HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY!!!!

Dearest Family and Friends,


On December 15, 2008 we learned that we were going to be parents to twins. On March 20, 2009 we learned that we were having boys and had names already selected: Jack and Zach. On June 6, 2009 our little adventure seeking boys decided it was time to make their grand entrance. I sit here typing away sharing with all of you how exciting it is to see our boys run around, playing, talking, and being boys celebrating their 2nd birthday today. It is exciting yet emotional. We enjoy watching them grow into toddlers, witnessing their personalities take shape more and more each day, and taking part in all the fun things that excite them in addition to all the things that frustrate them. We had a very active past week and a half and SO much to share.

Two years ago today Steve and I greeted our precious little boys

Jackson and Zachary

One year ago today they turned "1"

Zachary and Jackson

Today, they are "2"

Jackson and Zachary



Zachary and Jackson

This past Saturday we had their party. Most of the extended family were able to join us as well as our neighbors, Melissa and Tom and their two kids Evan (2) and Olivia (10); we know that we will become very good friends in due time. Nana, Papa, and Grandma were also in town so it was extra special. Since the boys are big fans of trucks and watching daddy build "things" we decided on the theme of Bob the Builder. We did not go all out with his decorations rather decorated around the color, royal blue and bright yellow. We ordered a cake with Bob the Builder with red velvet filling...yummy. The day was absolutely beautiful, sun was out, food was good, and the boys had so much fun! They got a lot of wonderful toys such as Home Depot leaf blowers, guitars, back packs, golf clubs, cars/trucks, and a basketball hoop...just to name a few. Since their attention span is minimal we opened gifts a little at a time and this worked out great! We tried to stick to a schedule for their 1st birthday simply because you just never know how things will go. It is funny to me as the kids get older the more Steve and I simply do not care [I mean that in the most positive way possible]...it is what it is and you learn to kick schedules and routines to the curb when you have get togethers. It was just great to watch everyone enjoying themselves, laughing, eating, drinking, and just simply having a great time! The boys were so excited and had a ball. At about 7:30 we gave them a quick bath and by 8:15ish they fell fast asleep. Here are some pics of their party!!

Pretty cool cake!

Karley and the boys, opening up presents

Karley with the boys

Papa with Jack

New Golf Clubs

Guitars

So fun, so exciting

Zach...speeding away

L-e-a-f B-l-o-w-e-r

Hanging out

Basketball Set

Trying to round up the troops for the family photo

Okay...this is as good as we got! :)

 HA..so who said we were in the choir...?

 

We woke up Sunday ready to continue the celebration. They were in happy spirits and instantly started playing with some of their new toys. Currently, they LOVE the leaf blower [from Mommy and Daddy] and their guitars from Fred and Caryl. Although they equally love the golf clubs and basketball hoop too! The boys gave Daddy an early Father's Day present, which was a day of golf at Talega with his Dad, Harold. Since Harold will not be around, I thought it would be great for the two of them to spend some quality time together. Steve also got to use his new golf clubs he got for his birthday (June 1st). [yes, I will post about that too]. It was nice that I got some alone time with my mom and she got to have some 1:1 time with her grandboys! We went for a long walk and played all day outside. When Steve got home from playing golf he returned some of the tables/chairs to Fred. We then took my mom to Los Patios for mexican. After dinner we stopped down by San Clemente Pier. It was a beatuiful evening! To end the night, we gave the boys a bath--they love bath time and try to do this every night. We would let them play and then wash up at the end. Now we have to wash up first and then play. Towards the end of bath I am sitting on the floor watching them parallel to trying to get them out of the tub. Zach is on his belly "swimming", smiles, and then crinkles his nose and does this smelling/sniffing sound [what they started to do once they poop--I think they are getting closer to being ready for potty training]. I thought it was odd but didn't think much of it. He then looked down and had a weird look on his face so I peeked in. Yep folks...we had a couple of floaters then sinkers. I am pleased to say June 5th marked the first time one of them pooped in the bathtub. :) He knew something was not right so he quickly sat up and sat next to Jack. Although his movement made a huge wake in the water so the poop started to move closer to him and in turn he almost was sitting on Jack's lap. I could not stop laughing. Steve and I got the boys out and then Steve went in and cleared the tub! Again...pretty funny. We hear these stories all the time and although they have peed in the tub and hardly peed on us [cannot even remember when], we never experienced "that"! Perhaps another reason why we wash up first. HAHA.



Playing with their balloons

Zach



Boys, (hmmm) thinking...this is how you do it...

Grandma with boys

Jack and Grandma...lawnmower races





Jack, Grandma, and Zach

 

Me and Mom w/ boys down at the pier



With my mom in town I decided to take some days off of work. I took today off as the boys had their 24 month check up and then I wanted to take my mom down to the pier for lunch. [After the morning trip to the doctor...it was nice to get away for a few hours...AMEN]. Sometimes when I am home, Jack can become emotional and does not want me to leave his side. I had to work for a little bit to close the loop on some items from Friday, but since he had seen me out and about in the house it was hard to get myself to the office. Let the meltdown begin. Yep...it started and did not end until we left the doctor's office. Yikes. It is a good thing I gave them tylenol before the trip to see the doctor because I don't think adminstering the tylenol would have gone so well! It is also a good thing that I had my mom and Karley with me to help! [A BIG THANK YOU]. Overall, all I kept thinking is that it could have been 20 times worse, but we all went into the appointment knowing it was going to be ONE big exciting adventure. All that matters is they got the clean bill of health and two shots...or injections. :) Clearly the whole facility could hear the boys crying from one end of the building to the next. After taking Jack on a walk I would run into a few doctors. This one doctor thought they were three and I said, no actually today they turned 2. She thought they were pretty lengthy for 2 and amazed. I followed by yep, today is their checkup and Jack is feeling a bit frustrated with things and now we are getting ready for shots. She whispered and smiled...I have learned...as a mom...to say injections vs shots for long term use when they are older. I said, see, I am happy I walked down here! One thing about interacting with other parents is that you learn a different way of communicating with your children. Miss Karley and I also agreed to stop saying Happy Birthday so the boys would not associate "Birthday" with "Doctor". HA! Oh man---what a morning. Following the doctor appointment my mom and I went out and had a nice lunch.  Nana and Papa came over to celebrate their actual day! They brought us Chinese Food and we opened some more pictures, sang "Happy Birthday" and had their leftover cake! Yummy. And...it was just as good. My mom even got them the cutest shirts to wear on their special day! *We had the boys open some gifts before cake. Once I said, okay...let's have cake the toys were kicked to the curb. They have never acted so excited before and it was too funny. As I am cutting the cake all you hear are two boys...cake, cake, cake, cake!

Relaxing at lunch---a little sunny :)

Zach...day of birthday...opening more presents

Jackson

Jack and Zach reading their cards

Silly Willy Zachary

Yum

Yummy...sort of messy

Zach loved his cake

What cake?

FOCUS

Thank you all for the wonderful gifts! We had a great time.

Love Bugs...Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the boys you are becoming. We know you get frustrated, and we know there are times you just don't feel like listening. We all are human and have our moments that we simply just cannot explain. At the end of they day, you are AWESOME boys and so many people tell us just how good you are. It makes us proud as being your parents in that we know there are times we are hard on you, but it is all with good intentions. You mind people, you listen to them, you have good manners, and you are the best little helpers Mommy and Daddy could have!!! We are very proud of you both and continue looking forward to each and every single day wondering what new little thing you are going to do that will bring more smiles to our faces. That said when I am feeling a little sad inside or tired, I can always count on you both to bring the biggest smile to my face. Thank you boys, for being you! We love you.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY LOVE BUGS!!!

*There are plenty of more pics that I will be posting---I wish I could post them all, but it would take me such a long time*



Love,

Mommy and Daddy