Pierced ears!!

Emily's been asking since she was 2 or 3 years old to get her ears pierced. Well like the normal people that we are (not), we were at the mall this weekend and on a whim decided to ask Em if she wanted to get her ears pierced. She actually said she wanted to think about it. We told her that we were here and could do it now. So she thought for 2 seconds and said yes. And we let her do it! That was what it took - just being there, ready to do it on the spot, in the now. Not the planning and finding the right place and a pediatrician to do it. Just being at the mall and going to Claire's like most of the general public getting their ears pierced. Yes, she did cry because it hurt. It does hurt. It feels like your ears are on FIRE. But she did great. She got over it once she saw her earrings about 10 seconds later. And she chose great earrings - rubies for her birthstone. She sure is a girly girl. She loves her new earrings and looks so beautiful with them. She told me she was excited to share earrings with me, but she understood if I didn't want to share my sapphire earrings (my birthstone) since she doesn't want to share her ruby earrings. 

Nice picture

At storytime, a photographer was there taking pictures of the kids (I assume this was to build her portfolio for her business). Anyhow, here is our picture. It doesn't seem to come through as well in this smaller picture, but how Emily and Aaron's eyes pop is stunning in the full resolution picture. 

Children's museum

Today we headed down to the Children's Museum for some fun. We could get in free with our Science Museum membership so we thought we should capitalize on that. By the way, that science pass pays for it's weight in gold, year after year with the science museum and the MANY reciprocal memberships it offers. Anyhow, we brought our neighbor's son, who the kids have spent MANY MANY hours playing together with this summer and everyone had a blast. 

First, Aaron wanted to be our chauffeur. The kids climbed into the car and Aaron bolted for the driver's seat! 

The kids loved the climbing wall to get their inner monkey on. 

We hit the park across the street afterwards for some more climbing. One thing I know about kids is that they have a TON of energy. And they need to burn it off. So they did. Oh and Aaron met a cute little yorkie and loved petting him. But he knows very well to let a dog smell his hand first. 

Kyle, Emily, Simon and Aaron climbing. 

Happy hour

Kyle and Emily had karate so Jeff and I took advantage of a lighter load and celebrated happy hour together (with Aaron) with some bocce ball at the brewery down the street in biking distance. Aaron sure loves to cheers! 

Aaron's crib in the morning

Now that Aaron is in the same room as Kyle, this is oftentimes what Aaron's crib looks like in the morning if we don't get to him first. Kyle and Emily do their best to entertain them to buy us just a few more minutes of sleep. They are so good to us! 

Fairy fest

For our second year in a row, we headed up to Encinitas for the botanical garden's fairy festival. Emily still loves her fairies, though it's not as pervasive as it was last year, she and Kyle both had a blast doing the different fairy projects they offered. This year they made fairy potpourri, painted fairy treasure chests and gathered materials for a fairy house. And on our way out, Emily got to hold a bird. I want to call it a parrot or a macaw, but I can't remember what it actually is. Nonetheless, they had a great time. Aaron had fun too though his fun was more of the toddler wandering around and picking up bark kind of fun. At least this year he was awake for it. Last year he was passed out, sweating in the bjorn on me. 

Emily cuteness

Emily is beyond cute! Perhaps she will be the first in our house to get Grandma's green thumb instead of the rest of ours who cannot keep a plant alive to save ourselves.

Happy Father's Day Jeff!

Happy Father's Day Jeff! You are a fabulous father and the kids are so very lucky that you are their Daddy. We started the day with a nice brunch at a local little cafe with California inspired cuisine and very Napa (of what I think of Napa despite never having been there) decor. Then Jeff took Kyle and Emily to see Epic while Aaron took a nap at home. The kids played in the alleyway for a while with Jeff (he got to relax) before dinner - grilled chicken with grilled peaches and some bananas foster for dessert. 

Last day of school

And today was Kyle and Emily's last day of 1st grade. I don't know where the time went. I'm sure I'll say that every year, but man oh man it went FAST!! They had a great teacher and a great class and learned a lot. They both made some great new friends and continued friendships with some great kids from last year as well. We were certainly very pleased with their school year this year. Congratulations on another year well done Kyle and Emily!

Lil' painter

Kyle and Emily were at a birthday party and Aaron was awake so Jeff and I took him to the Children's Museum since it's not very often that he gets just Aaron time and just Aaron activities. He loved the bubbles and painting the car. Don't let the smock fool you - he was pretty much the Incredible Hulk afterward with paint up his arms and legs despite our best efforts to wash him off there. 

Cuteness

Just some random pictures of Aaron being cute lately. 

Playing Kyle's ping pong plinko

Loving lamb chops

Enjoying some bocce ball and lemonade with Mommy & Daddy

Ping pong plinko

Kyle is really into building things lately. He decided he wanted to build a pinball machine here. Instead of it being a pinball machine, it was more like a plinko machine, a la The Price is Right. It was cool to see him execute his ideas into something he could play with. He is loving his "game room" and his game creations that he comes up with. Aaron also loves this. Just this morning, I found him upstairs saying "ba ba ba" (ping pong ball) with a ball in one hand and a paddle in the other. He can't quite throw the ball and swing the paddle - that's a little complex for his 1 year old self at this point - be he does know what he wants to do and gets super excited when you do it for him.