Camping with the Kiddos

Last weekend, we gathered up all our courage, filled the car and a trailer to the brim, and plunked the boys in the car for their first camping trip at MacKerricher Beach in Fort Bragg.

 We shared the campsite with our friends, the Yellands, and their 4.5 year old son (Jack) and 1 year old daughter (Genevieve). We were there for four days, and three nights. The weather was beautiful, if a bit chilly at night (see pics of boys dressed up in 5 layers of fleece), and the boys got to experience many firsts, including first bite of ice cream, first night in a tent, first time at the beach, first bite of sand, and first campfire.

They really love being outdoors, and had a ball crawling around the campsite, and sticking sticks, dirt, and leaves in their mouths. 

Activities during the trip included riding our bikes (babies in the trailer) into Ft. Bragg for some homemade ice cream (which Oliver loved!), relaxing on the beach, going for hikes/walks, and playing at the campsite. 

The only problem we encountered was on the drive home, which took us 9 hours, because we had to keep stopping to let the boys out to play and eat. Now that they're mobile, they aren't happy being confined to their carseats, and Noah screamed for the last hour and a half. 

Lesson learned: Camping is a ball, but find somewhere closer until they're old enough to watch spongebob on the iPad. Since I'm against watching TV until after 2 years, that means we'll have plenty of time to explore camping spots right in our own backyard (i.e. Lassen, Castle Craggs, etc.). I can't wait to go again!

Stephen, Noah, Oliver, Jack and Genna around the campfire

Brittany holding Oliver, who's trying to eat her zipper

Jack was great at entertaining the boys!

Browsing the books in Ft. Bragg. Noah loves being up high in the hiking backpack.

Ahh...the beach!

Noah sticking his toes in the sand for the first time!

Sleepy after a day at the beach!

Noah mesmerized by the campfire

All wrapped up in the morning!

Picnic lunch on the bluffs

Eating in the great outdoors!

One of our MANY stops on the way back home...

Rest stop on the way there. Note how Noah uses Oliver as an obstacle course...

Cuddling in the tent in the morning

Bike trail from campground to Fort Bragg

Evening walk around the ocean (boys are in backpacks asleep)

Nine Months!

Noah and Oliver are 9 months old today!

I can't believe it...three quarters of a year gone already! Its been a wild ride, but I think I finally know what parents mean when they say it all goes by so fast. I feel so grateful for my beautiful family, and try to cherish every moment (even the ones where I feel like I'm tearing my hair out).

Some new milestones for the boys:

Noah has two new teeth coming in on top, and has been pretty tolerant of the process this time around. Oliver still drools like a St. Bernard, but doesn't have anything to show for it yet. Poor guy!

Noah has learned to crawl, and is a little speed demon. He is also starting to pull up on objects, so before we know it, he'll be crusin! He's loving his new vantage point on life, and is especially adept at finding things we don't want him to have (i.e. the dog's stuffed animals. Yuck!) As for me, babyproofing is the name of the game. Its amazing how much time it takes. Just when you think you've got it all...they point out something you missed.

Oliver is rolling all around, and is also enjoying his new found mobility. Rather than get up on all fours, he tries to "swim" his way around the room, kicking his legs like a frog and swooping his arms forward and out. Its pretty adorable, though he gets frustrated that he doesn't get far with it. Keep at it little guy!

They're really starting to interact with each other as well, and Oliver likes to blow rasberries and make Noah laugh. A friend likened them to puppies, as they crawl over one another, and pull on each other's arms and legs, and its a pretty accurate picture! Their new favorite toy is the leapfrog table we got from another twin mom, with its mini musical keyboard and lights. They also love to read books and sing songs, which we do every week at the library with other wee ones. Each day they engage more with one another and the world. Its amazing to watch!

As for eating, both boys love their solids, and have expanded their repertoire to include puffs, freeze dried apple, and yogurt melts. They love to self feed, and Noah has even eaten some pizza and raviolis. I'm sensing a revolution on the horizon! They are also making great progress on using their sippy cups, though in the interest of keeping my carpets (and their clothing) from turning into a sticky, stinky mess, all they get in there is water for now. Of course, the dog has put on a bit of weight....he hears those high chair straps and comes running!

They continue to love to go for walks and runs, and have even started riding behind our bikes in the bike trailer, giving us added mobility without the need to load and unload them from the car. We did the relay for life this way, and it was great fun!

Next weekend we're off for their first camping trip, followed by their Baptism at the end of July! The adventure continues...

Here are some pics/videos of the boys this month:

Once Upon a Time...

Once Upon a Time, there were two little princes, who were very, very handsome. Every morning, they went out for a walk with Daddy and Teddy, their guardian doggy, to explore their kingdom. From their vantage point in the three wheeled chariot, they could see many things. As they walked, Daddy would tell them all about their lands, and they would smile at their loving subjects and reafh out to explore their world. 

One day, they came across a very strange creature indeed, one that they had never seen before. It was small, slimy, and, to their ultimate surprise, it hopped right up to them and onto their faces and arms! Daddy told them this creature was a frog, but the frog interrupted and politely explained that she was actually a princess, in need of a prince to kiss her and turn her back into a beautiful maiden. 

Being a bit impatient with her frog form, she even hopped right onto one of the prince's faces, but he politely informed her that he was not allowed to kiss any girls until he was 18. However, the young princes made a deal with her that if she came back in seventeen and a half years with her sister, they would get married and rule over the beautiful kingdom together. The princess frog thought about this, and decided to accept the proposal, winking once at each of the princes before hopping back toward her own kingdom. 

The End!

Twinness!

The boys are starting to show some signs of "twin-ness"!

As an only child, I always missed having someone there to play with me 24/7 (though my parents did an excellent job of shuttling in "surrogate siblings"). So, its really exciting for me to see the boys begin to relate to and play with one another. Here are some videos of them as they laugh, steal and talk to each other.

Maybe someday they'll even entertain each other in the morning rather than waking us up? One can only hope....