ball Ball BALL!

So, after we got back from Tulsa last weekend, we made our weekly family trip to Walmart. We had a few groceries to buy and also needed to get Alec and Emma their new "big kid" car seats. Now, Alec is the only one big enough for the new seat, but we went ahead and purchased them both to get it out of the way. You have to be 22# and at least 12 mos. to switch from rear facing to front facing car seat. The infant carriers hold them up to 22#. Alec weighed in at 23# 1oz at their ear checkup yesterday (been fighting ear infection since the first of the month). Emma is still shy of 20 at 19# 10oz. and that was with clothes on. So, who knows when Emma will make it into her "big girl chair." She can't help it...she's just petite. Believe me, the kid eats. I don't know where she puts it...but she definitely eats!

We decided to get them each a big bouncy ball because they love to play with the one in the nursery at church. So, Emma got a marbled reddish pink, purple and blue ball and Alec got a mostly blue ball. He played with his off and on through the store, but Emma held onto hers like it was the Holy Grail. When Daddy asked her if he could have it, she shook her head "no" very adamantly! It was so funny!

Ever since, they immediately go find their bouncy balls at playtime. They know whose is whose, and they only play with their own. The very next morning at breakfast, Emma was getting so excited about going to get her ball, she started squealing BALL BALL BALL! from her high chair. "Hurry up, Mom...I want to play with my BALL!" She even gives her ball kisses, as you will see in the video.

Alec loves to throw his ball, and he's pretty good at it. It's so cute to see how thrilled they are over such a simple toy. Best $2.00 ever spent!!!

Chasing Ducks

We let Emma roam around a little at the zoo when she got antsy. We were taking a slushy break, because we were all about to keel over from the heat. Alec was in the shade getting in on the slushy action...but Emma wanted to chase ducks. Kudos to Daddy for keeping the camera steady and the video quality while grabbing Emma before she followed the ducks into the water! All of these are grainy because this is like the only format that I can get these videos to upload! You get the idea!

Emma's Interview

Here is Emma in the hot seat, telling us all about her zoo experience!

Morning Coffee

Daddy caught this awesome video of the kids playing with hotel cups, while we were in Tulsa. They really look like they are just milling around having their morning coffee.

Trip to Tulsa

We took advantage of the long weekend, and went on a mini-vacation to Tulsa. We left Saturday morning after feeding the kids breakfast, and made it to the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum around 11am. My mom, sister and niece met us there, as well as our good friend from college, Josh, and his daughter, Nora. We had a great time, and saw so many cool animals. We saw chimps, lions, tigers, bears, an elephant, a giraffe, meerkats, cheetahs, penguins, tons of different exotic birds, fish, a roadrunner, flamingos, and the list goes on.

Alec and Emma did really well, considering it was pretty darn hot and very very humid. We had to stay hydrated! They both wanted to get out of the stroller to roam a lot...but that wasn't always possible or safe. Emma did get out to chase after some ducks while we were resting and cooling off with some icees.

The kids also got to ride a carousel for the first time at the zoo. Emma loved it and wanted to stay on. Alec freaked out when it started moving and wanted to stay off. That's how it is with twins!

After the zoo, we went to our hotel and took the twins and Kylie swimming. It felt soooo good after sweating for 4 hours at the zoo! It was the first time for Alec and Emma in the pool. They loved it, even though they were both exhausted! My family went back to Enid after we had dinner, but we stayed the night. Sunday morning, we took the kids for another swim. Had the whole pool to ourselves. Awesome! After that, the kids took a nice nap and we got all packed up. Before leaving town, we ate some yummy Mexican food at La Tequila.

We originally planned to take the kids to the Oklahoma Aquarium Sunday, but then decided to wait until they are a little older. They had so much fun swimming, and could really enjoy that...so that's why we just went swimming again and decided against the Aquarium. Maybe next time we're in Tulsa.

Here is the link to pictures from the weekend:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80868&id=543072123&l=d120ceb08d

A Symphony of Everyday Things

Today, the kids were getting fussy after lunch, and I planned to take them to the duck pond around 1:30 (they still take a morning nap from about 10 until lunchtime...and then an afternoon nap from about 4-5:30). I mention this, because I think most toddlers take one nap somewhere right after lunch. Anyways, we go to the duck pond at 1:30 because it's after the lunch crowd dissipates, and we can usually always get quick access to the baby swings.

Anyways, in this in-between time after lunch and before the park, they didn't seem to be digging any of their toys, so I decided to pull out a small saucepan and a few wooden spoons for them to play with. Man, you would've thought I had given them the moon. They both went crazy, and after I showed them how to bang on the pan with the spoons, it got a little loud. Now, I've given them wooden spoons to play with at their high chairs before, but it was never that big of a hit. Today, it definitely was. They have not left the spoons or the saucepan alone since I gave them to them.

We did go see the ducks. Mommy actually remembered to take some old bread along this time, so that we could feed them. There were so many baby ducks, and they went CRAZY over the food we were throwing at them. So cute! The kids seemed to like seeing the ducks swarm around us hoping for some bread, but Emma was moody, and after only a few minutes, we had to move along. They did get to swing, although not as long as usual, because I can tell when other moms are waiting to use the baby swings, and since my kids take up the only two there are...I always try to keep our time short so that others can have a turn...especially when it's hot. After we finished at the swings, we tried to feed some more ducks, but Emma wasn't into it, so we left.

We drove through Braum's to get some frozen yogurt to take home for snack, and then the kids screamed ALL THE WAY HOME for no apparent reason. Tired? Maybe. Hungry? Probably. Out of juice in their sippies? Yes. Finally made it home for snack time. I shared some of my frozen yogurt with them and they also had some Jumbo Krispies. Emma screamed every time she'd eat one when she'd chew back on her molars that are coming in. Hmmm...I'm thinking her teeth hurt. I finally just held her for a little while, and she was happy eating fro yo while I held her. Alec was just looking at both of us like "what's going on?" Boys. : ) We played for a while with their new "drum set" of saucepan and spoons, and now they are sound asleep. Now I'm trying to decide if I want to go lay down for a little while.

Goodbye, Grandpa Ybarbo

Early Friday morning, Aaron's grandfather, Lee Ybarbo, passed away. We made a trip down to Goliad for the services. We were blessed to be able to be with the family during this time of reflection and remembrance of what a wonderful person he was and what a full life he lived. He served his family, his community and his country well. We love you Grandpa Lee. We love you Bisabuelo Ybarbo. You are so missed!

Abuelita Delphina and Great Grandpa Lee with the babies at Christmas

Loving on Alec and Emma

Four Generations


In Loving Memory

Lee Ybarbo

September 5, 1924- May 1, 2009