4th of July with the McFarland's

I have been really bad about blogging this month but that is likely because we have been very busy and have had lots of visitors.  I am going to catch up and do a few different posts about our activities this month; starting with 4th of July and our visit from the McFarland's.

The McFarland's lived with us in Hawaii and came up to the desert to visit us for the 4th.  I didn't realize how much I missed them until they came and visited.  Not only do I get along great with Mer but Gil gets along and has a lot in common with Pat.  We also will always have the connection of our Hawaii born babies.  

For the 4th we also had our friends the Godby's over who were also in Hawaii and now live in the desert with us.  We had a nice BBQ and watched the babies as they reunited now as toddlers.

 We also took the McFarland's to our rock for a little rock climbing.  I they not only surprised us but I think they really surprised themselves with how well they did.  It was a great to be at the rock with people who were so excited and willing to try.  The kids had fun eating and drinking and occasionally cheering us on at the rock.

The last morning they were visiting we headed to the splash pad on base.  Sure enough, Aubrie still isn't a big fan but Parker had a great time.  The second we opened the gate he went running for the water and didn't leave till we dragged him out.  We continued the water fun at home while we got lunch ready.  They were so cute playing together.

 We really tired Parker out.  He couldn't even stay awake through lunch or Aubrie trying shaking him awake.  There was no waking poor, tired little P.

We had a great time hosting the McFarland's and miss having them live just down the road.  Hopefully we will meet up again at some point in our military careers and I hope that is sooner rather than later.

Friday Photo Dump

One of B's new things is always wanting to be naked. If you take her shoes off, she wants to take her shirt off. If you take her to the potty and take her shorts off, shirt has to come off too. I don't know she has started this but I could easily say that 90% of the time if we are at the house B is naked. Maybe it is due to the crazy heat we are trying to get use to...which I personally never think will happen. People just aren't mean to live places where the temp goes above 100. It just isn't right. We will definitely be visiting the family pool regularly with friends.

That's all for now. Hope you all have a wonderful and hopefully comfortably warm weekend.

I am still trying to get the hang of the new setup here at blogger so bare with me...I will figure it out sooner or later.

Cuddle Bug

A couple weeks ago B woke up crying.  It was early so I brought her to our room where she proceeded to fall asleep on us.  Now this isn't like B at all.  She is not super cuddly and once she is awake she is up and ready to play.  I didn't think much of it though and enjoyed every moment of her falling asleep in our arms like she was a newborn again.  

Sure enough though it was all due to an upset stomach.  I felt bad for her but still enjoyed our cuddly morning.  She felt better by the afternoon and was back to her normal self...no more cuddling for Mommy and Daddy.  I have learned my lesson...if she chooses to cuddle she doesn't feel well.

What happened to May...

I had so much to catch up on a month ago and now I have been MIA for so long I have 50 times more stuff.  We have been pretty busy as of late.  We moved into our new house (on base) and we are loving it.  Gil's commute to work is now 5 mins and the days he isn't in the field he can come home for lunch again.  We are quickly settling in and coming up with all sorts of projects for the house.  The big project is new curtains for the living/dining room.  I am going to attempt to make them myself.  I just bought fabric this weekend and am very excited to get started.  We have already completed a few minor projects around the house like adding some shelving and baby proofing the sliding pantry door.  Thanks to pinterest I come up with new projects regularly.

Grandma D came to visit this month for a week.  We had a blast.  B is at such a fun age I am glad Grandma got to spend some time with her at this age.  Gil had a four day weekend so we used that time to show Grandma around our new stomping grounds.  We spend a day in Palm Springs with brunch at Cheeky's and a trip up the Aerial Tram.  We also went to Sea World for the first time.  It was a beautiful day; nice and sunny but not too hot.  B's favorite was the Shamu show and the penguins.  We hope to make another trip to Sea World when our friends visit for 4th of July.  Grandma got to attend My Gym with B and her friend.  It was fun for Grandma to see her interact with all the other kids and see how happy she is doing all the different activities that the teachers set up.  On Grandma's last day, I took her to our local market which was bustling with vendors.  They seem to be gearing up for summer and there were so many more vendors and customers.  It was a lot of fun.  We both ended up leaving with all sorts of goodies, vegetables, fruits, flowers as well as hand woven baskets from Ghana (thanks again, Grandma.)  Grandma didn't fly out till Saturday night so we went back to Palm Springs for a wonderful seafood dinner at Pacifica.  It was our first time there and we will definitely be going back...and hopefully soon.

Lately, I have really been getting into sewing.  I want to learn to quilt and plan to take a quilting class later this summer.  I have a few projects that I want to attempt this summer, including a shirt for B, a family quilt for picnics, and a baby blanket for a friend.  We will see how it all goes.  I will keep you updated on all my little projects.

We are really looking forward to this summer.  We have our high school reunion this June in Vegas.  It is very exciting to think we will be able to catch up with friends who we haven't seen in almost 10 years.  So many of us are married and have kids now it will be fun to meet their families.  Also, some military friends of ours will be visiting for the 4th of July and my parents will be coming out at the end of July for a few days.

Shortly after summer we will be celebrating B's second birthday!  I can't believe it.  It is just around the corner.  Time has flown by.  She is growing into such a little toddler.  She is starting to vocalize her opinion and it won't be long before she is talking up a storm.  We just bought her big girl bed...which just seems crazy!  The big reason we bought it so soon was because it was on sale.  I am hoping she won't be ready for it until her birthday but who knows.  She is changing everyday and you just never know what will be next.  B's hair is finally getting a little longer.  Sadly she is not a big fan of my playing with it.  I have managed to get pigtails in once, which was too cute for words!  I think once it gets a little longer she won't mind so much because it won't pull...at least that is my hope.  She loves going to the playground which is across the street from our house now.  She likes to go on the swings then always tells me to go sit down and swing.  It is really cute.  She is becoming a pro at the slide as well.  She is so proud of herself when she goes down all by herself.  Her personality is growing and changing everyday.  She definitely knows what she does and doesn't want.  Her favorite things right now are spaghetti (just about the only thing I can get her to eat right now), her new doll stroller from Grandma (which she puts clothes and cups in instead of dolls), and playing in the water, whether it be the hose in the backyard or the pool.  Also another favorite thing of hers is playing with her friend M.  They both just light up now when they see each other.  It is really fun to see the friendship grow between the two of them.

 

We recently got a taste of the summer heat (it hit 113 the other day) and I think we will be spending a LOT of time at the pool.  We went to the base family pool the other day and surprisingly B loved it.  She doesn't seem to like the splash pad but the pool she loved.  It took a little warming up but by the end she was jumping/stepping off the edge right into the pool.  For a girl who hated the pool not even 6 months ago, I was amazed!  We hope to make it a weekly summer activities with our friends.  I think we will have to...it is the only way to make the heat bearable.

Well, that basically catches me up so here are a few more pictures of our life lately.  Think of it as a really big non-Friday photo dump.

Sorry for the crazy layout of photos.  Still trying to figure out the new setup at blogger.

A Day of Cuteness

On Wednesdays we always head to Palm Springs for My Gym with our friends.  After class we stop for lunch then run errands/shop at Target, Marshalls, Babies'R'Us...the list goes on.  This week we had lunch at a Mexican Cantina.  The girls were in a bit of a mood but at the same time B was filled with cuteness.  

Here are a few photos from our day.

Playing Peek-a-boo with her chair cover

 B learned how to undress herself...in public.

 She also helped Daddy with the basket at the grocery store.

Birthday Weekend

We had a great time in San Diego. It was a very easy city to navigate and everything was so close. It never took more than 8 minutes to get wherever we were going.

We went to Coronado and walked the boardwalk and ended back there for dinner at a great family friendly sushi place. Our first full day we spent at Balboa Park. What a great park! There is so much to do I could have spent all weekend there. We saw a marionette puppet show, went to the science museum and rode the carousel outside the zoo. That night we drove out the Escondido and had a table full of crab. I don't consider myself a big lover of seafood but this was delicious! Our final day we woke up and went to a crepe place we saw earlier in the Gas Lamp District. Unknown to us, B was coming down with a bad cold, so breakfast was quit dramatic. Either way, the crepes were delicious and had B been feeling better I am sure she would have loved the idea of chocolate for breakfast. After breakfast we headed out to Carlsbad to see the flower fields. It was amazing. We were there right at peak, so all the flowers were in bloom. It was small but beautiful. I wish we were able to get a good family photo but B really wasn't feeling well so we walked the fields then headed home; not before I bought some bulbs and fresh flowers to take home.

All in all it was a great weekend. It was nice to explore a new city. It definitely confused me though. It didn't seem to have an identity. Boston and New York seem to have such a personality and San Diego seemed like a hodge-podge of stuff. There seems to always be things to do and tons of activities for families but the city itself was just confusing. Anybody else been to San Diego and felt that way? Or am I just missing something?

Here is a few photos from our weekend.

B checking out San Diego from Coronado.

Walking the boardwalk with Daddy.

Sushi Dinner

I love B's smile here. She seems so grown-up.

Marionette puppet show. This was 'How Much is that Doggy in the Window?'

Lunch outside the Science Museum

Playing in the Geometry Playground

B thinking she is going to get some of Mommy and Daddy's crab

Chocolate for breakfast, yum!

Pretty Flowers

I thought this was adorable!

To the market we go

I haven't been to great at blogging lately. I have several ideas and some even started and saved but just haven't taken the time to sit down and write. We all got a cold after our San Diego trip and B is better but Gil and I are still trying to kick it. Hopefully I will get some of my posts written soon. San Diego and Easter posts are next on my list.

But until then enjoy this photo of B headed to the market.