Zoey and Hayden visited Santa Claus today and did not freak out. Hayden appears to be a little nervous about the situation but I think the preparation the last couple days must have helped. Zoey asked Santa for a dollhouse and Hayden a bike. It’s nice to only wait a few minutes to see Santa that’s why we make the trek up to Otay Ranch. There’s never a line and the photos come out really good.
Santa Claus Photo 2011
This year has been very eventful for us in terms of the holidays because Zoey and Hayden understand them a lot more so building traditions for our family has never been more exciting. We went back and forth on whether we would put up a tree because of the big move this month but I’m so glad we did because the twins were so happy to decorate the house and our small little tree. They also officially named their Elf on the Shelf “Pippin” and take turns sleeping with him at night. I guess that kind of defeats the purpose but it’s so cute. Matt and I have also been singing them a new Christmas song every night “Zoey memorizes them” in hopes that we can catch them singing one in the complete on Christmas Day.
Hayden decorating our tree
This ornament has last year's photo of them with Santa. Zoey was very concerned that she and Hayden were crying.
Then that evening after baths we dressed Zoey and Hayden up in their Christmas jammies for some photos with the decorated tree.
Finding Christmas songs to sing on Daddy's iPhone
I love it and Thank you Kacie for the beautiful pictures and hubby for the new look.
This past Friday we experienced an extremely terrifying incident in our house that I feel compelled to share with all of you…with as many people as I can.
The incident on Friday was one of my worst fears come true and I am assuming probably one of yours. My daughter Zoey choked on her food to the point of me having to perform the Heimlich on her. It wasn’t on the common “don’t give your child whole grapes, hot dogs or hard candy until well after 4 years old or beyond” but on peeled and diced apples in her oatmeal. Thankfully, one of our clients at work is the American Heart Association and I help them on a few of their annual events which teach attendees things like CPR. Otherwise, I might not have known what to do or how quickly to respond to the situation.
I post this “parent to parent” to remind us all of how easy it is to choke on the simplest things but also in hopes that everyone if you already have not will use my experience to make it a priority to receive CPR training or certification. We all get to that point where we are just more and more comfortable the older our children get and ease up on simple safety precautions but not everyone’s 2 or 3 or 4 year old children are expert eaters. I mean they’ve really only been eating normal food for 1 or 2 years.
A group of us had CPR Certification over the weekend with Nathan at CPR Advantage. It’s definitely worth the $50 dollars if you can get 10 people together. If you want his information I can pass it along. Send me an email at rstallings1976@gmail.com.
Please please please remember that it is still good to practice the dice up things like grapes, hot dogs, carrots, melons, gummy things and anything that seems like it could be a choking hazard rule. I noticed today at the Twin’s Preschool about half of the kid’s “after-nap snack” were whole grapes. This was kind of the icing on the cake for me. I personally feel like everyone should follow the cut it up until 4 years old rule but I am jaded. I thought there was some Pediatric rule that you should dice until 4 years old at least the choking hazards??? Needless, I am beyond paranoid and this was MY WAKE UP CALL.
This morning the twins were in a Halloween Parade for their Preschool. We were running late so we had to rush up to catch up with the other kids. Go figure!!! But, we were able to hit up all the parents giving out candy on the way which made Zoey and Hayden real happy. The twins are having so much fun this year with the idea of Halloween and so are we. I dressed them in multiple costumes. For their birthday they were Mikey Mouse and Mini Mouse and for Halloween they were Tinker Bell and Peter Pan costumes that Mark and Karen Kingsbery got them at one of our showers. I remember getting these as a gift and thinking it would be a decade before these little babies in my belly could wear these. Well, that came up quick.
Charlotte the Cowgirl
I'm ready to go Trick or Treating.
Miss Maise
Mr. Peter Pan
Maise, Charlotte, and Ruby
Miss Tinker Bell...I love this photo...Gavin in the back in Thomas the Train
Lyla and Josie
The Green Classroom
Eating their Halloween Treats
Isn't this little baby the cutest!!! She is a little Audrey.
Kelsey, Paige, Tyler, Zoey, Hayden and Me
Celebrating our Special Day
Bird Park Music in the Park - Tyler Eating Icecream
The Kids Dancing to the Music
Lucia
Paige sharing her icecream with Tyler
Kellogg Beach Another Favorite Summer Spot
Water Girl Zoey
Cousin Tyler and his Tootsie
Water Boy Hayden
Uncle Jeromy *Hayden's Favorite
Surfer Girl Cousin Paige
Uncle Jeromy pulling Zoey
Grammy Clela and Hayden
Zoey having a blast riding the boogie board
Tony and Lucia Jeromy and Paige
Yvette and Juliana
Pappy Todd and Hayden
BBQ and Uncle Jeromy Aunt Kelsey Cousin Paige and Tyler's House
Tyler
Cousin Paige and Zoey Princess Party
Hayden Playing Uncle Jeromy's Guitar
The Stalling’s Family visits Oma’s Pumpkin Patch and Farm to pick out our pumpkins for Halloween. This place was super easy to find and not crazy packed with people which we really liked. Plus, it was $7 dollars for an entry fee which included a hay ride, drink and a pumpkin. You can’t beat that price. They had so many fun activities for the children too like cotton hill rides, playground galore, petting area, etc. We had tons of fun.
I love pumpkins
This one Mommy.
It's not a ball Hayden...it's a pumpkin.
Milking the fake cows
Hay hills
Cotton Hill
Ladder Golf
checking out the pigs
This is what was on the road on our way out. What the heck?
Emma, Zoey and Hayden all celebrated their 2 year old birthdays together and I think it’s going to be this way for the rest of their lives…sharing this special day….just like their Mothers. The birthday was Abby and Elmo Theme and Auntie Renee went way over the top for this party as did we. There were so many fun activities for the kids like a big giant jumpy house, a clown that made magical balloon characters and face painted. The food was incredible by a local Mexican food place and he desserts were AMAZING. We love these functions because it’s an excuse for the entire family to come together and just catch up. We have an enormous family in San Jose and I believe almost every single one of them came as well as all our mixture of friends. Big PARTY!!!
Abby and Elmo Bday Decor
Outside Decorations
Zoey's Abby Birthday Outfit
Emma in her Birthday Abby Outfit
Hayden's Elmo Birthday Outfit
We went to Balboa Park to take the twins on a train ride…it’s super quick and cheap. They’ve been begging me to go on it for months. They totally loved it. Then we strolled around Balboa Park and the Museums. I love that we only live just around the corner from so many amazing venues, resources and activities. The thought of leaving this place doesn’t even cross my mind. We are so central and I wouldn’t change exposing the twins to such great experiences for the world.
First Train Ride....YEAH!!!!
Zoey doesn't ride these things with Mommy only Daddy which is so cute to me.
I'm ready Mr. Zebra
Zoey not so sure.
Train ride is done...yippy skippy!!!
Can we dance now...
How much money do you think is in the fountain, Daddy?
Do you think anyone would notice if I jumped into the fountain?
We love these colorful squares.
Cousin Paige
Hayden having so much fun
And Zoey too
Playing in the Cousins new sandbox
Strike a Pose, Tyler.
Neighborhood kid Ethan
Grammy Clela loving being with all the grandchildren
Ava the cutest neighborhood kid
Uncle Jeromy
Fun with Daddy or Uncle Matt
Grammy playing with Zoey
Halloween Family Photo
Check out my belly button
look a balloon
