Happy Birthday Uncle Glenn!

Gavin and Austin worked very hard on Uncle Glenn's Birthday present. They both love their Great Uncle so much, and Austin was even letting Uncle Glenn hold him and carry him around. We are very lucky to have Uncle Glenn!

Rancho San Antonio with Maddie

We always have fun when we go on playdates with Maddie and Charlotte. G & M had an especially great time today because they both rode their bikes along the trail. (And they are FAST!)

We had a picnic, creek play, and lots of running around. Now if only baby C could grow up a little so she could run around with Austin;)

My baby riding his bike!

I still can't believe it! For a few weeks now Gavin has been showing us how he does not touch his training wheels on the ground when he rides. We have talked about taking the training wheels off, but let Gavin tell us when he was ready.

Last night he decided he wanted to try. So he helped get them off, and he was off! Seriously, he took off SUPER fast! Derek ran along him the first few times, but then Gavin told us he was OK. He went around the block 5 times, and on the fifth time he experimented with going slow...he wanted to see if he could do it...and he could! We were just so proud of him! He was pretty proud of himself too.

On the last loop around the block he ran himself right off the sidewalk into a ditch. (Training wheels would not have helped this one...)(He may have inherited just a little of his daddy's clumsy side) and he skinned his elbow. After the world ended for 2 minutes, he got back on the bike, and rode home. 

Honestly, we knew he could do it, but watching him ride a bike like such a big kid made it seem so real. He is growing up, and he is growing up fast. My baby is riding a bike!

No more training wheels movies!!!

Our Week

Our week usually means 5 outfits a day, sink baths at 11am, lots of playing and building, and lots of water play!

Birthday Parties and Festivals

This weekend sure was busy! We had Emma's 4th Birthday party at Happy Hollow. Gavin had a lot if fun with his friends and playing on the jungle gym. He was up the spider net about 10 times. After we had cake and ice cream, we headed off to go pick up daddy and Austin to go to Ethan's 4th Birthday party at Mountain School! There we had a ton of fun, and got to sit front and center for Grandma Phyllis' music show! Gavin was SO excited she was there! He sat right in front and was totally into the whole music and book show. Afterwards, she let him play her ukulele and he LOVED it. 

After the kids slept at home for three hours, we headed over to the Willow Glen Dancing on the Ave festival. Lots of food, music, and fun. The boys actually did not leave the "Lego Jeep" the entire time. Gavin loved to build on it, and Austin loved to transport the legos from bin to bin. Derek and I got to enjoy some drinks, and ran into some work friends...perfect! Kids happy while we chat.

Jumping & Laughing movies

Magic Firemen

Today we took a trip to Jim's firehouse in Cupertino. (Jim is Gavin's friend Ryleigh's dad) Gavin was a little unsure of going, because he said he did not want to "interrupt" the firemen if there was a fire....HA! He is so thoughtful:) 

We got to hang out with all the firemen, and they were all SUPER nice to the kids. They even did magic tricks...actually most of the time they did tricks for G and R...and they were laughing so hard when they pulled coins from their ears;) Seriously, they were so great with the kids. 

We did a tour of the house, the kids got to jump on their beds, and lastly we toured the trucks. G & R got to sit inside and turn the sirens and lights on. Gavin was in heaven. 

Now Gavin says that he wants to go back every single hour. He also said that he wants a magic fireman to come to his birthday....:)

Happy Fathers Day 2013!

What a fun day we had today! We started the day out with a trip to Scramblz for breakfast...at 7am! We were the first ones there, no line for us! We had a great breakfast, and the boys had pancakes and spinach scramblz. 

Then we headed home so Austin could nap. While he slept, Gav and Daddy went to Jack Fisher park in Campbell for some bike riding and sand play.

As soon as they got back we headed to a new trampoline park that just opened up a few miles away. SUPER FUN! Oh my, it was a lot of fun, and work! The boys were in HEAVEN and we were the only ones there almost the entire hour we were there. Its amazing how well they both jump. (Daddy and I did some fun jumps too! Now, after a few hours, we are both sore)

Then we headed to Zanotto's for lunch, and had yummy turkey sandwiches. When Gavin orders his sandwich, this is what he says. "I would like bread, turkey, ham, more turkey, bacon, cheese, more cheese and mayonnaise" Its so funny. 

Then it was naps for everyone. How nice. 

When everyone was awake, we headed over to Ma and Papa's for a nice swim and BBQ. We had a great dinner followed by a dark chocolate cake that Gavin picked out for the occasion. Then Gavin gave Daddy and Papa their gifts he made them. Homemade bars of soap! Blue soap! He was very proud of himself, and it showed. Very sweet. 

We are so lucky to have such amazing fathers in our lives. I was able to talk my Cincinnati Papa for a bit too, which is always nice. Wish we could have seen him, but I told him we will celebrate when we go to TN in a few weeks:)

Summertime~!

This past week was our first real week of nothing to do, nothing scheduled, just plain fun summertime! Not traveling, no school, no classes...just us and wherever we want to go. There was lots of park play, walks, being naked out with the hose, museum, and a trip to Oak Meadow Park to play in the creek. Austin still enjoys napping with me sometimes, and I love it. Both boys have been napping almost 3 hours in the afternoon at the same time (I am VERY spoiled that they have been doing this over a year!) so I have been able to get lots done. Glad its summer!

Gavin's Artwork and Vacation collection

We have Gavin art all over the house...and he has three spots that he likes to display and organize it all. One of them is the side of the refrigerator, and he calls this the "Vacation Frigerador" with all his pictures. He LOVES his sea world, Safari Park, and now Hawaii pictures. He also loves the park maps he saves. 

His artwork is on two cork boards and he likes to talk about his art. Hopefully we can take it down by next school year to put up some new stuff;)

{Austin 16 months}

Dear Austin,

Oh Austin, you are so amazing. Looking at your pictures, I can't get enough of you. You are one fun toddler and one BUSY little guy. Life with you is never dull and never boring!

This past month we have done a lot of traveling, and had a lot of new places to take in. You have grown into a SUPER mamas boy, and don't like to have me out of your sight...unless you are busy playing with your brother in the back yard...then you are OK, and that is usually because you are doing something bad;)

You run, jump, run, dance, climb, run, dance, climb and run all day long. If I don't hear you, its not a good sign. You are either up on the counter or into something you are not supposed to be. Usually with a big grin or a very serious I am caught face.

You are so happy to play with your brother. You guys play hide and seek and tag...you don't really understand much of it, but you have the chase part down!

You are sleeping great, taking two naps a day, and eating everything in sight. I can't list favorites for food because you eat it all. AS long as you don't have to sit! You are rarely in your high chair, you would rather run around and eat.

You are no longer nursing at all, and you take a bottle before naps and bed. Finally just cow milk!

You are in size 2T clothes and 4 diaper. You weigh around 25 pounds. You are a LOT to hold!

We love you so so so so much little Austin!

Mamma

Cincinnati Movies

Back to Cali

We are back in California! We were welcomed with some nice heat, and a warm pool at Ma's house. The boys were very happy to see Ma and Papa, and we played there all day. Austin is actually more interested in walking around the pool while pointing to things and "talking" to us. Gavin showed off his going under water skills, and he is very proud of himself. We are too.

Cousins!!!

Today we woke up and everyone came over! All the kids immediately took off their clothes to play in the water of course! (Its HOT and humid here) Grandma has a great roller coaster and Gavin and Griffin set it up so that they could ride down the driveway to go faster...and with water. Hmm, dangerous? Maybe. But they were having fun!

Fruit Salad

Today all the cousins made a big fruit salad in the yard. They wanted to make it with mud and water, but we decided that this should be a dry salad...less mess. So they all gathered "inbredients" as Gavin says, and cooked away. After the fact we learned that they stripped down some of Grandma herb plants to use...oops!

Coney Island

Today we headed down to Coney Island to go on some rides! Gavin was a little hesitant at first as he does NOT like roller coasters, but he opened up in no time and wanted to ride everything...well, almost everything. Not the big stuff! It was a nice day, and there was not a crowd at all...perfect! Grandma treated us all to pizza and then ice cream for dessert. Each and every kid was in heaven. What a fun day, thank you Aunt Erica and Grandma!

Cousin Noah Kisses

Cousin Noah spent the night last night, and when he woke up he was SO happy to see the boys. He gave them both kisses. It was very sweet:)

Party!

Tonight Grandma and Grandpa hosted a really fun dinner party for all of us. We had a lot of the Gunderson's and Donovan's over and it was a lot of fun. Gavin had a blast playing with his older cousins and Austin had fun playing with whoever he felt like...as long as I was near, he was OK. If I stepped away, OH LORD. He was a total mamma's boy all week, so he wanted me near at all times! It was a delicious dinner and homemade cookies by Gavin for dessert. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the great party:)