Ten on Tuesday

Our Trip to Hawaii

1. The Stuff. Between the pack n' play, stroller, car seat, golf clubs and of course our clothes, we had one full minivan. Luckily we didn't have to leave anything (or anyone) behind.

2. The view from our balcony. Not such a bad place to lay back and read a book (make that four books and two magazines).

3. We spent most our days at the pool, which was fantastic for little kids. Kelsea could walk across most of it since the deepest part was 4 feet. Even Lorelei could wade pretty far into it without being underwater. Wallis was quite a trooper and stayed in the pool, while I got to lay under the umbrella and read (and take pictures of course). Such a fantastic husband I have!

There was one or two melt downs. We are still learning how to share.

Lorelei deciding she needed a break from Kelsea drama (and the heat).

Grandpa and Grandma relaxing under the umbrella.

Often she's a really good sharer.

Kelsea really loved riding the boogie board...despite the lack of waves

She also made a new friend, Miss Anna from Oregon.

4. One of the days it was a little overcast so we went on a train ride, which included feeding the pigs. Kelsea tried very hard to give most of her pita bread to the baby pig. Lorelei was pretty excited about the pigs, and enjoyed growling at them.

Ggrrooowl

5. On Saturday night Wallis and I got to have a nice dinner sans kids, at the Beach House. If you ever stay in Kauai you must eat there, it was fabulous! They even had a photographer! Look how young she made us look! :-) My parents went the following night.

6. Kelsea was very excited to watch "the hula girl." She was especially thrilled to get on stage and learn a few moves. She told us that she wanted one of the dancers (the one in the middle) to be her Mom. LOL! Sorry babe you are stuck with this one!

Wallis snapped this one before we left for the "show." Not sure how much longer I'll be able to hold both girls in my arms.

Lorelei is not too sure about these girls

And some nice family took a photo of all of us.

7. We went to Poipu Beach one of the days. Not quite as comfy as those lounge chairs around the pool, but still kid friendly and beautiful!

If you get out your magnifying glass you'll see Kelsea and Wallis walking across the sand bar to the "island".

8. While Wallis and my Dad Went golfing, the resort had games and activities for the kids. Kelsea was pretty serious about the Hula Hoop. Lorelei didn't quite get the concept yet. Wallis also took Kelsea to hit golf balls. She is now hooked and has been back twice since we've been home.

9. We of course had to end our visit with a few pictures of the girls. A much easier task to accomplish by themselves then together.

Two peas in a pod

10. And of course my lovely parents, who probably now need a vacation from their vacation! Ma-halo

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What do you mean we have to go back home?

Back from Kauai

Oh my gosh after 7 fabulous days in Kauai, and then three days off at home we have to go back to work/school tomorrow! Long drawn out sigh of sadness.

I took 291 photos, so I think it may have to be a 20 on Tuesday. We did have a lovely time, most of it spent at the "beach" pool. Here's a sneak peak of more to come:

One and a Half

Well, the terrible twos are almost upon us. Or maybe they are already here, since we have witnessed plenty of your open-mouth, high-pitched screams, with the eyes closed, and body parts flailing along the floor these past few weeks. Where did our sweet, calm baby go?

Your personality is making it's way to center stage, as you turn 18 months. If I had to guess what you will be when you grows up, it's Chief. Chief of whatever. It is your way and that's it.

And just like your sister you are very independent. Must be genetic. And if we try and take that away from you, you'll let us know that you do not approve (see first paragraph). So much for you being the "mellow one." LOL!

You also want whatever it is your sister has. You are not a happy camper if Kelsea gets something and you do not! Although this could be troubling in a few years, it's also advantageous for things like swim class. I think you are thriving at swim lessons partially due to having your sister in the next lane. Maybe this attitude will make potty training and crib-to-bed transition easier next year...

And just like your big sister you are very sweet and hand out lots of hugs and kisses. Your most favorite things are centered around bed time (bath and books). We are reading a boatload of books to you, when just a couple months ago you would push them away and opt to go to bed instead. You are still incredibly easy to put down to bed, and still take great naps during the day (thank goodness). You are an amazing eater, which might be why you are so tall, 33 inches (90th %) and 24 pounds (50th %). And as one can see from the last two photos, you are looking more and more like your Dad. The Laughrey gene pool wins again. :-)

Four and a Half

Summer is flying by, despite it feeling more like Winter here in "sunny" California. One month ago yesterday, our oldest baby girl had a half birthday. She was disappointed to find out her half birthday did not come with cake, candles and presents, but she's still pretty stoked about telling people she is 4 1/2. I think I convinced her our trip to Kauai later this month was her and Lorelei's half birthday present. That has to count for something?

A few things about you at four and half:

You love, love, love watching movies.

You adore playing at the beach, even when you are shivering from the fog and wind.

You enjoy building things at school. Your teachers tell us you spend lots of time building intricate towers. Today you built Disneyland.

You are becoming quite a good swimmer.

You love to play dress up more than anything else. Even if it's just trying on your own clothes.

You want to know why raccoons don't turn into butterflies.

You tell me stories of when you were "big", as if you lived an entire lifetime before you became a part of ours.

You are a wonderfully sweet big sister.

You want to be a mommy when you grow up and either a baby teacher or a baby doctor.

You ask a lot of questions about how you were born and how "Baby Jesus" made us.

You still sneak into our bed at night, and although I may not have quite as many good nights of sleep, I know that one day (too soon) I will yearn for a night of snuggling with my little girl.

You are growing up way to fast, in fact in all these photos I can envision you as a teenager. So for now we will simply enjoy your four-and-a-halfness!

Eleven Blissful Years

Yesterday we celebrated our 11th Anniversary.

To include:

Breakfast with our friend Kelly, and her darling 4 year old niece, Madison.

A real date (dinner and a movie).

Our bed all to ourselves.

Sleeping in until 8!

Watching what we wanted to watch while eating breakfast.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Love for watching the kiddos and letting us be us for a day!

Wallis and Kelsea's Conversation

This was their conversation on the way to work this morning:

Dad, who made Disney? (we are going to Disneyland tomorrow for Wallis' Birthday)

-A man named Walt Disney.

Dad, who made the world?

-A guy by the name of God.

Oh. Where does God live?

-(had to think hard about this one and how to answer without

confusing her too much)

-He lives in your heart and in heaven.

Oh. Where is heaven and why does he live there?

-He likes living up there so he can see all of us.

And he can protect us?

-Yep.

Policeman protect us from witches in buildings and save us sometimes too.

-Yes, I guess they do.

When we go to Disneyland I don't want to have breakfast with those big puppets.

-Ok, we wont.

I love you dad. Im done talking now.