Grandparents visit

At the duck pond

Things have been chaotic in the household, so it just occurred to me that it's been several months since the last post. Over New Years holiday, Grandma and Grandpa K came to visit our house. The kids really enjoyed having so many people around all day. We spent most of the days playing around the house since we would need to take 2 cars to get anywhere. It was a great time together with family. Grandma and Grandpa are now wanting to move out here for retirement, and we really hope that they do!

Favorite activities

Taking things apart

Jumping off things

More jumping off things

Legos

Eating "yo-yo" (cheerios)

Eating "jju-jju"

Thanksgiving

We had an early Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year. It was a bit chaotic with 3 little boys running around such a small house. We didn't really get to take any pictures, but we did get one short video of the madness.

Halloween and Thomas and Percy

Ready to trick-or-treat

This year the boys were characters from Thomas the Train for Halloween. Mommy made Junior's Thomas costume and Daddy turned DT's buggy into Percy. This year was Junior's first time trick-or-treating. Of course he really enjoyed it. We didn't go down to the popular street, but stayed close to home. DT tagged along but did not get any candy of his own. It didn't seem to bother him though.

The next day we went to Roaring Camp railroad to see Thomas and Percy. Jr and DT's cousin DD and parents joined us this time. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate, and it rained on us the whole time.

This pretty much captures their relationship.

We all got to ride inside Thomas and Percy's coaches, but the kids seemed to be more interested in the box of cheese crackers that Mommy brought along in case of meltdowns.

Mmmm cheesy

We didn't spend too much time exploring the camp because of the rain. We stayed just long enough to let Jr play on the tractor which he seemed to enjoy more than the train ride.

Farmer Junior

Santa Cruz summer vacation late post

at the beach next to the house

I just realized that we haven't posted anything about our summer vacation. We rented a house in Santa Cruz this year with a few other families. It was a week of relaxing at the house and cooking and eating lots of food. We had fun playing in the sand at the beach and visiting the board walk. The water was too cold for swimming, and the little guys are too young of course. The kids were more interested in playing in the sand anyway. We saw dolphins off the shore and schools of fish with flocks of birds trying to catch them. Maybe when the kids are a little older we can go back and make bonfires on the beach.

 on the balcony

Junior mostly played with KS since DT was still trying to get used to the sand.

face full of sand

Junior and KS

DT still had fun though. His girlfriend FL came for part of the trip.

DT and FL

future MIT grads? - Jr, KS, and FL

Junior turns 3, DT starts running and talking

 The big guy is now 3! We had a small party at home with close friends and family. One of his favorite birthday presents is his first ever set of big boy legos. He knows DT can't play with the small legos yet, so we set up a lego playing station for him in the garage. He can spend over an hour straight in the garage just playing with his legos.

DT is getting faster on his feet and more articulate with his words. He now runs around the house. He especially loves to run out of the bathroom naked after his bath. He also starting to string words together. When Junior runs to the bathroom to pee, DT says, "Gco gco (big brother) pee pee, chao chao (stinky)".

Junior starts preschool and DT starts walking

Junior started preschool this fall. It's a small home-run preschool that is just 3 houses down from ours. He absolutely loves it. In the morning, he'll strap on his Thomas the train backpack and walk to preschool with Daddy. He comes home everyday with an art project, usually a painting of some sort. On Thursdays it is his sharing time, when he will usually pick one of Daddy's old toys and bring it to preschool to share.

DT started walking earlier this month. He is very excited about this new ability. He will take laps around the house, especially when he's naked just after the bath. He must like the freedom of being diaperless.

Recently Junior started talking like he's from South Boston.
"Daddy, do you need oil for your cah?"
"Can you take these legos apaht?"
"I want to go play in the pahk"