Memorial Day Weekend

I love a long weekend! Even better, starting a long weekend with a field trip to Legoland. Alyssa's class is winding down the school year (only two more weeks) and they were lucky enough to visit the Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland. I drove a few other moms and kids and we decided to stay the entire day. We opened and closed the park. The kids had such a great time and the moms had an even better time watching the kids run around like crazy.

Sean, Jakob and Alyssa (all friends from kinder)

Sealife Aquarium

Jakob, Sean and Alyssa enjoying riding without their parents

Alyssa and her school bestie, Makenna

We brought the kids bathing suits so they could enjoy the water play area

Face painting

End of the day at Legoland

Saturday we spent the day in LA to celebrate Corey's graduation.

Alyssa and Granny at Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Someone needs a nap!

Alyssa is finally overcoming her fear of dogs.

What an amazing view from the Edwards' backyard

Sunday we celebrated Memorial Day with a bbq and swimming. Spending the day outside by the pool sure felt like a lazy summertime day. Jake is getting braver in the pool these days...or should I say the jacuzzi. That kid has very little interest in the pool. He seems to think swimming means turning on the jacuzzi and just moving about in his little domain. He's really into Toy Story right now and decided he was buzz light year. He would stand up and proclaim. "to infini and beon." For those of you who don't speak Jakey, that translates to infinity and beyond. The kids know bbq for the Serrano's and Getty's means late night fun! The kids let the parents enjoy the jacuzzi in the evening while they played in the sandbox, watched movies, ate snacks and ruled the house. What a fun Memorial Day weekend!

Jake, Isa, Alyssa and Mady

We survived!

Alyssa had her Spring Knights concert last night. Her class sang and danced the Twist. Super cute! No pictures during the performance because once again no flash photography during the performance. Ah come on! I did buy the DVD so Sebastian can see the performance in it's entirety. Jake actually sat through the ENTIRE performance. Thank you to the two little girls sitting next to us and the one in front of us for keeping Jake's attention.

Alyssa in her classroom before she put on her skirt and hair ribbon.

One of the little girls sitting by us during the performance

Today was the second to last soccer game. Alyssa played more great D! The Orange Champions held the other team to a scoreless game. Way to go!



Some would say Jake is very mischievous. I like to say he's interested, curious or even intrigued. Ha ha! So I'm sitting at the computer and all I hear are giggles at my feet. Look what I found...

Yes, he unrolled an entire dispenser of tape

A little later I hear him crying. What's stuck around his ankle??? ANOTHER dispenser of tape he unraveled around his ankle that he can't get off! Tape is obviously not safe in our house.

Dad is on a flight home as we speak. Thank goodness! He has two very anxious (and might I say whiny) little kids at home waiting for his arrival.....and presents of course! We survived!

Mom and her kiddos!

I'm a single mom this week while Sebastian finishes the last leg of the Pearl Jam tour in New York City. Not even kidding! To top it off, he is also enjoying Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees! Can you feel the jealousy? Lucky for me our office is closed several days this week so I get to spend lots of time with my kiddos.

On Wednesday Jake and I spent the morning at the Zoo. Jake and I have never taken a trip to the Zoo, just the two of us. It was so much fun! He truly enjoyed our one on one time. As did I! He called the shots the entire visit. It even included a ride on the skyfari. We got the heck out of there just in time for a meltdown and a nap in the car. Loved our time and hope we get to do it again real soon.








Alyssa always has a tough time while her daddy is away so I try to distract her. Today the kids used their sidewalk chalk on the driveway and created their works of art. As I was taking pictures I thought for sure I was about to capture a great picture of Jake lovin' his sister. He had just gone up to her and given her an unsolicited hug and said, "I wuv you sissy." He then leans in for what I thought was going to be a kiss on the head, but instead....wait for it......he leaned down and spit on her head. GROSS! Seriously! Where do boys learn this stuff!??!?! Needless to say that was the end of the special brother-sister time because he had to pay the price and sit in the corner.

Jake learned to ride his scooter. Go Jakey!

Jakey got a haircut today. Doesn't he look adorable?

A few pictures

I have absolutely no good reason why I haven't posted a blog the last few weeks. Actually, the last few weeks have been rather calm for us. I haven't spent the entire weekend running all around town. I suppose my only valid excuse is pure laziness (very few pictures to boot). I hope to be better in the upcoming weeks.

Just a few pictures from the last few weeks. Enjoy!


Alyssa has had a few soccer games and we only have pictures from this past game. And apparently the only picture of her is from warm ups. Ha ha!

Sebastian took the kids to Santee lakes a few weeks ago and Alyssa enjoyed the water fun. You know I wasn't there because I would not have allowed her to get wet in her clothes (without a towel and a change of clothes) :)

Jake's deal of saying, "I have idea" with his finger in the air.

Jake is loving his "fire" vans. These are his favorite shoes right now (he even picked them out at the store). While hanging out at home yesterday he refused to put shorts on, but had to have his fires on.

Loving his "pout" these days... lower lip and all.

Happy Birthday to Sebastian! He celebrated his 37th birthday (3 different birthday dinners) and not one single picture. Sorry!

Good Ol' Family Fun

Everyone was back to their "normal" routine this week, but "normal" was quite welcome in our home after our vacation. Soccer practice, cooking, soccer game, birthday party....check!

We welcomed Rainbow the fish into our home this week. Papa Walt and Granny bought Alyssa a small tank with a fish for her birthday. This fish has brought the kids a lot of joy. They love feeding him and watching him swim about the tank. Hope he enjoys a long life in our home.

Rainbow the fish

Soccer this week was played in a gym. Did I also mention at 8:00 am clear across town? Orange Champions played a really exciting game. The ball traveled a lot faster indoors and maneuvering the team benches was also another interesting obstacle. Alyssa played three consecutive quarters of amazing defense. I think she's found her forte in soccer. Big D! Jake loved that the ball was flying off bodies and coming right up to the bleachers where we were sitting. Such an exciting game that these are the only pictures from this week. Fun fun fun!

Water break

Getting ready to start the game

After an incredibly busy few days last weekend we were happy to realize we didn't have much going on. We planned to have a family dinner in with the Getty's. They bought Alyssa Wii dance for her birthday so we definitely had to try it out. Nothing better than a good home cooked meal (obviously not at our house), wine, good friends and a little dance off. Did someone say "competition", I'm in! I think it's safe to say that the parents just may have had more fun. I'm not afraid to dance to a little NKOTB, MC Hammer and Spice Girls, apparently Sebastian is. As you can see in all the pictures, he's the photographer, not the dancer. What a fun evening! A must do again!

I think Jake looks hilarious in his favorite "fire" shoes and his bike helmet

The bike riders before dinner

The girls warming up before the big dance off

Okay, maybe the kids would rather watch tv while the parents danced

Who looks like they are having more fun? The girls or parents?

Taylor Swift and the End of Spring Break

Today is the last day of spring break...sigh! I've been on vacation the past week and have thoroughly enjoyed all the family time. Tomorrow it's back to the "rat race" as they say. I think Alyssa is ready to go back to school tomorrow. How do I know? Tonight at bed time she started crying telling me she just wants everything to go back to normal. She wants to get up and go to school, wear her uniform, get picked up by Nana, do her homework and do her after school activities and have Mom go back to work. Wow, I do I have a creature of habit or what? Hmmm... I wonder who she gets that from. Big laugh! Why did she inherit my quirky nature. Guess that what makes each kid unique.

We wrapped up spring break with a trip to LA for Alyssa's first concert.... Taylor Swift. She was so excited for her first concert and to see Taylor Swift. When it comes to music and rocking out, she truly is her father's daughter. We headed to LA in the morning so we could make a quick stop at the American Girl Doll store. Alyssa's doll needed a new outfit after all. How cute that while we were there Sebastian picked out a father-daughter activity book for the two of them to enjoy together. Ah! He loves her so much! We also took Alyssa to Hollywood to see the Hollywood sign. This was something she really wanted to do. And turns out her added bonus was that you could actually see the sign from our hotel room too! Getting ready for the concert and walking to the Staples Center was so much fun. Just listening to the excitement in her voice and her inability to stop talking was great. She was asking Sebastian on the way what it was going to be like, do people sit or stand, will it would be loud, and then he tells her, "you know the excitement you feel in your stomach, it never goes away, not even at my age. That is why I travel the country to see Pearl Jam." She leans in and tells him, "I get it now Dad." Ah, what a special moment to witness! After finally getting there and standing in line for 3 t-shirts, yes 3, and a poster we finally made our way inside. Much to Alyssa's disappointment there were opening bands. She could not comprehend why on earth there would be opening bands. So cute! Finally Taylor was on and Alyssa could hardly believe herself. Rocking out, swinging her hair in the air, clapping and screaming. Loved every second of watching her in the concert. Well worth every penny. I hope she always remembers her first concert and how she felt. I know Sebastian and I will!

Before the concert

During the concert

After the concert

Saturday night we spent the evening at the Padres game with family, friends and Alyssa's besties. It was a great evening sitting at the Park in the Park. Kids were able to run around, eat dinner on their blankets and just hang out. Rather than have a birthday party this year, Alyssa chose to attend the game with her friends. What a great decision. Can't beat an opportunity to sit outside in the evening and relax. We'll definitely have to do that more often this baseball season. Thanks to everyone who came and made a great evening for Alyssa!

Jakey and "Eva" (Ava)...Karma can be a tough lesson

All better....he loves her so much

Aunties TT and Paige, Alyssa and Jake

Getty's

Galvan's