Labor Day Funsies

Back on Labor Day we headed to Cuyamaca Ranch State Park in the Laguna Mountains, in the hopes of getting away from the heat. It was a very warm August, and September wasn't looking any better (and it wasn't). We went on a little hike, checked out the abandoned Stonewall gold mine, and met up with friends Aarti, Prasant, and their adorable boy Udit, at a restaurant right on the edge of Lake Cuyamaca. We saw lots of birds; wild turkeys, a beautiful bright blue Stellar's Jay, Acorn Woodpeckers, a flock of Canadian Geese, and a few herons. I was hoping for some more flowers but I guess since the weather had been so dry, and it was late in the season, there were very few. I've read that Spring offers an amazing palette of colors, so we will be back to check out the blooms next year.

The Bridge and Flag Day

The city and school worked together for the past several years to raise enough money to build a pedestrian bridge across Ted Williams Pkwy (a very busy road that kids have to cross when walking to school). They had a "walk to bridge" day where they had free coffee/hot chocolate, cookies, and doughnuts for everyone that walked to school. It was really great to finally be able to use the path and check out the great view from high up. Afton had a good time running up and down the walkway and peering over the edge.

Once we got to school, they had Friday Flag Day. The whole school gets together at the flagpole at the front school and they sing (One of the times Afton sang with all the other kindergarten classes a song called "Stop and Think."), announce birthdays, and give reminders about events coming up. It's awesome watching the kids recite the school moto (Work Hard, Be Kind), say the pledge, and giggle when the teacher join them singing the school song (to the tune of YMCA). It's especially fun for me to see Afton so happy with his fellow students.

We love Shoal Creek Elementary!

Blankets

My brother had suggested this graphic novel to me a long time ago, and I simply adored it. I hadn't read it in a very long time, so the other day I decided to pull it out and re-read it. You know how sometimes you love something at a certain point in life, but when you go back to it and it isn't as good, well Blankets stands the test of time. I love how much it still effects me after all these years. Of course it isn't for everyone, but it is truly a wonderful read about the pains of first love, sibling rivalry, and the complexities of growing up all coupled with amazingly expressive artwork.

Yohan

Afton loves going to Aunt Jaime's house to swim. Mostly because it is also Yohan and Jacob's place too. Afton and Jacob both love Pokemon, and Yohan is his swimming buddy.They are so goofy at the pool. They do the silliest things together, like slip-sliding on the Jacuzzi cover and then rolling themselves up like a burrito in it. I'm so glad we have such great friends here in San Diego!

Smooch

Silhouette Necklace

I purchased this necklace from my cousin, Jershon. I adore it! I had Afton and Rowan's initials stamped on and added alongside the cute silhouettes. They remind me of the charms my mother had of her children on a bracelet that I played with growing up, and still enjoy jingling through my fingers today.

Superpower

I asked Afton if he could have one superpower what would it be? He responded quickly and very sure of himself (as if he had thought about this before and had decided on the perfect power), "Laser eyes!!"

Rowan is Two

Rowan

aka Ruin, Roo, Rowena Ravenclaw, Rooey Pooey,

Mimi, Mimzy, Mimzaboo

My feisty, gorgeous, cuddly, chatty, giggly little princess is two years old!

Weight: 22lbs 

 Height: 2' 8 1/2"

Good morning birthday girl!

I promise she smiled once we started singing Happy Birthday.

Her poor lil mouth was so swollen because her eye/canine teeth (all four) have been taking their sweet time coming in. The tops still haven't come in yet, and her birthday was at the end of August! Anyway, she hadn't been sleeping well and was feeling pretty yucky but still gave me a smile. She loved the stickers Ghia sent her, and I loved the homemade card. I have the best sister-in-law! 

We went out to lunch for Thai food. (Yeah, so it wasn't her choice, but she still liked it!)

When we got home from Toys R Us, where we let Rowan pick out a present for herself (she picked out a Lego Friends set), I put Rowan down for a nap and Nippon put together her water table. Her face when she came outside was fabulous. She had furrowed eyebrows, and a look of utter boredom...until she actually realized that there was water in it, all her Disney characters were ready to swim, there were cars to driver on bridges, and the best part...she was being encouraged to get wet and messy. She really loves the water table, and so does Afton. Of course it usually ends up half filled with dirt, but they have a lot of fun making the whole thing unusable. Ha!

One of these birthdays I will put together an actual party with invitations to friends and family, an array of tasty finger food, possibly a theme, a yummy Pinterested dessert, fun games, and gift bags for those lucky attendees to take home.....unless someone else wants to do it for me....pretty please?....but until then, it's our little family eating dinner, watching presents being opened, blowing out candles, munching on chocolate cupcakes, and lots and lots of smiles (unless our teeth are hurting, then we are exempt).

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY CUTEST OF PIE!

Curtis Family + Legoland

Here are pictures from our wonderful visit with our friends at Legoland. Thank you so much for the invite!

It was so nice seeing Trajen's face light up, and was a much needed break from hospitals, chemo, and life with cancer.

Disney 2014

In August we went with Nippon's family to Disneyland and California Adventure! We are spoiled. Most of the pictures are from Toontown. The kids spent a lot of time there, and it's easier catching (and remembering) pictures when it's not crowded and chaotic. Rowan loved running and playing, and wasn't a huge fan of the rides. She didn't hate it as much as Afton did at her age, but she wasn't begging to go either. The kids got to go on the Peter Pan ride, one of my favorite rides, for the first time. They both loved the stars over London (or maybe I just convinced them that they loved it). Rowan couldn't get enough of the parades because there was a real live Elsa! She would get very upset if we missed her. Lucky there were lots of parades throughout the day. 

Rowan was not a fan of Mickey Mouse, even though she is the biggest Mickey fan in our family. I guess it's quite different seeing him in person rather than on tv in cartoon form. Afton loved seeing him though, and they both were patient and well-behaved during the long wait.

California Adventure is such a great place to visit after a full day of running around Disneyland. We took a lot more breaks; relaxing with a drink and letting the kids run around. We also decided to check out a show, since that mean AC and a chair. I had heard that Aladdin was good, so the kids and I waited in line for almost an hour to get ridiculously great seats. Nippon is lucky I didn't make him wait with us...actually, it was much better for all of us that Nippon went with Tikon on California Screaming while we waited. I can only handle two whiny children.

There were a couple of rides we hadn't been on before, so we checked them out. Luigi's Flying Tires was awesome! Rowan had fun leaning this way and that. And the 4D experience in Bugland was terrifyingly great. Afton really liked the part when the seats buzzed, and when the fog they used (as the bug spray) was so thick you couldn't see in front of you. I'm lying, he hated it. BUT he didn't run out screaming with tears running down his face, Progress! Ha! Sadly we didn't make it on Radiator Springs Racers, but now we have something to look forward to next time.

Afton always enjoys the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. There are tracks to follow, a slide, lots of climbing, and this time he was tall enough to ride on the tire swing. 

Afton also picked Grizzly River Run as his "new ride" pick. We didn't mention the drops, or he would have changed his mind. Once on the ride he was hilarious. He kept saying "why did I pick this ride!!!?!!!" and "you didn't say it was going to be fast!!!" and the best "NO! NO! NO! NO!" as we approached the big drop. Even though he says he had fun, the first thing he said after it was over is that he is never going on it again. Ha! We'll see.

And I leave you with groovy Mr. Rath.