Family visiting from England

Over Spring Break we had family visiting from England. It was the BEST week catching up and getting to know the hubby's family. Their kids and our kids had an instant connection, they were all stuck like glue to each other. I have never seen Taelor take to someone so fast and didn't want to let them go. Little Elizabeth  hoped she could "accidentally" get left behind here in America so she could stay longer, and Rosie was already planning her trip back here for next summer (hoping that her Mum would let her fly here solo....we shall see). Finlay just wanted to stay in our car so that we could take him home with us. It was so sad to see them go but the memories we created were priceless. Our week was filled with Sea World, Universal Studios, Balboa, swimming at the pool, dinners, Downtown Disney, laughing and chatting. Taelor cried herself to sleep after they left, it's hard when families live so many miles apart and you can't tell your children you will see someone in a few months. But hopefully we can see each other next year. Until then, we have already facetimed and we will keep in touch often. It was a week we will never forget and we look forward to seeing each other again. Thank you Caroline and Malcolm for making the trip out here, you and the children will forever remain in our hearts! XO!

Great times and forever cherished memories! This is not goodbye, just a see you soon!

Cousins are forever friends

These four are as close as ever and when ever they are together you can hear nothing but giggles and laughter. There is definitely no lack of being shy with these kids! I love that they are so close and I hope they continue to be this close as the years go on. My cousins were a big part of my childhood and they still are, there is something special between the bond of cousins, a love that is forever and most of all, a forever friend!

London Olympics 2012

This past week has been filled with so much excitement over the 2012 London Olympics! I have enjoyed plopping myself on the couch each night and gluing my eyes to the TV for 4 hours. Yes I am exhausted from staying up every night until midnight but I just can't help pulling myself away. Of course women's gymnastics is my favorite (I have been watching these girls from the trials). I love that every four years there is unity between all countries, I love that these athletes dedicate their all to these moments, I love that you get excited not just for your own country but for any person that is trying to show the world they are the best at what they do. I love that you get sucked into watching it and you can't turn away. I love talking to others about it when I get into work. I love just about everything and anything about the Olympics, but what I love most is seeing the excitement and joy on the Olympians when they win a medal...it's a moment that is priceless! So here's to all the USA Olympians  (especially the Fab 5...my favs), thanks for making your country proud! 
Hope you are enjoying the olympic games this year as much as I am!

San Francisco

Our summer trip this year was to the great city of San Francisco! As much as I am a beach, suburb kind of girl, I definitely enjoy a few days in the "city". Weeks before we headed up north we talked to the kiddos about San Francisco, showing them pictures of the trips the hubby and I had taken a few times over the years. We let them know what to expect in a "city"...tall buildings, cable cars, buses, busy streets, cabs, noise, lots of people walking, and everything else that comes with city living. They were SO excited and we were excited for them to see a city!

We braved a road trip with a 4 and 5 year old....and they were GREAT! We headed out in the wee hours of the morning and after an hour Ethan asks the dreadful "are we there yet?" which should have been a sign that it was going to be a long trip for him! Thank goodness he fell asleep for about an hour, but then woke up in a panic that we had already driven through San Francisco and didn't wake him up, then once he realized we still had miles and hours to go, he asked if we had to leave out planet to get there! I guess to a 4 year old 300+ miles might mean leaving our planet! Love a child's mind. Meanwhile Taelor sat quietly writing/drawing in her journal I bought her without much of a peep. We stopped in Santa Barbara and the kids remember that there are flowers in the middle of the freeway and that is about all they remember of our brief stop. Our next stop was Morro Bay to see the "big rock" and lunch time. It was chilly (just the way I like it!). Our next stop was Monterey...oh how I love this place! It was a brief stop and then we made our way up the coast to San Francisco! Exactly 12 hours later (yes I know, long, but that included stops and we drove part of the way up the coast) we were in San Francisco! An overcast evening was a perfect way to welcome us in (I LOVE a cold, chilly day).

After getting all snuggled in our hotel room, looking at the busy street below, I realized something was wrong with Taelor. No matter what we had told her what to expect in a city, it was very overwhelming for her! After many tears and a half an hour, she sniffled out these exact words " I thought it was going to be just like Palm Springs!"....I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or give her a hug! Sweet, innocent, real words of a 5 year old! After awhile she was finally OK, we were all exhausted and called it a night. The next few days we were up and out taking in all the sights the city had to offer. The Cable Car was by far the best thing the kids enjoyed. Just the look on their faces soaking up every sound and scenery around them was priceless. We walked Lombard Street and they laughed at me cause I was the one who was complaining and they had to keep waiting for "slow" mom...gees I just don't have the energy of 2 little ones! We walked and walked and they didn't complain once, I was so proud of them. They were in awe of the Golden Gate Bridge and how big it really was and of course they said "it's NOT golden!" We shopped in Union Square, ate chocolate at Ghiradelli Chocolate, had lunch at Sourdough Boudin (you can never go wrong with soup in a bread bowl in SF), we saw all fish and lobster down at the wharf, had some lemonade in the middle of Union Square and took a break. We ate on top of the Macy's building at Cheecake Factory and the kids loved the view! But most of all we had the BEST time! My heart was truly left in San Francisco.

On the way home we stopped in Monterey to drive the 17 mile drive, it was beautiful but we soon realized that from a 4 and 5 year olds point of view, looking at a "lone tree" was not something they found very interesting! We stopped at the beautiful Pebble Beach Golf Course, grabbed sandwiches at the little market and enjoyed a picnic lunch over looking the golf course and ocean. Even though the kids may not have enjoyed the scenery as much as we did, we still enjoyed every moment!

The best part of going on vacation is coming HOME to your own bed! And so, I left my heart in SF but we hope to be back again soon!

Until next time SF! Thanks for the great memories!

Father's Day...Palm Desert

For Father's day this year we headed out to the HOT desert for the weekend. It reminded me of being a kid as we always did this every year for Father's day and so we have started this tradition with our little family. We had a great time swimming for hours in the pool, we shopped, ate and most of all just relaxed (it was only 109 degrees!) The hubby deserved a weekend getaway and he enjoyed it very much. The kids are at a great age right now where they enjoy being away for the weekends, they love sleeping in hotels sleeping in the same bed, going out to eat and just being somewhere different. I am so proud that my kiddos have an amazing daddy who loves them so much and is the absolute best dad in the world. The laugh, play rough, have tickle games, play soccer, have lunch dates and snuggle with each other. He adores our children and they adore him. Being a father isn't easy, but it is sure rewarding and he should be a proud daddy for raising two little ones that show respect, love, kindness and are both silly as ever. Saul we love you, you make our world complete! Happy Father's day! and to Papa who means the world to our kids as well, you make being a Papa look like so much fun. We love you!

Thanks to little man Ethan we can actually have pictures taken of the two of us...he did a pretty good job, centered and all!

This is from Taelor....and her drawing of how Dad looks....so cute!!

And this is from Ethan...I love that his answers..."I don't know" and "very"

And yes, it was 109 degrees outside but we enjoyed every minute of it!!

Happy Father's Day!