birthday morning

This morning after coffee, milk, the de la Calle tradition of breakfast at Wimbledon, and 42 encores of Happy Birthday, we finally got this party started. 

Happy Birthday my loves! This is gonna be a GREAT day  life!

first birthday eve

Last night my good friend Laura and her fantastic hubby David came to town.

Laura and I have been friends for years and what a special birthday treat for the girls to finally meet her and David.  Needless to say, our little flirt Eme thought David was a dreamboat!

Here's Laura helping them get comfortable on their new personalized chairs.

"Yes Laura, we are very lucky that our Grandma got us these nice chairs!"

"Now, that's the life"

Here's momma getting the cakes baked!

Taste tester #1

Taste tester #2

More to follow...

high in the sky

Tia buddy's LOVE is very very tall. 

Taller than anyone in the de la Calle clan.          

"I've never been able to touch leaves on a tree"

"wow, this is too cool"

(isn't Bill sooo cute?)

"I feel sooo free!"

guess who's back?

Val and bill came for a quick visit.

Much fun was had by all!       

We love it when you visit!!

Can't wait for our July and October vacations!

11 months

Wait now, how old did you say we are?

The year's just crept up on me. 

Boy, I'm starting to feel old.

Does this mean we're having a party?

 Did you hear that monkey, we're gonna par-tay!!

"go shortay, it's yo' birthday, we're gonna partay like it's yo' birthday"

Does my booty look big in these jeans?

Almost 12 months old

Not my babies for much longer

What's news this month:

EMERSON:  

Decided that fruit is not a food group she will eat.  Every morning we put fruit on her tray, every morning she puts the fruit in her mouth and every morning she spits it out! The kicker is that after she spits out the fruit she wipes off her tongue as if we may have poisoned her.  She's a strange kid; loves salmon, hates fruit.  Taking baths in the big tub now and she helps us by washing her own hair. She will stand with no assistance as long as she doesn't notice there is no assistance.  Loves to go to Gymboree and will clap as when we go inside. She no longer needs her bottle because she learned to drink from a straw! Signs "more" and "milk" consistently. Shows no signs of speaking in English but sure chats up a storm in her native tongue .... giberish. She's still as sweet as candy!

MARLO:

On the other end of the spectrum is Marlo, who these days wants to eat nothing but fruit.  I could not have imagined two more different gals.  She prefers to drink from a cup, but will take a straw.  She is  CRAZY about Elmo. ( yeah she knows who he is, because we are bad parents and let her watch it on TV... give me a break, I have TWINS!) Has taken to throwing her head back in laughter, which makes me crack up.  Just now has started to clap, but has been proficient at the fist pump and high-five.  Loves to scream and does so often.  Refuses to sign or speak words, but she is a efficient pointer.  The only ice cream she likes is chocolate.  And she lights up the room with her smile!