The Davii

Summer, part 1

2010-06-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

ah, summer. finally the last couple days we've gotten the heat of summer...it's been 104 or so the last few days....here's a little glimpse of the things we've done over the first few weeks of summer.

since mom and dad half-moved to sebastopol, we've gotten to make it to the beach quite a bit more. which we all really like. we brought along our dear friends, on this trip, janelle, gio and octavia. we had a great time there, at salmon creek state beach. a beautiful sunny day, a touch windy, but nice, even though.

this is ryland and brad playing cat and mouse, putting, (like the game HORSE). ry has a knack for making some amazing shots off the hearth. golf is huge around here these days. for father's day, ryland and brad got tickets (thank you, work!) to the US OPEN!!! quite a treat for the two of them...

i just realized, you can't tell what they are looking at (a deer, at the folsom zoo), so they look like a couple of monkeys at the zoo, which is appropriate since that is a favorite sound of selah's these days....

great advancements...

2010-06-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

so, selah, turned two (may 14) and ry graduated from kindergarten (may 27)...great advancements in the davii house. they are both really great together (see how studious they are together!?) and love to play and harass each other and their mother.

birthday cupcakes. she really did like it. really.

i love this shot of them. selah in her tutu playing with a princess castle and ry golfing. they are playing together!

San Diego

2010-03-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

last weekend, i drove ry, nana, and popi down to san diego so that we could see malia and zoe in their school play. this is a picture of their front yard. going to my sister's house is pretty great. when we go there, we get to do things like have bloody marys before heading to the neighborhood little league pancake breakfast. ry gets to play bocce ball on their bocce ball court while mom checks out the fig trees in the upper half of their half acre. dad swings on the tree swing as my sister visits with her dear friend and dear neighbor. and of course we get to go to the beach.

and ry gets to play frisbee, and football with popi.

and chase the waves.

do the neices get any cuter than these two?

New Year, trying to start blogging again...

2010-03-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know that it is March and not really the New Year anymore. And what, with Facebook to keep up with, and all the holidays and just plain life happening....well, that's my excuse anyway. My lack of posting is not due to lack of material. ryland and selah never stop giving me good material, vocally, emotionally, pictorially. most every day i look at them and think they grew the night before, in body, character, and spirit.

So as I can, I may post some pics and info from the last six months, however, for the sake of me not getting overwhelmed, I will start with the Here and Now!

The video below was taken on the way to my grandpa's memorial (2/25). A bit of sunshine and joy during a time when we all need it! Both of the kiddos love to dance, love music. Brad says it's because they are native...that they are born with a song in their heart. like the penguins, i say. :)

As I was looking back on earlier posts, I noticed that this helmet made an appearance before! Only it was on Ryland. Now, Selah enjoys wearing it! She is definitely a girly-girl...loves wearing a tutu, carrying a purse, admiring dresses...but she also loves wrestling with ryland and wearing his football helmet! Another note on this pic is that she walks now! It was a journey, but she started walking at about 19 1/2 months - just after Thanksgiving. Thank goodness! This little one was a late walker, but now she is a runner!

Ry is almost finished with Kindergarten! only about 2 1/2 more months! I can hardly believe it! This pic is a self portrait taken at a play: "Alexander and the horrible, no good, very bad day". It was such a fun field trip!

Valentine's Day! I heart U Peeps for breakfast!

We are finally getting to play outside a little more!

Drake's Beach

2009-09-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago, my friend Mandy and I took the kids (sans Paige) to Drake's Beach for the day. My family has been going to the beach for years. Almost always on Mother's Day and whenever else we can. It holds a special place in my heart and memories. It was such a great day. I didn't have my camera, but I did have the video camera and captured this great video. Selah just makes me smile and laugh. Mandy brought her Canon Rebel so whenever I am able to snag those pics (they are GREAT!) I will. Or, you could go find them on her blog at www.teamheilner.blogspot.com. Look in her July archives. Anyway, what a wonderful day at the beach, followed up by the tradition visit to Taco Bell at Cordelia Junction. Happy and tired at the end of this storybook day.

Energy and Joy

2009-09-08T22:12:00.000-07:00

I just downloaded a bunch of video from our video camera. Here is a video from Jalama beach, back in July. I love the sheer joy on Ry's face. And the energy. Oh, to have the energy. He had already been doing this for some time when i took this video.

tahoe

2009-09-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

Over Labor day weekend, we were invited on an impromptu overnight stay at the Dyce's cabin (Heilners)... It was a great time and so nice to beat the valley heat!

Ryland and Colby played in the river for several hours on Saturday!

Birthday cake

2009-09-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

This is from way back on my birthday, August 28. Ryland and I made my birthday cake and then he wrote the words with frosting. Pretty impressive, as it is hard for me, and adult to write something legible in frosting! :)
Happy Birthday Mom 31

clown nose

2009-09-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

I know it is blurry, but it was the best one I could get for some reason. My camera is temperamental when it comes to getting shots of Selah. She moves so much! Anyway, all morning she had been playing with a half an easter egg in her mouth so that it looked like a clown nose. Just had to post it. :)

football golf

2009-09-08T21:43:00.000-07:00

Morning play time. Putting around the house in a football helmet. Enough said.

Letter to Mr. Turner

2009-09-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

In Ry's kindergarten class, they have a mailbox that the kids can write mail and it is read to the class at the end of the day. This was the first time Ry chose to write some mail. The only rule is that there must be some writing on it.... I was pretty impressed (as usual) that he wanted to do this...although, his favorite part was putting the stickers on. :)

Selah's handywork

2009-09-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Selah seems to be taking after her brother in that she likes to play with his cars. Or maybe it is just what is available to play with! But I found this cute...that she piled the cars into the Little People playhouse.

Birthday Boy

2009-08-20T22:06:00.000-07:00

5 years, quite the milestone. The whole hand. He is one amazing little man who I often think is much to old to be only 5. Five years ago that our lives changed dramatically. That his shiny spirit burst into the world ready to find all it had to offer him. He has embraced our world, bettered our world, with his charm, his smile, his humor, his love. Love you, my baby, my Ry -Guy.

For Ryland's birthday this year, we had a small pool party at our community clubhouse. I don't have many pics of it yet, just because iI wasn't the one taking the pictures, and I haven't gotten them from my friend yet. But i will try and post them when I do...

Ry started school this week and the class mascot goes home with a child every day. Surprise! We just happened to get him on Ry's birthday! :)

I know it is blurry, but my stinkin' camera can't seem to capture her smiles NOT blurry. hmmm. i HAVE to figure that one out. how cute is she?

Soccer

2009-08-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Ryland started his first organized sport. Soccer. Yay! He loves it, and is quite comfortable. maybe too comfortable - kind of a little troublemaker sometimes! But it's been really fun to watch and we start games next month so I will keep you updated!

Selah Bear

2009-08-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

This picture cracks me up. She already really likes to look at books. But, I don't know if you can tell, but she hangs her pacifier out the side of her mouth. It reminds me of how people hang cigarettes out the side of their mouths... she's just relaxin', readin', and chewin' on that paci. :)

First Day of School

2009-08-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

This week was huge for The Davii. Ryland started school, Monday, August 10. Kindergarten. My baby started kindergarten. He started soccer on Tuesday. Turned 5 on Wednesday. The whole hand, as he puts it.

He did great. I think he was a touch nervous, or maybe that was me.

Laundry

2009-08-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

Lately, Ryland has had this strange but helpful fascination with doing laundry. "I really love doing the laundry," he says. Which is great for me...he loves to change the load (saves my back!) pour the soap, push the buttons and then sit and watch it work. The other day he said, "Don't do any more laundry until I get home from school!" He even ate dinner one night sitting in front of the washer (no, this picture was NOT staged)! He will make some woman very happy one day!

Jalama Beach

2009-07-31T23:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so, it has been FOREVER since I've posted anything. So much has been going on! So, for this post, I am just doing a bunch of pics so that I can get on to more posting! My family has been going camping to Jalama Beach for the last several years. We didn't make it there last year...but this year we did - and what a great time! We had our mansion of a tent plus a raised aerobed so we were really quite at home. Ryland LOVED the whole thing...from movies in the car on the way there to the beach, throwing rocks, the hot cocoa, the cousins, the sports, the burgers...and Selah really seemed to enjoy herself as well....

Gymnastics try out

2009-07-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we joined Colby and Paige at their gymnastics class for a trial run...Really, we were just filling our long summer days, but Ry had so much fun doing it! And, it is always a good idea to get the little boy energy out...out of the house! I didn't get any actual pics so here are a couple videos.

2009-07-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

I had some real "proud mama" moments last week. Ryland participated in a soccer camp - his first real, organized sports program. He will be in the local soccer league beginning in August and this was a great way to get him started. He LOVES to play soccer and really learned a lot of great skills this week! I must say, he is quite a natural! I am so proud - I played soccer all growing up and can't describe how fun it is to watch him play now!

On the last day, the kids were encouraged to bring dress-up clothes and the coach had to wear the items....the kids had a great time, and Coach Mark was a really great sport!

Coach Mark didn't end up wearing the wig we brought, so Selah wore it instead! Gorgeous hair, Selah-Bear!

The camp was run by Challenger Sports and they bring British coaches that play semi-pro in England to teach the kids. I was so impressed by them and how well they interacted with the kids. It was so funny, too, because by the end of the week, the kids had picked up a bit of the accent. :) I must say that I was a little nervous about it because we didn't know what to expect,

but this was such a great experience and we are so happy we did it!

4th of July

2009-07-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

We had a fun and relaxing 4th this year. We just had a couple friends over for BBQ and fireworks. This was Ry's first REAL experience with doing fireworks and he LOVED it.... of course!

Colby, Ryland, Felicity
Selah, Paige, Callie

Smoke bombs!

The boys were not too fond of the loud ones!

Buddies. Ryland tells me that Colby is his brother. So cute. :)

Old school sparklers were way better! These ones didn't work too well, but they got the idea.

See our dance party below!

Graduation Day...the pictures

2009-07-02T23:01:00.001-07:00

Here are the pics from Ry's graduation...I posted earlier about the day. He is so great!

so thrilled to have their pic taken!

We met with these friends just about every day after school to play under the cherry tree...

Dad's Day

2009-06-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

Ryland said to me the other day: "We are having Father's Day. It is just like Mother's day. But for Dad's." I love the circular reasoning of this explanation. :)

For Father's day this year, we went to lunch with my mom and dad, and the Weichel's at Sylvina's Basket for a Mexican lunch buffet. It was SOOO yummy and really nice to visit with everyone. Then, the guys went golfing - this was Ryland's first real golf experience...Brad said he did great and was really able to keep up. Watch out Tiger! :)

I think he may have his sports mixed up!

Graduation Day...

2009-06-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today is a strange day for emotions. Today is my dad's last day at the Woodland Police Department. Today is the last day of preschool for Ryland. For both of them, it is Graduation Day. My dad, graduates to a new stage, retirement, a little bit uncertain, a little bit anxious, but excited and eager for the next thing. His impact in our community was evident on Saturday night at a party we threw for him ( I will post more on that later). I know he will continue to work and touch the lives of those around him - he just can't help it - but it is still so weird the the chapter of the Department is now closed. I love you, Dad - you are great at what you do, all of it, and I look forward to seeing what you do next!

As for Ry, I know, it is "just preschool" and there are many more graduations to come, but I can't help but be a little nostalgic for my baby...my Ry-Guy who is such a big boy! Kindergarten starts August 10th and he turns five on the 12th. It is hard to express my feelings about this, as they are all cliche... It is so great to watch him grow and become the man I know he will be...

Brad and I also just celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary...what a difference 6 years makes! :) We've come a long, long way, Baby! I love you, always and forever.

Palm Springs

2009-06-18T21:48:00.001-07:00

So, this post doesn't have any kids in it...that's because we were able to go away for the weekend without them (Thanks mom and dad!)...Don't get me wrong, of course we love spending time with the kiddos, but when we spend time just for ourselves it makes us better parents, better people.

The trip was actually a "reward" trip... Brad was one of a group of people from his work who reached a certain amount of revenue in a certain amount of time and this trip to Palm Springs was the goal! He is so good at his job and I get to enjoy the perks sometimes! So he went ahead a few days for conferencing (yeah, right) and I flew down on Friday. We came home Sunday, refreshed, rested, relaxed...

The view from our balcony

The view from our front door.

Lazy river...

a GREAT day!

2009-06-18T21:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't been so great at keeping this up in the last few weeks (listen as I chant our mantra: "we've been so busy!" ... or lazy?:) ), so this day happened several weekends. But it was a really great day...It was a Sunday and we didn't have any commitments at church so we decided to take a family day. Not much planning, just some general ideas of what we wanted: lots of fun, a bit of driving, and good food!! Turns out, being spontaneous can make the best day trips!

We started out heading up to Folsom and ate at Dos Coyotes (YUM!) then off to Folsom Community Park to ride the train and check out the area.

Our lovely girl.

Our sweet boy...

Believe it or not, this is one of a very few candid family shots we have! Funny how that works out!

After a visit at the park, we decided to head up to The Fountains in Roseville. It is this fantastic new shopping center that is a great place to look around (window shopping only, as it is pretty high end - but we can dream!). We had a great time looking around Smith &Hawken, a fancy-smancy garden shop. Ryland also really enjoyed this!

We had told Ry what the place was called so he was so excited to walk around and check out all the fountains. The coolest part is that they have these fountains that shoot up out of the ground for the kids to play in. He had a great time! It was so much fun...

Selah was so pleasant, even though she only had a 20 minute snoozer in the car the whole day. She is constantly impressing us with her easy-going attitude.

After playing, we went and checked at the larger fountains and Ryland loved watching it put on a show - he also enjoyed hamming it up for the camera, as you can see below.

On the way back to the car, the boys relaxed on the lounge chairs for sale.
It was such a beautiful day, too....sunny and 78 degrees. Ry has become quite the little weather man :)

We capped off the day with *bucks frappucinos and dinner at a hole-in-the-wall Chinese food restaurant. Does it get any better?

This day was awesome. Ryland has really become a great conversationalist, monologueist (is that a word?) - I wish I could share all the crazy, funny, and and truly intelligent things he has to say. He said a lot of things on this day! He has an uncanny ability to remember names, facts, and events. He is really an amazing big brother too....he is so endearing to his sister and it is such a treat to watch them together. She adores him and he, her. Okay, enough gushing.

summer is coming!

2009-05-30T16:40:00.001-07:00

I just thought I would share a little bit of what we've been doing lately...

It's really been heating up here in Sac Town already so we've spent a lot of time at the pool. Our neighborhood has a community clubhouse with three pools...it's a really great place to expend energy and pass the day. Ryland loves to go with friends (Colby is pictured here) but will easily make new friends when none are available to go. Sometimes, we'll even grab a cheap dinner or lunch at the cabana. Selah is not loving the water but seems to enjoy observing from the side...

Just this morning, Ryland and I participated in our first 5k together. He did so great! I would guess that he walked/ran at least 75% of it! It was a fundraiser to support Janelle's MOPS group so it was low key and a great first "race"!

Ry has really enjoyed experimenting with pictures. He took this great shot before our walk this morning...

Selah's 1st Birthday Party

2009-05-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

This was on taken on her actual birthday - the 14th. We had just opened her gift from Auntie Cookie. The Little People playhouse. She loves it!

We had a small get together on the 16th to celebrate her birthday. What a nice time it was!

Selah and Nana

Nana lovin' on Selah

Popi and Selah

Popi and Selah were really cute. He kept playing with her and making her smile and she loved it when he messed up her hair.

Sad to say...this was NOT her first cake, sweet, or dessert.

But she liked it just the same! More than anything, she seemed to enjoy the feel of the frosting between her fingers. :)

The older kiddos got cone-cupcakes

Mandy and Paige Heilner. Paige is about 9 months older than Selah and is already a great partner in crime - showing Selah the ropes, and keeping track of her paci.

Way in the background (walking), is Callie, a few months older than Selah. Then sitting, is Octavia, one month older, and on the ground is Sammy, a few months younger.
Also in attendance was cousin Jared, 5 months younger...how fun to have so many great friends already made!

Daddies got to sit outside in the heat and keep a loose eye on the kids who wanted to brave the heat.

Selah couldn't make it all the way through the party without a nap. When she woke up, most everyone was gone except for Nana and Popi. So we opened their gift. I love this picture - she really did take the card and look at it as though she was reading it. It was so cute!

Selah is one today!

2009-05-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

Wow. This past year has really zoomed by! One year ago today, Selah came into our lives by cesarean. She has really lived up to her name "to pause and reflect". Her demeanor is calm and observant. When she smiles and laughs, we cannot help but smile and laugh with her. She can really light up! She is such a joy to watch and to love. People ask me all the time whether she is different to raise (being a girl and not a boy), and it is too hard to tell if it's different because she is a girl, or if it is because she is a different person, or if I am different. But I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a bit of all three.

Ryland and her have really taken to each other. Just last night he was running by her and running circles around her while she just sat and watched and laughed. It was adorable.

I am a bit nostalgic for this day but happy and eager to see what the coming years will bring us!

Here is a look back at a few photos of her first year...

First few weeks at home.

First beach trip, Santa Cruz

First Christmas
(I started the blog in January, so you are all caught up!)

AWANA Awards Night

2009-05-12T20:52:00.000-07:00

Ry is part of a kid's program called AWANA, run through a local church. Tonight was the awards night. He joined half way through and so he didn't get an award (he did get a certificate). I love how this picture captures how he felt about that. :)

I have to say though, he is so cute! :)

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-12T20:23:00.001-07:00

Mother's Day this year started on the Friday before. Ry's preschool had a special afternoon planned for us. Here is the video from it.

Me and my baby...

On Sunday, we got in the car and drove to our favorite beach. We try to go to Drake's Beach every year for Mother's Day - we missed last year because I was so pregnant with Selah....she turns one this week!
We turned her car seat around for the first time on this trip. She was lovin' it!

Selah Bear only took one 45 minute nap the whole day! She is usually such a sleeper but was in a good mood edxcept for when we were trying to get her to sleep! :)

Cousin Brodie

That's our kite!

Nana and Selah

Happy Mother's Day Mama!

Jon and Jenn joined us too (Jenn is due on the 17th!)

Ryland played "sports" all day and begged anyone to play with him up until the minute we left...no nap, and even stayed awake for most of the drive home.
We capped off the day with dinner at Taco Bell...Brad summed it up with "The beach trip wouldn't be the same without ending it at Taco Bell!"
It was such a GREAT Mother's Day...

Day Off

2009-05-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

The other day on the way home from preschool, Ryland says, "Hey mom, how about you take a day off and we go to the beach?" A day off from what, I am not sure, but I sure like his thinking about the beach!

Enchanted

2009-04-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

Ryland was watching the movie "Enchanted" for the first time yesterday at Nana and Popi's. He was truly enchanted by it. When Nana asked what was his favorite part, he replied "The dragon!" She asked him, "What did you think of the music?" He responded with great emotion, "Oh, I almost cried because I loved the music so much!"

Trip to So Cal

2009-04-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

We drove down to Southern California last Thursday for a long needed vacation to see friends and family. The drive down was VERY long and we really enjoyed the LA traffic. Despite the long hours in the car, the kids did really well! Below are some pics from the trip. I am really bummed because, for some reason, I didn't end up getting any pics of Sarah and Ryan's house, where we stayed for two of the nights. They've had their kitchen remodeled since the last time we were down two years ago, and their yard has been redone as well...it all looks really beautiful and it was so relaxing to sit in the sunshine and cool breeze and overlook their property. Thanks, friends and fam, for a great time. It was so good to see everyone!

The morning after we got there, we went to see Malia's school performance about family - it was so great! Malia even had a piano solo and Ryland was beaming with pride as he watched her play. I was so glad we were able to be there!

We picked up Filiberto's for lunch and went to Bringle Terrace Park to meet the Mette's for lunch. The Ryland, Zoe, and Josh had a great time playing football with Uncle Brad.

This is Sebastian, James and Lisa's son. We had a really nice visit with Grandma and Grandpa Mette, Lisa, and Sebastian.

Saturday, we picked up Alberto's and went to the beach at the O'side pier.

Malia

Malia and Selah got along really well...Selah liked to give her kisses!

Malia and Zoe kept commenting on Selah's big muscles. "Look at these guns!" Malia said.

Auntie Cookie has big muscles too!

Ry played football with the waves too!

The pelicans were so close, we lost Zoe for a minute and when she found us, she informed us that she was touching the pelican's beek. Who knows if she really did?

Mark and Lina Bornstein were gracious hosts on Saturday night. Mark showed Ry how to roll pizza dough.

Sunday morning, we drove to Costa Mesa and attended Rock Harbor Church with the Krudwig family. Tina and I have been friends since college (over 10 years now!) and it has been so fun to see us grow our families together. I know we will be friends for many years to come!

The Krudwig boys: Cooper, Cohen, and Che

Che LOVED Selah, and she really liked him too ;)

Random pics

2009-04-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Ry's hobbies include lining up his cars on the kitchen counter...

and sometimes counting them...

Selah turned 11 months on April 14th. I know it is cliche, but I can really hardly believe how quickly the time has flown...

Easter

2009-04-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

We had a really great Easter...it was a long-y though! It started at 6:34 with the sunrise in the park behind my parents house. We had a few friends and family make it to the early celebration. Nana read the resurrection story to the kids, we sang a few songs, and Poppi said a few words. It was really beautiful.

We then had an easter egg hunt in the back yard... followed by a really yummy breakfast buffet. We then headed off to church and a relaxing afternoon of naps. We also got to go to Oma and Poppa's house with the Heilner's for ANOTHER easter egg hunt, great food and great company. What a wonderful day!

2009-04-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

It just happened to be Good Friday...
Genesis 9:16
"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

This vibrant double rainbow was the result of the sunshine and rain - Ry really loved it.
our house is the one on the left...

Brad and Ryland were playing basketball in our driveway and it started raining with the sunshine. It was so pretty!

My first post

2009-04-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here is my first post...for those of you who have never followed a blog (including me!) I will try to post regularly so you can see chronological pics of the kiddos. For this first post, I went a few months back and picked a few highlights, so, start at the bottom for the earliest pics. Now, I will try to upload a little more frequently. Enjoy!

Selah enjoyed the sunny day on the greens...

Ryland, already, loves sports and seems to catch on very quickly!

Brad took Ryland to the driving range/putting green for the first time last weekend.

Birthday kisses for Octavia

Callie and Selah

Ry, Jack, Felicity, Colby

Ry was very excited about this piece of candy and offered his friend Colby a taste.

Our church had an easter egg hunt, with "10,000 eggs!"

Ryland was very impressed with how great the seats were!

Ryland and Brad got to go to a King's game and high-five the players on the court.

Pretty in purple

Play day at the planet park, downtown Sacramento

These two love each other!

COOL.

Ry LOVED sledding...he was a natural.

Snow day at the cabin in Arnold, 2/6-7/09

I entered this in the Regis and Kelly Beautiful Baby contest. I think she was a winner!