Day at the SF Zoo

We have not been back to the San Francisco Zoo since the girls were two so it was nice to get out there!  They loved seeing the Golden Gate bridge on the way out there (as they have seen it on Little Einsteins and Soaring Over California). They truly enjoyed the children's zoo area but we know that if we ever go back - we will not be eating lunch near the park area as we were constantly being harassed by seagulls. I wished I had gotten Michael on video scaring some away.

Our Smiling Toddler!

She has been a little more crankier than usual lately due to two top teeth coming in and having minimal sleep - but she is still such a ray of sunshine that radiates our house! (of course, Mikayla and Delilah add lots of sunshine too!) Below are some pics of her joyous personality.

Caitlin has been climbing up on EVERYTHING!  There was a toy or something on the ground that she used and got up on the couch.  Of course, by the time she got up there - she was pooped - so here she is posing as she relaxes!

Got some energy - and now is crawling elsewhere on the couch.

Playing with her cars (thank you Grandma)

Playing with her "first purse" (thank you Neitra!)

Checking outside for Popcorn (wearing the girls' dress from when they were 2 - what a difference a full-term baby makes!!)

It is truly amazing how different she is then the girls.  I am so glad that God blessed us with a full term child as it really has been such a different experience.  Even today, we had gotten a drink at Costco and Caitlin saw us all drinking some.  We didn't think she could drink out of a straw (it took the girls a LONG time to do that) but I put it up to her lips and up went the juice.  Now don't worry, we won't make this a habit as we know how much sugar is in those juices but it is so wonderful to know!!  I will be going to the store this week and getting her the sippy cup/bottles that use straws.  Away with "baby" bottles and hello to straw ones.  Oh - and she still doesn't like watching tv too much - but she does like Mickey Mouse still, definitely knows Dora (as she pointed her out at Walmart the other day) and is starting to like Sesame Street and Barney - but for five minutes and then off she runs to play.

A Day of Fun

Today was full of fun... There was no preschool because of President's Week (that is what they have in our school district instead of two mondays, they give the entire week off following Washington's Birthday). It had been raining and besides for the one day we were able to sneak a bike ride in, for the most part, the girls were rained in most of the week. So when there was a playdate, we took it. MOPS had one set up at a bounce house place and off we went. The girls had a blast but it took Mikayla a little bit to warm up to it all. Caitlin had no problem warming up - she was the first one in a bounce thing!

After the bounce house playdate and a quick nap, the girls had more excitement coming that night.  Their friends, Jasmyn and Jordyn, were coming over to have dinner, play, and watch Little Mermaid II.  As you can see in the picture, 3 out of 4 of the girls were intently watching the video - the other one... well she just watches where the camera is!

Bike Ride to Fish Hatchery

The rain finally stopped for a little bit so we headed to our friends' house and went bike riding along the river down to the fish hatchery.  (well - the moms walked/ran while the bigger girls rode bikes).  The girls had a blast and it was nice to get out and enjoy the sunshine before some more-needed-rain comes.

Watching the fish eat.

Delilah and Mikayla sporting their bike helmets (that struggle to fit their heads)

Caitlin chasing after the birds.

Caitlin giving up and looking for something else to chase.

Jasmyn and Mikayla got in on the "chasing the bird" thing.

Our Valentine's Day

Due to family members not feeling to well, we had a quiet, uneventful Valentine's Day but the girls LOVED the decorated playroom. Poor Mikayla started getting upset when either one of her sisters started messing with balloons or streamers. But she finally accepted that it would get messed up. :-)

I decided to keep all the decorations to the playroom.

The Valentine Day breakfast

Caitlin climbing into the art table basket

Mikayla pushing Caitlin around (and yes, for those who remember what happened to Delilah, I was watching very carefully and didn't allow Mikayla to go to fast!)

The girls before we headed out to the mall to get Mikayla's stuffed animal fixed and go on a shopping spree at Toys R Us (thank you Neitra!)

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing everyone an "official" day of love!

The Weekend

This past weekend started off with a field trip to the post office for the girls on Friday.  It was very educational to see the runnings of a post office, however, the kids weren't as into as the adults were until they got to sit in a mail truck!

On Saturday, Mikayla and Delilah attended their friend, Ethan's, 6th birthday at the ice skating rink.  They hadn't done it since last year so they were newbies again.  For the most part, they had a wonderful time.  However, there were a lot of people there and Mikayla did not want me out of her sight so when one incident happened... it scarred her for life.  They have people at the ice skating rink that push kids around on sleds.  The girls kept seeing other kids doing it and it was finally their turn. They were ecstatic to do it.  After about 3 minutes of spinning around on the ice, I saw the man take the girls to the complete opposite side of the ice skating rink so I started trekking over there.  However, my legs did not move fast enough because he came to a stop.  Mikayla did not see me.  And niagara falls came pouring out of her eyes.  Delilah was a little scared too but then she saw me and told Mikayla where I was.  It took about 10 - 15 minutes to calm her down.  However, that night was a very long night - she had nightmares almost every hour.  She finally came and slept with me in our bed.  She was terrified that she was lost and I even talked to her on Monday about it (due to another small incident) and she said she was afraid of being lost.  I told her that even though she may not see Daddy and me, we still see her and that I watched her the entire time.  She said "But I couldn't see you!" So I had to use the first thing that came to me and said "Do you see God?" She said "no".  "But you do know that he is with you, right?" She said "Yes".  It seemed to calm her.  At least her nightmares are now being limited back to monsters and not to being lost.  

A Vegas Wedding

So my "sister" went off and got married this past weekend.  We tried to get plane tickets but being Super Bowl Sunday, the tickets to Vegas were crazy.  Fortunately, Neitra and her husband, Terris, went to a chapel that goes on-line and we watched their vows as we sat in our pajamas!  Congratulations to the both of you.  Neitra, you know that God brought us together through the precious little girls in the hospital.  We couldn't imagine having going through all of what we did, especially with Delilah, without you there.  And we couldn't imagine life without you now.  We are so happy for you and Terris!  May God bless both of your lives forever and ever... and also return you back to California!!

Relaxing in our front room watching the wedding.

Terris and Neitra about to say their vows.

Whoo Hoo!  Go ahead newlyweds!!

Going to the zoo again

We are all healthy again and due to a teacher work-day, the girls had no school on Friday... so off we went to the zoo.  It was a beautiful day - bitter sweet since the sun and warmth is nice but we NEED rain!  The sad thing was that the zoo wasn't prepared for warm days so they didn't make any ice cream.  The girls had been so good so I told them we could maybe have ice cream but when we got to the little shop where there usually is ice cream - there was none.  However, cotton candy pleased them just the same!

Guess Kangaroos eat Cotton Candy too!

Girls taking a break as Caitlin catches up and passes them

Caitlin loving the freedom of walking

Caitlin thinks her sisters are such goof balls