The last two weeks have been one continuous party for us. Since we are no longer students, or employees of a University, we almost forgot that it is the Spring break time of year. Luckily we have many friends and family members who like to come to sunny California during their Spring Breaks to remind us. I counted a 13 day stretch where we did something with a visiting friend or family member every single day (Whew--I had a lot of laundry to catch up on by the end!).
Here's all the reasons we loved Spring Break 2007:
1) We witnessed some of our nephew Max's smiles (and we got to hang out with his parents Joe & Tori too).
2) A gorgeous day at Newport Beach and lunch at Ruby's on the pier--1st beach trip of the year!
3) We discovered that Luke has NO FEAR of the ocean and would drown himself if we're not careful. Luckily this always provides an opportunity for me to go in the water, which is something I love to do. This child is going to be a swimmer, I can feel it!
4) I watched the 3D ultrasound DVD of our soon-to-be nephew #2. It was also fun to see Ben & Heidi getting ready to be parents (I love the crib bedding you picked out Heidi!).
5) Will put in some serious guy-bonding time by traveling to Sacramento with some college buddies and going to six March Madness basketball games in three days.
6) The boys and I were lucky enough to have Grandma Rose come stay and spoil us while Will was in Sacramento. When my Mom comes I get to do projects that seem otherwise impossible without help (see gardening post below).
7) I had a reunion with some of my college roommates over Pizookies at B.J.'s (we missed you Annie, Elizabeth & Breanne!). We did our fair share of reminiscing about old boyfriends and embarrassing moments, but mostly our conversations now revolve around our kids and the daily joys/struggles in raising them. I am SO grateful for my "Northwoods" girls and the lifelong connection we will have, no matter the life stage.
8) We used our San Diego Zoo passes for the first time with my parents. One highlight was seeing a Panda Bear climb to the top of a bamboo tree while riding the sky buckets.
9) My sister Danielle came to visit from Florida. She got a good dose of what life is like with two active toddlers and my boys had a fun time showing "Aunt Yell" all of their tricks. I had fun getting a rare chance to window shop at the Spectrum, just Danielle and I.
10) Another gorgeous beach day at La Jolla Shores with Danielle, my parents and my Grandparents ("Nana" and Great Grandpa to my boys). This is why we can't ever move away!!
On a happier note, yesterday morning we picked up our new car, a 2004 Toyota Highlander. I am so excited to finally have a car that doesn't require any pushing and shoving to fit the double stroller in the trunk. Hopefully we can enjoy it for a few weeks before the first goldfish crackers get ground into the floor!
9) My sister Danielle came to visit from Florida. She got a good dose of what life is like with two active toddlers and my boys had a fun time showing "Aunt Yell" all of their tricks. I had fun getting a rare chance to window shop at the Spectrum, just Danielle and I.
We have a small patio hooked to the back of our condo that I had high hopes for when we first moved in. Those hopes quickly dissipated with the craziness of two babies in the two years we've lived here. But yesterday I decided to turn over a new leaf and learn to garden. With the help of my Mom (and two eager toddlers) we spent hours clearing out two years worth of overgrowth in the planter beds. It took a shovel, saw, and all of my body strength to yank a dead rosebush root out. Then we made the trip to Home Depot's gardening center and decided on some flowers called Impatias (which are super low-maintenance since I have yet to even keep a house plant alive!). I realize these pictures probably don't look too impressive, but it's a start at least! If I can keep these little beauties alive my next goal with be a tomato plant.
We hope someday soon Luke will give up his desire to eat, or in this case drink, the sand! 
Ethan received this tricycle for his first birthday. This week, at 30 months old, he learned to pedal it! Hooray! No more scooting, frustrated whining and blistered feet. 
Our Ethan is a talker. However, he seems to have made up his own little language. Here's what a translation guide from Ethanese to English would look like (hope this helps when we go out of town Mom!) :
All down Main Street Ethan exclaimed, "Look at this!"
After learning that Luke was the most impatient child possible in a 15 min. wait for Dumbo (we tried to placate him with Goldfish crackers which he threw all over the pavement), we decided to let him run around Toon Town. Ethan surprised us and asked to ride the Roger Rabbit Roller Coaster there. He had a great time going "fast!" but told us his stomach felt funny after.
Luke blew off so much steam in Toon Town that this was his reaction to It's A Small World--who wouldn't be lulled asleep by that song playing over and over and over again?
Ethan, on the other hand, loved it's a small world. Here he looks on wide-eyed while eating his lunch at the same time!
This was Ethan's one scared moment at Disneyland: waiting in line for Buzz Lightyear and seeing the giant Buzz hologram?! Kids are so unpredictable about what frightens them. Surprisingly, he had no problem once we actually were on the ride (where it's dark and the scary alien characters appear) because he got to shoot a gun at them. Apparently fear disappears once you're armed.
From the looks on their faces I'm pretty sure my boys believed all the animals on Jungle Cruise were real! Lukey liked when the elephants squirted water from their trunks.
It was a little weird to realize that there were so many changes from the Disneyland I remember as a kid. Singing Bear Jamboree is no more and a Winnie the Pooh ride and these Honey Pots have replaced it. My kids are just the right age to love Winnie so this ride was a favorite.
Yes, my shoulders hurt a lot after the Magical Dream parade. But it was worth every minute to see my kids react to the floats, dancers and characters! They were absolutely riveted! By the end both of them were waving enthusiastically at the characters. Our Disney day ended with the "hot stars" (Ethanese for fireworks) and two exhausted little boys.
