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.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Wallis thinks that I should make Yo Gabba Gabba outfits for the concert this fall. I think he has forgotten who he married. Sew? Really? I tried to explain that my love for Project Runway has nothing to do with my abilities to make clothes.

2. My neighbor gave my Flex it's first boo-boo (he backed into my parked car). If only a band-aid would fix it. $1200 and 2 1/2 days later it will be all better.

3. This led me to thinking that the next time I buy a new car, Kelsea will most likely be starting high school and Lorelei middle school. Kind of a frightening thought.

4. In less than 24 hours the kids will be at Grandma and Grandpa's, and in less than 48 hours I will be laying at Wrightsville Beach reading a book, a real book!

5. The thought of leaving L.A. at 1:00 am doesn't even make me flinch, because we won't be traveling with car seats, pack n' plays or diaper bags.

6. And in case you are wondering why we are spending 4 days in North Carolina (sans kids), our friend Brian is getting married. Here he is with Lorelei last August! Oh, where did those thighs go?

7. Has anyone else started Christmas shopping?

8. Since some of you have asked where's the picture of me holding my nephew.... (not such a great picture of me, but look how cute Ben is)!

9. Blissfully three

10. And although I took a couple darling photos of Ben on Saturday, I have to find out from his parents if any of them will be used in their announcement before posting. So I'll leave you with his tiny little feet instead.

Welcoming Baby Ben

Jennie got the most precious Birthday gift this afternoon, her beautiful son Benjamin Daniel Love.

7 pounds, 12 ounces & 21 inches long

The first diaper (with oh so many more to come!)

Time to get footprints made. They also did them on Daddy's t-shirt. Pretty cool memento!

Getting to know his Daddy

Grandpa Steve, holding his first grandson!

Grandpa Dan meeting his very first grandchild! Just delighted!

Searching for his thumb and he was quite happy when he found it!

First yawn (or at least the first one I got on camera)

And now two becomes three. I think they are pretty happy.

Happy Birthday Jennie & Baby Ben! We love you!