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10-Oct-2014 12:27
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One of the things we have missed the most since having kids is ‘yachting’. We use to have the best little boat for playing out in the ocean. We took it to Dana Point and had lunch. We explored the ocean and played with dolphins, traveled with a pack of fin whales, and even saw a rare sun fish basking in the sun at the surface of the ocean- a very rare sighting from what we hear! We jumped waves, did donuts, and sped up and down the coast for hours. The boat brought us many fun memories as a couple and with friends! Once we had Kayden, it was the first toy to go! We live so close to the ocean and harbor that we often fantasize about our days on the boat. Today we rented an electric boat and took the girls out on their first harbor cruise! While it was no whale watching, dolphin chasing kinda trip, we still had a great time!! The girls got to see seals, weird looking birds, and lots of cool boats. If you ask Kayden though, the best part of the day was eating lunch on the boat! We had a great time and look forward to yachting again in the harbor!!

10-Oct-2014 11:37
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10-Oct-2014 11:41
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10-Oct-2014 11:42
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10-Oct-2014 11:42
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10-Oct-2014 11:45
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10-Oct-2014 12:11
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10-Oct-2014 12:12
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10-Oct-2014 12:26
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10-Oct-2014 12:26
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10-Oct-2014 12:27
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So last week Kloey gave me a nice shiner. I can almost take the blame, however. Almost. Every time I sit on the floor in Kloey’s room it’s either to get her dressed or change her diaper. And every time this happens she runs to her wall, gets her gears revved up, and hauls buns in my direction and jumps into my arms. I catcher her and bench press her up into the air (hey, she’s 32 pounds, that is impressive!). So last weekend I was sitting on her bedroom floor getting jammies and a diaper lined up to change her. She obviously didn’t wait for me to look up before she started the hauling buns part! Right as I looked up to catcher her she was already in the air jumping for me to catch her. I didn’t catch her. Initially, I asked Scotty if he thought I would get a black eye because it would be cool to have a shiner. Wrong! I am a week later and I still have a nice black eye that people sometimes stare at, ask about, or try so hard to ignore while they are taking to me. I’ve had this nice accessory for long enough that I forget it’s even there to explain away. That’s the whole story. Kloey did it, I swear!! 😉

Here is a timeline of each day since the morning after it happened! Each day is after make-up, which I obviously don’t wear a lot of!

22-Sep-2014 10:07
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23-Sep-2014 11:57
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24-Sep-2014 08:34
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25-Sep-2014 14:22
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27-Sep-2014 11:13
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Now, Kayden never really had full blown toddler tantrums- yet another way she didn’t prepare me for toddler-hood. Sure she had her moments where she screamed loudly, cried uncontrollably, or overall had a fit over something she was upset about or didn’t understand. Kloey has her own set of rules when it comes to tantrums. I have said it a million times, but it’s no secret who runs our house- Kloey. If she doesn’t like getting in her car seat, we don’t run errands or leave the house unless it’s life threatening. If she doesn’t like sitting in a high chair, we don’t go out to eat, or even sit as a family to eat at the kitchen table. Kloey rules to roost!! I have left many establishments with a screaming toddler and myself in tears- many a time! I have lost money on group classes- many a time! I have even vowed to never go back to free events (aka toddler reading time at the local library)- MANY A TIME! Kloey, as you get older you get more manageable and more fun to manipulate. Above is a video I got of Kloey telling me what she thought about going to the park today. Kloey LOVES the park, so why she was so adamant about not going, I’ll never know!! Either way, these are her ‘tantrums’ and I find them absolutely hilarious! Notice the crossed arms and inflection in her voice!! I so love this kid!! She sure isn’t cut from my cloth, but I do have fun learning what gets her goat!!

 

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The girls started private swim lessons about two months ago and we can’t believe how far they’ve come! Their teacher, Ms. Claudia, is AMAZING with the girls. She is patient with Kayden and ignores Kloey’s constant demands of being ‘all done’ or ‘I don’t wanna’s’ that Ms. Kloey is notorious for! Kayden is mostly working on form (aka taking ‘scoops’ under water), jumping down to get toys in the shallow end, getting out of the pool, and jumping in the pool. She is just now learning how to take a breath and rolling onto her back when she is tired. She is great at doing scoops under water and kicking, but she struggles with rolling on her back. She just starting taking a breath mid-swim, but she resorts to doggy paddling to do so, which isn’t the best form! She has become super confident, yet cautious in the water- is anyone surprised?! Kloey is learning to go under water to pick up toys, jumping in the water holding hands, and the basic form of taking ‘scoops’ under water. Kloey for sure is not water safe, but she is water comfortable. Not too comfortable that she takes unnecessary risks (thank you, child!), but comfortable enough to bounce on the stairs and crab walk around the pool by herself (with an adult close by!).

 

Above is a quick video I took today for Scotty to see what Kayden is currently working on. She just started practicing to roll on her back, which she absolutely refused to do prior to a week or so ago, so it’s a big accomplishment! Being on her back with her ears under water has been a major challenge since we started lessons two years ago (we took a year off)- so today was a step in the right direction! 

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07-Sep-2014 11:03
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Yesterday we took the girls on their very first train ride! Yes, we live 2 minutes from the station and this was the first time they’ve gone on a train. We avoided the whole idea because were always a little weary about being stuck on a train with a potential child melting down and having no ability to escape the situation. We figured now was as good as time as any and we went for it! The girls did really awesome!! Kloey was a little apprehensive at first when the loud train zoomed up to our stop (both of the girls, and their father, are extremely sensitive to loud noises!), but once we got on the train, she was all smiles and totally into the experience! We stayed close to home and headed to Encinitas. We walked around, had lunch, and ended our trip with a walk to the beach and ice cream. I won’t say it was the perfect trip because I did have to hold Kloey for most of the (LONG) walk to and from the beach–  her tu-tu was itching her on the way there and then she refused to leave the beach without going in the ocean. All-in-all, we had a great trip and look forward to our next adventure…. maybe we’ll make it more than 10 miles from home ;).

07-Sep-2014 11:09
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07-Sep-2014 11:11
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07-Sep-2014 11:13
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07-Sep-2014 11:13
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