Horseback riding

Papa & Kari came to town for a visit with us. We had a great time, keeping very busy and entertained all weekend long. We started off Saturday with horseback riding. Emily has been asking to go horseback riding since the summertime when we brainstormed a list of things for us to do. We never got to the horseback riding then. This was the time! We headed south. Really far south. So far south that you could see the Mexico border as we approached the horse farm. 

Everyone except for Aaron and myself were going to do the 1 hour ride. Papa, Kari, Jeff & Emily jumped right on their horses. And shockingly, so did Kyle! He has been very sensitive around animals and flipped out about riding a horse (on a small live carousel like thing with ponies attached to a rope that walk around a central pole) when he was younger so we were a bit apprehensive about how he would respond. Thankfully, he was super eager and excited and got on his horse with the same excitement as Emily.

The report was that it was a great ride along the trails with Mexico right next to them. Jeff said that even though he was behind Emily & Kyle, you could tell that Emily was smiling the whole time. 

While they were out on their ride, Aaron and I wandered around the little ranch checking out the animals. Aaron enjoyed the bunnies, goats and other horses that were there. Then he wanted to drive the car. 

But we still had another 30 minutes before the group was due to return so I asked them how old is the youngest they will take on a horse. Luckily, they said they can do a short little walk around the ranch with little ones. And so Aaron got to ride a horse. I was shocked that he (a) would put the hemet on for it, (b) would even get up on the horse and (c) would sit still on the horse. And to top it all off, after his laps were done, he did not want to get off the horse. He LOVED it. Apparently, all my kids love horse back riding. 

Sparring

Emily has started sparring in her karate class. It is rather cute watching the kids get all decked out in their gear and practice their sparring. 

Emily is in the middle with a white helmet. 

Aaron had to try on Emily's helmet

Japanese garden

I took Aaron to the Japanese botanical garden in Balboa Park today. I love that place. It's so peaceful and serene. Aaron likes feeding the koi fish. But today, he loved watching the construction equipment. It was rather funny - as you head down to the newer area, there was a line of boys by the railing staring intently at the construction equipment below. Forget the flowers, tress, gardens, bridges and peaceful setting. Nope. The stars were the diggers and backhoes and any other earth moving truck. 

Aaron watching the trucks

Aaron 'smelling' the flowers

Still trying to smell the flowers

Sleepy Bear

Aaron now passes out in the car with somewhat impressive frequency. If it's 10, 11am or noon, he can find himself dozing off. I'm not sure if it's the turned around seat or if he is just needing to sleep earlier, but it's cute how he passes out in his seat, sometimes in funny positions. He got turned around in his seat because we have watched his little girl friend, Alice several times so we have a seat for her in the car. Aaron decided to climb into it one day when she wasn't with us and loves sitting in her seat. He made it turned around 10 months longer than the requirement and only 2 months short of the suggestion. We'll take it. And I think so will he! 

Taking the kids to school

Aaron is so cute when we drop the kids off at school. He truly loves Kyle & Emily. Most days I walk them in to school. Some days we are running late so we have to do a drop off. It's super sweet when they are getting out of the car and have to get past Aaron. He wants to give them love and hugs too to start their school day off right. 

Driving kids

Aaron likes to drive. What kid doesn't? :-)

Kyle's turn

Emily's turn

Boots

When Kyle & Emily were about 1.5 years old, Jeff and I went to Jackson Hole to ski. We brought back little boots for the kids. We pulled Kyle's boots out for Aaron to check out since we have the cutest picture of the twins wearing their boots and nothing else where you just see their backsides and the boots. It'd be fun to photoshop Aaron into that picture. Aaron had a good time kickin around in the boooots. 

Lunch with Sulley

Aaron loves the Sulley (from Monsters Inc.) that we got from Grandma Beth many years ago in our second apartment. He was our 'security system' for any intruders. He roars if he detects movement. And now Aaron has a grand old time with him. He had to eat his lunch with him the other day. 

Cowles Mountain

Today we went to Cowles Mountain for a family hike. It was a day off school and a very warm one as well so there were a lot of people up on the mountain. Aaron rode in his backpack very nicely though he was itching to get out and walk. So we let him for a bit. And then he wouldn't go back in. Then he just lost his mind. We ran into naptime and he was totally out of it. We eventually coaxed him back into his seat with some fruit snacks and he then proceeded to pass out. We didn't make it to the top, but we plan to go back sometime a bit farther from naptime and try it again. Cowles Mountain is apparently the highest point in San Diego with amazing 360 views of the city. And it's only 1.5 miles to the top. So until next time. 

Golfing

It was a beautiful day out so we took advantage of it and went golfing. Because that is what you do when it's 75+ in January here in San Diego. We are very lucky. 

Bear somersaults

Aaron wants to do everything Kyle & Emily can do. Somersaults are no exception.

Aaron's girlfriend

Aaron's little girlfriend hung out with us today for music and some fun at the park. The two of them together are such a cute pair. They are sweet with one another, tickle each other, play peek-a-boo and just have a great time together. 

Em's story

Emily brought home her writing packet from school for the fall. It's really cute to see the mind of a 7 year old at work and what they remember. Here is one of her stories. 

Once Kyle and me were in my room picking out or clothes for the night. Then we need[ed] Daddy for something. Daddy I yelled. Daddy!! Kyle yelled. We asked Mommy if she knew where daddy was. She said she didn't know. So we went back to the stairs and picked out our clothes. Then we were going to turn on the shower and BOO!! screamed Daddy and jumped into the balcony. Kyle and me both fell to the floor in peals of laughter and tears. It was so funny.  

Aaron's bike

For his 2nd birthday (in 2 months), Aaron is getting a tricycle. I hadn't planned on picking it up this early, but the person in front of me at Costco was buying one (it was the same one we were going to buy, I just didn't think to look for it at Costco) so I picked one up since the price was so good. Aaron was super excited about his "bike". He knew that he got to "ride" it. He said "bike" and "ride" almost the whole way home from the store. 

Bear and orangutans

Little Bear and I went to the zoo today to check out the animals. Like his big brother, he had a great time at the orangutans. They came right up to the glass so Aaron and the orang could check one another out. Aaron was so matter of fact with them. In the video below, Aaron very astutely points out the orangutans nose. And moves on. No big deal. 

Nose!

2013 year in review

Back by popular demand (read: Jeff reminded me how much he liked this post last year and asked for it for 2013) is the 2013 year in review. Here it goes!

January: It was a busy start to the new year. Kyle and Emily were 6.5 years old and Aaron 9 months old. Kyle and Emily played basketball on the same team and had fun with it. Kyle got his yellow belt in karate and then started playing even more tennis with full time competitive tennis program. Emily did a lot of gymnastics and conquered the "shooting star". Aaron started to stand up and use his baby walker to move around. He might have said his first word too, "ball". I think the highlight of the month was going to Jamaica with Jeff's family. It was a nice get-away. 

February: Many more milestone developments for Aaron this month. He got into many more things, ate his first Lucha Libre burrito, started standing on his own, got his first real haircut at the military barber and was very cute with his brother and sister. Kyle and Emily finished their basketball season and started baseball and softball. For President's weekend (aka ski weekend in southern CA), we went to LA to see the space shuttle Endeavor and the Ronald Reagan museum. 

March: Aaron turned 1 this month! We celebrated by going skiing. Yes, I know, it was more a gift for the rest of the family than Aaron, but he enjoyed his time with Mason in Park City. Jon visited us for Easter and we had a great time with him between hiking, brunch and beach time. 

April: Baseball and softball were in full swing. Aaron started walking. Karen, Pete & Ethan came for a visit. We went to Arizona during spring break to visit Grandma Edith. Camelback was closed so we hiked a new mountain on an insanely hot day.

 

May: More baseball, softball and hiking. Emily earned her yellow belt in karate. Aaron learned how to get himself water from the fridge. 

June: Emil got her ears pierced!! Kyle & Emily finished first grade, we attended Fairy Fest and Aaron enjoyed some Mommy & Daddy time while Kyle & Emily had activities.

July: Summer fun was in full swing. We hit the driving range, played tennis, did gymnastics, went to Boomers, played games with Tony Hawk, went hiking and celebrated Kyle & Emily's 7th birthday! And Kyle & Emily learned to boogie board, 

August: More summer fun at the beach, trampoline park jumping, a visit up to Anaheim to see Ben, David, Josh & Stephanie at Stephanie's parent's house, and a long trip to Chicago to celebrate my mom's 65th birthday, retirement, moving and new house and see family. 

September: Kyle & Emily started 2nd grade, Jeff & I had our birthdays and Kyle played in a tennis tournament where he received an amazing compliment from a teammate (he told Kyle that he thought he could win Wimbledon some day). 

October: Kyle played a lot more tennis, we took surfing lessons and dressed up as wizards (Dumbledore, McGonangal, Harry Potter, Hermione & Hedwig) for Halloween.

November: We had amazing times surfing more, Kyle played even more tennis and we went to Chicago for Thanksgiving. 

December: We had a busy holiday season. We picked out a real tree (at Home Depot), I went skiing with Spike in Mammoth, Aaron spent the day with his girlfriend, Emily started swim lessons, Kyle played a lot of tennis, the kids all had a sleepover at Simon's and we enjoyed the holidays together.