Grandma Hiroko

I can't believe that it will be eight years this February since my mom has passed away. There are days where it felt like just yesterday I was eating her yummy food and going shopping with her.

The thing that breaks my heart more than anything is that she was not here long enough to meet Mackenzie and Dylan. They would have brought her so much joy! Although neither children have met her, they always talk to her when we go visit her at the cemetery. It's very sweet to hear them. In the beginning it used to bring me to tears, but now I can sit and listen with a smile.

There are days when I really miss her. I wish I could get a recipe, or eat some delicious Japanese food she made. Days when I want to ask her "Was I like that when I was little!!?!?" And days where I could just drop them off to be with their obaachan! But most of all, I would have loved to witness the true love between an obaachan and her grandchildren.

I miss you mom! Thanks for making me the person I am today. Your legacy will continue on.

Reindeer

While out on our shopping adventures, the conversation turned to Santa's reindeer. The kids were naming the reindeer and Dylan had trouble remembering Cupid's name. So the nice sister that Mackenzie is gave Dylan a trick to remember his name. . . she tells him, "Just remember the s word we can't say - you know. . . hmm-pid" (as in stupid for those who are wondering). And without missing a beat Dylan replies "Oh yeah, it's Cupid!" Well I guess they have their rhyming skill down!

Lunch

We were shopping today and the kids were getting hungry. Of course they wanted McDonald's and I said, "No fast food today!"

So, while we were shopping Daddy called from work and Dylan wanted to talk to him. He was telling him where we were and where we had been and then I hear (in a very woeful voice), "Mommy won't let us have fast food today. Yeah, I know . We have to eat slow food today." Mackenzie and I were laughing so hard and of course he wanted to know what was so funny. Out of the mouth of babes!

Piano Recital

Mackenzie has been asking to take piano lessons since she turned five and I had been putting her off - feeling she was a little too young to make such a big commitment. After all, you do need a piano to practice on if you're going to take lessons and continue to play - and pianos are expensive!

Finally, after almost a year of asking I made the leap and enrolled her in piano lessons. She started taking lessons in June 2009 - just shy of her 6th birthday and LOVES it. She goes once a week for 30min. to Mrs. Olsen's studio. We also broke down and purchased a piano of our own. (Thanks to Papa who paid for half of the piano as one of Mackenzie's birthday gift).

Mackenzie had her first piano recital on December 19th and La Vida Real retirement home. What a great venue! The place was gorgeous! She was nervous leading up to it - as many of Mrs. Olsen's students are older and have been with her for years. Mackenzie is the youngest student and had only been playing for 6 months.

She was nervous playing for a crowd and indicated she wanted her teacher to sit with her on the bench prior to the recital - but when it came time to play, she took the bench and did well. What a brave little trooper. We're very proud of you and love you to pieces! We can't wait until you can play great pieces for us and serenade us during dinner!


Her teacher Mrs. Olsen Some of Mrs. Olsen's students

Christmas Traditions

For those of you who know me, Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. I love all the hustle and bustle, the shopping, the eating, the baking and the traditions.

Here are some of our annual Christmas traditions we follow:

1. We are decorated by the day after Thanksgiving (if not earlier).
2. Making and decorating gingerbread houses.
3. Looking at Christmas lights.
4. Buying an ornament each year that represents what each child is into.
5. Advent calendar counting down the days to Christmas.
6. Annual family Christmas pictures
7. Visiting Santa at Santee lakes
8. Children's Christmas party hosted by the Sheriff's Department.
9. Christmas dinner with the Sippels

And our newest tradition . . .

Jolly - the Elf on the Shelf

For those who are not familiar, there is this wonderful kit that comes with a book and an elf doll. The book explains how Santa knows if you have been good or bad everyday. He sent an elf to come and live with us to watch over the kiddos and every night when we are all asleep the elf disappears to tell Santa whether you should be on the nice or naughty list. When the elf returns, he never ends up in the same spot and you must hunt where he has landed every morning. The story also explains how upon Santa's orders, the elf can't talk, but he can listen very well. So, children are encouraged to talk to the elf and let him know their wishes for Christmas. It also explains one very important rule - NO ONE can touch the elf, or he will lose his magic and won't be able to go to the North Pole to give his report.

So we adopted the elf (complete with adoption papers and registered him with the North Pole registry) and the kids named him Jolly.

Mackenzie loves the idea and talks to him quite often. Dylan was unsure the first day or two and was worried that he may appear in his room one morning. He was not afraid of the elf - but was worried that the elf would really see that he's been kind of naughty lately (LOTS of whining and pouting) and Santa wouldn't bring him anything!

Every morning the kids wake up and the search is on. They love looking for him and finding the silly places he hides. They also LOVE to tell every adult that steps foot into our house that we own an elf who was sent to us by Santa.

This by far has been the best tradition (www.eflontheshelf.com - great website). They love Jolly and the kids are sad that Jolly has to go back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve and won't be back until next year. So if you ever visit us over the holidays, you'll hear about Jolly! Just remember - hands off! All ready to decorate gingerbread houses! Dylan decided he had done enough decorating and dove in - literally!
DSA Children's Party

Oma's 2009

It's my favorite time of year! Fall - or should I say October break? I love the two weeks that we are off every October. We have so much fun doing whatever we want and the weather is always so perfect!

One of our traditions is to visit Oma's pumpkin patch with the Sippels. My kids LOVE that place soooo much. We usually go 2 or 3 times during their pumpkin patch days. They love the open space and to just run free and enjoy farm life for the day. There is so much to do there and they are always sad when it's time to leave.

This year the kids are at perfect ages. I did not have to worry about Dylan getting left behind, or falling, or being trampled by others. I did not have to follow him around and help him climb things, or worry about him being lost. The older kids kept an eye out for him and helped him if he needed help (which he didn't). They kids roamed free and the moms got to sit back and chat while they romped around and rolled in the cotton seed. It's so nice because the kids just frolicked in the country aroma and had a great time with each other while we chatted till our hearts were content. We were able to complete so many sentences without being interrupted!!!! They checked in when they were either thirsty or hungry and off they went when we satisfied their needs.

We all had a great time and the kids were giddy. I think the best thing about that day though was on the ride home. We had been discussing about how much cotton seed was going to fall out of their clothes when they undressed since they rolled around in it so much. Gavin said, "I think I even have cotton seed in my butt crack too." and Dylan replies with, "Yeah, I think I have cotton seed in my butt crash too." We all laughed so hard about Dylan's "butt crash"! He had no clue why we were in tears! Poor Dilly!

I'm going to miss it when the kids get to that age when they no longer want to go to Oma's to roll in their cotton seed and get it in their butt crash.

Quads

Dylan loves quads, dirt bikes, race cars, motorcycles and pretty much anything with wheels that will go fast. Many days at daycare he sits on Connie's quad in her garage and makes those boyish noises and has a great time.

Once Dylan discovered that the O'Bryan's had quads too he wanted to sit on those quads and pretend to drive them as well. So, Linda and Corey invited us over and took the kids for a ride on their terrain. They had such a blast! Even Mackenzie had so much fun. Those kids would have rode on those things all day if we would have let them.

Don't worry, I already told them that Santa would not be bringing real quads to the White household! Of course daddy replied, "Why not?"

Maybe because Daddy had as much fun as the kids?????

Train Day

Every year we are invited to Train Day at Rohr Park. It is a private party with the Chula Vista Steam Engines. They are a group of people who love trains and have made miniature trains. The track goes all around the park and people of all ages ride!


We have been going for the past couple of years and the kids really enjoy it! Their favorite is riding the train in the dark with their glow sticks. Thanks conductor Joel for taking us around the track every year!

What a Difference

Mackenzie and Dylan have been taking swim lessons from Kelly the entire summer and the kids are sad that it's coming to an end. Mackenzie is almost swimming on her own - more of a confidence issue in the deep end if anything. She has become so brave and has enjoyed every minute of her lesson. What a difference from 2 years ago when I enrolled her in private swim lessons. . . .

Two years ago this was a child who screamed - not cried - but SCREAMED the entire 30 minute session for 6 weeks straight! I had to bribe her with candy or ice cream to cry quietly and not wail at the top of her lungs! Poor child - poor me!

And now she loves the water, and is trying to do flips, handstands, diving for rings, you name it and she wants try it!

I am so glad that the kids love the water and will become good confident swimmers unlike their mother! Thank you so much Kelly for being patient, loving, and such a great swim teacher! The kids adore you, and you are teaching them a valuable life skill. You're the best!

Beach Time!

OK, for those of you who know me well, know that I have never been a big fan of the beach. I've been a handful of times in the last 10 years. Well, I'm a changed woman now! I've had soooo much fun at our last 2 outings at the beach. I'm not sure if it's because my kids are at such a great age and I enjoy seeing how happy they are when they get to just frolic at the beach for hours. Or, if I've finally become a native San Diegan who appreciates the beach?!? Regardless, Will and I decided it's cheap entertainment that we would like to do once a week during the summer! We are going to become beach bums!

Today we went to La Jolla shores and waded with at least 100 leopard sharks! It was SOOOO awesome! They just swam between our legs and brushed up against us. It was AMAZING. We saw sting rays and fish too. I was in awe! Why haven't I appreciated this beautiful place before?

I caved

For the last 2 Christmases, Mackenzie has asked Santa (and us) for a Power Wheel ride on vehicle. We always explained that it was too expensive and we could not afford one of these.

Last Friday we had a fun play date with Emily and she had a quad Power Wheel. Both kids got to ride it for a little while before the battery died and had a blast! So . . . I started looking on Craig's List and found this beauty for such a steal that I couldn't resist!


Now I have one major problem . . .Will is asking for one too. He'd like a real one! (Better start writin' to Santa!) Boys and their toys!

Slumber Party

Casey and Gavin came to spend the night at our house. My kids were SOOOO excited. The kids are all at such great ages and play so well together. The boys do their thing, the girls do their thing and then they all play together too.

We started the evening with dinner, then off outside to make a delicious dessert of "mud pie". Those kids can play in mud forever and have such a great time.

Then the kids took bubble baths and settled in for a movie and popcorn. The girls watched intently while the boys watched bits pieces between motorcycle racing, wrestling, and sword fighting.
Then off to bed . . . .well sort of. I let the kiddos stay up till 9:40 and then sent them off to bed. The girls were in their sweet dreams by 10pm without a hitch. Now the boys . . . .well, that's a whole other story. 10:30 - chattering away, 11:00 still chattering away, 11:30 STILL chattering away! Finally at 11:40 one of the boys probably couldn't take it anymore and fell asleep - thank goodness! Now one would think they would sleep in - NOT!!! Girls up at 7am, and the boys at 7:30 raring to go. Oh well, my kids had a great time and love it when those kids come spend the night.

Happy Birthday Mackenzie!

This morning we had fun at Bears, Buddies, and Toys. I took Mackenzie to have a "Glamour Girlz" make over. She got her hair done in an up-do with a crown, her nails painted, sparkly eyeshadow, sparkly lip gloss, and made some tooty-fruity lotion. She was so happy and loved every minute.While waiting for sister to get glammed up, Dylan loved the pirate ship, pirate and knight in the store. He has requested to take home the 60 ft pirate boat for Christmas! Sure!!!!


Then we for dinner we went to Corvette's Diner. Love the new location in Point Loma. Much better than the one in Hillcrest. Both kids loved the atmosphere and couldn't believe throwing straws and napkins were permitted. Dylan loved all the music and danced quite a bit until someone came to dance with him. But mostly he loved these colorful cows out front!

Happy Birthday sweet girl! We love you tons and hope your day was as special as you are! XXXOOO

We Did It!!!

Drum roll please . . . . . .

Dylan is potty trained! For those of you who didn't know, he has been dragging his feet about becoming a "big boy". Since his third birthday, we have been looking and purchasing big boy underwear. He loved to buy them and look at them as long as they were in his dresser drawer and not on him. I tried razzle-dazzling him about how wonderful it would be and the toy I would buy him and his response was "No thank you. I don't want to be a big boy. I don't want a toy. I like my diaper." In fact of late, he would comment on wanting to be a baby again. The conversation went something like this:

Dylan: When will I be a baby again?
Mommy: Never honey, you will only get bigger and bigger.
Dylan: Never, ever? Aaaww.
Mommy: I know it's sad isn't it? Mommy wished I could stop you from growing up too!
Dylan: Me too!!!

I don't know if this is because we changed his crib to a toddler bed, threw out the sippy cups, and now trying to force the underwear!

I knew he was ready because he had all the signs of being ready, but I think he just dug in his heels. So, Monday morning I put the underwear on and that was that. Two accidents the first day and nothing more since then.

Hooray Dylan! Mommy's proud of you! And don't worry, you'll always be my little baby boy!

Disneyland!

We took the kids to Disneyland for three days and had a great time! It was so much fun and the kids are at a great age. We went in the middle of the week so we didn't have any crowds.

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and since it was not busy we were able to check in early instead of waiting till 3pm. That was nice after the drive. Here's a sign that my kids don't get out much . . . we get into our hotel and they are soooo excited. They ask to stay in the room and watch TV and lay around in their beds! Are you kidding me? We just drove an hour and a half, paid a nice price for tickets, an even nicer price for the hotel, and they want to chill out in the room and not hit the parks? I told Will next time we will stay in San Diego and rent a room at Motel 8 and tell them it's our vacation! Must have been the novelty of sleeping somewhere else AND the fact that they were allowed to sleep together in the same bed! Kids!

Now that Dylan was three, he was not as afraid of the characters either. Last time he would not go within a ten foot radius of a character. This time he was selective of who he would go near. We ate at Goofy's Kitchen and saw many characters. He was so excited to see and meet Goofy until he saw Goofy's behavior. (He was a bit over the top!) Goofy was so, well . . . goofy! He pretended to drink the bottle of ketchup, then burped at the table, sneezed and wiped his snot in his sister's hair, then farted at the table. So by the time he made it to Dylan to take a picture he was freaked out! He yelled "NOOOO!!!" and gave him the evil eye! Mackenzie thought he was hilarious and could appreciate his humor.

Here are some photos of our great family vacation.