Amazing, Right?!

Tomorrow- May 2nd is my mom's 62nd birthday!  We had dinner together tonight with some of her fav's (Parmesan chicken and green beans, and her grand babies).  We have so much fun anytime we are around her.  If you know my mom, you know how little this post is going to cover.  If you don't know my mom, that's too bad!  She is amazing!  My mom married my dad almost 36 years ago and it was love at first sight.  Remember my dad had a congenital heart defect that cause all kinds of issues?  When they met, he was healthy, but she knew about his history and what might be to come.  She married him anyway.  Amazing, right?!  I am glad she did because a year later, they welcomed the most beautiful baby girl into their family.  Four years later a slightly less cute baby boy (ask my brother about this).  During this time my dad traveled a lot on business and my mom was a stay at home mom.  She would write him love notes every time he left. Amazing, right?! My dad kept them all.    When I was little my dad got sick.  He was in Tucson, and we of course lived in Phoenix.  My mom would spend the day with us, drive to Tucson to be with my dad and then home again so we wouldn't miss her.  She did have to stay a few nights and she still says she was in agony choosing "my dad over us"- Hello?!  That is how important it was that she was truly "there for us". Amazing, right?!   When my dad came home, it was apparent my mom would need a job.  We were in school full time, so she could have done anything.  She chose to work retail so she could be home when we got home from school, and get us ready for school without rushing in the morning.  She worked at night and on the weekends to help make ends meet.  This way she could be around if we needed her and the time that should have been "her own" after we went to bed was filled with customers and standing on her feet for 8 hours at a time.  Amazing, right?!  She cheered us on at sporting events, helped in our classrooms, thew the most amazing birthday parties and led our AWANA teams, high school d-groups and choir tours with the rest of her "free time".  She always made her family the top priority in a time when moms were being urged to put themselves first.  Oh and by the way, she told us every night how much she loved us and that we were a gift from the Lord.  Amazing, right?!  She hosted all of my roommates (and Bill's too) for every holiday so they wouldn't miss their families so badly.  She fed the high school football team every night before the games-CORN CHOWDER ANYONE?!  Amazing, right?!  She took money out of her retirement to pay for my wedding because she wanted everything to be just as I had always dreamed.  Amazing, right?! She battled breast cancer, never complained, and only missed one day of work after each round of chemo.  Amazing, right?!  When my dad was dying, she was with him from "shift change to shift change" to make sure he felt safe and comfortable.  She let anyone visit because that's what my dad wanted.  She never looked at the time she spent with him as "just her time".  Amazing, right?!  When he passed away she gave each of his siblings an amazing gift, a "part" of daddy when she made teddy bears out of his clothes.  She didn't keep his clothes to hold on, or donate them to let go.  She used them to make precious keep sakes and ran out of time to make one for herself.  She still hasn't had tome to finish that project.  Amazing, right?!  She has channelled her grief into helping others understand what it must be like at the end of life and how to handle the impossible.  Amazing, right?  Now that I am a mom I appreciate all of her hard work and sacrifice more than ever.  When she picked us up from the airport when Benjamin was born, she ran through baggage claim bawling, "he's just so beautiful" to everyone she saw.  She has no shame when it comes to her grand kids because she loves them so much.  Amazing, right?!  She is over the top gentle hearted, she cries at cough medicine commercials (that is where I get it) and has an overwhelming need to be sure everyone else is okay, that is how she "becomes" okay.  She is a tireless servant, one of the strongest women I know, and I am so proud to call her my mom.  Amazing, right?!
Love you Mom- Happy Birthday!

Easter 2011

I  LOVE traditions!  When I say LOVE, I mean obsess about, plan, prepare, re-plan and so on.  I even spend time "reflecting" after we celebrate to see what we can do to make the next tradition even better.  So this year, I did all the regular stuff for Easter and added something. We of course know the real reason for Easter and we try to encourage our kids to focus on that by trying to not have too much "bunnyness" going on.  We don't dye eggs (more for the messiness factor, but I am now going to state it is on principle), or get our pictures made with the Easter Bunny (because Andrew would run screaming from the mall as he did during the great Santa Clause Debacle of 2009, but again, I am going to say it is principle).  Our Easter baskets contain the kids favorite healthy snacks instead of candy (for my benefit so I don;t have to peel them off the ceiling on Easter night at bedtime, but you guessed it, I'm calling it principle).  Annabelle has been asking a lot of questions... I swear this kid won't be believing in the tooth fairy by the time she looses her first tooth!  Why does the Easter Bunny come at night?  Why does he bring treats?  How can he be at "Olivia's Mall" and "Our Mall" at the same time?  Is the Easter Bunny a boy or a girl?  Does she (Annabelle chooses to think it's a girl) have sharp teeth?  Does she wear clothes?  Is she real or just a person dressed up as the Easter Bunny?  So instead of just blowing the whole scam, I answered her questions and added one more, "It's not about the Easter Bunny" piece to our Easter celebration.  A letter from Miss E.B. herself!

The kids FREAKED when they saw this!  They obviously forgot Santa leaves  us an eerily similar letter every Christmas!

EB also left a basket full of goodies for Daddy since he tends to steal from his children.  Sad, Really.
We had Nutri-Grain bars, fruit leather, fruit snacks, jelly beans and Swedish Fish Eggs (two exceptions to our "candy free" Easter).  Later at the Easter Egg hunt at Aunt Brenda's, they got Teddy Grahams and Goldfish.

Benjamin's Easter basket had a book, pookie and "my first Easter" outfit.

Andrew's basket also had a few trains

Annabelle got Tangled- which we have been watching non stop since Sunday morning.  Good thing it's a cute movie!

Daddy's Easter basket had some new shorts and Magic Shell...It doesn't take much!

Here are the Robin Egg trails from Annabelle's room, Andrew's room and our room (since Benjamin is still bunking with us)

Andrew lovin his Easter surprises!

"Mom, are you seriously taking a picture of me with Crazy Hair?"  EWWW!!!

Benjamin enjoying Easter too...  Like the Mickey next to him?  Choking hazard I know, but Andrew cannot stand for Benjamin to be alone in his cribs during nap time.   I promptly remove this toy every day when he's not looking!

My two oldest cuties ready for church.  Andrew really is more excited about his hat than he is letting on!

My baby cutie!  Check out his loafers!

Happy Easter!
Love,
Team Sanborn

EW....5 Weeks With No Post

Dear Blogspot,
I will no longer use my blog as a place to go to look at my "blog roll" for other people's updates.  From now on, I will post about our family before stalking  reading about other families.  I will not allow your time stamps under blog headings to mock me.  I will not let another holiday go by while the previous holiday is still posted as the most "recent" post.  Except for Easter, as I do not have the pictures down loaded yet.
Sincerely,
Molly

Happy St.Patrick's Day

Love, 

Andrew, Annabelle and Benjamin

Happy Birthday Annabelle!

Of course this post was quick in coming as to be sure to give each child equal time:)  Annabelly is also 5-YIKES!!!  So here is a glimpse of our baby girl at 5:

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Restauraunt: Someburros

Favorite Activity: Riding my bike, or hugging my "sniffy pillow" (just realized in the pic our house looks like a candidate for the show "Hoarders", but be sure to watch the video where the house looks much nicer)

Favorite Part of School: Playground (gasp- I know)

Favorite Friend: Andrew

Favorite Movie: Anything Barbie or remotely involving princesses

Favorite Thing to do with Daddy: Go places with him

Favorite Thing to do with Mommy: Shopping (AHHH!! Am I in trouble or what?!)

Favorite Clothes: Dresses

Favorite Shoes: Fancy Flip Flops

What do you want to be when you grow up: A Painter

Favorite Book: Beautiful Brown Eyes, Angelina Ballerina

What do you want to learn when you are five? Read, write and add numbers

AHH!!  That last part melts my heart (good luck to her kindergarten teacher- no pressure).

Annabelle- 

We cannot believe our tiny baby girl is five.  It seems like only yesterday we brought home a four month old, 9 pound, itchy mess.  And here you are, a beautiful, smart, hilarous girl.  You asked Jesus into your heart this year and you have become so tender and curious about all things having to do with God.  You love to shop with me, convincing me every mommy needs a little shopper!  You love to try new things, you just ate Kale and loved it.  You are getting more and more confident about who you are- we are so proud of that.  You have been such a responsible young lady since Benjamin came home, always offering to help when we look like we need a hand.  You are quick to defend the "under dog" and we are so glad God has laid that on your heart.  We are so excited to see what the next year will hold for you sweet Baby Princess.  We love you!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Andrew turns five today- WHAT!!!!????  Where has the time gone?  Blink of an eye my friends, blink of an eye!  So here is a little bit about Andrew at five years old:

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich

Favorite Restuaraunt: McDonalds (I know, blame the parenting as the reason he thinks this is a restauraunt.)

This is his actual birthday dinner!

Favorite Activity: Ride My Bike

Favorite Part of School: Circle Time

Favorite Friend: Annabelle (sigh, I know)

Favorite Movie: Toy Story (any of the 3)

Favorite Thing to do with Daddy: Play outside with my friends

Favorite Thing to do with Mommy: Go to McDonalds (I swear we only do this once every two weeks)

Favorite Clothes: Basketball Shorts

Favorite Shoes: Crocs Tennis Shoes

These are a must for any mommy trying to avoid velcro and tie shoes!

What do you want to be when you grow up: A Police Officer

Favorite Book: Mercer Mayer (I think he means anything written by Mercer Mayer)

What do you want to learn when you are five: ride my bike with no training wheels

Andrew-

We are so proud of you!  You have made it to five with your adventurous spirit and no broken bones!  Although you did just get your first bike, so we will see.  You love to giggle and make jokes.  You are a big guy with an even bigger heart.  You love your trains, your bike and imaginative play.  You have also just started to enjoy singing, which melts my heart every time.  You are very sensitive, sometimes overly so which sometimes leads to "emotionally charged episodes" (see fits).  You are very protective and loving when it comes to anyone he loves, especially his brother and sister (beware all bullies and possible suiters).  You still love to snuggle on the couch with your silky and occasionally you suck your thumb.  We love that there are tiny bits of little Andrew left in this big package.  You are wicked smart and we keep praying you will continue to use that power for good, not evil!  We love you so much Bubby and cannot believe you are five!  Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Disneyland Part 1

In case you didn't know...
We went to Disneyland over Christmas and had an AMAZING time thanks to UB!  He bought us ticket for Christmas...  ALL OF US!!  Mimi, the A Babies, Bill an I and himself!  Thanks UB for the best Christmas present!!!  Here are a few pics of our trip:

Looks a little blurry right?  This was taken as we got off of Space Mountain.  Annabelle was not a fan!

Even face painting is more magical at Disneyland!

See what I mean?!

Our last vacation as a family of four!!

The girls:  From the top
Annie, Mimi, me, Autumn, Annabelle, April and Amy

The matching scarves...  Hopefully Autumn will be living with us soon as she attends GCU:) Bunk beds are waiting Autumn!

Andrew and Annabelle waiting for the Tiana Show.  Notice the rain boots?  These were not a fashion statement.  It was forecasted to rain the entire day!  So we all wore rain boots.  It did not rain the whole day thankfully, but due to the forecast, the rides were empty.  And it did rain later and we were grateful for the rain boots!

The kids with Tiana!  It was so cute!  Annabelle ran right up to her!  Andrew on the other hand, side stepped close to her without making eye contact.  I think he may have a little crush!

Andrew and his favorite cowboy!  Oh, and our cousin April of course!

This was the "Ferris Wheel of Death" as it was coined by my brother.  It's a regular ferris wheel, but the gondolas are  on rails and swing wildly with the motion of the ferris wheel.  Annabelle had to hold UB's hand.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE DISNEY ADVENTURES!