Let's Read

I am going to try to get my camera out every month and get pictures of these two together (we will see if I can keep it up).  This time I got them "reading" together and playing in Owen's room.  :)   

"See Levi, this is a paddlewheel..."

"And this is a tractor with a scoop."

"And this is a windmill, see how it turns?"

Levi starts next to Owen: okay we are reading?  Okay I can do that.

Two seconds later: I think I'd rather roll...

Ten seconds later: okay I'll read, but now I'm over here and I don't know how to get back over there...

Crafts with Kristen

I love that Kristen loves Pinterest as much as I do and finds fun crafts to do with Owen.  Owen was ver proud of his snake, spider and octopus! 

La Quinta Part 2: Sunshine and Fun

We had so much fun in the beautiful 80 degree weather!  We worked out in the morning and laid by the pool in the afternoon.  :)  It doesn't get much better than that!

At the resort for a workout

Hey Calvin!  Whatcha doin'??

Having fun at the resort play structure

My mom said you can pick the grapefruits for free because they have too many to even keep up with.  That still doesn't make being associated with these two less embarrassing.  Kyrstin's feet are off the ground!  They were delicious though so the embarrassment was worth it!  :)

SPLASH!  Note the date of the picture--January 17th!  The weather was awesome!

The conversation went like this...Calvin I've got an owie...Oh you have an owie???...yeah I do, will you kiss it?...sure!

Whatever Aunt K does they do too!

Breakfast in the sunshine!

Tennis time!

Amazing Calvin!  People were stopping to watch!

Looks like a vacation setting...  The boys love it when GrandpaLeo hits the ball really high in the air and they try to catch it in as few bounces as possible.

Now time for golf!

Levi joining in on the fun with GrandmaCindy

Wow where is all that water going????

These two did not stop moving the whole three days we were there

Margaritas!!

La Quinta Part One: Getting There and Getting Home

It was a little crazy flying with both kids...I couldn't have made the trip without Kyrstin!  Between Kyrstin and I we had four rolller bags, four carry on "purses", two BOB strollers, two car seats, two two year olds and a baby.  And a full plane. It was pretty crazy but people had pity on us and really helped out.  

Owen lost it on the way back when he couldn't sit next to Cal and Aunt K.  It was only two seats per row so it was Owen, Levi and I.  Owen threw a FIT when Aunt K and Cal went to a different part of the plane.  I was holding Levi and trying to drag Owen up off the ground into his seat.  Thankfully the flight attendant brought crayons and a coloring book.  I don't know what I would have done!  :)  

Owen is still talking about the airplanes he got to go in.  :)




Randomly yelling "ah man! the plane is broken!!  Nope, it's fixed!! Yay it is fixed!" out of the no where.  I'm sure that gave the other people waiting peace of mind...

Kyrstin had the tougher seat on the way down.  I just had to sit with Levi on my lap across from them. 

Looking at the big moon!  They were so close!

Hi!  The flight was only an hour but that's a long time for two two year olds to sit still.

AHHHHHH we made it!

Loaded down on the way back

Owen wanted to stroll with his own suitcase as soon as he saw Cal doing it!  Aren't those flowers amazing?

Buddies

Winter? Where are you??

I'm heading to the desert today with Owen and Levi to get a break from this freezing seventy degree weather we've been having!  It's a rough life when you are leaving this weather :

To go to this weather:

But I think I'll survive.  :)  As long as I survive the flight down there first.  Kyrstin and I versus 2 two-year olds and one seven month old.  :/  I feel sorry for the people who are sitting next to us already!  :)

Office and Green Juice

I finally added pictures to my office!  I can't believe it has already almost been a year since Jim came out and worked on it for me--it has been such a fun place to work!  My picture wall is another pinterest project.  I love canvas prints but I don't think I can commit to a picture enough to pay 50 bucks to make a canvas out of it.  So--I blew up pictures at Costco (only $15 for ALL the pictures) and mod podged them to canvas.  My first experience with mod podge which to me is just glue?  Anyway, the pictures make me happy to look at all day until I get to hang out with the real thing after work.  :)  I also put some quotes I like on some of them to keep me inspired. 

Joey got me a Vitamix for Christmas.  It is all I can do to not take a picture of all the things I can throw in it and make into a drink.  I did take a picture of the first drink I made in it and had Owen drink with me.  Kale, carrots, green apple, grapes and ice.  Owen drank it down and told ME he liked it.  Then he later randomly told Joey that mommy made him a green smoothie and he didn't like it but mommy did...my bubble burst a bit at that... :)

Boys Report: January 2014

Owen 2 years and about 9 months:

Owen wants to "play" with Levi now.  The other day he asked me to get Levi out of his chair so he could play with him.  I put them both on a blanket in the playroom (picture below) and they rolled around together.  It is pretty cute.

The other day in the car Owen told me "no songs mom, let's just talk." 

He learned GrandpaLeo's song (see below) and likes to sing along with most music now.

His favorite part of the day is when Joey gets home.  He runs to the door shouting "wooohoo!!  Daddy's home!!"

Levi 7 months:

Levi's new mission in life is to watch every one of Owen's moves and take it all in.  He started eating solid foods last month and is doing really well with it.  He can sit up for about one second before he falls over but I think he's close to sitting up.  :)  No crawling yet but he can roll himself across the room when you're not looking.  He will randomly bless us with a full night of sleep a few nights a week.  We will take it!

Playing together.  I already sense a little mischief in their eyes... :)

"Quit tickling me Levi!"


 

Ashland Weekend!

Last weekend we got together with my cousins Sara, Jess and Emily and their kids in Ashland.  So great to see those girls (and Jess) and their kids.  They spoiled us with yummy food and great company.  :)  I was terrible at taking pictures that weekend but I did take a few:



A sleepy eyed crazy haired Levi with Auntie Em



We went for a walk to downtown Ashland.  So cute and so close to their house!

I can't get enough of this guy--he is adorable!  Only three weeks younger than Levi--they are going to have as much fun as Luke and Owen do playing together!

This is my favorite one of the three of them together.  Sam, Levi and Addie.  :)  Sam's got Levi's hand and Addie's patting him on the head.  This is as much interaction as you can hope for at ages 6, 7 and 4 months.  :)

This is bad that this is the only picture I got of these two guys playing but here you go.  :)  They had a great time together.  :)

Cal and Kyrstin Come to Town

The weekend after Christmas we had Cal and Kyrstin up for the weekend!  Cal and Owen love to play together and they played non-stop the whole time they were here.  It was so fun to get them up to Redding!  We hung out, Kyrstin helped me make Pioneer Woman spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, Joey made French toast in the morning and we went for a walk and to the park!  :) 


(Owen looks like he has a bloody nose in the pictures because the morning that they were going to arrive he snuck outside through Maya's dog door and then came back in with a cut under his nose and on his head and blood dripping out of it saying "I got an owie..."  Boys will be boys I guess :))

Christmas

We had a fun Christmas morning in Redding.  Owen got up at 6:30 ready to go--asking if Santa ate his cookies...  The first present he opened was from Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Jim--a Lightning McQueen car.  We realized that we didn't need to get him any presents at all.  Just that one would have satisfied him.  We almost had to threaten him just to open his Santa gift.  :)  We pulled back the wrapping a little bit and as soon as he saw Thomas's face he TORE into the gift. The most excited I've ever seen him.  He loves Thomas and Lightning McQueen so it was a great morning.  :)

Then we had my parents over for Christmas dinner.  It was a beautiful day.  When my parents arrived we left my dad to lay in the sun and read, Joey to cook his crown roast, and my mom and I went on a long walk while the kids napped.  It was a beautiful day and so fun to have my parents up for Christmas dinner!

Joey did an amazing job preparing the meal!

Opening the Lightning McQueeen car...

The picture does nothing for the excitement!  Next year we will ask Santa to set up his gifts so he doesn't have to wait while we try to figure out how to put it together...;)

Hanging out with Grandpaleo

Joey's crown roast!  Yum!