in no particular order...

 Food truck Fridays have become a regular happening around here...

flank steak grilled cheese sandwich.  

Biscuit starts asking on Tuesday if we 'go to food trucks now Mama"

A couple weeks ago on a random Sunday we took the kids to Grandfather Mountain.  Everyone returned home in one piece (though I aged about 10 years).

family hike.  marcus was a nervous wreck.  i was prepared for someone to bash their head in and bleed to death on a rock.  we made it about a mile before turning back. 

gorgeous weather.  the kids have been obsessed with going again and keep asking about the mountains.  must be the latent Andean genetics.

the mile-high bridge.  also known as the "swinging bridge" (for good reason).  also known as "where mama nearly died of fright when javier decided to race across it".  there are some boulders you can climb to go to the overlook (sans barrier).  javier was incredibly pissed that we didn't let him go.

These chuckle-heads have started 3 day 2's at St. John's Preschool with Ms. Josey & Ms. Teresa

They love school and are annoyed on Mondays and Fridays when they don't go.  Javier especially loves it.  They have lots of friends from last year in their class and were just invited to their first birthday party solo (as in not as Emi's tagalong brothers).  They are un-potty-trained and, as evidenced this weekend, are COMPLETELY uninterested.  I promise to announce it to the world when they are potty trained, but really, I'm not worrying about it any more.  In January I'll be signing them up for gymnastics/tumbling (once they've turned 3 they can start participating in these things).  Javier is a speed demon on his balance bike and Andres loves his scooter ('cooter) more than life itself.

Gooollllll!!!!

He would never admit it I'm sure, but I think Marcus has been waiting for yesterday ever since he heard he was having sons.

Their first soccer practice.

Granted, it's not like they're on a team or anything - just Soccer Shots which is the same program Emi started with back in the day with her playgroup pals. She was a bit older then... 3 I think. The boys are in a "pee wee" session for 2s being held in our neighborhood park.

Warmups...






running like lions



giraffes. Could cry about not getting a shot of them doing "airplane move" (foot on ball, arms outstretched). Next time.



"team meeting" - bless Coach Stephen - 4 2 yr old boys is not an easy audience!



someone got distracted - surely not the last time that'll happen



pennies on!



wrap-up - someone liked to sit v close to Coach and put a hand on his knee.

As we thought, Andres was loved the whole experience and was super in to it and attentive (not counting the frequent water breaks because the Biscuit gets hot and sweaty). Javier, arguably the more "talented" (can you really say that of a 2 yr old?) wasn't so interested in doing what he was told and wandered off several times. He liked it... he just wanted to play his own game. Overall a successful first outing of soccer which is a good thing since they've got a drawerful of soccer jerseys and a soccer-crazy Papa.

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easter

I'm a blogging fiend today!  It's all about catching up while the kids are away! :)

Easter - good flipping luck trying to catch a picture of all 3 monsters smiling.

 over-accesorize much?

 not sure if the smile is evil or true joy.  holy headlock.

 these children are nuts.

The mayhem begins!

Then, the candy eating...

day late and a dollar short

Remember Christmas?  Like 6 months ago?

I was just loooking through my pictures and realized I never blogged about it.  So here goes - the quick and dirty version...

This is a random shot my photographer friend Mandy took of Emi in her Christmas ensemble.  For as many amazing photographer friends as I have, I take some spectacularly craptastic pictures of my own. To be remedied Fall 2013!! :)

Over the holiday we went to the National Children's Museum at the Inner Harbor with the kids and my Dad.  If you are in the DC area I HIGHLY recommend it.  It's brand new - full of fun interactive activities and nearby are some great kid-friendly places to eat.  It's just over the WW Bridge from Old Town/GW Parkway (or, for us, an hour and a half - long story).

waiting for story time to begin.

my blurry boys.

This year was our last Christmas in the house on Fort Worth Ave.  And it was a doozy.  Spectacular cardiac potatoes and a living room brimming with love (and noise... and wrapping paper...) Fortunately, no near-traumatic brain injuries or terrifying falls down hardwood stairs this year.

 a tiny bit freaked by the chaos.  he got in to it though.

 like how Javier is attacking me with the wrapping paper?

 like how my mom and i coordinated our outfits?  what the hell is the matter with us???

glee!

taking it all in.

poor Nena - still in her scrubs from her 12 hr shift at the hospital.  the perils of being a 1st year.