We just can't get enough water

We went to the car wash this week. It was, in fact, the same car wash my parents took their cars to when I was a kid (they still do, sometimes). I'm glad they seemed to enjoy it as much as I remember it being. Maybe someday they'll be old enough for the candy from the candy bowl. Trying out the car cart at the grocery store. Wasn't so great. The carts are really hard to turn and they kept trying to get out, but it was fun, nonetheless. Kate always brings me shoes to put on her. Usually it's a matching pair. Sometimes, it's not. We decided to check out the water at Victoria Gardens. They were fans. They have had this book for quite some time and it has always been their favorite. It makes them so happy, they get really embarrassed. They like to put their own faces in... ... and to watch you put yours in. And, just havin a good old time with Nana's curtains.

14 Months

1. They will eat ANY fruit or vegetable (dried, fresh, canned). They love dairy (cheese and yogurt, mostly). Tolerate very few meats. Not so much fans of grains- they don't like bread, tortillas or rice; they will eat oatmeal and pasta, so it's pasta almost every day. 2. Ethan now has 11 teeth (all 4 molars are all the way through- hallelujah!). Kate, still only 4. 3. I know I say this every month, but they LOVE swimming and it's pretty much expanded to anything to do with water. 4. Ethan's really getting the hang of eating with forks and spoons and is quite proud. Kate is all about efficiency when eating and those things just take too much time. 5. Ethan makes sound effects when driving his cars around the house. 6. Kate is starting to have a little curl in her hair. Let me rephrase that. She's starting to get a little hair and it happens to have a little curl. 7. Ethan has a golf set at my parents' house and he loves to walk around and hit the balls with the clubs. At home, he improvises and uses his hammer to hit the golf balls. 8. Ethan can blow kisses with his mouth. Yeah, so can a lot of kids. But Kate has the amazing ability to blow kisses from her ear. 9. Ethan is a little daredevil. He likes to climb on things and stand right on the edge. We have a little baby rocking chair (made by my Grandma for me) and he'll climb on it and while standing, rock the chair. 10. Kate LOVES to dance.

11. When we're going places that doesn't require a stroller, we can now walk to the car without it (we live in an apartment building where we have to walk to the elevator and then to the car in the garage- it's probably a 20 yard walk total- and it's probably taking longer, but I feel so free and they LOVE it).Here we are walking down the hall.

12. Kate is starting to feel better around dogs, but balloons really scare her. 13. Kate likes to wear her shades. A lot. 14. They each had their first real boo-boos this month, just in time for family pictures.

For the grandparents and truly bored...

As parents, we often find ourselves laughing with our children. It's fun, it's healthy. But one of my favorite parts of parenthood is laughing AT my children. The other night, Greg and I were going through some old videos and found some gems. If you really are just that bored, here, I am giving you permission to laugh at my children as well. Ethan trying to be smooth Kate EXHAUSTED at dinner (if this isn't working, try fast forwarding a few seconds. Don't know what happened here, but it worked for me) Ethan just as tired, finding is nostril a good place to hold his finger An early attempt at putting the cheerio in the basket. Kate thinking she is pretty darn funny (this one is long. just the first few seconds will give you the idea)

Dear Daddy,

We're sad that we didn't get to see you tonight and are sorry that you had to stay late at work. We missed you. It was weird because we've been together all day for the past 3 days while the whole family was home, sick as doggies. We're starting to feel a little bit better, and as Mommy documented, we even smiled. Once each. Sure, we had our moments today, where Mommy just couldn't do anything right, but after our second 2-hour nap of the day (haha, mommy was starting to think we only needed one a day. we showed her!), we woke up pretty happy. We were so good at dinner, practicing our stabbing, and eating (shoving) all our green beans and ravioli. And, after months of Mommy squirting us with the bath toys, we finally figured we could squirt her back. And the walls. And the floors. It sure was funny. Hopefully, we will all be feeling better and we can play together soon. Love, Ethan and Kate

and yet another random post...

What child isn't thrilled when their daddy gets home from work? Last Saturday, we went to Descanso Gardens. So fun! Here, they're checking out the turtles... and the fish...and the birdies... How cute is this picture? Another mall trip with Aunt Jane. Story time with daddy.