Is it really October, YIKES!!

Just sitting at my computer and daydreaming about fall in New York. I looooved it!! The leaves changing, crisp nights, and getting ready for Halloween. I'm going to start blogging again after a loooong blogging vacation. I have so much to update everyone on!! But before the blogging begins, I need everyone to send me their email address. I have noticed I'm getting a lot of odd comments on my postings so I have decided to make my blog private. If you can send me your email address that would be awesome. My email is skgpo3@gmail.com. Hope everyone had a good summer and I can't wait to share what we have been up to!

Santa Barbara Zoo

So I must say that having twins has never made me afraid to leave the house. I admit it takes some planning and getting up early on my part, but something about being outside makes me feel energized. So last month, the boys and I took a day trip to the SB Zoo. I really like the SB Zoo. They have a little train that circles the park perimeter, lots of animals, and it's beautifully located next to the beach. We spent the morning checking out animals and then had a picnic lunch. Ralph was very traumatized when a seagull dove down and swiped 1/2 of his PB & J sandwich. He was soooo sad that a bird took his lunch. So sad, that a nice zoo employee offered to replace his lunch for him. I explained that we had brought our lunch and I wouldn't feel right taking a meal from them. After lunch was the train ride and the playground. The zoo has a "fake" grass hill in the playground and the boys had a blast sliding down it on cardboard. I think that was the highlight of the trip! We then fed the goats and sheep and then headed home. What a fun day! Blake

RJ

Goat feeding time! Blake was scared of the goats. He threw all his food through the fence on the ground. Check out that grimace as the goat approaches!!

Changes, Changes, Changes.....

OK, I've returned from my blogging vacation. PS-I have no excuses as to why I haven't made any posts. Just a lot of fun stuff going on! The biggest change is that the boys quit napping in December. We found if they napped they would be up way to late (10 or 11pm) and bedtime was starting to be a battle. They now sleep from about 8:30am-8:30pm. I do miss they midday break but it is much more manageable now that they go to bed early and relatively painlessly. We started potty training the first couple weeks in January.......and it was a success!!!! I still think I'm the one who is mostly potty trained. I watch for the potty dance and don't stray to far from restrooms when we are out. Blake has been dry at night for awhile and Ralph is getting there. We still have occasional accidents but to be done with diapers is quite nice. We have been living in Oceano with my mother in law for about 3 months now. She is very nice and more than accommodating but we should be finding our own place soon. Yippee!! My boys have managed to break several things in her house and misplace about a hundred more. On the plus side we live super close to the beach and a park and go there often. I was bummed to leave New York but being able to play outside year round is sure nice. I have lots of pictures and blogging to catch up on so hope I can stick with it!!

So I was bribing the boys with M&M's during the first few days of potty training. RJ found the mother load and helped himself when I left the room. Hmmm, wonder how many he shoved in his mouth before I busted him???

Christmas Recap

Leaving cookies for Santa

OK, back to blogging! Christmas was amazing. The boys got the whole Santa Claus thing and would say to each other "You better (share, be kind, etc) or Santa is going to put you on the naughty list and you won't get any presents". Eventually the one misbehaving would say "I don't like presents". The boys got lots of new toys which is really good since we sold almost everything prior to moving back. The train table, Handy Manny Tool Workshop and police/fire rescue station now occupy a good portion of the living room. They loved waking up to a house full of goodies. Ralph woke up the day after Christmas and said "I'm ready to open more presents". Oops, guess we forgot to explain it's only once a year! We are deep in the trenches of potty training. They wear regular underpants now but still occasionally have accidents. Their reward for potty training was they get to go to school so we now attend a parent participation program one day a week. They get to do art projects, circle time and play with other kids so they think "school"is really fun. I can't believe they are growing up so fast. I'm slightly sad they are out of the baby phase but more excited about all the stuff they get to do as big kids now. Here are some Xmas pictures to enjoy.

Playing with the new toys and Christmas morning family photo

We made it!!

We arrived back to California on Saturday. We are happy to spend the holidays close to our friends and family. The boys were great on the long trip. We found a hotel with an indoor heated pool almost every night and they loved it. They are becoming quite the little tadpoles. I will have some new pictures next post but to tired to post them tonight. Happy Holiday to everyone!!

Moving

Packing, cleaning, raw fingers, sleep deprivation, lifting, 56 dumpster runs, driving to Target everyday for more bubble wrap, no food in the house, no toys, bored kids......I think I officially hate moving!! We are mostly packed and hope to head off tomorrow. Hoping for good weather and happy boys! Should take us about 7 days so I won't be blogging for a while. Wish us luck!!!

The above picture is from Thanksgiving. Food was amazing and time with my husband and the boys even better! Josh was kind enough to point out the gigantic plate of food I had made myself when he saw this photo. Seriously, what was I thinking?For some reason I think turkey is only available once a year and feel the need to eat a triple portion!!

"Have you seen my kid"? and other random thoughts

I still chuckle when I hear the following:

"Mom, I can't find my kid"!

"Where's my kid"?

close up of the kid

"Kid" refers to an Astro Boy McDonald's happy meal toy. Seriously, that happy meal toy entertained my two boys for an entire afternoon and then some. Unfortunately, the "kid" gets misplaced from time to time. That is when I hear Ralph or Blake say "Have you seen my kid"?

The boys with their kids

Well our house was in a chaotic state for a while. First Josh had the flu. That horrible fever, cough and body ache flu. He had a day to stay home and then was forced to work out of town with it for the rest of the week. He was home for a day and then I came down with it. He had to go to work so I curled up on the couch and let my boys watch a ridiculous amount of TV until I could function later in the day. The boys seem to be OK. They both had the two flu (reg & swine) mists so I'm hoping they never get it.

I'm so excited for Thanksgiving!!! This is the first year I'm going to cook. I made Easter once (5+ years ago) and my rolls turned out like hockey pucks. I never used to really cook until the boys started eating solids. Now I'm really into it! I make dinner every night. I have a couple of standard recipes and then I always try to find some new ones too (Food Network rocks!). I'm not a gourmet cook by any means but I can follow a recipe pretty well. So... I have printed my recipes, bought the food and now I just need to cook it all. We will still be in NY so it will just be Josh, the boys and I. Can't wait!!!!