Spring time

It seems that my posts are becoming few and far between, but it's not for lack of content nor the desire to write about the kids. It's mainly due to a lack of time these days. When I find myself with a free moment, the first thing I like to do is catch my breath because it seems like there's always something happening, or we're always on the go. As the kids grow older, I'm sure things will become a lot more hectic, so I'm jumping on the opportunity now to take a moment and "smell the roses" so to speak =)

Quite a lot has happened since I last wrote about the kids' birthday party. Here's what the kids have been through, in a nutshell:

- Makenna finally became FULLY potty-trained! YEA! She corrects us every time we mention her name and the word diaper in the same sentence.
- Makenna got accepted to preschool, and will begin this coming Fall. She is so excited to be around lots of new kids, and in a new environment. We're both so proud of her. I'm sure the tears will flow that first day (from Mommy), but nevertheless, we know she's been ready for this next stage in life!
- Isaiah has started to learn to use the toilet, all on his own. He's been letting us know when he has to go #1, and will even initiate it by walking into the bathroom while attempting to pull off his diaper. One morning he woke up completely naked and told us he had to go pee-pee as he casually strolled into our bathroom! What a clown!
- Isaiah has finally come out of his shell, and is no longer the "shy kid" of the family. Then again, neither one of them are, so it's been good to see Isaiah become so outgoing and outspoken! It seems that he's doing and discovering things faster and at an earlier time than his sister. But that's to be expected since he has her as his "mentor!"

As the warmer months rapidly approach, we're all looking forward to the time we'll spend together as a family, doing all the family stuff. This summer we're taking our first family vacation, and the kids are already SO excited! We can't wait to see their faces light up when we take that first step into Disneyland, and you know our camera will see it's share of work on that vacation!

Isaiah's silly face

Makenna's silly face

posing on Easter morning

The Camero Family - Easter 2010

Pump It Up 2010

This year we decided to combine the kids' birthdays in an effort to save a little coin. Having back-to-back parties isn't always feasible, though this is only the second year we've had to worry about such a thing. The turnout was the norm for a Camero party, filled with family and friends, and we all had a great time!

Isaiah proved to a lot of "non-believers" that he's a strong and independent two-year old. He took on all of the obstacles and slides like a trooper! Grandma was worried that he wouldn't be able to go down the big slide on his own, but he repeatedly showed her that he was more than capable of keeping up with the big kids! After that, she finally did what we all did and just let him do his own thing. It worked out well because by the end of the party, he was all tuckered out!

Makenna became a little more daring this time around. Unlike a lot of the other kids who wanted to slide down together with adults, she opted to do it all herself. We always knew she would end up being the independent one, we just didn't realize she would be that way from the start! She got creative with some of the other kids, and slid down backwards, sideways, and any which way! Needless to say, she had a blast.

Though her birthday isn't for another couple of days, I don't think she minded sharing her special day with her brother. If their birthdays were any closer, we would probably end up combining their parties every year, but it looks like we'll do the big milestone celebrations separately. For now, they were both content on thier big day at Pump It Up.

Isaiah sliding down on his own

Makenna attempts a different method of slidingReady to go again! That was fun, let's do it again! "The Cousins"

Isaiah turns 2!

Last Friday was Isaiah's 2nd birthday, and to celebrate, we took our little man to Chuck E. Cheese! Despite the bad pizza, Isaiah had a blast with all the fun games and little kiddie rides! Makenna enjoyed celebrating with her little brother, and it appeared that she was more than ready for her upcoming birthday. Its hard to believe that two years has already passed since we welcomed our little man into this world! Seriously, where did all the time go? It seemed like last week he was wearing newborn diapers, and that yesterday he was taking his first steps... They weren't joking when they said that time flies when you're having fun! Can't wait to see how these next couple of years pan out, as Isaiah gets exposed to new things as a two year old.

As many kids are, we were surprised to see that Isaiah wasn't afraid of Chuck E. Cheese. In fact, he wanted to approach the oversized rat, but we couldn't get to him before his break time. Oh well, there'll be other times! For now, we were able to ring in Isaiah's 2nd year with a close and personal celebration with the four of us! At the moment, it's hard to believe that we have two 2 year olds running around the house, but that'll change in a couple of weeks. I guess this is kind of what it would be like to have twins, huh?

The birthday boy on his "throne"

Isaiah enjoying his birthday cupcake

Singing Happy Birthday to the little man

Our silly two-year olds!

Back to normal...

Things on the homefront have finally gotten back to normal, at least until then next big event. And while the holidays are now a thing of the past, the kids still have a couple of fun things to look forward to. In a couple of short weeks, our little man will be hitting the two-year mark, and only a month after, our baby girl will be three! Seems like last week when we found out we were having a baby. That would make it seem like yesterday when we found out we were having another-it was THAT quick! Thoughts still abound on whether or not we plan on having any more, but that's another story...

For the most part, the kids are still their goofy selves! We've been on the hunt for a preschool for Makenna, and we can see the anticipation in her eyes whenever we bring up the topic. She is more than ready to be "unleashed" into the real world, and we hope it's ready for her! It'll be interesting to see how Isaiah reacts to his sister being gone for most of the day. And while he'll miss his big sister, it'll also give him a chance to have time to himself, as well as some one-on-one time with his grandma (or whoever watches him). Since we've had Isaiah, he's only known life with a sibling, so to see how he is on his own while she's in school will be a treat!

Isaiah's mohawk

Makenna's fluffy after-braid fro...
Our goobers =)

Christmas 2009

Wow, how quickly the holiday season came and went! Not long after saying "Happy Thanksgiving," we were counting the days until Christmas. Once that passed, we counted the remaining days of 2009 and welcomed 2010 with open arms. Now we're into the second full week of the new year, and we find ourselves anxiously looking ahead for the next big holiday. It's a vicious cycle, and before you know it, we'll be getting ready for yet another holiday season! But there are many things that'll take place way before then, so let's slow our roll just a bit, shall we?!

Christmas is, and always will be, a great holiday, especially to a couple of fun-loving toddlers! This past Christmas was no different. Both Makenna & Isaiah greatly anticipated this one though, as they developed a better understanding of the whole "Santa Claus" thing! It was a lot more fun to see them light up whenever we brought up the topic of old Saint Nick and the idea that he had a naughty and nice list. Of course that brought out some of the best behavior in the two of them, but that's not to say that they didn't test us at times! Then again, at this age, what kid doesn't disobey every once in a while?! Aside from walking the fine line between naughty and nice, the kids enjoyed themselves this season. Makenna especially learned to tell us, almost on a daily basis, exactly what she wanted from Santa for Christmas. And she was fairly specific too, down to the type and color! Not bad for an almost-three year old. Isaiah just went with the flow, and was excited in general. Whenever Makenna would get excited about something, he would act the same, even though he didn't know what all the excitement was about!

When it came down to Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, the kids were speechless! They thought the gifts were limitless, and that they would never end! What more can I say? The Christmas season through the eyes of two young children is full of priceless memories, and we can't wait until Christmas of 2010!!

The Camero ladies bake cookies for Santa's arrival!
Makenna's Christmas dress
Opening gifts on Christmas Eve

Isaiah's models his safety goggles from his Home Depot workbench
More Christmas Eve gifts
The silly Camero men
The kids reluctantly say "goodbye" to Christmas (the day we put the tree away)

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...