3 years + 6 months...and 5 months!

well, the twins are on their way to 4!  as usual, they are terrors - not with tantrums, but with escalating silliness that causes them to make unwise choices, like rubbing maple syrup in the other's hair or pulling lyla's limbs and hair with a little too much gusto.  we also cannot believe just how "grown-up" they are getting! we've waited 2 years for the privilege of accompanying them to soccer without having to actually participate in soccer ourselves, and that day has finally come.  i love sitting on a blanket and watching them chase hoola hoops that the coaches throw, though i'm pretty sure i saw john almost shed a tear (they don't need us anymore!!).

lyla-boo is still a gem. her appetite is ridiculous, yet she still manages to keep her petite figure. she's rolling over from tummy to back but only when she's in her crib (she then proceeds to yell for us to flip her back...so fun at 3am). she likes to be held on our hips now, read to, or engaged somehow...gone are the days lyla just sat in her chair happily and was ignored by all!  she immediately smiles upon singing "if your happy and you know it" and "hush little baby," and she's "enjoying" flying like an airplane atop one of john's hands.

we also recently got back from a fabulous long weekend in sea ranch, up the coast from san francisco.  the 2.5 hour twisty drive was not as awful as i had expected (no carsick kids!), and getting away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday city life was quite amazing.

they appear so sweet at first glance

but they're not!!

poor, poor lyla

thankfully, nothing seems to phase her

 

so lonely!!!

the face of innocence 

the perfect start to a road trip

i offered to drive the first leg, which john laughed at when
he realized we were stopping after only 25 minutes

his first in-n-out "burger"

apparently she liked the french fries

when we got to our rental home, lyla and i kicked back and enjoyed the view

john and the kids went to check out the bluff trail

our house was 50 yards from a seal sunbathing point

we went on a hike to check out the beach

there are only a few accessible beaches and they were all deserted

the kids had fun searching for rocks and shells

they got creative in terms of sand toys

lyla just soaked in the sights and sounds

we could have just sat listening to the waves forever
(although a coffee and chocolate croissant wouldn't have hurt)

livi got a little freaked out when we heard an owl

pizza time!

i got some special new toys for the trip,
including this bug kit that was a big hit

not too far from our home, there were some cool tide pools
filled with little crabs and tadpoles

appreciating nature

heading in from exploring the tide pools

this is literally how they sleep when sharing the big bed

my view while running - gorgeous!

yay!  leanne came!!

leanne and gregory joined us for a few nights
and the kids were so excited to show them the seals...

and the tadpoles

as usual, lyla just came along for the ride

the gang heading back inside

compared to sf living,
we had quite a bit of open space

john and i headed off to a friend's wedding
(as we left, we realized we hadn't taken a picture
together so we stopped to snap this one)

it was a pretty idyllic setting for the celebration
(and scary...we saw a fox heading back to the car)

while we were at the wedding,
the kids watched the jungle book with leanne and gregory

a vacation is not complete without a dip in the hot tub!

lyla enjoyed the fancy shower

so did jacks and livi

nice and clean!

practicing our climbing skills

our little monkey
(who happens to sleep with 4 stuffed monkeys)

one last nature hike before heading home

showing off their nature treasures
(rocks that looked like jelly beans aka huge choking hazard)

we stopped in bodega bay on the way home for a coffee and hot cocoa break

they enjoyed the stack of books

it's amazing what we see when we just quietly observe

snacks...their fav!

stretching her legs before she goes back in the car seat...
until next time sea ranch!