One new baby pool (with a slide or headrest, seen below). Sleepovers and soccer games with our cousins Tommy (go #17!) and Wyatt. Handy Home Depot outing. Posing for a pic in a new Old Forge t-shirt from Aunt Lisa (thank you!) and cute head bow from Auntie Crystal. Days at the park. A first “Mad Hatter” birthday party for our baby girl cousin. And too many wet towels all over the house.

It’s almost summer!

The single best part of holidays nowadays is that I have a family of my own. Hiding eggs, putting together baskets, and being completely tired when our four-year-old pounces on me to wake us up at 6:30 a.m. are all part of what makes these days so much more special. We are the parents now. We get to be on the other side of the excitement.

Our weekend was full of fun, family, and a lot of Easter egg hunts.

Saturday, we woke up early to watch Blake play soccer. This kid is competitive. But, if a bossy girl is near, he would much rather hold her hand and follow her around than run after a ball. Some of the moms and I joked about it. Doesn’t every man love a bossy woman?

Right after, we went to a house nearby where our friends, from these soccer games, were holding an Easter egg hunt. Blake had such a great time! Later that day, we went to Papa and Grandma’s house to enjoy the pool and too much ham!

And today, Sunday, was full of more Easter egg hunts with the neighbors and then finally, in our own home. We ended the day with Blake reading books to his sisters in their pjs and, for us, a glass of red wine in bed while watching Game of Thrones. Another holiday over but so much more to look forward to.

Wishing all of you a very Happy Easter! xoxo

Rides his bike without training wheels. Seriously. Two weeks ago, Mike just took him outside and said we are going to take these training wheels off. THAT SAME DAY (or minute), he just rode his bike in the street. No practicing over and over again. Down the driveway. No crying. He just knew how to do it. Huh?

Tells everyone around him that “You are fired!” (It’s almost like we watch The Apprentice reruns, but we don’t.)

Has growing pains in his legs (definitely like me). He’s in our room at night a lot with screams that his legs are hurting. He’s also obsessed with the wall in the kitchen that marks how tall he is.

Knows and sings the “rated” lyrics to the Fun. song Some Nights. Courtesy of Papa T.

Gets two goals in one game at his last soccer match.

Wants a boat parked in the Dana Point Harbor.

Pic: Rich Lander, CHARD Photography (thank you, yet again!)

I still can’t believe how fast this year has gone by! Such little things when they were born. Looking almost identical at first but now have their own distinct look and personality.

Brooklyn:

Officially took her first steps on March 8. Her first word was Da Da. Has six teeth! Loves her books–favorite one at the moment being DwellStudio’s Goodnight Owl, a gift from Auntie Peggy and Crystal before she was born. Thinks it’s funny to wear hats. Never has a problem going to bed. Plays peek-a-boo every chance she gets. Loves to eat bananas and pasta.

Bryn:

Took her first steps on March 13. Her first word was Mama. Has six teeth too (and for awhile now)! Loves to climb the stairs at home and the park. Pushes the limits and knows it (oh yeah, I can ride my brother’s tricycle, no problem). Cries when you tell her No! Has the best laugh. Hates bows in her hair. Has these gorgeous big, blue eyes that remind me of Mike’s mom. Eats her food very dainty-like.

Happy First Birthday to our baby girls! We can’t wait for the many years ahead!

As always, pic courtesy of our good friend Rich Lander at their first birthday celebration.

January. A time to start all over again.

And what better way than to finish reading a book that has collected dust on my shelf and plan for the new year, all while wearing $20 comfy pants (in tall!) from Old Navy? Here’s to 2014–time to make more time doing the things I love and miss doing (like reading) and buying a few things just because!

Where to get it: want / read / do

So.. the new year is upon us and I haven’t blogged in who knows how long. And to top it off, I’m a day late on this new 52 project I wanted to do over the course of 2014.

I got this idea from another blog I follow and thought it was perfect.

The theme is this–take a picture (of your kids), once a week, every week, for the next year. So, here it goes. One day late on the first week but I promise to catch up. I’m sure you’ll forgive me once you see these babes below.

Brooklyn: Standing up and watching her brother play outside through a dirty window.
Blake: Decided he wanted to do manly work, so we got this piece of wood from the garage so he could hammer some nails. Watch the toes!
Bryn: Teething and not sleeping so well these days.

Months ago, I noticed that Blake was going crazy on the days he didn’t have school. The twins needed even more of my attention. The house was becoming more of a disaster (still is). And, my poor guy was acting out in a bad way.

So, I searched and found some really cool websites (here and here) that featured crafts for kids. Some activities had to do with upcoming holidays and others had to do with just plain learning and teaching him something new. Nowadays, we spend at least an hour or two sitting at the kitchen table tracing, writing our name or learning our letters. And, if the weather is right (which it usually is) we play store or water our plants.

It’s amazing to me that he knows how to write a ‘B’ or knows that his friend, Cash’s name starts with a C. And how to set a table?! Gosh, he’s growing up!

To celebrate an early 10-year anniversary (and me turning the big 3-4), we decided to fly over the Pacific to one of our favorite spots–Maui. Since hub works with a lot of people who live in Hawaii, he asked them where to stay and all of them agreed on the Grand Wailea.

It was breathtaking. After we checked in, we went straight to the pool which has amazing reviews. Pretty kid-friendly with tons of water slides, a rope swing, water falls, lazy river… You get the picture. We skipped all of that and went straight to the adult-only pool (aww..quiet), ordered one too many mai tais, and ended up at the swim up bar with some great people from Louisiana and Arizona.

The next few days we ate YUMMY fried rice for breakfast at Fred’s, went swimming at the Secret beach just south of our hotel (there were really only a few of us there), and ate sushi at Sansei in Kihei (go late for half off sushi and karaoke). The few locals we met were extremely nice and pointed us in the right direction when it came to happy hours and “special” beaches where bathing suits are optional, if we were up for an adventure.

One more post to come of the last part of our trip. Aloha!

I’m officially scared. The girls are perfecting the “scoot” and are EVERYWHERE. One day we were saying, “Oh that’s cute. They are using their arms to move to get the ball a few inches away.” And now… Yeah, this is definitely going to be interesting. Scooting, then crawling, then walking. Yikes.

Both are so adorable though. They look completely different and I actually think of them so separately that they aren’t just twins, they are sisters. I especially enjoy Blake interacting with them more and more. If only they would sleep through the night…

Brooklyn:

-Likes to observe you when you eat. I have a feeling she’s going to be like me, open to trying new foods.
-Has a contagious grin.
-Can’t get enough of the Baby Bjorn.

Bryn:

-Loves her carrots.
-Can not only scoot but has perfected the crawl stance. She’s ready to go once her little legs get stronger.
-Is the toughest to get dressed. She’s squirmy!

I’m finally getting around to this. I swear life is getting so hectic and crazy that I just found time to type this up while on vacation. More on that later!

Weeks ago, our baby boy turned four years old. Our Blake. So full of energy and life. Testing our patience (alot lately) when he wants more attention. Cracking us up with his little language. Just a few of my favorites over the past few months:

– Let ME watch MY sisters. You guys go in the other room!
– Mine is going to be the biggest beanstop (beanstalk).
– Mommy, you have to cover your mouth when you hiccup.

I live for the moments when he wakes up and is this little angel who wants to sit in my lap and watch cartoons. Or when he hugs us both and says, “You guys are my best friends.” He’s wild and crazy but I couldn’t imagine having a little boy who wasn’t just that.

We threw him a pirate party with a few friends and a lot of family. Ate pizza, “planks” (celery and carrots), “shark bait” (kid snacks), “swords” (fruit kabobs) and “fish and chips” (goldfish crackers and potato chips). I got most of my ideas from this site, including the food labels. We dressed up as pirates and took pictures. Jumped around in the bounce house–his one and only request. And opened way too many presents. Thanks Mom and Mal for taking pictures all day. They turned out great!

Happiest Birthday Blakey Boo. You make our life a great adventure!