Spring Break 2012

Aside from Camille's birthday, my favorite March activity is the Buchanan/Lamis Spring Break adventure! My sister and her family (along with my parents) visit every March and every year it's the same- FUN, FAMILY, and more FUN! This year's visit was shorter than usual but you can't tell from all the pictures below (that was a warning for the LONG post)!

We met at the Diamondbacks Spring Training game for some baseball and Arizona sun! It was so nice to sit in the sun and just catch up that my sister and I didn't even know the game had ended! Out of coincidence, we also met up with Steve, Angie (&kids) and BJ (&kids)!

Camille, Elise, Bella, Braden, Julia and Will at the game

All our kids got on the jumbo tron with their dancing so Camille was trying to get noticed again. No luck but she did entertain the people behind us! :-)

The next day my parents, the crew went to the zoo while the rest of us were at work or school! Suzanne even took all 6 for an 1 hr long walk in the neighborhood by herself! What a sight- especially with their "tough" looks!

The rest of the week was packed with backyard fun...

trips to the park...
I love this next picture- We asked Braden and Bella to put their arms around each other and they look so embrarrassed! We have the cutest picture of them as toddlers hugging each other (below) and were trying to recreate it.
How cute are they?? Braden and Bella are 3 yrs old in this picture.
Me, Ronnie and my sister
My beautiful mommy and her babies!

We visited Leaf and Feather Farm- we all had a blast seeing and talking to all the neat birds. I think Suzanne had the most fun here!

Suzanne and I (okay, mostly Suzanne) saved this cute little chick from drowning in a bucket.

Sweet Elise loves Chet! She has always liked to feel his hair or beard. Will calls him Grandpa Chet!

We finished with a fabulous visit to the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort for some pool side fun!

Camille loving life in the arms of Julia (and her goofy, trusty mask)

A shout out to Pat who seems to be ignoring me! :-)

I love this picture of the 6 kids- especially Will and Camille holding hands!
Come back soon and let's start planning 2013!!

Once in a lifetime

Julia is in Brasilia, Brazil for 2 weeks! She left last week with my mom who took on her this amazing trip for her 10th birthday. We miss her a lot and are SO happy for her that she gets to experience this. We talk to her daily on FaceTime which helps a lot! She is the perfect age for this trip- old enough to appreciate and take it all in! She is enjoying every minute and being a little spoiled too!
What's surprising for me is what I miss the most- I miss not being able to experience this with her. I love that she is with my mom and that their special relationship is being even more strengthened but I also wish that I was there too to see her face as she experiences all that a new country has to offer her. Next time!

Julia sitting by the pool (in her 1st bikini, perfect for Brazil!) at my cousin's house. Will she ever want to come home? :)

3 but still my baby

Camille is now a big 3 yr old but still my baby girl! I am loving this cute age- she says and does cute "3 yr old" things but can also do all the big girl stuff that makes my life SO much easier!

We celebrated her actual birthday at home with her requested dinner (hot dogs of all things) and banana split dessert.*Note to self- notice the ketchup on her face before taking pictures! :-)

We planned a cute Butterfly birthday party at our home with her cousins BUT the flu hit Chet so at the last minute we moved the party to Grandma and Grandpa Lamis' house! It wasn't easy moving everything but grateful that we had a Plan B (thank you Jackie and Steve!) and Camille still had a blast!

Who needs party games when you have a backyard tree??

My little fashionista with one of her favorite gifts from Nanny and Papa.
She has worn it MANY times since her party. Camille with her Wonder Twin Isaac.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMILLE!!!

36 hr getaway

Chet and I had to make a last minute trip to the Brazilian consulate in Los Angeles (long story, passport issues for Julia's upcoming trip to Brazil). While we were there, we also made the kids full Brazilian citizens- dual citizenship like I have and they are allowed to have as well. And we applied for marital status (in Brazil) as well which links us all together by Brazilian law and makes it easier to travel as a family. All of this isn't *necessary* but a legal link to their Brazilian heritage and a neat opportunity!

We invited the kids to come with us but they declined after learning of the drive time and quick turn around. Thank goodness- Bella can barely make it to the freeway without whining! :)

Anyway, Chet and I took full advantage of our trip. We went to Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Blvd to see the stars and "stars". (This one was for the kids)

After the long morning at the consulate (phew!), we continued our Brazilian day by shopping at the Brazilian grocery store and stuffing our faces with Brazilian pizza (which is so yummy!).

Indescribable dessert pizza. I may or may not have had 5-6 slices!

Before heading home, we stopped by a few nurseries to feed Chet's addiction of fruit trees and plants. And that concludes our fun (yet tame) trip!
It's amazing that we did all of that in less than 24 hrs in LA.

*one funny side note. All the way home I teased Chet about us being legally married in 2 countries. Hypothetically, should we ever divorce, we'd have to travel to Brazil together and finalize the divorce there too OR stay married forever under Brazilian law. I teased him that I'd forever remind his 2nd wife that I was still married to him. I think I scared him straight with my ideas! :-)

Wonder Twins 2.0

We lovingly call Bella and her cousin Brennan the Wonder Twins. They are inseparable, live in their own little world and sometimes get into trouble together. I think we have a Wonder Twins 2.0 on our hands. Now that Camille is almost 3 (!), the age difference between her and cousin Isaac doesn't seem so big anymore. Camille used to be the bothersome little cousin but now they are becoming best buds!

We met up with Isaac and Keeley at My Gym and these 2 had so much fun on these bouncy balls. I don't know what's up with Camille's weird face- I think she didn't want to stop bouncing for a picture.

And they're off again!

Farm fresh

We recently got to tour Shamrock Farms dairy farm near our house. I mostly buy Shamrock organic milk since it's local (well, our only local choice) and seeing this farm's operations made me even more supportive of them. Chet is still on his "let's live on a farm and live off our own produce and livestock" kick but for now we'll have to resort to buying from the store. :-)

Okay, back to the fun excursion... It was so much fun and so eye opening to all that goes into getting milk! My mom was visiting for the week and was able to come with us.

It was so neat to see the milking operation as it was happening. The milk being pumped would be on the store shelf the next day!

Camille and my mom feeding the calf.