Another Big First

We had another big "first" this week but I've been so busy I'm just now getting to the computer to document our big day.

The school my kiddos go to has a 2 year old program.  Its only for 3 hours every morning. My little Lollipop participated in the program 4 years ago and we loved it.  However, she is an October baby so she was almost 3 and I had no qualms about dropping her off.  My baby Gumdrop just turned 2 about 2 weeks ago. I struggled with whether or not to do the program but the school (and my friends) convinced me to send her. I had planned on signing her up for Children's Day Out but the lure of all my kids in one place was way to tempting to turn down. I've actually lost some free time in not doing CDO since it lasts 5 hours a day, 2 days a week. With the K2 program you can choose to do 5 days a week, 3 days a week, or 2 days a week. We chose 2 days.  I feel blessed to have any free time at all, so I don't feel like I'm hurting with 6 free hours instead of 10. I pray everyday for the moms who get NO free time.  I packed quite a bit into those 6 hours this past week and plan on continuing to do so the rest of the year. As much as I love my kids and want to spend every minute with them, I'm thrilled to be able to have a few hours to run errands by myself and to exercise without the guilt of sticking them in front of the television.

We had some tears both days but she was tear free and happy when I picked her up.  I'm so proud of my big girl!

I had a garage sale this week and we had a ton of things fixed on the new house. Both kids had homework every night of the first week of school. Lollipop started piano lessons but the rest of our activities don't start until next week.  My life and my days are full.

 I volunteer with Junior League (and have a really big job this year re-writing the By-laws for our organization. Doesn't that sound fun? :))! I also volunteer with the local Children's Rehab Center, I volunteer at church, and I'm co-chairing a big committee for the Parents Association at school. Did I mention that I agreed to be Room Mom for Lollipop's class? I spend many hours every week dedicated to all my volunteer efforts. For this reason, I've decided that I'm going to let go of my recipe blog, Midland Morsels.  There are literally hundreds of recipe blogs out there with writers who do their blogs professionally.  Some of them even make money off them!  I've decided to leave it to the professionals. I enjoy cooking so much and I know I'll miss sharing my latest greatest recipes. For that reason, I might just have to post some on this blog!  If you ever read Midland Morsels, thank you!

First Day of School!

Let's hear it for a new school year!  Whoop!

 I adore the tradition we have at our school: The Seniors present the 1st graders with class T-shirts! I wanted to post a pic of her getting her shirt but I couldn't find one without her name on her desk (oh well, all a part of trying to protect the kids by not using names!)

 Then all the Seniors and 1st graders join together for a group pic.  It was so heartwarming to see parents of BOTH 1st graders and Seniors enjoying this wonderful tradition.  It's crazy to think that in just 11 years we will be in the opposite place!

The Big Fun Trip (part 2)

Be sure to scroll down and check out part one if you are just joining us :).

On day three of our trip we woke up early and headed for La Jolla.  We spent some time in La Jolla on a trip to SD about eight years ago and fell in love with it.  We went to the La Jolla Cove and spent some time watching the sea lions and sea gulls while we waited on The Brockton Villa  restaurant to open.

 We enjoyed some amazing Coast Toast (French toast made with brioche. Oh my word its good.) And cinnamon rolls.

 I'm gonna be frank.  The time change, lack of routine, and lack of sleep did not do good things to my little princess.  She hung in there pretty well for the first two days and then she became what we now refer to as "The Baby Monster."  Nobody ever said traveling with kids was easy!

After breakfast we headed to downtown SD and the Zoo!

After spending a good portion of the day exploring the Zoo we headed across the bridge to Coronado Island.  We stayed at the famous Hotel Del.  I lucked out and got us a room in the Beach Village not really realizing that it was a bit separate from the Del.  Its owned by the Del and is on the same property but has direct beach access and its own restaurant, pool, staff, and other amenities.  Admittedly, I've stayed at some very nice hotels in my life but this one takes the cake.  The service is fabulous, the food is wonderful, the rooms are large......I could go on and on.  If you ever get a chance to visit the area and you want to do it up right....this is the way to do it! We stayed three wonderful nights but I think I could stay a lifetime!

 On our last full day our little one turned TWO!  I can hardly believe it!

 What birthday is complete without an "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to" moment?

 It worked out in the end!

What a fabulous trip! Can't wait to go back someday!

The Big Fun Trip (part one)

What a whirlwind couple of weeks it has been for us!  We've moved, had two birthdays, and went on a vacation! I don't think there's anyway I can document all of that on the blog, but I'm going to try to give some bits and pieces of the events of the last weeks.  As I've said before, this blog has become my virtual scrapbook.  It's the way I'm documenting our life as a family and I have the blog made into a book periodically.  My little Lollipop loves to look through the books and remember all that we do!

So...here we go!

On July 31 my little man turned 9!!!!  He was super pumped about his Battleship Swedish Fish and birthday cake that good old mom made.

 Then to save myself some grief, we had a family birthday party on the 4th celebrating My Boy's and Gumdrops bdays.  Gumdrops bday is on the 10th so I tried to split the difference!

She is in love with her huge Minnie Mouse doll!

 My Boy got a go cart (and I got heart palpitations :))!  Is this face pure joy or what?

Two days later we flew to San Diego.  Let me start by saying that almost 3 years ago we were supposed to go to San Diego.  Three days before we were leaving Lollipop got really really sick.  I took her to the doctor and they thought she had mono (she didn't) and we needed a blood test.  The next morning I woke up to the WORST stomach bug of my life.  We didn't have blood results back so we ended up canceling our hotel rooms.  We had planned on driving so we didn't have to worry about flights, somehow we never got to reschedule.  Lollipop has NEVER forgotten that we didn't go to San Diego.  Her life's dream has become a trip to SD and she talks about it constantly.  I'm so thrilled that her dream came true.

If you are wondering about my post title it comes from a Lollipop quote.  I woke her up on the day of the trip and said, "Wake up, wake up!  Its San Diego time!" And she said, "Is it finally time for The Big Fun Trip?"  I cracked up and we've called it that ever since!

Our first stop was LEGOLAND!   On Monday we went to the Sea Life Aquarium after we arrived.  It was really neat and the kids loved it.  I'm only posting a few of the 550 pics we took on the trip :).

 Afterwards we ate a local gastropub called The Compass (thanks Marina for all the food suggestions!).  See my cheesy smile?  That's because I knocked over drink #1 and we had martini glass all over the table and I doused my baby in alcohol.  Way to go mom!  At least we showed the kids that even grown-ups spill their drinks!

 We stayed the first two nights at the Sheraton Legoland.  It has a private entrance to the park so all you have to do is cross the street to get in!  The time change did a number on all of us.  I believe these pics are taken at about 6:30 a.m. California time!

 Our baby stripped her clothes and jumped in the pool.  I love that she's like, " I'm in a borrowed swim diaper and nothing else.  So, what of it?"

Then we headed to the main Legoland park.  We saw lots of cool miniatures.

 Including a whole "miniland" Star Wars section.  Very neat.

 We rode some rides.  Mainly Lollipop rode rides as she is the daredevil of the family!

 Gumdrop was NOT happy about Mom being on the rides.  Everytime I got on one it went a little something like this:

 I love that Lollipop's faces can go from looking like this:

 To looking like this:

We played on splash pads

 Shot water guns

 And looked at a car made entirely of legos!

 Then we headed over to the VERY CROWDED legoland waterpark.

 The rides stressed her out even when I wasn't on them!  Here we are watching brother and sister:

We ended our Legoland day and headed for Pizza Port, a famous brewery and pizza place in Carlsbad. Let me tell ya, we wore this girl out!

Check back soon for part two of The Big Fun Trip!