Will and Molly's first swim of the season.

A week or so ago we took Will and Molly to our neighborhood pool for the first time this season...Will had been to one swim lesson and we had given him a kick board and Buzz Lightyear swim clothes, he was excited to try out his new stuff. I got Molly a cute SPF swimsuit with fishies and ruffles on it...of course the "bum" was adorable. :-)
How'd it go? Will went nuts!! He had no fear...face in the water, kick kick kick and he was going from wall to Daddy in no time. One swim lesson, using the kick board one time, and he was ready to swim. We'd switch back and forth between the pool and the "hot pool" (hot tub), where he would swim on his own with the kickboard. He has been using memories of watching his older cousins, Brooklyn and Bella, swim by themselves as his inspiration. Molly loves the water too, she walks around on the steps in the hot tub and kicks in her little froggy floaty...Here's to my lil' fish....

My Joe-Cool Son & proud Molly

Will looks lovingly at his baby sister-HA! :-)

Molly's cute fishy, ruffle bum.

No Training Wheels!

Will takes on a big boy bike!

Will's Pseudo 4th B-day

Will's Nana and Papa and Papa Bill and Grandma Karen came to visit while Will was on springbreak so that we could all celebrate his birthday. They're not able to make his party that is 2 days before his actual bday (4/26) so I decided to make it a mini party. And that's what Will ended up calling it, his mini baseball party. We are REALLY into baseball right now, so the theme only seemed fitting. It was very special to have two sets of Will's grandparents together to celebrate, Will and Molly are very lucky to have them, and lucky they are willing to make the trip to come visit. One set all the way from CDA, Idaho. The other set from Palm Springs, CA (2-3 hrs away). I felt special too though. I love my dad and Karen very much, and I love my in-laws, I was feeling very special that this meant enough to them to make a special trip to come see all of us.
Thanks for celebrating, my dear Family!

Molly is pig-tail ready to party!

Thanks for the StarWars Ship Papa

You too, Nana! (and the flame converse, & everything else too, spoiler!)

Oh, my first transformer! BumbleBee, thanks GmaKaren and PapaBill!

AND a monster truck!? Awesome, thanks Gma Karen and PapaBill

LOVE LOVE LOVE this family photo, everyone (except M, she was sleeping) looks so good and happy!

Molly's dress got a tiny bit wet, so she REALLY wanted us to take it off. But we wouldn't, see below to see how upset she got.

Saddest picture ever!!!

My Little Gift to my Kiddo's

I made this growth chart at my first MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting when Will was about 8 or 9 months old...since I'm not a crafty person, I was very impressed with it and with how simple it was to make something so cute.

And of course b/c Will had one, I was determined to make one for Molly too...It only took me 8 months longer. Will's first measure, 10 months, Molly's 18 months. To my credit, I had the very crafty help of the person at MOPS helping me with Will's, but I created Molly's completely from scratch. I spent many days looking for the same decals that are on Will's, but girly. But I decided they didn't exist anymore, so I went with other "pretty" things. I must say I'm quite impressed with how it turned out...I really wasn't sure I could pull this one off.

There isn't space in Molly's room to hang her's, so we hung it in the hallway right outside Will's room. Which I like better anyway b/c it's right next to Will's chart. Will-18 months: 34inches Molly-18 months: 31 inches...a 3 inch difference! Crazy.

Dog Days of Summer...

Except it was March 17th! Molly turned 18 months old on this day. A year and a half. Wow. When people ask me how old she is now, and I say, "A year and a half." I'm shocked every time. For some reason, a year and a half seems soooo old. :-) But she's so petite, sensitive, sweet, cuddly, kind, and fragile (or at least acts that way) that she still seems much younger to me.
I decided to surprise Will after his nap with some sprinkler time out in the backyard...he'd been asking constantly and it was finally (finally, ha! its march)  warm enough to fire up the water. He was very excited, and it turned out to be a whole lotta fun. It was Molly's first time playing in a sprinkler. I realized later it was a wonderful way to "celebrate" her 18th month birthday. She LOVED it...she giggled and sprayed and got sopping wet. I loved watching every minute of it. Her squeals mixed with Will's loud giggles and laughs made for fantastic backyard music.
Happy 18th Birthday Molly!
-weighs 22lbs 10oz
-32inches long
-loves to read books, anything flying, macaroni and cheese, Pooh Crackers from Costco, Bathtime, brushing her teeth, flowers, Gymbo the clown, climbing, sand, the ocean, copying anything her brother does, babies (real and toy), Will's preschool teachers, necklaces, going to Daddy's office with a book every morning for him to cuddle and read with her...probably the most precious thing I've ever seen.
-first word: Elmo "Elma" other words: Emily "Emma-ma-ma" ball, bird, boots, Brother "budha," banana, mama, dada, nana, papa. Makes all animal sounds, and "flying sound."
-gives the sweetest random kisses, hugs, gentle pats and snuggles. Will walk up behind Brother and gently pat his back or head, wrap her arms around him and hug, blow kisses,
-Does absolutely EVERYTHING her brother NEVER did...everything.

Happy 8th Anniversary to Us!

8 years ago today, Jeremy and I were living in San Francisco, CA and had planned a wedding in Seattle WA, and a honeymoon in the Carribean...today we have 2 wonderful and brilliant kids and are so lucky to live in the beautiful city of Carlsbad, CA. We have a happy family with lots of friends and family around us. We love you all and thank you for all your love, support, and happiness!

We look sooooo young! :-)

Oh my girls, I love them so much.

The gorgeous Dome Room, such a beautiful/classy place.

"Don't you DARE shove that in my face!"