Beach, Beach, Beach

We spent Memorial weekend in San Diego with the Buckleys/Durbanos.  It was a wonderful time.  We all miss the beach and cooler weather (that last part especially applies to us here in Tucson, 102 already).  Here is a recap of our adventure:

We arrived Wednesday, May 25 since the rest of crew was supposed to be in early morning Thursday.  We purchased all of the supplies and groceries needed for our adventure so we could get to the beach first thing Thursday.  After breakfast I checked their flight status only to find out that they would not get in for almost 2 hours after their scheduled arrival time (they sat on the tarmac for almost 2hours waiting for a approval to fly because a tire cap was missing).  My little family decided to hit the beach while we waited on them.  So we spent a couple of hours on the beach and the girls loved it.  We went back to the condo for lunch and the rest of the crew showed up.  We let those that needed a nap like Lila and Grandpa rest and we went to the heated pool which was a perfect temperature.  We swam and swam and then decided to hit the beach again when Lila woke up. 

Sisters, Britney and Venessa.

  




Notice the mid-air mud heading towards Jakey.  Right after a huge wave came and shocked Jakey and knocked Lila over, but she wasn't phased just kept playing.

Ellie enjoying the endless sand and water.

Izzy's first time at the beach.  She was a little shocked by the cold water coming at her, but was such a trooper to hang out with us at the beach.

That evening Steve and I, after a quick shower to rinse the sand off, went out to dinner and the temple.  It was nice to be able to go while we were so close to such a beautiful temple.  The timing worked out nicely so that we could pick up Nate from the airport before heading back.

While we were out the girls got Grandpa to feed them ice cream and scratch their backs while watching a show.

Friday we went to Sea World.  It was an adventure we were all looking forward to since the place holds several fond childhood memories.

The crew heading in after the gates (minus the photographer--Nate).

Ellie insisted on going on the Shipwreck water ride that she was barely tall enough to ride.  Lila was pretty upset she couldn't go on it so we got quarters and went to a cannon and shot them with water which she thought was hilarious. 

Ellie had a great time on the ride and begged to go on it again for the rest of the day. We let her go one more time right before closing and she started crying because she was getting wet--I think she was a little sheltered with Nessa and Steve the first time.

Great picture of Jakey and Ellie outside while we were eating lunch.

The girls got to play in the Elmo area for a while and Elmo and friends came out to sing and dance.  The girls loved it and started dancing and clapping.

Waiting to pet the dolphins.

Lila loved the whales and was doing the Shamu tale wave for the splashing and constantly clapping.  Mimi and Grandpa bought them Shamu stuffed animals as a souvenir.

After Shamu we went back to Elmo's place to ride the rides with the girls.  They loved it!

It was a fun and long day.  We were all grateful to relax at the beach the next day.

Grandpa made a special Shamu pancake for Ellie's breakfast the next day.

Lila and Jakey reading (more like Lila saying, "What's that?" while pointing to every picture and Jakey patiently answering).

The kite made Lila's day.

Ellie has this cheesy grin now . . . She was building a sand castle with Mimi.

I noticed a seal swimming towards the shore right next to us and pointed him out.  Then everyone chased him and he went back out--swam further down before coming up on shore again for a while.  We also saw 3 dolphins swimming out in the waves that morning.

Our friends the Robinsons were also in San Diego so they spent the day at the beach with us and then had dinner, delicious ribs cooked up by Jake, and birthday cheesecake since it was Lori's birthday (and Nate's was the following week).


Sunday we went to Church and then downtown to the Historic Mormon Battalion site.  They recently upgraded and the tour was great.  I found it very educational and the kids were engaged.

Think they can handle all the housework now?

Panning for gold.

Ready to trek West--without horses . . . good thing we were already West.

Monday we did more beach and swimming at the pool with our friends the Shields that live in San Diego.  The rest of the crew left mid-morning Tuesday.  We had planned on leaving Tuesday also, but found out that Steve's grandfather, Leroy Gravell had passed away and the services would be on Thursday, June 2 in LA so we stayed in San Diego at the condo one more night which means we hit the beach and the pool again.  Seriously how could you go wrong . . . my kids play for hours with the sand and water. . . love, love, love the beach!

Jakey eating this nasty piece of liquorice that had been licked and tossed around the condo then tied to a key chain.  He said he would eat it if no one cried during the trip--it is standard that someone gets their feelings hurt or something happens and there are tears, but I guess we were good enough for Jake to eat the liquorice.

Mimi and Grandpa with all of their granddaughters.

Thanks for a wonderful trip!

Princess Ellie Turns 5

It all started yesterday when they celebrated her birthday at preschool.

We made frog prince (since she is the only girl in her class) cupcakes she took to school. She insisted that each frog have 5 speckles because she is now 5.

Lila taking a couple of swipes at the frosting during construction when Mommy wasn't watching.

Final product.

Close-up of Steve's frog sculpture made out of fondant.

The treasures awaiting Ellie when she woke up.

Requested breakfast of Aebleskivers--patiently waiting to open presents.  She is already wearing the charm bracelet with a Rapunzel charm we left on top of the packages.  I explained what a charm bracelet was and that you add charms for memories like special places, trips etc.  She then asked if Peter Piper Pizza would have a charm.  :)

Opening her Leapster Explorer from the family.

Already addicted to the game--good thing it is educational right?  Look at Lila she hovered all day, but was pretty patient considering most of the attention was on Ellie and she would even say, "Ellie Birthday."

The girls dressing up and being silly after Ellie received a special birthday phone call from Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora.

Ellie really liked going to Peter Piper Pizza a few months back so we decided to take the girls there for lunch.  We played games for 45 minutes or so and then got their pizzas to go.

Lila dropped a coin in this machine and then the tickets just kept coming out--I wish I would have gotten a picture of her face while pulling this huge strand of tickets out of the machine.

Eating their takeout pizza while wearing the foam crowns I bought as a craft for the day.

Decorating their crowns with jewels and sequins.

Blowing out the birthday candles.

Our friends, the Robinsons, came over for cake and ice cream and brought Ellie a surprise present.




Ellie, we love you!   You are bright and thoughtful little girl!  We are so grateful that you came into our lives five years ago and gently broke us into parenthood.  We look forward to the many adventures we will have with our now 5 year-old daughter.  Happy Birthday Princess Ellie!

A 2-year-olds Idea of Getting Ready

Splish, Splash on a Hot Saturday

It has been getting rather warm here so we took the girls swimming for the first time of the season.  When we told them we were going swimming all I heard from Lila was, "swim, swim, swim" while she moved her arms in a swimming motion.  Ellie was really brave and is getting more comfortable in the water.  She even wore her new goggles to dive for a penny--she was so cute with her goggles on I wish I would have gotten a picture and she had to try several times, but her only concern after surviving her under water experience was, "can I keep the coin?"  Steve and I let them splash around in the shallow end for a while why we relaxed, so nice.  It was a fun ending to a crazy Saturday.

Because I am a Mother

• I get less sleep than I would like. 
• I change poopy diapers (which can be more like an explosion when a stomach bug is involved--I changed a record of 5 in one day last week).
• I hear "MOM! I had it first."
• I cook, clean, do laundry, setup play-dates, do experiments--walk-in on experiments gone wrong by my children. :)

Sometimes I wonder what I have gotten myself into and then:

• Lila will say from her carseat in the van, "Mom, I wuv you."  
• I see the excitement in Ellie's face when we play a game of Go Fish or War before bed.  
• I hear their laughs as Steve hangs them upside down and allows me to tickle them or blow on their little tummies.
• I see Ellie make good choices to share or help out a class/team mate.
• Lila willingly shares.

They melt my heart with their smiles and innocence and I pray that I may be a better more patient Mom each and every day.  I am so grateful for the opportunity that they give me to hold the sacred title of "Mother".

Making flower planters from the Home Depot for me.

Need I say anything?