Palm Desert

Friday afternoon we headed of on our annual trip to Palm Desert. We had 15 adults and 11 kids in our group and we had a really good time.
Miranda came in our room, took a shower with Porter and Liesl, then got in bed with them.

I think Liesl was singing a princes song in this photo.
Porter and Henry spent a lot of time playing cars and just hanging out.
After the kids went to bed on Saturday night we had a little too much fun and we payed for it on Sunday. It was an eye opening night and in a way it was a good thing because I think I needed it to make a change. I need to start acting my age and be more responsible than I am. Anyway, here are some fun photos of the night

long break

I took a three day break, not because I was planning on it, but it just happened. There was a lot I could have blogged about and I could still post, but I guess I needed the break. I did 6 months of blogging everyday and I intend to continue blogging everyday until the end. The truth is that I blog at night after the kids go to bed, but Thursday and Friday night we were out and I just could not fit it in. If you want to hear a funny story about Thursday night just ask me the next time you see me and I might tell you. Anyway, I will leave you with a few pictures from our Sunday.

camping

We are going to be heading out to Paso Picacho campground in Cuyamamca in just a few hours. It is our annual playgroup camping trip and we are really looking forward to it.

Fair

Yesterday we went to the Fair at the Del Mar Race Track with some friends. I had a lot of fun and the kids had a blast!

weekend photos

wedding

Yesterday was my little sister's wedding. It was a little crazy trying to get pictures of the kids, Liesl did not walk down the isle, Porter sprinted down the isle, the ring bearer threw the pillow in the air sending the rings flying, but other than that and me having to spend the ceremony in the cry room with Liesl, it was fun. The reception was fun and the chef made me a vegan dinner that was good, but not great. My dinner was three big wedges of pan fried unseasoned tofu with some vegetables and tomato sauce. The dancing and everything else was fun, but my sister had too much to drink and around 10:30M went to sleep in my parent's room. The reception did not end until around 12:30 so we got home around 1PM. My friend had come earlier to pick up the kids so we were able to enjoy the evening without having to watch the kids.

achy breaky heart

in spanish...

cousins

My sister came down yesterday so the kids were really excited to see them.
I met Shauna at the fabric store after I dropped Porter off at school. Liesl was so excited to see her cousins, it was really cute.

Shauna took Liesl and I took Henry with me to run some errands and to pick up Porter. Henry was a little shy at the school, but Porter really liked having him there. They were talking so much on the car ride home and being really silly.

While Liesl was taking a nap and Shauna was getting her hair cut I made a picnic for the kids on the lawn.

Sea World

Saturday morning we woke up at 7AM to go to Sea World for the opening of the new kids area, Sesame Street Bay of Play. It was really early for us and we had to wake the kids up, but we made it there in time. The first thing we did was ride on Elmo's Flying Fish and both Porter and Liesl loved it.
We went and met Cookie Monster and Liesl was a little shy. Porter was sitting on the ground behind Jason's legs, so he did not like it at all.

Porter and Jason watching Bert, Ernie, Zoe and the Cookie Monster sing and dance on the ship.


We went to the Shamu show and saw some other exhibits, but left by 1:30 because the kids were getting tired. Porter ended up with a fever and headache that evening, so I am glad we left and did not push him to stay longer. We used to have season passes and I really miss being able to go whenever we felt like it. Now that the kids are older we are definitely going to get them again.

Want to win a cute Sesame Street Bay of Play cookie jar? Just comment "i want one" and I will randomly select a winner.

Sunday

Liesl and Miranda had a fun time playing in the mud today. In this photo they are wiping the mud off on the grass.

My parent's bought this airplane for the kids to play on about 2 months ago and it just sat in their yard unopened. Today I decided that we should put it together, so I started it, but Jason and my dad finished. The kids liked it, but I think they will have more fun with the other kids on it too.

Party

Yesterday we drove up to LA to my sister's house and it only took us 2 hours. Amelia's 6th birthday was today so she had a party with her friends. One of the benefits of homeschooling is that you can have a birthday party at 12PM on a Thursday. The food was good and the party was fun. Liesl had a fever when we woke up yesterday, but I decided that we would go to LA anyway. She was very clingy and had a hard time sleeping in the car, so in the evening I gave her some ibuprofen when the homeopathic pill my sister had did not work. Liesl perked up and felt better, but sleeping was still hard for her so I did not get much sleep either. This morning Porter was being really mellow and emotional. During the first part of the party he just wanted to sit on the couch with his blanket. I would go in the house to check on him and he would just ask for a hug. He eventually did come out of the house, but would go back in for 10 minutes here and there. When the pinata broke and Porter did not get a red lolly pop, his favorite, he started crying a lot. I know Porter can be emotional but he was overly emotional today and when he was crying I said "he's not feeling well today" and it reminded me of something my sister told me. I can't quote her on it, I am sure she will correct me if I am wrong, but she said something about parents of bad behaving kids making a lot of excuses for them. I really don't want to be like that and when I said that, it made me feel like I was doing just that. Anyway, it was a good trip, but I think I should have stayed another night because I felt like we rushed out of there with a mess for Shauna to clean up. We left at 3 and did not get home until a little after 7. The traffic was so bad, but the kids were good and did not complain that much.
Some photos of before the party.

can't blog

My sister is not letting me post a proper blog tonight because my "to do" list is a mile long. What started out as a small birthday celebration has quickly turned into a full out party with home sewn gift bags, pinata and craft. I had better get working on the list before it gets late.

blah blah

Today we walked up to the North Park art festival, I think that is what it was called. We walked around and listened to some music and walked home. I went with some friends to a BBQ and Jason stayed home with the kids, so that was nice. There is a lot on my mind but I don't want to write about it, time for bed.

Mother's Day

Today we woke up and walked to The Mission for breakfast. It was 11:30 by the time we got there and we still had to wait 30 min, but it was not bad. The food was good, like always, and the kids were a little bit hyper until the food came. Porter did not want his picture taken but I got one photo anyway.
On the walk home Liesl fell asleep in the stroller and then Porter fell asleep on the couch when we got home. The house was in bad shape so I started cleaning our room first and I was working on the closet when I found out that Jason has a serious shoe problem. On our walk today he mentioned that he needed a new pair because the pair he was wearing was starting to come apart. He did throw away three of them, so that was good. The house cleaning went well, but I still feel like there is so much to do. Whenever I go to my friend Luci's house it is perfect, like a model home perfect. I really want to try and get my house to the point where I can invite anyone over without worrying what condition the house is in.
My little sister came over today to drop off Liesl's flower girl dress and it was huge. The sales lady measured Liesl and suggested we order a size 2T, so we did. Her pitch was that it is better to buy big so you can alter it, but if it is too small there is nothing you can do. I held the dress up to Porter and it would fit him just fine. On Liesl it is so big, but I am going to do my best to try and make it fit. I have altered a few of my own shirts lately so I am confident I can get it to look nice.
I did not feel like making dinner tonight so we picked up some yummy Indian food. I love Indian food and Jason even said it was a good choice!
This was the first Mother's Day that I can remember not spending with my Mom. My parent's have been in Europe since the end of April and they get back on Wednesday and it will be good to see them.

a perfect day

weekend

On Friday when we were getting ready to leave for playgroup Liesl kept on grabbing things and then said "I'm ready". When I looked at her I had to take a photo but I was laughing so hard and she was moving around so this is the best shot I could get. Liesl had on a cape, a christmas bib, an knit hat and she was carrying a headband, two monkeys and a flower.


This is Jason and I at the first stop we made on our Critical Mass ride Friday night. There were 510 people and we rode through Hillcrest to North Park, Golden Hill, South Park, Logan Heights, Chicano Park, Past by Petco Stadium a few times, right when the game got out, through Downtown and then we ditched the group and went home. It was a really fun ride and I can't wait to do it again next month!


Today we went over to City Farmers to buy some soil and plants. Porter wanted to plant some tomatoes so we bought two and a dill plant.

party and pool

Here are the kids ready to go to the birthday parties. We had a great time and I ate way to many vegan cupcakes.


The kids swam until 8:30PM. Here is Liesl and her Uncle Nicky sliding down the slide with the broom.