I'm still not sure how it happened..

 but some time last week, these little toddlers turned FIVE...

and this little baby turned TWO.

 

I thought I was pretty clear. This was NOT to happen. 

But it did, so we had no choice but to invite a few friends over for some cake. 

It was the right thing to do.

 It really is crazy to me that the twins are 5. They're like real people, with personalities. And opinions. And friends.

And I wouldn't be a mother if I weren't proud of the little personalities that they have, but I really am. They're such sweet little kids and so much fun to be around. I see them at the playground and everyone wants to be around them.

I've been a little frustrated lately with their actions, so we started the whole cotton balls in the jar for acts of kindness thing and those balls are adding up. I guess more than anything it's been a good reminder to me that they really are bundles of kindness, just waiting to be recognized. 

And this guy...

Oh, he is such a charmer. He honestly is the happiest kid I have ever met. And I grew up with Jimmy as my brother. 

He thinks EVERYTHING is hilarious. 

And he wants everyone in on his joy. "Watch dis, Mommy."

He loves finding "buggerflies."

And playing "duck, duck, juice."

He hears everything and wants to know what it is. "Noise make?"

He's really good with remembering people's names and asks about them when I was sure he had forgotten them.

He loves jumping on the trampoline and being around the twins, but still isn't a fan of the telly. 

He keeps himself entertained for as long as I need him to. Usually.

It's not all roses. That 1% he is not happy, he is... a ball of fiery anger. 

He's an undies-wearing man, who can open doors, and knows the letters of the alphabet.

But he doesn't know colors (except orange), and still takes a binkie to bed.

That one's my bad.

My kids are awesome. They're not perfect, but they're mine. And I like it that way.

new sticks

 Gramps took Ethan one day to get some golf clubs and gave him his first lesson. 

And then his second

(and even third, but I thought pictures of that might be a little overboard).

And there's the picture right there:

Now you know I've seen a lot of swings in my day, and I know this doesn't hold a lot of weight coming from his mother and grandfather, but we think this kid just might see a lot of fairways in his future. 

Angry Birds golf balls are acceptable at the Masters, right?

California

What do you do when you're in the middle of a last minute job change that causes you to move across the state, sell your house and buy a new one?

You bail out of all your responsibilities and take your pre-planned trip to California, of course.

It actually worked out quite nicely, though. The first week, Greg was working in San Antonio, so we wouldn't have seen him anyway. (He was still able to join us for the second half of the trip.) We were able to show our house a ton, all for the price of one clean-up before we left. 

We even SOLD OUR HOUSE! 

So wahoo to that.

Anywho... the trip:

My SIL, Kira and darling niece Jojo came down from Utah for the first few days of our trip. Cousin interaction is creeping higher and higher on my list of favorite things.  Drew LOVES his Jojo and still asks for her on an hourly basis. I don't blame him. She's a pretty cool chick.

My kids looking at the camera...

And Jo looking at the camera...

Cause everyone looking at the same time would just be silly.

Gramps took the kids to get donuts. All by himself. He's the man.

 Growing up in Southern California made me a produce snob. I refuse to eat any other strawberries other than the ones seen here, picked daily from Starberry Farms.

Gramps really stepped up his game this week, with Nana sick in bed for 3 days straight. 

Legos= true love.

 He then took us to the homeland, AKA Santa Anita Racetrack. 

We lasted 2 races.

But we saw about a gazillion peacocks on the way there, just chillin' on some front yards. So that made it all worth it.

They really are the most beautiful animals.

 Another aspect of my produce snobbery is in citrus-drinking. 

Fresh squeezed tangelo juice is oh, so delicious.

 You know we made a stop at the Land.

 Despite my worries, Drew was a happy camper. I think he only went on 2 or 3 rides, but that did not stop him from being the cutest kid alive. He loved the atmosphere, all the play things they have around the park, the fun stuff to look at, etc. He was the man.

We found a new place to "walk on the mountain." Walking sticks are a-plenty here, which made us instant fans.

If you're unlucky enough to be a follower on Instagram, then you know we had our fair share of junk food delights.

(From top left, clockwise: Sprinkles Cupcakes, Tommy's burgers, Cafe Rio, the Dog Haus, Clearman's (no doubt the best bleu cheese salad and cheese bread in this world)).

 And cause getting in my bathing suit after all this eating was high on priority list, we heated up the hot tub a couple of nights.... And maybe one of those nights my parents and Greg sat at the fire pit roasting us s'mores while we waited for them in the hot tub. 

Cause some one had to do it.

My parents really roll out the red carpet for us when we come. We are lucky ducks.