Time With The Little Lady

After dropping Lucas off at school today, I had an important decision to make - Target or CDM? Char actually doesn't mind going to Target since she's a pointing Nazi and is content standing in the cart and pointing at everything she sees (and occasionally giving some hugs to stuffed animals). I can also peruse the aisles and aisle shop. However, since Char is semi walking now, I knew it'll be fun to spend some quality time with her at CDM. Big bro wasn't there to control our CDM activities so Char can do whatever she wants there. After a minute of thinking, I decided to put my selfish desires aside and bring Char to CDM. Although we only spent an hour and a half there, she had a great time playing in the Wonder Cabinet! (Good job Mommy for making the right choice!)

 Spent 20 minutes playing here!

 Happier than she looks

 Also happier than she looks

 Finally caught a happy Char on camera

Met her new BFF

Char had such a fun time that she forgot how tired and hungry she was (very rare). Next time we do this, I think we'll stop by iJava Cafe first so we can have breakfast #2 (Shinn ladies love to eat!) before going to CDM.

Weekend Update

For the past several weeks, Saturday mornings consisted of Daddy cooking blueberry flaxseed pancakes. Daddy got extra fancy this Saturday and attempted to make Mickey Mouse pancakes. I think there were only 2 pancakes which turned out looking decent. Oh well, A for effort. 

 Showing off his special pancake

There's a new Chik Fil A which opened up close to us, so we decided to "eat mo chikin"!

 "Hi big cow!"

 Ice cream Sunday - BOGO free!

In other news, Char's been taking mini steps this past week. I was finally able to catch it on video during the latter part of the week. The most steps she's taken is seven (not captured). It looks like our little girl is on her way to becoming a walker. Summer is going to be fun (for the kids) and crazy (for Mother). While holding your hand, Char does a great job walking like Frankenstein!

Little walker

 Bookworms on Monday

 Monday play date with a Chik Fil A lunch

Weekly couch picture

Following The Leader

We have a hierarchy of leadership in this household. Charlotte likes to copy Lucas and Lucas likes to copy his parents. Lucas' interests includes cars, books, Legos, and cars so I don't mind Char copying his hobbies.

Lucas is definitely copying a lot of what I say. When Char was pooping yesterday, I told him she was pooping. Lucas: "Char, you poop? I check." He then proceeds to look in the back of her diaper, "oh nasty! Char, that nasty!" while walking away. Yup, that sounds pretty similar to "Lucas! You're pooping again? You nasty!".

Copying big bro and his love for Legos

Maybe I should make my own Lego table for them

 Bookworm

 Using chopsticks cause Mommy & Daddy use it

Using utensils cause big bro uses it

Pretty good with chopsticks now

Happy little bouncers

Happy Friday!

Wednesday Fun Day

Another Wednesday has come and gone. Although the sun was out, it was cold (thanks to the pouring rain yesterday). To play it safe, I told the kids we would be going to Target and the mall. Lucas LOVES Target (and I think it's partly my fault). When the kids were younger, I loved going to Target with them. But now that they're older, it's kind of torturous going there with both of them. Lucas would want to spend an eternity looking at every single Cars car and Char would get restless. She would point to signify that she wanted to go somewhere else and get frustrated that big bro always gets his way. When sitting in the cart, Char would stand up with hands in the air to show the daredevil in her so I am always freaked out that she'll fall out of the cart. And of course, Mommy NEVER gets to check out the clearance aisles with two opinionated rascals in tow.

Always the bookworms

After spending close to an hour at Target (where we only looked at cars and "read" books), we went to the play structure. Now that Char is crawling at full speed, she's become quite the adventurer. She wants to copy whatever big bro is doing, but doesn't realize that he's an advanced runner and is a little more coordinated than she is. 

Peek-a-boo Char!

Peek-a-boo Lu!

Little climbers

She's moving on up!

Home life is still as cray cray as ever. A friend introduced me to this wonderful M&D art "kit", Water Wow, which the kids (especially Lucas) love! Char is still putting a lot of things in her mouth, so these water brushes are perfect for her. She's copying everything big bro does, but as always, can't keep up with him... yet. Anyway, these bad boys have been keeping Lucas busy for a good hour!

"Look Char, wow wow wow"

 They're getting along!

 Big bro is still Water Wow-ing in the background

 Lazy lady's way of drinking milk

Crazy kids 1) love to abuse the PB chair and 2) love each other!

And that was another cray cray hump day!

This Is The Good Life

This weekend was another fun filled one with a birthday party (Bloody Mary Bar for adults!) and more cousin hang outs. It was followed by a play date which included the best of both worlds: Lucas' BFFs as well as his cousins, all under the same roof! Talk about a wonderful clash of both worlds!

 Most updated picture with all the cousins

 A good brother feeds ice cream to his little sister

It was time for my beloved PB chairs to go in the wash  since Char stained one of the chairs with cookie crumbs. I wasn't able to dry the chairs fast enough so when the kids woke up, they saw a living room full of huge styrofoam blocks! This just spells out fun-fun-fun for them!

 Climbing... jumping... destroying...

 I love you styrofoam

Char is starting to talk a bit more. Some things she says are "nai nai" (milk), "bao bao" (bread),  "ROAR" (the sounds lions and tigers make), and "AHHH".

Shinn kids AHHH-ing

Shinn girl talking

 Today's play date: A ROYAL MESS!

 Photo op! Our group is getting bigger and older!!!

 Peace and quiet = lunch time!

These Crazies

Once again, the Shinn kids are finding ways to enjoy their lovely toddler life.

 Sitting quietly in their respective chairs

 Both reading their Bible

Wrestling match

 BEAR HUG! (This is actually Lucas trying to carry Char. He lifts her up and realizes she's a bit heavier than expected and they both topple over.)

Sweets on H's birthday (aka: mustache bandits)!

Summer time's going to be fun for these rascals!

 Too many kids in a ball pit

 I wish I was a toddler. Eat, play, sleep, play, eat... all while bossing Mommy around. I hope these two kiddies (and their friends) enjoy these years and remember all the fun they had at friends' homes, parks, Target, etc. Life as an adult is nowhere near as fun.

First Family Wedding

This weekend, we were able to attend a good friend's wedding up in Napa. Weddings have become a rare affair for us - instead, we're bombarded with kiddie parties at least twice a month. I don't think the family has ever been so dressed up before, so it was pretty fun color coordinating everybody's outfit. To make this wedding extra special, Lucas was also the ring bearer. To my surprise, he actually did what he was supposed to (minus the end where he just ran back down the aisle and said "Mommy, where are you?").

Handsome ring bearer waiting for the rehearsal to start

 Sissy poo doing what she does best - eating!

 Rehearsal dinner at Ad Hoc (LOVED IT! Thanks, Tamuras!)

 Handsome ring bearer ready to do his duty

I told Lucas on Thursday before that we were going to head up to Napa for Eric and Amy's wedding. I also showed him a car he wanted and said that he would get it if he did a simple job for us. During the rehearsal, I told Lucas that he had to walk (not run) straight to Eric and Eric would give him the car, which was in his pocket. I reminded him over and over what to do and told him to ignore everyone and just focus on Eric. While I was walking with him towards the aisle on game day, he surprisingly did everything correctly! I was one proud (and surprised) mother! I was also surprised that he mentioned having a good wedding for Eric and Amy during his breakfast prayer.

GO TIME!

He did it!

 I couldn't resist - he's too cute!

Can't neglect my cute little princess in a pretty dress...

 Lunch inside a cave

 Once again, why is Mommy the only one smiling?!

Unfortunately, we were not able to take a picture with the couple...