Spontaneous...

Deano is such a nut!

I am probably one of the least spontaneous people alive! I am a planner! Especially when it comes to travel...we're talking, make lists of every outfit & item of clothing 2 weeks before leaving town kind of planner! So when my mom decided one day in August that we should take the kids & go to California for the weekend...I nearly had a heart attack! I can't believe I went (it took some begging from my mom and sister, as well as Chris urging me to go), but I'm so glad we did!

Best buddies!

Nolan is VERY popular with his cousins!

Brielle & Claire - Newport Beach
My cousins from Las Vegas were there too!

I love this picture of Noli eating the sand...classic kid at the beach! Maybe
this is why I don't really like the beach...there is just too much sand!
Are you wondering if I'm OCD?

SEA WORLD

was a HUGE hit! It was our first time & the kids LOVED it!

American Girl Place at The Grove in LA

If you've never been here...DON'T b/c they suck the mom's in just as much as the kids!  They have a million outfits & accessories.  They pretty much have anything a little girl & her doll could possibly want/need! Even Deano was begging for a doll by the time we left! This was our 2nd trip to trip to American Girl Place...we "needed" to get Kit's ears pierced too...b/c Kiersten got hers last time (see what I mean...piercing your dolls ears? What will they think of next)!

Riding the Trolley at The Grove

When I was younger my family used to jokingly say my middle name was "Grace" because I was SO NOT graceful! Tripping, falling down stairs etc. are all a part of my everyday life.  A few weeks before our trip I decided to go running outside (which I rarely do), the previous time I went 'running' (in July) I tripped on an uneven sidewalk and fell, scraping up my arm & leg (no wonder I don't go running)...so the last thing Chris said to me before I left was "BE CAREFUL!"  The famous last words! I was planning to pick my bike up at my parents house, as I approached their driveway I started to slow down a bit and 'grace' struck again...I rolled my ankle & fell to the ground.  Of course they live on a busy street and some stranger pulled over to see if I was OK...I was humiliated, but acted like I was fine (even though I could not stand up and had to call my dad to come outside and help me inside)....I sprained my ankle.  Typical.  Fast forward 2 weeks to our trip to California. My ankle was starting to heal, I was limping less but still had to keep it wrapped up.  We went to the park (because my kids were driving us crazy in Nat's 2 bedroom condo) and Nat was being a SUPER FUN aunt chasing them all over the park (playing zoo animals), and rolled her ankle! The ironic thing is that she said that when I told her I'd sprained my ankle running she thought "what a klutz"....huh, I guess that will teach her!

Nat's always wanted to do everything I do! :)

She'll probably kill me or posting this pic. but I had to! When we wereat The Grove some girls were pointingat Nat and laughing because she looked so cute pushing the stroller while using hercrutch. We aren't wimpy when it comes to shopping & theme parks...we went to Sea World & The Grove with our sprained ankles (Nat was in a wheelchair at sea World)...we must have looked ridiculous with our matching wrapped ankles!