Catching Up on the Good Stuff part 4 of 4

Part of having two weeks off from work is going on adventures. Two adventures I really wanted to get in were going to the Hiller Aviation Museum off of 101 in San Carlos that I have driven by so often, wanted to go to, and have never actually been to. The other was to go to the visitor center at NASA Ames Research Center off of 101 in Mountain View. I have been to NASA many times but not since 9/11 which is when I heard they stopped giving tours. So, I’ll skip the long part of the story and just say that the visitor center for NASA was really sad and disappointing. I didn’t even take a single picture. I hope some day it becomes exciting but there was nothing to do or sit in or play with. We still had fun in Mountain View but not at NASA. Too bad as the kids have been on a space themed imagination run lately. The Aviation Museum, while small, however, was much more interesting.  Much much more interesting. We walked in part of a 747, watched planes and helicopters take off and land, looked at planes and helicopters, and got to touch things. Then, we bought toys in the store. I really like watching the kids play with toys.

Kids on the stairs of a 747.

The parking lot was blocked off for a special event. It immediately became a runway for new toy planes.

Finally! When I drive by this sight again I will have a mental picture of what is inside.

The kids are both growing up. They have had their own “room” for years but it was just a name. They have always slept with us. But a couple of weeks ago Tami spent the day preparing their room, moving things around, and organizing the space. She made them beds out of several blankets on the floor. It’s time for them to have their own room but I didn’t actually expect them to take to it. I was wrong. They took to it instantly. Naps and bed times are now in their own room. No fuss, no arguing, no issues. I thought there was supposed to be a load of issues to come along with transitions but, nope. Easy. The big kiddos have their own room. Soon we will be ordering them their own beds. For now, they are enjoying their floor-beds.

I was trying to be encouraging as I assumed Enzo was climbing all the way to the top. I see him about half way up and tell him “you’re getting there Kid.” He looks at me for a second and calls out “I’m already here.” Yes son, yes you are.

A couple days after the New Year, we had Enzo’s birthday party. New Years, by the way, was a raging party at our house at 9pm. We watched the East Coast live countdown with the kids. So, they got to stay up super late until 9pm. Then they were on their way to sleep when Aunti Tia, Fran, and later, Nicole, came over. Kids don’t fall asleep easily with Aunti Tia around so up they were until super duper late. I don’t remember how late, but it was late. They pretty much partied like rock stars for New Year’s Eve, dancing with me and Tami and then playing with toys until it was almost a new year. OK, like little kid rock stars.

In other growing up news, no more breastfeeding. Ana is now done. Tami weened her several weeks ago. Ana would have preferred to keep on going. Who wouldn’t? It’s been a couple of weeks but every now and then Ana will ask Tami for WaWas. Ana always called it WaWas and Enzo UhUh, Tami will say, in Spanish, no there is no more WaWas in there. And Ana says “Let me just see, Mami, let me see.” It’s pretty cute and funny.

This is Enzo cooking his own chocolate birthday cake. He enjoyed that.

They both enjoyed clean up.. a lot!

This year, Enzo wanted a space ship themed party with a space ship piñata. My dad ordered a custom, and giant, space ship piñata that came out very nice. My mom put on some custom touches including Enzo specific serial numbers and a picture of Enzo at the controls, flying the ship. Tami then made and decorated another excellent space ship cake. I think everyone had a good time. I did.

Aunti Tia and Ana giving apple wedge kisses.

One day I called the kids my cuddle muffins while I hugged them and snuggled them early in the morning, still in bed, and they started laughing. Now, cuddle muffins is just one of their names. The funny thing, besides cuddling with adorable cuddle muffins, is that often Ana or Enzo will decide that they are not a cuddle muffin but the “cooker.” He or she will wriggle out of our arms when we are cuddling and then throw invisible ingredients on to me and Tami the other cuddle muffin, Enzo or Ana, which ever is still cuddling with us. Then they cook us and then we’ll be “hot hot” as they touch us with a finger and quickly withdraws their hand from our hot freshly cooked cuddle muffin selves. Then, the cook will jump in and be a cuddle muffin too. Variations on this also occur. Recently I was a beso monster (kiss monster) while Ana and Tami were tickle monsters and we were all cuddle muffins once Ana was done cooking us.

We spent a day together, just me and the kids, in Mountain View.

This is the coolest idea for a restaurant. The kids get these draw toys to play with and the kids menu is on the back. Awesome. Totally entertained while we waited.

I asked the kids to smile for Grandpa so I could text him a picture because Ana was wearing one of her Christmas gifts.

Then I asked them to smile again so I could get a picture to send Aunti Tia. Without any prompting they stuck out their tongues and made a stick-out-your-tongues-silly-noise and wouldn't let me take any other kind of picture of them.

As in previous years, the extra big piñata became a toy.

My very happy 4 year old astronaut.