Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas!!!

Whoops - many people told me i needed to update the blog, I dismissed you all because I thought I did the christmas update and you all were greedy and unsupportive while I slowly lost my mind during potty training. well, kristi made me post this due to the comment below regarding my wallet... enjoy catching up.

4 Years ago Kristi and I walked through winterhaven to see the lights - we both made a wish at the wishing tree that we would finally be able to start a family - one way or another.

Well - many failed attempts later, we finally received everything we could ever ask for. you kids are a handful, I often romanticize about running away with the dog, every now and again I wonder if slamming my head in a door would make my head stop hurting... but you guys are worth every moment. We could not fathom our lives any other way (even the times I dream of running away, I know I would probably forget my wallet and have to come back, or I would miss you guys and be back after a day or two).

Christmas 2010 was the birth of the 2 gift monsters - the grandparents spoiled them and now they think presents are appropriate EVERYDAY! I am fortunate enough not to have to open my own presents on Christmas anymore - I have two helpers who are then disappointed to open a sweater - but i liked it. 92 gifts were not enough for these two - Kristi started wrapping toilet paper just to appease their appetites.Here is Audrey channeling James Dean - we are very leinient with our children, but we have not allowed them to smoke - that is Audreysfirst french fry. diva alert!


Potty Training! there are way too many captions that can be inserted into the photo below. No we did not force our kids to sit on the toilet and play with their toys - this was a spontaneous moment. instead of reading a book or mag on the pot, it was imperative to drive the train closer. yes, the toys and hands were washed afterwards.

We have a few accidents here and there, but we successfully potty trained the boys in a week. unfortunately, the boys are obsessed with underwear. so, if you are ever approached by a 30" tall child and asked to see your underwear - whether you oblige him or not, do not judge and just know he/she must be potty training. And with all the "potty" talk, I made the mistake of referring to my underwear as "big boy pants" - I actually saw Kristi's love/affection for me wither as she looked at me. She did not flinch or smile, or even snark - she just starred blankly, asked if I just referred to my underwear as "big boy pants" and I saw the wheels in her head turn backwards... it was really sad. I would describe it the same way I felt the day I told her she could not wear her pink pants out to the store - she was shocked that I would make such a statement, but I was taken back that she thought the pink pants were acceptable - I thought it was laundry day, but suddenly realized, she wears those awful things A LOT. pics to follow - not of my underwear.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

On we go...

Please dont grow up little girl!!! Please!?!?! You are so sweet and perfect - I know any day now you will decide that throwing temper-tantrums and fits will get you what you want. But I promise you, we will work to make sure you are happy - just please don't stop being the easiest baby on the planet... PLEASE!?!?

We went back and looked at the blog and realized how much we captured with this silly soapbox over the years:


We realized how much Audrey looks like the boys when they were 6 months:




And now we are shocked at how much each child grew over the last year:





And even though we complain everyday that we have never spent the time to put together our photo albums - this little blog has captured the fun and excitement of raising two crazy boys and a little soon-to-be diva:

Here's to already being done with 2010 and on to 2011. Its overwhelming to think how much will happen and change during the next 365 days.


Love - Andy Kristi Shawn Ethan and Audrey

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

November 2010

I think its funnier than she does... oh my God, she is just like her mommy!

Shawn


Little A

Ethan

yeah - we think uncle matt is weird too.

Audrey- 6months old

Audrey - 4 months old

Audrey - 2 months old

Halloween 2010

my kids are cuter than your kids...


batman
superman


the killer bee


the longest 3 hours of our lives - carving pumpkins

Friday, October 29, 2010

Family Vacation No. 01

Its been a while, but we owe it to little Audrey to at least post something... we had to let go of our previous "head writer" as well as the head of the "creative department" - times are tough - so we have asked our 11 yr old neighbor to step in and update our blog. please lower your expectations and try to enjoy...


Since our last post, circa 2009 or so, we jumped off the high dive and took a family vacation with two-yr old twins and a 4 month old... we expected it to go horribly but thought it was important to do it anyway. We packed up the crew, two strollers, three suitcases, a playpen, an umbrella, a months worth of diapers, too many toys, a baby swing and a jumper-roo and headed to San Diego for a few days in September. The end result was a fun vacation, easy car ride and 3 happy kids that were bored by Shamu. FYI - the shamu show is LAME since one of the trainers was mauled - but Sea World is still great.

Ethan loved the penguin exhibit

Shawn loved the sharks - perhaps this is a "scared out of his mind - yet excited" look

Apparently, we as a family are incapable of remembering to take a family photo at a particular destination. perhaps because we know it will not turn out, but sad none-the-less. we also have NO foresight and appear to have all photos at sea world with the backs of our kids heads... sorry guys, hopefully we excel in other areas.


We stayed on Mission Beach, right on the Boardwalk. Highly recommend the location, cheap stay, perfect location, great weather

- the only downside is a giant (sewer?) pipe on the beach - but the boys loved climbing on it...

Little Audrey was a trooper - she had a great time and slept really well.


But the boys got to see the beach and the ocean for the first time and that was great to watch - the boys got to play in the largest sandbox ever.


Here is to more vacations - a first of many.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Darn you Daycare!!!

The boys started daycare.

Everyone has been sick.

There are seven days in a week, 30 days in a month

There are five people in our house

each illness last 3 days each person, times five equals 15 days of lingering germs.

That gives daycare 2 solid weeks to come up with a new illness to make certain that every day of the 30 day month is occupied by some sort of mucus bearing, coughing, sneezing, stuffy head, "mommy I cant breath out my nose" sickness.

To summarize: Life is rough. Kids great. Daycare fun. mucus boo. buy stock in kleenex. sanitizer is over-rated. Somehow we are all still having fun and happy.

here are the three pictures of everyone when they were not sick.

Shawn - 2 yrs old

Ethan - 2 yrs old (smiles 99% of the time - this is the 1%)

The boys at the pool - moments before falling in...


Audrey 2 months old

The boys are slowly learning the concept of "personal space" - Audrey has no clue it exists.


Audrey - 3 months