ABC Barn Thanksgiving Feast

It's hard to believe my youngest baby is 4 1/2 and in preschool. He has really developed quite a personality and is not shy with other adults.

Today was his Thanksgiving Day feast at preschool and he chose to dress up like an Indian. He was very proud and excited that Kenzie and I were there to share the moment with him. And he was super excited to share the cupcakes with his friends. He kept saying, "My mom made those!"





Mrs. Cecilia getting him dressed.


Getting ready to say a prayer before they eat.





Love this little Indian!

Ocotillo Wells - First Ride

Will has always wanted a jeep since before we were married. I knew this and thought of it like a dreamy wish list - along with the boat, jet skis, quads, and all those other toys boys seem to want. Over the last 10 years I never really gave it much thought when the subject would arise. I would listen and smile . . . and now we own a jeep! A jeep to just go off-roading in. Of course in the beginning I was not fond of the idea. Owning a vehicle just to play around in? A vehicle without a purpose? It was all worth it when I saw the smile on my hubby's face. So what will we own next? I'm hoping for a pool!









Dylan's new friend Joshua

Beautiful sunset right before we left.










Dylan would like a quad of his own.

Ready for a ride in Daddy's new jeep.

Beautiful rainbow on the drive out.

Annual Disney Vacation

We had another great time this year at Disneyland. It was much easier with the kids being older. There are days when I wish we had another baby (which is NOT happening) until I see all the mommies at Disneyland and all that they have to pack and take with them. Diapers, baby food, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, snacks, pack and play, sling and the list is exhausting. I also saw many mommies and daddies with toddler in hand and a baby strapped to them in the squelching 90 degree weather we had the first day. That is when I am glad the kids are older. Don't get me wrong, I loved when the kids were younger, but it's moments like these that I don't miss the "baby" stage. We didn't have to go back to the hotel for nap time because someone was cranky. We walked in with nothing but a backpack to hold my wallet, camera etc. And we stayed out till midnight without any unhappy kids. It was great!

It was also great because the kids remembered it from the time before and could tell us what they wanted to go ride or see. And as always the kids LOVE to have their picture taken with any character they see.

This year we had breakfast with Minnie and friends at the Plaza Inn. Yummy!!!! Sometimes when you have meals with characters the food is not that great. Breakfast was delicious!!!

Here are some of the kids favorites:
Aladdin show
Bugs Life show
Soaring Over California
Toon Town
Face painting
Disneyland Hotel pool

As usual I took way too many pictures! I will only post some to spare you!

Boats

The O'Bryan's took us on their boat at El Cap. Dylan had the best time and is such a dare devil. Mackenzie is much like me and a little reserved!

Dylan would now like daddy to buy him his own boat! Of course daddy is VERY excited and thinks it's a GREAT idea. (Will has been trying to talk me into getting a boat since we first got married 9 years ago!)

Barbies

When I was little I loved my Barbies (Japanese version of course!). Every week I saved my allowance and my mom would take me to Seiyu and I would see which piece of furniture I could afford to buy. I remember standing in the Barbie aisle looking at all that they had to offer and carefully choosing the piece of furniture that I could afford and wanted most.

Looking back now, my mom taught me such valuab le skills of money management. I am sure it would have been easier for her if she would have just bought the pieces for me - after all each piece was only $5 to $10 but I distinctly remember having to save money for a couple of weeks to buy what I wanted. I am so grateful for what she taught me about money management at such a young age. Thanks mom!

To this day I still have those same Barbies and all the furniture in their original boxes. I saved them (not sure why - maybe because I had to work so hard to buy it all?) They are stored safely in a toy box that my grandpa made me when I was born (wow - that toy box is 38 years old!!!)

This past weekend, I opened up the toy box and let Mackenzie play with my treasures! She was delighted and mesmerized by all the things that I had. In fact Dylan was also interested and played along side her for a little while. (Don't tell his daddy!)

It was nostalgic for me to see all the pieces I had collected and to see the little blankets and pillows my mom had sewn for me for my Barbies. I also had little wooden dishes that my dad had brought back to me from his Philippines deployment in the Navy. It all brought back so many good memories I had from my childhood in Japan.

I loved sharing them with Mackenzie, and I loved that she seemed to treasure them too. In fact she told me that she hopes one day she can pass the stuff onto her children. Sometimes she seems so wise beyond her years .

Preschool

Well . . . it has happened. I now have two children who go to school. They are growing up so fast it just breaks my heart - but that's a whole other post!

Dylan started preschool at ABC Barn on August 4th. I sent him 3 days early so that he could get accustomed to the routine before I started work. He has the same teacher that Mackenzie had - which I am delighted about.

All along before school started, when anyone asked him about preschool - he let them know that he was not excited and was not looking forward to it. End of conversation.

In my gut, I knew he was going to cry when I dropped him off and I seriously dreaded the moment. I hoped for the best, but I knew what was coming. He is my shy mama's boy after all.

So the morning of, he hesitantly gets ready for school. He is a little curious, a little excited, and a lot scared! When I dropped him off, he clung to me and cried, "one more hug, one more kiss". Now as a Kindergarten teacher who deals with this every year I know that the best thing is to peel them off of you - hand them over to the teacher and walk away. They are resilient and stop crying shortly after the parents leave. In my head I know this. But when the shoe is on the other foot - it is heartbreaking and easier said than done. But, I did what I know is best and did not turn around. I left and then sat in my car and cried there! Poor baby. My heart was breaking for him because I knew he was nervous and scared and wanted me or sister to rescue him. He had never been anywhere without either one of us. As it turns out, he only cried for a little while and then he was fine.

Now he loves his school and teacher. The summer program ends this Friday and "real" school with academics begins on August 23rd. We'll see what he thinks of all of that. So far he has loved playing - let's see what he thinks about learning his ABC's?



Miss Cecilia and Dylan

Obsession

This post is for you Tiffy . . .

I have an obsession with hairbows. Isn't that the first step in addiction? You have to admit you have a problem? Ok Tiffers, cat's out of the bag. I said it. I LOVE hairbows! Tiff thinks I need counseling for my bow addiction.

Ever since Mackenzie got hair long enough to stick a bow in it, she has never left the house without a bow to match her outfit. I had the perfect bow to match every outfit in her closet. I had my favorite bow makers on Ebay bookmarked so that when she did get a new outfit and I did not have the coordinating bow - with one click the problem was solved. We often would get comments from people on how adorable the bows in her hair were. I was one proud mama!

Then it slowly happened. Mackenzie started to become particular about what was going in her hair, and how she was going to wear her hair. Oh no - it's another one of those growing pain moments. No - not for her - for me!

I LOVED those adorable bows. I think she looks so cute and well groomed might I add with a coordinating bow. Well, Mackenzie has been thinking otherwise. She is not into looking "cute". She would like to look "stylish". Stylish? At seven?

Well, there are some battles you don't pick, and this is one of them. I know she needs to develop her own style - and she isn't that cute little toddler that I can dress and accessorize as I please. At least she wanted to keep a few smaller bows for when she gets dressed up. So those of you who have little girls - have fun while they are little because one day all those cute bows are out the window!