Faulkner??? ...Hay!

it's that time of year again... hay rides, pumpkin patches, and pony rides.  but this year we were a little misguided when we made a preemptive stop at a unsuspecting, random roadside patch.  what looked like a harmless photo op turned into the Harvest Moon School for Hippies fundraising nightmare.  the 4 of us had no idea what we were getting our otherwise sane selves into.  we quickly realized we were in a... different kind of patch when we were approached by Harvest Moon Recruiters and hula hoop dancing forest folk.  when "free your mind" and "our bodies seek pleasure... that's why we eat" rang across the hula chick's mic The Chef and i caught each others bug eyes and a smirk soon followed.  what in hells bells were these people smoking???  needless to say i barely skipped a literal beat when i too took a puff and grooved to the Party People Anthem with my own hoop.  soon i influenced mr. gabel (though that wasn't too difficult a task) and the otherwise uninterested Chef .  we made the most of  the magic dragon patch with puffing pig and geese and hay police who promptly escorted us of the hay pyramid. 

what we learned?  ...don't mess with tradition.

I'm a BIG KID now

making our way into uncharted territory... the potty frontier... big-boy underwear... and fiber-gummy-treats.

hello world

Elias Arthur Guard

born September 9, 2011

7lbs 4 ounces

fish out'a water

3 yrs - 3mths... the next Michael Phelps.

3eee Weee

FUN...

thanks to moose's all you can eat palou... omg... she out did herself!  that cake was pretty good too... a labor of countless delirious hours of love.  gabel had a blast... swimming, playin' a lil' ping pong, and i think even some Wii golf with his cousins.  i don't think he took a nap that whole weekend so he was coastin' on a serious OC high... cake wasted to the max.  so it was gabe's day on sat... mika's on sunday... and brennan's on memorial monday!  ...good-times overload. 

boy BLISS

Babe Party

The Big Reveal went off without a hitch...  everyone led us to believe that they were clueless... so fun was had by all.  the chef and i decided that last pinata reveal could not be beat so we scrounged up another colorful bull to beat up.  this round though chef out did himself... he took it one step further with his cunning white to blue flower magic trick... & everyone was baffled by Houdini's centerpieces.  sandra boiled up about a million of the best ViEners (a give away to some)... and mother's garden boisenberry pie was a hit.  we're so stoked to reveal our baby-boy bliss!  ok maybe me more than the chef but he's falling in line nicely.  ;)  baby name reveal to come. 

~thanks Lord for our boy wonder!  

prego daze

"happy easter easter bunny"

Easter at the Hayes' was fun for all... with a traditional hunt and the most delectable french toast this mouth has ever tasted.  (note to mouth: make sure to add vanilla and cinamon to your next batch.)  The Pacific Amphitheatre to follow was a prinkling, sun burning mystical... our service was just as amazing... guest speaker Francis Chan was a sensational blessing.  Back at Moose's pad the 2nd hunt was on... & Gabel did rather well considering he was the only tot.  Dev and Toad kicked off their annual death match and tides had changed! ...Toady was victorious for the 1st time in history!  Way to go Toad!  Filet shishkabobs were se manifique... what a feast. What a day. 

Thank you God for your Son...

Thank you for offering us eternal life.

birthday yum

Scrumptious steaks, peppercorn mushroom cream sauce, scalloped potatoes, & snow peas... homemade double layer confetti cake and whipped frosting!  Coastal cruise, SOLVANG, mini ponies, Flag Is Up Farms, picnic, playtime, wine tasting.  mini golf & Brophy Brothers Restaurant and Clam Bar... mmmm.  See?  Bliss.

cheapest fruit in the world

FRUIT STAND - PART I

homemade love

Nothin' and I mean Nothin' beats homemade FISH N' CHIPs.  Goodness!

FALL COLLECTION

DOUBLE THE FUN

Never too late...

I'd like to state for the records that in Dec 2010 Gabel was a Santa fiend!  Ok well maybe not quite that, but definitely not the scaredy pants he once was.  This year the draw to seek out and take pictures with Santa stemmed from the deep desire to obtain the reward... the coveted Christmas candy... the cane.  Mr. Gabel seemed to have a Santa radar... he virtually mapped out the location of approximately 5 different Santas and sniffed out their candy canes like a teeny bloodhound.  Santa was a very busy old man this year!

                            

THE KUMQUAT

      Lookin' good little bugger! 

OH HAPPY DAY

January 17th 2011 marks the date of our discovery.  Hello little one.  Hello new life.  Though we have quite some time before we meet... we smile when we consider the moment, the hour.  We pray for you daily, your big brother too, because we are so very glad you have come into our lives.  Thank you Lord for our newest member... watch over him/her... and have your will in their life starting now.  We are grateful beyond measure!

EYES FOR YOU

Gabriel's secret admirer sent him a lovely package on Valentines; shark swim trunks, a reef shirt, and these wonderfully intense swimming goggles. NOW he is ready for summer! bring on the swim session... and the daring reptiles.