Looking for the Great(est) Pumpkin

Last year for Halloween, the girls were only three months old, so we didn't get them a pumpkin.

This year, however, was a different story.

We took them to a large pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay, where they grow their pumpkins locally.

Besides the pumpkin patch, the girls got to go to their first petting zoo. Katherine wasn't too into the animals. Caroline pretended to be brave -- until we actually got into the pen with the animals. Then she freaked out and wouldn't let Daddy put her down. Despite their fear, they both touched a sheep, a goat, and a rabbit.

Ultimately, we selected one medium sized pumpkin for them both to share.

Here are some photos from our day at the pumpkin patch:

The Lim Family in the petting zoo.

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Katherine with her pumpkin.

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Caroline resting in the pumpkin patch.

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The Lim girls.

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Support Your Local Union

Support Your Local Union Plumber

Caroline is going through her "nudist" phase I've heard that some children go through. At least, I hope this is just a phase!

Every chance she gets, Caroline will take off her shirt and walk around without a top. Lately, she's even progressed to trying to pull down her pants and diaper.

Here she is, attempting to qualify for the Local Plummers Union 342.

"You're gonna have to replace that water heater."

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Happiness is going as God made us

(Note Katherine's hand trying to grab the shirt)

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What a difference a day makes

Last night I wrote about being mortified at a friend's dinner party.

This afternoon we went to another party at a friends house, this one a baptism for their infant son.

Happily, no red wine on the carpet this time!

It helped, I think, that our friends have a three year old and an infant. The house was baby-proofed, so other than the trail of sand the girls tracked in from the sand & water table in the backyard, destruction of our friend's house was kept to a minimum.

Caroline & Katherine Making a Mess at the Sand and Water Table

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Mortified

It had to happen sooner or later, but it was still embarrassing when it happened.

And it won't be the last time, either.

This evening, we went to a dinner party at a friend's house.

It was a mixed crowd -- some couples with kids, some couples without kids.

We brought Katherine and Caroline (by invitation, of course). They were pretty well-behaved for most of the night.

Note the emphasis on the word "most".

Later in the evening, someone left a can of orange soda on the coffee table, easily within reach of Katherine.

She grabbed for it, and "splash!" -- all over our guest's cream carpet.

Luckily, I moved in quickly with a water bottle and some paper towels, and got the soda off the carpet before it could stain. Crisis averted, but only momentarily.

About 20 minutes later, Katherine again was cruising around the coffee table, when she spotted a plate of chocolate cake sitting unattended on the table.

"Crash!" --- right down onto previously-mentioned carpet. Right in front of where the homeowner sat, I might add.

This time, despite the use of carpet cleaner, terrycloth rugs, and a lot of rubbing, a slight dark stain left it's mark on the carpet like a shining beacon that read: "The Lim Twins Have Been Here".

I can only console myself in that my friends were very, very understanding. They are going to be great parents one day.

As for my girls, I have a sinking feeling that things worse than cake and soda will be dropped and/or broken at house parties for the next few years.

All part of joy of parenthood!

Rocky VI

Rocky VI is being filmed at our house. This is the Rocky episode where he has twins and the twins learn to push each other around.

You see, the girls have learned to climb. Into everything. And they are not shy about pushing their sister out of their way when necessasry.

Laundry basket? In they go. Then out. Then back in. Then out. Then back in.

Stepping on each other's arms. Someone cries. The other pushes back. The basket tips over. Now both are crying.

Caroline & Katherine's Version of a Wrestling Pit

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They have a little red wagon used to hold baby building blocks. They dumped the blocks out of the wagon last week.

In they go. Then out. Then back in. Then someone raises the arm of the wagon, which hits the other in the head. Crying. Then back out of the wagon. Then back in. Then someone tries to sit on the other's arm. More crying. Pushing. The wagon tips over. Now both are crying.

A brief moment of bliss in the wagon before it tips over.

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If they are not climbing, they are still fighting. At night, after baths, the girls have gotten into a good habit of getting books off their bookshelf and coming into our laps to read.

Problem is, if one sees the other in Mommy or Daddy's lap, they have to also sit in that lap. Never mind that the other parent's lap is vacant. They have to have what their sister has.

Thus, if Daddy is reading to Katherine, here comes Caroline.

The one NOT occupying the parent's lap will simply climb in, as if her sister does not exist.

There is pushing. There is pulling. Someone swings a book. Daddy blocks it with his arm. Someone else swings a book. Daddy blocks it with his nose. Someone gets pushed off the lap and onto their face. There is crying. Stern rebuke by Daddy to the one who did the pushing. Now both are crying -- one because she is face down on the carpet, the other because she has been rebuked by Daddy.

The "expert" books say this is a phase that the girls will grow out of. I hope it happens soon. At this rate, I'm thinking of selling tickets to "Fight Night at the Lims."

* Note: Don't be fooled by the photos above, which show happy, non-fighting girls. You think we have time to take photos while they are fighting? No, we only get photos when they are happy and cute. Don't let these angelic photos fool you: they fight just as much as any other siblings!

** Note #2: Please realize the semi-humorous tone of this blog. They don't really fight that much. In fact, they play together quite a bit. But compared to even a month ago where they hardly ever hit each other, they current feuding is quite an escalation.

Fall Is The Best Season, But Not For The Reasons You Think

Fall is my favorite time of the season.

Oh sure, the weather is more crisp, the leaves turn bright colors, blah, blah, blah.

I'm from Southern California. Nothing like that ever happened to me until I spent a year on the East Coast.

No, Fall is my favorite time of the season because that's FOOTBALL season.

More specifically, it's COLLEGE FOOTBALL season.

More specifically than that, it's UCLA COLLEGE FOOTBALL season.

And with the girls now 14 months old, it was time for them to learn a little bit about Bruin Football.

Caroline & Katherine - Future Bruins

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There is nothing better than college football.

You can have the NFL.

Going to an NFL game is like going to Disneyland. The whole experience is so contrived.

Cheerleaders with no real ties to their team and who don't really cheer. Fans wearing the latest jersey of their team that will be redesigned in about six weeks just to make you buy another one. Loud rock music blaring through speakers in modern stadiums built yesterday. Endzone celebrations and player conduct controlled, monitored, and checked. Million dollar players mugging for the camera for making routine tackle.

College has tradition. There is nothing faked about the passion college football invokes.

The fans are students or alumni with ties to their team. The UCLA script on the helmet hasn't changed in 50 years, nor has the "M" on Michigan's helmet, nor the bright red "N" of Nebraska. A burnt orange Longhorn means only one thing -- Texas.

The cheerleaders are students. They actually lead the fans in cheers.

The band members are students (except for USC, who pays local musicians and community college kids to play in their band). Instead of rock music coming through speakers, you have "Sons of Westwood", "Hail to the Victor", and "On Wisconsin".

The Bruins play in the greatest football stadium on Earth -- the Rose Bowl.

College games feature elite athletes, but a walk-on with no future in the NFL can come out of no where and lead his team to victory.

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We day started early, with the girls getting dressed in their UCLA cheerleader outfits by Mommy and Grandma.

Getting Ready for the Game with Grandma

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We left for the game early to secure our tailgate spot with friends. We arrived at the Rose Bowl at 12 pm, with kickoff not until 4 pm. Plenty of time to sit back, relax, and tailgate with friends.

True Blue Bruins

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Tailgate food on this day consisted of chicken fajitas, carne asada, and teriyaki chicken, with of course generous helpings of chips, dips, and too many desserts to mention.

The girls had a great time running around the lawn, chasing Mom or Dad, or running around with a small football (For those of you who have not tailgated at the Rose Bowl, the entire stadium is surrounded by a golf course, and you tailgate on the greens).

Caroline Enjoying the Tailgate

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Once inside the stadium just before kickoff, the girls had a great time clapping as the band played their pregame music, and cheered with the crowd as the Bruins took the field.

The Lim Family at the Rose Bowl

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Katherine then promptly fell asleep.

Yep, seems four hours of eating, running around, and throwing a football can tire out a 14 month-old. Katherine slept for about an hour, until mid-way through the second quarter.

Caroline fussed a bit longer, until she too fell asleep mid-way through the first quarter, then woke up just before halftime.

The second half, the girls enjoyed watching the crowd and reacting to music the band was playing. Luckily, being in Southern California, it never got too cold, so we were able to stay for the whole game.

The girls got a lot of compliments on their uniforms -- people shouting out: "Look at the future Bruins!" Things to make a father proud.

Final score: UCLA 27, Arizona 7.

Go Bruins!

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