First haircut for the Beans

Audrey post snip

Audrey before her cut, "what you talking about Willis" is all I can think of when I see this face she gives me daily. It's so dang funny to me. I just know I'm in for it durring the teenage years.

It was time for the girls to have their first haircut. I've been waiting for Lydia to get enough hair, but all she can grow is top and back, nothing on the sides. It was a real problem and a long mullet so we opted for a snip. Audrey on the other hand has a ton of hair and I just got her a trim so that she could keep her length for piggy tails. It turns out that Lydia's hair is really cute short and I love her little kissable neck that you can now see. We are really lucky to have our friend cut the kids hair as they are supper wiggly and not always the most cooperative. Thanks Lala! What do you think?

Lydia being bribed to hold still for the haircut

Lydia post cut with her cute short snip

My babies are TWO!

I'm not sure how this happened, but the girls turned two yesterday. It's been the shortest two years of my life. It's been a little blurry at times and a little crazy at times, but it's been the best two years. I have to say we've come a long way in those two years. Our family went from three to five in two short minutes. We went from no talking children to all talking children. We went from babies to toddlers and beyond. It's been amazing to watch these little ones grow and develop. I couldn't have picked a more fulfilling job than being their mother.

Audrey's accomplishments: 27# or 53%, 35" or 90%

Walking

Talking

Full set of teeth

Full head of hair fit for piggy tails!

Great big sister to Lydia

She is compassionate

She is stubborn

Lydia's Accomplishments:26# 13oz. or 50%, 35 1/2" or 95%

Walking

Talking

Full set of teeth

Obedient (mostly)

Dramatic

Funny

The best shot we got of the girls with their beloved Minnie Bags.

The girls started their birthday week out at Disneyland. It's a favorite of everyone so why not?! They each got their birthday button to wear and everyone was wishing them "Happy Birthday" all day long. One notable difference is that they are no longer wanting to ride in the stroller. They would rather walk. One would think that is a great thing, but at the pace they walk it would take you 5 hours to walk a mile, but they did it. I think they only rode two short trips in the stroller the rest of the day they walked and that's a lot of walking for those short little legs. Let's just say they were asleep in the car before we hit the freeway. They enjoyed the entire day save one meltdown by Lydia when she was awoke from her stroller nap sooner than she would have liked. More on that later. The kids experienced new rides as we spent the entire time in California Adventure. They love Monsters Inc., the sea creature marry-go-round, and Toy Story. The highlight of the trip was the Minni Mouse purse they picked out at the end of the day. We have been wanting to get them something fun for their birthday. I've even taken them to the toy store to look at different things. They look with great delight and play with many things for a min. or two before giving it back to me and saying "no like". I was stumped on what to get them. We walked through this princess store and they looked and collected several things they thought were cute. Upon making a final selection they each at different times chose the same thing! Funny how similar they are sometimes. They love these little bags and haul them around filling them with all kids of funny things. Thanks Auntie Kristin.

Now for the meltdown. Lydia had fallen asleep while in the stroller for a short ride from one side of the park to the other. Bjorn let her sleep while I took Audrey and Myles on a ride. When we got back Myles wanted to do the ride again so Bjorn took him on the ride and Audrey just hung out with me. Well the stroller got bumped and the sleeping bear was awoken. I'm telling you this was the worst tantrum I have EVER SEEN. She started to cry right away. I was working fast to get off her straps and get her out of the stroller. By the time this was done she was pulling things off the stroller and throwing them on the ground. Anything she could move she was. She was hitting me, wriggling out of my hold, trying to push the man who was sitting next to us on the bench. It was a doosey. If you've ever seen a t.v. show where someone is mad and they take their hand and knock off everything that is on a table, that was Lydia. She was so mad it took her about 15 min. to walk it off. She just walked around in circles trying to get away from all of us while screaming and crying. Bjorn just walked behind her in the distance and let her blow it off. Man, don't cross this little girl. Note to self: watch out for the teenage years!

Having a great time in the bounce house

On their birthday morning we took the kids to IHOP. I don't know why I can never seem to remember why this isn't a good idea, but it just isn't. It's not that we don't go out, it's just the wait time from ordering your food to getting the food. It just about kills us. Anyway we all had a great big breakfast before heading to a local nursery school for a carnival. The kids loved the carnival and had a great time in the bouncy house, fishing, getting balloons, going in the petting zoo and various other things. Then it was home to catch a nap. That's a full day when you are only two.

Lydia's Duckie cake

Audrey's Ladybug cake

We returned home for naps and a quick dinner before eating cake. It was a great day. I love these little girls, they are so fun and full of life. It's an honor to be their mother. Love you Beans!

Adults only!

We've just returned from an adults only vacation. It was a wonderful 10 days spent in Eastern Europe just in time for the Easter Markets. Bjorn and I were lucky enough to have my parents offer to come out and stay with our children so we could get some much needed R&R. I searched the internet and found a trip to Prague and Budapest that just fit the bill. We booked the trip and were out the door in about 4 weeks time. I have to say I was a little unprepared for the trip.

I usually do more planning and investigating for a trip, but this came up so fast I just didn't have time. The only planning I was able to do was to get the travel books and start reading about Prague, our first destination. I never did get to the Budapest book. I turned that one over to Bjorn who did a great job of finding all our sights to see and things we "must do".

We spent 4 days in Prague where we visited the Palace and Cathedral, Terrazin concentration camp, Old town, The Jewish Quarter, Multiple Easter Markets complete with entertainment and traditional food. This beautiful city was picturesque in every way. Right down to the cobble stone streets and sidewalks. Which we began to hate by the last day. On our last night, our anniversary, we went to eat in a cellar Czech restaurant and see a ballet, Carmen. I turned out to be rather a "budget" show, but the singing at least was worth it and the dinner was great! The dancing left a little to be desired.

That night we loaded up and took the night train to Budapest, Hungary. It was a great way to get there and not burn a day. We departed at midnight and arrived at 8:30am. We purchased tickets for a private cabin complete with a TINNY toilet and shower. It was great to arrive at your destination having had a nights sleep and a warm shower and breakfast in your belly.

We then spent the next 3 days in Budapest. A rather beautiful and slightly communistic city still. I mean to say that there are many reminders that it wasn't all that long ago when they were under the communist system. In Buda we visited Castle Hill and the many sights there. In Pest we saw the Grand Market, took in an Opera at the Opera house, visited the Parliament building and plaza, went to the Thermal Bath's and hot pots for the afternoon, walked along the river and the many bridges connecting the two cities, walked along many old and narrow streets till our hearts were content, and took a day trip to St. Andrews, an old city on the Danube with tons of charm.

A HUGE shout out to mom and dad for coming and taking such good care of our kids and our home! We couldn't have done it without your generosity.

Pants

Myles was having problems with going poop on the potty so I put him back in Pull-ups till he could go four time in a row on the potty. Anyway he wasn't too fond of the pull-ups because they are not only hot, but big and bulky and they get all bunched up. Especially since I make him wear them till they practically fall apart. So we were walking through Target and he is walking all crazy and lifting his legs up all funny. I stopped and said "Myles what is the problem?" He looked at me as said in a very serious face "Mom, my pants all jacked up!" What do you say to that! I just looked at him and started laughing. What else do you say to a statement like that? What a cute boy.

I do it

The girls are now at the age where I can't get away with feeding them anymore. They always want to do it themselves. It's really bothersome for me. Only in that it takes forever for them to eat, and it's REALLY MESSY. I hate both! This is Audrey and her chipmunk face. She looks like she is storing food for the winter. Meals are such a fight right now. I always want to feed them, and they always want to "do it myself". What fun.

Conversations

Me: "Myles, you do know that orange pants and a red stripe shirt don't match right?"

Myles: "Well, it matches my underwear!"

What the heck goes on in the mind of a three year old! It's too funny. We have so many funny and odd conversations just like this one.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Thanks to my mom and dad I have a rich life full of many traditions. One of those traditions is to decorate for Christmas. I love it! I *HEART* the Christmas season. I start listening to Christmas music in October and I love it when the California weather starts to get cold.

Our temp. reader said it was in the 40's tonight! Buuuurrrrrr, that's cold for us So. Cal. people. I remember "helping" my mom each year put out the Christmas decorations. It would take us a whole day and I just loved the house when it was done. There are things that I know are going to be up each year when I go back home for Christmas. The nativity set we got to help paint or the sucker tree that was so popular in the 80's. There are so many. I've started to make our home a Christmas Wonderland too. I am loving getting to put garland on the miles of railing I have.

I now for the first time have a mantle to hang stockings on, wahoo!

I'm not sure what we are going to do for a tree this year. The girls may undress it daily, but we will figure out something. With our tall two story living room we could get a really tall tree this year. Too bad they charge by the foot though. A really tall one would cost me about 200$