Trip to the Beach

We took a trip to the beach a few weeks ago.

The kids had an awful time.

It's amazing...all this sand around them, and they don't even want to touch the stuff.

They didn't even want to play with each other.

I would have even expected the planes flying with advertisements overhead to get their attention.

I don't know if we'll do it again....it hardly seems worth the effort.

What Little Boys Dream Of...

In one of Michael and Matthew's bedtime story books, there is a story from the Disney movie "Cars." We have never seen the movie, and I don't know why Michael started obsessing over the "story about tow truck" but he did, and that's that.

This evening, I was going in to check on the kids and give them one last goodnight, and when I walked in, Michael woke up, blinked his heavy eyelids and mumbled to me, "Tow truck" and went back to sleep.

So cute.

It's Been a Long Time Coming....

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this before, because it has been going on for quite some time, but late than never.

Michael has a very particular obsession at home. His obsession: "Uncle Pete Song."

Ok. Backstory for anyone who needs it. "Uncle Pete" is Fr. Peter, Michael and Matthew's great uncle. Fr. Peter is a great priest and a talented musician who has recorded many, many, many songs and has recently released two albums: Rewind and Eye on the Sky. The songs are amazing.

A while back, I decided to give Michael a break from The Beatles and try out some Uncle Pete songs because I was really in the mood to listen to them.

From that day on, there was no going back for Michael. After the album was over, he immediately asked for "more Uncle Pete songs? Please?" How can you say no?

Now, day after day, Michael must have Uncle Pete songs playing. If he had his way, it would play non-stop. In fact, for a while, before one song would even end, he would be pleading desperately for another one.

Well, the presence of Uncle Pete songs has evolved not only into music playing, but has actually taken on its own persona. It started simply when Michael, while eating dinner, stuck his fork toward the CD player and asked, "Uncle Pete want some?"

He then began to ask regularly, "What's Uncle Pete doing?" only to answer himself "He's singing songs!"

Michael then went on to figure out how to put the CD in the player and turn it on, so he can now put on Uncle Pete songs whenever he wants.

One time, he put on the CD, but the volume was turned up higher than normal, so the Uncle Pete songs came on pretty loud, startling us all. After we got a little laugh from being startled, Michael blurted out in a joking fake-scolding fashion, "Uncle Pete song!!" It was hysterical.

Michael needs to listen to the Uncle Pete songs at all times. In the car. When Daddy plays guitar, he has to play Uncle Pete songs. Michael will go into our room, push the keys on Daddy's keyboard and sing the words to the songs, "...belong to a family..." He'll sing along when the CD plays and when he hears words throughout the day that he remembers is in one of Uncle Pete songs, he'll sing the line....

Michael has great taste in music. The songs are thoughtful, inspiring and helps us keep a prayerful attitude throughout the day.

Seriously, these songs are amazing. Check them out yourself!

No more excuses

I know blogging lately has been a little sporadic.

The main reason is because I filled up my old computer to the brim, and even when I delete files, applications and whatnot, it just gets filled right up again the next time I put a bunch of pictures up.

On top of that, my computer was running SO slowly, it was actually taking about 3 minutes per click to load a webpage or application. Needless it say, it was very frustrating.

So to remedy that, my husband got me our anniversary present...just a couple of days early:

A computer that doesn't have all those wacky problems.

Not wanting to invite too much trouble by posting all the specs on the internet, needless it say, I like it, and will be back to blogging more regularly, since it no longer will take me all that waiting time just to load the page.

So, not only is it a gift for me, but, hopefully for those of you who enjoy seeing into the lives of Michael and Matthew (and the occasion glimpse of the rest of us) too.

Thank you, honey!!

Slaving over a hot stove

Michael isn't a terribly picky eater...

..or maybe I don't notice how much he isn't eating because I'm just not too stressed over what he does and doesn't eat, assuming he'll eat what his body needs so long as he is presented with the right balance of foods.

When his body needs proteins, he'll eat them, so long as I offer him some every meal.

Fruits and veggies are a staple, and the first to be cleared from his plate and he always wants seconds.

Carbs, again, another easy thing to get down, especially in the forms of crackers, pastas and bread.


But as much as I try not to stress over it, it is a little frustrating when I try to cook him a nice meal I think he'll enjoy only to have him turn his nose up at it. I mean, what kid wouldn't like a tater-tot/veggie/cheese casserole. Heck, even I thought it was good.


What really adds insult to injury is when I prepare a nice dish, like Mexican Lasagna (a delicious spanish rice filled/tortilla layered/shredded beef, corn, salsa type casserole dish) and he prefers this:

Yes. Just a forkful of sour cream.

Fork after forkful.

So much that we actually just went ahead and got a bowl, filled it with sour cream and that's what he wanted for dinner.

What nutrition is his body craving with sour cream that couldn't be provided with the well-rounded Mexican Lasagna?

Only a toddler can know.

"Airpwane! In the Sky!!"

Balboa Park is a great area in San Diego which has tons of museums and every Tuesday, offers free admission to certain museums around the park.

I found a secret. Something that you don't have to wait in line for, park your stroller and juggle your kids for, or wait for the right Tuesday to roll around for this....

Right over Balboa Park flies the airplanes on their way to San Diego Airpot...and I think it's one of the best activities, free or not, we can think of.

Both boys are fascinated (note how they are following the path of airplane):

Trouble is, the airplanes don't come fast enough!



"Again airpwane?!"

How do we get them to come faster?




Maybe if we run around and act like an airplane....





Maybe if we pretend to sleep, they'll come...






Maybe using a toy helicopter like a duck call will get them to come...



Maybe we should pray for them to come...



Maybe we make a wish on our bubble wand...





"Wait, no, no, Michael! That's not how it works!"



"Here comes an-uvver one!"



We were there for about an hour, and saw more airplanes than you could...



..yes, shake a stick at...

We had a great time! Thank you Balboa Park and San Diego airport!

9 Months

Tomorrow, Matthew turns 9 months old...

9 months and he still our Little Baby Moo.

Even if I could have written the formula for a child like Matthew, (2 parts sweetness, 2 part smiles, 2 parts chubby-kissable everything) I don't think I could have imagined it would be possible to create a baby as sweet as Matthew.


He's everybody's little love, and the target of many kisses, raspberries, and cuddles, because he takes it so well.

Matthew, is really growing both quickly and also staying like a "baby" all at the same time. His personality is really shining through, as both very sweet and compliant, but also determined and not interested in being anybody's doormat. If there's a toy he wants that is taken away from him (who would take it away, I dont know :)...) he'll make a statement and go after it to get it back...and if Matthew wants to be laying down and you have him sitting on your lap, he won't be shy about just launching backwards until you put him down.

But maybe it's his roly-poly physique, or the fact that he still doesn't crawl but just sort of swims/sidewinds/inch-worms...oh forget it, I can't possibly describe how he "crawls"...it involves his whole body, head, tippy-toes, sides..it is a sight to behold...anyways, Matthew is still just our little baby and it's the strangest thing to imagine he'll be walking around someday, maybe even by year's end (nah, this kid is kind of a late bloomer in the motor skill department, I'm predicting January!)

Matthew loves to read books.

If you open a book and read it to him, he'll shriek at every page like it's the greatest thing.

He loves big-boy toys, like cars, and even bigger-boy toys like phones if he can get his hands on them.

He loves cords...a big no-no in our home, but he still finds them and makes a stink when I don't let him have it.

He loves his brother, and will laugh the hardest at him, but also is captivated by his dad. Whenever Michael Sr. is nearby, Matthew will lunge to get at him, even if it's just to have his hand on his arm. So sweet.

Matthew is a good eater and really only turns his nose up to food when I get too repetitive, like too much oatmeal too often. He definitely doesn't have a picky palate yet and will often eat what the family eats (pasta, taco meat, etc). He isn't really picking up food though, so maybe that stacks the deck as it is much easier to just not bother picking up food than try to refuse the spoonful that is coming your way.


Matthew's sleeping is excellent. He is a slightly early riser (usually around 6:30, but Michael was like that at this age too), but a great napper and easy to get to sleep and stay asleep. And he's as sweet as can be when he wakes up from a nap every single time.

So, at the 3/4 of a year mark, we continue to be overwhelmed with our little Matthew. We never knew what our family was missing before he got here, but the joy, love, smiles, and sweetness he fills our life with is beyond words. In fact, the spunky nature of his brother is without a doubt tempered by his sweet nature. Matthew inspires abundant kisses from Michael, and I think really keeps him grounded in a loving state-of-mind, even when he is frustrated.

What a blessing!