stuff to post

da-dum, up-dairs, biz huz (connor getting gma d to come up for big hugs after reading bobo)

jamie putting kids to bed, ap crying hard when put into crib, connor comes trotting in, picks up bobo book, puts it in ap's bed and says "nonnor, nice, eesh" -- avery stops crying -- that's what she wanted.

2 Years Old !

Wow! In some ways, it seems like time flew by, but in other ways, not so much. Unfortunately, Avery P came down with a cold yesterday, so this morning she was feeling pretty yucky. She threw up the few fruit loops she ate for breakfast. So we had decided to scrap our plans to take them to Wild Animal Park. But then about 10am, on the local news channel, there was a show on with video clips from the Wild Animal Park....and Avery caught a glimpse of the "ma-monks" (Guerillas). She got VERY sad, and insisted that we go to the "A-am Part" (Animal Park).

It was PACKED! We knew it would be more crowded than the average cloudy tuesday that Jamie has gone out there. There were a TON of people, parking was tough, 1.5 hour line for the tram (not that we'd go on it anyway)...so we just cruised around to their favorite animals:

• Ma-monks - Guerillas. Daddy ma-monk (Winston) said with Avery's best "big daddy voice", and baby ma-monk is "little, little, little"
  
• Aaaahhhh - Elephants. They're pretty far away in their "natural habitat" but still able to pick out the daddy (with "teeth")
  
• Yions - Lions. Again very hard to pick out since they're far away and laying down under a tree
  
• Dut - Duck. The ducks come right up to the edge of the water to wait for food from us
  

Dr. Jane stopped by when we got home (she came down to visit her parents for the holiday weekend). Since Connor was protesting napping, we brought him down to see his future girlfriend! She brought them a birthday present -- Discovery City -- that Connor just LOVED.

After naps we just hung out since Avery was again feeling sick and "clingy" --- wanting to lay on Mommy the whole afternoon. For their big birthday dinner we ordered Dominos Pizza - "guy, car, papas" (guy in the car brings the pizza) and "gagack mop" (chocolate milk).

We sang happy birthday to them at the table, but Avery got sad and wanted us to stop - "off" ! Connor learned how to sing it for himself -- "ha-hap da-day, tu-tu". It was SOO cute. We taped him singing and even called g-ma Dailey and he sang it to her.

Finally put them to bed in their matching PJs that look like old fashion one piece swimsuits with the shorts connected to the top. Connor was so stoked on his bday that he is still singing himself to sleep 20 mins after I've left his room.

Ha-hap da-day tu-tu

Birthday Party

Had a fun day yesterday for their 2nd bday party. We got a "jumpy" for the kids to go crazy in - "Blues Clues" theme so Avery loved it! It got here before the party started, so C&A had their own private jump party for a while. Connor does pretty good jumping, actually gets a little air, while Avery is pretty much ground-bound just works to stand and keep her balance while others are jumping near her.

Mostly neighbors and family came: Mom and Dad, Cheri's family, Erin, Jolie/Carly, Matthew/Sofia, Jenna/Zachary, Makoa, Julie, Julia/Kevin...

Avery got scared when we did the cake - she and Connor were sharing a chair at the table, and everyone huddled around and sang. It was too overwhelming for AP, she started to cry a little and reached for daddy. We kept her there to blow out the candles and she recovered. Avery didn't eat any cake. Connor meticulously used a spoon to gouge out the middle layer of icing from between the layers of chocolate cake.

They got clothes (Tommy Hilfiger (sp?) from Huy!!), dresses for Avery, some puzzles, an animal barn, a playhouse with people, Avery got a baby with a binky! We haven't opened the life size blow-up car thingy that they can apparently both sit in...

NuNu

It's getting somewhat out of control how much the kids love the Teletubbies. They watch it pretty much everyday in the morning, and then usually watch a tape of it in the afternoon or evening.

There is a vacuum on the show named "Nu-Nu" that Connor took a liking to -- due to his love of mommy's vacuum. Last week when we went to the Carlsbad mall for dinner, we went in the door and there were those small motion car rides that kids sit on - a firetruck....and... NUNU !!! Since then the kids will be riding in the car and vehemently request "MALL --- NUNU --- NOW" ... Apparently yesterday Avery even said she wants to take Grandma to the mall to show her NuNu (when they come down during the move to the new house).

Connor - Busted!

Jamie was cutting up strawberries last night after they were drying on the kitchen counter most of the day. As she went to grab one near the edge of the counter, she noticed that there was one with a "small mouth print" bite out of it! Apparently, Connor (not sure if we can verify who did it, but we think he did) decided to help himself to the strawberry that was out at the edge that he could reach....take a single bite, then put it back !

"Huz"

Both kids are very big into "Huz" (hugs) these days. Avery's favorite book is currently the one called "Hug" about Bobo and Mommy. The first day she had it, she actually cried along with Bobo when he's sad and needs a hug. Now she's very willing to read the book, and then hug and hold hands afterwards. Connor needs a lot of "huz" just before bedtime, when he claims "yun more huz" !!

Teletubbies

Alli called one day last week and had Jamie turn this show on to see some kids dancing - thought the kids would enjoy. Eeesh - now it's absolutely their favorite show. They dance, march, spin, lay on the ground, hug, etc. all with the teletubbies. Connor will sometimes actually cry at the end, wanting more. There's a vaccuum in the show named "nu-nu" that he just LOVES.

Pigtails

Jamie sent Daddy some pics at work today of Avery with "bunny ears" as she calls them. Very cute!!

Fries

Jamie took the kids to the gym today, where there is a Carl's Jr. in the parking lot on the way in. Avery has become quite good at spoting the fast food restaurants and asking for "gies" (fries). Jamie promised Avery - after we go play at the gym, when mommy comes to get you...we will go get fries.

So 90 mins later when Jamie was done working out, she goes into the babysitting room and sees Avery across the room. Avery immediately drops what she's doing (vacuuming?!), her face lights up, and she runs to mommy, proclaiming:

"done, gym, gies" !!! Well, I guess she didn't forget about the promise....