Disneyland

While we were in Palm Springs we took a few days to go to Disneyland. We were lucky enough to stay at the Grand California Hotel (love this place) and had a fun time walking around Disneyland. The decorations at Disneyland and our hotel at Christmas time were amazing! We didn't spend a lot of time riding rides because Andrew was scared of all the rides.

On Sunday morning we drove from Palm Springs to Disneyland (about 1.5 hours). When we got to Disneyland it was about lunch time so we decided to go on one short ride before getting something to eat. We went on the Buzz Lightyear ride in Tomorrowland. Bad idea, it totally freaked Andrew out and he didn't want to go on anymore rides. Most of the time we were there he kept saying that he was tired and wanted to go home. Nate and I were frustrated but we just decided to just stroll around the park and enjoy it. That first day was rough, it rained and Andrew and Ava were fussy so we went back to our room, took naps and met up with our friends the Riedels for dinner. It was so fun to see them and Andrew perked right up when he saw the girls!

The next day was sunny and beautiful! Andrew was in a better mood and was very excited to meet all the characters. He had his little autograph book and went looking for all of his favorite friends. We spent most of our day getting autographs and taking pictures. We did go on Dumbo a few times and rode the carousel. He asked several times to ride on Dumbo because he liked getting to control going up and down with the lever, it was definitely his favorite ride. He also rode Autopia and loved it. We took him on Small World and he ducked his head and hid for most of the ride. Ava loved it though and loved all of the rides. Jungle Cruise was another of Andrew's favorites so we rode it a few times as well. Andrew and Ava got to see Santa and his reindeer as well and Andrew really loved that! We went back to our room for a little rest and some dinner and then headed back to the park for the fireworks. Disneyland Christmas decorations at night are amazing! Andrew kept saying, "it's Christmas!" He loved all the lights. He was still pretty tired so he didn't care much for the firework show and snow and stayed in his stroller the whole time. Nathan and I loved it though (and so did Ava). After the fireworks and snow were over he kept asking if Santa was coming. I told him we'd go see if he was at our hotel and sure enough he was! We even saw carolers roaming our hotel. Andrew wasn't too excited about seeing Santa (a second time that day) so we took a quick family picture and headed to bed.

Our beautiful hotel at Christmas time!

Andrew loved the castle and wanted to go in it several times.

The next day we spent the morning cruising main street in the firetruck, hot rod, double decker bus, and carriage. Andrew was so funny...he wanted to ride all of them, but only with me! We also rode Dumbo again as well as the carousel and jungle cruise. We wondered around California Adventure and through the shops at main street and then went back to Palm Springs for the night. Ava didn't sleep much most of the time we were in Disneyland and wanted to be held a lot, so I'm looking forward to next trip when maybe she isn't so high maintenance and he isn't so scared.

Andrew loved Lightening McQueen but was totally freaked out and didn't want to take a picture.

Both of the kids loved the carousel.

We had a great time spending the week together and hope to go back again soon! Andrew is already asking to go back to Disneyland and I'm hoping he will go on more rides next time :)

Dec.5-7, 2010

Andrew 3yrs & Ava 6.5 months

Palm Springs

This has been a very busy month for us! We started out December in sunny California and spent a few days in Palm Springs and also Disneyland. My in laws have a house in Palm Springs so we were able to stay there, just the 4 of us, for several nights. We had tons of family fun. It was our first vacation just the 4 of us and we loved the time away together. Andrew had tons of fun playing in the pool, playing golf with Daddy, and playing with all the new toys in Papa & Pama's "Calniforna" house (as Andrew calls it).

Ava did great on the flight down there. She only cried for a bit and then fell asleep for most of the trip. We weren't so lucky on the way home (she cried for half of the trip-it was awful).

The kids loved spending time in the pool!

Reading by the pool. He spent a lot of time doing this. I think it was because he saw Mommy & Daddy doing it :)

We spent the mornings at Coffee Bean (my favorite!), days at the pool and the nights going downtown to dinner, the farmer's market, the Christmas parade, and driving around town.

The night before we left we went to the Christmas parade downtown Palm Springs. This is a huge event and it was packed! We were lucky to get a good spot so Andrew could see all of the fire trucks, police cars, and other cars decorated in Christmas lights drive in the parade. He was so cute and waived at all of them. It was definitely a highlight of the trip! We look forward to spending many more weeks in Palm Springs in the upcoming year!

Nov.30-Dec. 1, 2010

Too busy....

That is what life has been like so far this month! I have been way to busy to blog. It has been far to long and I have so much to add (vacation, birthday celebrations, Andrew's program, Christmas Sunday, Santa, etc) but it will all have to wait until I have more time. Hopefully I will get all of my Christmas shopping done in the next few days, Christmas cards out and wrapping done and I will get a little down time to update. Until then, my new header will have to do! Hope everyone is having a fun Christmas season....it's definitely my favorite time of the year!!!

Christmas tradition

We started a new tradition a few years back, Bridgeport Village tree lighting. It's the day after Thanksgiving every year. It was pretty raining that morning and we weren't sure if we were going to make it, but I was determined to stay with tradition and luckily the weather held out and there was no rain. However, the night was a complete mess! Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. We met my parents for dinner at CPK. Our waitress was a complete space and brought Andrew the wrong meal, so by the time we were all finished eating, he got his food. Poor guy was starving. In the meantime Ava was screaming. It's her new thing now that she eats solids, she gets so excited and screams the whole time. So hard to go to a restaurant with a screaming baby. After I fed her she was unhappy and just wanted to be held. Nathan and I didn't sit down much of dinner and I was glad to have my parents there to help out with Andrew since Ava was being so difficult. After dinner we headed towards the tree. On our way there Andrew saw Santa riding around in a train and was so excited. He started waiving, it was adorable. He loved seeing the tree light up and seeing Santa Claus. After that we decided to go to Borders and get a hot chocolate. While the guys waited in line, we took the kids upstairs to the kid area. Ava was tired and very fussy (it didn't help that we forgot her stroller). While trying to calm down Ava, Andrew had an accident and wet his pants. Not just a little, but everywhere, all down his pants and into his shoe. It was a mess and we immediately had to leave. It was a crazy night and all Nate & I could do at the end of the night was laugh. The following night we went out on a much needed date :)

Waiving to Santa

Ava happy now that Mommy is holding her. (p.s. she is wearing the coat that my Grandma Ming made me when I was a baby).


11.26.2010

Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving we were lucky enough to get to spend some time with my grandparents & my uncle. They live in Springfield so we don't see them often but they were in town spending Thanksgiving with my parents. Andrew had tons of fun playing with his great uncle and I loved watching my grandma read to him. It reminded me of all the times I spent as a kid at her house and her reading to us.

Thankful

The day before Thanksgiving Andrew and I made a little turkey. Basically we traced our hands and he glued on feathers. His favorite part was definitely putting the glue on the paper. I then asked him what he was thankful for and this is what he said....

toys, brown bear, mommy, daddy & sissy

Thanksgiving day we spent at my in laws. We had a great time spending the day as a family. Andrew enjoyed playing the guitar with Uncle Thomas while Daddy played the piano. He loved running around the house with Thomas & Tiffany's dog Charlie. Poor Sophie didn't have as much fun. She was so scared of Charlie and spent most of the day trying to hide and stay away from the other dog. Ava did a great job sleeping at Grandpa & Grandma's house. We have so much to be thankful for and we are so blessed!

My 3 favorite people...so thankful for them!

Andrew loves his Twyla Pama!

Ava with her great grandparents

Andrew loved Buddy Papa's guitar and now wants one for Christmas!

The boys having a jam session.

11.25.2010 Ava 6mo, Andrew 3yrs

6 month stats

As promised...Ava's 6 month stats:

weight: 14lb 15oz (25%)

height: 26in (55%)

head: 42.8cm (60%)

So she's a pretty tiny little girl and still fits into her 3-6 month clothes. She had 2 shots & 1 oral and hated every second of it. Poor girl has quite the scream on her! She's been fussy the last few days and wanting mommy even more than normal but I'm sure that's because she hasn't been feeling well.