anywhere, anyone.  She always has something to say.  I hate to admit it, but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  I had several nicknames growing up that all associated me with non-stop talking.  This characteristic is a blessing and sometimes a curse.  At certain times we have to lay down the "no more talking" rule at the dinner table just so she can get a few bites of food in her mouth.  Watching a movie is almost impossible with Mrs. Chatterbox around.  And Young and I have to sit though endless songs she sings.  But as you can see in the videos, she doesn't always have to have an audience to keep talking.  No matter who is around or even if no one is around, she always has something to say...or sing...

20130514 165733 from Sara ko on Vimeo.

Jaguars' Baseball Season

Timo played his final baseball game this past Saturday.  It's sad that it's over but I'm glad to have our Saturdays backs, he, he.  They had a great coach this year, Coach Logan, who was fun yet pretty firm on the disciplines of baseball.  We could really see Timo growing and improving in the sport.  He can control his throws better, more power in his swings, and really learning to hustle to first after hitting the ball.  He had his best game, by far, on Saturday.  Three hits, two ended up on first, one he got out.  And four catches and throws to 1st for outs!  Coach ran out at one point and said "Timo, you are on FIRE today!"

Here are some highlights from his season...Timo really like this drill at practice, throwing the balls against the wall and trying to catch them.

Here are two videos of one game...him hitting and running home.  I love the smile on his face after he comes home, so happy.  It just shows how much he really loves baseball.

20130427 133521 from Sara ko on Vimeo.

20130413 091133 from Sara ko on Vimeo.

The final game, Timo heading to first and heading home to score.  Technically there are no "outs" in the game but the coach is teaching to always throw to first to get the out, and on the flip side, as soon as you hit the ball, run as fast as you can to first base before the ball get there.  Even though they get to stay on first if they are "out", the boys try their best to beat the ball.  I love the determination of Timo trying to get the first.  Way to hustle Buddy!

Last team cheer and "good game" with the other team.  Thanks Coach for a great season!!

San Diego and The Bryants

Our best friends, Daryl and Mindy, moved to San Diego about 6 years ago.  Whenever we are down that way we always try to get together.  On this trip we were able make it their son's 3rd birthday.  The party was the same Saturday as Ashley's graduation, only in the evening.  We finished up at the graduation party and headed down to La Jolla to celebrate Josiha's birthday in a park.  The kids were wiped out from the graduation and swimming, they slept the whole way.

All the kids had fun at the huge park and it was fun to see Josiah again.  The last time we saw him he was 5months old....can't believe he is 3 already!!

Since Legoland was in "early season" they closed at 5pm, leaving us plenty of time that day to meet the Bryants again for dinner.  It was Cinco de Mayo so we had to have Mexican.  It was great to see them, laugh, catch up and see each other as parents now.

Timo and Cameron CRASHED on the car ride home from dinner that night.  They didn't even stir when we took them in the hotel, in the elevator, fumbling for the key and into their jammies.  A sign of a great day!

It was time to head back home the next day.  Lucky for us it had rained early that morning so there were tons of snails out.  The kids stayed totally occupied looking at snails while we packed the car.

The kids did really well with the long drive (6.5 going and 8hours coming back).  They watched a few movies (Ice Age Dinosaur), read some books, tried to get truck drivers to honk and at snacks.  Check out my snack kits!  I got the idea from Pinterest, of course.  It's wipes containers filled with snacks.  They each had their own and the LOVED it.  We had a really great time and are ready for our next road trip!  Any suggestions?