Weekend Family Fun

Saturday morning my husband decided that he wanted to get out of town, so we called up Miles and Caleb's god parents, who live in Alameda, and made a trip out to visit them.  We love spending time with them.  Miles always has a blast and he loves playing with his Uncle Yeng and Auntie Janice.  Miles got to play with Uncle Yeng's drums and was introduced to Duckhunt, which he seemed to love.  Gotta give it to those old time favorites...who doesn't love Duckhunt?

Miles playing drums at Uncle Yeng's house

As always time with them is always accompanied with great food.  We had pizza at this awesome little family pizza place (La Val's Pizza), played at the Leydecker Park, and then went for some gelato.

Enjoying gelato with Uncle Yeng

 Caleb and Auntie Janice

Hanging out with Uncle Yeng

On Sunday after some chores and errands we got a call from Uncle Kong and Auntie Blia asking if we wanted to join them in a afternoon trip Funderland.  Of course Miles wanted to go....it was another chance to hang out with his best bud, Lily.  It was a fun filled afternoon of rides, laughs, and fun. Miles loves all the rides but the train is his favorite.  If he could he would sit on the train ride all day and just ride around the park. 

 Miles and Lily (BFF's)

 In front of the train depot

 Miles and Hailey going on a plane ride

 "Whoa!!!  Hold On!" Miles yells as they attempt to take the car for a drive

 Kara, Eve, Miles, and Hailey

The group (minus Caleb)

 

It was a fun Sunday afternoon had by all. What else could you ask for....a day full of rides with your friends and family.

First week down....

So my four day work week finally finished...I was so tired by 4pm Thursday afternoon when it was time for me to leave work.  I was glad my first week back was only four days, but those four days seem to take forever.  I had developed a cough and some sinus issues so dealing with clients all day and then coming home to my boys made it an even harder week.  I don't even know I could have handled one more day of work.  I was so glad to see the faces of my boys.  It just made me wonder how am I going to do it...I know tons of women do it every day, and I'm sure it's difficult for them also, but man do I miss just being at home with them.

I love these guys.

And the work week starts

So I started work this week and it's been a rough week already...and it's only Tuesday night.  Monday morning started out okay since Tim was still home to help me get the boys ready and over to grandma's house.  It was very hard for me to leave Miles and Caleb with my mother.  The stake in the heart though was when I told Miles "Mommy is going to work now okay, you stay with grandma" he looked at me and said "okay, bye mommy" and walked away.  Went over to the toys and started playing.  Oh....so heart wrenching for me. How could he not miss me?  How could he not be sad that I was leaving?  This made it even harder for me to go to work.

The only thing that kept me going was the idea that I was going to stop at Noah's Bagels with Tim (like before) and have our morning bite before I go to work.  So I slowly got in the car and drove to meet Tim.  For the 15 minutes we were there I didn't think about how much I missed my boys or how the day at work was going to be.  It wasn't until I got to work that that feeling of sadness started creeping back in.  I missed by boys all day.  In between the phone calls, the talking to clients about their benefits, reviewing records for overpayments....I missed them.  I wanted to be home with them.  Calling to check in on them only made it that much harder for me.  The best part was leaving work and getting to see them.

 Getting a great big hug from Miles.

It was the best to see his smiling face and get a hug.

Caleb asleep on me after nursing.

After those smiling faces it all seemed better and I thought I could do this....I can be ready to go back tomorrow.  But we had a rough night.  Caleb coughed all night and Miles had a fever.  So here we were up all night with our boys...running on maybe two hours of sleep. I debated going back in, but Miles' fever had broke and he seemed to be doing fine.  Tuesday was harder than Monday.  I worried about how they were doing, did the fever come back, was it a good decision to drop them off, and a million other things....not to mention I only had about two hours of sleep.  But I was glad when 5:00pm hit and I was heading to the car to go pick up my boys.  Let's hope the rest of the week goes by fast, really really fast.  Can't wait til the weekend when I get to cuddle with them all morning.

Rolling Over

Yeah for Caleb!!  He finally rolled over all the way on his very own today.  He's been trying for several days now and was getting close.  He likes to roll back to front. I'm just glad that I was able to actually catch it on camera....well on my cell phone camera...that's still something.  Half the time "that special/eventful moment" passes before I can get the camera and shoot some pictures, regardless of how often I carry the camera around or have it ready and close by.

His little toy turtle was laying a little far over and he wanted it to play with.  

He had thrown it over there not too long before I took this shot. 

 And the rolling begins

 Ahhh....made it...got my turtle.

I love this moment.  I remember when Miles rolled over and I can't believe that Caleb has.  This again is just another step in his learning and growing process.  I get really excited over these moments and then there is a slight second where I am sad because it means they are growing and that time is passing by.  Oh, but I have pictures...and one day I'm sure when my boys are grown I will pull these pictures out, lose myself in the moment remembering when this happened, and smile to myself.  I'm sure I will also be telling them "I remember when...." and they may go "yes mom" or "not again mom" but that time is far from now I tell myself.  People always say to me "treasure this time, it goes by fast."  It makes me wonder sometimes if I am enjoying every moment.  But when I really think about, I know that I am enjoying it the best I can, there are those days where Miles is driving me crazy, screaming while we are in line at Target, or hiding from me between the clothes racks, and Caleb is crying at the top of his lungs...I wonder to myself "what am I doing" or "I just want this to end"....but if I stop and take a deep breath and remember the moments, like that above, they outweigh the crazy ones (which sometimes are funny also...later, much later) it is all worth it.

Cupcakes

On this rainy Friday, we decided we'd bake some cupcakes as one of our activities for the day.  Due to the rain, which we've been lucky to not have any very much of this winter, any outdoor activities are a no go.  Miles actually like baking cupcakes...he likes helping me with cooking anything.  He'll usually get his own little spatula and pretend to cook along with me.  I always try to include him in the cooking if possible.  This usually means he helps put the veggies in a bowl, put noodles on plate, or stir something that's not hot.  He maybe he'll be a chef one day....that might be good. 

So today we bake cupcakes, which means I put most of the ingredients in the bowl with exception of water, Miles pours that in.  Then after some mixing he gets to finish mixing the batter.  

 Miles mixing away

 And as usual he finds some way to get a hold of the mixer and lick 

whatever batter there is left

 

Miles decorating the cupcakes

 

Our decorated cupcakes.  We always leave some undecorated as Miles doesn't eat the cupcakes that have been frosted.  He enjoys frosting them and putting sprinkles on but won't eat them.  Guess that's actually a good thing that he only wants just the cupcake itself, at least for now. 

 

Miles enjoying his cupcake

We always enjoy making cupcakes.  That is one thing I will miss.  I mean yes I can still bake cupcakes with Miles even after I go back to work but it won't be he same...we won't be able to do it on any day.  But then again maybe that will make it even more special.  Oh how I will miss my little boys come Monday.  For now we are going to enjoy our cupcakes, listen to the rain, relax, and wait for daddy to come home.

Skate Night

So last night a friend of ours was having a fundraiser for her son's 6th grade class at The Rink, which was formally known as King Skate Country.  Tim, my husband spent many of his childhood days at this skating rink and was sad when it closed last year.  Not to mention that our first date was also there many many years ago.  Well they re-opened it so he was so excited about going to the fundraiser; 1) to help raise money for the kids' trip, 2) that the place re-opened, and 3) that he could take Miles skating.

So we headed out to the skating rink.  Miles was so excited about going skating although he had no idea what it was.  "Kating mommy, go kating, yeah go kating" he yelled in the car on our way there.  Once inside the skating rink and after he received his hand stamp, which he was very proud of, daddy and Miles put on their skates and were ready to go.

 Miles waiting as patiently as he could for Tim to finish putting on his skates.

Yes, Tim brought his own skates.

 Once skates were on he was even more excited.  So excited that he tried

to run and fell, but he didn't let that stop him.  

 Trying to figure out how to use the skates.

Tim and Miles getting read to head over the the skating floor. 

And of course on the way to the skating floor he stopped at every game there was, 

he had to touch and play with all of them.  So as you can guess, it took us a while 

before we actually got skating. 

 Finally stepping onto the rink floor for some skating with daddy.

 Skating around the rink.

And when Miles got tired, daddy carried him and skated...now that's
some talent, if you ask me. I sure couldn't do that.

 Miles is all done with skating.  On his way back over to the benches for some rest.

 

Miles watching daddy skate around the rink. 

 Auntie Mel, Tim, and Miles

           Miles and daddy     

We all had a blast.  Miles had fun skating, Tim loved sharing that first time experience with Miles, and Caleb and I loved watching.  Thanks to Evelyn for inviting us to the fundraiser.  "More katting" Miles said as we left the building....yes there will be more skating to come.

Evening at Grandma's

We decided to go to visit grandma tonight as Miles stated he missed her.  We spent the evening over there and had dinner with grandma (Thai-Thai) as he calls her.  In Hmong, as he is referring to his grandmother on his mother's side, my mother, he would call her "Niam Tais" so he pronounces it Thai-Thai.  He did is usual check of the entire house for his grandfather by going around yelling "Yawg" which again is the Hmong word for grandfather. 

He enjoyed riding his truck although the battery wasn't working anymore.  He didn't care.

Move out of the way, Miles is coming through.

Of course before we left, he had to do his rounds of hugging and telling everyone good bye.  At this point, he decided he wanted his uncle Alex to come over and spend the night.  He kept saying "Ah-lu come nigh nigh" and after some tugging his uncle decided to come.  Miles could not have been happier.  So overall, we had a nice relaxing day and a great evening, and uncle is spending the night.  Slumber Party in Miles' Room!!

My Last Lazy Monday

Although both boys woke up about 6:30am this morning, it has been nothing but a lazy Monday.  We took our time with our morning routine, ate breakfast late, and just lounged around most of the morning.  Part of me didn't want the day to start as I realized this is my last week at home with my boys.  This is the last Monday I can stay in my pajamas all day if I wanted to, my last Monday to cuddle all morning with them without worrying about the time, my last Monday to take our slow walks to the park, my last Monday to be at home. 

 So Miles decided he wanted to watch Toy Story 2 with Buzz sleeping next to him.  And of course Buzz had to have some of the blanket.  Not shortly after this did he and Buzz fly to infinity and beyond under the blanket.

 While Miles watched Toy Story, Caleb enjoyed lounging and playing with his own toys.


I will miss these two so much next Monday I already know it. Part of me had really wanted to continue to stay home with them and not return to work at all, however, part of me missed being part of the "work force" and being with my co-workers and the craziness that is at our office.  I had several people ask me why I wanted to stay home and wouldn't I feel like I didn't do much with my degree if I just ended up staying home.  No, I don't feel like I would have "wasted" my degree by staying home with my boys...if anything that would be one of the greatest things I could do.  My return to work is bitter sweet.  I will miss being with my boys but I know they will be in good hands as my husband and I are lucky enough to have my mother, their grandmother, watch them.  She has decided she will retire and watch our boys.  So I will be returning to work knowing that they will be in good hands. 


But until next Monday arrives, I will enjoy this one for what it is.  As they both sleep soundlessly in their beds during nap time, I will take the little time for me and wait for the afternoon festivities of coloring, decorating Miles cardboard house, and maybe another afternoon walk.