Merry Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Seattle this year. We will head to Florida for Christmas. It is no secret that my family LOVES Christmas. So since we would be elsewhere this year we celebrated the Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.

A picture of Kate burning off some energy in the cold, cold northwest. It was hard for them to be inside most of the day as we typically spend a majority of out time outside.
Both of the little monkeys!
Ben outside. The day after this picture was taken we had to take him to the ER. He managed to find the only wood chip at the McDonalds playspace and get it lodged in his heel. It was so deep we had to get it professionally removed.
No Christmas is complete without a personal visit from Santa (two of my mom's friends who do the X-mas party circuit each year and donate their earnings to charity). The kids went crazy and at first didn't know what to do but warmed up to Santa pretty quickly.
The cousins (minus Garrett) in their new jammies. Ben and Kate love their cousins. Ben was happy to play construction and read books with them. Kate admires the boys and loves to just be in their presence. Both boys are very sweet with Kate and Ben.

Happy Halloween

Here is a picture of our trip to the pumpkin patch. The kids love going to the pumpkin patch. It is most random little carnival with imported pumpkins right off Pacific Coast Highway and they think it is fabulous. They ride the kiddie rides and get a pumpkin. It is not a bad way to spend the afternoon.
Here are Princess Leia and her little monkey right before trick-or-treating. We went to a neighbor's house for dinner and then went through the neighborhood. We love our neighborhood on Halloween. Our neighbor's decorate their houses and one turns his fishing boat into a pirate ship. We have a great time. Ben was a great trick-or-treater this year. He kept up with all the big kids and when I asked if he wanted to go home he said "No, I keep going."

Truckies!!!

Ben loves his trucks and has recently started imaginative play with them. They are often "broken" and need tow trucks or they are somehow involved in construction. The boy is very passionate about his trucks.

We are back!!!

The start of the school year has been a bit crazy for us! Kate started Kindergarten at the neighborhood school, Ben started preschool at the JCC, Jesse turned in his tenure file, and I am mostly done with my thesis as well as spending two days a week at Children's Hospital of Orange County for my internship. Plus, we all got sick the first week of school..just to start the school year off right. Then our computer died!! We tried to fix it but was just not in the cards. So now that we have new computer postings will be a little more frequent.

This is Kate's first year on a big girl soccer team and she loves it! It has been fun seeing her become more confident on the field and last week she even scored her first goal. She is extremely proud of her team and could not wait to wear her uniform for her first game. She also chose the most awesome gold cleats luckily they match her uniform quite well.
Here are Kate and Ben on the first day of school. Ben was so excited about his backpack. Kate decided to wear a skirt on the first day as she thought "it was only polite to wear a skirt on the first day." Her teacher is also the "best teacher I have had in my entire life." Ben has been a little slow to warm up to school. He naps there on the Monday and Wednesday which has been a big change for him. When I picked him up on his first full day I asked him how it went and he replied "I sit criss-cross applesauce, I be butterfly, and I cry." He is no longer crying which is a step in the right direction. He takes Monkey everyday and he has wonderful teachers that accept that he needs Monkey to get through his transition.
Here are Kate and Ben modeling their new backpacks. Kate the science girl chose one with the solar system and Ben, of course, chose a truck backpack.

Camping Trip 2009

We took our annual family camping trip last weekend with five other families and had a great time. We cooked hot dogs on the campfire, made s'mores, and (kind of) slept in the tent. The kids ran around and entertained themselves very nicely.

Ben was barefoot and dirty the entire weekend. It was heaven for him. He took his trucks and played in the dirt.
Kate having her oatmeal with her tin foil super hero mask made by one of the other moms.
Ben taking a ride on a paddle board at the lake. He loved the board and said "Yook (look), I surfing."
Kate making a sand castle. She has recently gone thorough a growth spurt and I just can't believe how tall she is! As she said, "I am off to Kindergarten in the fall."
A shot of both of them playing in the sand. They had a great time.

Henry's Visit

Our adorable cousin Henry came to visit. He, of course, brought his parents with him. We were happy to see them all but especially to meet Henry. This is the best picture of the three kiddos.
Kate LOVED Henry. On the last day, she was very quiet and then came to me and said "I haven't gotten a chance to hold Henry on my lap yet." She was obliged and she was very proud to be given the opportunity to hold the baby. Ben also liked Henry but was very confused that Henry has an identical monkey to his. He was upset when Henry's monkey was taken away from him as he claims all monkeys as his.
We spent a very windy day at the beach with Henry, Nichole, Tim, Doug, and Paisley. It was the last time we will go the beach with Doug and Paisley for two years as they set off for their great adventure in Africa. We will miss them!!!

Auntie Kerri & Uncle Andy's Wedding

We had the pleasure of attending Kerri and Andy's wedding on July 3rd. We had a fabulous time! Kate was the very experienced flower girl, Garrett and Nick the handsome candle lighters, and Ben was a spectator that was adorable but noisy.

A picture of Kerri and her nephews and niece.
Ben eating his cake. It was very serious business.
Kate sitting still and resting before her 4th time around as flower girl.

Beach Day

Today was a family beach day.  The kids love the beach.  They have so much fun digging in the sand and playing in the water.  They come home exhausted!  Here they are modeling their beachwear. A long sleeve swim top is a must at the beach for Ben.  Kate likes to wear her swim top so she can look like a surfer.  She is also wearing the paper tie she made for Jesse at school.  On the back there are some questions the teachers asked about the dads.  A couple of my favorites:   What does your dad like to eat?  "Everything" and What is your dad good at? "Chasing my brother."  That he is!!!

Ben tumbles

Ben sitter, Nelly, took him to a gym class at the local park this year.  He loves it and often asks "I go clatt (class).  I get tamp (stamp)."  I got to take him to the last few class and it was very fun to see him be such a big boy following directions and doing all kinds of tumbling moves.

Goodbye Pre-K

Kate had her end of the year show yesterday.  Each Pre-K class sang about a Jewish holiday.  Kate and her class sang about Hannukah.  It is hard to believe that she will be moving on to Kindergarten next year.  Enjoy the show!!

Ben Speaks

When asked how old he is Ben replies "I big two."

Ben's Track

Ben has recently started to use toys and really play with them.  He makes car noises, moves things around, and makes the "people" talk.  Here he is with a train track that he built himself.  As can be seen, he is very proud of himself.

Flower Children

Kate is preparing for her fourth time around as a flower girl.  This time it will be for her Auntie Kerri and Uncle Andy's wedding in July.  Her dress came in the mail today so I had her try it on to make sure it fit.  Ben saw that she was putting on a fancy dress and decided that he also needed to put one on as well.  That boy does not like to be left out of anything!!

Kid Funnies

A couple of funnies from the kids.

Upon arriving a a park that overlooks the ocean Ben calls out "yook (look), Mama, yook.  A pool."

After asking me what unforgettable means Kate says "kind of like we just had an unforgettable earthquake."

Going for a Ride

Ben got a lift from his big sister today.  Ben thought this was the funniest thing and was laughing so loud  I could hear him all the way inside.  Ben adores his big sister and in return she tattles on him and then smothers him with kisses.

Back on Track!

I know it has been a long time since there was an update but between visitors and finals there has been little time.  

Kate is slowly inching towards the end of preschool and is talking about all the things she will do in Kindergarten.  We drive by the school often and she always yells "there is my big girl school!"  She read her first book the other night and I was proud beyond words.
Ben is talking up a storm.  He is stringing three, four, and sometimes five words together.  He is very savvy and always wants what his sister is getting, mostly candy. He can float on his back and loves to go to the pool. He is getting so big.  I can't believe that he will also start school in the fall.

Season Opener

In honor of the Mariners home opener yesterday, the kiddos donned their Mariners shirts provided by their Auntie Kelly (who else???).  Ben does not seem too hopeful about the upcoming season.  Kate on the other hand cannot wear enough Mariners garb.  It can't be seen but on top of her hat and shirt she is also wearing Mariners socks.

The Big 5!!!

Kate is 5 Today and it is hard to believe.  Here she is this morning.  She is so happy to be such a big girl.  Kate continues to be great fun.  She can carry on a true conversation, has her own thoughts and opinions about things.  She is a fabulous big sister and a good friend.  She loves her buddies and is often disappointed if there is not a playdate on the weekend.  For her birthday she wanted a hula hoop and roller skates.  We will go for the skates this weekend so she can pick them out.
Here she is giving a demonstration of her hula-hooping skills.

Happy Birthday big girl!!!

Shopping list

Kate is on the cusp of reading.  She is learning the sounds and is working on stringing them together.  She loves to write and got very excited the other day when she made our shopping list for Costco.  She is learning the difference between capital and lower case and is still working it all out.  That is coffee at the bottom which we buy in bulk...we have to stay awake somehow!!!

TWO!!!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Ben!  This year for his birthday he got an ear infection and pink eye. And to make it all worse, I managed to nick his eardrum while putting in ear drops to make him more comfortable.  

Ben, at two, is a lot of fun.  He loves one thing and that thing is trucks.  He can spot them and hear them a mile away.  He stalks and takes other trucks at the park but do not ask him to share his truck because he will not.  His three word phrases are "bye, bye big truck," "look big truck," "oh, big truck."  When he hears a truck he puts his hand to his ear and says "oh, truck" and then he runs to the window and throws open the shutters.  It is hard to believe that he is so big!!!!!

T-ball girl

Kate started T-ball yesterday and loves it.  Here she is showing off her best batting stance (sans bat).  She is on Dodgers with a couple of her best buddies.  She could barely wait for T-ball to start and when I got her a "real bat" she thanked me about twenty times.  I figured it would be a bit unfair to make her go to practice using her bubble wand as a bat.

What????

What?  Can't a boy carry his pink shield, wear his pink hat, and push a stroller?

Hanging out together

I just love that the kids get along fairly well.  Here they are just hanging out together...huddling for warmth in our cold house!!!  Kate will often say "Benny is my best friend in the whole, wide world." 

Kate Funnies

Kate is really experimenting with her vocabulary.  Here are a few of my recent favorites.

Upon walking into a restaurant where the TV was on in the bar and showing the basketball game.  "Daddy is going to be very pleased when he sees the TV and the sports."

While having dinner with some friends.  "Look at that coincidence Mama, there are three boys and three girls.  What a coincidence."

Discussing the unlocked gate.  "One gate includes a key but the other does not include a key."

Getting her Kindergarten shots.  "This is not fair.  This is not fair.  You cannot give me a shot."  This was said through hysterical screaming.

Getting some work done...

In an effort to be like Daddy, Ben pulled out his laptop so he could get some work done over the long weekend.  Notice his hand poised perfectly on the "mouse" and the other on the keyboard.  The tongue sticking out is his new look of concentration.

Pasta Faces

Tonight was spaghetti night which is always a bit hit.  A meal everyone likes and will eat without a fuss!

Kate showing her best pasta face and Dillon chin!
Ben and his pasta face and the new truck sent by Cousin Beth (Thanks Beth).
Ben using his dump truck for hauling his pasta.  The Boy loves a truck!

Pig Pen!!!

Ben is all boy.  He loves trucks, cars, the garbage truck, and he thinks it is hilarious when he burps.  Here he is playing in his beloved dirt pile in the back yard.  Needless to say, he went directly into the tub.

Rock Star

Here is Kate playing Guitar Hero with her Aunties and cousin.  The picture was taken by Auntie Kelly (who Kate loves because "she likes to make rice krispy treats with me").  Kate is doing fabulous!  She loves her school and her buddies and in the past few months has discovered her "best friends" that she can't live without.  She has recently discovered games and constantly wants to play them.  She is a lot of fun and growing up way too fast!

Pics from Seattle

We just returned from our nine day trip to Seattle.  We had a fabulous time hanging out with the family and seeing some friends.  Our first couple of days there we were snowbound on Nana's hill but managed to get out and play in the snow.

Kate and Ben had their first snow experience.  We borrowed my friend Joy's sled and went sledding in the park that happens to have nice big hills for sledding.  Kate also built a great snowman with her Auntie Kerri.  Ben seemed to enjoy throwing the snow and yelling "SNOW."
Kate at her tea party that her Auntie Kim threw for her.  It was delayed due to the snow but Kate had a fabulous time having tea and cupcakes with her Auntie.
Ben lounging in Sammy's dog bed.  Ben LOVES Sammy...Sammy is still deciding if he loves Ben.
Ben and Kate's favorite thing about Auntie Kim and Uncle Jeff's house(aside from getting anything they want and playing with their cousins) is the large, jetted tub.  They get to put bubbles in it and play.  They both go crazy when the jets are turned on.