8/30/2012 - Sleeping in Transit

From Drop Box

Today was a travel day for us. An early morning 6:40 flight with a 2 hour stop over in Denver. Then finally touching down in Des Moines around 3:30 Iowa time. Finny got a mini snooze in on the first flight. Liam stayed wide awake the entire flight being his active busy self. During the layover, Liam passed out in the stroller for a good hour while we leisurely ate lunch and did a little shopping. Thank goodness for that. I think that it helped him to be in a better mood for the 2nd flight. So thankful for naptime.

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8/29/2012 - Share the Chair

The sole comfy chair downstairs is our trusty old Ikea chair that I have probably had for about 11 years. We have definitely replaced the pillows, but that chair has definitely seen some days. The boys can just still fit when they cozy up together to watch Netflix or to eat breakfast in the morning. They look so cute. I'm not sure that I ever want them to grow any bigger.

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8/28/2012 - Happy Birthday Boy

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I couldn't resist and we let Finn open his birthday presents early. He was beyond thrilled with the last couple presents from mama, papa and Liam. He actually smiled when I requested it of him. I foresee lots of bruised feet from lego pieces spread haphazardly around the house. The smile on his face is worth it though!

8/27/2012 - Different yet the same

From Drop Box

My two little loves could not be more different in personality. Finny, most of the time, is a huge rule follower. He likes things to remain routine. He is shy in new social situations. Liam is a rebel. He can be defiant. He likes to change things up, within a 10 minute time period he can play with 6 different toys. He is an extrovert.

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Yet at 1:30 in the morning, when they have had a nasty cough for about a week, and they are tired and don't know what to do, they both only want the same thing. Mama! It's sweet, but man it would be nice to getting some more sleep and not feeling like I have to neglect one kid to appease the other. Last night, when everyone was screaming my name, I wanted to simultaneously laugh and cry.

8/26/2012 - Rocket Zoomers

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Finn was showered with cool gifts for his birthday. Auntie Stacy and Tio got him a Rocket Zoomer. He had specifically asked for a rocket ship and his doting Aunt and Uncle obliged. Finn and Dylan had a blast (pun totally intended) playing with the rockets. We did lose one of the rockets to the neighbor's yard, but that didn't stop the fun!

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8/25/2012 - Pumped Up

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Our birthday party for Finny went off without a hitch. Fun was had by all. We all had a great time jumping and sliding and meeting some of Finn's classmates. Finny really seemed to enjoy himself and played with all different friends. Feel so happy that everything went so well! And no clean up for us! Thank you Pump It Up Oakland for making this so easy on us. Totally worth the cost!!! Our Finny was a happy boy today!!

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8/24/2012 - Monster Cookie

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2 Dozen monster truck cookies done in the colors of the rainbow. Ready to party with our soon to be 4 year old!!

8/23/2012 - My little sous chef

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Tonight was stage 1 of Finn's birthday party favor cookies. My little sous chef assisted with the rolling of the dough.18 cookies made and ready to be glazed tomorrow. Can't wait for the party!!

8/22/2012 - Label monster

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This has been my crafty and creative week. Today I made labels for Finn's birthday party favors. Unfortunately the guest of honor is feeling slightly under the weather. We are hoping that we recovers enough in the next couple days to be able to make an appearance at the party. Poor kid. This crazy change in weather seems to have made both him and his brother slightly snotty and coughing. Praying for health.

8/21/2012 - Tupperware Toy Chest

From Drop Box

I had been on a really tidy streak for the past 2 weeks. The laundry has not gotten overwhelming. The dishes have pretty much been done. The downstairs has stayed pretty stinking tidy at the end of every night. For the most part, I really like to keep our tupperware cabinet pretty tidy. I mean, it only stays tidy for a short while, but for that short while I really really love it. Liam is trying to break my streak. Our little imp loves to rearrange our tupperware cabinet every chance he can get. But, really how can you ever be mad at that beautiful face?

8/20/2012 - Monster Truck Madness

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For Finn's 4th birthday, he really wanted a Monster Truck party. It all seemed easy enough. Monster truck invitations, monster truck decorations, all pretty easy to execute. When it came down to the party favors, that's when things got complicated. I thought it might be fun to have trucker caps for each kid, but Finn insisted on Monster Truck shaped cookies. Well, how can I say no to my little Finn. Step 1, find a Monster Truck shaped cookie cutter. Done and done thanks to my trusty friend the internet and his best friend Google. Step 2 Find a recipe. Done thanks to again, my good friend the internet and his BFF Google. Step 3 Make the Dough. Done with a crying baby screaming at my legs to pick him up. Step 4 Make the icing. Done with confectioners sugar flying all around the kitchen. The result was pretty tasty. Step 5 Roll the dough and take the cookie cutter to them. Cutest little Monster Truck shapes ever. Step 6 Bake and cool the cookies. Simple since the boys were getting baths at this time. Step 7 Frost those little suckers. Not the most precise paint job, but it will work. End result, some pretty cute Monster Trucks. Now lets see if I can make 20 of these little guys for Saturday.

8/19/2012 -Weddings, Babies and Funerals

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Today I attended the memorial service for a very dear friend's grandfather. Max Drimmer was an amazing man. A devoted father and grandfather, a Holocaust Survivor having escaped Auschwitz, and 92 years young. Three of us from UCSD attended the service, so it was kind of a reunion of sorts. We were able to get the recap of the newlyweds Azores Honeymoon. We got to play with beautiful Joshie Beliak who is about to turn 1 in about 2 weeks. And we got to honor an amazing man.

8/18/2012 - Taking the plunge

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Our brilliant neighbor had the amazing idea of taking a plunger to our car dent. And you know what ... it worked a little. Jesse, Justin and I had a blast taking the plunger to the front of the Odyssey. Ahh, looks so much better. Still mad at the person that hit and ran though, but just a little less mad.

8/17/2012 - Ladie's Night Out

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The ladies of 2207 Damuth St got a night out tonight. Dinner and drinks and a little bit of dancing. Though I did not partake in it, the other ladies indulged in a little Taco Bell run that I have video of. Thoroughly fun and funny night.

8/16/2012 - Hit and Run

From Drop Box

While enjoying an evening at the park for the annual end of school Chatham picnic, our new Honda Odyssey was hit and run. So angry that I could cry.t least no one was hurt.

8/15/2012 - Back in the saddle again

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My beautiful running shoes were getting dusty from nonusage and it was time to get off my lazy butt and get some miles in. Wednesday is now officially my workout day until Jesse's busy season starts at work. Every Wednesday I will pick up the kids from school and meet Jesse in Berkeley to do the handoff while I get some solo workout time. First Workout Wednesday a success, other than the giving him my purse with the house keys and getting locked out of the house until they got home. We will work out the kinks, but I have to say it felt pretty good to get my Asics on a running track again.

8/14/2012 - Pick me up

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Liam is a mama's boy most of the time, but when Jesse gets home from work, only Papa will do. This is both great and really inconvenient. When Jesse gets home from work, he just wants to wind down and eat a mellow dinner with the family, but having a clingy "Hold me Hold me Baby" makes relazing and eating dinner rather difficult. Thank goodness Jesse is a good sport. Thank goodness Liam is an ever changing little imp.

8/13/2012 - Super Dad

From Drop Box

Happy 33rd Birthday to my one and only! You are a superhero of a husband and father, saving my life all of the time! Thank you for being ever supportive and loving to your sometimes difficult wife and children. We love you more than words could describe!

8/12/2012 - Little Prince Charming

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My parents host an annual Friends Reunion Picnic at the Chevron Rod and Gun Club. Mom always invites us along for the fun. I suspect that she likes to show off the grandkids. Liam was ever the little charmer today. Giggling and smiling at all the ladies. They kept commenting on what a jolly little kid he was. I proceeded to laugh and tell them what a mischevious little imp he was. No one ever believes that that smiley little man could ever be the stinker we describe him as. Who am I kidding, that smile gets me every time. I am truly a sucker for both my kids.

8/11/2012 - The big and small of it all

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Today, on our way to a playdate with 2 couples and their 2 kids from our birthing class, we saw the most amazing car ever. It was so amazing, we stopped and took Finn out took a picture of his next to it. He looks so cute and small next to the Monster Bug, it was adorable. Then, we headed off to the playdate at the San Leandro Marina.

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It is amazing to see how the kids have grown. What big kids we have. Isaiah is one day older than Finn. Romi is exactly 1 month younger than Finn. Idara is about 5 weeks older than Liam. Jaron is about 9 months younger than Liam. We all met a little more than 4 years ago, 3 sets of pregnant couples about to embark on the adventure of delivering our first kids and now look at us. A little older, a little greyer, definitely a lot less well rested, but living fuller lives because of the 6 little rugrats. It is neat to have people that are going through the same stuff as us at pretty much the same timeframe. Best playdate in awhile.

8/10/2012 - Balloon fun

From Drop Box

My dear coworker whom earlier this week I had pranked with a baby girl balloon gave me the balloon for the kids. She knows that the boys love balloons. So I brought it home from the office and the kids were desperately fighting over who got to play with the now-deflated baby girl balloon. Kiyomi got in on the action as well. I got a little creative and decided to cut the balloon in 3 different pieces. Little did I know that this small action brought a tremendous amount of joy to three little kids. Simple actions, so much joy! Baby girl in now is three different pieces, but loves by 3 little kids!

8/9/2012 - Simple Pleasures

Life with 2 kids is insanity. Sometimes it is fun insanity and sometimes that insanity is the furthest thing from fun that I can imagine. But mostly it is pretty darn fun. These boys make us laugh and smile every single day with their antics. And sometimes the simplest thing can be the best part of my day. Seeing their joy when their father comes home from work is always a huge highlight of my day. Liam and Finn both scream "PAPA!" when Jesse comes through the door. Today both boys got a ride on their exhausted but happy papa!

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8/8/2012 - Pregnant Pause

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It was my coworkers birthday and since she SPOILED me for my birthday, I decided to do the same for her. So I ran to the store before she got to work and decided to buy her some flowers and a balloon. Our local Lucky's next to the office had a wide array of balloons, but nothing that screamed funny birthday balloon. So I decided to buy her this gem of a balloon. I mean, years ago when she was born, she was her parents' baby girl. It was brilliant! Well, I didn't necessarily think it through that well ... and I forgot that there are numerous pregnant girls in my office. So about 10 or so of my coworkers all came us to me and asked me if Mo (the birthday girl) was pregnant. Needless to say, it was the funniest morning that Mo and I have had in awhile. No, she is not pregnant, she just has a coworker with a silly sense of humor. Good thing Momo is a good sport!

8/7/2012 - Neighborhood Night Out

From Drop Box

Oakland hosts an annual neighborhood night out, where you get to know the people in your neighborhood. Our complex pretty much has a neighborhood night out at least once a week during the summertime. The kids pretty much require it at least once a week when the weather is so nice in the evening. Tonight they all descended upon Kiyomi's Sesame Street toy. Liam was having fun hoarding as many Sesame Street characters as he could manage to hold in his chubby little hands. Poor Kiyomi, little did she know how much time she would need to spend fending off the toy poaching neighbor boys.

8/6/2012 - My shadow

From Drop Box

My little Liam has become a rather jealous little man. He doesn't like me to be near any other children. When Liam notices Finny sitting on my lap, he rushes over and pushes and hits Finn until we relent and give him at least one knee to sit on. Even then, he continues to hit Finn until he is completely off my lap. Though we always discipline him, it never seems to get through his head. I am hoping it is just an age thing, but sometimes I worry that this child is so tenacious that even punishment will not deter him from the things that he wants. He shadows me wherever I go and will tantrum until I return. I swear, sometimes I bring him into the bathroom with me, just so I don't have to hear him sob behind the closed door. Please let this just be a phase. Sometimes I want to tell my little boyfriend that I need space.

8/5/2012 - Navigating the weekend

From Drop Box

Though this weekend did not turned out at planned, I have to say I feel proud to have navigated through all the challenges that were thrown our way. All is well that ends well is defined by the smiley boys in the photo. It started with the two sick kids. We have seemingly nursed our feverish one (Finn) back to health and Liam seems to be feeling a little bit better. Flat tire fixed for free. Thank you Costco! Leaky faucet no longer leaky. Thank you Jesse! Birthday weekend spent with the three boys that I love most in life. Thank you Jesse, Finn and Liam for bringing me smiles to my face everyday. Oh and Dylan, you bring smiles to me as well!

8/4/2012 - Writing his alphabet

From Drop Box

Tonight I learned that our little Finn is writing. While, papa and Liam were on an evening walk, Finny and I stayed in and did some drawing. Finny showed me how he can write an F! What a big boy! I think that I will keep this drawing forever! Such a smartie, not even in Kindergarten yet!!

8/3/2012 - 35 Plus reasons that I feel loved today

From Drop Box

Oh my goodness, what a lovely day. I was spoiled with 5 bouquets of flowers, gift cards, wine, fancy new organic bedding! I feel like a celebrity with a swag bag from the Oscars!! If this is any indication of how my 35th year will be, I am super pumped!

8/2/2012 - Hand Made Love

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In my almost 35 years on this earth, the one thing that I have learned is that Hand Made Gifts are always the best. Loving the card made by Finn with Baachan's help!!

8/1/2012 - Dance Party Damuth

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We had an impromptu party in the back with our neighbors from all around hanging out with us. Corndogs, house music and some school night drinking (not too much). Summer in Oakland has been filled with fun despite the weirdly cold weather. Liam and Dylan got into a dance party with DJ Ryan's house music bumping in the back. Fun was had by all.