Just a few things...

I know I usually post photos of the boys at the end of the month but there has been so much going on in our lives this month that I thought it would be best to write a quick little note to update everyone. (Photos will still be posted at the end of the month!)

So on my birthday, Kai gave me a very special gift - his upper teeth to match the lower two that have been there for a few months!

Last Saturday (January 24) Kai also started crawling. Oh man, watch out he is on the move now and there will be no stopping him! He is so cute to watch as he figures out how to move across the room. He is also loving that he can now get to items that were once of his grasp such as Daddy's Playstation controllers!

Last night, Kale and I were playing in the front room with his trains. He asked to look at some photos, one of his favorites is a wedding picture in a cute frame that plays music. Each time he started the music on the frame he would yell "Mommy! Daddy!" as if this was the first time he has seen the picture! He then asked where was he and Baby Kai? I told him that it was before he was born. We started talking about marriage and I told him one day he would grow up and fall in love with someone special and marry her! He very sadly put his head down and I asked him what was wrong! He said "No Mommy I want to marry you!"

Oh the joy! This moment made up for all the craziness of the crying fit he had earlier in the day!

He has been displaying some really great crying tantrums lately. In the morning he does not want to leave the house for childcare and let's us all know how he is feeling. However, the same behavior is on display in the afternoon when I pick him from childcare. He screams and cries the whole ride home from childcare and it sometimes take another 30 minutes to calm down. He keeps yelling at me that he wants to "live at Mamma Yolanda's house" over and over again. Last week he was screaming at me for an extended period of time that he actually made himself sick and threw up!

Advice anyone?

I keep telling myself he will outgrow this behavior but some days we are growing weary.

The "marriage proposal" did make up for all the bad behavior!

Enjoy the craziness of the Ilac Family!

A View of Today!

Today is history making! Given that both Kevin and I teach history this is one of those days regardless of how you feel politically it is exciting to witness firsthand. This is one of those days you feel a part of some sort of movement, a shift in the world, a change in the way we see and look at each other. Today we wish the best for our nation and our world and our thankful for all that we have. May each of you take a moment to reflect on the greatness of the day and to reflect on how much joy we have in each other.

A few months ago I came across a poem that I knew I would share with you today. It is written by Langston Hughes. Hughes was an American poet, novelist, playwright, short story writer, and columnist. He is best know for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. Again, please remember that today as our nation participates in this groundbreaking inauguration that we must all work together to bring greatness to our nation.

When I read this poem it made me realize just how special this day is, and reminds me of how far our nation has come. The poem uses excellent language, vivid imagery and strong sounds to express the poet's feelings towards racism. It is an anti-discrimination poem, which shows the injustice of racism. In addition, the poem make us to reflect on an issue that is very common nowadays. I hope that today is a sign of just how much we have change and how far we as a nation has come.

Enjoy!


I, Too, Sing America
by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

Birthday Party

On January 17 at noon I'm having a birthday party at my favorite restaurant in town. Meet us at Mikado's Japanese Restaurant located at 209 Town Center West, Santa Maria, CA. It is one dollar sushi day!

Disneyland

We went to Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast and many of the Disney characters stopped by our table to say hello! The characters like Snow White sort of bothered Kale but he was happy with all the other characters.

When Dale stopped by our table I shared with Dale one of my favorite stories regarding Dale. Many years ago my grandfather was visiting Disneyland and the character Dale grabbed him and rubbed his head making a joke about his bald head. After that trip my grandfather use to joke to everyone that the reason he lost his hair was because Dale rubbed it away. So I asked Dale if he could take a picture with Kale rubbing his head!

This is us with Mickey Mouse inside Club 33 where we got to eat lunch during our trip to Disneyland!

Uncle Dave DuBransky came with us and is the one who scored us tickets into Club 33. He also took many of the great photos that you are enjoying!

Inside Club 33! What a great day for those like me who are Disney geeks! Getting to eat inside the Secret Club located in New Orleans Square. Memberships cost far more money than I make but members are allowed to have visitors go to the Club. Dave is friends with a member and has been able to take people for lunch inside the Club! I loved every minute of it, the food was great and I know just how special it was!

We did not tell Kale that we were going to Disneyland until we pulled up at the hotel the night before! He had so much fun and enjoyed every minute. He was a very good boy that day even inside Club 33. He only took a 20 minute nap while waking in a line for one of the many rides he got to go on that day. Of course the moment we left to go home he was crying begging to go back to Mickey's Castle! This is one of my favorite pictures of the trip. Notice the true joy on these two faces!

Kale also enjoyed playing hide-and-seek while waiting for Mommy and Grandma to get back from a diaper change trip with Baby Kai!

Kale enjoying a parade at California Adventures based on all the Pixar characters.

The boys at the end of the night!

By favorite photo of the whole trip! I love how Kai is looking at the Club 33 menu, the look on his face is great. I can imagine his dialogue inside his head, "Oh no, this place is going to be expensive!"

Happy New Year!

The Ilac Family would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! We pray for blessings to be poured out on those we love and care about in this upcoming year. Please stay in touch with us, we love to hear from you all about your lives. We hope you have enjoyed our stories and look forward to sharing many more wonderful stories in the new year ahead of us. God bless!