We had a very relaxing December.  I had a couple of extra days off off work, so we went back to Palm Springs.  We love the Hyatt in Indian Wells.  They treated us so nicely there.  We had less Hanukkah festivities than most years this year, but the kids still had their fill and are filled to the rim with gifts!

Family trip to the Grove; waiting in line for the trolley

Jordan seeing Frozen on Ice with Tammy, Gia and Kelly.  Hooked up with the killer seats via Darren Baum!

Tammy and Tali workin the holiday book sale at the kids’ school:

Hosting 1st night at our house:

Celebration at Avi and Jan’s

Bros

Scoring a box full of gifts from Nanny and Poppy

Jordan singing Hanukkah songs at school

And, last but not least, snuggles with Mommy:

Happy New Year.  May 2016 be everybody’s best year yet!

Fall is finally here.  On our street you can even tell.

We had a nice hike up on Mulholland now that it’s not 100 degrees every day.  Nice to finally be able to hike with both kids and no stroller or baby carrier!

Break time!

Michael had his birthday at Eco-Station and the kids enjoyed seeing the different animals there.  I love when the kids hold hands

We took Eli to his first movie and Jordan his 2nd or 3rd along with the Gordons.  The new Charlie Brown movie!

Eli needed a haircut.  We tried spiking it.

Jordan and Eli having fun with their friends playing at home.  PARTY BED!

Jordan generally refuses naps but take him on an afternoon walk and he falls asleep in the stroller.  Here’s Eli trying to wake him (and snuggle him)

Chicken and nooyles

Fun at the park, holding hands down the slide

Preparing Thanksgiving dessert

And finally yummy Thanksgiving at Safta’s

Milk it does your body good

Eli’s first trip to Disneyland was much less crowded than when we went for Jordan’s.  I took a day off mid-week and we stayed until evening.  When Jordan asked us after less than 2 hours when we would be going home I questioned why we were there in the first place, but in the end, Jordan had fun, and Eli enjoyed every minute.

Arriving…

Merry-go round

Tunnel!

Meeting Mickey

Meeting Pooh

Meeting Tigger

Family fun!

It seems like just yesterday that our house was all about Woody, Buzz and Toy Story everything.  Last year at this time, Jordan was already talking about which Toy Story character he would be this year.  We are not sad to see all of that go.  This year Jordan dressed up as “a police” as he says.  He leaves off the “man.”  Eli was his fireman sidekick:

Trick or treat

Here’s Eli showin off his belly earlier in the day at a friend’s Halloween party

The kids’ first duet selfie

We had a fun time at my friend Ryan’s kid Hudson’s 2 year old birthday

And then I checked out the new house behind us, just out of curiosity.  I had no idea Tammy’s brother Yossi would end up buying it!  We are so excited to have them so close.  Here’s the picture I took the day I looked at the house from the master bedroom balcony looking at our house.  Too bad there are so many cinder block walls in between.  Oh well, right around the block is pretty close!  We are all very excited.

Jordan’s and Eli’s school had Harvest festival a few days before Halloween.  I was able to go in late to work that day to watch Eli and his friends enjoy it.  Tammy was also there with Jordan and his friends later in the day.

Eli loves dogs, but was a little skittish about the sheep and goats

Group shots

Not every kid enjoyed it, but Eli had fun

Jordan’s turn

Kisses

Jordan doesn’t nap anymore but if we take him in a stroller or a car in the afternoon he falls asleep immediately.  Here’s Eli trying to wake him up after a walk.

Hayley and Eli

Night out for a wedding

Pumpkin patch again

Jordan and his posse

Jordan and Gia

There are no words to describe how much love and joy we get from Eli.  He’s the most easy going kid I’ve ever met.  He mostly smiles and gives love, and if he’s upset, he gets over it immediately.  Here’s what he looks like at 2

We celebrated his birthday all week, starting with balloons on the morning of his birthday

And then Tammy took Eli to the pumpkin patch and to eat lunch

Birthday cupcake at home

And then we had a special celebration in his class at school the next day

With popsicles and friends

Poppy and Nanny came to celebrate too!

And had a little party at My Gym, which Eli LOVED every minute of

Here’s a couple of other videos that had to be shared

Can’t wait to see what he will experience in his next year!

The kids are easing into their routines at school and we’re just hoping it will cool down one of these days.  Here’s the latest:

Jordan and Eli are ready for Halloween with their costumes:

Lots of fun times with cousins

And going to the park

Tammy took the kids to Underwood Farms to enjoy rides and fun.  Eli had a blast with his buddy Eli and his cousins

And rode a pony

We got to see my friend Brian and meet his beautiful baby Sadie

And Tammy went to her high school reunion!

We are so happy and tired.

It’s been one HOT summer here in So Cal.  90s and 100s almost every day since late July.  Everyone is actually looking forward to the predicted El Nino winter for rain and cooling down.  And the kids are both enjoying school.  Eli is getting dropped off at school twice a week and he has never once cried about it.  🙂

Here’s the latest:

The end of summer…

Jordan got a new bike from Safta, and after being a little hesitant at first, he now loves riding it.  And Eli has taken over the tricycle, sitting on the back step and low-riding…

The kids love school and are thriving there.

First day:

More

I’ve been taking Eli to Daddy and Me too

We celebrated the new year at Safta’s

And Tammy and I had a night far away in Santa Monica to celebrate our birthdays and at in Malibu for the first time at Nobu (YUM!).  We also borrowed hotel bikes to take a ride on the beach

We also celebrated with the kids on our actual birthdays

Jordan is still lego obsessed

And the kids really love each other

And we love them SO MUCH

I took Jordan to his first baseball game last weekend:  Dodgers vs. Cubs.

Keeping things consistent, the Cubs lost as they usually do when I’ve seen them over the course of my life.  Luckily we were rooting for the Dodgers and got to see a pretty good game.  And I was impressed that Jordan lasted the whole game.  We decided to leave in the top of the 9th to beat traffic (as LA people do).

We had great seats

Having Hayley, Jonah and Dan with us, made it so much fun for Jordan!  Jonah is a bigger fan than any of us.  He didn’t miss a play