Almost summer time!

The weather has been giving us a little slice of hope that it will one day be summer again! We got to enjoy the sprinklers, water table, and was able to plant our garden over the last couple of weekends. We are all really looking forward to summer!

Zoe is sure she can ride the bike just like Grey!

 This is what happens when you so long without playing in the water table. The kids forget how to do it. I had to remind Grey that he was just suppose to splash and play with the toys...not climb into and strip off his clothes.  He must get that from his daddy...

 Zoe's first time playing with the water table

 Poor girl has a problem with pants fitting...jeans, now swim suit bottoms. I can't believe that she already has to deal with the issue of trying to find things that fit her right!

 Grey and Andrew enjoying an afternoon on the splash pad

 My big garden helpers...

Grey was helping me move dirt from one barrel to another to get it all the way full

 Zoe's favorite part is to pick up dirt from one barrel and throw it into another.

 Sandbox time! (Grey got a police uniform and wears at least part of it daily!)

 Hmm...who has been eating sand? ZOE?!!!

 Eating watermelon and enjoying dinner outside. 

 Life is Good.

Sugarloaf State Park-Canyon Trail Hike

Sugarloaf State Park is close by and we try to get out here as much as we can. With saying that, it literally has been over 2 years since the last time we went (New Year's Day hike in 2010!). It is such a beautiful area, Zippy actually did some work here when he worked at the University in the GIS lab to do some mapping of Sudden Oak Death. He used to know the the park really well as he had to stare at maps of it all day long! We were looking forward to camping there this summer but it is uncertain whether or not there will be funding for the park so the campgrounds are closed as of now. I hope the state budget gets straightened out soon or else we are going to lose some beautiful parks!!

Grey had a blast climbing on all the rocks and jumping off any that he could find!

 Zippy makes me so nervous climbing with Zoe in the backpack

 It was a nice hike down to the bottom of the canyon and a long hike back up (especially when Grey didn't want to walk anymore!) He ended up in the back pack while Zippy and I took turns carrying Zoe in our arms!)

 Zoe wanted to climb the rocks like everyone else

 This one was the perfect size for her, she was so proud she could stand on it!

 my little guy is getting so big!

Soccer "practice"

Grey has been going to watch Zippy's soccer games and soccer practices for a long time and it was finally time he got to do it himself! We signed him up for Kinder Kickz, an outdoor soccer program. They have a little free time in the beginning, work on a skill, then get to have a massive soccer scrimmage (ever see 30+ kids, ages 3-5, try to scrimmage each other with 5 balls? hysterical).

He had been asking what day was soccer practice for awhile and finally it was the day. He made sure he had his bag packed to take to Grammie's with his soccer shoes, soccer uniform, sweats, and a jacket. I got to Grammie's and he was standing by the door fully dressed, with his backpack on, ready to go even though we weren't leaving for awhile. Grammie said he had been that way for awhile already!

When we got to the field, he was worried he didn't see any of the other kids (the fields were closed due to all the rain recently and they were practicing on a grassy patch elsewhere). As we walked up, he seemed pretty puzzled. I had him go out and start kicking balls and saying hi to the other kids...but he kept just standing still and looking around. I asked him what was up, and he asked me where the goal keeper was! At daddy's practice there is always a goal keeper and he was really puzzled that there wasn't one there. Too cute!

He had so much fun and asked the next morning if he could go again every day to soccer practice. During the scrimmage, he did push one kid, and Zippy and him talked about why we don't push people. Later that night, I was talking to him about soccer as we were getting ready for bed. He told me he pushed someone and when I asked him why he did it, he said he was trying to get the ball from him. (I am sure he has seen this done by other people...ahem, Zippy).

Listening to Coach Renee and Coach Spencer

 Playing Red Light, Green Light (on yellow, they had to lay down)

 Scrimmaging

 Zoe had fun but wanted to play, too!

Mexico for Momma!

Stephanie has been teaching in Mexico City for three years and I hadn't had a chance to sneak down to visit her until now! Zippy was the best daddy ever and let me go for 5 days while he stayed home with the kiddos. It was a much needed mini-vacation to refuel and catch up with one of my besties! We did a day trip to Tulum to check out the ruins but other than that enjoy palomas, micheladas, and ceviche on the beaches of Playa Del Carmen!

 Leaving rainy San Francisco

Our hotel was fantastic-right on the beach, live music, great bar

 In the hotel, looking out

 The walkway to our room

 Our door is hidden behind those stairs and plants

 Home sweet home!

 The view of most of the trip :)

 There was a guy who would use that net to catch fish then someone would run out of the hotel to get it from him for dinner that night...talk about fresh!

 Yumminess! I love micheladas :)

 Ready to snorkel in Akumal...if I go back to the Riviera Maya again, I would stay in Akumal. Great beach, great snorkeling, a little more mellow that Playa Del Carmen

 Tulum

 Iguanas everywhere

 Walk down to the beach at Tulum

 Seriously, iguanas everywhere!!

 We found the bar that Zippy and I went to every night on our honeymoon. It is still one of my favorite places!

 Enjoying my Stephy time!

 Late night snacks :)

 Helping the bartenders at my favorite bar. I can't help but giggle at guys with mustaches!

 Best. Ceviche. Ever.

It was a much needed trip and I am so glad that I was able to get away and enjoy my Steph again one on one. I missed my kiddos, but I would sacrifice and do it again ;) I do look forward to when they are a little older and they can come play too!

Grevin: 3 years

Dear Grey:
I am a few weeks late in writing this and I am really hoping this is NOT any example of what three is going to be like and it is just you coming off your sugar high from the last month of birthday celebrating. We arrived to 3 with minimal tantrums, mostly because of your laid back attitude, but the last couple of weeks have been metlt down city if you do not get your way or if things don't happen how you want them to (a full size shovel will not fit into a small bag no matter who tries to do it but you are not okay with answer). Luckily, you starting to get back into your normal self and life can go on without any of us losing any more hair!

Two, though, has been a really great year. You are such a happy guy and I really enjoy being with you. You love to laugh and tease and joke around. You love new people and new situations. You are willing to try anything. You love to help. You truly are very easy going even though you are still VERY. HIGH. ENERGY. You play hard, love hard, cry hard, laugh hard. You wear your emotions and your heart on your sleeve and it is a very big heart. You love to ride your tricycle and you love to snuggle. You love to dig and climb and swing...and you could also curl up in our lap and read books all day.

You amazingly still have the most love and patience (most of the time) with your sister. You love being with her and when she is not around, you ask when you get to see her again. You make sure she always has something to play with, as long as it isn't something you want; you know better than anyone what your sister is allowed to eat or play with - if someone tries to give her something that you don't know is an okay food, you ask me. If you have something to eat, you always share it with her-even popsicles!  You are the very best big brother anyone could ask for. When you first hear her in the morning, you run to go say good morning; you sing to her when she cries in the car; you try your hardest to make her laugh and that doesn't take much because she adores you just as much. Of course, it is not always such a loving relationship. You love to bear tackle her to the ground and you get frustrated when she takes something you are playing with. You wouldn't be true siblings if that wasn't the case!

One thing that has really shown up this year is your hoarding tendency :) It is amazing the things that I find in your bed or in your pockets. I have to remember to check all your pockets before throwing things in the wash because I never know what I will find. We have ruined a few loads with crayons...(it has taken me a few times to learn that I need to check EVERYTHING). You have your "adventure" pack (it's an A's baseball gym bag) that you fill to the brim with anything you can find. You also found one of our carry on suitcases and loaded it up too. One positive thing about this is that there isn't much of a mess to clean up in the toy room because you have managed to squeeze every toy and book into these two things that you can. The bad thing is that you do not want to part with either item. This is where quite a few of the recent tantrums come from. I tried to reasonably explain to you that we do not need to take the 50 pound adventure pack to the store (you respond that you NEED something to play with while you are there). You can make me want to pull my hair out one second and crack up laughing the next.

Starting this year, I am going to ask you these same 20 questions to see how your answers change. It took a few days to ask you all of these as you would only answer one or two questions before getting too silly. Enjoy!

1. Favorite color? Blue
2. Favorite toy? Chainsaw (don't worry, it is a toy!)
3. Favorite fruit? Blueberries
4. Favorite tv show? Curious George
5. Favorite thing to eat for lunch? Yogurt
6. Favorite outfit? Work pants, daddy work shirt, work boots
7. Favorite game? Soccer running game
8. Favorite snack? Popcorn
9. Favorite animal? Bella (Andrew's dog!)
10. Favorite song? You can't always get what you want (you say it is your favorite since your it's your daddy's favorite song when you start whining)
11. Favorite book? All of them
12. Who is your best friend? Andrew
13. Favorite cereal? O's
14. Favorite thing to do outside? Swing
15. Favorite drink? Kefir
16. Favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you? star lady bug, blankies, books
18. Favorite thing for breakfast? oatmeal and blueberries and yogurt
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Sushi
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Police man who drives a motorcycle

The Day You Were Born

 One Year

 2 year

3 year

Love you so much big boy!! Can't wait to see what this year brings as long as it isn't any more of those meltdowns! Even if they are, that smile makes it worth every second :)

XOXO,

Momma