Where did November go?

It seems like only yesterday we were hanging out at the beach enjoying the long summer days. Now we're in the final stretch of our stay in California, and life has been hectic to say the least. Amidst all the busyness of packing and getting ready for the move, we've had plenty of time to enjoy ourselves & family life. Mino & Lyla keep us laughing everyday...

Mino shows Lyla how to sneak a drink from the shower. (We accidentally deleted the video of this. You should have heard Lyla's squeals of laughter. Mino's a great entertainer and big bro.)


Mino works the turkey dinner off on Thanksgiving by running around the lake behind Mary & Dave's. He has so much energy! Is it normal for a 2 year old to run a 5 minute mile?

Lyla and her Momma have many thing in common, like their taste in shirts. Ooooh, yummy!

You talkin to me?

Lyla and Momma at one of the final trips to Sea World. Lyla just loves the Sesame St. characters. Mino is scared of them though.

A Sunset Stroll

One of the biggest things we'll miss about living in Oceanside would be times like these...
It won't be the fish tacos at Rubios or nachos at Johnny Manana's. We won't miss the middle of the night booming of ammunition testing they do at Camp Pendleton or Norteño music from the barrio next to our condos. We definitely won't miss the traffic on the 5 and the threat of wildfires every October. What we will miss is the mile walk down to the beach to enjoy the evenings when the sun slips below the horizon and God paints a beautiful picture over the Pacific.

@ the Petting Zoo

"Indiana, here we come!!!"
These two California kids are ready for the Midwest. It's funny, when people out here find out we're moving, they usually ask one of two questions. Question 1: Isn't it cold there? Question 2: Are you going to grow corn and get a cow? We answer "Yes" to both.

"Hey, did you see my sign?"

Mino takes his first teeter-totter ride. I think he likes it.

Is daddy kissing that goat? No, he's just trying to fend off the little attackers at the zoo. They forget their manners when you've got carrots in hand.

"Here horsey, try this..." Mino kept trying to feed this pony bench. He didn't seem to care it was made of cement.

He's an official Boyan now!

Mino's adoption was finalized in court on Oct. 1 and we had a fiesta to celebrate the occasion last weekend on Oct. 5. Thanks to all of you who came out to help us commemorate this special milestone in the Boyan family. Here's a little video recap of Mino's big week. (Also, check out the explanation below for the meaning behind his new name.)

While we will most likely always know and lovingly call him by his nickname “Mino”, his full name, Aslan Maximino Robert Boyan, tells his real story:

Maximino – This name represents Mino’s past.
It’s the name of his biological father and it represents his heritage. The name means “the Greatest,” and in Mino’s case it refers to his great strength and ability to overcome no matter what obstacle is in his path.

Robert – This name represents the present.
It’s the name of his adoptive father and it represents a promise to always be with him, love him unconditionally, and welcome him wholeheartedly into the Boyan family. Bob (Robert Sr.) is honored to share his name with his son.

Aslan – This name represents Mino’s future.
The name means “Lion” and was used by C.S. Lewis to embody the central character of the “Chronicles of Narnia” who is the guardian, savior, and Christlike (Lion of Judah) figure in the series. This name is a promise that Mino’s heavenly father is waiting to adopt him, so he too can become a son of God through Jesus Christ.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." - Eph 1:3-6

COMING SOON....

The Apodotion of Mino will be Oct. 1st!!

...Stay tuned for pictures of this special day.

"Aslan Maximino Robert Boyan"

September days

Everyone wants Daddy when he gets home!

The famous (or not) Oside sign
Pretty girl

Sleepy girl

Last photo (day) w/ pacifier!
Playtime
"HELLO LADY"
Hey, I'm too big for this swing!

Even strapped tight she manages to try to wiggle out.

A fun day out with the babes!

Petting zoo... Mino LOVES feeding the animals, and enjoyed squeezing the bunnies... he lucked out with no bites!

Mino walking to momma's arms!
Fake out!!
Lyla's first highchair out-to-eat, she stood on the booth the whole time and loved it!

She has such a far reach that she sneaked 2 handfulls of hamburger while I wasn't watching... thankfully I caught little miss thing before she tried to stuff it in her mouth!

Lyla's cousin, Lola(21months), thinks she is her very own baby doll. I've never seen so much love and gentleness from one baby to another.

It's the little things that makes us smile!

Mino has found yet another small place to play in...

Once upon a time little Mino decided he needed a midnight snack... he cried and cried until Momma caved in, he was as happy as could be with his movie & snack!
Miss Lyla needs her kitty for a sound sleep

Is there something on my face?

So, we thought that Lyla would be a good little eater just like her big bro. We were wrong, very wrong. When Mino was at this early stage, he would inhale anything you put in front of him. The food didn't even have a chance of spreading across his face. Lyla, on the other hand...

yeah...i can walk now

Mino is so proud of his new walking skills. He's almost completely given up on crawling even though he's not as speedy on foot as he is on all fours. Once he perfects this toddler waddle... look out world!

Happy family

Our July...

Mino teaching his sis the finer ways of life

always having fun with Daddy
Mino loves playing with his old toys... I think you're too big for that one!
new do
so polite, always signing for "more"

"Sleeping Cuties"

both slept through the entire Costco trip!

Nobody in Oceanside saw fireworks on the 4th. Fog rolled in an hour before show time, and you couldn't even see a glow. We had fun blanket time!
Mino got a matching sweatshirt like Daddy's
Ohhh yaaa! Nothing better than rice cereal!
Our Cali girl! If you wear Uggs with shorts you must be in CA!

Ta Da!!!

We've been waiting a long time for this very moment. Mino's intense eye contact with Momma shows his determination, and his smile and proud look to Daddy afterwards says, "Did you see me Daddy? I DID IT!"

This is footage of Mino's actual first step, this is not a repeat! :) Although he still has the same proud look after every successful attempt. He has currently accomplished 6 steps before the big hug to Momma. Mino is on his way to a whole new life!

Lyla's Bling

(warning... if you don't want to see the tears, pass on by)

Lyla looks very pretty in her new pink diamonds! We have not had anyone call her a boy since!!

Virgin Islands

We're movin to the Islands! (someday)

Some thought we were crazy for taking 2 babies out to sea. However it ended up being an amazing adventure, full of fun, relaxation, and good times in the ocean. Mino learned to enjoy sand, learned to stand (on a rocking sailboat!), taught himself a new dance move "the spin", and swam in the deep blue sea! Lyla enjoyed flying in the sky, explored swimming for the first time & loved it, and started laughing at her very hilarious brother.

We would sail in the morning, play at the beach and snorkle during the day, have a pleasant evening dining and relaxing, and getting a restful rocking sleep on the boat until morning to explore another island the next day. We started in the British Virgin Islands and made our way back to the US Islands.

Enjoy the show!

Mino's New Trick

Mino is on the verge of standing up by himself. For now, we'll just have to settle for this...

(listen carefully at sec. 20-24 for his new lion roar)

As you may know, Mino enjoys playing in small places...

first his crib, then the play pen, the bin from last post...

but this has taken it to a new level!

sister is watching big brother, learning to eat crackers

New things around here

Mino found something new to play in...

CAKE!!! This is the 1st time since his b-day that he's had cake - or surgar. (Yes, Momma is a bit overprotective of her little boy's eating habits) He was a crazy boy seconds after!
Bike rides are the new favorite activity added to the Boyan's..

They comfort each other during the ride.
Ok, at first Mino hated it...
Then he just accepted it..