Couches Die

Afton:  Everything dies.

Me:  All living things die.

Afton:  Couches die.

Me:  Couches aren't alive.

Afton:  But they are in the living room! 

Lazy Mall Day

The other day the kids and I met up with Nippon for lunch at the UTC mall in University City. They have the best food court! We (more like Afton) picked sushi, but there are a bunch of non-typical mall restaurants to choose from.  Also, right near the food court is an ice rink. I really want to go back and skate sometime. It looked super fun. After we ate, and Nippon had gone back to work, the kids and I decided to walk around. I'm so glad we did. They have a great little play area with a slide and lots of things to climb. Afton loved it and didn't want to leave. I had to bribe him with frozen yogurt. We checked out a few shops and lazed on the cool wicker couches and listened to the fountain. Such a nice and relaxing day.

Legoland

While the girls were away, the boys did play.....they went to Legoland! After dropping Rowan and me off at the airport for our early morning flight to Chicago, Nippon and Afton went home and snoozed for a bit, then got ready and headed off for a full day at Legoland. I think Nippon had some trepidation on spending the whole day with Afton, on his own, at a theme park, but all went well. He didn't even bring a stroller like I suggested but instead made sure to take lots of breaks and an extra long lunch. It worked out and they had a great time.

I asked Nippon to tell me what their favorite parts were and this is what he said.....

"We really liked the miniature Star Wars, all the different buildings, and the big store. The build and test area was so crowded and crazy that Afton didn't get a chance to do any building or testing, but they had cool ramps and timers. Afton really liked Duplo Land and the water. He also ran wild at the playground and disappeared for a bit. I found him all the way on the other side of the playground in a totally different area."

I asked Afton what their favorite parts were and this is what he said.....

"The Star Wars legos. I got a tie fighter. I like the train. I ride it all by myself!"

The Chicago Not Chicago Trip (aka The Wedding)

Rowan and I took a weekend trip to Chicago (well we flew into Chicago) back at the end of March for my friend Marisa's wedding. I've known Marisa since we were sophomores in high school, and have kept in touch throughout the years. I hadn't seen her in probably 10 years, so I was super excited to be going to her wedding. I actually had no idea where the wedding was being held though, or really any other information other than we were staying at a lake house and that Marisa's friend Bien would be picking me up. I had met Bien back when I visited Fallon, NV with Marisa when I was 14 and hadn't seen him since. Surprisingly he looked exactly the same. Crazy Filipino genes! So, he picks us up and informs me that we will be staying in Michigan City, IN which is about an hour and a half drive from Midway airport. On the way we decided to stop and pick up lunch. We spotted a White Castle, and since neither of us had eaten there before, we thought it would be fun to try. Harold and Kumar thought it was delicious, so would we...right? NEGATIVE. This was the most disgusting food I have eaten, possibly ever. Bien agreed. We couldn't even finish one of their small sliders. The Taco Bell next door saved us.

Here we are all ready to go to the airport at 4:30am. It is Rowan's first airplane ride. I was super nervous, not only about Rowan screaming the whole flight, but that I had to carry her and our luggage to check-in and then get us through security all on my own. It ended up being fine and Rowan did amazing on the flight. She slept half way and the other half she spent giggling and cooing at anyone who looked at her. Such a good lil traveler!

The view of Lake Michigan from the lake house.

The house was gorgeous. I loved the huge kitchen, coffered ceiling, and beautiful wood floors. It was such a large house with four bedrooms upstairs (all with their own bathrooms), a foyer lined with books and pictures, and a laundry room. On the main floor, besides the kitchen and dining room, was an office/bedroom and a nice open floor plan with lots of windows. There was a full basement totally set up for kids. There was a huge sectional with a large TV, a ping pong table, cupboards full of board games, another kitchen and laundry room, and two bedrooms with four bunk beds and two twin bed inside. Outside there was a sailboat, jet skis,  wakeboards, and other water play/beach items. I would love to go back during the summer. It looked like it would be a blast!

Rowan was such a happy girl the whole trip. Thank goodness!

We went for a stroll on the beach. Surprisingly the weather was fabulous while we were there. I had been so worried that we were going to freeze, but that weekend was nice enough that I barely needed a jacket. Two days before we arrived it had snowed, and the day after we left was suppose to be cold again. I guess we brought the San Diego weather with us and took it back too.

Rowan loved watching the waves and feeling the wind on her face. Her cheeks and nose turned rosy and cute. I found a bunch of cool rocks on the beach. So many flat ones just begging to be skipped.

The beautiful bride and me. Marisa looked fabulous. She wore her mom's wedding dress that she had altered to her liking. It turned out gorgeous.

Rowan was passed around a lot since she was the only baby at the wedding. She looked so cute, who could resist! I was totally surprised that she didn't get sick after this trip considering she went on two airplane rides, was held by everyone and their mother (seriously), and had her sleeping and eating schedule all messed up. 

Marisa and her dad, Tom. Doesn't she look lovely?

I'm so glad that Dan (her fiance, now husband) contacted me and convinced me to attend. His friend Jay and he used their Southwest miles to get me a plane ticket. Originally they had planned to marry in Truth or Consequence, NM and I was going to drive out there, but they had to change everything when Dan's mother was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. It was moved so that she could attend since she was having aggressive treatment, and she lived in Chicago. Unfortunately she passed away, so extremely sad, just days before the wedding and they ended up making funeral arrangements and attending her memorial instead of working on wedding plans. Luckily Marisa's parents stepped in and took care of all the wedding details. They also had a civil ceremony at the hospital with his mom when they found out she didn't have much time.

Such a great couple. I just love them so!

She did equally well on the flight home. The last 20 minutes or so she was ready to get off but only cried briefly and went back to trying to eat the safety card in the back of the seat. She seriously gobbled up a corner of the pamphlet before I noticed!  

I have to say, we had a pretty great time, even if we didn't actually get to visit Chicago. I got to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a very long time, made new ones, and even scored some awesome Spornette professional style hair brushes (they gave them away as party favors inside pint glasses from a brewery, called Cumbre, in which Dan is a partial owner). I also got to eat some delicious food after the White Castle fiasco. I had perogies (drool), fried pickles with sriracha ranch, BBQ ribs, and awesome biscuits and gravy from this total dive diner that I loved. I did miss out on a Chicago dog and poutine (I tried order this but they didn't have any gravy left!) but that's ok. Next time!

8

Time is going by way too fast. With Afton I was excited by all the new milestones and happy watching him grow. And though I am just as excited with each new day with Rowan it makes me sad to know she will never be this little again. Regardless of my sentimentality she is growing and is a such joy in our home.

I found this picture on my phone and it makes me giggle. Afton must have used the flash.

Rowan still has rough nights so I picked up this Magic Sleepsuit at the suggestion of a friend. She looks like she is wearing one of those blow up sumo suits! It isn't much magic but it has helped her get back to sleep quicker when she wakes up during the night and it keeps her warm. I'm still feeding her once at night even though I know she doesn't need it. I guess I just like that time together, holding and snuggling her, while I can.

Rowan still doesn't have any teeth but that doesn't stop her. She is such a good eater. I've been making her food and she has yet to turn anything away. Of course there are foods she likes better than others but she will eat pretty much anything, even beets! BTW changing diapers is fun(ny) after a meal of beets.

She is really good at sitting and playing with her toys. She still dislikes tummy time and isn't fond of the crawling position. I think she wants to skip crawling and go right into walking.

Rowan gives the best hugs. When you pick her up, from naps especially, she grabs onto your neck and snuggles her head into your chest. It's my favorite.

Notes from the Boy

Afton left me some love notes the other day.

Edible Afton

Afton's eating habit cracks me up and also drives me insane.

I thought I'd document his age four favorites for posterity.

1. Bacon, always bacon
2. Apples. One of the few fruits he will get on his own and gobble up without me suggesting it.
3. Soft Taco & Cheesy Rollup from Taco Bell. He thinks that after school he should always eat Taco Bell. He is disappointed a lot.
4. Salmon Sushi. This boy loves his raw salmon. 
5. Lucky Charms. There is no need to ask. This is what he wants for breakfast, along side bacon.
6. Cucumber, with or without ranch.
7. Chocolate. No surprise here.
8. Blueberry bars from Trader Joe's. Special trips are made frequently just to purchase them.
9. Pears. Must be soft and juicy and drip down the chin. 
10. Vanilla ice cream is a new found favorite. He wouldn't try it for the longest time, insisting that he only loved chocolate ice cream. Vanilla has triumphed and puts him in some kind of happiness trance. 

Safari Park & Butterflies

Last weekend we went to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to check out the Butterfly Garden. The unfortunately thing is that it is only there for three weeks which makes it VERY popular. Of course we went on a weekend which added to the crowd and made for a grouchy husband. Our tickets (we didn't realize you needed separate tickets to go inside the garden) were for 4:30pm a full two hours longer than we had planned to stay. We tried to waste time watching an eagle show (sadly very boring and I love bird shows), eating lunch,  riding the carousel, and playing in the play area...still had an hour to wait. Luckily it was just Nippon who was getting impatient (he ended up going to sit in the car and didn't make it to the butterflies), while the kids and I had fun checking out the animals. There was a baby gorilla that was extremely adorable, there were huge pelicans that Afton loved, and there was an alligator talk that was pretty cool. Anway, here are the few pictures I took. I just realized I didn't get any of Rowan. Poor girl is always left out. The butterflies were well worth the wait. So many colors and sizes!

Humongous!

Afton wanted a picture with the pelicans.

Ribbit

Can you spot the butterflies?

(it was very humid inside hence the foggy lens)

There were a bunch of chrysalis that hatched while we were there.