Aiden is TWO!

STATS:

25lbs. 16%  weight

33 in.  13%  height

19 in.   79% head

Aiden is ALL boy. He's learning his role too. If Kelsey puts a bow in his hair he comes to me, shows me, and then takes it out. He's very sweet though, and will play house with Kelsey. They call each other "honey" and take turns holding the baby doll. He's pretty coordinated for his age. He loved riding Kelsey's Swiss scooter so much that we bought him one too (mom was fed up with the fights over the pink one). He can turn, maneuver, stop, put his back foot up...he just needs to learn to use the brake on the back. He also loves to JUMP and THROW. We were just in Mammoth and my cousins would throw the ball into the next room so Aiden could "fetch" it. He'd run, jump double-footed down a stair, and keep running. They said it was like he was long jumping. He's pretty good at playing catch when he wants to. Sometimes he just likes to watch the ball bounce though.

Aiden is speaking really well too. He speaks in phrases and sentences and can get out most ideas. He's a loving boy, and will almost always give kisses upon request.

We had a Cars-themed birthday party for him and invited a few of the neighborhood kids. 

Reese, Kels, Aiden, Max, Emily, Dylan & Arianna (on the floor)

He LOVED the balloons. Guess which one was his FAVORITE?

YUM, black frosting (that stained his finger and face for a good 2 days)

Racing his presents

Playing with the bubbles Grandma & Grandpa Lang got him

He was so sweet about everything - not spoiled (yet). He was so surprised and thankful for his gifts and SO excited that he got cake and CARS. He was just the sweetest thing and said "Thank you, mommy" afterwards (sigh). Love that baby boy & I love this age!

Fancy Nancy {Kelsey's 3rd Bday}

Kelsey LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the Fancy Nancy books. So when it came time to decide what to do for her party, it was a no brainer. I'll admit, I got a little carried away. 

Here's the invitation: 

Welcome sign

Handmade Happy Birthday sign (that is still up at our house a month later)

When the girls came in, we had French children's music playing and they danced until almost everyone was there (and while I finished up a few last minute things). 

They went to the "salon" and got all dressed up

Then they were met by the paparazzi and had a mini photoshoot

Kelsey's cousin Edie came looking SO fancy! 

A pedicure by aunt Tiffany

Coloring time! 

They made place mats but the place mats were too wet to actually use and 

I forgot to send the girls home with them!

 The hors d'oeuvres and treats!

It's my party and I can...

...cry if I want to!! Kelsey didn't want her cake, she wanted ANOTHER chocolate cupcake.

Katie burst into tears upon us singing Happy Birthday

Daddy consoling the birthday girl while the candle burns

All better with daddy...and her first mascara smear (yes, I put a little on her - it was her birthday, don't judge me!)

She blew out her candle and then grabbed it, spilled wax on her hand, and started screaming again. I was trying to help her, thus no pics of it.

Aiden finished his cupcake and then went in for the attack on Dylan's. 

We talked about manners and tried to walk "fancy," balancing a book on our heads

  Even daddy tried! Silly daddy. He came home from work for the party on a lunch break. What a good daddy!

Then it was downstairs for story time. Kelsey went right to Aunt Clare and sat on her lap 

A group picture where the majority of the girls are looking, good enough for me!

My cousins kids, who Kelsey calls cousins. So fun that they live close enough to come!

PRESENTS!!

Everyone was so generous and Kelsey got so many fun toys!

Little Katie - such a cutie!

Tiffany and Sadie

Kaitlyn & Kelsey with Pinkalicious

My two older cousins

It was a TON of work and I'll probably do something more low key next year, but it was also a lot of fun. I know she had fun! She talks about it all the time. 

California for the 4th

While Tally was gone for 3 weeks on business, I went to California for 2 of them to spend time with my family. The kids and I drove with my Aunt Shari (in Tiffany's car). I wasn't sure how it would be, driving over 8 hours with SIX kids but it was a breeze. Aiden had a few outbursts, Kelsey did NOT want to go pee when we woke her up at one of the stops, but other than that, it was good. Shari and I had some good talks...and ate WAY too much junk. Is that a LANG trait? For the record, she did WAY better than me - I need some of that willpower.

On the morning of July 5th, we went to the 4th of July breakfast held by the ward I grew up in and my grandparents' ward. It was so fun to have SO many family members there and to see old friends.

Then we went over to Grandma & Grandpa Lang's for a party. We also celebrated my Aunt Shari's birthday. 

Me and my Grandma - twinners

We did lots of other random things...like BEANSCENE. Here's Kelsey wearing Grampi's hat.

"I'm so glad when Grampi comes home... (or not, in Aiden's case)"

Julia came down for a few days and it was so fun to be together. 

Kelsey LOVED her guitar and danced as she sang and played. 

We went ROCK CLIMBING with Julia and two friends (Spencer & Nathan) in Malibu State Park. Imagine this: Julia and I taking turns pushing the Graco Duoglider stroller with one bum wheel (a front and back "strolling" stroller), two babies, lots of dirt, rocks, ravines, heat and hills...a 20 minute hike in took us an hour! At one point, I honestly thought of the pioneers and what they went through.

We finally made it and I got to go climb! It was fun, challenging (I'm not so good), and a nice change from the norm. Sadly, I did not make it to the top. I couldn't find another hold and my arms were shaking!

Here's Juju

Aiden sitting below us, eating dirt and trail mix

 

On the hike out we saw a few deer.
Some people coming the other way warned us of a rattlesnake on the path but we never saw it.
 

Back at home now, here's Grampi hanging out in the backyard with the babes.

My dad is giving Aiden some sound advice here, no doubt.

On July 10th, my birthday, my mom told me she had an activity that was bound to be the funnest part of my birthday. When I heard what it was, I said, "I hope not!" What was this event? A butterfly release ceremony that her hospice work was putting on. Really mom!? First we listened to depressing stories of how people had lived good lives and died and then we all got an envelope with a "frozen" butterfly in it. Don't worry, they thawed them out a bit before so they could fly. Here's Julia apologizing to the innocent little butterfly, reassuring it that it would soon be set free.

And the release...

Kelsey's flew right into my face and then semi-flew to a spot on the grass. That's how frozen it still was!

They were so pretty to see and Kelsey loved that it let her touch it.

We had to be careful not to step on them.

There was face painting accompanied by a long line. Luckily, there was also a spot open for a face-painter so my very artistic sister stepped in and gave her little niece a beautiful butterfly face. 

Isn't she amazing? She had the best butterfly face around. 

There was also free ice cream, always a hit. It was soon melted ALL over her. Yuck. 

Our good family friend of a million years, Brian Drewniak and his daughter Katie came and stayed with my parents the night before, since they were in town for a soccer game. Kelsey couldn't stop talking about them, they had so much fun together. 

However, Kelsey was NOT happy about the balloon. I think she was all funned out. 

After a fabulous butterfly release ceremony it was time for the REAL birthday fun to start. We headed up to Paradise Cove to have lunch on the beach.  Here are some pics from our drive.

Feet on the table?

Aiden was NOT okay with the feeling of sand on his feet.

A kind stranger handed us a towel, he was only slightly happier.

And then VERY distracted when he saw the seagulls.

A family pic, that was so fun I just couldn't keep my eyes open.
I wish Jenna was in this pic! We did get to see Jenna for a few days, I just love her.

That night, Julia stayed in town extra long to go to a birthday dinner with me and one of my closest friends from high school, Chelsea. We skipped out on Mexican in favor of Thai. Great choice. We ended up at a European chocolate/gelato store that Julia's friend Nicole works at.  They sang to me and brought me out some free chocolates. So sweet!

On Sunday, we celebrated mine and Aiden's birthdays. Kelsey blew out my candles for me. I hear that's good luck. It was fun celebrating my birthday with my parents, grandparents, and even cousins - just wish Tal could have been there too. 

One of the days, we went over to Amber & Ry's and played with James and Emily


On the 14th, we went to Leo Carillo Beach and had a blast. Please excuse my out of focus, black-dotted photos. My P&S is dying...I need a new one ASAP!

We forgot a sun hat for Aiden so we used this instead. That lasted for a half a second.

I love the beach...

Kelsey and I building a sand castle. She loved watching the sand crabs.

Kels with my mom...Kels was so happy there but not to take pictures. 

The last day we were there, we cleaned out the garage (yes, my choice of activity). See this post for the before and afters. Unfortunately, I found this spider/bug thing...I have NO idea WHAT it is, do you? It had a see-through body and gave me the heebejeebies.

After having been out in the garage for awhile, I came into the house to find Kelsey doing this:

I guess she'd found a box of packing popcorn and decided to help herself.

The kids LOVED being thrown in the air by Papa, though I think Aiden's delight is mixed with fear. 

We had such a great time and it makes me sad we wont be back until December...