2016 San Diego County Fair

We did our annual fair day today. Marc took the day off work and we arrived right when they opened -lunch time! We all partook in some traditional fair food. Caiden loved his Turkey Leg and almost finished the entire thing.

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The theme this year was Alice in Wonderland and they had these awesome entertainers roaming around that everyone would just stop and watch. Grace kept looking back to find them.

Next up was the Kid Fun Zone! Caiden has been looking forward to this part for months. And ever since we've knows the date that we were going he's been reminding us. I think he was even more excited that Marc was taking a day off work and when Marc had to take a meeting at home this morning before we left Caiden got all bummed and said, "I thought Dadda was supposed to be off work today."

Keeping an eye on the two of them was challenging at times. Caiden is doing pretty good with staying around us but will sometimes get a bit too far away for comfort. Grace will still just run off in all directions. Caiden was big enough to ride probably 20+ rides this year. Grace was just tall enough for a couple but an adult had to ride with. She was NOT happy when Caiden was able to go on a ride and she wasn't...she would cry and cry. I think next year she'll be right at the height to ride them all.

We got the blue snowcone so everyone had blue mouths the rest of the day!

We ventured into a huge tent that had all kid stuff in it. We didn't even know this existed last year and the kids had so much fun. There was a huge mini play kitchen, coloring tables and arts and crafts of all kinds. 

We stayed for over four hours! Grace was exhausted by the time we left and fell asleep on the way home. Caiden stayed busy with the Kettle Corn we bought on the way out! It was a great, great day...and I can't wait until next year when Grace can ride all the rides by herself!!!

Cousin Theo's 1st birthday

My parents came in town to celebrate Theo's first birthday. They arrived on Friday morning and me and the kids went to the airport to pick them up. My parents decided to ship Caiden & Grace's birthday presents out early since they won't be here for their birthday next month -so we spent Friday opening gifts. The big winner was Grace's dollhouse. She LOVES it. She loves playing with all the little animals and people and when we showed her how to make the people pretend to sleep, cook, walk up the stairs, go potty, and play the piano she loves to copy you and make the sounds. It's the first thing she plays with in the morning and the last thing at night. Caiden warmed up to my Dad right away because he really gets in to playing with all Caiden's Toy Story characters and flying them around the room. It's so cute hearing Caiden say the same things as my Dad after they have left.

Saturday was Theo's birthday so we packed up everyone and went to Sara and Dustin's house for the party. Before the party I tried to put this dress on Grace and it lasted for about 10 minutes before she was OVER it. It's so funny because I never put her in dresses -but it was in the 90's this past weekend - so she always asks for pants...it's going to take her some getting used to.

Caiden and Grace were the only kids there but it was at a pool so they had a good time. Grace was a bit under the weather so her and Marc left early but Caiden played in the pool for hours. The highlight was Magda teaching Caiden how to swim. He took his water wings off and she was with him probably 45 minutes. Just tonight he said, "Magda's a real peach, and a good swim teacher." [because he kept hearing us say it]. I was really surprised he took his water wings off because he's not too keen on going under water. But he has swim lessons next month for two weeks everyday and he's supposed to be able to swim when it's over so I hope this helped ease him in to it.

Caiden was totally into the frosting on his cupcake...and that's it!

Theo was mildly interested in his cake. It took a while for him to try it and then he really just wanted someone to feed it to him.

Sunday was Father's Day -we took my Dad down to the Sheraton for their breakfast buffet. A good little spot with a nice view of the SD Harbor while you eat. It was a great weekend, just too short. Can't wait to see them when I take the kids back to Nebraska next month!

Weekend

I've been wanting to rent a surrey bike in Coronado for some time. We rented it on the west side of the island and rode it around to the Hotel Del and then back up. It was a really good time and we felt like true tourists. Every time you'd see another surrey you'd wave and laugh at each other. Caiden was awesome sitting in the front and taking it all in. Grace on the other hand got antsy after a bit -so we distracted her with food! We spent over two hours on the bike then had lunch before leaving Coronado. Such a fun Saturday!

On Sunday Caiden had his first birthday party outside of our friends. It was a friend from school, Landon. There were five boys from his class and it was so fun watching them play together. I've never really seen him play or interact for long periods of time with the kids in his class so it was so great seeing them run around with each other. Their last day of school was on Tuesday but it looks like a couple of the boys he made friends with may be in his summer camp and in his class next year! Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures at the party.

Earlier in the week we had a few play dates, went to the library, made cotton candy and went to an indoor play gym. The gym had dress-up outfits for the kids and Caiden wore this superhero mask pretty much the entire time we were there.  When Grace saw Ariya putting on the ferry and mermaid costumes she wanted in on the action asap. She loved running around as a mermaid.

At the library they have a kids play area and Grace immediately went for pulling the baby and the cribs from the shelf to play with them.

2 week visit!

Marc's parents came out last month. It had been since Thanksgiving since we've seen them. Caiden was so excited! He was waiting by the door and when Fery walked up and peeked in the window he started laughing then crying and ran into her arms...it was adorable. We did a lot of cooking and freezing food, went to the zoo, went to parks and beaches, had a birthday party for Marc AND Caiden got his first bike! He had known that they were going to buy him one (as a birthday gift) when they were here so he asked them every single day up until the day he got it.

Marc's 40th birthday party was a success at our house. We haven't had a party with this many people before so I was a little nervous. We had about 30 adults and 15 kids but Fery made it so easy with her professional party planning and cooking and everyone fit just fine!

Caiden's new bike!

Marc and I had a vacation, too! We flew up to Napa to celebrate Marc's 40th birthday with wine tasting and a music festival. On Friday we went to an amazing restaurant in Yountville (where we seriously want to buy a house someday) called Ad Hoc. Definite recommendation for anyone that goes. On Saturday we went to three wineries -Del Dotto Vineyards, Hall Winery and the reserve tasting room at BV. For dinner we went to Morimoto in downtown Napa. Another amazing restaurant.

Del Dotto Vineyards

Hall Winery - Things started getting wine crazy!

Sunday we went to BottleRock Napa. A music, wine and food festival. It was a beautiful location with over 100 different wineries and gourmet food vendors. We saw a few guys from the Food Network doing cooking shows on the culinary stage. There were over 20 bands that played Sunday and we made sure to catch Andrew McMahon, Coleman Hell, The Lumineers and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. We were so pumped with the line-up we chose and couldn't of had a better time.

 It was an amazing weekend. We can't thank Fery and Osi enough for watching two crazy kids for 4 days!

Mom's night for Caiden

At Caiden's school we had a mom's night this week -coinciding with Mother's Day that happened last weekend I suppose. Which by the way was great -we went to brunch at one of our favorite dinner spots, Monello, in Little Italy. Then family nap time (since Marc and I stayed out pretty late the night before). I got flowers and balloons and Caiden kept asking me, "Are you so happy, Mom?!?!"

Back to mom's night. After dinner Caiden and I headed to school and they greeted us with a paper flower boutonniere that the kids made. We walked around and he showed me all the different toys and stations in the classroom that he likes to play with. Then we had some strawberry dessert and the kids sang some songs for us. Caiden had so much fun and he kept saying he wants to do mom's night all the time.

I LOVE his teachers -Miss Lisa and Miss Kimberly. They were the perfect fit for him especially it being his first year. They are just the sweetest and kookiest ladies.