Sea Breeze!

OK as much as I would love to add caption to each photo, I can't...I do not have the time.  So here is the gist.  This was our annual vacation at Rockaway/Cannon Beach with the Wells', and Ruff's.  We started this vacation, which turned into tradition when Ella & Liv were a year and a half old~it was just the two of them(as far as kiddos.)  Years have gone by, and now we've added another 7 kids to the bunch =)  Good thing we stay in a BiG house that accommodates 3 families including 9 kiddos.
 ~The kids had the time of their lives, each day was a playdate at the beautiful beach.  They dug in the sand, ran on the beach, played in the water/waves, pretended they were in quicksand, ate tons of snacks, soaked up the sun, giggled, got soaked, got sandy...
~One of my favorite days was spent with a Fultano's cheese pizza, coke, and snacks on Cannon Beach.  It was heavenly, the weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky!  I ate so much food on this vacation it wasn't even right. 
~It was Leo's very first time on the beach this year.  Last year, he was still comfy in my tummy, and had a month to go before he would enter the world.  He was so sweet, he loved the beach and was so happy in the sand.  Crawling all over, was smiling, and enjoyed having his hands, fingers, feet & toes in the sand.  He even tasted it, a few times :/ 
~I didn't get a single picture of my 3 kids together, which makes me so sad =(  I didn't have as much camera craze this year ;)  my hands were full.
~We have been so blessed with amazing weather over the last couple of years.  You never know what it will do down there.  It rained the last day we were there, otherwise, it was really nice!  The dudes(Shane, Richie, Todd,)  went crabbing on Father's Day, so you will see some pictures of that too.  It was there chance to pretend they were on The Deadliest Catch ;) 
~2 things that were left out this year~Seeing my dear friend April =(  and buying bags of Sleepy Monk coffee! 
The Oregon Coast is very peaceful, and serene. We really do love it down there. We will probably take a break from it for a wee bit. The 9 hour drive got to all of us this year. Rich said it perfectly, that he "couldn't drive another minute longer." I would have to agree, it was rough this year. So I think I can now get over my fear of flying, and the next family vacation will be somewhere warm, and we will get there by flying! So grateful that we were able to go on this vacation, it's so wonderful to make these memories with our children.

Beach BABE!

Leo L-O-V-E-S little bottles.  Brings back memories of Liv, she was the same way at this age!

My baby girl, soaked to the bones, wearing my sweatshirt in hopes to warm up.

Yin & Yang ;)

Rascals!!

1st day at the beach!  Loved watching him explore in the sand!

The mudroom, did we pack enough outerwear?

Using the sand as a blanket to warm up.

Hee hee, this face he makes is so funny!

Chillin' with Auntie D~trying to figure out how I can get that phone from her.

Leo loved when Auntie Laura played in the water with him!

Tillamook Ice Cream=Afternoon Delight!

There I am(I'm the one looking at the camera...in pain,) after all the food, snacks, dessert, & coke that I consumed for a week ;)

Crabbing/Father's Day gift from the Mamas

Way to go Todd!

My little sweetheart Leo is 11 months!

I had to post these(they are a little fuzzy because I took them with my phone,) to show his curls. Hard to believe he used to have super dark, straight hair. He lost a bit a few months ago, and when it started growing back, this is what we got=light, & curly =) Just like his Daddy's(as well as Olivia's,) baby hair.

• Took his first 2 steps at my mom's on June 20th. Noel and I were chatting in the sunroom and he took off from the ottoman. It was so cute! He waddles like E.T. =) He is more determined each day to get walking, and really does get better each day.
• Still remains a total snuggle bug. Comes over to me and lays his head on my chest. Or wraps his arms around my neck when I say "can mama have a hug?" He is just a sweetheart in so many ways!
• He just recently started shaking his head no, if we mention the word or try and redirect something that he is doing.
• Nurshing like a champ 24/7 which makes me think he will be nursing for a L-O-N-G time!
• Last but not least, he is definitely still a Night Owl! In love with him, wish he could stay little, yet so excited to watch him hit milestones and grow, and Grow, and GROW!

What we've been up to~

Whoa, it's been a C-R-A-Z-Y month!  Olivia's last day of school was June 13(also my BiRtHdAy.)  We left for our annual trip down to the Oregon Coast that same day.  We spent a week down at Rockaway, & Cannon Beach.  When we got back home I had one day before family came into town for my Mom's 60th BiRtHdAy.  My brother has been town visiting before he heads back to N.Y.  And well, now it's time to get going on Leo's 1st BiRtHdAy party~can't believe I just typed that!!!  He's going to be 1 in a flash.  It's amazing, and tugs at my heart all at once.  This last year has gone by way too fast.  Summers are busy around here...especially since our 3 little one's have July, August, & September Birthdays.  Leo & Liv's are exactly 1 week apart.  Life is good, but so busy, I want to just unplug, but don't really get the chance.  This week brings more excitment as my friend Siri will bring a new baby boy into the world...and I thank her in advance for giving me a newborn baby fix.  Can't wait to meet the newest Herzog!
So it's been Vacations, Birthdays, Baby's, & Business as usual!  All in all, we are enjoying summer!  Pictures and posts on all the above coming soon~

Olivia's final project for 2nd grade~

Olivia had to create a Diorama for her last project of the year. She was able to choose from several habitat's, and after going back and forth, she chose a Tropical Rainforest.  The Diorama was a collaboration~Tabitha taught her how to make bananas and coconuts out of clay, and made a cute little Monkey, Uncle Noel helped make frogs, I cut out stuff(ya, I'm not as creative as Tabitha or Noel!) The other part of the assignment was to write a report. She worked so hard on both, and received an awesome, much deserved grade. Very proud of her, can't believe she is at the tail end of 2nd grade, crazy! She deserves the most wonderful summer, she's worked very hard this year, and is a great student! Nolan didn't want to be left out, so he asked if he could make a Diorama too, sweet boy. Nolan loves school, and projects. He came up with some of his own ideas, but asked uncle Noel to help with a frog, & snake, and borrowed a few bananas, and coconuts from his sis.

Leo James is 10 months old!

Some things about Leo~
He LOVES music, just like the others.  Climbing into baskets is his new thing.  He holds his little arms up to show us that he's "SO BiG," he crawls up to me and lays his head on my shoulder for a snuggle.  He is SO MUCH like Olivia when she was a baby.  He uses a bit of sign language, mainly more, all done, and eat.  He picks at little tags, fuzz balls, threads, anything little ;)  or with a soft texture.  He LOVES the water, and bath time.  Maybe he'll be a great little swimmer like his Daddy.  He is perfectly content when he's being held ;)  He is a snuggle bug.  Happy as ever unless he is hungry, frustrated, or sick.  These first few pictures were taken on his 10 month bIrThDaY!  I haven't been taking as many pictures lately, shocking I know! 

I seriously can't believe we are here...10 months!  Leo continues to be the sweetest little babe.  He is very mobile now, never wants to sit still.  Cruising along furniture, cruising while holding onto my hands, crawling everywhere.  Well, because of his activeness, he's losing his chubby little body =(  I don't like it one bit.  I have enjoyed his roly poly bod and was hoping that he'd keep his baby fat for a lot longer.  He is going to have curly hair, just like Liv's.  Same color, same texture.  They really resemble each other, especially when Liv was his age.  His eyes stayed blue.  Both Liv & Leo have my Grandma Hennessy's blue eyes and darker eyebrows.  He babbles up a storm, all though the only words I can really make out are Mama, Dada, and this.  He has been our pickiest eater.  I have tried to place fresh avocado and banana bits on his tray, and well, he's not a big fan.  Probably because he still has quite the gag reflex so we are sticking to pureed foods for a bit longer.  Has never taken a bottle, bink...or sucked his thumb.  For a while he would suck on silk, but that has stopped.  He is still nursing, it's CONSTANT!  You would honestly think I have a newborn baby living under my roof!  So it would only be fitting that along with nursing is waking in the night :/  I am SO STINKEN TIRED.  This sweet boy hasn't slept through the night once since birth...not even close!  He his up every 2-3 hours most nights, no joke.  I know it is out of habit, he really doesn't need to eat.  Poor babe has 6 teeth right now, so I know the waking is due to a combo of things.  He wants comfort, and well, I give it to him.  I am not wired to let my children cry it out, never have been, and guessing I never will be.  Olivia and Nolan weren't good sleepers until after a year either, so I don't know why I am surprised.  The trend has been that after a year, I have incredible sleepers, and nappers!  It would just be nice to not walk around like a zombie, so sleep deprived I can barely function.  I do love him so, everything about him, still nibble on him so much my jaw hurts ;) and if he were a good sleeper, he really would be a perfect baby.  Come on Leo, you can do it buddy...sleep at least 5 hours in a row for your mama ;)  There are a few other things I want to write about, so I will post more soon.  Well, after our upcoming VACATION that I cannot wait for.  Looking forward to UNPLUGGING from the world and enjoying all the sweet faces in my life!
*Below are some pictures(gotta love rapid fire :) ) I took of Leo with his Uncle Noel last week =) He is so content with Noel. I think he knows what a gentle spirit my brother is. He just hangs out in his arms, perfectly happy. It's pretty sweet!