CHRISTMAS...WELL, KINDA

We had a double Christmas this year. Tyler's parents watched the kids open presents a couple days before Christmas and being the fabulously prepared mom that I am, I didn't charge the battery in the camera - So, being ever so prepared again, I charged the battery and away we went to Utah....without the camera completely - so we have these two pics of the kiddos in their PJ's with Campa that we took with my mom's camera. The second picture is the kids doing their "trick." Love it!
Jack and Lexi got spoiled - getting a play kitchen with all the fixin's, more cars than Jack can count...(well, he can't count at all but you know what I mean), Baby dolls, puzzles, a CD player with microphones that the kids just yell into and a homemade, handpainted barn with all the animals you'd need on a little farm. Thanks to everyone for making it a good Holiday like always.

HANDY HOME DEPOT BABIES

Jack got to go to his first Home Depot Workshop with his Campa and cousins. We made a handy snowman napkin holder. He painted it and stuck stickers on all by himself. He stuck the screwdriver in the holes perfectly and even tasted the paint (non-toxic, right?!). We also got to sit on Santa's lap - Jack did NOT enjoy that.

I let Lexi stick on the rest of the stickers so she felt like she was part of the fun. She was having a rough morning on Saturday so she got to stay home and sleep in.

HALLOWEEN

My Tiny Ninja and Pumpkin Fairy - We had a good time Trick-or-Treating at First American and got plenty of treats. It was way too cold for the kids by the time we got home to go outside and run the neighborhood so we had our chili and watched all the other kids come. Can't wait till next year!

Yes, that is his "pointer finger" That is what he uses to push buttons, point, and pick his nose.

Lexi has a french braid and got a little makeup on for her costume. It was not too easy to try and draw on an 18 months old face but it turned out pretty good for what I had to work with. Cute!

RANDOM CALIFORNIA

California Adventure has water play areas to cool off in. Good thing since it was over 100 degrees 2 of the days we were there. The kids absolutely loved it and got soaked!!

Jack had no fear running across the rope bridges. Lexi was a little scared but we got all the way across and down without incident

And my diva Lexi relaxing by the hotel pool

NEWPORT BEACH

We spent a day at Newport Beach. My water babies could not get enough even though that ocean water is FREEZING! Jack absolutely loved playing in the sand.

DISNEYLAND 2011

We joined the Victors on the Disneyland trip this year. This is one of the few rides we all fit on together. Tyler broke his leg 2 weeks before and was in a full leg cast so it was impossible for him to bend at the knee to sit with us, he usually got his own row.

This is Jack on Winnie the Pooh.

Here is Lexi on the Jungle Cruise. They couldn't get enough of the moving animals. This is one of my favorite too.

WE MISS YOU SUMMER...

We had a good rain storm the other day that left perfect splashing puddles in the road. The babies LOVED it and I loved that I could finally fit them in their super cute rain boots.

We are already getting bored inside - it's pretty chilly here some days - here is Lexi's new hairstyle!

The babies must really miss summer on the beach, the boat and the Jetski's - They can reach their life jackets in their closet and love to wear them around the house - funny.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN MY PRIVACY ROOM TODAY?

It must be the dry, desolate, eye-gouging, nothingness on the drive through Oregon and Washington that make kids do funny things. When I was younger my family took a road trip to Washington. It turned into one of those trips that we still talk about and laugh at all the funny things that happened. One of them was when my little brother took shelter under his blanket and mumbled to himself "What should I do in my privacy room today?" Well, it looks like it must be in the family still. We just drove to Washington and both my kids would put those blankets over their heads constantly - I just had to laugh.

Lexi really just liked to pile her blanket on top of her head and wear it like a headdress with all those tassles hanging down in her face. Jack saying "yea....only 12 more hours and we're home"....uhhhhh....can we PLEASE fly next year??

MY OWN LITTLE HOBBIT

Ok, so the camera angle was off a little and the point of the picture was to get her shuffling around in my slippers. She ended up looking like a Hobbit. What a duck!

DOUBLE TROUBLE, CURLERS & THE FAIR

Looks like we're ready to start potty training! Oh wait, we don't have any TP left~ I leave them alone for 30 seconds...

Lexi got here first hair curler experience. She yanked them all out before the curls could really set so the end result was just a mess of hair.

We went to the Fair on Saturday. Lexi LOVED the animals, she wasn't afraid at all! She would feed them and pet them and amazingly didn't try to eat their food either (she's got a thing with dog food) yuck.

Jack got spooked about 2 minutes into the day by a ClydsedaleHorse about 10 times his size banging on the gate - Jack did not think that was fun and wasn't very fond of any of the animals after that but just like Daddy - couldn't get enough Fair Food! YUMMMY

SUMMER FUN - (THANKS TODD N' STEPH)

Dad dragged both kids on their first tube ride behind Todd and Steph's boat. Lexi didn't love it but she didn't cry despite the freezing water temp.

Jack had a good time until he got sprayed in the face, then he wasn't quite sure, he didn't cry either. Whew....

Steph has her dad's horses at the house now and the kids got their first experience on a horse. Lexi loved it and wanted to go again. We have no picture of Jack...he really didn't love it and would rather be on the 4-wheeler over a horse any day. We sure had some good "first's" this summer and can't wait for more!!

MMM...DELICIOUS!

Mamma made a delicious treat last night and the babe's got the first taste. Bath time came soon after.

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

In just the last few days I have noticed that my babies are no longer "babies." They transformed into little kids during the night I think. Jack runs around in circles, pretends he is jumping to scare you, throws a ball like he's from the MLB, kicks a ball like he's David Beckham and shows me his "see-food."

Lexi wears necklaces and bracelets around the house and when she shows us that she put them on herself she says "ses shas thhhh." We're sure she is saying "Aren't I pretty?" She plays with her Little People and lines them up perfectly straight and then talks to them like they are her own babies, nodding her head and clapping.

They run after each other and play "tag", ok so its more like pushing in the back to make the other get out of the way - but we are pretending that they are playing nice.

It's just crazy how time goes by so fast. Before we know it, they'll be going to Nursery, then Kindergarten then Jr. High, then....ahhh, I don't even want to think about it. It sure makes you want to enjoy every second.

NO FEET ON THE TABLE!

Lexi has a thing with her feet. She has always played with them and sucked on her toes. She has recently figured out how to wiggle and worm her leg out and up on to her highchair tray and then she'll just continue eating as if nothing were out of place.

This time she's just making sure they're nice and clean!

SUPER SUCKERS

Saturday was so warm and we finally got outside to do flowers and yard work. The babies sucked those popcicles right down and didn't waste an ounce. Lexi stole the last little part of Jack's right off the stick. Hopefully Spring and Summer and here to stay!

THE LOOK

This is Lexi's scowl with a little mischeif mixed in look. Sometimes I really wish they could talk so I could figure out just what she is thinking. She'll do this look for a couple seconds and then break into a huge smile - what a duck!

Jack got a new summer hair cut. We shaved a mowhawk last week out on the deck and I think the neighbor kids thought we were killing him. He screamed bloody murder the whole time. Sure is cute though.

ALL BOY....ALL GIRL

Lexi loves to play with the cell phones, in fact she's got one on the other ear too. She says "hi" when she puts it up to her ear. So cute

uh....What are you diggin' for?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU..AND YOU TOO

The babies turned 1 on Saturday!! Crazy how time flies! We had our own "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" with tons of family, food and fun. The kids got spoiled by everyone getting a swimming pool, Little People House, Zoo and Farm, wheel barrows and wagons with digger toys, bike helmets, clothes, shoes, books, a sand box, and the hit of the party, Gyro Bowls! Thank you again to everyone for cooking, cleaning, eating and all the loves.

Lexi had a rough Birthday. She had a cough, runny nose, and seconds after this picture, stuck her finger in the candle wax. I guess it was her turn since Jack cried through most of Christmas.

LOVE YOU BABIES...(I can still call them babies for a little while longer right?!)