Happy 50th Birthday Mom!!

So today is my mom's 50th birthday...She was born on her dad's birthday so it is a very special day for us!  We all miss him very much!   He was such a wonderful dad and grandpa...full of life and always the life of the party!  There is no wonder where my mom's personality comes from!  We love you tons and are so grateful to have the best mom ever!  

             

4th of July at the Lake...

Well, we went to visit the fam. at the lakehouse this 4th of July!  Every year there is a huge boat parade on the lake...everyone decorates their boats and it is so fun to watch!  Then at night the Arrowood Resort puts on a big firework show!  It is really fun because everyone is on the lake in boats and the local radio station plays music to go with the fireworks!  Towards the end they always play the Lee Greenwood  song, "I'm Proud to Be an American" and everyone yells and cheers at the words "From the Lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee..."  Anyway, it was a really fun 4th and we had great weather all weekend!  The only thing missing was Breton...we all missed him tons!!!

Notice the band-aids....she is at that age where she is obsessed!  A band-aid makes any "owie" better!!

SaN fRaNcIsCo...

So we went into the city and spent the day doing all of the typical San Francisco things!  We obviously went to the pier, saw the seals, went to the Candy Baron, chocolate stores, ate fish and chips, etc...  Alicia and Susan both came out to visit so we had lots of fun hanging out!!  It was SO great to spend time with my sister and mother-in-law!!!

Lombard Street

Pier 39

Alicia took the kids on the carousel at the pier!!

Ghirardelli Square

Chocolate of course...Kaylin was in heaven and the ice cream sundae's were delicious!

It was really cute because we were watching them bake the famous sourdough bread from the window and they brought out 2 little bread turtles for Kaylin and Dax!  They both thought it was so fun!!! 

tWo AgAiNsT oNe...

I took Kaylin and Dax to see Kung Fu Panda the other day and well...we survived!!  The first half hour was pretty good, then Dax just wanted to crawl up and down the stairs in the theater--he really liked the lights along the floor!  So yes, I know...absolutely disgusting!  I NEVER thought I would let my kid crawl around on a gross movie theater floor, but I did! (He also got straight in the bath when we got home!) Anyway, Kaylin did pretty well, however, at one point I did have Kaylin heading toward the front of the theater and Dax crawling as fast as he can to the back!  Luckily there weren't many people in the theater, which is why we went when we did, but still!  Just trying to get out and do some fun things...but sometimes I wonder if it was worth all of the work?!!! :)

Oakland Zoo...

Well, I decided it was time to switch up our daily routine so I took the kids to the Oakland Zoo!  Everyone around here told me how great this zoo is for young children...and they were so right!! It was fabulous!!  Aside from the actual zoo, they have a whole area called "The Children's Zoo."  There were little parks with statue animals to play on, leap pads on water the kids can jump on, a little farm where they can brush and pet the animals, a picnic area, slides, etc...  It was great!  Then right next to the zoo there is a little amusement park with a few kiddie rides and a train that takes you around the zoo and it also overlooks the bay and downtown Oakland!  Seriously, what more could you want, right?!!  Anyway, we had a really fun day!!!

Happy Father's Day...

Thanks for being such a great dad to our kiddos!

We love you tons!!!   

 

MoRe PaRkS...

So I pretty much feel like most of my life right now is spent at the park!  We have already been to 6 different parks in the area...aside from the one next to us which we visit daily!  It is great though...Kaylin and Dax love it and it is so nice to have them all so close!  I can definitely see why people pay lots of money to live in this area!!  It is beautiful! Thought I would just share a few!!

Larkey Park

 

Heather Farms Park

(our "home" park)

Tilden Park

This park is actually in Berkley...it is a regional park and is so cute because they have a little farm with animals and steam trains the kids can ride on!!