Annual (and classic!) Christmas Jammies pic

Decorating Gingerbread Houses

Early Christmas hangout

We got together with the Jodoins & my mom on 12/20 for an early Christmas celebration, as my mom would be out of town for Christmas.
So we, OF COURSE, had to carry on our matching jammies tradition!

Masking buddies

Pajaro Dunes Beach adventure!

Birthday treat!

Nolan chose his favorite "restaurant" for his birthday treat - Wetzel's Pretzels!

Happy 10th birthday, Nolan!!

Shortly after returning from our "birthday beach trip" to Pajaro Dunes, we got to officially celebrate Nolan's birthday!

We love you to the moon & back, Nolan! You always bring a new, interesting bend to every life event. You keep us (especially our minds) on our toes! We love you! Happy 10th birthday, Nolan! ❤️

Happy 8th Birthday, Alexa!!

Since we couldn't have birthday parties filled with lots of friends due to COVID, the Jodoin/Smith squads decided to celebrate Connor, Alexa, and Nolan's birthday (all within a few days of each other!) with a little weekend getaway at Pajaro Dunes Beach.

The kids were all SO surprised and absolutely had a blast!

Here's Alexa's breakfast pancakes, complete with whipped cream and sprinkles!!

Happy 8th birthday, Alexa Jolie! You truly brought our life to the next level and completed this family! Every day is an exciting (and loud!) adventure with you!

Break my heart

Today, Francis got upset with the kids for starting a useless fight.

I came in the room a few minutes later and noticed Nolan was really upset, so I asked him what was bothering him.

Nolan responded, "Dad is mad at me, so he doesn't like me. But he means everything to me."

That seriously hurt my heart. I reminded him again that nothing he does could stop his dad and I from loving him. Being upset is not the same as not liking or living someone.

The sweet part of this story, at least, is seeing such an amazing bond between Francis and Nolan. 

Out with the old, in with the new!

We're tearing out that old cement patio, and replacing it with some beautiful new pavers. I can't wait to see the upgraded yard!

Just a little dessert

Teaching herself piano

Alexa found an app on her iPad that teaches you to play the piano! She's loving it!

Handstands

Alexa and her friend, Emma, spent 3-4 hours (over FaceTime) how to perfect their handstands.
I love her fierce determination!

Dinner & Dancing with the Ruels

 Another fun dinner with Ruels (Ben, Cheri, and cousin Addison).  We even got a dance show from all 3 kids!

Big Ol’ feet!

At 9 years old, Nolan's feet are almost the same size as mine! Wowsa!

Swim time!

Just doing some quadruple dives!

West Coast fires

Fires are raging all across the west coast, just to add salt to the wounds of 2020. Not only are we all battling coronavirus, but now fires too.
The air is so thick from the fires from the Santa Cruz mountains that it even smells like a bbq outside 😢

First day of 4th & 2nd Grade

 Today is the first day of 4th grade for Nolan & 2nd grade for Alexa.  Unfortunately, it won’t be in-person schooling (yay homeschooling!) so we won’t be able to reunite with all our buddies quite yet.  I see lots of zoom classroom meetings in our future! 

The kids are staying optimistic right now - we’ll see long that lasts ;)

Hanging out with the Ruels

Ben, Cheri, and cousin Addison came over today for some BBQ and water play! Alexa and Addison are just adorable together ❤️❤️

Hanging out in the fort

Connor came over for the day. The kids played in the bounce house/water slide, followed by playing electronics in the play structure (surprise, surprise!)

Hangin’ with the Davies

After an awesome day of swimming and dinner at the Davies' house, Alexa and April surprised us with a little dance performance they made up themselves. Priceless ❤️

Alexa's Dance Recital

Alexa wasn’t able to hold her dance recital at the Center for Performing Arts like she hoped, but they still made the performance happen! Small groups were filmed, and then those recordings will be compiled into one, cohesive video. Still livin’ the dream in COVID times!

Swimming & Lunching

It is 105 degrees today! WTF! So no other option than to hangout at Jarrod & Jenn's pool.
Sweltering good times with Robert & Connor!

Daddy-daughter cuddles

Alexa just wanted some cuddles while eating lunch at Uncles Jarrod's BBQ

Movie time

Father-Daughter Valentines Dance

Look at this two gorgeous people ❤️❤️

Francis and Alexa went to the Father-Daughter Valentines Dance with their Adventure Guides troop. Both had a blast!

Alexa’s riding a bike!!

Alexa is now riding a bike without training wheels!! I kid you not, she learned in ONE day.
I held her seat as she rode around our block ONE TIME. Then she started riding on her own! First she was doing 50-100 feet at a time, then she was later fully cruising.
She cried and screamed with each fall, but when I would ask her if she wanted to take a rest for a bit, she would yell, "No, I am not stopping!"
That girl's determination never fails to amaze me! She's an unstoppable force to be reckoned with!