Just say NO to bullies!

It's never to early to start teaching values, so yesterday we sported James up in a pink shirt, to take a stand against bullying! 

A~L~O~H~A

We just got back from a great family trip! It started out with a side trip to Cannon Beach, Oregon, where Geoff bought a new truck. It was a long drive for James, only made easier by the portable DVD purchase, which was well worth the price tag! 

We then came back through Seattle and flew to Kauai the next day - a long trip, but well worth it! James even had his own bedroom in the place we stayed! It was an amazing time, spent with 16 of us in the most beautiful location on Secret Beach. 

After a week in Kauai, just the three of us went to Maui for a few days. Caught some rays at Big Beach and bummed around Kihei.  Here are some of the pics - it was hard to narrow down, so there's lots!

Here's a shot of the beautiful sunset and us on the beach by the haystack rocks. 

James loved the bubble jacuzzi tub!

Thank god I'm outta the car!

The only time he used the stroller until the last day (playing around the condo)

Hats, shmats!

Haha, did you just see Dad bail on that wave - knarly!

Loving sipping from water bottles

View from lanai in Maui

Hanging with Mom at the pool in Kihei

The whole family trip (16 of us) in the most beautiful place in Kauai! This was our daily view - not too shabby!

The beach we spent 5 days at - gorgeous!

Let's ride some real waves Dad!

James found his tongue on the trip and stuck it out for much of the day!

Catching some zzzz's on the beach

How James usually looked after a day at the beach!

Let's go deeper Dad!

Chub Chubs in the baby pool

Playing in the sand

Mom and me on the beach

Deeper Dad!

Lovin' being a nudie outside!

Mashed food with a view!

MMM beer o'clock!

Me and Dad before we hiked down to the beach

Man, I love the beach!

Movin' and Shakin'

In the last week or so James has learned to crawl somewhat. It looks more like a slitther, although many attempts at moving from hands and knees position are there, just not mastered yet! We feel like it's imminent though and love seeing the new changes he makes everyday! James grunts when he moves, which is very manly!

Gymboree-wee!

Yesterday we were invited to James' first birthday party for his friend, Noah, who turned two! The party was at Gymboree, which we were excited to try! James loved it and I hope we can go back, although I did learn that it's quite pricey, so it might be more of a once a month thing. Here are a few pics of James' adventures:

Crawling (term used loosely, more like dragged) through the tunnel

Hanging out in the inner tube (loved this)

Was infatuated with all of the balloons, thank goodness they didn't pop, or he'd end up with a balloon phobia like his mother.

Climbing with Dad

Boo!

And lastly, our nice family photo. When I got home and downloaded them, I soon realized that my fly was down and since I didn't use the ladies room there, it was down THE WHOLE TIME! I'm not sure how many children I scarred! 

So with the lovely advantages of our Mac, I cropped the picture! What a good-looking family!

Mom, I'd like to try feeding myself please

Well, I thought James made a mess when we fed him, but when he was keen to try it himself...man, was I wrong! I guess this is what we are in for:

In other exciting developments...James is trying so hard to crawl and actually made his first move while Skyping his Papa G! He can crawl up on Geoff and I and loves to stand leaning or holding on to whatever he can grab. His favorite is standing on the couch by the window waiting for Dad's truck to come home! Today in his jolly jumper, he tried to climb up his push toy.

Playing in '09

James' Grandma came for a visit this week and took these random shots and since I haven't posted anything lately, I thought I'd share some of them!

I love yogurt! Why did my parents wait so long to give it to me?

One with Dad and Dad's creepy eyes! We have the same hair!

Playing the piano with Grandma!

Jumping on Mom and drooling all over her!

My first swim lesson! I didn't have that much fun because I was tired and just got an upper tooth - ouchie! I'm ready for Hawaii next month in my new swim shorts though!

My girlfriend came to town!

We had an awesome visit over the past few days with two of my best friends, Roxy and Amy. But more importantly for James, Roxy's gorgeous daughter Noelle (we call her Noey) came for a visit. Looks like the arranged marriage might be on the rocks already!

I told James that it's ok for men to cry as women like sensitive men, but that he also needed to be a little bit less of a cry-baby, as women tend to walk all over men like that! After kissing and making up, these two had lots of fun playing together for the rest of the visit, which went by entirely too fast!

We're so excited that Roxy's having a boy in May and our great friend Jill is due this month - it's going to be so great to get together with the babies and watch them grow up together! xox