Halloween Photo Shoot

Here are a couple of pictures of the boys wearing their Halloween outfits...

This is the best shot I could get of all 3 of them.

Love those blue eyes - Dylan's are looking pretty blue too.

Dylan's First Trip to the Beach

This past Sunday, we packed up the family for a beach day at Pokai Bay- Dylan's first time! The Martin's met us out there so everyone had a playmate ;)

Zack and Dylan napping in the shade

Daddies trying to play backgammon with the help of Abby and Gavin

Dylan's first dip in the ocean!

Sand monsters!

Just a random picture, but it was too cute not to share.

The Monster Mash

Gavin loves to sing and dance - here are some of his recent performances:

Dancing to the "Monster Mash" and singing "Jungle Boogie".

Aloun Farms Pumpkin Patch 2010

Last Saturday we made the trip over to the pumpkin patch to get ready for the pumpkin carving party that night. Of all the seasons, I miss fall the most...so we do our best to show Gavin all the seasonal activities of each season (the best we can in Hawaii). Funny, the MacDonalds in Germany said in their blog that they didn't go to the pumpkin patch because it was so cold over there already...well, it was almost too HOT for us to be there last weekend! We were up and ready to go for the opening day at the pumpkin patch - dressed in brown and old shoes because I can't think of a dustier place on this island!

Katie gave me a Halloween shirt for Dylan that says "I love my Mummy and my Mummy loves me" and I actually had the same one for Gavin already!! I have to admit, I love dressing the boys in matching clothes! (Guess since I don't have a girl to dress up, the boys will have to bear with me as I dress them in matching clothes for many years to come ;) The shirts made the perfect pumpkin-picking attire ;)

Love my boys ;)

Making good use of Gavin's wagon!

Both of these pictures show how happy the kids were...hot, dusty, and "over it" about sums up their experience after being there for about an hour.

*To see pictures at the pumpkin patch in 2009 and 2008, look under the post history on our blog, and look for "Pumpkin Patch 2008" and "Pumpkin Patch 2009" under October, 2009.

Desperate Housewife!

Yesterday Gavin stayed home from preschool because he had a small fever and was coming off a cold from over the weekend, which left me with both boys for the day by myself (first time for a full day) Luckily, the day went very smooth! We went for a walk in the stroller and even ran a few errands in town. I was certainly very busy (didn't even check Facebook all day) but it was a great day!

Like I said earlier, the day went smooth but was busy....guess that's because I've got child labor help with Gavin ;) After our walk, I put Dylan in his swing (strapped in, thank goodness!) while Gavin was playing with a puzzle on the floor. I decided to take a quick shower to get ready to go run errands and told Gavin to give Dylan his pacifire if he cried and that I would be back down in 2 minutes. After a literal 2 minute shower, I peeked over the railing into the living room, saw Dylan was content in his swing (with his pacifire...what a great big brother) and Gavin was still content working on his puzzle. So, I continued to get ready. A few minutes later, I hear Dylan beginning to fuss and peeked over to see Gavin working quicker on his puzzle saying to Dylan "Just a minute Dylan, I'm busy". To see my almost 3 year old hurrying to complete his puzzle to help his brother stop crying made me think of the Desperate Housewives episode from this week where Lynette got in trouble because she had her 11 year old daughter watch her 2 month old baby....I felt like Lynette! I came downstairs and told Gavin not to worry about Dylan that I would tend to him. Bad Mommy!

I got Dylan settled and ran back upstairs to finish getting ready and after a few minutes peeked over the railing again - luckily I looked when I did because this time Gavin was at the swing trying to unbuckle Dylan!!!! I practically jumped down all the stairs and when I asked Gavin what he was doing he said he was trying to take Dylan out to put him in the big shark's mouth.

This lead to a discussion on a new rule- never, ever try to hold Dylan without an adult around!

Not sure what was more disturbing:

1) I left the boys alone for a few minutes

2)Gavin tried to feed Dylan to an imaginary shark

3)Gavin tried to hold Dylan!! yikes!!! (we have ceramic tile floors!!!)

My Little Men

I just love these matching shirts Claudia sent to us for the boys! I was waiting for a special occasion to have them wear it, but realized the other day that if I didn't get Dylan in his soon that he would quickly outgrow it! This past Sunday, I had a baby shower for my friend Trish so I figured Dylan could dress up in his tie and I would have Gavin wear his for a few quick pictures before I left.

Go Warriors!

The University of Hawaii Warriors played a home game this past weekend against Nevada so Mark took Gavin to his first football game. During the day, we took him to Target to buy a UH t-shirt so he would be ready to cheer on the warriors. Mark said he did great! He learned to cheer "DEFENSE" and really loved all the food he got to eat there!

In the picture they are both giving the "shaka"- something Gavin likes to do now!

*On a different, but related note- as I was doing laundry today I found 2 beer bottle caps in Gavin's short pockets that he wore to the game....like Father, like son! No wonder he had so much fun! Seriously though, Gavin loves putting things in his pockets - chapstick, small toys, and I guess now we can add beer bottle caps to the list. And just like Daddy, he doesn't take them out before the laundry so they both are busted!

Gavin's Special Time

Dylan and I get to spend plenty of special time together... all day, every day ;) While I've been with Dylan so much, Mark and Gavin have been spending lots of quality time together. Last weekend, we decided to "switch" - I took Gavin to run a few errands and Mark stayed home with Dylan. It was so nice to be able to hang out with Gavin alone - we went to Costco and I took him for a hair cut. I took him to Regis salon, not feeling like driving down to the kiddy hair cut place (plus the kid's place won't take appointments and I didn't feel like waiting an hour). Needless to say, Gavin was the hit of the salon- and he soaked up all the attention from all the women in there! It really was a "big boy" experience- he got his hair cut, washed and scalp massage, then she styled his hair. After his hair cut, we went to Target to buy his sculpting cream so that his spikes will stay put! He loves getting his hair fixed in the morning before school now! The pictures below aren't from that day, but when I styled it a few days later- doesn't look as good as when she did it, but you get the idea.

Who's Who? (part II)

Same outfit...same pose...about the same age.

Gavin is the first picture, Dylan is the second.

Dylan is 1 month old!

Dylan had his 1 month appointment this week and checked out as a healthy growing boy. He weighed in at 10 lbs 2 oz and 22 1/2 inches long, having gained 2 pounds and growing 2 1/2 inches. (Interesting enough, Gavin grew at the same basic rate gaining 2 lbs 5 oz and growing 2 1/4 inches in his first month). He is getting more and more attentive each day and starting to make his first coo's and ahh's.

Here are a few pictures of Dylan from his first month of life.

We are beginning to settle into the routines of having two kids. It certainly is busy, but we give both kids a bath each night then read a few stories in Gavin's room. Marley even joins in for the bedtime routine ;)

The whole family...Dylan is hiding on Gavin's bed.

We think Dylan wanted to take his umbilical cord to senior prom. He just lost it yesterday! (Oct.13 - a month and 3 days old) Here is the last picture of him hanging on to it!

Last week was our October break from school but Gavin still had preschool. Mark and I took advantage of having some time together and took Dylan to his first movie. It also marked Dylan's exact "one month birthday". Luckily, he did great in the theater sleeping through most of the movie.

His bellybutton making its debut! Yesterday when I told Gavin that Dylan finally lost his umbilical cord, he was so excited that Dylan finally had a piko he wanted to put his finger inside

Here is a short video of Dylan doing his thing. He is really beginning to notice his surroundings and vocalize more.