Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Summer Vacation 2010
Magical Days
Do you ever have days that unexpectedly turn out to be completely magical? We just started our vacation aka staycation. We decided with the new baby and expenses we just didn't want to travel far. So we thought that we would do fun stuff around San Diego and OC. Since we don't have to pay for a hotel and food we would spend our money on fun!! Plus in OC we have babysitters!! Yay!
Day 1
So we started off going to The Quail Botanical Gardens. The perfect way to start off our trip. It was so beautiful there. I am including lots of pictures. Not a cloud in the sky and warm…but not too hot. We arrived around 11:30 and just began to stroll along the gardens. It felt like we were the only people there. IT was so peaceful. Just what Jim and I needed. We started walking around the gardens…this is a blog that I think the pictures do all the talking so I am going to mostly leave it up to them to do the talking.
Charly's favorite thing was the lily pond. She loved to stick her fingers in the pond and the tiny fish would come up and nibble on her fingers. She was in heaven. We also spotted a bull frog and a turtle.
Jack's favorite thing was at the children's garden they had a little stream and plastic boats that you could sail down the stream. He had so much fun and could have spent hours doing this. I am trying to think of ways we could build one at home.
Jim loved the bamboo forest that we walked through. Especially the giant bamboo. He also really enjoyed reading the name of the plants with the kids and seeing the plants from all over the world. One in particular is the "ice cream banana plant"
I don't know that I had a favorite….I just loved being there and soaking up the ambiance It amazes me the effect of being in that environment. It made me feel happy, peaceful and tranquil. I loved sitting with Jim and watching our kids having fun in the children's garden and watching them pretend. Nothing brings me more happiness than that. Here in the gardens we were in no hurry. We just let things happen. It was wonderful.
At the end of the day we went to Encinitas's Moonlight beach. Again, so beautiful. Since it was late we didn't swim. The kids just played on the beach and we watched the sunset. So fun!!
Day 2
We exhausted ourselves yesterday…which showed today. It seems ridiculous how long it takes Jim and I to get everyone in the car to get going. Today destination "Old Town" We got going late and so we didn't make it down to Old Town until 11:30. Part of traveling with young children is that you have to let go of your expectations and surrender to what is really possible.
We spent a good hour and a half at the Mormon Battalion. We LOVED this; they have completely redone the visitor center. What a great and inspiring story of people who had prayed for the Lord's help to move them west. When the answer came …it wasn't what they were expecting and it took a lot faith to trust the Lord. The answer was for them to join the army and fight the Mexican's….The prophet Brigham Young had promised them that if they were faithful, they would never have to fight a battle. What a great promise. Everywhere they expected to fight a battle…no one was there to fight. They had many hardships…but through these hardships they learned skills that proved important in the future to building up the salt lake valley. Part of their job was to blaze the trail west…that many people took and eventually was the route of the railroad. When they arrived in San Diego…the Mexican's there had heard that an army of religious zealots were coming to fight them. When they arrived however, they were surprised to find that the Mormons helped them build up the town and that they became friends. What a great and uplifting story. I am so happy to know it.
We then went to lunch and had a yummy Mexican lunch. After lunch we tried to walk around town, but everyone was over it and tired so we went back home. Jim was really nice to let me nap while he took care of miss fuss buckets (violet). She had a very bad day and was so upset and remained so the rest of the day. Later we went to watch Jim's volleyball game. I sat in the car most of time trying to feed miss fuss buckets whom apparently does not need to eat and then Charly had bumped her lip and was so sad and tired she just couldn't get over it. After the game there was a picnic….which I tried to enjoy…it was just really cold.
Day 3
This day we decided to drive up to Orange County. Ideally we wanted to leave at 9am. Did that happen?? Any guesses?? Of course NOT!! It took a ridiculous amount of time to get everything packed and in the car! Finally around 12 we were ready. BTW… it is so much different being a parent as opposed to being a kid. This is the stressful stuff about vacations that I don't enjoy. You know what they say….sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation!! As soon as we pulled out of our garage and were just about to shut the garage door we here "pluuuhhhhblahljlj" yes, Violet had a BIG poop!! It was such classic timing. We changed her and then left. Had to get gas on the way and do a bathroom stop...so we didn't make it up to OC until around 2pm. After having lunch we went to Irvine Park. This is one of my favorite places. Another place of peace and tranquility. Charly rode the horses. She was so excited about this. She rode a horse named "Stuart" I really enjoyed watching here ride the trotting pony. IT was SO cute to see her and her blond little pony tail bounce up and down. I just adore my little angel. She really has a special place in her heart for animals. A kindness and love towards them. Then we went to a grass area and played Frisbee, kickball, zoom-O and had a great time. Charly and I spent a lot of time looking at the ducks in the pond. They have paddle boats there so we rented one for a 1/2 hour (plenty of time). I am really glad that we did, even though those things are a lot of work, it was a fun experience to give our kids. We got to leave Violet with Grandma and Grandpa. That made things a lot easier!! (Sorry Violet we love you!)
We then went home and stopped at Taco Bell on the way home for some yummy lime drink that we have a coupon for. Dropped off Charly and went to the ANGELS game. Ok, so I went to the Angels game….but if you ask Jim and Jack we went to a BLUE JAYS game. We met up with Dan & Heather. That was a lot of fun; although the Blue Jays won L I was the only one cheering for the Angels. Jack was so excited that both Jim and I were going the game. I think that made his day to have us to himself. He is so diplomatic and would not admit who he was cheering for……but later it came out that he was going for the Jays.
Day 4
We headed down to Newport Back Bay to do a little kayaking. Something we have wanted to do more of but being pregnant and having a baby have stopped me. So, my parents (wonderful people) came along and let us use their kayak. They watched the kids while Jim and I took a two hour kayaking tour out of the Back Bay, around Balboa Island and back. It was really LONG!! We had a great time, but I am out of shape since I haven't been able to work out since my surgery. Needless to say, it is the day after and we are SUPER sore! While we were gone…the kids played at the back bay….a place that I would love to go back to when they are teenagers (there are some fun water toys they have in the swim area that appeal to teens). Most the time we were here Jim and I were out kayaking. We took the kids for a little kayak ride too. That was fun. Jack was scared and wouldn't go…but we finally talked him into it. Or should I say tricked him into it! (Sorry Jack:)) We told him we were just going to take a picture in the kayak and then we started floating away…hahaha he had fun though. We enjoyed reading the names of the boats.
That night, the boys went to the game again. Angels won this time 7-1.
Day 5
We did NOTHING absolutely nothing. Much needed. It's 4pm and I am still in my jammies. A much needed day of Nothing :)!
Do you ever have days that unexpectedly turn out to be completely magical? We just started our vacation aka staycation. We decided with the new baby and expenses we just didn't want to travel far. So we thought that we would do fun stuff around San Diego and OC. Since we don't have to pay for a hotel and food we would spend our money on fun!! Plus in OC we have babysitters!! Yay!
Day 1
So we started off going to The Quail Botanical Gardens. The perfect way to start off our trip. It was so beautiful there. I am including lots of pictures. Not a cloud in the sky and warm…but not too hot. We arrived around 11:30 and just began to stroll along the gardens. It felt like we were the only people there. IT was so peaceful. Just what Jim and I needed. We started walking around the gardens…this is a blog that I think the pictures do all the talking so I am going to mostly leave it up to them to do the talking.
Charly's favorite thing was the lily pond. She loved to stick her fingers in the pond and the tiny fish would come up and nibble on her fingers. She was in heaven. We also spotted a bull frog and a turtle.
Jack's favorite thing was at the children's garden they had a little stream and plastic boats that you could sail down the stream. He had so much fun and could have spent hours doing this. I am trying to think of ways we could build one at home.
Jim loved the bamboo forest that we walked through. Especially the giant bamboo. He also really enjoyed reading the name of the plants with the kids and seeing the plants from all over the world. One in particular is the "ice cream banana plant"
I don't know that I had a favorite….I just loved being there and soaking up the ambiance It amazes me the effect of being in that environment. It made me feel happy, peaceful and tranquil. I loved sitting with Jim and watching our kids having fun in the children's garden and watching them pretend. Nothing brings me more happiness than that. Here in the gardens we were in no hurry. We just let things happen. It was wonderful.
At the end of the day we went to Encinitas's Moonlight beach. Again, so beautiful. Since it was late we didn't swim. The kids just played on the beach and we watched the sunset. So fun!!
Day 2
We exhausted ourselves yesterday…which showed today. It seems ridiculous how long it takes Jim and I to get everyone in the car to get going. Today destination "Old Town" We got going late and so we didn't make it down to Old Town until 11:30. Part of traveling with young children is that you have to let go of your expectations and surrender to what is really possible.
We spent a good hour and a half at the Mormon Battalion. We LOVED this; they have completely redone the visitor center. What a great and inspiring story of people who had prayed for the Lord's help to move them west. When the answer came …it wasn't what they were expecting and it took a lot faith to trust the Lord. The answer was for them to join the army and fight the Mexican's….The prophet Brigham Young had promised them that if they were faithful, they would never have to fight a battle. What a great promise. Everywhere they expected to fight a battle…no one was there to fight. They had many hardships…but through these hardships they learned skills that proved important in the future to building up the salt lake valley. Part of their job was to blaze the trail west…that many people took and eventually was the route of the railroad. When they arrived in San Diego…the Mexican's there had heard that an army of religious zealots were coming to fight them. When they arrived however, they were surprised to find that the Mormons helped them build up the town and that they became friends. What a great and uplifting story. I am so happy to know it.
We then went to lunch and had a yummy Mexican lunch. After lunch we tried to walk around town, but everyone was over it and tired so we went back home. Jim was really nice to let me nap while he took care of miss fuss buckets (violet). She had a very bad day and was so upset and remained so the rest of the day. Later we went to watch Jim's volleyball game. I sat in the car most of time trying to feed miss fuss buckets whom apparently does not need to eat and then Charly had bumped her lip and was so sad and tired she just couldn't get over it. After the game there was a picnic….which I tried to enjoy…it was just really cold.
Day 3
This day we decided to drive up to Orange County. Ideally we wanted to leave at 9am. Did that happen?? Any guesses?? Of course NOT!! It took a ridiculous amount of time to get everything packed and in the car! Finally around 12 we were ready. BTW… it is so much different being a parent as opposed to being a kid. This is the stressful stuff about vacations that I don't enjoy. You know what they say….sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation!! As soon as we pulled out of our garage and were just about to shut the garage door we here "pluuuhhhhblahljlj" yes, Violet had a BIG poop!! It was such classic timing. We changed her and then left. Had to get gas on the way and do a bathroom stop...so we didn't make it up to OC until around 2pm. After having lunch we went to Irvine Park. This is one of my favorite places. Another place of peace and tranquility. Charly rode the horses. She was so excited about this. She rode a horse named "Stuart" I really enjoyed watching here ride the trotting pony. IT was SO cute to see her and her blond little pony tail bounce up and down. I just adore my little angel. She really has a special place in her heart for animals. A kindness and love towards them. Then we went to a grass area and played Frisbee, kickball, zoom-O and had a great time. Charly and I spent a lot of time looking at the ducks in the pond. They have paddle boats there so we rented one for a 1/2 hour (plenty of time). I am really glad that we did, even though those things are a lot of work, it was a fun experience to give our kids. We got to leave Violet with Grandma and Grandpa. That made things a lot easier!! (Sorry Violet we love you!)
We then went home and stopped at Taco Bell on the way home for some yummy lime drink that we have a coupon for. Dropped off Charly and went to the ANGELS game. Ok, so I went to the Angels game….but if you ask Jim and Jack we went to a BLUE JAYS game. We met up with Dan & Heather. That was a lot of fun; although the Blue Jays won L I was the only one cheering for the Angels. Jack was so excited that both Jim and I were going the game. I think that made his day to have us to himself. He is so diplomatic and would not admit who he was cheering for……but later it came out that he was going for the Jays.
Day 4
We headed down to Newport Back Bay to do a little kayaking. Something we have wanted to do more of but being pregnant and having a baby have stopped me. So, my parents (wonderful people) came along and let us use their kayak. They watched the kids while Jim and I took a two hour kayaking tour out of the Back Bay, around Balboa Island and back. It was really LONG!! We had a great time, but I am out of shape since I haven't been able to work out since my surgery. Needless to say, it is the day after and we are SUPER sore! While we were gone…the kids played at the back bay….a place that I would love to go back to when they are teenagers (there are some fun water toys they have in the swim area that appeal to teens). Most the time we were here Jim and I were out kayaking. We took the kids for a little kayak ride too. That was fun. Jack was scared and wouldn't go…but we finally talked him into it. Or should I say tricked him into it! (Sorry Jack:)) We told him we were just going to take a picture in the kayak and then we started floating away…hahaha he had fun though. We enjoyed reading the names of the boats.
That night, the boys went to the game again. Angels won this time 7-1.
Day 5
We did NOTHING absolutely nothing. Much needed. It's 4pm and I am still in my jammies. A much needed day of Nothing :)!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Chocolate for dinner
I had chocolate for dinner tonight. Yeah, it was one of those days. I'm just tired. I just needed 20 minutes of piece today and didn't get it. I ate a whole chocolate bar while I was fixing the kids dinner. It was really good.....i'm not going to lie.
Monday, August 2, 2010
a day in the life of us (in ridiculously monotonous detail)
Wow! Mondays are always so busy. Let's see....so I woke up around 7:30 and feed Violet. Got the kids breakfast and ready for swim lessons and started the laundry then got everyone in the car and left around 8:30. Arrived at 9....Got to sit down and breath while Jack and Charly did there swim lessons. At 9:25 set out all their clothes so that when they got out of the pool I would be ready for them. Had them shower and dress (which always takes some convincing since they are so cold they don't want to take their towels off from around them. (Did I mention it has been a cold summer...overcast almost every single day...YUCK!) Then we got in the car to head back home. We arrived home around 10:20. I had to change the laundry and feed Violet again. Then folded the laundry and got the Jack to fold his laundry and Charly to put hers away then switched more into the dryer. As soon as I finished that I cleaned the kitchen and put Violet down for a nap...by then it was 12:00. I started to fix lunch and then I realized Violet was asleep (thank you angel baby) and the kids were playing together in the office totally involved in some kind of plot...something to do with star wars and the mermaid lagoon that I made for Charly. Nontheless.....they were totally involoved. So I put down the lunch makings and decided this was the momment that I was going to have 10minutes to myself. I got the lap top and laid down on the couch and listened to my 10 minute weight loss hypnosis session...which is totally relaxing by the way. (a new thing I'm trying. I'll expound on that later). Then I proceeded to make everyone lunch including myself. We ate lunch and then Violet woke up. I knew she would want to eat so I rushed and folded some laundry and took it upstairs. Got the kids to do a little clean up and then let them watch Peter Pan 2 (they have hardly watched TV all summer.....mostly just on fridays for movie night...so since I was so busy I caved and let them watch.) Put that on then went upstairs to feed Violet. While I was feeding her I multitasked.... I read some scripture and then made some phone calls. Then when she was done eating I folded the laundry and put it away...came down stairs and the movie was just finishing. Then we decided to go to the park (which took some convincing...they didn't want to go, but I feel very guilty sometimes because we don't have a backyard and they don't get to play outside unless I arrange it) So we headed down to Coronado (one of my favorite places in the whole wide world!) It was so beautiful crossin the bridge. So the kids played on the playground while Violet sleeped in her stroller and then Jack and I played soccer. We stayed for about an hour and a half and then decided to go home. We got home and Charly wanted to stay in the car to sleep and Jack went upstairs to play so I went and fed Violet. While I fed Violet I wanted to plan out FHE. When I was done feeding her I started dinner (easy speghetti and meatballs), salad, strawberries & bananas, brocoli & cauliflower. (an dinner I know the kids will eat and we don't have to sit at the table for hours telling them it's time to take a bite.) Jim came home and we talked a bunch and then ate dinner. After dinner Jim and I sent the kids to the office so we could plan out the details of FHE....when we were done we made them come out and clean up a little bit and then we started. We had this fun game where they had to throw 10 balls and there were 10 different bowls. They could throw it at any bowl and then when they were done, each bowl had monopoly money taped underneith and that is how much they got depending on which bowl the balls were in. They had a lot of fun doing this. Then we gave them the money they earned and we had a lesson on tithing. After the lesson they "paid tithing" and then got to go to my "candy store" that I had set up. They were really excited about this. Jack was able to buy a bag of cookies that he wanted and Charly bought some chocolate. I really wanted key lime pie but didn't have enough money. Jack offered me $5 so that I could have my key lime pie. That was really nice it was so sweet of him. After that it was time to put the kids to bed. I gave Violet a bath (poor third child hardly ever gets a bath) and then I fed her. Jim got the kids ready for bed and then we all read scriptures together and said our family prayer. Then off to bed. While I finished feeding Violet..Jim and I chatted and then went down staris where we continued to chat while I was cleaning the kitchen (again multitaksing) and finished that around 9:40 and now I am in the office writing this ridiculiously monotonous detailed account of our day. Why you say? Who cares? Since I am writing this blog for my posterity I just think it would be interesting if I had something that my great great great great great great grandma wrote about what her life was way back in the year 2010. So hopefully my great great great great great great grandchildren will find this somewhat interesting. Anyways, that is a typical monday.....we do a lot more interesting stuff and have fun playdates planned for the week! This blog will get more interesting as I get more practice!! In a nutshell my life is overwhelming but happy!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Summer 2010
Ok, I am going to be good about this blogging stuff. I write this as a journal and for my posterity. I want to keep a record of our life, which I haven't been good at. So I am not going to overwhelm myself and try and keep up with all that hasn't been written...I am just going to start from now or at least this summer.
I was really gearing up for this summer because now that I have Jack in school...summers are the only time which I get to really be with him. I remember the words of Marjorie Hinckely in her books where one of her kids was in detention after school and she marched right over and took him out and told the teacher "sorry school is over he is on my time now" So that is how I veiw my time with my childern.
Anyways, in a nutshell Charly and Jack have been the best of friends this summer. They hardly fight at all!! They are good little playmates and it is fun to listen to them play and pretend. Right now they are really into lego "Powerminers" and "Atlantis" that is what they pretend most of the day. Saturday we built a mermaid lagoon and the lost city of Atlantis out of playdough and the kids had so much fun playing this. I am going to try and post a picture of it.
I am going to try and sum up a week every sunday. We have been doing swim lessons which the kids LOVE!! Every morning we have to get our sorry butts up and get to the pool in La Mesa by 9:00am. I am really impressed with how much they love to go and how much they are improving by just going every week. Charly is really a fish. We both have some kind of connection to water (maybe we were sea animals in our past life?!?!) She spends most of her time under water and can swim a good distance by herself. Jack's big accomplishment this week was jumping off the diving board. I watched his class go over to the diving board and I thought to myself...oh, this is going to be interesting....but he did it!! And of course he loved it. I am proud of his attitude he is very happy go lucky and has been willing to try new things...we have seen this at the dinner table as well and it has made life a lot easier!
We helped my friend move this week...which was sad :( we will miss them a great deal. And we got to finally go to the Morman Battalion with them. That was so awesome! I can't wait to take Jim. Jack was really interested in it and in the ways that people lived in the olden days.
Ok, I realize that I am writing nothing interesting right now. I just had to start from somewhere and then I can write more interesting stuff as it happens!! That is enough for now...I don't want to hate doing this because I feel obligated to write a ton each time.
BTW Violet is doing great. She is so silly and adorable! I just love her smiles and sweet cheeks. We were excited because we thought she had learned her name, but then we realized that she also answered to "cheeseburger" so I guess it was all in our tone of voice. :))
I was really gearing up for this summer because now that I have Jack in school...summers are the only time which I get to really be with him. I remember the words of Marjorie Hinckely in her books where one of her kids was in detention after school and she marched right over and took him out and told the teacher "sorry school is over he is on my time now" So that is how I veiw my time with my childern.
Anyways, in a nutshell Charly and Jack have been the best of friends this summer. They hardly fight at all!! They are good little playmates and it is fun to listen to them play and pretend. Right now they are really into lego "Powerminers" and "Atlantis" that is what they pretend most of the day. Saturday we built a mermaid lagoon and the lost city of Atlantis out of playdough and the kids had so much fun playing this. I am going to try and post a picture of it.
I am going to try and sum up a week every sunday. We have been doing swim lessons which the kids LOVE!! Every morning we have to get our sorry butts up and get to the pool in La Mesa by 9:00am. I am really impressed with how much they love to go and how much they are improving by just going every week. Charly is really a fish. We both have some kind of connection to water (maybe we were sea animals in our past life?!?!) She spends most of her time under water and can swim a good distance by herself. Jack's big accomplishment this week was jumping off the diving board. I watched his class go over to the diving board and I thought to myself...oh, this is going to be interesting....but he did it!! And of course he loved it. I am proud of his attitude he is very happy go lucky and has been willing to try new things...we have seen this at the dinner table as well and it has made life a lot easier!
We helped my friend move this week...which was sad :( we will miss them a great deal. And we got to finally go to the Morman Battalion with them. That was so awesome! I can't wait to take Jim. Jack was really interested in it and in the ways that people lived in the olden days.
Ok, I realize that I am writing nothing interesting right now. I just had to start from somewhere and then I can write more interesting stuff as it happens!! That is enough for now...I don't want to hate doing this because I feel obligated to write a ton each time.
BTW Violet is doing great. She is so silly and adorable! I just love her smiles and sweet cheeks. We were excited because we thought she had learned her name, but then we realized that she also answered to "cheeseburger" so I guess it was all in our tone of voice. :))
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