Wild Animal Park

On Saturday we all went down to Ramona where my manager lives. He had a party at his house and it just so happens it's only 15 minutes from the San Diego Wild Animal park in Escondido. Julie came along with us and Eric enjoyed the fact that my manager has 4 Harley's and is into micro brews. Since we have season passes to the Park & the Zoo we decided to make a day of it. For anyone who has not been there, it is SO cool!! We went in the late afternoon, no crowds, great weather & all of the animals were out. Ty got to feed a bird, we saw 5 month old baby lions close up playing, and went on a Safari tour which was so amazing. They have wide open hills, ponds, grass areas with giraffes, gazelles, wildebeest (yes I did spell check-not wildabeast as I had thought) , rhinos, and lots more animals all roaming together. We can't wait to go back and check out the rest of the park. Such a great escape from the heat of the desert and when the kids are so wonderful on a day outing it just makes you want to do it again!
My handsome husband & me at an overlook at the Park.
Luke checking out the giraffes from our tour.
2 happy parents and 3 questionably happy kids. This was about the time they were requesting to be carried, eat, drink.....and definitely not smile for the camera!

Very brave boys feeding the ducks from Daddy's hand. What a great day!!!

Baby Pearl

Eric's good friend from home, Chad, and his wife Kim, just had a beautiful baby girl last week. You can check out super cute Pearl at my link to Zemple's blog.
Congratulations Chad & Kim!!! We can't wait to meet Pearl!

Birthday Night

After a wonderful day at the beach we had a night out planned. Miss Claudia from Ty's school came over with her niece and Mark & Vern brought over Peyton & Drew and they babysat all 5 kids, bless their hearts!!! We got to go to a grown ups only party that one of Eric's coworkers had. They threw a 'Summer Solstice' party that just so happened to be on my birthday. The party was great, they had a fun band and a great group of people. The hosts, Tanya & Scott, told the band it was my birthday so they sang happy birthday and I got to compete against Zoltan in an air guitar-off to a little Guns-n-Roses. I got the loudest cheers for the winner but I think people were just being nice, Zolt kicked my butt and really got into it. This was one of my best birthdays yet, a fun day a the beach with my boys, lots of fun gifts (THANK YOU!!!) and a great night out with my husband and friends, what could be better!!
Hmmmm....and on my birthday too!!!!

Zolt really tearing it up.
Tanya, the fab host. We got boa's during the birthday song for decorations. The boys loved it the next day and I loved picking up all of the feathers!

Birthday Day

What a better way to spend my birthday than at the beach with my 4 favorite guys. We went to Venice beach on Saturday and had such a fun time, I love seeing how much my little guys love the beach and seeing daddy dig in the sand with them and take them out into the water. After the beach we walked around for a while, checking out some of the 'interesting' individuals that line the boardwalk and catching a street show. What a perfect day.

Palm Springs Power

On Tuesday night we headed over to the Palm Springs stadium in the heat with the Sickenberger's to see the Power baseball team. It was pretty cool and the kids had a blast. They got to meet Rocky the Ram who Mason dubbed 'pooty dye' when we walked into the park but soon warmed up and was calling him 'bunny'. I guess to a two year old he looks more like a bunny than a ram, I can see his point, I guess. They kept looking for the 'bunny' and swarmed him whenever he walked by us. Iven got in on the action too!



My boys are obsessed with motorcycles and must point them out every time we see one driving and must stop to check them out if they are parked. They can look all they want, as long as they never, ever, ever want one.

Fun at the park

On Saturday the city sponsored a little park day with arts & crafts, rock climbing, a jumpy, etc....for kids. It would have been great if it hadn't been 118 outside. Ty did a bit of rock climbing, he and Roman went in the sauna-jumpy for about 2 minutes and then we all got sno cones and sat in the shade for an hour. At least we got out of the house!!

4 super hot sweaty kids cooling off with sugary sticky sno cones.
It was a hot one this weekend so popsicles after meals were a huge treat. See the mini me's? Anything Ty does-good, bad or funny-they have to copy him.

More Chicago Fun

On Friday morning we drove to the Museum of Science and Industry on the south side. It was a perfect day to go since it was yucky outside. I don't ever remember going there growing up but I am sure I went on some field trip there. The exhibits are so cool and very hands on. We did a coal mine tour, did robot experiments and went on trains and planes. It took him a while but he got really into it, he especially liked the kids 'imagination' room. This is in the 'Farm room'.

Ty in a John Deere.

Ty loved the baby chick display.

3 happy people after one whole week together. (or are my parents just happy we are leaving???)

We had such a great time in Chicago, thanks Mimi & Poppa for the wonderful week!!!

Chicago Friends

Ty & I just got back from a lovely, fun, busy trip to Chicago. We had a blast!! Before I even got there on Thursday he had been to see Speed Racer (bad weather changed some outdoor plans my parents had), gone to Six Flags Great America & got to go to an animal park. Lucky kid. On Friday night I spent the night in the city with some of my best college girlfriends-Jill, Monika & Gina (we really missed you other two- Jill & Katie!!!). We got to do some of my most favorite things-shop, eat, talk, shop.... It was so much fun spending time with them. Extra thanks to Jill for the wonderful hospitality as usual. How fun to live in the city a few blocks from great shopping, eating, the lake. It is always so fun to go home.
My fave city from Ty's vantage point in the back seat. He took a few of the side of the tollway too to show Daddy how pretty Chicago is, they didn't make the cut.

Before I could get one foot in the door on Thursday Ty had to show me his new purchase. He was so excited over an umbrella, guess that's what happens when kids don't see many of these!! I wonder what would have happened if he would have seen a riding lawn mower, or even more exciting-a snow blower!!!

On Saturday I met one on my best friends from high school at MacDonald's (once again that dang threat of rain kept us inside). Cherie & Brian have the most beautiful kids- Davis 6, Lucy 4 (whom I think has a bit of a crush on Ty) and Kennedy 1. The kids had so much fun yelling, running, (mostly from Lucy because Brian told the boys if she touched them they would turn into ballerinas & have to do a dance) and eating. It was a perfect place for Cherie and I to catch up. Two years without seeing each other is way too long!
Little Kennedy.

Daddy's Little Helpers

Ty is gone in Chicago this week so on Monday Eric did some chores after work and the boys decided to 'help' daddy. They hosed off the pool cover = did slip and slide on the pool cover.
They gave Cali a bath= tortured the dog by putting soap in all the places on a dog you don't put soap...
The helped rince Cali off= gave Cali mohawks.
Running from the shaking dog.
And finally, helped Daddy water the trees = water trees, fight over hose, find owies to hose off, fight over the hose some more, water the toes.

Agua Caliente

Last weekend we loaded up the kids and went and stayed at the new Agua Caliente Casino Resort in Rancho Mirage. It is a beautiful hotel with great rooms. The Posas came as well and lucky for us they got upgraded to a suite. We rented a cabana by the pool on Saturday and had a blast.
The kids really enjoyed the huge tub and shower in Tash & Zolt's suite, it was by far the highlight for them!!!

Graduation

On Wednesday Kiddie Kollege had it's Kindergarten graduation in Palm Springs. It was so cute & funny to watch the kids performing up on stage. Ty got to be one of the 3 little pigs and his friend Dean was the big bad wolf in their presentation. They all did such a fantastic job and Mace & Luke cheered the loudest for their big brother.
Peyton the Bat Ray.
Zachy getting his diploma. Too cute.
Mace & Daddy. Lucky for us Temple Isaiah had lots of fun envelopes and 'stickers' in the pews to keep the boys occupied when they got antsy.