Torrey Pines with Grandma

We had a great visit with Grandma. She came out from Chicago for a week with us! It snowed 3" the day before she left Chicago (in mid / late April!) so even if it wasn't as warm as we'd like it here, it was still a good double whatever it was in Chicago! So we made sure to be outside and enjoy our wonderful weather - as if we don't go outside everyday to enjoy our beautiful environs!

So off to Torrey Pines with Grandma we went! She has been there before on previous visits with us, but it's just such a stunning place to hike around, we had to go again. It started off pretty cool outside - probably about 63 degrees. (This little fact helped us out immensely since the kids had on layers and would use their different layers on the way up.) But as we hiked down to the beach, it got warmer. By the time we reached the ocean, the fog had rolled off and we were in business! The kids were just in heaven! They played with the waves, running back and forth. At first they were trying not to get very wet. Then that all went away when Emily fell face first in the water. She insisted that we should go home then. But after reminding her that she's already wet and in the ocean, why not play some more. Not like she could get any wetter! So for the next hour or so, Emily and Kyle ran endlessly back and forth into the ocean and out with the waves, giggling like only a 4 year old can. The giggling and joy they had while doing this was just priceless. I know the two videos are similar, but enjoy them for the giggle factor and to see what happiness is to 4 year olds.

And many pictures from the hike down. And playing in the ocean. And then hiking up again. While we were down at the beach, there was a group of 3 guys laying out rocks in the sand to spell prom for their girlfriends (who we later saw hiking down while we were on our hike up). Pretty sweet idea. Oh and funny story - as we were getting ready to head up from the beach, this woman asked if that was for me! Really?! I look 18?! Awesome! Just not so sure about being 18 and having 4 year olds!

Butterfly launch

Kyle and Emily received a butterfly garden kit from Aunt Chryssi and Uncle David for their birthday over the summer. Fast forward to this spring and we finally ordered the caterpillars for the kit since the weather and timing were finally right. Over the course of several weeks, Kyle and Emily watched their caterpillars arrive in a box in the mail, eat their way through the food in the little jar they were in, grow to epic proportions, suspend themselves upside down from the jars lid, turn into a cocoon / chrysalis, (then Jeff transferred them to their mesh hut), and then hatch into butterflies! It was quite the experience for Kyle and Emily. They watched them each day to see what changes they could observe. They were counting down the days for each milestone the caterpillars would reach. 

Emily especially loved this project. She likes bugs (believe it or not for those of you who remember the ladybug incident at the pumpkin patch when she was 2) and especially loves butterflies. She often puts on her own butterfly wings and flaps around. The butterflies had just hatched when Grandma came to visit so we showed them to her and determined it was time to release the butterflies to the wild. Plus, Grandma, like Emily, is good with bugs.

Monkey game

Kyle loves monkeys. That's a known fact. The boy is part monkey himself, climbing on anything he can. When he's scared or in a bad mood, you talk about monkeys and he's back in his happy place. Now he loves preschool. But one day they played a monkey game (basically tag with the tagger being the monkey). And he got to be the monkey. He was over the moon. Or should I say over the treetops.
That's the only picture I have of this game, but I think you can still see him smiling from the back of his head!

Not the best picture, but here's Kyle getting ready as the monkey

Grandmas visit

Grandma is here!! Kyle and Emily were counting down the days until she arrived. Just a few pictures with many more to come!

Arizona

For the kid's spring break this year, we headed to Arizona to visit their great-grandma Edith.

A road trip to Arizona isn't complete without a stop at Cracker Barrel!

The weather nice and moderate the first day so we headed over to Camelback to climb up the mountain. Last year the kids did great and we made it just past the incredibly steep stair railing part. This year we well surpassed that mark. We were probably 1/8 of a mile from the top, but decided to turn around there for many reasons - we were already at nap time, we still had to get down, the kids were getting a little antsy and the final 1/8 of a mile was a pretty steep scramble of a climb.

We did bring the backpacks that the kids can ride in, but they were only in them for about 5 minutes on the way down to give them a break. Even though they still fit the weight recommendations on the carriers, it sure is very hard to carry them! They did great climbing down the mountain with us. It really was quite impressive their skill and stamina!

A short little video of Kyle climbing up the steep part with the railings. On the way up, we didn't use the railings. Last year, Kyle was a bit apprehensive of this area as well. Emily, once again proved she is part mountain lion. She is an impressive, confident little climber.

Kyle & Jeff after getting to the top of the steep early climb.

Kyle reading Curious George to Grandma Edith

Collecting grapefruit for juice. Grandma Edith has a grapefruit and orange tree in her front and back yards which make delicious fresh squeezed juice. Kyle and Emily LOVED picking the fruits and then juicing them.

Skid marks

After it rained, the kids got to play in the aftermath. Kyle sweet talked Emily into him riding her bike. He likes her bike for speed and skidding since it's a lot lighter and balder tires. He got some good skidding and swerving in on them. He must have gone back and forth a hundred times. And Emily sweetly went about her way taking her babies for a walk.

Emily taking her babies for a walk

Happy birthday Papa B

Happy birthday to Papa B! He would be 68 years old today.We toasted to him with one of my favorite desserts he would make for us growing up - cherry milkshake. To this day, I have never tasted a cherry milkshake as good as the ones he would make for us.

Tennis

Kyle and Emily have been working hard at their tennis skills. Just a few videos of them working on their skills.

Kyle working on his backhand


Emily working on her backhand


Emily volleys at the net

Mission trails

Yes, a lot of catch-up posts to be done...Here's what we've been up to in the past 2 months...

A great weekend hike over at Mission Trails. We did the 1.5 mile trail loop which the kids know and love. Plenty of room to run and explore and climb. And burn a lot of energy!

Typing practice

Lately, Kyle and Emily have taken a liking to typing. They often ask to do typing practice. Kyle loves to write all about monkeys and does a fantastic job spelling many words all by himself. Emily loves to write about dancing and is doing very well learning where all the letters are located and sounding out words on her own.

George's mommy

Today after school, Kyle and Emily were coloring together as they have taken to doing quite often these days. As they were coloring a picture of Curious George, they started an interesting conversation about Curious George's mom. The video below captures their discussion.

As you also likely know, Kyle has a bunch of monkeys, the Mikos. If you ask him about who is who, he will tell you about them. Interestingly, there is a Daddy Miko - the sock monkey - that Aunt Kimmy, Uncle GT & Ike gave him as a gift. If you ask who the Mommy Miko is, Kyle will tell you that there isn't a Mommy Miko. What poor, motherless monkeys.