San Clemente Sunday

We went to the beach on Sunday for a much needed relaxing family day. One of my clients is in a surf band called "The Surfliners" and they were playing at Sonny's Pizza down in San Clemente. We sat on the patio and had the best pizza for dinner and then headed down to the pier to catch the sunset and play in the sand for a while. It's getting close to fall and this is our favorite time of year to go to the beach. Now that the summer crazy schedule is slowing down we're hoping to have many more beach afternoons soon!

My Big 21 Monthers...

It seems like just yesterday we were rushing off to the hospital at 4:00 am to bring Kai and Daila into the world, and now their 2 year birthday is right around the corner! How quickly the time has gone. Life is picking up momentum too, the fact that they are so into exploring and inquisitive now, combined with Billy and I trying to keep up with them and an increasingly busy work schedule. Needless to say we feel pretty crazy most of the time, but in the best way. We have a girl Lisa who has been coming in a couple days a week while I work and she commented recently on how much energy I have. For some reason I found this to be funny because I never really saw myself as "overly" energetic. In some way it made me realize that along the way Billy and I have both had to step up our game to keep up. If I would have had a sneak peak into our life 2 years ago of where it is now, I may have run as fast and far away as I could! I guess the point is, it's always a nice surprise when you realize you've exceeded your own expectations. I remember when we first found out we were pregnant with twins and would share the news with friends so many of them would reply in shock and feel sorry for us! Well, I've always been the person who is ultra-motivated by challenges and I kept thinking in my mind "this is just what I need right now in my life" and I knew I had the best partner to share the journey with. Well, to say we're having a blast is an understatement. This stage so far is so fun, I look forward everyday to see what's in store!

Kai Boy, aka Booey, aka Bubsy Boo

His most prominent personality trait right now is summed up as "comedy". He's funny and he knows it and nothing makes him more happy than if you laugh at/with him. Daila is his biggest fan, he keeps her entertained day and night. He'll use his comedy act sometimes to try and get out of trouble, which Billy and I are totally hip too, even if he thinks we're not. He's also very loud and chatty. Every time we stroll through town he has to say hi to as many people as possible as if he is the official greeter of RSM.

He loves to dance and has some pretty entertaining moves.

Every time you give him a "gaga" (snack) he stands there until you give him one to give to Daila too!

He's obsessed with balls. He can kick them throw and catch them. He's such a boy!

He's obsessed with skateboards however he doesn't have an official set up of his own yet.

He'll stand on the table and start these rhythmic chants almost like he's a rapper or something. He has hand motions and moves to go along with it too!

Daila Sue, aka Dai Dai, aka Sue Bear

She is a born mother as she's been trying to take care and run Kai since they were born. She shifted her focus now to her "babies" which is all of her stuffed animals. The one she's holding in this photo is really The Baby as she pretty much keeps tabs on him 24-7. she's starting to talk more in 2-3 word sentences and yesterday morning realized he was outside on the patio and the door was closed so she couldn't get to him. She came running to me saying "bay crying, baby crying" grabbed my hand and pulled me to the door. When I opened it she ran out and got him, brought him in, wrapped him in a blanket and fed him a pretend bottle. Every time I wipe Daila's hands, mouth and feet throughout the day I always, without fail, am ordered to wipe the babies too...:) She's so funny, she knows what she likes and is very independent. She's really happy by nature, but when she doesn't agree with something the whole neighborhood knows about it. Something tells my she will have lots of friends in life due to her disposition but if you do get on her bad side your really going to wish you hadn't. We've titled her the "CEO" of our family (Kai is public relations) and oddly we've even discovered now that she's the only right handed person in our family, making her the oddball because Billy, Kai and I are all lefty's. you don't hear that very often!

She loves to color with her crayons and even impressed the doctor the other day because she can already draw circles, and will tell you that's what she's drawing.

She says "Bye Bye, see you"! to everyone when they walk away.

She requests popcorn every night while we're watching TV getting ready to go to bed.

She rarely lets you cuddle with her or pick her up for hugs, but then every so often will come running towards you all puckered up demanding a kiss! Even being her mother I still don't have this one completely figured out, she's going to be the one who keeps you guessing, always. I've learned that by giving her space she's much happier, which is so different than Kai, as he wants to be hugged and cuddled all the time.

I've loved watching each of their personalities blossom and feel so lucky to get to be their mommy :)

Peak-A-Boo!

Peak-a-boo in the kitchen drawers has been Kai and Daila's favorite past-time lately. Fun and giggles for hours!

Destination O-H-I-O!

Typical scenario, everybody getting loaded up onto the golf cart for a cruise down to the lake. Of course Daila insisted on driving :)

Mimi with her grand-babers at each side, roaming the land.

All of Kai and Daila's cousins were at Mimi and Papa's when we arrived and couldn't wait to show them around their play land. Here they are showing them the best spot to pick blackberries.

Walking down to the lake.

Papa and his windmill. Of course he doesn't take any credit for it, but I think it's really cool that he built this himself to oxygenate the lake to help keep it clean. Papa has pretty much made a full-time job out of taking care of this land and making sure every inch of it is thriving as it should be. Obviously the mowing is no easy task (which takes he and Mimi a whole day to do together) but he also keeps an eye on any hazards, overgrown weeds, or anything else that might get in the way of it being the worlds best playground for the grand kids to enjoy. He built a walking bridge over the creek, put in some park benches in a few spots around the lake and of course, put up a tire swing! There is also a garden that the whole family helps to take care of that is practically a whole produce dept. in itself! On any given day the kids are either riding dirt bikes, fishing, playing in the woods, picking fresh berries or apples or just cruising the golf cart down one of the trails that goes around the lake and through the woods. No wonder Kai and Daila love it already, and will appreciate this special place more and more as they get older!

Mimi strolling and chatting with Jo Jo and Kai.

Daila sporting the flower that I think Clayton picked for her :)

All of the kids had so much fun hanging out together. The first day we got there Billy and I took an afternoon nap and when we woke up the girls had already put Daila's hair in a couple different hairstyles and she had her fingernails and toenails all painted up! Kai was out running around with the boys and never ran out of some to play "ball" with him, which is his favorite thing right now. Even when it was almost bedtime and Kai and Daila were having their night time ba-ba's and watching cartoons all the kids wanted to just lay there with them. It was so cute. I'm so happy they have so many cousins to grow up with!

We ended many nights on this deck, usually having a few of Mimi's "special" ice teas :) Traci has perfected Mimi's recipe and kept them coming at all times. We had so many good dinners too, many with food that was gown on the land like homemade blackberry pie, green bean casserole and lots of grilled zucchini. This was by far the best trip we've had with getting the whole family together and sharing many laughs.

The first morning there, Daila had to give Mimi's shoes a test drive and Kai has just discovered a whole new pots and pans cabinet to explore...

Kai loves Papa's windmill too!

I think one of the first real memories Kai and Daila may have of Mimi and Papa's house will be the "ap-ples" as they say it... They would go for golf cart rides everyday and papa would go right under the apple tree so they could pick their own apples. The loved it! Now since we've been home every time they have apples they start mumbling about Mimi and Papa :)

Mimi herding them around the lake.

So much room to run and play!

Driving down the bunny trail after picking apples.

Cousin Jo-Jo, the cutest little boy!

Poor Dai Dai got left behind by the boys :(

She's trying to hold on for dear life, but Kai doesn't seem to thrilled about it.

Yet more ap-ples!

Hanging with Papa and petting Caddy-Lou, they chased her everywhere. She is such a good kitty and put up with being carried all over the place by Daila. I'm sure she'll be excited for our next visit.

Family Photo's at the Lake

We haven't been very good about doing family photo's yet, but since Mimi and Papa's lake is the perfect spot we decided to do our own little DIY photo session. Official Deans family photo 2010

It seems almost impossible to get all of the kids to look at the right time, this is the best that we got. Back row: Clayton(9), Sidney(11) Front row: Daila(20months), Taylor(8), Joey(3), Alex(14), Amber(18), Kai(20months) Unfortunately Stephanie (20) wasn't there, otherwise we would have had the whole generation in the same photo!

A few people took turns taking the photos, so since Amber took the best one on our camera unfortunately she's not pictured in it :(

Back Row: Traci (sis-in-law) Don (bro), Billy, Sonja, Don Sr. (Papa), Sid Front Row: Joey, Alex, Daila, Taylor, Kai, Clayton, Linda (Mimi)

We need to hire a photographer for next time!

First Carousel Ride!

This Carousel was built in the Downtown Mansfield Historic District in 1991. That was the year I headed west so I had never even visited it myself! It's significant as it was the first hand carved figure carousel to be built in the U.S. since 1930. All of the animals are so unique, it really is a beautiful structure. I'm so glad Kai and Daila had their first ever carousel experience here!

Daddy supervising while Kai and Daila are mesmerized going round and round!

Dai Dai clinging tight to her bunny :)

Fun times in Mamas home town!

Kai wants to know already when he can go again.

Dai Dai had so much fun, it was not easy leaving, but we'll just have to visit it again on our next trip!

Ohio trip through the lense of Billy's picture phone...

It only rained once while we were there, and shortly after this beautiful rainbow appeared! This was taken from my Mimi and Papa's back deck.

Kai and Daila had the run of the place the whole time. They love Mimi and Papa's house!

Billy and Papa logged many hours fishing down at the lake. Looks like Papa reeled one in!

We would pass this every time Billy and I would make a trip into town. Clearly someone was so upset they decided to share their feelings with everyone by putting this up at the end of their driveway! Can't say as if I blame them.

It took many adjustments to finally find the perfect spot where everyone could fall asleep for at least an hour of the 4 hour flight. Kai slept on the trays on the way there, and Daila got them on the way home. The flying part was definitely not one of the highlights of the trip, but we managed to make it there and back in one piece :)