My first borns are 2 1/2!

What? Where is the time going and how did my babies turn into little people who talk in sentences, have opinions, and bring more and more joy (and challenges too!) each and every day into my life. Here's a little update on Clayton and Chloe...

Clayton:
*Is all about the color blue! Everything he wants has to be blue.
*He wants everything now...his infamous phrase "I like that." Translation=buy it for me, Mommy!
*Is extremely athletic--from basketball to soccer, this boy has got skills!
*His language is impressive and ability to put sentences together even more so. Some favorites are:
  "Thank you, Mommy" when he brings something he shouldn't have to you, "I want to watch ______", "I want to go to the park," and then "5 more minutes" or "I still playing" when we are there! And then the best is "I can't see it" whenever you talk about anything that you see or saw. He goes nuts until he sees whatever it is you are talking about.
*Loves to climb and jump and the climbing is getting higher and jumping getting more extreme.
*He still loves his blankie.
*He is a pretty good listener and understands reasoning and negotiating.

Chloe:
*Is all about her babies! She loves her babies; loves pushing them in their stroller, brushing their hair, and feeding them.
*All she wants from Santa is a new baby and a new stroller--I envision a collection of dolls in her future! Mommy loves that she's into girly toys now.
*She tries to keep up with Clayton's athleticism, but our sweet girl isn't the most coordinated; however she LOVES to dance and dances really well!
*She's a talking machine now! Chloe has 4-5 word sentences and like twins do, misuses the same words/phrases as Clayton. Some of her best lines are: "Thank you Mommy" when she brings something she shouldn't have to you, "More mook (milk) please," "I do" or "My do" because she has to do everything by herself--little Miss Independent for sure!, and our absolute favorite is listening to her say her name "Cody Grace Caaalos."
*She is a little clumsy, but handles her falls better now.
*Did I mention her independence?! Oh my, we are in for it with Chloe. She doesn't want my help, but then when she can't do it, she loses it and throws a ginormous temper tantrum.

Every day is an adventure. Some days are better than others, but my children are my life's greatest accomplishment and bring me more joy than I ever could have dreamed.

Clayton looking cool in his sunglasses

Little guy wants to be just like his Daddy!

Having fun with the first rain!

Showing off...the theme of toddlerhood!

Daddy's trip to Target resulted in a new Jake boat for Clay and...

a new baby for Chloe.

Clayton inherited my dad's old football helmet--

it's the perfect addition to his room decor and fun to put on too! 

Listening so well at pre school practice.

Very proud of their pumpkin art project!

Let's go play baseball! Time for sports camp!

October Fun!

While the weather didn't cooperate with "Fall," the festivities did. I bought all three babes Halloween chair backers, so most every morning there was a little something in it or we did something fun. Some highlights were going to the pumpkin patch, going to Irvine Park Railroad and riding the ponies, making pumpkin and ghost sugar cookies, having a Halloween party with all of our friends, and starting sports camp. Clayton and Chloe had so much fun and so did I! Easton was a trooper at all of the outings. We really talked wearing costumes up to the babes, so when it was time to put on their costumes, both Clayton and Chloe loved wearing them! All three looked so adorable. Clayton was Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates--he even wore his hat with hair, Chloe was Tinkerbell--she was precious and Easton was the sweetest little Peter Pan complete with a special hat knitted by his Grammie.

The highlight of our Halloween themed month was the Halloween party. When my brother and I were little, my parents threw a few parties in our garage with all of our friends. Those parties are some of my favorite memories. I decided this year, it was time to start the tradition again. My mom and I worked hard creating festive decorations and with the help of glorious Pinterest, games and food for the littles ones were inspired and created. While it was super windy that day, it was warm, so the backyard worked as the perfect party spot. Our backyard still needs lots of work, but it was the perfect stomping ground for all 22 toddlers! It was chaotic, but so much fun seeing all of the little ones in their costumes and playing so well with each other. We also had 5 sweet infants, 2 very pregnant mommies and about 40 adults. It was a full house, but that's one of my most favorite things about my new home is that there is plenty of room for creating memories like this!

Here's some pictures from our fun this month...

Thanks, Nonnie for our adorable Halloween shirts!

One happy boy loving swinging outside! 

Pumpkin painting party!

A toddler's dream...the pumpkin patch!

Modeling their new hair styles

Story time with Nonnie

Papa Jim and his boys

 Watch out NBA...Clayton Joseph has got skills! 

"I want that"...showing off their Christmas lists for Santa

Papa surprised us with a frozen yogurt treat!

Sports camp...Mommy and Clay and Chloe time!

Grammie and Little E

All cute and ready for our 1st annual Halloween Party!

Backyard fun with Daddy!

Making pumpkin and ghost cookies

Trick or Treat...Love, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, and Jake

Ready to go fill our buckets with candy!

Goodbye HOT September...Hello Beautiful FALL!

September was a month of lots of adjustments, especially for Mommy. Going back to work was hard on a multitude of levels; the hardest being there is truly no down time for me except my drive to and from work where my time is filled by shoveling lunch as a drive to work and making phone calls as I drive home. The babes have adjusted fine as they only miss me for about 45 minutes or so, so it's great for them because they still have their mommy, but get to spend quality time with either Daddy, Nonnie, or Grammie. Ryan's heavy overtime load is hopefully a thing of the past now as we revive from our move, addition of a new child, and lack of income from me. We are excited to have Daddy home more on the weekends now! Clayton and Chloe are busy, busy, busy! They started pre school practice again with Miss Karla and are truly flourishing. They've gotten so much more independent and do really well during circle time. They still go to swimming lessons twice a month with Miss Cerra and are both doing so well. Today, they started sports camp through the city and did fantastic. I was a little worried my tuition for Chloe would result in her picking flowers the entire half hour, but she did really well. Chloe wasn't the best or fastest, but tried hard and didn't give up on any of the tasks asked of her. Mommy was very proud of her! Clayton on the other hand earned the name "soccer star" from his coach. He was the first at everything--definitely his Daddy's boy!
Clayton's News:

• He's talking in sentences--our favorites are: "I like that," "Can't see it," and "I'm here." 
• Clay now wants just about everything, which is where the sentence "I like that" comes into play!
• He's all boy--climbing up and jumping off everything.
• Clay understands being tired and body parts like his head or tummy hurting. When he's tired he tells us his eyes hurt and that he's tired. 
• He likes to give hugs and kisses and tell you he loves you on his terms; not when you ask him to!
• Clayton loves watching Cars, Toy Story, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, the Handy Manny Fireman special and Fireman Sam.

Chloe's News:

• She's talking in phrases--our favorites are: "my turn" which she says all the time, it means that she wants to do it, "my do" and "watch this"
• Chloe can undress herself completely, which is both a blessing and a curse! It's great when she needs to go potty, but not so great when she just gets the urge to strip!
• She says her name so adorably--Rather than Chloe she says Cody
• Chloe loves pushing her dolly around in her stroller and giving her a bottle, burping her, etc.' however, she gets so frustrated when she can't sit Dollly in her stroller in the "perfect" way or buckle her seatbelt. 
• She loves giving hugs and kisses and saying I love you; she especially loves showering Easton and her cousin Jett with love.
• Chloe is starting to watch TV a little bit more. Her favorite is Fireman Sam.

Here's some pictures from our fun...

Spending time with family

Having fun with their new chalkboards

Playing soccer with the new balls ("no Roxi, no!") and goal that Daddy bought 

All ready for their first day of pre school practice

One happy boy, ready for his own chair!

Painting party!

Contact paper art project

Sassy girl!

Little heartbreaker!

Backyard photo shoot with my monkeys!