Enlightenment

It is said children still remember the beauty of the collective (Buddha, Brahman, Heaven, Nirvana...) from which they came, and forget as they age.  Today I am convinced.  Izzie covered one of my eyes and said 'Mama, can you still see'?  I said 'a little bit, because the other eye is still open'.  She put her finger on my forehead, in-between my eyebrows and said 'don't worry Mom, this eye (location of the third eye) will open soon and you will be able to see better'.   

Max changed the words to head shoulders knees and toes today to add the word tushie -- prompting Soni to bite him in the tushie.... One might find these stories on the opposite end of the spectrum -- but I think they are just different ways of finding enlightenment -- Izzie seems to have chosen the philosopher's path, Max -- the path of humor, and Sonya.... 

 Help you? Help you? 

...this is Sonya's Nirvana. Put a crayon in her hand and ....

Time Out

This wasn't at all funny last night -- but I have a feeling it will be when you kids get older.  While making dinner Max started screaming.  He said Izzie hit him and was holding his face.  When I asked her about it she denied it -- saying she didn't do it.  After further pressing she said Snow White did it --  after further pressing she broke down and said she really liked princesses but didn't want us to be mad at her.  Max was ok -- and he got a hug and apology from his sister.  I have a feeling this is only the beginning.

Max and Soni turn 2!

It seems that a tradition is forming in our household -- the birthDAY is becoming the birthWEEK.  today was the final, and third, celebration of Max and Soni's birthday.  The first was in San Diego, the second was cake at home, and the third during school.  We had our neighbors Juan and Nachie over for cake -- yummy! Then the twins started preschool with another celebration.  The first week of school went well this week -- of course they have Izzie helping them, and she is a pro by now! They are still getting used to it but got a great report from their teacher Ms Becky.  Something funny -- Max and Soni are now turned around in their car seat, and Max has become quite the backseat driver :) Now when I drive the kids I hear 'Watch out Mama' 'Car coming' 'Careful Mama' --- it is kinda cute -- except for when he is quiet for a while and then all of a sudden I hear WATCH OUT MAMA for no reason! 

San Diego!

We wondered what to do for Max and Sonya's second birthday this year.  August in Arizona is not a great time for a birthday party at home -- so we decided to take a trip to the beach!  We played in the sand, went to Leggoland and to the Zoo Safari, enjoyed the week with the Clem family, and had a birthday party.  Very eventful....and we all got really sick with the flu.  The funny thing is that people tell us they are sorry our vacation was ruined, but it wasn't. Even though we were coughing and sneezing -- we were together, and loving it.  We spent the week sleeping in the same room and it was pretty cool.  We brought the kids sound machine, and Sonya would wake up in the middle of the night, turn it on and fall back asleep to Twinkle Twinkle.  We would all sit together sneezing and coughing and we would all take turns saying "bless you" and "doing ok" -- even the little ones! So beautiful to see everyone so loving at such a young age.  So vacation ruined.... nope!  

 Isobel's first sand castle

 Izzie insisted on trying to win the stuffed animal herself -- 

and she did it in two tries!

summer 2012

The fun continues this summer.  Swim, gymnastics, play dates, and birthday parties...... Izzie got promoted to the 5 year old class in gymnastics :) Max is such a gentleman -- a little girl was crying in swim class and he gave her all the toys in his bucket.  I think she stopped crying out of confusion.  Sonya is talking a mile a minute and acts like she is the big sister (at least with Max). 

 

 Izzie with her new gymnastics coach -- Coach Casey

 Kids playing hide and seek -- Izzie is counting and the twins are hiding :)

 Never too early to go to medical school -- kids at the science center with Tata

 The above are some fun ones from Kinley's cooking themed Birthday party!

The kids had a great time making their own pizzas and frosting their own cupcakes.

Sonya is totally into stickers right now, so I find them everywhere -- 

and on everyone.  I came home from work one day to find my father sitting on the

couch covered in stickers (thank you Soni).  She totally reminds me of Anju -- 

because Anju used to do the same thing with band aids.

San Francisco

Isobel and I took a weekend trip to San Francisco to visit Anju Auntie -- it was really fun to get some time with two of my girls (we missed you Soni).  As the kids get older I cannot wait for this to become a regular part of our summer.  Before the kids, Adam and I visited Anju at least once a year -- always doing something fun and different.

 The photos are a little out of order - but Izzie loved this umbrella from Chinatown and 

insisted on doing everything underneath it.

 Looking for faeries at the Japanese Tea Garden :)

 Izzie wanted to take photos by herself -- this is her first self portrait.

 Farmer's Market