Happy Birthday to My Sweet Babies :)

Eli & Owen newborns

Owen & Eli one-year-olds! 5/20/12

Bros!

As all parents always say, I have no idea where the time has gone!  The past year has zipped by all too fast, but at the same time I can barely remember life without my boys.  The past year has been surreal, a juggling act, and a roller coaster at times, but overall it has been just simply amazing.  Owen & Eli have brought more joy into our lives than we could have ever imagined.  They are simply the sweetest little guys and we are so blessed to have them in our lives.  We heard horror stories about infant multiples and had braced ourselves for the worst...but O & E came into this world and just changed our lives for nothing but the better.  From the start they were "easy" (and I'm knocking on wood right now..because the toddler years with twins could be completely opposite!) and predictable.  Both things that Chloë never was as a baby.  We weren't prepared for babies that would cry only when they needed a diaper change, food or just a hug.  We had heard about babies like this...but never thought it would happen to us :)  

Anyways, I am just more and more in love with them every day and we are loving watching them grow, watching their personalities emerge, and watching them discover the world around them.  Happy Birthday to Owen & Elijah!

Gramma Is Here!

I know you think we always have family visiting us...and that's because you're right, we do!  My mom arrived yesterday and will be here with us for 3 weeks before continuing on her TWO MONTHS of traveling around the U.S. - most with her sister, Helen!  My dad is staying in Richmond and holding down fort.  Nothing too exciting to update... Chloe started her new class at preschool in the 3-year-old-room.  It seems a bit more structured and more is expected of them, which is good.  I think she'll like it a lot.  The boys turn ONE in just a week and we're having a birthday party for them this Saturday at a neighborhood park.  They are both busy cruising the couches but neither are walking just yet.  Myke and I have a date night tonight (wahoo Gramma is babysitting!) so I'll find out what he is up to and report back (such is life with 3 kids...who is Myke??).    

I love this photo of the boys (taken this morning).  It's so hard to catch Owen smiling on camera--he is probably one of the least photogenic babies ever!  And he is such a smiley, happy little guy.  This photo is HIM.  

I'm currently enjoying a nice quiet evening at home....ahhhh :)

Myke is out for the evening with friends and the kids are all sleeping (at least I hope so.  Chloë has already come out of her room 4 times for different reasons: "Mommy, I want you and daddy to sleep with me."  "Mommy, I have to go poo-poo" (false alarm), "Mommy, my foot hurts", "Mommy, I need you to cover me up again now that I'm out of bed".)

I had plans to be productive during this time but instead I'm on the couch with a comfy blanket and my lap top...and the tv on...Not productive at all and it's kind of nice!  Really nice, actually.

The kids before bed tonight

This is my "supermom" shot

Fun with Sunglesses:

Jax & Chloë: A Photoshoot

big 3 year olds!

happy!

sad!

excited!

scared!

cute! 

hugs!

My Date with Kyla

Me and my "date" on Saturday night

Wow.  My life is so exciting.  I go on dates with my dog!  I have no shame sharing that either.  Hey, babysitters are expensive so Myke and I don't get to go on many dates.  Kyla, my furry beast, is the next best thing!  Such a submissive date.  I get to pick where we go, what we eat, she doesn't argue with me, etc.  There are limits of course on where we can go since obviously dogs aren't welcome at all the fine eating establishments here in San Diego.  I know I sound pretty sad that my Saturday night out was a date with my dog, but just in case you didn't know, Kyla is the best dog in the world.  She is more deserving for a night out than most dogs out there!  And isn't it proven that time with dogs can lower one's blood pressure.  It's good for the soul!  

The whole things started this past Saturday around 5:30pm when Myke, completely out of the blue, said, "Hey, why don't you go out somewhere tonight.  Go to a spa and get a massage or something."  I was TOTALLY thrown off guard.  I had just planned on hanging low that evening, thinking we would tag-team dinner with the kids, tag-team "3 men in a tub" bath time, and then bed time...and then just collapse on the couch with a glass of wine any other night ;)   What woman DOESN'T want their hubby to offer to do all the night time duties while you go relax at a spa?!   Myke, are you feeling ok??  Wait, who cares...let's just go with this while it's happening!   Unfortunately, 5:30pm was kind of last-minute for scheduling a spa visit...I felt like I needed a little more preparation than that.  I don't go to spas very often, so when I do, I like to do it right.  I like to get there a couple hours before the treatment and use the gym, then shower and use the sauna, jacuzzi, drink the free juices,  lounge in a robe, etc.  I love to make the most of it (I may sound like I'm a pro at "spa-ing" (is that a verb) but I've only done it a handful of times to be honest.).  You can't feel rushed to go to a spa or you miss out on the whole point of it.  That's all I'm saying.  

This could have been me....(but instead see the top photo)

So now my date with my dog is looking EVEN more pathetic than it did in the first paragraph as you now realize that I could have been having a massage or a facial instead!  Well, anyways, I told Myke I would do a rain-check on the spa treatment (and I WILL NOT forget it) and just get out of the house on this night.  I decided to take Kyla as she hadn't gotten out much that day...and I am constantly feeling guilty about her lack of exercise since we've had kids.  I ended up texting a friend and we planned to meet up at Wine Steals- a wine and pizza place here in San Diego.  They have a very nice outdoor patio that is dog-friendly...so good for Kyla..and good for me!  We had an hour to kill before my friend could meet up so I took Kyla out and spoiled her for a little bit.  Ahhh, just like old times before kids!

First stop Petco where she got to pick a treat & a new toy

playing in the grass with her new toy

At Wine Steals with Faith, Sisha & Kyla

Waiting outside a market we went to afterwards

Such good girls

Anyways, enough about my date with the dog.  It was just a really relaxing evening.  I highly suggest Wine Steals for those in San Diego- they have this awesome deal for two on Saturday nights.  A salad, a 1/2 carafe of wine of your choice, one of their yummy brick-oven pizzas, and two flutes of bubbly all for $35 total.  Great date meal.  If you are going on a date with a human...not a dog.  Faith and I enjoyed it though :)

Some pictures from the past week:

Owen is suddenly an expert at the stairs--he just powers up them.  We have 3 levels in our house.  You turn around for 1 second and he has bolted up to the 3rd floor.  When you get up there to get him he just starts laughing hysterically.  He is SO PROUD of himself!

The kids

Frozen yogurt with mangos on a hot day last week

The boys on a chilly morning

Chloë at the park

Look closely- a 5 PERSON BIKE on the boardwalk!  

Is this in my future?  Not if Myke has anything to do with it!

Chloë insisted on pushing the stroller on our walk to preschool this morning. 

Sounds good to me!

Though she got tired after the first block so she jumped on for a ride for the rest of the way there.

BYE!

Happy 11 Months to O & E!!

11 months!

Yup, they're 11 months old!  One more month until the big first birthday.  I have put an end to my back and forth indecisiveness about whether or not to have a birthday party for them.  I've decided to do it!  After all, you only turn 1 once!  Also, I had a first birthday party for Chloë so it's only fair.  Nothing big but we'll do something.  

I tried to take some photos of the boys today...but it was pretty much a fail.  It's just IMPOSSIBLE to get a good photo of the two of them together.  Have them both look at the camera AND smile?  Are you kidding??   The above photo is pretty decent, actually, but I probably took 50 shots before getting that one. They are squirmy little buggars!  

Owen (aka "Bruiser") tries to pull off Eli's hat

Owen pushing Eli on the train

(Eli doesn't climb up here himself, I have to place him on here and hope he stays balanced for the ride. He loves it though)

Chooo Chooo

Our time with Thom/Pop is coming to an end as he is heading back home to the east coast tomorrow.  We'll be sad to see him go as he has been SUCH a GREAT help for us!  Just in the past couple days he has helped watch the kids, gone on a Trader Joe's grocery store run for me (and that's a feat in itself...my list includes all sorts of "dark side" (as he likes to call it) vegetarian & vegan foods like tofu, chickenless chicken strips, and other "crazy" things like spinach, broccoli, veggie sausage patties, etc...but somehow he found everything.  I was pretty impressed to be honest!), vacuumed out and washed our car, filled the car with gas for us, built a wooden stand for the new fabric potted garden on our roof, took Chloë to her karate class, picked her up from preschool, and more.  I think he'll sleep for a week when he leaves here!  

Pop with the kids (minus Owen..he's probably behind the recliner)

Chloë at karate class

At least they're both looking at the camera...I'll give them that

Yup, she's a RIGHTY

We may have to tie her hand behind her back

(Myke & I are both lefties and Myke's parents and sister are all lefties, too...

one of the twins better be a lefty!)

Photos

Our friend Angie is a fabulous photographer and shared a few photos she had taken last month when we met up with her and her hubby when they were down here in San Diego- so now I'll share them here:

Chloë at seal beach in La Jolla, Ca

This is my favorite shot

Eli & Owen

the fam

me & my girl :)

Angie is the one who did both Chloë and the boys' newborn photo shoots - so if you're ever looking for a photographer (in California!) here is her site: http://www.angelagraves.com/