Must Always Be Fancy.

Emily is completely "flappered" out!

Kids Say the Darndest Things take 2.

Gracie:  "Mom, I'm going shopping because I'm a girl." 

Looks like I'm in for it!  Again, like mother, like daughter!

Eat your lunch.

I haven't had an easy time getting my two girls to eat... except when it came to "snacks".  I've tried really hard to make things look cute, or be creative with the meals; whether it's making something different or putting it into cute containers or onto plates.  We've also tried eating in the most bizarre places.  Then I came across this blog... http://meetthedubiens.blogspot.com/.  This woman is amazing!  She has the most creative and fun way of putting food together on a plate.  I want to eat it.  Here is one that I copied from her.

I think hers looks better, but not too shabby if I do say so myself!  And Gracie ate EVERYTHING except one blueberry, and Emily ate EVERYTHING except for about half of the pbj tortilla.  I'm so doing this multiple times a week!  Happy creating!

A New Era.

OK, so we were actually trying to teach Gracie how to ride a big girl bike, but of course her daddy HAD to get a piece of that!

Jim started off by holding onto the bike to help Gracie with her balance. 

And of course, Emily had to participate in her own way!

She has actually learned to ride her tricycle since then which is great! 

Gracie was a little apprehensive about riding her bike, so daddy had to show her how much fun she can have riding a bike!  (I think she was having a little fun herself just running!)

Towards the end she was able to balance on her own.

Hopefully by the time summer is over, she will be riding with the wind!  (and her daddy!)

Happy Birthday Gracie!

 Well, technically her birthday was about 2 weeks ago... but who's keeping track??  My little baby is now 4 years old!  My, how time flies!!  We had a birthday party for her (which included 99% of her preschool class and some friends outside of school); so needless to say it was a little crazy!  But, the kids (I think) had a blast; and most of the parents too!  We served beer and Sangria which always helps!  For her actual birthday we took her and her sis to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.  We had a lot of fun... although Jim and I came into complete agreeance that we HATE spinney rides!   But we sucked up it for our girls!

It was a little foggy which was too bad, but worked out great!

The girls made snow angels...

This is Gracie's seductive look!

Jim and I were laying on the beach watching the girls, and these guys walk up next to us and said something along the lines of.. "Oh my God, look at those girls!  They're totally wrestling!"  And they were!  Too funny!

They're in unison!

We buried our feet.

And we (Jim and the girls) were being chased by the waves.

After Santa Cruz we headed home to do more celebrating with the family!

Yeah for Charlie!

Gracie got a new big girl bike!

 

Happy birthday Gracie, we love you!!!

Like Mother, Like Daughter.

Pier One outing...  we walk into the store.

Gracie: "Wow, this place is awesome."
Me:  "I know."

That's my girl!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This Cinco de Mayo, we (and when I say we, I mean my sister) had a great idea to have lunch at Jardines in San Juan Bautista.  This is of course a Mexican restaurant, but very pretty outside... lots of flowers!

It went fairly well...

Nice Alyssa!!

and then my sister caught a look from me proceeding a stern "talking to" to the girls!

I was saying "ugggghhhhh" :)

After a lovely lunch we decided to take a stroll downtown.

At the very end, Alyssa and Charlie parted ways, and the girls and I enjoyed some nice old fashioned ice cream!

Thank you Alyssa and Charlie for a wonderful day!!