Summer Lovin'

Ok, so these uploaded backwards, so I will start from the top here! We have been "super" busy, as my kids would say! "Super" is our new word this year! My cousin got married in San Diego, "super" fun wedding, danced the night away, need to post some pics of that! A trip to Legoland topped that trip all off:) Brother's turned 5!!! We had a bounce house/slide party! The waterslide was the hit...would totally recommend one! They have been doing a lot of sleeping in and we have had a lot of late nights...I have no idea how I am going to get 3 kids to school on time! The kids have been wanting to sleep together on a fort...in the living room, so we let em. We had our "Dean" Family reunion...3 days of no showers, dirt, swings, riding the motorcycle, campfires, and cousins left us with many great memories and ready to get home and get cleaned up:) I think in the pic there are over 30 kids...Ellie got baptized!! She turned 8 in April and we had such a great day at her baptism! Can't believe I have an 8 year old...enough said about that or I will start crying. Jacob and I got to sneak away to Maui to celebrate my 30th! Wow, we stayed at an amazing condo in Kanapali...ziplined, paddleboarded, golfed, swam, hung out with the Jonas brothers, got tan, all we were missing were the kids!!...next time! Phew, it has been a while since I have posted last but with facebook now, it is sort of taking over my blogging world. Hope you, whoever you are out there reading this are enjoying my life. This summer has been great and busy, I think we are savoring every moment before ALL our kids go to school!! Loving our new house and yard this summer, being outside is my favorite, and "Super" fun with my kids, priceless.

Moving again?!!

So, yeah it sounds crazy, but we are moving again into a new house in SLO. Same town, new place! Long story, but let's just say we will be saving a ton of money, since our rent was a little crazy, our neighbor was a little well you know, and we had no back yard, or should I say we had a chicken coup! New house=big yard, hot tub, own space, close to freeway/downtown SLO and grass!...which we have missed dearly since moving from Clovis! So, off we go...we did not unpack a lot so yes, my garage is full of boxes filled with a bunch of who knows what, really I just want to go take it to goodwill but I am sure there are some valuable things in there. The movers packed us, so I do not know where anything is and frankly I do not even know what is in the boxes. We are excited to be close to downtown and get settled...again. Our life is an adventure, and it is showing me to hang on and ride it and have fun or you will go crazy. Even though I feel a little crazy right now. Jacob and I just open the garage stare at all the boxes and then shut it! ha:) For real, this is our 8th move, we will settle down someday:)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

This year has been exciting, new, crazy, stressful, and fun! This year has taught me to live each day to the fullest with your loved ones and friends. Be helpful, be kind, share, say I love you even when you are mad, concentrate on things that matter, life is a ride, are you on it?!

We sure had a ride this year when Jacob got laid off from his pharmaceutical job in March, to finding another job two weeks later, that he would start in May. Severance and time Jacob had, so off I went to work and coached gymnastics like crazy. Private lessons, more hours, and Jacob ended up being "Mr. Mom". I missed my kids and the routine I had, but I was so grateful for Jacob in wanting to help out plus giving me a chance to work and feel what it was like to be the one working! The kids were able to have memories and time with their Dad that I was so grateful for. So, one door closes another one opens and Jacob is working for Pfizer as a pharmaceutical Rep in SLO!

We moved in July and listed our house for Sale in Clovis. Ellie started 2nd grade, the brothers started pre-school, I have a few minutes to myself 3 days a week, which is nice!

My laptop, realtor, and real estate attorney became my best friends and we were on a quest to sell our house "short sale" style which I am happy to say sold!

Tragedy struck friends, jobs were lost, lives were lost, accidents happened, and this is why 2011 can only bring new experiences and opportunities to share our love and friendship to all those in need. Service is truly contagious and the biggest service that was given to us was that Jesus Christ died for us. We hope you can remember this, this holiday season and let your light shine!

Merry Christmas,
Love The Dean's
Jacob, April, Ellie, Cooper & James

Brothers 1st Day of Preschool!

These guys started preschool yesterday! They are too cute getting ready for school in the morning. Quite different from their sister! They are up, dressed and ready to go! They truly are precious and I love that they are growing up and have each other. Never would have thought, once again, that I would have twins, but now it's moments like this picture that make me feel I am so lucky to be their mom!

Pickin' Apples

We finally got to take Jacob to the Avila Barn! It is one of the kids favorite places! We went on the hayride and picked apples and Jacob is making an apple pie right now! I would really love to have my own farm and orchard. It would be beautiful to look at and yummy to eat! But a ton of work! I love the pic of cooper here to the left. He is our "challenging" child, well I guess all kids are challenging but he is especially "special". He is super smart and he knows it! Aughh! But doesn't he look so sweet in this pic?...makes me want to be more patient with him. By the way the ice-cream was amazing at the barn! Cupcake ice0-cream, oatmeal choc-chip and lime sorbet! Dad spoiled them and then we headed to the beach. Love having a day with the fam.

2nd grader!!!

2nd grader!!! School has begun and Ellie's words were, "I can't believe summer is over!" But, we will still have fun! She had a great first day of school. Kids are so easy to adjust and I am grateful she is outgoing and makes friends easily! The twins start preschool in 2 weeks and I never worry about them. Twins always have each other and my boys think they are the bomb and can do anything! ha ha, they will hopefully keep that mentality. Things I noticed about Ellie as a 2nd grader:

-Confident

-Tall

-Mature

-cautious

-Curious

Well, I think Ellie will be just fine. Of course, my sleepless nights of worrying about her and wondering if our move would make things hard, I realized kids like adventures and love to learn! So, school is a good place! I will post The brothers in a few weeks, watch out! These boys are growing up!

10 years!!

Jacob and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary yesterday!!! Here we are all together on our header! Wow, can't believe how much has happened in 10 years!!! Love my life and all the roads we have taken thus far:)