3 1/2 and 16 months

So it has been a very long time since I last updated this blog. Time is just at a premium these days and blogging just isn't high on the old priorities list compared to clothing, mothering, feeding and chasing after two busy kids. We have been adjusting to a new schedule too with Aisling in preschool and Xander and Ais both doing tumbling programs at the Y. So here is the update and it is a long one.

Xander:
He is 16 1/2 months old now and a full fledged toddler with full fledged toddler traits. Among them are running, opening everything, placing objects in the most bizarre places, babbling and talking too, tantrums, lots of Mommy clingy and generally getting into all sorts of mischief and being adorable as he does it. He is talking lots and lots and says balloon, ball and bubbles (3 of his favorite things). He also says cheese when he sees a camera and pretends to talk on the phone. He is blankie obsessed and I learned the hard way not to leave it behind during a car ride. He has been having some full blown tantrums. Yesterday he had one for 35 minutes, I think cause he didn't want to sit in his booster seat. He is also getting good at fighting back with Aisiling and has been known to pull hair, bite and tackle her. He loves pretty much all fruit (especially watermelon) and pasta. I have to hide the veggies as he refuses to eat them. Pretty much he loves everything Aisling doesn't and vice versa. it is so hard to feed these kids. He has also taken a huge step and as of a couple of weeks ago he will stay in the child care center at the gym. He still is a little fussy, but not screaming and crying. I even got to work out 2 times last week. Yay. He has started kindergym too at the Y and loves it. The class is almost all boys and he loves running around and climbing all over the equipment. He is a little monkey and really agile and good at climbing. He really loves books and drawing. He likes TV of course and really likes Yo Gabba Gabba and Go Diego Go. He loves animals and Lady in particular. He squeals with delight anytime he sees a doggy.

Aisling.
Ais is now 3 1/2 if you can believe it and is really growing up fast. It seems like since she started preschool she has really become a "kid". She loves her preschool and her teachers. She likes he sand yard and playing in the water toys and has been changed at school once for getting too wet. She loves doing all the projects and always has a lovely painting to take home. She is so excited on preschool days she hardly even says goodbye to me as she runs into her class room. She is also doing tumbling at the Y and is so cute in her little gymnastics outfit. She seemed a bit timid the first day, but is picking it up and can do a forward roll and hang from the bars. She is really busy all the time and no longer naps, luckily she will still go and play in my room for an hour every day. She and Xander both love dancing around. After dinner, we have a dance party and the kids go crazy dancing to their current favorite "Imagination Movers." She is really into Yo Gabba Gabba, Kung Fu Panda and Nemo. She loves Jack Black cause he was on an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba. She has been really into naming things lately. It is so cute. She gives her hands and feet names like dondy, tweenta and noona. She loves to draw and she loves to play with my Nintendo DS too. I think we may have a gamer on our hands. She loves Lady too. She tells everyone we meet that she has a doggy named Lady. She is very sweet to her and likes to give her treats and let her out to go tinkle on the patio. We are working on keeping her in her room all night. She has been coming into our room several times a night and wants to hop in bed with us. She is funny and imaginative as ever.

So here are some pics of what we have been up to (in no particular order). More on the photobucket site.

The kids in a pumpkin field at Underwood Farms. They have an awesome harvest festival.

Aisling riding a pony at the harvest festival. His name was snip and she thought that was awesome cause that is what she calls the little chip clips we use.

Xander on a pumpkin. He had fun playing and climbing on all the huge pumpkins.

The family at the top of the hay pyramid in the corn maze.

Xander in the corn maze. He loved running around the maze.

Grammy Sue came with us to the festival. Here we are on the wagon ride around the farm. Aisling and Xander loved it.

The family in a pumpkin field in Oak Glen. We went to apple pick, but we were too late in the season, but we got to pick a pumpkin from the vine which was fun too. It was 50 degrees and we were all in shorts. At least I had sweaters. It was freezing, but beautiful and fun.

Aisling had fun picking the pumpkin and Xander loved running through the field.

We celebrated Grandpa's birthday at Don the beachcombers in Seal Beach. Xander got to play with his guy pals, Grandpa and Uncle Allen.

We also stayed at the Disneyland hotel. Ais and I got to play in the Gazeebo as we waited for our room to be ready.

We have been having lots of playtime with our Buddy Benjamin. The kids love to play together at the park. Here they all are having a group hug.

We went to Balboa for an outing with Grandma Petal, Grandma and Aunt Joan. Ais played games in the arcade, both kids went on the Merry Go round and we took the van on the ferry. Ais thought it was so cool to be on a boat in our car.

Ais in her tumbling class.

Ais in a bubble at a really fun party for Tristan's 3rd birthday. They had a bubbleologist and the kids had so much fun watching him and then playing with the bubbles themselves.

Our little lady dog zonked after a long day of playing PS3.

Aisling showing off her drawing of her bunny. She loves drawing and is getting really good at it.