Beach Days

I think they could live at the beach in their bathing suits all day every day!

Sunsets & Beaches

A favorite pastime of ours to do as a family is to watch the sunsets. I love that my kids enjoy the beauty of it also and are always asking to go down to the beach to see the sunset. Friday, I was off early from work and we headed down to Laguna Beach to enjoy a walk along the beach. We then drove down the coast and after passing Ruby's Shake Shack, there was actually parking and so FINALLY we were able to eat dinner there. Such a great view! We walked down to Crystal Cove which is like going back in time to a little beach town where everyone takes vacations at the same time and you see the same people (at least I felt  that way). And since we didn't have enough of the beach we headed to Corona Del Mar and finally watched the sunset. It was the PERFECT afternoon/evening. Sometimes just stopping to enjoy the simple things in life is what makes your heart smile and your days brighter.

Kindergarten Open House Night

Our first Open House was so special. Grandparents joined us as Taelor was our little tour guide of her classroom showing us all the things she has done throughout the year. It is so amazing to see how far she has come in just a year. Her journal was so cute to read, and it will be something I will cherish forever. She loves school and has had a great year in Kindergarten. Even though she went through 3 teachers (Mrs. Vose, Miss Muranaka and now Mrs. Wang) she and all the kids adapted well and learned so much throughout the year. I will be sad when the school year comes to an end, but tonight I enjoyed seeing all the hard work the teachers and staff put into these little kids who are sponges for learning. I appreciate so much all the work they do! Taelor we are so proud of you and all you have accomplished this year. We LOVED your classroom and especially loved your self portrait of you! Keep up the hard work always!!

Pool time...my little swimmers

The kids have been taking swim lessons and they are now little fishes in the water! Coach Brooke was so great with them. Taelor can swim the entire width of the pool doing the breast stroke and Ethan has his "superman" swim down like he is off to save the world. Such a good feeling to know your kids can swim in the water. It is going to be a great summer! Now if I can only get them out of the water!

Mother's Day

I can't even begin to write how much I love being a mom, mommy, momma. How much joy it brings to my life and how much love I have for my kids! I often wonder how much my mom loved me in the few short months she held me in her arms, I can understand the love of a mom now that I am a mom and it is THE BEST feeling ever! Ethan's school had a mother's day event and we made aprons together (mind you that Ethan was over making the apron after 5 min, but it was the point of being together). We spent Mother's Day at Sea World and had the best day! I love you Taelor and Ethan and I love that I get to pour all my love into you. I hope that one day you understand the love of a parent and you will know just how much you both mean to me. I love being your mom and I love all that comes with motherhood (even the days you both drive me crazy :)) I know one day you will both be grown up and I will miss these moments with you, so for now I will soak in all the funny, sad, hard, and enjoyable moments! Thank you for letting me be the best mom that I can be to the two of you!

My mom in heaven...I love you more than you will ever know!

Poor little Owl...

Over the weekend I cleaned and purged out some junk....I mean... non-used toys from the kids room and organized them all back into their places for the umpteenth time. Why is it that every.little.doll. has something so miniature to go with it! Tiny shoes, cupcakes, hair clips, you name it, I found it. I realized after sorting through boy vs. girl toys that little missy is the the culprit of so many pieces of toys! Ethan's toys consist of cars, trucks, diggers, more cars, train tracks, helicopters, super hero's, more cars, army men, more cars and more cars (did I mention he has A LOT of cars), but at least all of these things are big and can be put into it's  own bin and not get lost! Taelor on the other hand has enough tea cups and saucers to have tea time with the entire neighborhood, a bakery full of every pastry possible that are the size of, oh..a thumb tack, barbies, dolls, mini shoes, play food, more mini dolls with purses and accessories, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, dress up dresses, clickity clack shoes (which by the way are VERY loud on the wood floors), more dolls with hair that always seems to be in a permanent knot, baking stuff, cupcakes, cakes, food....which by the way, all of these toys should be in every girls toy box!

Then I got to the stuffed animals....I am pretty sure we own over 50 stuffed animals. So I took it upon myself to "purge" out the old, non sentimental stuffed animals. I came across this little bean bag owl that was a hand me down and I knew I had to part with some of them so I chose this one, snuck it a bag and threw it in the trash can. Well then, Tuesday came (trash day) and it just so happened the kids were sick today so they stayed home from school, the trash man came and they ran to our bedroom window (which you can see the top of the trash truck and all the trash in it) to say hi to the trash man, but yet they saw poor little pink owl getting thrown in with the trash!!! They ran to tell daddy that the trash man had the pink owl in his trash truck, how did that happen?!? Well needless to say, daddy of course said he didn't do it and maybe it was mommy, goodness I was sure thrown under the bus! So yes I threw out the owl, and I feel bad, but yet Taelor made light of it when I got home, but yet was a little disappointed that she was now gone! What's a mom to do, you can't keep everything right? How do you choose what stays or goes? Guess it's just the story of kids growing up and parting (or not parting) with toys. Sorry little owl, I know Taelor is very concerned that you will be in the "fire" just like Woody and Buzz and the gang were about to go into but we reassured her that maybe a trash man will find her and put her on the front of his truck! Good bye little owl...I promise to not throw away anymore stuffed animals without having the kids OK!

Tutu's are a girls best friend...

Only my little princess would chose this outfit to walk down by the beach....I mean don't get me wrong I wish I could walk around in a zebra tutu along the beach with no worries! Yes this is my little girl, always needing to be fancy, and I LOVE it!

Fashion Island...a favorite place

Fashion Island is one of our go to places to walk around, grab a coffee, have a bite to eat, let the kids watch the fishes in the Koi pond and just relax. When we have no plans, this is our plan and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Spring Photos

When did she get so big?!? My beautiful little girl...just seems like yesterday she was learning how to walk. Yes life goes by way too fast. Enjoy. Embrace. Slow down time. Stay small. Stay my little girl forever!

Love notes

These little love notes just make my day....even though the one from Ethan is because he was in trouble, but how can a mommy be upset after finding this! I love the heart that says "Ethan my Mom" Love, love, love!! Ethan you will for sure be a little heart breaker and will possibly get away with anything when you turn on your cuteness and sweet little loving nature!

This love note was left on my nightstand so I could see it when I went to bed, this melted my heart. Taelor you have the biggest heart ever and I will forever cherish these notes. I love the way she spelled "luvf". I love you too sweet girl!