quilt project

Since Ethan bought me a sewing machine two years ago for Christmas I have turned into a sewing fiend. I mostly sew baby blankets and quilts, but it has come in handing with window coverings and pillows for decorating as well. I've recently become more ambitious and started making larger throws and bed size quilts. I really enjoy it but I've been terrible at documenting it. So I'm going to try and be better at taking pictures. This is a picture of my most recent quilting project. When I finished it Ashton said " wow mommy those are really beautiful colors", what a sweetheart! Any ways, here it is, let me know what you think.

Cornia Family Reunion

More shots at the Redwood Grove.

We had our reunion in Duncan Mills at Casini Ranch Campground. It was so much fun and all the kids played so well together. We went to the beach, played in the sand and dirt and trees. Played soccer around the campfire and just enjoyed one another's company. It really makes you appreciate family. I wish we all lived closer and could get together more frequently, but I'll take what I can get.

Cornia Family Reunion

Kyra, Madi, Josh, Bailey, Hannah, Ashley, Ashton and Noah

Kyra and Ashton

We took a little trip to nearby Armstrong Redwoods and the kids had a lot of fun exploring, climbing and posing for the camera.

Noah turns One

Happy Birthday Noah! It was so fun to celebrate with friends and family. Noah had lots of friends helping him open his presents, and thoroughly enjoyed the cake.

Oakland Zoo with Grandma Cornia

We all went to the Oakland Zoo while my mom was visiting. It was so much fun. Our favorite part was watching the elephants eat, so cool!

We Love Camping

Happy, filthy kids, playing in the dirt with sticks and rocks, what could be better? This was a recent camping trip we made with some friends. It was really fun. We went fishing, hiking, ate lots of smores and didn't shower for a couple of days-a true adventure:)

Halloween and the Great Pumpkin

Cruising the neighborhood halloween night. Ashton had so much fun, and Noah loved the action in his superman car that matched his costume.

What a silly pumpkin Ethan carved.

Hanging out with our friends Phillip and Nicole and their cute little chicken Hannah!

Scary Jack-o-lantern!
Halloween was so much fun this year. On Friday we went to a celebration at the Charles Schultz museum (creator of Peanuts, native of Santa Rosa) and saw "The Great Pumpkin" and "Charlie Brown's All Stars" on a big screen outside in a grass field. It was so much fun-and free! Then we went trick or treating around our neighborhood on Saturday. This was the first year Ashton was really into it. And he had so much fun ringing the doorbells and saying "trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat" (I taught him that-so proud). It really was fun. We're slowly weaning him from the sugar, levels of craziness in our house should be a little lower soon.

Pumpkin Patch Adventure

Welcome Nemo!

This is the newest addition to our family: Nemo. He's a chocolate lab from the Bergin University here in Santa Rosa. We will be his foster family for a year. He's a part of an assistance dog program and will eventually be a service dog for someone with special needs. Our role is to socialize him and teach basic training. It's been a huge learning experience for me. He's a really sweet dog, almost 6 months old now. The boys adore him. He is Noah's personal horse, Ashton's wrestling partner and sometimes he drives me absolutely crazy! Ireally feel like I have 3 toddlers now (4 if you count Ethan:)). But I'm learning and at the end of all of this I will definitely know if I'm ready to get a dog of our own. "Leave it" is now my mantra, and I have learned that what works well for a puppy often works for a one year old as well. I'm still contimplating getting a crate for Noah as well, ha ha! I'm not sure who gets into more trouble Nemo or Noah, I often find myself saying "Nemoah! leave it!!!!!!". If this doesn't teach me patience, I don't know what will. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

Family pics July 2009

Our good friend Cazra took the family pictures for us. The kids were great sports and Ashton was a great big brother.

A day at Doran Beach

Sandy bums, and sandy hands, what more could you ask for on a beautiful trip to the beach?

Ashton and friends building sand castles.

Sand, what sand?

Saltwater taffy + sand = Yum!