Flashbacks to Summer

Yeah yeah I know I have gone two months without a post but I've been busy on facebook. ha ha lol! I am doing a flashback post to finish up our Disney trip in August. This is the final day of our passes! Bummer!! It's okay because we are so busy with the girls being in school all day. It makes it hard to get to Disney! We took time to do the parade and some of our favorite rides like Indiana Jones. There were no lines at all! It was wonderful we walked on to each attraction with our longest wait at Space Mountain of like 20 minutes! We had a great time and enjoyed rainbow sherbet at the end of the day! This is a really fun parade to watch.

Moments of getting along so well...I have to hold on to this memory cause it doesn't happen all that often!!!

Birthday party for one of Jessa and Lauren's friend at Chucke E Cheese. This place doesn't really bother me like it used to. I challenged their friends dad to a bit of basketball. I beat him the first round. No...it wasn't luck! I am actually pretty darn good shot at least on this hoop! :) He won the second round but only by a 2 points!

Okay so Lauren is hanging out on the stage and Jessa is proud of her tickets!

More August Disney FUN!

This post works backwards. I don't have any funny stories or words of wisdom or anything of real value to post along with these pictures today. So feel free to glance on through or just continue on.

These were all taken on our last 2 days of our passes. I wanted to really do as much as possible before the passes expired. Mike wasn't as excited or determined as I was so we just left him at home for these last few days of Disney Mania Labo style!! lol Please also note this was the week we had 100+ temperatures going on here in the OC Anaheim area. I actually think the heat worked in our favor. I think people stayed away because they thought they would be standing in lines in the heat. It actually was so slow we walked on and into every attraction. the longest we waited was for Indiana Jones and that was 35 minutes but the wait was almost entirely inside where it was nice and cool!!!

No time for love Dr Jones!!! Look at how hot (heat hot of course!! lol) we all looked. Mostly me but after all it was near 100 degrees. Lauren enjoying some rainbow sherbet from the ice cream shop. We have always, as a tradition, shared a rainbow sherbet together from Gibson Girl! We get a triple scoop and share 3 ways.

One of the things our family really enjoyed doing is searching out hidden Mickey's all over the two parks. Here the girls are posing in front of a Goofy mural that has a hidden mickey. Can you find it?

The three of us had decided early in the day that our final ride of our Disney marathon would be Roaring Rapids! It's certain that you'll get wet and pretty likely you'll get completely soaked. Yes we rode it at night but it was still easily 90 degrees out. It doesn't show up in the pictures on me but I was SOAKED!!! Lauren did get it the worst. Poor baby! Ha ha ha ha!

The new Ferris Wheel. Well actually I don't know how new it is but was changed recently because it used to have the beautiful sun center in it. Jessa is very angry about the sun being gone. She loves all things yellow and sunshine. She hasn't actually let that go still 3 weeks later!

Lauren's favorite ride at CA Adv is Jumping Jellyfish. Unfortunately she has a mom who is not a fan of the heights and hanging in the sky etc etc etc. Guess what though they didn't have to miss out cause they went on with a cast member sitting in the next chair over. Woo Hoo LOVE DISNEY! Jennifer and I used to let J and A go on rides with cast members when T and L were babies and we couldn't take them on rides. I thought Disney had put the kabash on that though because of security issues. Not so.

The celebrate theme is pretty darn cute. I love all the bright colors of the decorations and such. I wanted to get some pics of the girls in front of some of the "important" spots in the parks.

I can't believe how lucky we were with the characters also. So many of them were out and we visited them all! Short lines, some we had never seen before and that made me so happy! I am only posting a few here. I mean geesh aren't you bored yet?

I have the cutest pictures of the girls next to the Minnie Mouse wishing well when they were one and two. I can't wait to pull them out and do a layout of both sets. A sort of then and now. ;)

The same plan plan for the pics with the Minnie Mouse. I have a few of us in the same spot from over the past 6 years which together will make a really fun page for their albums.

Lauren singing Karaoke. She is struggling with a few words since she is still a beginning reader. She is my little entertainer. She loves to dance and sing around. She really wants to take drum lessons but it's just way too expensive for a 6 year old. we'll just let her bang on the trash can lids a few more years! ;)

We can't wait for Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter!!! I doubt I'll let the girls watch it right away but once it's on video and I can screen through it I think they'll like some of it.

Blog Post: August Disney Fun!

Disney is always a guaranteed good time with us. We used our Disney dollars this year to stay at the hotel for a few days and for fun at the park. We aren't renewing our passes this year so we went out with a bang! Lots of Disney for a few days. It's so hard to get over there and now with both girls in school all day it just doesn't make sense....right now :) This is a heavy photo post. We had so much fun. Disney just does everything right!! We got to see the fireworks show and Fantasmic with front row seating from a new friend Richard. Apparently Richard worked for Disney for many (29) years and brings up a random family to watch Fantasmic front row every night. We were the lucky family one night. Amazing experience. Makes me have faith in people to just do nice things again. The few days at Disney were spent swimming, eating, watching live music, rides, treats, lots of family time!!!

Jessa wanted me to take pictures of her in front of every yellow flower. lol!! I guess I like this better than her not letting me take her picture. Lauren then had to have her picture taken too.

The bunny ears over the head was a constant source of amusement for all 3 kids. Yes I said ALL 3. OMG!!

Tea cups the faster the better and we all lean our heads back for maximum dizziness!!

Waiting to eat.

Top 5 fav is Thunder Mountain.

Jessa being silly.

My favorite ride in all my competivness is Toy Story Mania.

Lemonade Ice treats...it was about 98 out.

More yellow flowers.

Yes I still coordinate the girls...and dang it I will do it as long as they will let me. ;)

Okay so this is just part one. Part two on it's way.

Rare Sister Moment...and continued Summer FUN!

How much do I love you two? THIS MUCH!!! You two are so incredibly silly.
This was at one of our Concert in the Park events. Thursday August 16, 2009

These pictures show one of the rare moments when you two are getting along and just loving each other. It's usually when you both are teaming up to BUG me or your dad that these moments happen. I'll take it though. Summertime is good to this family!!!

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago but I am posting on the second to last day of summer vacation. I am sad to see Summer come to an end but I have really enjoyed these weeks with my family. Last year was soooo super tough on us all. The store was still working it's way to being a bit settled. We didn't get to have the fun last year that we did this year.

My only regret for this Summer was that we didn't get to go see my brother in law in Colorado. I know I have mentioned him a few times on my blog. He is still available ladies! Moving to Colorado Springs is a must though! (oh and my approval is also a factor **hee hee** ;) since I REALLY need a family ally!!!lol!!!

So I am trying to catch up on my posting so hopefully next post will be about our trip to Disneyland Hotel and Resorts using up all of our Disney points :( No renewal this year on our passes!!

Thanks for checking in with me!

Please say hi! Ya know how I love happy comments!!!

M~

Blog Post- What Matters Most: August Trip to the San Francisco Area

Well I am still one month behind on my blog. That's totally okay cause it's better to be doing stuff and not keeping up with a blog than doing nothing and talking about it right? Right!!!

The First weekend of August took us to the San Fran area. Can you believe I had never really been there? I hadn't!! I had just flown/driven through a few times. That doesn't really count. I never stopped before this family wedding took us to the area.

Cousin Amy (on Mike's side) is the sweeeeetest person. How wonderful for her to include cousins and their kids in her wedding!!!

We started off early on Friday morning. We were anticipating a very long drive from SoCal to Central Cal. Yep it's long. I really didn't mind it. I was actually loving every minute of it. Mike was driving so I got to relax, chat with the girls, listen to my IPod, NAP!!! Not a problem at all for me. Texted a few friends to bug them but no internet access since I only have the ITouch (must have wifi for it to connect).

We made a few stops along the way!! Our second (or maybe third) stop was for lunch at Pea Soup Andersen's. It's a touristy attraction which made it fun but I am not a fan of split pea soup so not all that exciting. Mike enjoyed a bowl though. He enjoys all kinds of food! ;) I managed to get my little Lauren to pose in the wood cut out but Jessa refused. I think she was grumpy from going to long without food. I have NO IDEA where she gets that from lol!! Her ability to pose and ham it up got noticeably better after a little lunch was in her tummy. I took about a zillion photos along the trip but I won't bore you with lots of scenic pics. I think these spiny things (geesh what are the called again??) My brain is totally drawing a blank! Anyway I love watching them. Actually someday I wouldn't mind getting out of the car somewhere and just laying there and watching them spin above me. I know I am a bit odd...but it would be like watching the clouds roll by or watching for shooting stars. The one downfall at this time of year would be the heat...not so much fun right now.



Well after a loooong drive a few traffic jams, accidents (not us) wrong ways (yes, us...well the driver of our vehicle which I named above ha ha) and many stops we arrived to our hotel in Concord, California. Woo hoo. We immediately got on our suits and headed for the pool. It was a lousy pool. Sorry Mr. Hilton..but it was icy cold and small. I still managed to get some shots of me and my two silly girlies!!

After the pool we went to the rehearsal after party. I didn't have my camera which is a HUGE mistake for which I am so mad at myself for!! They had a great cover band doing all BEATLES! The girls and I were in heaven. The girls both tried fried calamari for the first time. I had them loving it and not realizing just what they were eating. Well all was great until Mike walked up and announced it to them. No more calamari for J and L. Oh well back to chicken strips and pizza. They actually had the yummiest spread and the yummy beverages for the adults too! The restaurant we were at was called The Pyramid (I think).

DT Walnut Creek is so cute yet active and fun. I really could see uprooting SoCal and moving there. I tell people it's what downtown Fullerton wants to be when it grows up! :)

We all had a lovely time. Thanks to Amy and Chris again for including us!

The next day the girls had a choice of going to the Jelly Belly Factory OR going to San Francisco and go sight seeing. There was ZERO hesitation...all they knew is that FULL HOUSE was filmed there (at least the opening was and they BELIEVE)!!!

They are so into this show right now that a chance to just see the FULL HOUSE house won hands down. (I'll have to talk more on that on another post)

Two views. I wasn't expecting the bridges to be so beautiful. The girls well I am biased but I think they're beautiful too!

In front of the bridge... it was so weird how it was cold and cloudy at that spot but clear skies everywhere else. I am sure there is something to that. My Central Cal friends must have more insight.

Wedding Day- The thing about picking the side of the person you know is that the pics don't really get the person you know. Amy is a beautiful bride. Chris a handsome groom. The whole ceremony was touching. When Auntie Ruth got up I almost started bawling. Something about being a mom now makes me think about when my girls get married. It just touched me. I certainly won't act like my mom did at my wedding but that's another story that won't be blogged. (not today anyway!! ha ha)

All dolled up in dresses. The girlies had many choices for dresses thanks to my friend Kristen. Thanks K!

At the reception. I had so much fun dancing with the girls. The tables were set so lovely. Amy and Christopher the whole day was special!!

Our road trip home.

Thanks for making it through this post!

Michelle

Our Last 30 Days

I am gonna start this post off the same way I did with a recent email to the Design Team at the store...Grab a coffee, tea, maybe a donut, get comfy cause boy I have a lot to say! :)
We have had a busy month. Busy is the way life is! I like it busy. I still protest when people tell me I am too busy. I am not too busy... just busy. Just this morning I was talking to a friend that I have sorta been disconnected with recently. She is busy with her life and she said to me "Michelle, it won't always be like this?!" I told her it will always be like this and most likely even busier. I mean if I have learned anything in my life recently it's that we are as busy as we make ourselves. We can each make choices on how we want to fill up our busy lives. Different things to different people are worthy of us busying up our lives. Wow is that so philosophical or what? I think I might need to put a song by Edie Breckell and the New Bohemians on my play list. lol
Anyway...so I am as busy as I choose to be and I choose to fill my life up with things that make me happy, crazy, fulfilled, creative, curious and did I mention happy.
This month just like most months my friends and the girls friends have kept my life busy and all of the above mentioned feelings. My friends are everything to me. For someone who is either disconnected from my family by miles or other reasons it's my friends that make things better for me. (happy post happy post... EC...I know you don't like when I get all mushy). Now that I know I have some new regular readers (like JP1) I have to say thanks to my friends just one more time for the past year+!! Ya'll know who you are!!!

Since my last post we have started our trips to concert in the park. Lauren has been going since she was less than a week old!! Here she is just a few days under 6, also with her sister and two of their good friends. Look at those beautiful face paintings!!!


Just chillin' at home on a really hot day. They love me to put their hair up on top of their heads!!


This is a picture of a few of us from our West Side Playgroup. This play group is just as much for the moms as it is for the kiddos! On this fine July day my new crazy friend Jennifer D. (no surprise there since every other person I know is named Jennifer) made us some raspberry-lemon drops. Oh my!!! is all I have to say to those yummy concoctions!! She is our resident yummy beverage mommy!
JP1 is missing from this photo as she was off on one of her zillion fantastic summer trips! But if she was in this picture it would confirm that I am in no way HOT enough to be in this group! lol

The girls on the water slide at playgroup. The moms happily in the shade enjoying fine beverages as the kids all went down the slide over and over and over for OVER 3 hours!!!

Lauren trying to show her big sister some love and being rejected once again! Big sisters are such a pain!!! :)

My Baby Girls 6th Birthday! I just can't believe it. It really does seem just like yesterday that I held her in the hospital. I knew from the get go that she was a unique little girl. So different from her sister in every way. She makes me laugh so much. She is full of personality and life while at the same time she loves to snuggle and just BE at home hanging out. I love you "babeeeguuurl"

Looking like her Daddy in this picture! We are at one of Lauren's favorite restaurants HomeTown Buffet (yeah I know)!!

Another concert night with one of our littlest friends!

Jessa and MC.

Mommy and Lauren on party day!

Cupcakes were found safely after the group had to solve the mystery.

Lauren and TP. What little hams and divas in training maybe.

I haven't taken nearly the amount of beach pictures as I should have this summer. We hit the beach just about once a week. We love it and I personally wouldn't mind going way more. Ahhh!! It's where I am the happiest!!! Mike does not share my view of the beach but is willing to amuse me a few times a year and go with us. ha ha! On this Sunday at 11 am he decided that we should go to the beach. So I scrambled got us packed and ready to go. Well I knew it would be nearly impossible to find parking on a beautiful Sunday at our usual beach local but he didn't think so. After nearly two hours of driving and looking for a spot we ended up at Chino State Beach and had to beg for senior discount cause we didn't have enough cash on us!! Oh yeah you can imagine how much fun that part of the car ride was!!! But finally on A beach!!

Lauren and Jessa are with me as far as the beach but they really prefer going with friends. Lauren covers herself from head to toe in sand. I am good with covered...so thrilled that the eating of the sand days are past us!

Jessa giving me the required smile here! lol you can see it in her expression...here ya go mom now leave me alone!!!

covered ...yes COVERED in sand!

my view from my beach chair.

Jessa coming in fro the water. i played with the colors on this picture. I was just having some fun with it.

Lauren boogie boarding a little.

family fun day...the girls being silly silly silly!!! the ongoing joke in our family is not how many licks does it take to get to the center of a blow pop but instead just how long it takes Jessa to eat ONE piece of licorice!!!

Jessa just sat down and painted this one day and then wrote the poem to go with it. I am sooo proud of my little artist!!!

So that is the 30 day update. Thanks for hanging with me. Did you finish your coffee or tea? Did that donut hit the spot? Have a great day!!!

Next post will be all about our trip to the bay area for cousin Amy's wedding!!

Happy 4th Of July!

Out Friendition! (a tradition of spending a holiday or special event with friends) hey that could/should be the urban word of the day. I don't know if that "word" exists yet but if not I just made it up! lol Anyway...our friendition is spending 4th of July at The B's House then heading over to a local park for fire works. We've been doing this for 4 years now I think.

Denise made this yummy and pretty fruit plate. What I lack a picture of is the dual sided margarita machine that Kristen and Dave have. That little machine makes some powerful punch :). I also ate well on a very yummy 7 (or i think Amy said it was only 6) layer dip. Seriously, how can you go wrong with this combination?

Now add a pool/swimming, lots of friends and the day just gets better! (My girls are so camera shy it's just unbelievable!! ;) Jessa and her peace sign AGAIN!

Here we are after many hours of swimming and fun. We are on our way to the park. Notice the very intense girl conversation going on (and man convo in the back)

These pics are not flattering of me but since I am not a vain person i corrected them in B/W and am posting the better of the lot...hee hee! Don't get me started on the chin roll!! The girlies and I were acting silly for a few minutes before the firework show began.

Some of the mommies. Amy, Elizabeth (pregnant with sweet baby girl #4) me, Jodi and Kristen is in the back a bit. These are all people I met through The MOMS Club. I am so lucky. I can't imagine my life without each of these ladies in it!

And my girls are lucky enough to have made such good friends that they will keep for life.

Lauren is showing us her finest manners. I give credit for that lovely trick to Lauren's father. This could've been a really great photo if I wasn't staring at her snack!!

What a terrific fun day!

Swim Lessons: High Dive

Lauren and Tori

Miss Magoo.

Jessa!

What happens...stays

In Vegas Baby!

The Boys @ Margaritaville

At Dinner second night.

Our first night enjoying the sights...Jessa with a statue in the hotel. It's a girl drawing in a sketch book.

Jules and I (pic 1) Girls and I (pic 2) being silly at Belagio waiting for the water show. Lauren and I at The Flamingo.

Lauren and Brock 5 weeks apart in age.

We had a good time with friends in the city. I didn't get a family shot. Those are hard to come by these days but got lots of shots of the kiddos.

I can't believe it is officially Summer. This was a pretty good way to kick off the break.

Looking forward to tons more fun... in the summertime!!

I know I know long over due! Happy Summer Friends!

I just had to blog about all the signs of Summer that are making me so happy right now. I am finally finishing this post! I am doing it on a rough day and it is cheering me up as I write!

• star jasmine filling the air with their sweet fragrance all over my neighborhood
• waking up early but it's already sunny out
• early morning walks
• cool afternoon breezes that kick up at about 4:00 everyday
• swim lessons for the girls
• Lakers Rock!
• TV finale time (it's over now but I started this post ages ago!)
• swimming
• getting the boat ready for use
• having the windows open in the evenings
• margaritas at JP's house while the kids play in the front yard
• buying new bathing suits for the girls (and me too)
• ice cream
• wearing shorts and tanks
• sleeping in a bit
• The Beach
• The Beach
• The Beach!!!! with all my MOMS Club friends that will forever be with me. I *heart* you all!! Yes and that means YOU and your girlies Elizabeth! :)
• Mommy (oh and kids too) playgroup with Mel, Jen, Sarah, Jen D, Megan, and Heather!
• Summer time more than any other time makes me think of happy times in my life
• Jacaranda Purple everywhere
• watching the peregrine falcons in Boise...fly babies fly!
• boom boom boom. ;) on my ipod
  

Here is a kit I put together and it's available at The Table!

Please comment cause you know I love hearing back from my friends when they check in with me on my blog!

Mother's Day 2009

I have to say that getting details worked out a week prior to Mother’s Day really helped. I had an offer of brunch but it didn't appeal to me. A crowded restaurant, long lines, buffet food, and being rushed did not sound all that fun.
As I often do these days I emailed Mike and requested what I really wanted.
Since my old Godiva days of working at the Santa Anita Mall I wanted to go to the Los Angeles Arboretum in Arcadia. I have heard that May is a wonderful month to check it out cause the roses are in bloom and the grounds are green.
So the email went out and my request was granted. (There may have been one or two other discussions but…well) You may think it’s bad that I had to ask/plan my own Mother’s Day but if you are thinking that then you must be a man or at least not a mom yet!

But see my post is really supposed to be about how this was the best MD in 7 years! So let me get back to that!

Actually it started out getting to hang out with Raquel and Toby at the Rock household on Saturday night!! I don’t get to see my friend nearly as much as I would like. She is one busy mommy herself with four kiddos, with the oldest graduating this year.

Then after a late night I got to sleep in and lounge in bed for awhile. NICE!!! I later got a yummy breakfast in bed and was showered with a sweet bouquet of tissue paper flowers, hand made cards, button mirrors and even an organizer. I bought the organizer myself a few weeks ago. J found the organizer upstairs and decided I should really be using it so she wrapped it up for me. lol!

Then after breakfast in bed and checking in on facebook I got up and got ready for a wonderful day.
It was like the stars lined up for me. We got packed up and headed out to the Arboretum. Things just kept working out for us even down to a packed parking lot with someone pulling out right in front as we were pulling in. Love when that sort of thing happens!

We walked all around the grounds and then found a perfect shady tree just above the waterfall to sit and relax. Jessa had her art supplies and Lauren her digital camera to get creative with. I brought my new journal to make an entry and just relax. It was perfect!

Of course later it got even better when Mike gave me the itouch that I had heard was intended for a "friend at work". When will he learn that the girls tell me everything! lol...it goes both ways.

I have posted some pics of the day. It was really wonderful! Thanks to my little girlies, and to Mike for a lovely day. I really needed a day like that with my family.

Comedy Hour in the Tahoe Labo coming home from somewhere

So we have some friends with the same/similar names and this is what the conversation went like this:
Lauren: "I want to have a play date with Kassidy and McKenna. Do they live far?"
Me: "No, not too far. Their Mommy is on fb with me, I'll try and get a hold of her."
Jessa: "Yes they do live far, they live in Georgia."
Lauren: loud irritated voice..."Not Georgia and Sadie!!!" "McKenna and my soccer girl Kassidy."
Me: "Well baby Natalie and McKenna and Sterling, yes they live in Georgia." "That is far"
Jessa: "Let's have Nataly and what's the big girl's name again, Mom?"
Me: "Emily"
Jessa: "Yes, let's have them over again."
Lauren: "NOOOOOOOOOO! I want to play with the Kassidy with the big sister McKenna." I am talking about the girls with the pool that changes color"
Me: "Okay Lauren got it!"
Jessa: "Mom, we need to work on the circle journal for McKenna in Georgia."
Lauren: "Did Sadie move too?"

Me thinking: OMG rotfl! "Who's on first?"
Have a great Day.