Everett is TWO

 My boo boo is 2!  We survived two whole years. ;)  He is definitely a handful- all boy mixed with a bit of drama queen.  But he is also so loving and constantly giving kisses and saying, "hi mama" or "hi dada" in his cute little coy voice.

He has been a daddy's boy since he was born...often wanting nothing to do with me!  But like Ella around 2, he is starting to really want mama.  He also adores grandpa and always wants to in grandpa's man cave with him.

He loves trucks, buses and trains in real life and in books, but as for toys, he is all tools, all the time.  He is completely obsessed with measuring tapes, he screams when we leave the new house because he could watch the guys working all day long, and he received a toy jack hammer for this birthday, which he won't put down.  We're pretty sure he's going to be a contractor one day!

He's still not a big talker (more of a big crier!), but he understands everything and will pretty much repeat any word you say.  His favorite word is "mine" followed by "truck" and "bus".

Unlike most younger siblings who are obsessed with their older siblings, he would rather his sister just leave him alone!  She is the one obsessed with him.  Although he doesn't say it, I'm pretty sure if he could, he'd constantly be saying, "Get away from me!  Leave me alone!  Stop touching me!"  He does love her to death though, and watching them together...playing, hugging, watching out for each other...is the absolute greatest joy in my life.  I relish every moment like that since it always eventually turns to one hitting while the other screams. ;)

Day with the Boys

Sundays are the only day that Everett sometimes gets an extended period of time with just Gary and I because Ella goes to church with my parents...which I love since I always feel a little guilty that Ella got 2+ years alone with us, and Everett never gets any time alone!

So we went out to breakfast...let's head out guys!

Not a very good shot, but he looks so stinking cute in his puffy orange vest!!!!

Then we did some errands, including a big Ikea run, where daddy gave Everett a crazy cart ride...

And the car looked like this after we were done...

Christmas Photo Disaster

We decided to attempt to get some photos of the kids today...it did not go well.  It started off pretty decent.  It was a beautiful clear fall day, which I captured while changing my settings...

And Everett didn't seem to mind this test shot...

I thought, "thank God, he's in a good mood...he's letting me take his picture."  However, he wasn't in the 'proper' picture taking with my sister mood.  75% of the time, he is super affectionate and will hug and kiss us and Ella.  25% of the time he will push you if you get near him.  And of course, we were in the 25% today.

He just wanted to do this...

If Ella even came within his reach, he would push her away, and scream, "NO!!!!"  Fabulous.

So it was, "Everett, do you want a lollipop/smarties/fruit snacks/crack (kidding)?"  To which he always replies, "yup" (it's so cute- he always says yup, not yes). 

"Ok, then go give sissy a kiss."
"Nope."
"Ok, go hold sissy's hand."
"Nope."
"Ok, go stand by sissy."
"Nope."

"Everett, do you want a treat?" 
"Yup."
And the conversation starts again.

So then I start to panic as the sun is rapidly setting.  And poor Ella gets caught in the cross fire..."ELLA!  GO FOLLOW YOUR BROTHER AROUND!!!  STAND RIGHT NEXT TO HIM AT ALL TIMES!  NOW!!!!!"

Ella starts whining, "I'm too hot!"
Me: "I DON'T CARE!  DON'T YOU DARE START UNBUTTONING THAT SWEATER!"  "STOP UNBUTTONING THAT SWEATER!"  "I swear I will throw away every single lollipop that I brought if you don't button your sweater back up!!!!"

Now everyone is irritated.  We keep refusing to give Everett fruit snacks if he won't cooperate so this happens...

You can tell by Ella's face that she is DONE. 

So she decides to take matters into her own hands...

And this, my friends, is why I will never have one of those lovely family portraits.

Everett and his Best Friend/Pillow

We were at the Spectrum this week, and there were two REAL wolves there!

Even though they were very friendly, I couldn't get either kid to pet them.  I couldn't get Ella to get anywhere near them for a photo, and this is as close as Everett would get...

Birthday Weekend

We had Mason's pirate party...

And Cadence's birthday at My Gym...

The Haps While Daddy is Gone...

Gary is in Japan for two weeks (yes, ANOTHER 2 week trip- I'm really about to lose it with this job!!) so we've been trying to stay busy...

We've been hitting the parks where Everett likes to wear sissy's bejeweled sunglasses...

Then he turned gansta and screamed when I tried to take his hood off...

And of course we beg friends to take pity on us over the weekends and nights and play or eat with us!
Let's all squeeze in the double stroller!

Choo choo time!

Oh, and I can't forget about the time I was all alone at the park with the kids, tripped on uneven concrete, broke my toe and could barely get the kids to the car...fun times...

I don't think it was really broken, but it hurt like he11!!!!!!!

Fun with our Godsisters...

Halloween 2013

This has been my favorite Halloween so far...not only were the kids' costumes my favorite, we had so much fun trick-or-treating this year!  I was dying over how cute they looked...

Before we went out to beg for candy (for mommy), we had a little party at Ryan's house...

I made this pumpkin cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting- it was so yummy!

Then we were off!

Pumpking Carving

Time to get our carve on!

While were pulling out the guts, Everett was eating the raw pumpkin pulp!!  I have never in my life seen anyone eat raw pumpkin like that- it was hilarious!

And introducing...Mr. Pumpkin!

FunTober

Fall is so fun!  Ella went to a great Halloween party at Olivia's house on Friday and then to the Great Park Halloween event on Saturday morning with Aviela- I was bad about taking pictures, but I did get a few at the Great Park...

Notice the pony with pink mane and tail!!

Then it was time to celebrate Jill's birthday in Laguna- happy birthday j!

On Sunday we played with friends at Pirate Playground...