2017 San Diego County Fair

Hands down the best fair day we've had! Caiden has been looking forward to it since last year. He asks for the 'Fair Story' at least once a week before bed.

We strolled in around 11:30 and walked around looking for some signature fair food. We got some roasted corn on the cob, a couple of turkey legs, fried chicken, french fries and Grace and I snuck off and got some ice cream with sprinkles. Then we headed into the animal building to feed some goats and sheep and ride on some tractors.

Then it was time for the Fun Zone. Last year was brutal because Grace wasn't tall enough to ride any of the rides so she just got pissed and wanted to run around and get lost. She was easily the smallest on all the rides this year and barely slid in over the 36 inch minimum height. Almost every worker managing the rides would make her stand against the measuring stick. I would push her feet back and tell her to stand up straight with her head up otherwise they wouldn't let her go.

This year her and Caiden rode on all the rides together and he even held her hand when one of them was pretty intense and she needed a little confidence. He even watched out for her and waited for her on the mazes and walking attractions.

If you look close at this picture you can see them holding hands so tight. I think Caiden even liked the idea of having a hand to hold because they chose the highest seat on the dragon which really throws you up high in the air.

On every ride that went around in a circle Grace would wave and say, "Hi, Mom and Dad!" as they went by. Caiden on the other hand was too busy looking out trying to see what ride he wanted to go on next.

The last stop of the day is for Kettle Corn. This stuff is amazing...you can't stop eating it. Caiden has been talking about the "Kettle Corn guy" since last year. He wanted to make sure we got a big bag this year because Marc and I ate it all after they went to bed last year. 

I'm sad this day is over, we all look forward to it so much. The kids went all day without a nap and at 8pm Grace was still bouncing off the walls while Caiden was half asleep while we brushed his teeth...how different they can be.

Lake Tahoe

We spent last weekend in Lake Tahoe with my parents. My Dad had never been and has always wanted to fish trout on the lake. We stayed in a killer house a half block from the lake that had a hot tub, air hockey table, ping pong table, bikes and Caiden's favorite -bunk beds! Each night he slept in a different bed because he said he needed to try them all out.

On Saturday we rented a boat and headed out with Tahoe Sportfishing. They were so wonderful and tried so hard to get us all to catch a fish. We only got two in the four hours we were out. It was so cold and windy that day that it messed with everything. But the kids loved being on the boat and didn't complain once about being cold.

Family selfie time on the beach by our house!

On Sunday we headed to a little pond where you are guaranteed to catch however many fish you are willing to pay for. Caiden and Grace caught fish after fish within the 40 minutes we were there. Caiden said, "This is so fun. I could do this all day!". He had a blast. Grace was into it for about 10 minutes then just squealed every time one of the fish in the bucket would flip around, it was so cute.

On Monday it snowed! Yes, snow! It lasted for a few minutes here and there throughout the day but it was still wacky.

Caiden had the most fun. He said he wants to move to Tahoe so he can fish. He cried the night we came home because there is no fishing in San Diego...and now wants bunk beds, too!

Palm Springs weekend

We headed to Palm Springs last weekend for a quick weekend getaway. The 2 hour drive there is getting more and more tolerable with the kids. Grace still has her moments but they are few and far between. We stayed at the Omni resort in Rancho Mirage. It has 2 waterslides, a lazy river and a sand beach for the kids...did I mention it was 100+ degrees when we were there! Thank god for the lazy river. Our friends Jerrod and Lindsey came with their two small kiddos as well. It was such a fun weekend.

Caiden's first t-ball season

We're half way through Caiden's first t-ball season. He is pretty excited to go every week and Marc says he's getting better. I stay home with Grace because it's at the same time as her nap, so Marc and Caiden get some alone time together.

Easter 2017

My parents came out for a long weekend over Easter. We had a lot of fun! On Friday we had everyone at our house. Sara and Dustin had friends in town (Josh and Olivia from Seattle) -it was a party! We colored Easter eggs, had a water balloon fight, ate guac, tacos and margaritas! Although I got no picks of the epic water balloon fight you can bet it was epic! My parents brought a "gift" for the kids that fills up like 30 water balloons in seconds...it was a hit! Caiden has asked everyday since when we are doing water balloons again.

On Saturday morning we had our neighborhood Easter Egg hunt in the park. Grace knew exactly what to do this year. She was picking up eggs faster than anything I've ever seen her pick up. Caiden picked up right where he left off last year. They were so pumped to open all the eggs and find smarties inside.

On Easter morning Caiden immediately went downstairs. He ALWAYS comes in our room when he wakes up but this time he skipped our room all together. He got Chase, from Paw Patrol, some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle socks and bubbles and a Star Wars coloring pad. Grace got Skye, from Paw Patrol, Paw Patrol socks and bubbles, and finger puppets.

I also pulled out this funny clucking chicken that Fery bought a few years ago and Grace thought it was the funniest thing she's seen. She was hysterically laughing and dancing with it for 10 minutes.

The Easter bunny hid all the eggs in the backyard and they had a blast finding them and getting the "special ones" that had jelly beans inside. They were so hyper for a couple of hours. 

After nap time we headed over to Sara and Dustin's for Easter dinner. The kids got to play with their new toys and Theo!

Mamani is back!

Fery came back out to San Diego last week for a family wedding. It was nice having her back in SD so soon after she left just last month. I really wish she lived here:::wink wink::::

Sara, Dustin and Theo came over for dinner on Thursday night to enjoy Fery's amazing cooking skills. Then on Saturday before the wedding we dropped the kids off at their house for their first sleepover! I can not believe it went as smoothly as they say, but seriously I swear your kids are angels when they are with other people. On Sunday morning we had the wedding brunch so we picked the kids up around 11am and took them with us. It was so blissful having 19 kid-less hours! Thank you so much, Soekers...it makes me so happy that my kids love you guys so much that they are looking forward to another sleepover!

I can't believe this is the only photo between Marc and I that we have.

A lot of the family we see on the East Coast over Thanksgiving was at the wedding. This is Siamack (we go to his house for Thanksgiving dinner) and Grace playing together. She loved when he would mess with her. 

On Monday we drove up to Orange County to visit some family.

Leah and Grace are only five months apart. Marc and her father, Farhood, are cousins. I wish they lived closer -her and Grace get along so well.