Fall fun

We have been enjoying some fall fun around here. Between a trip to Legoland, camping at San Elijo, playdates, Halloween fun, pumpkin patch trips and much more, we pretty much don't have time to relax.

Here are some fun fotos of what we have been doing:

Our annual trip to San Elijo




Legoland with friends:





A trip to Bates Nut Farm pumpkin patch:




Nathan's Halloween Parade at school. He really likes his class this year. There is quite the group of boys in there. I really don't know how his teacher does it!!!



Of course trick or treating. Both kids really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun to see them running house to house, but all of the fun from the previous weekend had them both exhausted and they drifted off in their carseats on the way home from Jared and Kaitlin's house:





We do need some time to unwind. I love watching the developing relationship between Nathan and Kira. They are so sweet together, though like any set of siblings they get on each others nerves at times. However, it is the times like this where your heart just melts:


and finally, last night we had a playdate with Natalie, Stella and Giuliana. Baby Alison was there too. The kids enjoyed playing together. Kira was taken with Natalie, following her around, playing babies and reading books. They also made pizza and looked so cute sitting together eating dinner:

Nathan Updates

Nathan had his 4-year appointment today (even though he is over 4.5 now), so I thought it was a good time to have a post all about Nathan. So he is my solid average little dude weighing in at 38lbs and 41.5inches tall, in the 46th percentile for his size. Watching him take a vision and hearing test was too funny. This was like first big boy visit. He was a little hesitant heading up to the shots, but once he did it, he realized it was no big deal. However tonight he is complaining of soreness in his arm. Considering how bad the last whooping cough vaccine I had was, I can understand.

Currently Nathan is all about skateboarding. He skates whenever he has a chance and when we are home he is playing with his miniature skateboard and ramps in our living room. He enjoys watching it too.

Nathan started his new class last month and really enjoys his new teacher. He has made some new friends, but still has his best buddies from last year too. He now gets homework and even though he complains about not wanting to do it, he finishes it in one sitting. I hope that continues into kindergarten and beyond (not holding my breath).

Nathan continues to do swimming once a week. He really took off this summer and is now all over the place when in the pool. He is also in gymnastics once a week. Although he isn't terribly flexible and hates the stretching part, he is making progress in his balance and skill.

I am finding it hard to wrap my head around the fact that he will be five in just a few short months and that this time next year, he will be a month into his kindergarten year.

Immersed in Being A Kid

September is all but over and the stress of this new school year has been taking quite a toll on me physically and emotionally. Since school has started, I have taken on a number of new job responsibilities that did not previously belong to me. That coupled with a new crop of behavioral issues with a lot less physical support, has left me completely drained of energy once I get home. Not to mention not even two weeks in to the new year I was plagued with a nagging cold. Not that they have been neglected per se, but it feels like there has been a lot more TV and a lot less creative play going on in our house. I hate that and so with Brian out of town this weekend, I was determined to make it all about the kids. We fully immersed ourselves in playing and being kids. We played with Nathan's beloved Tech Deck skate park, we painted mini pumpkins, we ate "kid" type meals and snuggled in bed in the morning. There were moments of frustration and tears (because they are 4 and 1, afterall), but the majority of our weekend was all about being a kid, pretending and having fun.





We read and re-read about a million books!



I took Nathan to burn off the excess kid energy at the OB Skate park and later we set up his ramp to skate some more.


We spent time building a fort and camping in Kira's crib. They "cooked" me lots of meals in the play kitchen and we just spent time being kids.

Making Some Serious Progress

Nathan learned a rock and roll and a proper fakie rock in the same day!

Nathan Playing With His New Ramp

Nathan has become obsessed with skateboarding lately and seems to learn something new everyday. Dad is stoked!

All About Kira: 18-mo update

Kira went in for her 18 month check-up yesterday, though she is really 19 months today. She continues to be in the 1% for weight (18.5 lbs) and is finally 30 inches (9%). She continues to have a large head, which is 59%. Despite her petiteness, she is larger than life. Her personality is really starting to emerge these days. She is picking up new words daily. Some of her favorites are: mommy, dada, Nana (Nathan), Mymy (Milo), dog-o (dog), side (slide), up please, more please, bong (which for some reason means cup), bee-sick-o (bicycle, which she calls her trike). She can name the people at daycare: Jean, Chris, Addie, GG and Eathan and a lot more. She is quite the mommy's girl and won't even share me with Nathan. She LOVES Nathan and wants to do everything he does. She follows him around and when I took her for a special day to Seaworld last week, she cried all the way home from dropping him off at school. She knows what her likes and dislikes are. She can make them known with a sweet little laugh or an ear piercing scream. She has entered the bossy phase and can throw a tantrum like no other. Although Nathan was much more verbal than she is at this age, she is coming a long just fine.

Summer Fun

It's been awhile since I have updated our little blog. We have been having a fun, fun summer out here in beautiful sunny (well today its unusually cloudy) San Diego. We have been enjoying many beach and pools days, concerts in the park, trips to the zoo, Legoland, and Seaworld and visits and playdates with friends. How lucky are Nathan and Kira to have so much to do in the city they are being raised in. We have also been on a couple of camping trips, which Nathan loved! Kira was sick the first time but did enjoy trip number 2. They are both at fun ages, which makes having fun that much easier. This summer, Nathan has really taken off in so many ways. Just a couple months ago he would barely go in the pool and would just mostly go where he could stand up. Now he is DIVING, swimming like a fish and going to the bottom of the pool for toys. He is going in the ocean and starting to really get the hang of boogie boarding (which is step one to surfing!!!). Kira is enjoying jumping into the pool from the side and digging in the sand at the beach. She enjoys riding her tricycle, while Nathan rides his scooter, skateboard or bike. We really are having so much fun these days! Take a look!

They Really Do Love Each Other

They Really Do Love Each Other, a photo by Davies Fam on Flickr.

For those days when we foget:

I saw this on another blog and couldn't resist not re-posting


21 Memos From Your Child


1. Don’t spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not have all I ask for. I am only testing you.
2. Don’t be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it, it makes me feel secure.
3. Don’t let me form bad habits. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
4. Don’t make me feel smaller than I am. It only makes me behave stupidly “big”.

5. Don’t correct me in front of people if you can help it. I’ll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.
6. Don’t make me feel all of my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.
7. Don’t protect me from consequences. I need to learn the painful way, sometimes.
8. Don’t be upset when I say “I hate you”. It isn’t you I hate, but your power to thwart me.
9. Don’t take too much notice of my small ailments. Sometimes they get me the attention I need.
10. Don’t nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
11. Don’t forget that I can’t explain myself as well as I should like. This is why I’m not always very accurate.
12. Don’t make rash promises. Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.
13. Don’t tax my honesty too much. I am easily frightened into telling lies.
14. Don’t be inconsistent. That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.
15. Don’t tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real to me and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.
16. Don’t put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.
17. Don’t ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.
18. Don’t ever think it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm toward you.
19. Don’t forget how quickly I am growing up. It must be very difficult to keep pace with me, but please try.
20. Don’t forget I love experimenting. I couldn’t do without it, so please be patient with it.
21. Don’t forget that I can’t thrive without lots of understanding and unconditional love, but I don’t need to tell you that, do I?

original author unknown

A Picture Walk

Just two weeks ago we lost my grandmother after her battle with pancreatic cancer. Almost one year ago this month, we lost my grandfather just six months after his 90th birthday. My cousin Alicia took on the task of putting together an amazing tribute of their marriage and our family through a slideshow of the images my grandmother treasured. As you educators know, when teaching young children to read, you often have them take a picture walk of the book to help them gain meaning about the story through the pictures. In some ways the pictures in that slideshow were like taking a picture walk of our lives. They brought back so many memories I had buried somewhere deep inside or forgotten. I remember dreading summer because it meant being stuck at grandma and grandpa's all day with nothing to do. What I wouldn't give now to spend the afternoon engrossed in a book laying in their backyard hammock, or to have my grandpa take us on a ride, which might end in Yosemite or Sequoia. What I wouldn't give to spend the day on Millerton Lake eating cold KFC and swimming the day away. Those were the "good ole days" as they say. I realize now what fun we had back then and how easy it is to let the stress of life make you forget how simple and fun the little things are. I hope that Nathan and Kira grow up with many similar memories. I hope they always know the importance of family.

Mothers Day Treasures

Mothers Day Treasures, a photo by Davies Fam on Flickr.

My mother's day was such a great day this year. I enjoyed a yummy homemade breakfast with my family, a walk on the pier, a massage and a wonderful family dinner. However, the best part of my day was the gifts from my babies. Nathan was so excited to give me the homemade note pad he made at school. Every day leading to Mother's Day he talked all about the gift he was making. I also treasure the little poem and handprint Kira made at daycare. These are the gifts that mean more than any store bought item because they are made with love by my babies!

15-month update

Kira’s 15 month update (ok she will be 16 months in a week, but we had to reschedule her well baby check-up). Her current stats are 17.6 lbs weight and 28.5 inches height which puts her between the 2-5% and 2-5%. Her head is between the 50 and 75%. Kira continues to grow and develop at her own rate. They are going to refer us to a nutritionist to help get her on a more balanced high calorie diet. Current words she says are: mommy, daddy, doggie, bubbles, eyes, fish, duck, hi, uh-huh, uh-uh, please, up, open, mine, no-no and most importantly; ipod and TV. Yes, we appear to be raising yet another technology junkie. There are more words, but they are escaping right now. Kira continues to adore her big brother and wants to do everything that he does. She has no use for baby toys and “girlie” things. She loves trains, cars, marble runs and the Backyardigans. Kira is currently working on several teeth and as a result has had somewhat of a food strike these last few weeks. Prior to that there wasn’t a food this girl didn’t inhale, though you wouldn’t know it by her tiny stature. She hasn’t made the transition to one nap yet, but man I can’t wait for that day, especially since Nathan is currently hit and miss on naps. Would make weekend outings so much easier!!!! We really have to cherish these moments that seem to be flying by at lightning speed because she is our last. At any rate, she is doing awesome and we love her to pieces!

Easter

We spent Easter at our place in Mexico on the river. Thankfully there were no large earthquakes this year. We had a nice weekend which started out with a yummy birthday dinner for our friends daughter. Nathan enjoyed playing with all the kids and banging on the homemade pinata made my Blake for his sister. Saturday, we played in the river, Nathan and Kory went tubing behind grandpa's "new" boat and then our friends had everyone down for some egg dying. Even Kira seemed to get the hang of dipping the eggs and only once smashed one. We ended the day with a yummy dinner at Jesse's. The kids woke up early on Easter to hunt for all the eggs that the Easter bunny left behind. They then went on the annual scavenger hunt to find the baskets that the Easter bunny left. We headed up to another camp to have brunch and play in the water. It was a nice reminder of why we love it down there so much. Nathan is really at an age where he loves it down there and there are so many kids his age to play with.

Nathan Coloring Eggs


Kira Coloring Eggs


Nathan Hunting Eggs


Kira Hunting Eggs

Pictures Worth 1000 Words

Driving The Camper


Carlsbad State Beach