Air Show

As mentioned previously, the kids LOVE airplanes. J. had recently gotten into showing them youtube videos of air shows, which was a big hit. We decided that we should take them to a real air show, so we found ourselves at the Oxnard Air Force Base this weekend. Military culture feels about as familiar to us as an African safari, but the kids were right at home. They got to see a real WWI airplane with a wing-walker! They also got to sit in a real helicopter and they got to fly on the helicopter ride.

Unfortunately we decided to make the air show into a family vacation that went far a-rye. The kids have been really into hotels lately, so we booked a suit at an Oxnard hotel and thought we'd settle in for a relaxing weekend. The kids had other plans and went on a very painful sleep strike. We cut the vacation short and headed home early and are all very grateful to be back home. Next time we'll find an air show closer to home.

Kids Space Children's Museum

Thanks to a gift from Grammy and Papa we took the kids to the children's museum this weekend. There was lots to explore and climb. Even Jack, our fearless climber, had to ask to be rescued a few times. By far the coolest feature was a giant any colony that the kids could climb through, including the tunnel featured above. Jack also loved this crazy green climbing structure that I'm sure was built for kids three-times his age.

Up, Up, and Away!

i
Jack and Sadie LOVE airplanes. Not just airplanes, but helicopters too. And "helicopter" is no easy word for a two-year old. As you can see from the photo above they were very excited to ride this airplane at the playground. The photos were aided by a 7-year old boy who decided to "help" us get a good photo by hitting me on the head while I tried to get a photo of the two of them smiling. Fortunately his tactics worked.

Auntie Be-Ba

This weekend we had another visit - Auntie Olivia from San Francisco. Sadie couldn't quite manage "Olivia", thus we got the even cuter "Auntie Be-Ba". Jack particularly enjoyed feeding Auntie Be-Ba cheerios, an activity that J. and I can't quite stomach. Good thing there are aunties!

Grammy and Papa

After our trip to the bay area Grammy and Papa came south to spend some time with Sadie and Jack. The kids had a great time being spoiled by their grandparents, and I must say that I didn't mind being a bit spoiled myself with babysitting and some new clothes.

Sadie and Jack have reached an age where they can now really start bonding with people beyond J. and I. They have been talking up a storm about Grammy and Papa ever since they left. It's very exciting for J. and I to see their world expanding every day. It's also exciting to have reached a point where they can start verbalizing what happens in their world when we're not around. For the first time Sadie told me about drawing a picture with their babysitter when we were out last night, and according to Sadie it wasn't just any picture, it was a "pretty picture."

Dani's Bat Mitzvah

We survived another journey with the kids. Last weekend we drove from LA to Berkeley for my cousin Dani's Bat Mitzvah (Dani's in the middle above with the long blonde hair and blue t-shirt). It's a 6-hour drive each way - nothing to sneeze at with two toddlers. Amazingly the kids were pretty okay in the car. We supplied them with endless snacks and songs and were able to make the drive with minimal stops and only a few breakdowns.

We did decide to forgo the actual Bat Mitzvah ceremony, and instead save the kids' good behavior for the reception. They had a great time racing around the party and trying to ingratiate themselves with the older kids. It didn't hurt that there was endless attention and fun to be had with Grammy and Papa throughout the weekend. I'm certainly liking the 2-1 adult to child ratio.

Mimi's House

Sorry for the lack of posts for a few weeks there. It's been a really crazy month. I'm off to DC for work at the crack of dawn tomorrow, but thought that I'd better get something up before I leave. Here's a photo from Friday afternoon at Mimi's house (Mimi is on the far left, and, no, sadly Sadie does not own those sun glasses - although she does wear them well).