Rock a Bye Baby

This maybe the coolest collections of lullaby's ever! Rock A Bye Baby has turned all of your favorite bands, U2, Matalica, The Eagles, Nirvana, Coldplay, just to name a few, into soothing lullaby's for your babes at bed time. I just downloaded the Coldplay one and my kids LOVE it! This is the perfect baby shower gift, or just because gift. DO yourself a favor and CHECK THIS OUT!!!! 

Christmas Eve

Like every year, we spent Christmas Eve at my parents house and just like every year, we had the best time! 

We ate and ate and ate 

We read Christmas stories and played Legos. 

 Steve tried to eat a Christmas Tree 

 Played piano and Steve thought it was funny to wear Gavin's tie. Ok it WAS pretty funny

 Closed our eyes tight for home made gifts !!!

 And after all was said and done, we took our walk around the neighborhood to look at all the spectacular lights

It was a wonderful Christmas Eve

Chirstmas

It came, it went went, and now we are left with a heaping mound of new toys and half put away Christmas decorations! I hope your Christmas was as glorious as ours. As soon as I can make sense of all the mess and find my camera, I will post about the best Christmas so far....

Puke, Hairbows and Snowflakes

This weekend we all had the stomach flu.

 GROSS. TERRIBLE. TORTURE. 

Steve had to work, so it was me and the babes and the toilet allll day. 

Thank God for TV because it saved me, although, if I have to watch another Christmas cartoon I think I might lose it.

Not my most favorite day so far. 

Anyways, we are feeling better and enjoying the past couple days of rain. We've had to get creative in ways to keep us all entertained indoors. 

Like singing songs  

                                     Baking and making new hair bows in every color imaginable :)
Sissy has discovered she can climb to the top bunk even with the bottom step of the ladder missing. This ones trouble I tell you. If it would stop pouring for a hot minute I would run to Ikea for the top mattress but I don't want to sludge my babes out in the rain.

 And we made a zillion snowflakes and made it snow in the dining room :) 

The Husband has been working HARD for the money and we miss him terribly. I just keep reminding myself that Christmas is in 5 days and then his busy season is OVER and we get him home a little more.

It's gonna rain for a couple more days so I have to brain storm some more inside activities.... Any ideas?

Playing Catch Up

This past weekend/ beginning of the week has been jammed packed ! Saturday, or was it Sunday.... all my days run together so who really knows. Anyways, Sara and I packed the kids and headed to the park. It was weirdly hot out, but the kids didn't care. We ended up staying for 4 hours. I know right, CRAZY long time to stay at a park, but they babes were happy and not destroying my house, so we stayed. They tumbled down hills, even Sofia. She went head over foot down the hill and came up laughing every time. What a girly girl I have :) Once the sun started to move to the other side of the sky, we packed up and called it a day. My babes were filthy filthy dirty and exhausted, but they were happy. As soon as we got home we got a call to join the Holland family for the boat parade. HECK YES! It was a gorgeous night, we only needed a light jacket and we sat on the edge of the dock and watched the boats go by. Gavin got to steer  Jacks boat, SO COOL, and Roxanne made us a yummy dinner. The Holland family is one of our favorites. They love our kids up so much, we are so grateful for them.
Phew, that was a big day.
P.S. Now that I think about it, it was Sunday.

 My children LOVE Uncle Jack! Sofia would only hold his hand, unless she was holding Uncle  Bobby's hand, her other FAVORITE! 

Monday night we went to breakfast at the beach, once again ridiculous weather in Orange County. The babes played in the sand, Sofia might have 

eaten a handful or two. That night we headed to the Snoopy House with the Cotton Family, and looked at some neighborhood Christmas lights. Probably one of my favorite things to dod this time of year. 

Tuesday we met Grey and Emme at the park for another great afternoon, I swear those boys are a match made in heaven. The boys played, the mamas chatted, and I got my  baby fix in.  A random mom commented on how I looked comfortable with a baby and asked if I wanted more.  Really, is my baby craving that obvious? I miss having a squishy baby to snuggle. 

Today we are home in our cozy clothes. Yeah, its that kind of day. The babes are napping, in the same bed. Thats right. We found a bunk bed on craigslist but we don't have the top mattress yet, and Sofia refuses to go in her crib, so they have been sleeping together for about a week. Most days it works. Some days they cry because someone's feet are touching the others. Last night I went to check on them and Gavin was snuggled her arm under on her chest. I should have taken a picture so that when they are fighting I can show them and prove that they really do love each other. 

I feel pretty on my game this week. Its a nice change from the chaos I was feeling the past couple of weeks. Steve and I have really been trying to choose our attitude and make the best if our days, even when they include babes that don't listen or nap or play nice :)

 We are a work in progress. 

Family Photos 2010

My girlfriend took some last minute photos of us last week. Here are a few of my favorites :) 

Sweet Child Of Mine

As we speak these two are playing in their beds while they should be napping. Sofia hit me in the face with my phone, and now I have Lisa Rhina lips. Not a good look I tell you. Gavin screamed the whole way home from the park because he found the smallest most teeny tiny scratch on his ankle that I'm sure is a week old. Our Christmas tree has almost come down a dozen times because of these two crazies. Sofia hasn't slept thru the night in almost two weeks. This I can't handle, not even a little bit. I end up with ten toes in my back and a Sister sprawled across almost the entire bed. I folded an entire load of laundry this morning, only to have it dog piled to the ground. These two are running me ragged..... 

But look at them. 

They are the most perfect things I've ever seen. My house is some serious chaos right now, but when I look at them and there huge brown eyes and ridiculously cute little smiles, I can't help but admit I have some pretty amazing babes. 

They are naughty and have a ridiculous amount of energy, but they are amazing.

I just may need to be committed by the time I'm thirty :) 

Video Santa App= AMAZING!

Do you have cranky babes that like to make public outings into a three ring circus?
Do you have babes that like to steal each others sippy cups, or just walk over and push each other for no reason?
Do you have no problem using Christmas as a threat like I do?

Got an iphone????

If you have answered YES to any of these questions, you NEED to download the Video Santa App.
It's literally the direct line to Santa. There is a "Naughty" number, a "Nice" number, and a voicemail. IT dials the big man and he pops up on your screen and TALKS to the kids. IT leaves a gap for you to talk back and it is AMAZING! Tonight Gavin smacked his sister one times too many, and I called the naughty line. MAN OH MAN, did it work.
Whoever invented this app should be knighted. I swear. He has given me the ultimate upper hand this year!

About a Papa

Dear Babes,

  You are two lucky ducks. Not only do you have a mama and daddy that adore you, but you also have a Papa that thinks you both walk on water. Not every little boy and girl get to live with their great grandparents. so you two are very very special. Every morning when you wake, he is there waiting in the kitchen with something yummy for your bellies. At 9:30 every morning he comes home from church to take Sissy for a walk around the neighborhood. He calls you his sugar, or his precious, or his baby love. He calls brother his little guy or toughie. If Sister wants something, anything, she knows Papa is the one to get it for her. You cry on demand when he is around so that he scoops you up in his big arms and gives you what you want. Its pretty safe to say that you have him wrapped around ALL of your fingers. 

Brother, your Papa has taught you all the stuff BOYS should know. You know which screw driver to use and how to take things apart and put them back together. He takes you for a walk, only to give you all the candy treats Mama usually doesn't allow. At night, he lets you watch movies in his bed. He is so proud of what a brave tough boy you are. 

When Daddy is at work, he lets you two play in his car and listen to music and hunt for cookies. After he kisses you guys you always smell of his cologne. You guys are his buddies. He gets sad if he gets home after you've gone to bed, and asks if he can sneak in and kiss you goodnight. 

My grandfather is a tough, stubborn, man, but when he is with you babes, he is soft and tender and you can see how much he loves you just by looking at him. When I was little he did all of these things with me, and I am so grateful that you two have him in your lives to spoil you just the same. 

After your great grandmother passed away, he says you guys saved his life. 

You have given him hope. 

You have made him smile again. 

I hope you always know the love that he has for you/ 

Always Always Always

Love,
Mama  

December 1st

Christmas lights are up. 

Tree is up. 

Annoying singing Christmas toys are out, 

and these babes are bustin' a move 

And to celebrate the beginning of December, we went where anyone would go .... 

THE BEACH!

I know, those of you freezing on the East Coast want to smack me in the face. I get it, but sorry Charlie. The sunshine and amazing weather is kind of a trade off for dealing with rude people and over priced living. 

We went to Laguna for a play date at the library. We sang songs, read stories, even made a dreidel in honor of the Chanukah. We hit up BJ's for a yummy lunch and an after lunch play sesh at the playground sown in the sand. The afternoon ended with a stop at the ice cream shop and a drive up the coast. 

It was such a great day. 

With many of of our days lately filled with tantrums and time outs, I was SO grateful for such a perfect afternoon. I've learned to take it one day at time and today
was a good one.