New Year!

One of my goals for the new year is to keep my blog/photos updated. I am currently updating my blog. It my not look like it because I am back blogging so much. I am having to go back as far as May but I will get caught up!

Blog Slacker!!!

I know I have been a total Blog Slacker. I am going to catch up though. It may take a while since it has been almost three months but I will get there.

The Things Abby Says.....

Since moving to Riverbank we have had a few new babysitters. Elizabeth is one of our favorites. Well, about the second or third time she babysat for us she told me this story... I must first tell you, Elizabeth is Hispanic.

Abby: Why are you so dark?

Elizabeth: Because I go out in the sun all the time.

Abby: If I go out in the sun will I get dark?

Elizabeth: Well not as dark as me.

Abby: Why?

Elizabeth: Well, because I'm Mexican.

Abby: So, if I go out in the sun will I be a Mexican?

There is a Red Robin right by our house and this has become one of Abby's favorites. On our trip to San Diego we were walking out of the mall and Abby spotted a Red Robin.

Abby: Theres a Red Robin

Me: Yea

Abby: How does San Diego know about Red Robin

Me: They just do

Abby: That is so great that San Diego gets to have a Red Robin just like me!

When every Boom Boom Pow is on the radio or some ones says Boom Boom Pow Abby comes back with:

"That chick is jockin' my style"

Even though the lyrics are:

"Them chickens jackin' my style

I have been trying to give Abby choices and teach her to make good choices. So one of her daily says is:

"Is that a good choice mommy?"

San Diego

My Mom and I headed down to San Diego for the weekend. We went there for Alex Preciado's wedding. Andrea flew in to join us for a girl's weekend and to help watch the kids while my mom and I attended the wedding. I love that my girls are really starting to play together. While I was trying to get ready on Thursday morning to leave, Abby wanted to put lotion on. Liv came running up clapping. Liv can't do the sign for "more," she claps instead. This has become her universal sign for "more," "I want it," "yes"....basically if she wants something she claps. Abby was so sweet and said, "Come on Liv, sit down." Liv squatted.... Abby said, "Sit all the way down." She did and Abby helped her put lotion on.

Our first adventure was Lego Land! They had lots of rides for Abby. She was a little scared at first but once she got going she wanted to go on everything.

She even did the Volvo drivers training course. I thought she would do great but she didn't even make it around once and they were constantly having to get her going in the right direction. She wasn't getting the steering part. She had a blast though and came out running with excitement when they gave her a drivers licence. Theres a scary thought!

There were a couple of areas in the park with water. This is where Liv was able to get out and have fun herself. She has been so much fun to watch lately. She is learning more and more every day. Her latest tricks are saying and waving "Bye," shakeing her head "Yes" and "No," saying "yea," and giving kisses. She is also very stubborn. There were very steep stairs in our hotel room and no matter how much we worked with her on how to go down them she would still try to walk straight down. Even falling a few times didn't stop her. Like Abby she is also a screamer. Unlike Abby she doesn't seem to care when she gets in trouble for it and I don't see her stopping soon. Oh well, I'm going to stay strong and hope she gives up the fight sooner rather than later!

Abby really wanted to get her face painted. It just so happened that when we headed over to Castle Hill for the Princess "meet and greet" there was also face painting. She got the Princess dress, wand, and face painting just in time to meet Princess Lilly.

Abby was mesmerized by Princess Lilly. She had all sorts of questions for her:

Where's your Prince?

Where's the Queen?

Where do you live?

When she finished questioning her, all she wanted to do was sit and stare at her. I really think its time to take her to Disneyland where there are lots of Princesses.

Liv even got into the princess thing with her tutu!

Saturday we went to the Sealing in the morning and shopped away the afternoon. Sunday after getting all packed and ready to go we took the kids to a park right next to the bay and let the girls burn off some energy. Then we went to Historic down town San Diego for some Mexican food, dropped Andy off at the airport and headed home. It was a long and exhausting trip but very fun. Thanks Mom!

Hair Cut Time

After a year Livia finally needs a hair cut. My poor Livia doesn't have very much hair to begin with so I was sad to have to cut what was there but it is growing in so uneven we had to get it trimmed. Like Abby she did very well. Abby was also do for a trim. She was very specific though that it was only a trim because she is growing it long like Rapunzel.

Livia turned one! We celebrated by having family and the Stacey's over for cake and ice-cream. Liv had been eyeing her giant cupcake all day. When it finally came time to sing I had to hold her back until the candle was blown out.

Livia was so excited when everyone was singing she started clapping!

Although she dove right in she didn't devour the cake like I thought she would. She pretty much just liked the frosting off the top.

When she was done with that she wondered over to Abby and snacked on her ice-cream.

For a one year-old who doesn't need anything she sure got a lot of gifts.

She was a little over whelmed by them all and the older girls ended up opening most of them for her.

Seascape Again

Thanks to my parents we were able to enjoy another week at one of our favorite vacations spots here in California, Seascape. It is a great resort on a cliff that over looks the ocean. You can take a short little walk to get to the beach or you can call for a ride (a golf cart). Since the rooms are not at ocean level when you walk out side there is a large grass area, a park and a pool. This makes it nice because we are able to open the door and let the kids play without worrying about the water. A lot of locals walk their dogs along a path that lines the edge of the cliff. This is also Entertainment for the kids. We were there for a week and we were so busy going places and playing in the pool and outside our room that we didn't make it down to the beach until Saturday!

We Spent one day in San Cruz at the Boardwalk

This ride was hilarious. The car went in a circle and it would whip around the turns sending Abby flying into Maddy. She looked terrified every time it would go around but every time it stopped she wanted more.

Kennedy and Abby spent most the day together riding the little kid rides while the the bigger girls were off on bigger rides.

We also spend a day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

They have a spot designated just for toddlers. Liv was in heaven. She loved splashing the water and being able to play with things without being trampled by the bigger kids

Since Andrea wasn't going to be in Riverbank when we celebrated Livia's birthday she gave Liv her gift while we were at Seascape. She got her what she loves most, Food.

We went out to dinner at this great place by the Boardwalk that we have been to before in past trips to Seascape. There is a guy who walks around making balloons. He made all the girls fairies. He gave them wings and wand. This is the next morning so they weren't looking as hot as they had the day before.

We spent our last day there on the beach.

The Last night we were there. We had a fire on the beach and made s'mores. Abby just went for the marshmallows.

Our little Princess has turned 3!!! I can't believe it. I look at her and it seems like just yesterday she was born. I love watching her grow and change every day. Her birthday was all princess this year. She had a Sleeping Beauty Party. She started off her day with her gift from us and a doughnut for breakfast (even though she really wanted to eat her castle cake).

We headed over to my mom's in the morning to get set up for the party. Abby was running around so excited for every little detail. I wasn't there when they came to set up the water slide but I heard she was jumping with excitement (she never would go down it). It was unseasonably cold for a day in mid-July and it started to rain. I saw Abby mopeing on the coach and I asked her what was wrong. She said the rain was going to ruin her Birthday. I promised her it would stop raining and everything would fine. Luckily for me, it did.

Abby sneaking some Princess M&M's before the party.

Liv loves ice.

Abby was all about the gifts. She would ask her friends as they came in where her gift was. She was also upset she couldn't open them immediately. We are working on being more gracious for next year.

Happy Birthday dear Abby, Happy Birthday to you!

There is just something about a kid with a cupcake. I love these next pictures.

I like to think that I am a clean person. Some of my friends might even say I am a little OCD. I am especially picky about my kids. I don't like them to be dirty. Well this picture just goes to show that I'm not always on top of things! Sometimes you have to just let things go and let them have a good time.