Jamaica

After Milwaukee and Chicago, we headed down to Jamaica with Jeff's brothers and families. It was a great time for all. I'll let the pictures do the talking. 

Aaron's 'room' - our closet - where he slept wonderfully

Kyle and Emily had cots in our room and also slept wonderfully. Days full of sunshine and swimming will take it out of you!

Cousins! Davie, Emily, Kyle, Ben & Jadon

Uncle Eric with Aaron and Jadon. Aaron loved hanging with Uncle Eric. 

Daddy and mini-daddy

Playtime

Homework

Swimming

Pool at the house

Like Florida 4 years ago, Kyle had a ball in his hand nearly the entire trip and especially when he was in the water. This blue ball was always around and if it went over the edge, we somehow managed to find it each time. Even when it went down the through the bushes, down the hilly driveway and onto the street below.

Aaron and Papa

Mmmmm

We got to spend a day in Chicago at my mom's house between Milwaukee and Jamaica. Aaron liked playing with our toys that we used to play with. I remember this record player from my childhood. Though Aaron didn't know how to really make it work, he certainly enjoyed chewing on it. 

Magician at work

How the magician does his homework

Basketball

Kyle and Emily started playing basketball this season. They are on the same team of 5-7 year olds. It's a co-ed league, though there are at most 2 girls on each of the 8 teams in the league - at least that's what we've seen so far. They both seem to love playing and have fun. They really get excited when they actually get to touch the ball. They are both great on defense and go after the ball. It's really fun to see them as little budding basketball players. 

Newt

The kid's Great-Grandpa Newt passed away this weekend. He was 96! We were just in Milwaukee over Thanksgiving and got to visit with him and Grandma Sondra. And it was the first time Aaron got to meet them both. Newt was always so very sweet and engaging with the kids. We will miss you Newt. 

Aaron and Newt in November 2012. 

Emily and Newt August 2010

Kyle with Newt, riding his "bike" as Kyle called his walker. This was from May 2008. 

Catch!

Aaron, like his brother and sister at his age, loves to play with balls. In fact, "ball" was Kyle's first word as he pointed at a tennis ball in the garage. Remember that when he wins Wimbledon some day. :-) So Aaron found a fun ball to play with up in the penthouse and we started playing catch. Actually playing catch! I'd roll or throw it to him and he'd get it and throw it back to me! 

Yellow belt

Kyle got his yellow belt today. He was very proud to have his testing and earn it.

Here he is doing kata 1 which was the biggest requirement for the yellow belt.


Receiving his yellow belt

Vision study

Aaron participated in a vision study at UCSD. The first part was just a bunch of questions and a few tasks with the experimenter where he had to mimic things with toys. The second was a brain wave reading at a computer. He got to wear this hat to measure his brain waves. Kind of looks like he's getting a perm. 

Aaron's communication

So Aaron may not be able to intentionally say any words just yet but he sure knows how to get a point across. Tonight I failed to close his crib gate and turn on his noise machine. I was in our bathroom picking up from showers and bath when I hear him pulling the cord for his music giraffe. Now he likes it, but when he's just playing with it he stands and keeps playing it. Today he pulled it and sat down waiting. The other night when I forgot the noise he was standing at the end where the noise machine is looking over the wage waiting. He knows his routine and knows what he wants. 

Working with Daddy

Executive in training

Aaron getting his walker on

Aaron cruising around with his walker

Trouble

Here comes trouble! Up all the stairs and on a mission!

Lunch date

My lunch dates :-) Aren't they handsome!

Aaron on the move

Today Aaron took his first step with his walker toy. He loves playing with the walker, the toy that is normally on the front and giving the handlebars zerberts, but today he actually used it to take a step. One step to be exact, but it's a start. Crawling is still much faster. Oh and he climbed up all the stairs to get to the 3rd floor today too. Prior to today, he had only done 2. Time to get some gates! 

Purry purring at 18 months

I didn't remember him purring that early on! 

Na na na na boo boo

I'm on the stairs. Catch me if you can! Time to get  a gate! 

Kyle shooting star

Kyle decided he didn't want to do tennis today, but rather wanted to do gymnastics with Emily. Not to be outdone by her, he tried to learn the shooting star on the bars as well. He was a bit more fearless with the bars and went at it.

Karate lesson

With it being the holidays, Kyle and Emily were the only ones who showed up for karate today! They got a private lesson! Here are the little ninjas in action with Sensei Lynne. 

Kyle's tennis

Kyle has a great time at his tennis lessons with Nic. Aaron and I were watching this lesson (you'll hear Aaron in the background playing with his stroller toys) while Kyle was getting some great hits in with Nic. 

Emily shooting star

Emily went to gymnastics camp over the holiday break. She worked hard to learn a new skill on the bars - the shooting star. She sure loves her gymnastics!

Sleeping in the jungle

Uncle Adam is in town so the kids are sharing a bed. See if you can find them amongst their jungle they like to sleep with! 

2012 in review

This post is inspired by Spike who wrote up her 2012 in review. I'll attempt to do the same. Not sure how I will choose 1 picture from each month, but we'll see how it goes... 

January 2012: We spent the holidays at home in San Diego getting ready for baby Aaron's arrival in March. It was low-key and celebratory for the holidays but as busy as it can be when you are large and pregnant.

Ice skating with Daddy. Mommy sidelined with a pregnant belly. 

February 2012: Adam, Daniella, Max & Leo came to visit us and we went to Disneyland. The kids had school, tennis and dance classes throughout the month. 

Taking a break at Disneyland

Kyle & Emily already helping Aaron:finding his heartbeat at the 34 week appointment

Kyle, Emily & belly Aaron

March 2012: Big month here. We got a mini-van. Kyle started karate. We went to the beach. Aaron Miles was born on March 12th making us a family of 5. The kids got awards at school. Karen & Pete came to visit. 

My babies

April 2012: Papa & Kari come to visit. Grandma & Mike come to visit. Jeff and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. We celebrate Easter with brunch at the Del. Our nephew Trevor is born. Emily builds her first fairy house. We celebrate Earth Day at the movie Chimpanzee. Aaron starts sleeping gloriously well. 

Cutie

May 2012: Spike comes to visit. Aaron giggles. We visit a monkey sanctuary. We go to Chicago / Ohio. This was the last farm visit before it was sold in December 2012. We celebrate Mother's Day at Disneyland. 

Our greats around 1800

On the farm in Ohio

Smiling at Spike

June 2012: Kyle & Emily finish Kindergarten. We start off our summer of swimming. Aaron takes his first beach trip. We attend a fairy festival. Emily joins karate. Emily loses her first tooth. We celebrate Father's Day. I spend a 'fun' Saturday night at the ER with a kidney stone. Jeff reaches the Super Dad ranks (just in case he wasn't already there) caring for all 3 kids while I was sick and even takes them out shopping and entertains them. Emily has a dance recital and we celebrate at the tea house. Kyle & Jeff win the father-son tennis doubles tournament. 

How fairy Emily sleeps

At the pool

July 2012: It's hot. Emily has dance camp. Kyle has tennis camp. We go to the horse races. Kyle & Emily turn 6. We celebrate at Disneyland. Kyle gets his first yellow stripe in karate. Jeff cooks us up a beach bonfire dinner. 

At concerts in the park

August 2012: Clark comes to San Diego for work and meets Aaron. Aaron gets his first tooth. Leonardi comes to town. Aaron learns to sit. The kids go to trampoline camp. Aaron tries his first solid food. 

Jeff's clone

September 2012: Kyle & Emily start 1st grade and are in the same class. Kyle loses his first tooth. We go to Chicago again. Our nephew Ethan is born. 

Aunt Kristin & Aaron

Kyle, Emily & Ryan in the bounce house

Aaron & Grandma

Daddy & Aaron

October 2012: We have a lot of family and friend time. Aaron takes his first trip to the Irish pub. Aaron thinks about crawling. Emily gets her first yellow stripe in karate. We are the Incredibles for Halloween. 

The Incredibles!

November 2012: Back to Chicago for Thanksgivings. We see all the cousins, aunts and uncles. We visit a trampoline wonderland. Aaron learns to sign "more". We visit with Grandma Sondra, Grandpa Newt & Auntie Judy in Milwaukee. 

Grandma Sondra with her great-grand children

Jeff, Kyle & Emily at sunset in OB

December 2012: We spend the holidays in San Diego and do all kinds of fun holiday activities: Big Bay Balloon Parade, Jungle Bell lights at the zoo, ice skating, gingerbread houses, Garrison Street lights, cutting down our own Christmas tree and decorating the house for the holidays. Kyle and Emily put on a play. Aaron gets his first haircut. Aaron gets 2 more teeth. Emily & Kyle get awards at school. Our niece Charlotte is born. 

Aaron Claus

Garrison Street lights