Special Friends & a Special Bridge make for Wonderful Memories

We went to a good friends birthday party last weekend. The girls had a great time running and jumping. I had a great time visiting.

On the way home, it was so beautiful, we had to stop at the Golden Gate Bridge. CK had been learning about it in school the week before, so she rattled off how it was 2 miles long. I couldn't resist stopping. O took a great picture of CK and I. My photographer in the making! O also loved the fact the bridge is her favorite color - red. We can't wait to go back with Daddy.

Halloween

Halloween was a very long and very fun day. It started early with O's class party and school parade. She loved every minute of the entire day! She got to wear her costume ALL day. CK had a party and parade as well. She changed at school. Daddy, O and I were there for CK's party and school parade. Of course O was with CK for her school parade. So cute!

That night we joined some friends for a great dinner and trick-or-treating. Always fun to go with a group. Every single house, O looks at me and says "I got candy! They gave me candy!" She still can't believe that people GIVE her candy on Halloween. So funny!

I was dressed in my costume all day. Why not! It's Halloween, one of my favorite holidays.

Mommy Goes to a Halloween Party

Halloween seemed extra special this year. I guess it was all the parties. It lasted longer.

I was invited to a "Black Hat Society" party. What a fun girls night out! K and I had a great time. I even got a tatoo! Lasted for one whole week. My OB/GYN loved it.

Another Visit with Aunt D and Nordie

We went to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival with Aunt D and her boyfriend. Daddy was able to join us, which was a special treat. After the festival we stopped at the pumpkin patch on the way to visit Nordie. It was great to see C and D together. I HAD to get a picture. Going to see Nordie is always a fun treat, especially the girls. Aunt D is teaching them so much about horses.

Girls Movie Night

The girls and I have movie night almost every Friday (since Daddy works). This weekend it was Saturday, since we were out on Friday. We watched a classic "girl movie".....My Fair Lady. Well, half of it anyway. CK fell asleep after about an hour or so. It had been much too late of a bedtime the night before, but she loved the movie. O did not want to go to bed, she wanted to finish the movie (but she had a nap). She loved the movie. She couldn't stop watching it.

When Intermission came up I thought it was a good time to put my sleeping girl into bed and convinced O to join her. We'll finish the movie tonight. I'll rewind so CK can see what she missed. O has been singing "I could have danced all night" ever since. It's just "loverly!"

O Finally Gets her Turn

O has been waiting two long years for this day! She cried on CK's first day of Pre-K two years ago, but NOT today. She was ALL smiles.

She was so excited to go to school today. She went right into her classroom gave Miss M and Miss L great big hugs! (It's nice she has the same teachers as CK did!) She knew exactly what to do....run over to a table and play a game, play with Play-Doh or do a lacing card. She didn't care if we were still there or not. CK, being the good big-sister that she is, tried to help O, but O didn't seem to need any help. She was in HER classroom, with HER teachers and was ready to learn and make new friends!

Mommy and Daddy did great too. I took lots of pictures....helps me not to cry. It worked. I was a little teary eyed walking to the car, but didn't cry. CK cried for me. Poor thing. She was fine, until we were in the car on the way to bring her to school and she started to get sad. I asked her what was wrong, she said "I wanted to stay with O." and started crying. My two sensitive girls. O cried for CK's first day of school, now CK cried for O's. Daddy just smiled and thought, great, I live with three sensitive, emotional girls!

NOW WE WERE FREE.....what to do with three hours! All to ourselves......hmmmmm, what to do. Well, I sat and had a cup of coffee with a danish, C had brought home for me the other night and I watched the Today Show. Haven't been able to do that in five years. C was on the computer for a little while, then went shooting. After five minutes of TV I paid bills....OH BOY.....it was very nice actually. I was able to get my things done without being disturbed every five minutes and not at 10pm (half asleep). It was great! This is going to be great. I hope to get my office cleaned out, catch up on paperwork.....so many things on my "to do" list!

When I picked up O from school she told me all about her day. She made new friends, road the tricylce at recess, did a worksheet and listened to stories. Her favorite thing she did on her first day of school was art! That's our girl.

Our Big First Grader!

I can't believe CK started First Grade today! Wow. She was so excited. I can't wait to hear about her day. Daddy, O and I all brought her to school. O did very well! No crying....just "I miss Kiki." Mommy and Daddy also did well. I can't wait to hear all about her first day.

End of Summer in Tahoe - day 2

Today Auntie A, Uncle, M, & N joined Nonna, the girls and I down at the lake. The kids had a great time walking in the water (still pretty darn cold) collecting rocks to make their sand castle. Nonna, Auntie, A, Uncle M and I sat on the beach at watched. I did go and put my feet in, but couldn't get up enough nerve to actually swim. (Sorry C) Papa had to drive into town for an errand.

Uncle M rescued a hat that had fallen in the lake. He didn't have his swim trunks on just walked in...about up to his thighs and handed the hat to the people on the pier. "Horay!" everyone cheared. M safed the day.

Uncle M helped CK and N build their sand castle and then we walked back up to the house for lunch. The kids played all afternoon. During and after dinner we sat around the table telling family stories. My favorite thing to do. CK sat wide eyed listening to every word. These are the memories I love.

We've been keeping up on the status of a fire that started in Sunnyside, which is North of us and just South of Tahoe City. 89 was closed Southbound for a while (at Tahoe City), but apparently is open now. We'll check the status in the morning. Tomorrow we go home. The fire was headed North, so it shouldn't affect us here. We'll pray the firefighters are able to contain it soon.

We've had a great weekend getaway in Tahoe. It will be good to get home tomorrow evening and get ready for school on Tuesday. Goodness. I can't believe summer is already over. (sniff) We had a busy and packed summer. So many wonderful memories.

End of Summer in Tahoe - day 1

The girls and I are spending our last summer weekend, before school starts, in Tahoe. Daddy has to work. We miss him!!!!

Nonna and Papa are here too. Uncle M, Auntie A and N will be here tonight. It will be fun to hang out with them tomorrow.

This morning we went down to the lake to hang out for a little bit. The girls ran into the water. It's beautiful weather. Nonna came with us to the lake while Papa took a bike ride.

Here are a few pics from the lake this morning.

Friends, Fish, & Fun....A Day in Monterey

Friends, Fish, & Fun....A Day in Monterey

On Monday we went to Monterey for the day with our friend M and her son CM (3 yrs). CM loves the girls. The three of them are so cute together. CK was so great with CM. She holds his hand, making sure he stays with us. It was too cute!

First we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Always a fun place. Even more fun with friends. M and I had gone with the kids about 2 years ago, but none of them remembered. They loved it. I like the Jellies the best. They are so relaxing. I could just sit in there for hours watching them. The kids loved it all. C was very tired....just getting home from work at 7:30am that morning, but he had a good time.

After stopping for lunch on Canery Row we found the best little beach. Full of shells, sand dollars washing up on shore and sea creatures in the water. What a fun place to explore. Too bad we left the swim suits and towels in the car. (Ooops) The girls didn't care, they just took their pants off. To be 4 and 5 years old again.....ahh....the life.

As always, O was in heaven on the beach running in the cold ocean water. CK was busy collecting sea shells and sand dollars. Mommy joined in. We found some great treasures. (when we got home we cleaned them up and preserved them) CM...well, it took him the entire time to get up enough nerve to go near the water. By the time he started going near the water it was just about time to head for home. Next time we'll go just to the beach. He didn't seem to mind leaving.

We had a nice walk back to the car and O fell asleep on the way home. (no big surprize there) It was a great day. Maybe we can sneak in one more beach day (in Monterey) before the weather turns cold. hmmm

So. Cal. Vacation - Temecula

After a great 3 days in San Diego we had a great 4 days in Temecula. We went to visit my best girl friend CC and her family. It was great for O to see her God-Parents. She hadn't seen them in about 3 years.

A bonus, for us, was to see V play flag football. Great game! They won, of course. B and CK are the same age. B, CK and O played together - 4 days solid. They had the best time. It was great for me to see me and my best friends children playing together. C went into work with R one morning. The girls and I went and picked him up at lunch. What a treat for C.

After a great visit in Temecula we stopped in LA to visit a friend of C's. He hadn't seen this guy for about 8 or 10 years. We had a great lunch visit with him. Saw his absolutly beautiful home and then headed to Santa Barbara and home.

This was a much needed vacation. We had a great time, but it's good to be home. Poor Genie (the cat), she really missed us this trip. Hasn't stopped meowing yet.

Next week the girls and I will go to Tahoe for one last horah before school starts. Look for those postings starting on the 17th.

So. Cal. Vacation - SeaWorld - Part 2

After SeaWorld we had a great Sushi dinner with J and our friend B. He happen to be in town that weekend. What a great surprize! It was a great San Diego visit. Next stop....Temecula.

So. Cal. Vacation - SeaWorld - Part 1

We went to SeaWorld on our last day in San Diego. Our friend J joined us at lunch. (Thanks for picking up lunch J!) After having a nice picnic outside the exit we went back in to see all the amazing animals. We saw everything; Penguins, Manatees, Beluga Whales, Polar Bears, Sharks, Dolphins, Killer Whales, Sea Lions, Star Fish - even the "Cirque de la Mer" acrobatic/water show. What a fantastic day. Even better because J joined us.

CK's favorite animal was Shamu, O's favorite were the Penguins. I think my favorite were the Dolphins, as was C's. I think J's favorite were the Penguins. Everyone had a great time. It was the hottest day in San Diego (of the three days we were there) so we went to see the peguins a few times (nice and cool in there).

There are just too many images to choose from. I have to do two posts for SeaWorld.