Halloween 2011

We were sad that Dad wasn't with us in Iowa for all the fun. Veda and Adele took Nana and Mom on an hour and a half hike. They really couldn't care less about the candy... they just had so much fun ringing doorbells and hearing everyone tell them how cute they are;)

Adele putting rocks in her pumpkin... not a good strategy considering she had a long way to haul that pumpkin.

No matter how many times Adele face planted she was determined to keep up with Veda. She would get out and run to the door and then climb back in her stroller for a free ride to the next candy station.

Even the police give out candy. I thought they were after me when they came whipping around the corner...

Neighbors

We are desparately missing our neighbors in California right now. It's been almost two weeks since the move and it's finally setting in that we aren't going back. Veda asks about her friends and misses her playtime just outside our front door. In the weeks before our move our friends demonstrated how amazing they really are. They all got together to throw us a going away party on the lawn... they let us use their dryer when ours was unhooked and we still had a load of laundry in the wash... they even folded our underwear;)... they let us hang out at their home way past bedtime while the movers finished up... they let our children take baths at their house... they took Veda for an entire 24 hours so that she didn't have to stay with us at the hotel... they made us the most amazing homemade Japanese dinner and didn't even flinch when Adele tore up their house...they let us mooch off their wireless when our internet was disconnected... they made us cookies for the trip home... they offered to watch the kids... they showered us with gifts for baby boy laabs and our new home... they offered their homes so we didn't have to stay at the hotel... they made sure we left town with at least one more load of hand-me-downs;)

I can only hope that we find at least one neighbor in Ohio that is anywhere near as generous as the Cali crew. We love and miss you all!

The House

Trying to catch up on some posts... Here's the house. Took the movers two full days to get everything off the trailer and put the beds and crib together. Todd and I spent 4 straight 16 hour days unpacking, organizing, and shopping. We were wiped out. I'm back in Iowa for some meetings and will drive back to Ohio on Friday with Mom, Dad, and the kids.

Of all things...

There's an onion patch right outside the back door. Todd's favorite;)

Overheard

Veda and Papi were able to get some fishing in today and caught two fish. A small one and a larger one. Veda was excited to show us the catch in her net.

"There's a baby fish and a mommy fish."
"What are you going to do with them," I asked.
"We are going to eat them, we are going to eat this family."

Coincidently we did have fish for dinner. Fish that Papi caught on his trip to Florida. Veda is not a fish fan but when we told her we were eating the fish she had caught earler she couldn't resist and decided she loved it.

Clear Lake

We've made it to our next stop! I'm sick now... finally caught it from the kids. Making our trip a challenge but the girls are better and having fun and that's all that matters.

Homecoming Parade

We made it to Iowa. Emotional and exhausted but we couldn't miss the Iowa Homecoming Parade. Have to be honest though... total let down. Good thing Veda is easily impressed by deadbeat college students standing on Uhaul trailers.

Overheard

Dad can you open the car window so I can dry my thumb? Its wet because I sucked it. Dad go faster its not drying yet.

The Movers are Here

Having a Happy Meal picnic outside to stay out of the way. Lots of action.

Everything Fun

We brought the girls to a fundraiser for a child with cancer at a friend's salon. Adele sat for a $10 cut but Veda wont let anyone but Didi touch her hair;) There was a band, snow cones, hot dogs and a silent auction for mom!

Movie night in the hood... we're gonna miss this place!

Croup

Add this to the list of things we have to deal with before the movers get here on Tuesday. I guess I should be thankful she didn't get sick while we are holed up in the hotel and homeless next week. Poor thing is miserable and as usual we can't get her to take any medicine.

Overheard

I was taking a shower this morning and could hear the girls in the other room fighting. Rather, I could hear Veda screaming. Adele was pulling Veda's hair and laughing every time Veda would react. She thought it was a game. I tried to explain to Veda that Adele thought she was playing and that she really just wants to be close to her big sister because she loves her.

Huffing and puffing Veda says, "NO MOM! She wants to hurt me. She is trying to kill me."

Pool day

It's well into the 90s here which is a bit unusual so we decided to go for one last dip yesterday before the big move. I hadn't planned on getting in but Veda got excited and jumped in without her water wings which meant I had to go in after her... fully clothed;(

Overheard

I had lit some candles around the house and Todd had gone around and blown them out because we were leaving. Veda asked who had blown out the candles and I told her that Daddy did it.

"Oh, because he thought it was his birthday?"

Going on a Bug Hunt

Veda's favorite thing to do is hunt for bugs and "nature." When Nana and Bull were here she collected a full plastic bag of treasures. Today she found four ants and she named them cucumber, spot, macaroni and pepper. She decorated an old box and then taped it shut. But she made me put some cereal in it first so they would have something to eat.

"Sophie's" House

We drove down to Long Beach this past weekend to visit with my dear childhood friends, the Strauss' and to meet baby Charlie! Veda has been talking about the fun she had ever since. She calls it "Sohpie's" house and says she has a funny Grandma that tells funny stories. That would be Judy;) Thanks to Abby and Mike for having us and Jackie for taking time away from her pedi to visit with us;) Every time we see them it's like time has stood still. Love and miss my girls!

A couple pics from Maui...

 Outside Mama's Fish House

We took this same picture, in this exact same place, seven years ago this November when we attended the Maui Classic with the Hawkeyes.

Thank YOU Nana and Bull

Thanks for taking care of the beans while we were in Maui and ensuring we had a worry-free vacation. The girls loved reading books, going on walks to the park, collecting "nature", and watching Seasame Street on Bull's computer. Sure am glad we will see you again two weeks from today.

Maui

Missing the girls but not worried because we know Nana and Bull are taking good care of them. The Four Seasons is amazing and beautiful. The service here is over the top. Sitting at the serenity pool and the staff comes by every five minutes with fresh pineapple water and ice towels.

Play date

Having Quiet Time

For all of 60 seconds anyway...

Empty the shelves!

I've been trying to clean out the pantry in preparation for our move. What to do with stale fruit loops??? Make fruit loop trees of course. I was actually impressed w Veda's ability to master this project.

Drama

I pulled this plain grey sweatshirt out for Veda. She said, "wow that's the most amazing sweatshirt I never saw."

Getting Spooky

Veda LOVES Halloween. We are starting the festivities a little early given that we will be moving in the middle of October.

Happy Birthday Ry!

Hope you had a great day. Here's a picture of Veda working on the masterpiece she sent you;)

Desparate Measures

Over the last few weeks I've had a couple 7am conference calls. Too early for school and too early for the babysitter. So... I've resorted to movies and popsicles for breakfast. Oh yes I did;)

We miss you Dad - We LOVE YOU!

This was the greeting the girls gave Todd last week when he returned from 8 days on the road. We are looking forward to another one of these when he returns home from his trip to Europe.

18 mo.

This is Adele trying to demonstrate that she has not been eating the markers. I'm not buying it though... they just happen to be magic wonder markers that only work on magic paper so the evidence is invisable.

Adele had her 18mo appointment today. She weighed in at 22.03 lbs (20%), 31.5 inches (50%) and a 50% measurement for her head. The Dr. checked her eyes which he normally does at age 2 but he tested her early since we are moving and there is no guarantee her next Dr. will perform the test. She tested for a stigmatism in her right eye of 1.0. Not sure what that means but he said she should be tested again before she is 3 and if it gets worse than 1.75 then that's an issue but she's ok for now. She had three shots and hardly cried. One of them was the flu shot... it's that time of year! Have to make sure we all get our shots before Bean #3 gets here;)
At 18 mo Adele is still a littel daredevil but she's terrified of the vacuum cleaner and anything else that makes loud noise. She loves to blow kisses, tell you goodbye and I love you. She isn't a big talker like her sister was but it's clear that she understands most of what we are saying. She is always by Veda's side and Veda would tell you that most of the time... that's too close;)

Happy Birthday Jacob and Alex!

We celebrated with the twins today. Todd's out of town so I had to make the drive (hour each way) on my own with a screaming 18mo old in the back. Wasn't so much fun for me but the girls had a blast and I always look forward to seeing the Soria/Soffin crew. Mark this down as one of the top things I'm going to miss when we move;(( I said some goodbyes today and got emotional when I walked away from Christina's parents. As you know from my posts over the years... we love the Soffins and the Sorias. They are the most amazing, welcoming, accepting, FUN people I know. We are blessed to have had this time with them.

I did not think this was going to end well. Adele + The Twins in the bouncy house. She held her own though... way to go Dell.

 Whoops.

 The taco truck guys. The best part about Jon and Christina's parties. The real thing!

 Veda went to the ground during her dance number and Adele just does whatever her sister does.

I asked Veda what she was doing. She said she was pretending to be a ladybug stuck on his back and trying to roll over.