Too big

Both kids are getting way too big, too fast. J's starting to speak much better, he's doing 3 & 4 word sentences. "Mommy, fop sing eese" (mommy stop singing please) and other lovely things. He's also started counting to ten but I don't think he understands the actual concept of numbers - he insists he has 2 sisters, 2 mommies, and 2 daddies. (LOL!) When he "counts" he always goes up to 2 for just 1. Someday. He's great on colors. He loves the color green. Orange he struggles with - he calls it either yellow or red.

Sarah, is already starting to babble a little. Just little 'dadadada's here and there, it's so cute. Haven't been able to capture it on video though. She also loves to stand up and is pretty strong. She can't get to standing herself (although sometimes she throws herself forward while she's sitting like she's trying to) but if you stand her up next to something she'll hold on. She can't wait to start eating food - I just bought her a little booster seat and some cereal, which we'll probably start on Sunday. With all her issues, I'm a little nervous, but I am pretty sure she'll do fine. (of course we'll have benadryl just in case)

First trip to Costco sitting next to each other. They did great. J was sweet and kept kissing her head. (awww!)


Like I said, he's getting too big.


The kids with Grandma and Grandpa G. I think this is the first time Sarah's been held by my mom and she didn't start screaming. Yay!


Standing up!


J's amazing tower of blocks.

They crack me up

Even when I feel like hitting my head on the steering wheel of the van, (which has happened a couple times in the last few days, J has impetigo so we're staying away from friends and we also took away his binky in the car so there's lots of yelling from him and Sarah screams....), suddenly there will be quiet and they're both laughing at each other. Makes it feel somewhat worth it. Although...couldn't we just skip all the screaming and stick with the laughing?

After a nap, I was able to snap a few pictures. He's been so anti-camera lately. I was getting the super serious face from him and couldn't stop laughing.


He looks so grown up in this picture...like he's thinking: "Really Mom....More pictures??"


Finally my laughing broke him, and he started laughing too!


And little miss Sweet Pea is sitting up. She loves the camera, always has a smile ready when I point it at her.


Sweet kids. I love them so much.

Flag

Today (the Friday of Labor Day Weekend), we decided to be spontaneous and drive up to Flagstaff. We're sick of the heat and thought it would be fun, plus Sarah's getting better about being in the car. We headed to...


J was fascinated with the gnome guy.


You stuck your hand in his mouth - if you told the truth you could get it out. Both our hands are still attached to our bodies. :-)


A tree maze. J liked it fine the first time with Shawn but when I tried to go through with him he ran out. Hmmm...


Sarah just observed from the stroller.


The storm lurking in the background would eventually catch up to us.


The mountain is hidden by the rainstorm!


J being his usual cute self.


"feeding" a fake raven


We watched a bit of the raptor show at the arboritum, til J threw a fit and the rain started. But...this bird was named Bailey....(it's a hawk of some sort, he flew over the audience!)


And this bird (a raven with 1 foot) was named Lily! We thought it was funny.


On the way home we saw storm clouds ahead...


...and we ended driving THROUGH a thunderstorm. It felt like we were in the cloud - we were driving through the mountains and could see where the lightning hit the ground, and hear the thunder not even a second after the lightning strike. The rain was pouring down, the road looked like a river - rocks from the sides of the mountain were falling down! People were pulling over but not us! We made it through just fine but it was quite incredible.


And, to end the trip on a high note, J chewed on his disgustingly dirty toes. EWWW!

Teeth?!?

Sarah already has her 2 bottom teeth in. I didn't even notice her first one coming in and within a week the other tooth had popped through and now they're both visible! I swear J's took a month to get to a point where you could see them when he smiled.
She just turned 5 months and I realized the other day that she's quickly approaching an age that I love - 6 months and up. Usually by 6 months, babies are sitting up and playing with toys on their own. I'm looking forward to that. I wouldn't say Sarah's lazy...she's just laid-back. She'd rather put her hands in her mouth than reach for stuff (she does reach for things, her hands just end up in her mouth instead), and she's working on sitting up. She's only rolled onto her tummy a couple times...she just doesn't seem interested. But she is growing - I've moved her into 6-9 month clothing!

The videos!

Here are some fun videos from our trip.


Xylopohone @ the childrens Museum


Having a carrot



Running through the woods!


"off roading"


Sarah swinging.

The state, not the capital.

Last week we all headed up north to Washington (the state) for a much needed vacation away from the heat! It was a great trip!

The highlights: Sarah screaming almost the entire plane ride to Seattle, the Children's Museum of Seattle, Anita's Prime Card, Mac & Jacks, Shawn and I going out almost every night ALONE after the kids were in bed (thanks Anita!), getting to hang out with Jennifer and Caleb, Sarah's FIRST TOOTH popping through (sob!), Victor's Coffee, the incredible weather (even the two hot days that we had with no a/c), the 50 parks within walking distance, eating carrots, tomatoes and strawberries from the garden in the backyard, taking a ferryboat ride, meeting Great-Grandpa Ralph for the first time....and so many others that I couldn't possibly begin to list them all!

Sarah's first plane ride (before the screaming!)

Somehow we all fit into Anita's Acura TL. Amazing!

Drum Drum!

Anita, Ken & J
Anita, Sarah and Caleb

J is quite the little daredevil - he climbed up and down this without assistance!

Me and the Pea

Bubbie's turn with the Pea!

Mmmm! Homegrown carrot!

Shawn & Pea

The trip was fantastic. Amazing. Beautiful. Relaxing. We had so much fun! (for those of you interested I posted a ton more pics on Facebook)

Party time!

Dance party


Pool party
Shawn took J for swimming lessons recently. He is now completely unafraid of the water!



Sarah liked the pool but also liked sitting with Ari.


Trying to coax a nap out of the peanut (didn't work, although she puts up with being tired a lot better than J did at her age!)


J & "Baba"(Grandpa) playing with nesting dolls(I think that's what they're called)


Party w/ Archer


And with Bailey! (B loves Sarah but now that Caleb's arrived...I don't know!)


J & B are such good friends.


He's so sick of me taking pictures!


Sarah bear already digs Elmo.


J & Prince, who he loves. He'll often yell out "INCE! Are you????" ("Prince, where are you?"


Totally posed pictures - I needed some pics with the little ones.



J happily posed with Shawn - after needing to be bribed to pose with me! (that yellow in his mouth is an m&m)


Daddy and his girl.