Austin Birthday Questions

I attempted to ask Austin the same birthday questions this year. Here are his stats at his two year checkup:

Height: 2 ft 8 inches       WEight: 24 lbs 14 oz               About the 14% for his age.

1. What is your favorite color? Umm, green or black or white. White black
2. What is your favorite toy? Echo (plane)
3. What is your favorite food? Ghetti (spaghetti)
4. What is your favorite tv show? Toy Story 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chick Fil A chicken
6. What is your favorite outfit? Capes 
7. What is your favorite game? Toy Story ???
8. What is your favorite snack? ???
9. What is your favorite animal? Cheetah
10. What is your favorite song? Cheetah song (ahahah)
11. What is your favorite book? Go Dog Go
12. Who is your best friend? Sadie
13. What is your favorite cereal? Oatmeal Squares
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Toys 
15. What is your favorite drink? Lemonade and frappacino (whoops!)
16. What is your favorite holiday? ?
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? I don't know. Nothing. Blanket, mickey pillow, little mickey and WOOOOOOOOdy!
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Skinny noodles
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Hammamur (hamburger) 
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? I don't know. Spaghetti. 

This went way better than I expected. Except for her clearly had spaghetti on the brain!

Car rides

These boys crack each other up. Potty talk and knock knock jokes. They are in heaven!

Another Disney trip

This Disneyland visit was about 30 degrees cooler than our last one. Thank goodness. It was crowded, but we still had fun and we lasted about 5 hours. When we left at 6:15pm, I knew I didn't want them falling asleep right away, so when we saw a Cheesecake Factory and I remembered I had a gift card, I decided that was the night for a nice sit-down dinner. :) It was perfect. Food was delish and it killed time till bedtime. Though they didn't end up sleeping the whole way home. Literally, they never stopped talking. I had chatter in my ear from 6am-8:45pm. I thought I was going to lose my mind!

Good thing they're cute.

 A Superhero is always prepared.

 Snuggling up the next morning.

 Buzz Lightyear ride is definitely a favorite.

 Carousel is also a must-do.

 We don't do that ride (scary!) but they loved the car.

So fun to have activities like this to do with Pete gone.

Memorial Day

My handsome man in uniform..

It's not until you are personally affected by life in the military that you fully think about the Patriotic holidays we celebrate in our nation. I have always teared up when they have those who have served in the military in the audience at Sea World stand up. I have always appreciated songs that celebrate our great land. I have always admired the families that say goodbye to their soldiers as they deploy and my heart is always full when I see them reunited. Now we are one of those families. It feels a little different, since Pete's job does not require him to be in harms way, but nonetheless, we are a military family. We sacrifice much in order for Pete to do a job that serves our nation and protect's all of our freedom. Every person in the military, regardless of how dangerous their job is, serves an important purpose. We are entering our third week without him. The boys have done remarkably well, and really only mention him in their prayers at night ("And bless dad that he'll have fun at the Navy. And run really fast and do tons of pushups"). And I've done remarkably well too, keeping busy and staying focused on just being present for my boys. I like having goals to work on at night after the kids are asleep. I miss him, I'm proud of him, and I am thankful for all the other families that are willing to sacrifice for this line of work as well. I have a new compassion and understanding for what it means to say that I'm proud to be an American. At the Kids Sing concert last week, Denise and I sang that Lee Greenwood song. I was a little choked up at first, but got through. Here's a clip...

Parker Birthday Questions

I forgot to ask Parker his yearly birthday questions. Also some stats from when he turned 4: 
Height: 3 ft 4 inches          Weight: 34 lbs 6 oz              About the 37% for his age. 

1. What is your favorite color? All, blue, purple, green, black, gray
2. What is your favorite toy? Dinosaurs. I roar with them.  (He loves playing trains, planes, and cars. He imagines all day long and plays so nicely with Austin). 
3. What is your favorite food? Cinnamon rolls (soooo random). I actually like strawberries too. 
4. What is your favorite tv show? Animal Mechanicals or Lego shows. Superhero shows. 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cereal. Oatmeal squares and cheerios. And french fries with ketchup. I do NOT like cucumbers... but I think that's the wrong answer.  
6. What is your favorite outfit? Planes and shorts I'm already wearing (soccer shorts).  
7. What is your favorite game? I don't play any games. I do play angry birds on my Ipad. 
8. What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks
9. What is your favorite animal? Rhinosaurus and elephants and camels. I like rabbits. I do not like cavities or gophers. Gophers can totally bite you and they can chomp. 
10. What is your favorite song? Give me a second. I need a drink of water. 
11. What is your favorite book? Let me go see if I have a favorite book (goes into room to examine bookshelf). This Ninja Turtle book and this coloring book with stickers. 
12. Who is your best friend? Carter, Tucker
13. What is your favorite cereal? You already asked that one. I already told you. 
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? My favorite thing to do outside is water the plants and spray with the sprayer. 
15. What is your favorite drink? ice water, lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday? Ask me some tricky questions. Fine... my favorite holiday is Christmas, because I like Santa and getting presents. 
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? I always sleep with my blanket and can you get what else? This toy! (shows random Mcdonald's toy). 
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Donuts, pancakes, bacon. 
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Ask me about presents on my birthday. Is Chick Fil A a restaurant I can eat at?  
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? You remember don't you? I told the guys at the firestation. I will give you a hint... it's something that flies in the sky and something that has helmets. An astronaut. After that I am going to be a fire fighter and then when I'm big I will be chef at Chick Fil A. I also want to sell toys and be a shopkeeper. 

Kids Sing Concert

We had a great Friends and Family Concert on Wednesday. We had all three groups performing (Tween Sing, Kids Sing, and Wee Sing). Denise and I also sang a duet. There was a large audience and all the kids sounded great and had fun! It's such a pleasure to direct this group. My friend Laura will be taking over when I move, and I trust her whole heartedly. She's a perfect fit.

Here's a clip of Tween Sing...

Wee Sing...

Finale number with all our groups. I was too busy directing Kids Sing to get a good video of them. Whoops.

 Denise and I. Oh how I'm going to miss her when she moves/I move right after her. She's the real deal and the hardest working, most patient and calm mom I know.

 Directors of Kids Sing present and future:)

Parker my little budding star!

 My mom and the boys and me.

 So glad my grandparents got to be there for the show. They loved seeing all the cute performers, especially their great grandson!

Happy Graduation to Chloe

We're so proud of Ryan's gf Chloe, for graduating from SDSU. She's worked really hard in school and work, but she made it! She is the sweetest person and is so amazing with the boys. At the last minute we were able to go to her grad party in Orange County, and I'm so glad we did. She had lots of fun things for the boys. Bubbles, soccer ball, mustaches, chalk, and a cornhole game. 

 The kids were a novelty to all the other young adults were happy to keep the boys entertained.

 Cornhole!

 Performing some songs for captive audiences.

 Wrestling with a guy they just met and didn't even know his name.

 Love this little entertainer!

Keeping very busy

If I stop and think about Pete, I start crying... so I just keep GOING! We've been so blessed with abundant support from friends and family and we are doing really well on our own. 

Pete is doing well at training. We've been able to talk a little bit, and while the training is totally exhausting (get up at 4am and go go go), he feels really excited and honored to be there. He now wears his uniform everyday and I can only imagine the pride he feels when he puts that on. He's really living his dream right now. I'm happy for him. 

Back to us... 

We've had a great week. 

Birthday party for some friends in Parker's class.

Austin loves to be involved with these kids. He loved the pinata and collecting candy in his shirt!

 Superhero theme with masks and capes. It could not have been more perfect for this group of kids. Parker was Thor and Austin was Spiderman. It was SOOO hot and I can't believe they left the masks on.

 They have loved spending lots of time with the great grandparents. Reading with Grandaddy is a daily ritual. We love having them visit down here while G'mommy is recovering.

 We have had lots of park days and we flew a kite. We've had VERY windy days (which fueled very devastating and widespread fires...scary!), so it was perfect kite flying weather. They were over the activity in about 5 minutes, but it was still fun.

 Swimming. Parker has yet to take swim lessons, but he doesn't mind wearing his wings. Though it's been exceptionally hot (several days in a row of 100 degrees), the water was freezing, but my friends Laura was so kind to swim with the boys while I sat poolside. haha.

 Playdates with friends. This was a busy day with Carter... swimming, slip n slide, pizza, movie, and playing. These kids are so lucky to have each other.

 Austin gravitating towards the baby dolls. He's so maternal.

 Went to a Gently Hugged charity activity (they give newborn essentials to mothers/babies in need), and the older girls were all making blankets. It was cool seeing them have their first sewing experience with their mothers. Such a great cause. Plus they had snacks, so the boys just ate.

 Superhero party...

Parker's had such a great year in preschool and has so many good friends. Hoping for lots of play dates this summer.