sister love

For Christmas the girls got another set of twinsie pj's. so fuzzy and cute!

eating lunch together and gabbing away...

waking up from Ava's nap
Decorating the window full of hearts for Valentine's Day. (Ava such a character in her shades and pearl necklace--i hope you know she takes it upon herself to wear these things!)
walking to the park together...holding hands.

walking through the clover patches. so vibrantly green from the sun light at that time of day.

Quick sister love story: In the bath last night Hailey was talking to me about how she wasn't with us for Christmas this year and I was expressing to her that we missed her. Ava heard me say this and, I assume, interpreted it as me saying I would miss Hailey and that she was leaving, becasue she looked up immediately from the rubber duckie in her hand and said "no Hay-ya bye bye". Hailey has asked Ava many times in the past if she wants her to leave (usually as Hailey is getting ready to go back to her mom's) Ava usually says "ya" because it's a question she doesn't fully understand. If you ask Ava anything that she doesn't understand, she'll say her classic "ya" to anything (for example, we've asked Ava on many occasion if she wants to go to the moon and she has always replied with"ya") On this night Hailey asked Ava (after her "no Hay-ya bye bye") "do you want me to leave, Ava?" and Ava said "no". Hailey then, checking to be absolutely sure, said, "do you want me to stay, Ava?" and Ava said "ya". Hailey couldn't believe it! It filled her up inside so much the next thing out of her mouth after a gasp and look over to me to see if I had just heard that was "oh, I love you Ava...SO MUCH!" I could tell she longs for Ava to love her as much as she loves Ava. What she doesn't realize is that Ava absolutely already does.

The sounds of 146 Towne Terrace when Hailey is here :)!

their laughter is contagious. even from these pictures.

Portraits of Hailey Bailey Boo

Hailey is like my little model these days. She's all a-smile when she sees the lens come toward her. I love the look in her eyes when she smiles too. She's so genuine and sweet. I love her dearly and feel immensely grateful that we can have the connection we do together after all the nonsense that's been fed to her in her younger years. This weekend I was drawn to her child-like beauty and the love that she has to share with us. Oh, and she lost another tooth! See? It's hard to miss ;)

She's getting so big, but can't you connect to that little girl left in her in this picture? I see pure innocence in this one.
Those eyes. so blue.
Little chipmunk cheeks :)

Love this girl. So glad she can be with us and call us her family too.

Look at Kekoa Grow~

Kekoa is 5 months and getting more cuddly by the day. He's just beautiful, isn't he? Such a sweet sweet boy. He is very mellow and holding him relaxes me. I love his age too. 5 months was when I started to feel more confident with Ava and her colic and reflux subsided, so seeing him this age brings back all those feelings of 'this is what I always wanted and imagined it would be like to have a baby'.

Kekoa took a ride in the swing for the first time and we were there to witness it on Thursday! Ava seemed so big next to him and was swinging much higher than him, of course. Where has the time gone!?
Hailey got to hold him when she got to our house on Saturday. She loved it and Kekoa loved looking over at Brad sitting across the room. He is an observer. He could watch Ava and Hailey play for long periods. There is a lot to learn and take in :)
Sweet little hands.
oh, Kekoa. We love you so much. You get cuter everyday!

Ava's first pig tails...oooh the cuteness!

I couldn't resist trying and here is the result!

(In this picture she's clearly saying something that stars with the letter "s" from the looks of that mouth ;))

She loved this merry-go-round at Belgatos Park.
Look at that little doll...

Grandma Koch turns 100!

On Saturday Helen Marie Koch celebrated 100 years of life with her beloved family. We all gathered in Pleasanton to honor her journey. It was amazing. She is such a sweet soul. Still, at 100 years, the conversation starter, asking many questions and listening with care to the answers. She is known for the positive strength she has carried with her as she has faces life circumstances and, as a grandmother, for her unconditional love. We were all touched to be with her on this occasion and feel blessed to have her in our lives.
Brad's mom, Anne, had the house decorated in her honor. When I talked with Grandma I asked her how she was and if they had thrown her a party in her nursing home. She said "oh, honey, if they did I wouldn't remember". I laughed with her about that. She's lost some of her short term memory and here she is joking about it! I hope I can laugh about the things that happen to me as I age someday.
Grandma held Ava after asking Ava if she could hug her. Ava walked right over to her at the request and I lifted her to Grandma's lap. It touched me to see them together. 1 year and 100 years. Life is an amazing thing. Just to think of what Grandma has seen and what Ava will see... Here are some pictures of Grandma with her great grandchildren:
Grandma holding Caroline, 3 years.
Tabetha, 2 years.
Kai, 6 years

Ava playing with Tabetha and Kai, who were wonderful, gentle and so kind to her. I've never seen Ava play so nicely with other children than I did with these two!
Tabetha and Ava being silly together
Caroline walking her duck. "auntie Cassie, take a picture of me with my duck!"
Time to eat. Aunt Pat, Grandma's eldest daughter, prepared a delicious lunch. Croissant sandwiches and pasta salads.
Grandma's cake
Brad's Dad, Jim, sitting with Grandma as he said his blessing
The family gathered to read Grandma something that Anne put together. It was an outline of the historical events that she has lived through. They included: Wars, the Great Depression, Presidents, technological advancements, and silly things, like the first bikini ever sold in 1946 ;) Uncle Butch (her youngest son) is reading to her here...
Anne (M0m) reading to her...
Geoff reading to her...
Betty and Caroline snuggling and listening quietly

family listening (Grace, Brian, Tabetha, Rachel and Courtney)
Grandpa with Ava
Cass, Ava, Grandma and Brad
Geoff, Grandma, Caroline, and Betty
Grandma expresses her gratitude.

Time to say goodbye to Grandma. Ava was so tired so she is almost asleep in the ERGO.

Betty sharing a moment with Grandma.
A beautiful drive home with light pouring through cloud banks. It was a nice way to end the day and reflect on Grandma on the way home while Ava rested her little eyes in the back seat.

Happy 100th Birthday, Grandma. You are as special as you think we are!

Cute Cousins

Geoff, Betty and Caroline stayed with us in Los Gatos for Thursday night and Friday night. We really loved spending time with them and playing together. We had a nice couple of days and the girls warmed up to each other nicely after learning how to share toys ;) Here they are on Saturday before Grandma's party. Sweet little munchkins. (oh, and check out Ava's dress auntie Hsiaolei! Doesn't she look sweet in it? thank you!)

A little video of the 2 of them laughing with each other in the morning while they play :)

Come back soon, Caroline! We'll miss you guys! xoxo