Jacaranda Trees

Over the past few weeks, we've been noticing "purple trees" popping up around our neighborhood.  All of a sudden, this past week, the main road we live off of, is suddenly lined with these purple trees, making for a gorgeous drive to and from home!

Exercise!

I've joined an exercise group for moms, where we meet up at a park and take the kids in strollers around with us while we work and sweat.  I love it.  I'm getting regular exercise again, I'm meeting other moms, and after a couple of weeks at it, the kids seem to really be having fun getting to know the other kids.

Most days, we stick around after class, and the kids play at the playground while us moms attempt to carry on conversation while playing yard duty.  Today, we had a special Mother's Day potluck, so instead of going straight to the playground, the kids were let loose to run around the fields.  It was the first time I really saw Arjen getting into the mix with multiple other kids.  And playing nicely!  My favorite though, was when he reached out to hold another boy's hand.  Then another kid joined in, and another, and soon, there were five of these 2-3 year olds holding hands in a line.  It melted my heart.  Fortunately, another mom managed to capture the moment:

Another positive outcome from this class, is that Arjen is learning just how great exercise is!  I went out into the yard the other day to find him "doing exercise like you mommy!":

Visitors!

In a new home and town, having visitors is always a welcome thing.  It's fun to see friends and family, and having them here, in our house, makes it feel all the more like our own home. 

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Marita, came for a visit while she was on the west coast with her hubby.  She got to go to "the big park" with us, got to tag along to a city class that Arjen was in, and we got to spend an afternoon at the beach.  Go figure, that out of all of that fun and visiting, these are  the only pictures I got:

Arjen layed himself out a towel and decided to take 5 at Newport Beach

Arjen and "burrito" (what his verson of "Marita" sounded like), drew some pictures.  He was so excited about it, that he put them up with the magnets!

We must have been having too much fun to think about taking any pictures! 

The other day, another friend, Adrienne, and her daughter Hazel, stopped by for a visit while in the area.  Again, the photo ops were not taken advantage of, but I did manage to get one of Arjen "trying really hard to share" his car with her:

So, moral of the story: pictures are fun, but it's more fun to spend the time actually visiting with friends and enjoying the time together! 

They're growing up

This past weekend was a big weekend in the Anderson household.  Arjen decided it was time to potty train!  Or we got lucky and it just happened.  I had bought him some "big boy underwears", which he got to pick out, thinking we'd use them as motivation to start ditching the diaper.  Interestingly, among all the characters he recognizes (Cars, Diego, Thomas), he picked out the superhero pack, which I'm pretty sure he has had little to no exposure to.  But anyways, he was so fired up to wear "big boy underwears like Daddy" that he pretty much figured out the using the toilet part.  I wasn't even allowed to be in the room when he went for his first #2.  He had to do it by himself.  Which he did.  So yeah, we're in the "I want to do it!" phase.

What no one tells you when they find out your second kid is less than 2 years younger than the first, is that when the first kid reaches that independent stage, the second kid is concurrently reaching the I-can-do-everything-he-can-do phase which is just not physically/developmentally possible.  If only it was as simple as just potty training both kids in the same weekend.  Sigh.  But it does make for some cute photos ops:

Arjen has been determined to eat at the "big" table, so of course Gus wants to as well!

Arjen wanted to help pick up dog poop! If only that lasts into his teenage years.  And since Arjen got to go up in the dirt/plants, Gus wanted to too of course! 

Now that Arjen can pretty much dress himself without help, he figures he can start helping Gus to get dressed

Helping me chop veggies for dinner.  Whoever said that gets the kids to also then eat them is full of it though.  

We had an unusual rain storm, but that didn't stop us from going outside to play! The trash cans  combined with some leaves helped to plug up the drainage and made for a nice big puddle.

After we came in from the rain, I put my soaking wet kids in the bath.  Later that same day, it rained again, and Arjen suited up to go out, but ended up missing the brief rain shower.  Regardless, he apparently felt it was necessary to give himself another bath, but this time in the sink.

Fun times at our house.  Fun times.  :)  

Outdoor showering

Gus discovered the sprinkler today...

Hello Summer!

Hearing about the long and late winter from our Wisconsin side of the family is making me appreciate our SoCal weather that much more! (Or just CA weather, cause it sounds like it's been pretty nice in the northern half o' the state too!).  With the warmer temps comes more sightings of our ever present yard inhabitants, day trips to the beach, and just general happiness!

Andrew found this guy in our yard.  We've seen plenty of lizards so far, but this one was huge! At least 5-6" long, if not longer because that tail goes forever!  Usually they're 3-4" I'd say.  

These kids were definitely born to love water.  We couldn't keep them out of this fountain!

Gus likes to find a good spot to sit and just chill...and flash his happy Gus grin.  :) 

Arjen has also been entertaining lately...

We took our first Windsurfing excursion in SoCal today.  Drove up to Long Beach.  The sky was blue, the sun was warm, and there was just enough wind for both Andrew and myself to enjoy a little sailing and just enough calm to also take the paddle board for a spin.

Arjen flying a kite

The boys practing their SUP skillz

A calm, but beautiful, day for sailing 

Woah-pril

April was off to a fast and furious start for our household.  After celebrating Easter weekend with Andrew's parents, mine drove down, with Shannon too, for a little spring break "action", which really just translated to me taking full advantage of having extra hands on deck to entertain the wee ones.  And then we had a last minute trip to Wisconsin, to celebrate the life of Andrew's Grandma Meta, Wayne's mom, who passed away April 3.  She was a kind, generous, and wonderful woman who blessed us with her beautiful family.

In the beginning of the week:
Arjen and Gus were quick to jump into play time early every morning, keeping everyone in their jammies for a few extra minutes...

"Breakfast" with Baba

It was wonderful to wake up one morning and find the kids taken care of, or taking care of?  :) 

The middle of the week:
We drove up to LA to visit my grandparents and the rest of the Millers.  We lucked out and even got to attend Milo's 10th birthday party!

Gus, rocking his skinny jeans, and missing the whole point of soccer...

Arjen having a blast with water balloons

Sorry for the blurred pic, but my kids couldn't get enough of their second cousin Macy! 

All the second cousins gathered 'round for cake time

 And back at the ranch...more play kitchen time, outdoor fun with bubbles...

Arjen made a whole spread for Shannon :)

The kids got new bubble wands in their Easter baskets...not sure who was  having more fun though, them trying to pop the bubbles or me getting to create them! 

Gus may be yawning, and yes, Arjen is gripping his Dora notepad tightly, but I had to share a happy mommy moment when both kids wanted to sit with me, and they were actually okay with sharing my lap!

The crew taking off on an adventure!  Arjen was very excited to take them on a tour of his parks.  

And the end of the week:
After leaving temps in the low 70s, we were lucky to arrive in Milwaukee on a day when they had unusually warm temps in the 50s.  That still didn't stop it from snowing Friday night so we could wake up to a white dusting Saturday morning!

Arjen and Andrew taking a peek at the white stuff

While the excuse for our trip was a sad one, it was wonderful to extend our week of family visits to include the rest of the Andersons.  We said goodbye to an elder Anderson, but got to say Hello to the youngest Anderson, Adam and Shannon's son Alex.  We also got to celebrate two more birthdays, Adalin's 6th and Aden's 8th.

The Anderson cousins appeasing the parents, and entertaining the rest of us, reenacting a photo from their younger days

So, here is my fast and furious attempt at a blog update, since if I can't get caught up with the laundry, dishes, toys, etc, I may as well get caught up on the blog!