the Montgomery Update

The weather has finally started to warm up a bit, and we have been getting out and enjoying is as much as possible! We have been going to the local parks and beaches more on the weekends. The kids got a water/sand table for Christmas that did not arrive until this month and it is a hit! They love playing in the sand, floating boats in the water, and generally making a mess outside… and we love that the mess stays outside! Christy came down the first weekend and we took the kids to breakfast downtown PG, then let them ride their bikes to the park and beach to play. It was a fun day…long naps after!

Things are busy, but both kids are at such a fun stage we love just playing with them. Cole is really learning quite a bit at school and at home. He still loves any and everything sharks and dinosaurs, but has also re-discovered his cars too. He and I have been picking out books from the library about sharks, and we are both learning all kinds of new things about the different types of sharks.

Both kids received gift certificates for Christmas that have come in handy now-a-days. They got to select toys at Target earlier this month and it was really neat to watch Cole try to find something “in his price range” and he did really well. (He decided that a bucket full of dinosaurs/trees was a much better deal than a couple name-brand cars for the same price – what a good shopper!) Eva didn’t quite get the concept of price yet…but Cole got a good lesson in the value of money.

Eva is not only walking, but also running to keep up with Cole and climbing on anything that she can get a handhold on! She is really thriving in the toddler class at school…and has no fear at all! At the parks, she will run up the largest slides and throw herself down them, on her tummy, feet first. It is really great to see her confidence growing with all her new skills. (She scares Mom & Dad all the time…no time to talk to other parents on the playground anymore!)

She is also constantly watching everyone around her and wants to do everything that we are doing. If Cole is riding his tricycle, she want to “ride” hers too…even if her feet can’t quite reach the pedals yet! If Mommy is putting on make-up, she will point at her face and want some too. (At least the empty brush on her eyebrows or on her cheeks too!)

St. Patrick’s Day, aka Grandpa Roy’s Birthday, we celebrated with a dinner at our house. Grandpa Roy and Grandma Joni came over and we had a semi-traditional corned beef dinner and not-so-traditional carrot cake dessert. The kids had a good time, and my parents were able to eat and run before the sugar got the best of the kids.

Easter was a hectic weekend. We started Friday by having some of Cole’s friends (and parents/siblings) over for decorating Easter Eggs! Cole & Chloe had a great time, and kept the parents totally entertained! We were joined by Rowan and his family and after dinner and egg decorating; the four (Eva is always included with these friends, she loves being with the big kids!) kids sat quietly on the couch watching a movie.

The next morning we went to the City of Monterey’s Easter Egg hunt. There were tons of people there. Eva did very well…got tons of eggs, only kept the allowed 4, and put many in the other kids’ baskets. Cole was not really into it, but got some eggs too when we left. Eva made the front page of the local paper the next day. We spent Easter morning at Grandma Joni & Grandpa Roy’s house hunting for Easter eggs, and having a tea party with Grandma after brunch. After naps, we had dinner at Grandma Cilandra & Grandpa James’ house with the cousins, etc… It was a long, but really fun day.

We hope everyone is doing well…Happy Spring! (Reminder: click on any photo you would like to see full sized!)

Erin, Eric, Cole & Eva Montgomery

February was a month of special occasions for our little family. We started off the month with Cole’s 3rd and Nana’s 92nd birthdays. For Cole’s birthday, we had a joint birthday party with his friend, Vid. We took the boys to ride the trains in Felton, CA at Roaring Camp Railroad. The boys and their friends started the day at a park in Soquel (about 45 minutes away, but close to the trains) for play and lunch/cake. Then we went up to ride the trains through the redwoods. It was a beautiful day, and fun was had by all. (There were some long naps that day!)

On Sunday, his actual birthday, we celebrated in the morning with going to breakfast and the park with Grandma & Grandpa Holmes. (Good naps again!) After naps, we had dinner at our house to celebrate with Grandma & Grandpa Gustaveson and Nana (Great-Grandma Lampi). There were many nice presents and a full weekend for all.

The following week, Cole got sick. As is usual with Cole, he got sick just in time to miss his class Valentine’s Day party. (He got a fever about 1 hour before the party started and had to come home with a box full of Valentine’s to open later.) He stayed home for a couple days with Daddy, who is still job searching. That evening, I took Eva over to Grandma & Grandpa Gustaveson’s house to show off her pretty Valentine’s Day dress. It was fun…she loved being the center of attention…and she discovered Grandma’s chocolate heart candies.

Later in the month, my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary (Grandma & Grandpa Gustaveson). The four of us plus Nana, made dinner for them at their house and celebrated by watching the Academy Awards after dinner. It was fun, and we even had time to give Eva a bath in the sink after dishes, before the kids let us know it was time for bed in their usual “subtle” way!

The weather has been better and we have begun to get out and enjoy the parks and beaches near our house. It has been lots of fun…we are looking forward to this spring!

Here are the photos! (Remember to click on any you would like to see full-sized, especially the last one with Cole & his best friends in front of the train!)

Erin, Eric, Cole & Eva Montgomery