Auntie Jen was in town from Virginia so we got to see her. We even made a trip up to the West-Coast-Cousin's house and had a slumber party. Look how cute they all are just sitting there watching, well, pretty much anything that was on.
Owen and Molly are the closest in age amongst the Segal-Fallon-Diascro-Lowe cousins but it a close second between her and their Cousin Oliver. Either way, aren't they just so cute. Do we see our daddy's kids or what?
Daddy picked the kids up from school one day when it was super hot out and got them ice cream. They make such a mess but aren't they so good? I think that Ian likes to get ice cream to help them eat it. 
On St. Patrick's Day, landed on a day when I had to go to work and Ian met us as I was running out of the house. He dressed the kids and I had to call him as I was on my way to work to remind him to put them in Green. I had totally forgot! Oops...when Ian went to drop them off they looked very blah in relation to the other kids. He called me on the way over to Target in a mad rush to get anything St. Patty's Day-ish. Here they are after school, again, with some sort of pop. Dad!
We are so lucky! Ian's mom and Terry take the kids for slumber parties so that Ian and I get some down time. Especially now that I will be back to work full time, more on that later, being sure that Ian and I are actually home at the same time for more than a day at a time is going to be hit-or-miss. So getting this time together is invaluable. Here are the kids off to Far Mor and TT's house. They have their sleeping bags on their backs and practically ran out of the door!
We have great neighbors. One afternoon Ian was sitting outside and our neighbor Matt walked over and started drinking beers with him in the driveway, ok so kinda white trash but they were having fun, then I got home from getting a much needed mani/pedi and joined them. Inevitably, Avery woke up from her nap and she came out to hang, then our neighbor's wife, Amy, and daughter came over, then Owen woke up...it was a party in the driveway! They stayed for dinner and while dinner was cooking the kids played in the sandbox, and then under the sandbox. This is a picture of my daughter in a cute pink floral dress holding a slug or a worm, she was going back and forth! She loved them. She wanted to kiss them and bring them inside. I did not get a picture of it but Owen kept trying to eat them. Grosssss!
Here is Avery at the dinner table wearing Matt's Raider hat. Ok, so he is not the best neighbor in the world, he is a Raider fan. This act almost put Ian into a permanent depression.
Owen and Molly are the closest in age amongst the Segal-Fallon-Diascro-Lowe cousins but it a close second between her and their Cousin Oliver. Either way, aren't they just so cute. Do we see our daddy's kids or what?Daddy picked the kids up from school one day when it was super hot out and got them ice cream. They make such a mess but aren't they so good? I think that Ian likes to get ice cream to help them eat it. On St. Patrick's Day, landed on a day when I had to go to work and Ian met us as I was running out of the house. He dressed the kids and I had to call him as I was on my way to work to remind him to put them in Green. I had totally forgot! Oops...when Ian went to drop them off they looked very blah in relation to the other kids. He called me on the way over to Target in a mad rush to get anything St. Patty's Day-ish. Here they are after school, again, with some sort of pop. Dad!We are so lucky! Ian's mom and Terry take the kids for slumber parties so that Ian and I get some down time. Especially now that I will be back to work full time, more on that later, being sure that Ian and I are actually home at the same time for more than a day at a time is going to be hit-or-miss. So getting this time together is invaluable. Here are the kids off to Far Mor and TT's house. They have their sleeping bags on their backs and practically ran out of the door!We have great neighbors. One afternoon Ian was sitting outside and our neighbor Matt walked over and started drinking beers with him in the driveway, ok so kinda white trash but they were having fun, then I got home from getting a much needed mani/pedi and joined them. Inevitably, Avery woke up from her nap and she came out to hang, then our neighbor's wife, Amy, and daughter came over, then Owen woke up...it was a party in the driveway! They stayed for dinner and while dinner was cooking the kids played in the sandbox, and then under the sandbox. This is a picture of my daughter in a cute pink floral dress holding a slug or a worm, she was going back and forth! She loved them. She wanted to kiss them and bring them inside. I did not get a picture of it but Owen kept trying to eat them. Grosssss!Here is Avery at the dinner table wearing Matt's Raider hat. Ok, so he is not the best neighbor in the world, he is a Raider fan. This act almost put Ian into a permanent depression.
Finally, today, just because I don't want to forget, so I had to drop off and pick up the kids today, I had a shorter day, of which I will be making up tomorrow, urgh! I was already tired and feeling like I was coming down with something so I was a little crabby. I was trying to get the kids dressed for school and into the kitchen for breakfast. I had pinned down Avery and was almost done with her clothes. As I was sitting down to put her shoes and socks on I realized I had no clue where Owen was. Usually I close all of the doors in the hallway except for the kids room and then they can run free through the rest of the house. Well, Mr. Lowe had used the restroom last and had not re-closed the door. Avery and I finally figured out he was in the hall bathroom. So I go to open the door and low and behold, it was locked. How the hell did this kid do this??? Ian had had enough forethought to put the unlocker-thingies (no, it looks nothing like a key so don't even say that is what it is) on top of the door frame. I reach up and start sticking what looks like a metal toothpick with a loop at the end through the teeny-tiny hole on the door knob. It won't open. I am starting to panic a little because I have seen what he can do to their room and it is totally kid friendly. I call Ian for pointers and as I am telling him what is going on, "click" the door unlocks. I open the door to this lovely aroma of poo. Great, well he went to the right place. That being said, I actually got the door open and this little toe-headed boy is sitting on the floor in his red fleece footy pjs, reading a book amongst the toilet paper he decorated the entire floor with. I will give him this, he did not proceed to shove it down the toilet, so he had that working in his favor. Either way, it was so hard to be made at him because he looked up at me and said, "el-fa-lent", he was reading the "Everybody Farts [Toots] book" that totally has an elephant on it. That kid is so fricken cute! So, from that point forward, the morning went off without a hitch. I got the kids to school, even remembered to write down all of the kids names in Avery's class (birthday party this year is to include her classmates-s**t). I got to work and whatever, things as usual. But gosh darn it, how the hell did I lose the sheet of paper that I wrote all the names down on and well, my shopping list for Thursday. Crap, I emailed the school but they did not know where it was when I picked the kids up this afternoon. And I know, most of you are saying, just write it down again. Well, Ian is dropping her off and picking her up tomorrow, which means he will totally forget to get the list of names, which means I will have to wait for next week to get the names to write them on the invitations, etc...Anywho...so typical for me these days. So, I had a couple of meetings in the am and through lunch. I had an ENT appointment in the afternoon, where I spent over an hour and a half to have the doctor tell me I needed tubes again. Randi, Zach is in good company if I do say so myself. Needless to say, this will be my second round. Super so fun! I got back to work just in time to check my email, schedule a few more meetings...my life is meetings, and leave to go pick up the kids. I first go to get Owen and the teacher says to me, he did not cough at all...what?? The kid kept us up all night coughing and kicked my numerous times (I had to bring him into our bed because we did not want him to wake Avery). I digress for a moment, but why do kids migrate towards mom? Ian was in the bed and has been in the bed multiple times in the past where I bring one of the kids in for one reason or another and he will have no clue. That would be because whom ever it is has decided they need to not only sleep next to me but on my pillow and typically with a limb pressed into my middle. A couple of weeks ago Avery snuck in and I did not even notice I was so tired. I woke right up when I got smacked in the face though. That was a good time. Anyway, crap, now I totally forgot where I was going with this very long story...good day overall. Tired and time for bed. And yes, to all of you who are interested, Owen has been coughing for the last 2 hours.
My mother and I had taken the kids to the Quail Botanical Gardens in North County a couple of months back and not only did they love it but so did we. We finally had the chance to drag Ian up there. Here is a picture of the kids posing along one of the trails. Avery has taken to smiling really hard. She gets so excited so really, we have no normal pictures of her anymore.
Daddy and the kido's walking towards the Children's Garden, so cute!
Another big milestone this month, Owen turned 1 and a half and well, that meant he was starting school. We were so good about starting him slowly and not making him go full days for a while. He was such a champ and really loves it now. The two of them are in different classes and therefore play in different yards. They will stand at the fence and play with eachother instead of the other kids. Good or bad, we don't know but pretty fricken cute just the same! Here's Owen at his first day of school!
San Diego is expensive, both the housing market and well, living, but it is worth it when we get a beach day in the middle of February!
Every year my mom comes over and we make Hanukkah dinner, including 
The first ride we went on was a sure thing, the Merry-Go-Round...the kids loved it! Starting off to a good start.
Then we were off to Dumbo's Ride. This is very similar to Elmo's Ride at Sea World. This too we knew would go over well...
This picture should pretty much cover how Avery felt when she saw her first princess walking down the street...
This picture was taken in our side yard. We have this amazing maple tree that I just LOVE! This was supposed to be our holiday card but well, I forgot to upload the pics from the camera so we got the "hole" instead. Oh well...don't mind Avery's red headband. She had to have it!
Ian and I went to Lake Tahoe for Ronna's wedding without the kids. It was great. Devon and Dave were our traveling buddies and well...they are the best people to travel with ever! We love them a little...ok, that sounds a little scary but back off!
As many of you know, I allowed Ronna and Heavy to get married on my birthday. I know, it was a difficult decision but I thought it was the right thing to do...just kidding, I was honored to share the date with such great people! What a great weekend...everyone had so much fun and Ronna and Heav had perfect weather for a perfect wedding!
The happy couple! Seriously, a good time was had by all, and look at them, Heavy is smiling and not even showing the finger! Congratulations guys!
Avery and Owen posed with this huge pumpkin.
They loved running through all of the pumpkins. These pumpkins looked a little more our speed. Some of them were huge and I just did not have the energy for that.
Yes, the air was warm but the water was still cold. Avery decided to warm up on daddy. You could not have posed a more perfect picture!
We went to the first birthday party for a very good friend of ours and check out my little hula man! Now that is a costume!
I am not sure whom it was, but someone brought home a nasty cold this month! First Avery had it, then Owen had it, and of course, the rest of us got it in due time. Here is Owen sleeping with daddy. 
As you are all aware, Ronna has gotten married, like almost 6 months ago. Needless to say, the shower was at our house amongst the illness. The shower was great, and I would say I can't wait for the wedding but we would know that was a lie...it is long gone!
Ok, one story, I think it was about this time...the preschool was doing "Safety Month" and Ian went in to Avery's Yellow Duck (2 year old) class to show them his gear and explain to the children not to run if they see someone who looks like Big Bird (big yellow turnouts, who else do they look like?) not to run. Anywho, not only was Avery the only one who cried when Ian turned the BA on, but she proceeded to tell her teacher during a 9-1-1 lesson, that you call "God" when you are in trouble. Ok, most of you know, we are the least religious people around, so at first I was horrified. Then we started talking about it and came to the conclusion that Avery meant that if you are in that much trouble you might as well pray cause you are screwed. Such an insightful little person. Ok maybe I am stretching a bit but still...kinda funny.