Holiday Season 2009

So its been nearly one month since my last update, and quite a lot has gone on. Its not for a lack of trying that I haven't been able to update, just been really busy. But then, that's basically how life is, especially with two rapidly-growing "little" ones!

Thanksgiving was definitely one of the longer days this past month. After starting the morning early to get the turkey ready for our family, we headed off to church. After mass, we started the eating festivities with Enza's side of the family first. It didn't take long for Isaiah to show signs of tiring out, so he let us know that he was ready for a nap by mid afternoon! Makenna was a little more stubborn, and avoided her nap for fear of missing out on all the action. Who would've known our little girl would be so hard headed, so young! HA! After winding down party #1, it was off to party #2 with my side of the family. And since party #2 included extended family & family friends, it was a lot more chaotic. The kids had a great time playing with all of the other kids in the family, and it gave us adults more time to relax without too much worry. All in all, Thanksgiving was fun for the entire family, allowing us to spend time with both sides!

With Christmas less than 2 weeks away, the kids have been all about Santa Claus. They love having the tree up in the house, and have done their very best to not touch it, and not play with what they're not supposed to! Sure we do catch them slipping every now and then, but hey, they're both kids, and their curiosity is bound to get the best of them every time!

We're definitely looking forward to watching the kids light up when they get to tear into their gifts this year, especially since they've been doing their best to remain on Santa's "nice" list! More details and pictures to come, stay tuned!

Isaiah hanging out near the Christmas tree @ Santana Row

Makenna doing her best to remain off the "naughty" list Thanksgiving 2009
Zae & Kenna cheesin' it up

Anxious for the holidays

I cannot stress enough just how much our two little babies have grown this past year. We can hardly believe that Isaiah will be 2 and Makenna will be 3 all in a matter of a few months! Seriously, where has the time gone? Every day we are constantly being surprised at how much the two of them have developed, and we love seeing just how much they feed off each other's energy! At times both Enz and I wish some of their energy would rub off on us; yes, keeping up with these two can be exhausting!

As the end of the year approaches, so do the holidays, and with that come the fun family outings! This year, we've talked to them more and more about what holidays are coming up and we can definitely see their eyes light up when we mention Christmas! We've got a lot of fun stuff planned for the family, and since the two of them are now more aware of what goes on during the holidays, they seem genuinely excited! Makenna's even started a "list" of what she wants from Santa this year. Since we've had the kids, every holiday season that passes seems to be more fun-filled than the previous, and this one coming up doesn't look like it's going to disappoint!

Isaiah enjoying some bounce time

Makenna showing her "serious" look (even though she still looks like she's smiling) Growing up sooooo fast!

Back from hiatus...

Quite a lot has happened since my last posting, the most obvious being Halloween. This year was the first time we took the kids out around the neighborhood for trick or treating. They had a GREAT time! Our "Superfriends" got into the whole Halloween act at every house, shouting "trick or treat" even before doors were opened! After about a solid hour of walking around the neighborhood, Isaiah began to tire first, asking to be pulled in the wagon rather than walking on his own. Makenna stuck it out like a trooper until she got spooked by a big kid wearing a Jason Voorhees mask! The funny thing about that was she walked past him three times on the street and wasn't the least bit bothered. It wasn't until she saw him clearly in the light that she "freaked out" and immediately called out for mommy. After Enz comforted her, she didn't want to walk anymore, but wanted daddy to carry her. Thank goodness we brought the wagon!

On a different note, our little baby boy has achieved yet another milestone (actually a two-parter, if you will). It started off exactly one week prior to Halloween. As I put Isaiah down for the night, he asked for his pacifier. I saw this as an opportunity to wean him off it, so I told him that I couldn't find it. Of course he knew where it was and he even had a clear line of sight to it, but I used the age-old jedi mind trick and insisted that it was "nowhere to be found." Hehehe, "these are not the droids you're looking for..." Though he continued to ask, I stood my ground and eventually he fell asleep. The next day for his nap he inquired about it, but we held firm. By the next day, he stopped asking for it, and would immediately ask "its gone?" as if he knew that's what we'd tell him. It's been about a week and a half now, and his pacifier is all but a memory. Score!

The second part of his milestone is that he is no longer in a crib, but in his big boy bed! He accepted the bed with welcoming arms, and loves to jump in it like his sister does in hers. The first nap was a bit tough, because he realized that he had the freedom to get in and out of bed as he pleased. After numerous returns to bed, and after raising our voices, he finally tired out and slept for a solid couple of hours. His first night went well, though we had the time change there to help us. He's now on day three of his bed, and he's enjoying it! He still likes to play before his naps, but hopefully that'll lose its luster, and he'll learn to stay in bed when it's bedtime! For now, we're so proud that the little man is making strides and "movin' on up!"

Halloween 2009 - The Superfriends

Superman Isaiah

Wonder Woman Makenna

Our goofy kids preparing for some trick or treating

Enjoying his new "big-boy" bed

Pumpkin Patch close to home

Down the block there's a relatively small pumpkin patch that the kids have seen almost every day this past month. Aside from it being so close, what makes it so appealing to both Makenna & Isaiah is that it has a couple of giant slides as well as a couple of jumpers. Sure it's got a ton of pumpkins, all different shapes and sizes, but those were merely an afterthought once the kids got near the jumpers! Makenna's already a big pro when it comes to jumpy houses, and Isaiah is just getting into his own little groove, finally mastering his balancing abilities while inside. After watching how excited they get whenever they play in one of these, we've entertained the idea of buying one for them to use at home. But then, we didn't want to take away their fun whenever we visit places like this, so we decided against it, for now at least!

the kids in their second home...

"you looking at me?"
Makenna's long climb to the top of the slide
Hugs

Trip to the pumpkin patch

So this post is a little late, but we all know how the saying goes...

A couple of weekends ago, we took the kids to the Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Patch in Morgan Hill. We met up with the Arbolante's and had a great time as the kids enjoyed the patch together. Arriving early was a blessing in disguise, as the crowd was minimal and the weather was tolerable. As the day progressed, the pumpkin patch got more and more crowded, and it started to warm up. Thankfully, the kids were getting tired by then so we were able to call it a day at the right time!

Much like last season, the kids enjoyed all the pumpkins and the freedom to roam around the farm. Isaiah got a different perspective this year as he was able to ride the cow train all by himself. Last year he was mainly in the stroller, so he didn't have as much fun as this time around. Makenna has fun no matter what she does, and this time was no exception. When the DJ started playing some tunes, she got up and danced with her cousins (along with all the other kids around). Isaiah did a little booty shake every now and again, but mostly kept to himself as he explored what he missed out on last year.

We're hoping to keep up this tradition with the kids as they grow older, and look forward to keeping them close to their cousins in the process! Its fun to see the kids having so much fun, and just watch them being kids!

The kids and I entering the pumpkin patch

Makenna and her scarecrow buddy

Isaiah enjoying himself
Makenna & Wesley cuttin' a rug!
The cousins at Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Patch 2009 (even though the sign reads 2008!)

Children's Discovery Museum

Last week we took the little ones on a day trip to the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose. We have heard that this would be fun for the kids and have always wanted to check it out with them, so we shook up their weekly routine and treated them to a fun-filled day! The kids were not disappointed, to say the least! Not only were they able to go out and touch EVERYTHING, it was all there for them! Of course Enz & I were both able to play with some of the cool stuff too, but our two little monkeys had a blast! We're hoping to take them there again, now that we got the whole layout of the place, and we know that taking them there will definitely be money well spent!

checking out the fire truck

Isaiah's focused on spinning wheels

Mommy painted a kitty face on Isaiah
Makenna painted a butterfly on her face all by herself

exploring...

Little Monkeys

So our little monkeys have been keeping us on our toes as of late with their brilliant personalities, bright dispositions, and winning smiles =) Of course I'm not gushing on the kids just because they're mine, but its what I see in them that puts a big smile on my face every day. Sure they have their ups and downs, and there are definitely days where I'd be pulling my hair out (if I didn't already shave it)! But honestly, what kid out there doesn't have a bad side to even out their good side?! It's all a part of growing up, so we end up taking each day with a grain of salt. For the most part, the kids just keep on growing and developing, and it's still a great sight to see the two of them go through their growth stages!

Isaiah never wants to be "the smelly kid"

Conquering her fear of the vacuum cleaner, Makenna lends a hand...

Learning curve

Just recently, both Makenna and Isaiah each hit another milestone; Makenna just hit 30 months, while Isaiah hit 19 months. It's still a trip to think that for one month out of every year, they'll both be the same age! Nevertheless, they're both developing in to quite the talkers, and we're enjoying all the scintillating conversation from the both of them!

Though Makenna is almost a year older than Isaiah, he's not too far behind with his vocabulary. He tries his best to communicate as much as he can, as clearly as he can, but sometimes it leaves us guessing what he's saying. For the most part, Isaiah is putting 3 and 4 words together to form sentences, and will also repeat things that Makenna says such as "what are you doing here" or "Daddy, where are you?" Over the past few months, Isaiah has broken out of his shell a bit more, and we're hoping to see the outgoing side of his personality shine through. The difference between him and his sister is like day and night, but a bit of her seems to be rubbing off on him!

Makenna has been, and always will be, the talkative one, and it seems that there's no stopping her! She speaks her mind freely, often imitating and repeating words she hears from us, from neighbors, or from her favorite tv shows. She's at that stage where she's memorizing entire songs (at least the theme songs from her favorite tv shows like Little Einsteins, Dinosaur Train, Dora the Explorer, etc). Sometimes she'll even surprise us with the things she says, and we often wonder where she learned those things from! The best part is that she'll take the time to teach her brother new things, and he's there like a sponge to soak up all the new information.

They're also at a good stage where they can do things on their own. Oftentimes they like to go off and play in one of their rooms. What that normally entails is a scavenging through the toys and books, leaving the room in utter chaos! After they get bored, they both know that the mess needs to be taken care of, so they're aware at what they have to do before moving on to something else. Sometimes it takes a little coaxing, but they usually do the cleanup on their own, which shows us that they truly are learning as they go along!

Our "twins"

Camping 2009

Judging from the way things went this Labor Day weekend, Enz and I have come to an agreement that camping with the babies was a success, and we look forward to making this a yearly tradition for the family! All in all, things went well, and we thank our extended family for inviting us to be a part of their yearly camping trip.

In the weeks leading up to the trip, both Enz and I were a bit apprehensive on how things would go, and whether or not we'd spend the entire weekend away. We knew it would be a little tough for the kids to get adjusted to the new surroundings, and thought that maybe a one night stay would work out better. But then we figured that we'd have to break them in sometime, and what better time than now when they're really young?! Not only would we have to account for them, we still had to take into consideration how much we'd have to pack for ourselves, so this trip was sort of a "break-in" period for us as a family unit. After the weekend was over and we were safe and sound at home, we realized that we were fully prepared for everything and anything, and we breathed a big sigh of relief that it all went so well!

The first day was great, with the kids excited for being out in the open air and having a beach to play on. Our aunts and uncles were entertained by the little ones, and the cousins didn't seem to have any issues with having the babies around. Once nighttime fell, it was a different story. Since the kids didn't have the comforts of their own beds, they became a bit unruly at bedtime even though we tired them both out. We figured that all the excitement would have died down, and we even let them stay up later than normal, but it almost seemed like the fresh air energized them! Once they finally did go down, Enz and I were exhausted so we took the opportunity to catch some much needed rest. Of course, even after staying up so late, both Makenna and Isaiah were up at the butt-crack of dawn, full of energy and ready to tackle the next day!

The rest of the weekend was pretty much spent relaxing at the beach. Makenna enjoyed playing in the water and running away from the crashing waves, while Isaiah was perfectly content on the shore playing in the sand. When the occasional wave reached him, he laughed it off and just continued to fill buckets with sand, and dig for crabs. Makenna joined her little brother once the water got too cold, and she too was happy just playing in the sand. At bedtime, the second night was much easier, as the kids were fully spent, and both fell asleep in our arms. Putting them down was cake, and they slept through the night without moving an inch-that's how tired they were!

When we finally got home, the kids were once again full of life. As much as they enjoyed being away, they loved being back home! Then again, Makenna was already inquiring when we were going "bye-bye" again. Its apparent that they both enjoyed themselves, and we look forward to doing it all over again next year, with the kids a year older, and us a little wiser on how to run things ;)

The kids curiously exploring our "home" for the weekend

Breakfast chatter

On a morning walk/ride around camp

Mommy and the kids on a morning hike

Daddy and the kids on a morning hike

Makenna and mommy's morning faces...

Isaiah enjoying the wet sand

Makenna staying dry

Blowing off steam

Our dynamic duo continue to be a great source of entertainment, though there are days where we can use a break! Things have been less hectic in the home over the last few weeks, especially since all the back-to-back-to-back festivities have pretty much come and gone. It just seemed like we were on the go over the last couple of months, and now that we're experiencing a bit of a lull in the activity, it's giving us a bit of breathing room and some much needed "chill time" with each other. But having nothing planned can be equally as crazy. The kids keep us moving 24/7 with their boundless energy, and that's really an understatement!

Over the next couple of weekends, we've got a few trips planned, so that'll keep the kiddos guessing at what's next. We're actually taking the kids camping, so that'll be the true test of our patience, though we'll have lots of family around us to help keep the beasts in line! Hahahaha, they're really not that bad at all. Camping will be a great outing for them because they'll get to blow off as much steam as they can without fear of breaking anything! It should be a really fun experience, one we hope to make a yearly family tradition. This will definitely be a test for us as parents, as well as for us as a family. Wish us luck!

The kids saving $$$ for our next family outing

Inseparable?

So it seems that our little two-some are becoming more and more like one another. Though Makenna is 11 months older, some people still think we have twins! Just looking at them, it's pretty obvious they're not, with Makenna going through another quick growth spurt and standing almost a whole head taller than Isaiah.

The two are fun to watch as they do their own thing, though it seems that whatever they're doing, it needs to be done together. Isaiah still has the short attention span of a boy, and will change activities every few minutes or so. He's still into anything and everything about cars, and will play with his toy cars as long as his sister is nearby. Makenna's new thing is sitting up on her bed or the couch while reading books. No matter where she posts up, Isaiah is right by her, doing whatever. It's almost a security blanket for the both of them. Makenna can practice her "reading" so long as her brother is there as her mini audience, and Isaiah will play quietly as long as he can hear Makenna rambling on and on. It's funny how well the two mesh.

On the flip-side though, they can both work each other's nerves, and that's really and understatement! Neither one can live without the other, but on a bad day, they really know how to get under each other's skin. As much as Makenna tells us she loves her brother, and that she wants to give him hugs and kisses, she'll do things on purpose just to annoy him. If there's a pile of books, she'll always grab the ones she wants first and that doesn't bother the little man because he'll usually find one of interest left in the pile. Whatever book he grabs will instantly become the one that Makenna wants, and she'll immediately take it from Isaiah causing him to cry. But Isaiah knows what to do to upset Makenna as well. He's somehow learned to push her away and say no to her for almost anything. Anytime she wants to show him some love, he'll whine and scream "noooooo!" That in itself makes Makenna mad, so she'll still try to hug or kiss her brother, not realizing that she's smothering him in the process! Then Isaiah gets really irritated and by that time, one of us has to intervene. I guess it's all a part of growing up, and for now, we'll just have to deal with the little annoyances and just help the two learn and understand. Happy Friday everyone!

Believe it or not, Isaiah's "annoyed" look was NOT caused by Makenna!

Makenna's angelic little smirk

Terrible two's

When Isaiah was born, some 18 months ago, our baby girl Makenna was only 11 months old. At first we didn't think that would be a big issue, and figured that being so close in age would help them grow together in closeness. What we didn't realize was that by having them so close together, we would be taking away from the individual attention we would have been giving Makenna. But then again, what if we had twins? Then the whole thought of "individual attention" goes out the window, right? Having our kids grow up only 11 months apart wasn't really our choice, but it was the card we were dealt, and we're happy things happened the way they did.

Once Isaiah was born, and Makenna had to learn that she wasn't the only baby in the house, her terrible two's started a little early (or so we thought)! She's been a great big sister, and she tells the world proudly that Isaiah's her little brother! But apart from her loving, big sister role, her darker side has begun to rear it's head. Makenna is close to reaching the 2.5 year mark, and she's proven that she's a lot more wiser than her years. Not only is she freely speaking her mind, she's been pushing her little brother around! Who would've thought that our angelic little baby girl could be such a little bully?! We figure it must be some kind of pecking order of sorts, or survival of the fittest, or maybe even the idea that $hit rolls downhill. In the greater scheme of things, Isaiah's at the bottom of the hill, with Makenna just above him. That being said, it's natural for the older sibling to torment the younger one, so we chalk that up as normal. But when she turns around and tries to pull rank on one of us? It ain't happening, not in this lifetime! Picking on your younger sibling is one thing, but trying to talk back to your parents is totally different. We understand that this is just the beginning. In fact, this is normal for her age, and it'll grow from here. We're just trying to nip it in the bud so it doesn't get blown so out of proportion later on, that she's running us by the time she's 5 years old. Like I said, not in this lifetime!

At the end of the day though, after having all her fits, sitting in her naughty spot, and after all of her numerous apologies to the rest of the family, Makenna returns to her normal and well-behaved self. I'm not trying to say that she's a little spitfire every day, but more often than not, she shows a bit of sass and attitude. It must be the Sicilian side of her because Filipinos are known to be a calm and mellow people. Hehehe, just kidding, had to throw that one in there =) But seriously, at day's end, when she's winding down, it's hard to stay upset with her, especially when she flashes that million dollar smile and says "I love you."

Boy does she have us wrapped....

Makenna tormenting Isaiah...

Our little angel?

Isaiah's 18 month appointment

Its been a few weeks since I've updated the blog, and that's mainly because I really haven't found any time as of late. Even with the time I had off from work, with all of the parties and booked weekends we've had, it's just been tough to get a moment to share news about the "little" ones. Now that I find myself with a minute, here goes....

So Isaiah hit the 18 month mark yesterday, and he also had his 18 month doctor appointment (complete with his final two shots until his 2nd birthday). Though he's been fighting an ugly cough these past few weeks, the doctor said that everything looked great and that our little man was right on target. He was quite surprised that Isaiah was talking so much, and we figured that Isaiah started talking a lot more than Makenna did at this stage. Then again, he does have her to follow, and with that, he's also picked up some of her habits (but that's another story)! Isaiah wasn't in the best of moods at the doctor's office, maybe because deep down he knew he was getting a couple of shots? Nevertheless, the doctor let us know that all was well with Isaiah's development. Getting up to, and past, this milestone is a relief, and things can only get better from this point forward. It's such a relief to finally get past the initial baby stage and get him prepared for his terrible two's! Let's see how we handle when the little man begins acting out! Here are his latest measurements:

Weight = 25 pounds (50th percentile)
Height = 31.25 inches (25th percentile)
Head = 44 cm (60th percentile)

Looking back at Makenna's 18 month numbers, we were a bit surprised. At this stage, she was 1 pound heavier, 1 inch taller, and her head was 2 cm smaller. Though the differences in their measurments are minimal, the differences in their personalities is distinguishable! It's hard to tell exactly which of the two will be the mellow one. Only time will tell...

Isaiah at 18 months (Makenna took this picture)

Another flower girl experience

First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. and Mrs. John and Evelyn Sugrue! This past weekend we had yet another opportunity to get all decked out and celebrate as one of our cousins tied the knot. Makenna was also a part of the bridal party, acting as one of the flower girls alongside John's daughter Claire. Kenna loved the thought of getting "all dressed up" again, and anxiously waited for mommy to put on her lip gloss! Isaiah rocked his very first Barong Tagalog, and we were fortunate enough to have an occasion that he could wear it to! In a few weeks, I doubt he would've been able to fit into it, he's growing that fast!

The day started off early, though not as early as the previous weekend's wedding. And since Enz wasn't in the wedding, we didn't have to have Makenna up all day and night this time (thank God!). They both ended up missing their naps, but were able to make it through the entire ceremony and reception without much of an incident! At this wedding, there were a ton more kids, literally, and that made it much easier to handle our little monsters! They were able to run freely and enjoy themselves among their "peers." It was actually quite interesting to watch them act around kids their own ages and their own sizes. It allowed them to be themselves, and not have to worry about what the grown-ups were thinking about them. It also allowed us to relax a bit and enjoy ourselves without having to constantly look over our shoulder wondering where the kids were or what they've gotten into!

All in all, we had a great time, and we definitely welcome John into our ever-expanding family! Congrats again to the newlyweds!

Makenna and Isaiah on a mellow note, prior to the wedding ceremony

Ring Bearer and Flower Girl

First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS to Mr & Mrs. Jason & Gina Kasznar! Auntie Gina and Uncle Jason were kind enough to have both Makenna and Isaiah as part of their special day this past weekend, and it was an honor to have both of them represent! We all wish the newlyweds much luck & love in their new life together!

The wedding presented a big challenge for us in that the ceremony was in the late afternoon, and this would be the first time the kids had to take directions for something other than cleaning up their messes! The day started well enough, but when it came time for the actual wedding, things changed. Makenna didn't have a real nap all day, so she was letting her attitude out any chance she got. Isaiah wasn't having any part of the boutonniere on his lapel, so I had to take it off in order for him to stop crying and wear his jacket. Neither one of them wanted to eat nor sit still at the wedding, so we let them run free like wildebeests in Africa. That proved to be the best thing for them, as they enjoyed the freedom and danced the night away =)

We figured it was time to finally get the kids home when they both crashed out on mommy and Auntie Sarah. By then, it was already WAY past their bedtimes, and since neither one of them had their afternoon naps, they were beyond ready! Of course, since Isaiah was knocked out for some time during the reception, he was wide awake on the drive home, as if he just woke up from a refreshing nap! Makenna, on the other hand, was out cold and stayed asleep until we got home. When it came time to get her in the house, that's when all the real fun started. Apparently, all the excitement, fatigue, sugar, and everything else caught up to our baby girl, and she vomited all over her dress and my shirt =( Can't pinpoint exactly what set her off, but the rest of the night, up until about 4:30am, she would wake up heaving and crying from the pain. After 4:30, she was able to catch a break and slept for a solid four hour stretch. By the time 8:30am Sunday morning came around, Makenna was awake, running around as if she just didn't spend the entire night puking her guts out. Oh, to be young again!

Needless to say, it was a beautiful ceremony and a great reception, and we all had a great time, despite the obstacles we had to tackle afterwards! The best thing about it is that we get to do it all again this weekend, as Makenna plays flower girl in another wedding! Should be another fun day, just hope that neither one of them get sick in the end! Happy Monday!

Isaiah rockin' his monkey suit

Makenna sporting her flower girl dress and a fresh coat of lip gloss

Camero Family "Staycation"

Ahhhhh, what a difference a week makes! Last week both Enz & I were off, so we took that opportunity to take the kids on some much needed day trips. It was great to be away from the daily grind, just taking each day as it came with the babies! I'm sure Makenna and Isaiah enjoyed having both of us to torment, but we loved every minute of it, and now, it's back to the grind for all of us...

We did three day trips last week, since Monday was set aside for getting errands done, and Enz had work on Friday. We were pretty much on the go from Tuesday to Thursday, taking the kids to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Gilroy Gardens, and finally the Roaring Camp Railroad. The first daily adventure started off well with both kids being overly excited about seeing fish. Once we got to the aquarium, the kids were into it for about a minute, before transforming into "bebe kids!" UGH! It was as if we didn't even know our own children!! I think it may have been too much for them, too soon. Sure they love fishies, and they can sit through a good chunk of Finding Nemo, but for some reason, the aquarium just didn't do it for them. They both wanted to roam freely on their own, which normally wouldn't have been a problem. But factor in the sheer volume of people in that place, coupled with the darkness, and we could have definitely lost one of the kids! After "dragging" the kids through the aquarium, we ended it with a late lunch at Bubba Gump's, and even that was a bit taxing since the kids were just not having it!

Isaiah and Makenna getting their hands wet at one of the touch pools...

Makenna showing some interest in fish

On Day 2 of the Camero Outings, we were fairly optimistic on how the day would pan out, hoping that it wouldn't be a repeat of the previous day. Once we got to the Gilroy Gardens, both kids were ready to tear it up! We left their stroller at home and opted to rent one of the ones from the park. Neither one of them wanted to be in it at first, and they both were a bit on the whiny side. We thought "here we go again," but stayed positive. Once we got moving though, the kids enjoyed the stroller and were anxious to get out on their own. After their first ride, we let them run around freely, mainly because the park was a lot more open than the aquarium, plus it was pretty empty that day, so it made us feel a lot safer. The kids looked to be having a ball, and would occasionally come and sit in the stroller when they needed a break. Each and every ride was fun for them, but nothing came close to the water park! We kept that until the end, which worked out for the best, because after using up the remainder of their energy playing in the water, they were both EXHAUSTED! It made for a quiet drive home!

Happily holding hands as they enter Gilroy Gardens
Isaiah pimpin' his fast ride!
Makenna and Mommy in the Strawberry Ride The fam enjoying a train ride around the Gardens

On day 3, we visited the Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton. Isaiah is big on cars and trains, so this one was geared more toward him. We were hoping for the best on our final outing, praying that the excitement from the Gilroy Gardens would kind of run off into this day. Surprisingly, the kids loved the train ride, and loved being outdoors in the woods! Makenna especially liked being out by the "big trees" and was in awe of their size. After the hour-long train ride, we hung around and had lunch in the park, letting the kids blow off some steam before the ride home.

All in all, we had a terrific time being out away from home with the kids. We will definitely visit all three places again, though we'll hold off on the aquarium until the kids are a little older! Seeing the kids and their care-free spirits at the Gilroy Gardens was sort of a preparation for our future vacation to Disneyland! I'm sure the kids will be beside themselves once we take them there! For now, they can enjoy the memories of our first "mini-vacation!"

Isaiah and Mommy enjoying the scenery at Roaring Camp Railroad Mommy and the kids pose with one of the "big trees" Daddy posing with the kids