Long Weekend = Long Blog

I promised hair cut pics......and here they are. I really wanted to cry myself as I love their long curls, but had to get it done. Not to mention I had a fear that one of the grandparents were about to take liberty with scissors themselves. Better to get it professionally done. After visiting many barbershops and even chains such as Supercuts.....we were unable to get anywhere. People felt they were too young for a cut. They said they would stop midway if the kid started crying. We finally found a nice kids place that was excellent. They even had a vehicle chair to keep the little dudes busy and toys to play with while waiting.

As you can see, Ben was still not happy. Toys were not going to keep him from hating this. He couldn't sit in the vehicle hair cut chair and Daddy had to hold him on his lap. Big tears.
Sebby didn't mind the hair cut too much and his took longer still. He had to be trimmed with the scissors and then shaved. He was a really good boy. He played with his toys and although, not smiling....got the job done. They collected a baggy of the hair and gave them a certificate to keep as a souvenir.
As promised, we went to McDonald's afterward for lunch. McNuggets and fries help to heal the emotional scars. Here is Sebby rocking his do and engulfing his chicken.
Here is Ben doing the same, but as you can see.....he is still annoyed with Mama. He may be sad, but the new cut is pretty cute all the same.
A new Thanksgiving day tradition has begun for the boys. While the womenfolk toil in the kitchen creating the feast of the day, the Cruz men go to the auto show. My guys already love cars: real, toy and cartoon. This was heaven for them and daddy and Lolo didn't mind it much either. Here is Ben driving a 2008 Volkswagon GTI. Daddy says he is going to be a drift racer. Lolo stands in the back ground keeping watch.
Here is Sebby taking in the scene as well. He is enjoying the shiny view in front of Nissan 350Z . Sorry guys.....this does not fit in your Xmas stocking.
And of course, nothing would be complete without Daddy getting you hooked on a Porsche. My cute little baby boys before we butchered their curls and as always big smiles on their beautiful faces.
Sebby and Daddy always have fun. After the car show we will all go to GGNon's for their first Thanksgiving feast. Nonny, Papa, Lolo, Lola, GGnon, Uncle Steve, Tia Lourdes and cousins Geoff and Daniel will be there to complete the full house.
Here is Ben playing it cool with Lolo. It was a long day, but a good day. A day spent with our nearest and dearest family. A day that reminds us that we have so much to be thankful for. A day where the boys refused to eat turkey and mashed potatoes and threw up their pumpkin pie, but were still happy. A weekend where Ben would do a face plant into the concrete landing sending me into a frenzy, covered in blood, but only phasing him for a couple of minutes (popcycles actually do cure everything). Please tooth....stay in there for another 5 yrs at least...Benny needs you.
I must say...like a broken record, I know......I am thankful for my life. I am thankful for the best husband ever who is truly my soul mate and gets me when no one else does. I am thankful for my twins: Ben and Seb who make me smile everyday and who are the joy of my life. I am thankful for my family and friends who make the great times more enjoyable and the woeful times easier to weather. Most of all I am thankful for the boys' Ethiopian parents who loved them and taught them to love so fully and without reservation. The parents that gave them life and gave us the greatest gift of all even though it meant that they would be losing so much. I pray that they know how thankful we are for them and that our boys are doing great and are loved and well cared for. I pray that they have continued peace in their decision and I pray for their continued health and livelihood.
I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day!
Gobble Gobble

Stupid Root Canal

As I think I mentioned in my last blog.....I thought that I had broken my tooth on a bone in a sandwich. The crown was not broken, but may have lifted, causing an infection under the tooth. That meant that I will have 4 appointments, two for a root canal and two for a new crown and a cleaning/check up. My parents came down to watch the boys for the first appt. which was horrid.

I am glad that Ben is chillin and having fun here with Nonny and Papa as Mommy is at the dentist. At this point they were chiseling/drilling away at a very strong crown for an hour before they could flush the root. I have been in pain for days...unable to really eat with this temporary crown and with a bloody nose for two days as the yucky flushes through my sinuses. Gross, I know.
This is about how I feel kid. Look at that mug. There weren't many of these looks this weekend. The boys love having visitors and especially when those visitors make it possible so that they can run around outside of the pen. It is great to be free and able to get into everything .....life is so full of possibility.
And Sebby can't be outdone by his brother's wonderful poses. They had a lot of fun walking around the neighborhood with Nonny and Papa too. They played outside all day and were quite warn out by dinner time. It was a Chinese Food bonanza (won ton soup for me) and Ben's eyes were nearly closing with head falling into his Chow Mein. They stayed awake though because they didn't want to miss out. The only thing they like better than chicken strips is Chow Mein with Terriyaki Chicken. The fried rice isn't so bad either. The almond cookie is also a treat at the end of the meal. Can't use choppy sticks yet.....a fork is the extent of what we can handle....but with noodles, let's just go with the fingers.
The one thing about Sebastian is his infectious smile. Who wouldn't love this kid? He has such personality and you can't help but smile when he flashes his. Ben is the one with evil glares here and there, but I don't know if I have seen one from this happy go lucky kid. Yes he cries like a muppet with a head tilt and a fully open mouth....but never an attitude.
Here is the closest thing to attitude. Practicing his runway strut. He loves to hold his little shark bucket (previously holding a Jack happy meal). First it was used to hold legos and toys. Now he throws it over his shoulder like a purse and waves/ says bye-bye. I think this comes from months of GGNon putting on her purse and saying bye bye before she leaves. So, my dude finds anything with a handle, slings it over the shoulder and says bye bye. Future murse carrier I guess......daddy would die.
Kisses from Ben. Or is he just trying to lure me close enough to snatch the camera. It is hard to tell these days. Gotta love it all the same. Ben loves to kiss, whether it be family, friends or each and every one of his dolls (or stuffed animals to keep it on the macho side).
And, I will finish on this picture. Two smiling boys at play, just loving their momma. Can you believe it actually got cold enough down here to wear long sleeves and pants for one day? Not anymore though, we are back to shorts and Tshirts today. You gotta love So. Cal. My babies will freeze in the Bay Area this Xmas. I know, those of you in the real cold just collectively rolled your eyes. Ha, ha....I guess it is all relative.
Take care everyone and if I get up the courage, next time we will have pictures of a first hair cut. I myself hate getting hair cuts and end up with one once a year, a little weird I know. It has gotten worse since my sis moved. She used to kidnap me and then drop me off at Supercuts to make me take the plunge. So, maybe today will be the day the boys get a haircut. I love their hair though....I just don't know. They don't want me to keep it up though so something must be done. The bed head and carseat head will not do if they won't let me fix it. I don't know how much time a day I chase them (on my knees mind you) around the corral in circles with lotion in one hand and a brush in the other. We will see. Hope it turns out nice as I would really like to take professional pics in time for Xmas.

Ladies keep your daughters indoors....Sebby is on the loose

We have been very busy indeed. Lucky, Lucky us! We got to meet more forum friends on Saturday! Lauren and Mike were just about the coolest people we could ever meet. We met them for coffee and apple juice (not mixed) in the beautiful park near their place. Boy was it a great park. Jealous much...I am, I am. The boys played for hours and I have the sun burn to show it (ouchy ouchy ouchy), but we had the best time. We then went to lunch and the boys were well behaved at a very nice, sit down place. Thanks for lunch you guys....we had a blast! We can't wait to get together with these guys again as they are great people and will most definitely make great parents. Their coolness is out of our league....so anyone that gets the chance to meet these legendarily cool people....just do it!


The pictures from our outing start with our new friends and our beautifully cranky boys. I think bonding is going well as Benny doesn't seem to like to go to anyone but his mama. Sebby seems pretty cool though. Wish we could have gotten them both to smile, but hey, this adds character to the picture I think. Thank you L and M for being such good sports, although this still isn't Christmas card material, haha.
Here is Sebby at the play structure mini slide. Both boys enjoyed running around and trying to play with everyone else's toys. It was fun to see them having so much fun. Minus one little melt down by Ben, it was a perfect day.
Here is Benny on the mini merry go round. He looks ready for Michael to push faster and faster.
That is the ticket. These kids feel the need for speed. How quickly they grow. Did I mention it was a great park? I am surprised we ever got the boys to leave.
Here is Sebby with his arm around a random chick he picked up at the park. Look at that smirk. I kid you not....no pose here. This is all Sebby. The girl came to use the mini merry and Sebby put on the moves. He first grabbed her hand....then progressed to going for the hug and even went to lean in for the kiss. Where is he learning this stuff? The future flashed before my eyes.....I have a little Don Juan on my hands. This kid is a social dude. In the store he is all about hi and bye to every patron he passes. Sebby loves everyone. Ben is a little more reserved. No need to worry about waking up and finding him married with children tomorrow. Seb, now that is a different story.

There is a lot to look forward to this week, I think. I have a dentist appt. (broke a tooth on a hidden bone in a stupid Lean Cuisine sandwich that I didn't even want in the first place). I hope they can fix the darn thing. I take good care of my teeth and am too young to start losing them.....man oh man.......please just be a little crown. On a happier note, my parents are coming for the three day weekend. Yeah......fun for us all. Plus, we are starting to plan our Xmas vacation back home in the Bay Area. We get to have some kind of party to show off the boys. Lots to look forward to as soon as I get past the tooth situation.

I'm out.
C

No good news, But Life is Good

So, to dispell any hopeful thinking on the house front, the buyer with the low offer didn't bring it up to the standard. We came down, they came up and we were still big time off and decided to walk. Fingers remain crossed. But, more importantly......this was the week of meeting new friends and seeing some family members for the first time. The boys actually love meeting people and I am glad to see that they are charmers and my homebody tendencies haven't turned them into hermits.

Look here at my kissy face boys. Kisses are plentiful lately. Even for the the Jagr Dog who loves her brothers. She continues to be good with them and here is their love fest.....going in for the kiss. We have had a good week. We met with a CHS forum friend who lives near by. We walked through the mall talking for between 2-3 hrs. I loved the company and feel lucky to have made a new friend. She brought her 2.5 yr old beautiful son who was just a precious little man.....and so well behaved. My guys were pretty good too, sitting in the stroller for that long ride. We did take a break for lunch at the food court, but still the kids were very understanding of their mommies little outing. I just hope that I can be as awesome a parent as she is and that my boys are as cool as her fellow a year from now. A shout out to M. I hope that your travel date is just around the corner.
The boys also got to meet their great-aunt Evelyn who lives in Arizona. She was in the area for a business meeting and we met her at the hotel. The boys had a great time running around the hotel room uninhibited and playing with their newly met Auntie. Sebby the charmer, really took to Evelyn. He had her read him books and hold him in her lap to look at cars. She brought them toys and took us to McDonald's for dinner (she offered a nicer venue, but the boys are not ready for more than a fast food place, so that is where we went). Sebby had Evelyn carry him to the car when we were done with our visit and cried when she had to leave. Sebby loves his Evelyn.
It's a bird, It's a plane.....is it Superman? And can we play with him.....we are superheroes too you know. It was a long day yesterday. We went to GGNon's for Halloween. The boys were excited to run around in a bigger area and get into all of the unchildproofed cabinets, drawers and knick knacks. That doesn't mean that GG doesn't have a million cars, toys, balls, books, old remote controls etc. for these guys. And talk about cookies.....my goodness. So amped up on spaghetti and sugar....we had a great night.
We trick or treated very well thank you. We got mommy and daddy lots of candy. Ben got into a bag of M&M's and both boys enjoyed a Reeses Peanut Butter cup. Sebby loved going to the people's doors and waved and blew kisses. He was almost an unwanted visitor in many homes as when the door opened, Sebby wanted to run inside if they had something of interest in their domicile. The babies met a new friend....GG's friend has a grandbaby who is a Korean adoptee. He was dressed as a pumpkin and followed us down the sidewalk for quite some time not wanting to leave his new found friends. We have an offer for play dates in the future. That should be fun.
The good news is that I think my sons are going to be horror freaks like their momma. One of their most favorite things, besides picking up leaves from the ground on the t-or-t trail, was the huge blown up hearse with a raising cackling skeleton. They had to go back and visit it several times and point and oooh and ahhhh. How proud am I? Maybe we will be able to trade in Cars for some blood and guts yet...I kid, I kid. After finishing with the out and about, we went back to Nonny's and got in our PJ's and waited for Daddy to meet us. We spent time with Uncle Steve and Tia Lourdita. We swept Nonny's floor....aren't brooms the next best thing since, well, the vacuum. Sebby loved answering the door for other trick or treaters too. Happy and giggling and pointing at every costume....he had a great time even when not getting candy himself. We had a big day....it was wonderful and tiring and the boys slept all the way home and didn't stir as we put them in their crib. They even slept in for momma this morning.

I love my wonderfully happy little dudes......and so does everyone else. I am in awe at how happy two little beings can make one person and even now I tear up. These guys put everything in perspective. As long as these guys are in my life, living a life of the ordinary, nothing could be bad. Who cares about houses, gas and whatever else would usually be a downer. I just look at my sons.....drinking milk, eating a pop tart, running around naked in the sun....whatever, and nothing can compare to those simple things in life. Those things that you can't buy and can't measure or explain. This is what life is meant to be. This is what makes life worth living. I can't express how much I love these two.

Miss you all(when we finally get a new house...you all must come....if we build it, will you come?),
C