Hey Look! Uncle Cliff Came to Visit
A fun visit with Uncle Cliff. Vincent loves meeting his relatives. He’s got plenty! Though i know he doesn’t like eating vegetables.
Vinny and Melanie love that wine cooler and Pop-pops and Oma’s house!
Uncle Cliff got a good shot of the kids and Jeff in our backyard.
Sea Otter Classic – Vincent’s First Ride
We heard that the Sea Otter Classic has a kid track so we thought we would take Vincent to ride it with is little Stryder bike.
It was a good set up, with some minor hills, and bridges. We didn’t stay long but i think it was a great experience for him.
Of course we had to get a snow cone afterward!
Michelle’s Baby Shower
My co-worker Michelle is having a baby and i made a diaper cake and “flower” bouquets. for the baby shower. It took a bit of trial and error to figure out how exactly i was going to pull these off, but i think they turned out great. (Oh and BTW, Schipper has some new team members — including a dude – say what!)
This is only the second time i’ve made a diaper cake but i think i did a bit better – definitely used less rubberbands this time around! Found the cutest ribbon from Walmart of all places…. Pampers is the best newborn diapers!
The washcloths were incredibly easy to make! Thanks to Pinterest for the idea.
At the party we had to guess the baby food in the jar by smelling only. It was a lot harder than i thought it would be!
So happy for Michelle and her husband! Yay for more babies!
Happy Easter – fun with kids!
Happy Easter to all my family and friends. Totally not religious by any means, so basically a fun holiday with candy, decorated eggs and Easter egg hunts. I guess you can take your photo with the Easter bunny at the mall, but he looked kind of creepy, so we passed.
This year we wanted to return to Marina’s Easter egg hunt since we had a fun time last year. These events last about 30 seconds, but still worth the drive and fun for the kids. Gotta get your spot near the rope. Everyone was telling their kids to “run to the back!” — they have them set up by age group.
This year Vincent was in the 3-4 year olds. We invited our friend Charlotte to come but she as in the 0-2 year area.
Melanie just watched from the stroller again this year. Well last year she was sleeping as these sorts of things, so she’s stepping up.
On Easter Sunday, we did opened gifts from the Easter Bunny, in the morning.
Melanie got “little people – disney princess edition” since she loves playing with them and putting them in the toy airplane we have.
She also got a little tea set. Mmm donuts.
Vinny got hot wheels. He loved it!
We then did our own egg hunt in the backyard.
Melanie watched from the blanket.
Then we tried portraits.
One word – impossible.
Vinny wouldn’t sit still.
Melanie kept laughing when the bunny ears would fall.
And she loved the fake grass.
I’m glad Melanie still lets me take photos.
Tried to catch a couple of my boy.
Just dont ask him to smile.
I had planned for them to wear a completely different outfit, but ended up with matching green by accident. A photo of all of us would have been nice, but just the girls will have to do.
We headed to the in-laws for an egg hunt, more baskets, and brunch — i made some Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. Something i never really made but always ate in Hawaii, so i found a recipe. It was pretty good but strong on the vinegar, might lessen that next time.
Vincent and Melanie had more Easter baskets waiting for them. Some super cool trinkets, Cars bubbles for Vin, a real looking stuffed bunny for Mel.
Super amazed by the light-up wind up toy.
This child has a thing for eating eyeballs i guess.
More plastic grass fun!
They had a blast laughing and playing with each other. It’s such a joy to watch them interact and truly love each other’s presence.
We also died Easter Eggs. I bought this kit when i was at the supermarket with Vincent. He kept calling them “Paas Crazy Eggs” even though they weren’t Paas brand. How the heck does he know about Paas? LOL! He amazes me sometimes.
Until next year!
Happy St. Patrick’ Day! Melanie’s 1 year check up.
Last minute Jeff decided we should dress up the kids for the 17th of May — We are Irish after all! He went on a mad-hunt for new green outfits for the kids during lunch on the 16th and came up with nothing. So i went to Target and scored a shirt for both of them.
I made corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage in the slow cooker. We went over to my in-law’s house to eat dinner and snap some of these photos
Earlier in the day, Melanie had her 1 year check up and shots. Of course with all the Measles hoopla, my pediatricians upped the MMR shot to 12 months instead of 18 months. Sounds good to me.
She was so excited to play with the toy in the waiting room! Look at her face.
She is 19lbs, 3oz and 29.5 in long. 25-50% percentile. I guess i made it a “thing” to take a selfie while in the patient room waiting for the doc. 🙂
Melanie can now pull herself up to a stand using a table, chair, or in this case, the laundry basket!
Vincent is 3.5 years old
Thought i’d post what this little boy is up to nowadays. H is 3.5 years old now! I think he is 32 lbs. Haven’t measured him but i think i will soon! He still wears 3T clothes and 8.5 shoes.
Vincent’s really been addicted to the iPad! We had to limit it and say he can only play if he eats his dinner (which happens,… oh.. 30% of time). He pretty much plays ALL saturday morning while im trying to make and clean breakfast and clean up the house from the week’s destruction.
Cuddling in bed to wake up daddy on the weekend. Everyone’s here including Butters! Vincent’s been coming into our bed at around 6:30am in the morning to “cuddle” or as he says “i tuck in toooo”
Night-time shenanigans. Playing “who is there”? where we open the bathroom door after Vincent’s finishing up brushing his teeth, and Melanie is sitting there with a different toy/object everytime. Lately we’ve transitioned back to :”lion” where Vincent comes in the nursery where melanie is getting ready, “scares” her and continues on climbing into his crib. The “police” (daddy) comes to rescue the lion from the public.
Biking near pop’s place. Vincent’s been out a few times with Pop-pop to practice his stryder.
Vinny acting silly for the camera.
I think he looks handsome here. Recently we’ve been trying to correct him when he says things wrong like “notta notta” — he says that when he “wantsa wantsa” something! He has been talking a lot more though, everyday. I am trying to teach him what his birthdate is. He knows what all of our first names are Jeff, Diane, and the names of Pop-pop and Oma, and the names of the freeway and one of the other roads we always travel.
The other day Dad took him for a ride down the street in his push car.
He insisted on stopping at the corner and sitting down and waiting for something. I think this was because once a long long time ago, we walked to that same spot and waited to watch the dump truck come by.
He is doing good in school. We had him practice drawing X’s for “homework” and then also showed him how to write his name. Excuse the weird first “N” – Jeff was showing him uppercase but i noticed he wanted to do a lowercase.
This is that look he gives you when he’s about to do something rascal, or he just did something rascal and he knows it. (like probably blowing bubbles in his milk)
Melanie’s 12-13 month update
A week before her 1st birthday, dressed her up for Jace’s birthday party. Love this photo!
We put up the baby corral but we rarely use it. She normalyl just crawls around wherever.
This is the crying face. It’s pretty popular right now with her. She cries over every little thing. Drama i tell you.
Loves Vincent’s shoes as a toy. Even Vin knows — if Melanie’s needs something to distract her he will take off his shoes and give it to her to play with.
Poor Melanie got a runny nose! This was in January, but we would ALL end up getting sick after her birthday.
Daddy put the arm and foot rests on Vincent’s push car. She loved it!
I finally put up the rainbow decoration from my childhood days in her room. I want to change her theme soon, pretty sick of 3.5 years of farm animal!
She’s loving feeding herself. Here’s her blueberries. She thinks they are ok.
She LOVES mini pancakes. Probably because her older brother loves them too. She also loves a wheat bread slice.
She is super interested in spoons and bowls. Will cry for them.
I stopped breastfeeding this month because she just wasn’t that into it. She was so used to the bottle’s milk coming out right away she got really frustrated with the boob. Fine by me!
Loves playing with her toys.
She’s been trying to go up to a kneeling position.
She can support her weight if we pull her up to lean againist a table.
And she got her first kiss!
i mean… bite mark … from her february birthday twin Jace at his birthday party!
I caught her writing the grocery list!
Peekabo with the curtains!
First trip to costco — clutched her kitty the whole time.
Still drooling lots.
Still loves stuffing string, cards, and rubbish in her mouth.
Spring is almost here!
Happy Girls Day from Melanie (and Vincent)
Tried to snap some quick pics of Melanie on Girls day after work, but she wasn’t in the picture taking mood (hasn’t really been since she turned 1! OH NO)
Vincent also had a cute outfit that we bribed him to wear. Just a few shots to share:
Melanie’s 1st Birthday: Hello Kitty Theme Party
Here we are again! Weeks and weeks of planning for birthday party fun — spending lots of $$ and staying up late every night designing things. This time around i felt it was a lot easier since there are so many things you can buy that are Hello Kitty themed!
Enter the party!
Used HK wall decals all over the house, and pink and yellow balloons.
Speaking of balloons – a “life size” Hello Kitty to liven up the party!
My special screensaver to highlight her monthly photos / firsts. See all the photos below slideshow (you will have to press the < LEFT arrow to go in the right order! and also, this is not quite the same version i had at they party! oh well)
Birthday banner, presents in the background.
Loved these pink sparkly plates i found!
I had a heck of time thinking of a menu – didnt want to do sandwiches again, so we ended up with lots of kid-food! Mac n cheese, PBJ, hot dogs, beans. (mostly not pictured! they were on the counter)
PB and J sandwiches cut out like Hello Kitty- thanks to my mom for the idea and execution help on this one!
Made my usual hawaiian punch but the kids seem to dig the strawberry milk i got from costco.
Set up tables outside.
Special waters! HK Duct tape.
Coloring pages outside
As well as inside the sunroom.
We played one game — which was a little obstacle course to run and jump and catch the bird (like a cat)
Then run in the house and grab a ball of yarn and go back to the finish.
Singing to Melanie
Vincent helped with the candle blowing.
I’d say she had little interest in eating the cake.
Was interested in opening presents. Though she fell off the chair face first but luckily daddy caught her.
Of course Vincent was into the toys too.
Party favors – bags made with Silhouette.
Inside the party bag.
Dessert table.
Mini cupcakes.
Melanie’s smash cake.
The ring cakes.
—–
The day before the party my dad got really sick. I started to feel sick that day too, but pushed through. I totally had a fever during the party but had to keep it together! I was so exhausted at the end of the day. Monday was a holiday, luckily, but i still stayed home Tues and Wed from work (worked from home actually) since Jeff, Vincent and Melanie all got sick too. Ugh! What a way to end the party.
Happy Valentine’s Day
My friend Patti made a beautiful Valentine wreath for me as a present. I wanted to take a nice family photo for Valentine’s Day/Melanie’s birthday.
Vincent just couldn’t get it together. Actually, he was acting like he was going to cooperate but it took me a few seconds to find the camera and get Jeff to take the photo and by then he was scaling the wall.
Here’s Melanie and her grandma and her v-day bib.
These are the Valentine’s i made “from Melanie” for the daycare kids.
For Vincent’s i just bought animal 3d cards from the store.
Picture from daycare.