Party time!

Francis turns 43 this week so this past weekend we celebrated at Lookout Tavern with friends and some family. It was a really good time and we were able to ride our bikes because it's just across the street from us. We have such a fun group of friends!

Go Cards!

Kai and Francis went to a Cardinal's game.  It was one of Kai's Christmas presents to go to his first Cardinal's game. It was a surprise! He was SO excited and had a great time. 

Francis to Kai

Kai - I remember always wanting to have a son and I was so happy when your Mom and I found out that you were coming. I couldn't have even imagined how great of a son you would turn out to be. I always say that you have to be a Dad first and a friend second. With you, Kai, i get to be your friend 95% of the time because you ALWAYS do exactly what you're supposed to be doing....homework, chores, helping your sisters...

I admire your work ethic......I don't know too many kids who say that they want to be the best at something and then go back it up with hours and hours of practice on a daily basis.

Kai, I am proud to be your Dad, I love you and I can't wait to watch you grow. You are 1 of the 4 best things that has ever happened to me

40

Francis turned the big 4-0 on March 13th and I surprised him with letters from family and friends from all parts of his life. He really liked it :) I was proud of myself for keeping a secret from him, which is near impossible! I got him his favorite cookies from Basha's bakery, made him a chocolate cake and took him out to dinner. The kids gave him gifts and his Mom came by to watch the kids while we went out. It was such a special day for Francis & he deserved it!

Busy week

Last week Kali had a friend over & they decorated cookies. Poor Kali has been learning the hard way about "girl drama" lately. I am glad she has friends like Lauren who are zero drama.

She has also been hard at work on her cursive & multiplication. She past all of her times tests 1-12! 

 Koko is her normal hilarious, wild, climbing, mess making self. She likes baths again & recently got scared of the shower. Now she is scared of wind. She is saying a lot of words now. Dada, Mama, Yaya, cheese, water, Kai, Noodle, ball and a lot of others that only we can understand.

 She likes to carry around her naked doll baby but does not play with her long....just throws it on the ground.

Kai of course is busy with soccer & reading every book in his room. This is one smart kid. School is a breeze for him & he tests off the charts for everything. And, no matter how smart the teacher says he is OR if he scores a goal in the soccer game he is cool as a cucumber. He never gets over excited about things....except for the last day of school, he can't wait for that!

 Mother's Day was a nice day. I got flowers delivered from a friend and the kids made me cute little gifts. Francis painted the back patio (I've really been wanting that to happen) and Kali and I went to church with my Mom.

 Here's my Mom & me as a newborn. My Mom is SOOO pretty.

 I've been lifting weights with Fran lately. He's been asking me to workout with him for years but I thought just doing cardio at the gym was better. The weights thing is working out much better for me and I've been counting calories too and I've lost 15 pds in less than 3 months.

 Fran and I went out to dinner the other night with Fran's Mom Kathi. We went to La Bocca at City North. It was SOOO good! First time I've ever tasted Baba Ganoush and I loved it!

 The coloring is off in this pic but here we are before we went out.



39 and looking fine

Francis turned 39! He was not too excited about it but the kids were really excited to give him his gift & the cards they made. We sure do love this handsome old guy :)

What Mom & Dad have been up to

When we first moved to our house it was cream colored, orange bricks & turquoise trim. GAG me with a spoon! We painted the trim a few years ago and always planned on painted the cream but got so busy once we had Kora. Well this past weekend we had officially had it. Francis went to Home Depot, bought paint & brushes and got to work.

I love that this guy is a hard worker. It was SO hot the first day but luckily some clouds rolled in the next day and we even got some light rain. Made the painting not so painful.

 Kali and Kai rode bikes and scooters with the neighbor kids.

 And two days & two cans of paint later we are done with the front stucco. Next up is painting the brick and then we are going to put new gravel out front & Francis is going to tile the front walkway.

 Francis and I went on a date to Blue Martini to hear a cover band play. We met up with a friend of mine from high school and her husband. It was so nice to get out.

Kali is SO excited because she just found out that she is going to be a gingersnap in the Nutcracker!

 

She has been working SO hard on her flexibility & it's paying off. 

 

This wild and crazy gal has been keeping me busy while Kali & Kai are at school. Kora likes going to visit them at lunch, she thinks the loud cafeteria is great.

 And, just for proof that I dress nice sometimes I took these pics of my new FAV shirt & earrings.

I have been on Pinterest pinning outfits with denim shirts so I've been wanting to buy one and I finally found one on sale at Target for only $15...score!

I am SO excited for cooler weather.

Love this face

I LOVE Mr. Becker's face.

Before I was married I always thought that after being married a while you just roll over one day and look at your husband and think, "blech this person again".

It's been over 10 years and that day still has not come so I'd say we're doing pretty good.

I sure do miss him when he is at work & I still get SOOO excited to see him everyday.

I am not writing all of this to brag but sometimes late at night I see him out in the living on the computer reading this blog and so I thought I would let him know how much appreciate what a great man he is.

And, what a lucky girl I am to be his wife.

Triple Birthday

We started Wednesday with Francis opening his gifts, Kali was excited for him!

Kai did not really care & was playing Angry Birds.

Do you know what I see in this pic?

Kali is getting SO tall.

Fran's arm muscle is looking good.

The wall above the door is STILL not painted completely

and the mirror makes a weird reflection in these pictures.

Anywhoo back to the post

It was also my Mom's birthday & Ashly's last week (my sister-in-law)

So we reserved the back room at Valle Luna and ate up a storm!

Triple Birthday!!

This is my youngest brother, Bret.

Big arm muscles are the thing in my family 

Kora was so cute sitting in a high chair for the first time

Francis lookin' good at 38

Cody & birthday girl #2 Ashly

My Mom is 61, can you believe it? She is gorgeous!

Oh and it was also my parent's 34th wedding anniversary...so much to celebrate I tell ya!!

Party people

Then we went back to our house for yummy cake!

Some days these people drive me nuts, some days they make me want to move far away but 90% of the time I feel really lucky to have such a wonderful family & to be surronded by so much love.