A Date with Claira

I got to spend a few hours with just Claira on this day. I have not done that since my first 2 months of maternity leave. I was startled, actually, at the slight difference in her personality. It's not something I can really describe...just different. One thing is for sure, I could tell she was really enjoying being the "only one." I'd like to do more "dates" with each of them, someday.

Just for the heck of it I plopped her down in Ellia's forward-facing seat to try it out. She was kind of confused but liked it, of course. Looks like that'll be the next purchase!

SUNNY DAYS make life lighter & brighter

Playing restaurant or birthday party is Ellia's main thang right now. Sometimes we go for walks around the neighborhood looking for special and new "ingredients" for the meals she wants to cook. When we find something I ask her what it is and she says "That's a sho-sha-low" or whatever random syllables she can string together. "OOh, ok, a sho-sha-low. That's gonna taste good!"

The entire family came to visit us!
(Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Adam & Auntie Carissa) Ellia was very, very excited to have visitors, as she always is. Grandpa took her out shopping and then we all went to the beach! This was Claira's first time spending lots of time in the beach sand. She did her kimchi squat and used a shell to dig up sand...over and over. The weather was absolutely perfect...and you can't beat the lighting the beach gives you for photographs to capture a day with your family.

Just a Friday at The Aquarium. But this was a great day. I'll always remember it and not for any particular reason either. I just felt so happy and blessed as I went about my day with them in the sunshine. I'm so lucky they exist.

NEW! Ellia & Claira's books finally done...

Every year I put together a personalized book for each girl & get it published. I buy 1 for them and 1 for me. At the end of each book I document the monthly transition of her face through the 12 months. It always stuns me to compare the first photo with the last photo...so much happens in 1 year in the blink of an eye.
(You can click on the photos to see a closer look)

Ellia's 3rd Year

Claira's 1st Year

Mommy & Me time

I like this "photo-journalism" photo. If I wasn't carrying my keys and a tricycle maybe I could've made it really good!

I got to have a 'date' with Ellia. Claira stayed home with Daddy & I escorted Ellia to her very 1st Birthday party of a school mate! It was at Adventure City (where Ellia had her 2nd birthday). So she wanted to wear the shirt they gave her on that day. (It's still one of her favorites & for some reason she calls it her "roar" shirt...)

This was a 1st for me: Riding a roller coaster with my little girl! I can't wait to ride lots more (Six Flags!!)

I loved to watch Ellia interact with her school friends. It's another facet of her that not everyone sees. She's very comfortable with them & is very goofy & social. It was nice to also be a part of it WITH her since I know the time will come when I'm a distant bystander...then I'm just a chauffer!


I had the brilliant idea to let them "cook" in the front yard. FYI, this sooo up Ellia's alley. She was so intense about it. She cooked me a wonderful soup (pictured above). Claira was into it for a long time too! Her favorite was picking out rocks and bringing them to Ellia's soup. Then she wanted to climb on the tricycles...then the brick wall...

I like this picture because I was struck by the twin stature of the sisters!
I, personally, don't think my two girls look a lot alike (which I enjoy). But this photo is so interesting because it shows the hidden layers of their similarity. Their leg stance is the same, the angle of their torso is the same, and they are both very intent on what they're doing.

Grandpa & Halabogee time...

Egg Hunt 2010

Los Angeles Zoo (new members! Thanks Grandpa!)

Monday or Friday lunches with Halabogee

Snuggles & Stories...

Another year of Angel portraits!

Guitar Lessons?

Ellia Unplugged

Ellia Update

Ellia continues to help me co-parent Claira. She is such a special help, not only when she literally helps me like an adult would. But also, just her presence
is a help because of how interested Claira is in whatever Ellia is doing. My favorite thing to see is: Ellia suddenly decides she has something to do and leaves the room to get started with whatever just occured to her. In "5-4-3-2-1" Claira notices Ellia's gone and so she stops whatever she's doing and waddles in the direction Ellia went.

Daddy got energized and creative so we all ended up with new wheels! I got a new bike (love it) and so did he. And the little ones got their own "tent" to ride in.
As long as they have a baggie of Cherrios in there they are lovin' the ride!
Thanks Daddy!


Jackson's little bro, Griffin, turned 1! His parents threw an awesome Pirate Treasure Hunt party in their backyard! Ellia spent most of the time in the sand box doing a "dinosaur dig" but once the treasure hunt was underway she was all in - eye patch and all! Now, when I take them out to our grass area in our neighborhood she tries to dig for gold coins!

Goofin' around with goof-ball Alan!