Surf's Up!

Call us crazy, but this weekend we took a spontaneous vacation (horray!). We attended the Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay outside San Francisco. We have always wanted to go to Mavericks, but were never able to swing it. (The date is based on surf conditions, so they only give you 24 hour notice that the competition will take place.) In previous years, work commitments and pregnancy kept us from attending. But this year, our only impediments to hitting the beach were too small to tell us it was a crazy idea, so off we went!

Chris got the last hotel room in Half Moon Bay and we left Friday night after putting the boys to bed in their carseats. We got up really early the next morning and headed to the beach for the first three heats of the contest. It was terrific -- a cool day on the beach with 40,000 of our closest friends. Just to show you how cool this contest really is, while the final 6 surfers were paddling out for their final heat, they agreed that they would all split the winnings evenly no matter who was #1. And they did it! What a terrific message about sharing a passion for surfing, rather than just for $$! The surfing itself was FAR away from the beach, but Chris still got some cool shots of it.

That's a 35+ foot wave!

We really had fun walking the beach, eating good food (even if it didn't contain dairy, soy, eggs, nuts, citrus, or wheat), visiting friends, watching the Patriots kick butt, and just enjoying getting away from the daily grind. Half Moon Bay is gorgeous and VERY relaxing to visit. We even look relaxed!

Chris & Gabe on the beach outside our hotel room

Kathy and Elias walking back from Mavericks

(See the radar post in the background? The contest is on the other side)

For the boys, nothing is better than being worn and/or held 12 hours a day while flirting with pretty strangers. They made hundreds of new fans -- Chris and I felt like rockstars; everywhere we went, people whispered "look! twins!" and pointed at us! :-) The boys were also REALLY tired by the end of each day. Don't believe us? Check these little monkeys out!

Elias can't wake up to watch the game!

Gabriel konked out after a day of sun and surf

We figure it should be about 17 years before we are watching the boys out in the waves! :-) And then they can say they've been following surfing since they were infants!

Puppy Love

People who know us BC (before children) know that we had a real affinity for our bassets Ruby and Sassy. Okay -- it was more like an obsession than an affinity, but whatever... :-) Thus people often ask us how the doggies are doing with the babies. The boys LOVE the dogs -- they are more obsessed than we ever were! If we can't get them to stop crying, we call a dog for them to look at or touch -- this ALWAYS calms them down and distracts them. Sassy could give or take the babies and most often just ignores them. Ruby, on the other hand, really seems to like the babies and goes out of her way to interact with them. Below is a little photo-montage demonstrating her puppy love:

Look! I found two babies on the bed!

Ooops -- this baby is a little dirty -- I'd better clean up that face!

Sure -- I'll give you a hug to go with that kiss!

The babies left with my mommy --

I guess I'll just keep the nursing pillow warm until they return!

Nevermind...

7:30-11pm -- Elias inconsolably screaming in pain

11pm -- E finally calms down nursing in bed

1:30am -- Gabe wakes up and wakes E up (E is still latched onto the breast, but can cry with it in his mouth) Full feed & diaper change

3am -- E wakes up screaming -- full feed

It was nice while it lasted...

Our Night

After weeks of no sleep at all and seeing no difference on the zero allergen diet, we started the boys on a MUCH larger dose their medicine at the advice of the pediatric GI.

Last night the boys got up at:

8:30pm -- quick cry while asleep, Chris was able to 'pat back down'

11:30pm -- full feeding with diaper change

3:00 am -- full feeding

6:30 am -- one baby in bed to feed

7:00 am -- 2nd baby in bed to feed

We didn't get up until after 7:30am!!!!! This is the most sleep we have had in MONTHS. Kathy is still on the no-allergen diet, so we don't really know what is responsible -- but either way we are sooo ssooo grateful!

I hope I am not jinxing it by sharing with others! Send us good vibes for some repeat performances!

Family Fun

The boys had their first Uncle/Aunt visit after Christmas. Uncle Justin and Aunt Rachel Jones came up from Texas for three days for some baby-time. The boys definitely enjoyed their time with the extended family. They seemed to especially take a shine to Uncle Justin. The even followed his strict "No Crying For Uncle Justin" rule and shared nothing but giggles and smiles!

Justin & Elias as twinsies -- both in jeans & white shirts

Rachel, Elias & Gabe being silly

The entire Melton-Jones-Goddard clan together!

Uncle Justin with giggly Gabe.

Who would believe that Uncle J had never held little babies before??? He is a pro!

You Caption It!

Ninah made sure that the boys didn't forget their Texan Roots this Christmas by bringing them some gear to Cowboy Up when they got a hankerin'. Specifically she brought them little boots, hats and a buckin' bronco. We had a lot of fun trying them out.

Get along little doggies!

We even tried them out before bathtime -- It's great to feel your chaps flowin' in the breeze... We thought it might be fun to have a contest to put a caption on this one. So, cowboy-poets, get your yarn on an' tell us what you think this purty li'l' number should be called:

Your words here....