Me Too You

Lily's Pigtails

Oh, my big girl. She has resisted ponytails forever it seems, but with her hair getting longer and in this heat wave, she finally agreed. It doesn't hurt that she seems her nanny, Jasmine, and her good her buddy, Emily, do their hair like this, so it must be cool, right?! 

Ava's photo shoots

Ok, I went a little crazy this week with the Ava photo shoots, but isn't she so darn cute? I had some professional ones done yesterday too at BabiesRUs, but don't have the prints yet - you'll have to wait!

Birthday Fun

Birthdays are our favorite thing to do these days - Ben and Lily don't miss a party! They totally get all the elements - friends to play with, fun new games to play, cake, candles to blow out, singing "Happy Birthday,"  balloons, giving presents, party favors. Ahhhhh. . . this is the life.

Here's Ben learning to hoola-hoop at Jad's 2nd birthday a couple of weeks ago (teaching credit to Chris Danek):

And Lily takes a turn in the jumpy house:

Where's that thumb?

Will Ava be a thumb sucker? She won't take a pacifier, but she may be headed to life with her thumb. She loves it when she can find it, but her hand/arm control is not quite steller yet, so it often pops out of her mouth. In the Baby Bjorn carrier, it is right where she wants it.

Twin Games

Ben and Lily have new games every day that they play together. Some are cute and fun, others ...slightly destructive (such as yesterday, during their "nap" when they decided to pull all of the stuffing out of their pillows and make a sea of fluff on their bedroom floor - Mommy was not happy, even though Lily kept asking to make sure nothing had changed "Mommy, are you happy?"). Many of their games involve chasing each other around the house or outside. Like their butterfly game:

They played a calmer one this morning, reading magazines and showing each other the pictures (Lily's favorites pictures were a group of synchornized swimmers and the Geico insurance ad frog, Ben's favorite was an article on rock legends - he called it "music" because of all the guitar pictures). It is so much fun to watch them become good friends.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Ben:

I did a big summersault. I see the movie. (Ending his summersault looking up at the TV)

Ben got scary. I saw a dark in there. It’s loud up high. (Laying on the floor, looking up at the air conditioning vent on the ceiling)

I just want to watch The Wiggles. (Upon being asked to put on his shoes to get ready for school - The Wiggles is a TV show/kids rock band in case you are not in the know about such things)

Lily:

Should we do your makeup, Mommy? Ohhh-kaaay. (Dipping her brush into Dizzy the cement mixer truck from Bob the Builder)

Come on, Ben. Let's run. Let's have a bunny party. (A new game since cousin Hannah came to visit last month, which involves running around the kitchen island/table and hopping)

I have a preeeeetty dress. (When laid down in her bed for the night with a blanket wrapped around her).

Ava:

Goo-goo ga-ga. (Accompanied by a smile)

5 Years Cancer Free :)

Can you believe it? 5 years have passed since I finished treatment (3 months of chemo and 5 weeks of radiation) and achieved remission from Hodgkin's Lymphoma - this is the closest doctors will come to saying the word "cure." Hooray! It seems like a very long time ago and so much has happened since then.  A new house, 3 kids, a business of my own. I feel very lucky to have all that exists in my life. 

One of my fellow TNTers and chemo buddies, Jonelle, is running a half marathon to celebrate her 5th year in remission. For those of you not familiar with Team in Training (TNT), Jeff and I were very active in this organization before the kids came along and we did several marathons/century bike rides/triathalons to raise money for leukemia & lymphoma research and patient services. If you feel like celebrating 5 years with me and Jonelle, please help support Jonelle in her latest efforts with TNT. Thanks!

Ava is 2 months old already

How time flies. Here is a new photo of Ava - 9 weeks old today! She had her 2 month peditrician's appointment last Friday and everything was great. Our only complaints - shots hurt and she won't take a bottle anymore. If that's all we have to worry about, we're feeling pretty good!

Bon Voyage Nana and Grandpa

Nana Karin and Grandpa Steve are headed out today on their big RV trip to Missouri. We are sad to see them go and will miss them terribly, but are excited to hear all about their adventures. Read all about it on their blog. See you guys in September!

Happy Birthday Marya, Happy Homecoming Dave and Happy 4th of July!

Here are our good friends, Dave, Marya and Aiden, who we spent 4th of July with this year, along with the Goulrup gang. It was Marya's birthday (Happy Birthday!) and she received the best birthday present - just two days ago her husband Dave came home from being on out at sea for 4 months (he is a super-star in the Navy). It was a surprise homecoming for Marya, as Dave was not scheduled to be home for another month. We are so happy they are reunited as a family and that Dave is home safe and sound.

Here are the Daddies - Dave, Steve and Jeff - heading to the 4th of July parade in Morgan Hill:

And here are the kids celebrating the 4th/Marya's birthday: