Easter Egg Hunt and Potluck

Today we spend a fun morning at the park with our Mommies group to celebrate Easter with an Easter Egg Hunt and Potluck.

Kaitlyn enjoyed the slide area and was oh so happy to crawl around and investigate everything

And Kaitlyn found an admirer which Zachary is not pleased with at all. He kept saying "Kaitlyn is my baby!"

Here are some random pictures of the Easter Egg Hunt.

Just Checking In

I finally have found a moment in time to sit and write. No, I have not forgotten about my blog! But as I look back from my last post to now, oh, how so much has been going on and also… how little has happened as well.

These past few months have found us with an on going array of colds and activities sprinkled in between, so it makes life seem busier than it really is. So yes, I do plan on blogging these activities since it does include Easter and Kaitlyn’s first birthday. But for now, this is just a note to check in and let you know we are still here. :)

Today was Zachary’s last day of school and so I have been scrambling around trying to figure out what to do with his increasing energy and boredom. Just this past week I have found a promising program which I think will help me tremendously with homeschooling the preschool years. Now I am busy creating an array of projects for the month of June. So when I will have time to blog, I am not sure. But please check back from time to time, since I fully intend on catching up.

And not to forget Kaitlyn, she is doing wonderfully. She is turning out to be a climber and an expert at removing clothing. She isn’t walking yet, but that seems to be on her agenda, right behind climbing, so it should be any day now. When she is in her crib she is either undressing or attempting to climb out. To my horror, she almost climbed out of her crib yesterday! I know this one will keep me on my toes! I am also hoping to have time to spend with Kaitlyn doing projects. Seems I get so little one-on-one time with her and think creating a special time for her is over due.

So lots of plans for June! When time allows, I shall update this blog.

Fun at the Fire House

Today Zachary and I were off again to a fun play date with our Mom's of 2007 group. We were lucky enough to have a tour of a Fire House in Fullerton. What is more fun to a 3 year old than a big red fire truck? Not sure, but Zachary was in his glory when he finally got to sit at the wheel of a real fire truck.

Here are a few pictures I took along the way.

Zachary and his friends

The hat is just a tad too big

Holding a fire hose

Mommy and Zachary

Our Mommy's group

Off To Visit The Easter Bunny

Today was a beautiful day to go visit the Easter Bunny. I've been talking to Zachary about it for a few days now, trying to convince him to smile for the camera. And he did!!!!! Actually, he didn't want to get off the bunny's lap when it was time to leave. And Kaitlyn took it all in stride. She actually smiled, but it wasn't captured on file. Oh well, at least no tears were shed. That always makes me feel very successful.

As our tradition, we headed then toward the carousel. This information actually was the only thing that got Zachary off the bunny's lap. But to our disappointment, it was gone. I feel very sad not just because it was part of our yearly Easter Bunny tradition, but because it was such a beautiful carousel. So instead, we headed toward the koi pond. I think that Zachary actually enjoyed this better. Kaitlyn, again just took everything in stride. No complaints were heard from her.

Kaitlyn showing offer her new Easter dress.

Zachary thought he was saving Kaitlyn from falling into the water. This was the only time I got him to sit still long enough to get them both in the same picture.

And our last stop was lunch at Red Robin. It has been a very long time since I have braved taking them to a restaurant, but it actually was fun. I just put a chocolate shake in front of Zachary, and he never moved too far from it. And Kaitlyn was good as gold.

This was such a wonderful day full of great memories!

Strawberry Farm

Zachary and I had a wonderful day today with our Mom's of 2007 group. We went to Tanaka Farm's for strawberry picking. Zachary kind of tried the different veggies, but he said they all were "yucky!" except for the strawberries. Strawberries are his all time favorite food.

Zachary had a great time picking and eating strawberries to his heart delight. He did inform me that he didn't like picking them, just eating them.

Yummy!!!!

He looks like such a big boy

Our Moms of 2007 group - kids only

Spring Flowers

Just by accident, I started a new tradition which I really love. It’s planting flowers on the first day of spring. And this year was especially fun since Kaitlyn was able to join us. Zachary is always the big helper and Kaitlyn just loves anything that involves dirt.

Zachary decided that he would help transport the flowers in his new dump truck he got for his birthday. He was so thrilled that his new truck could participate. He soon tired of planting and turned to truck play. But he was there to keep me company with his entertaining conversations. For days afterwards, he would announce “Spring Flowers, we have Spring Flower!!!”

Kaitlyn just loves flowers and dirt. Though at the moment it is mostly to eating them or pulls the plants apart. But she is never one to mind getting dirty.

I hope that when spring comes each year, we can find our way out to the garden to add a little color. This simple activity just brings me so much pleasure and that lasts for months to come.

First Visit To The Dentist

I guess I was more nervous that Zachary was going on his first trip to the dentist. I am one that just HATES the dentist with a passion and hopes that my kids don't have to feel the same way. I was trying to take them to a child dentist, but wasn't able to find one that would take my insurance, so I took him to mine. WOW!!! What a great experience. Zachary was on his very best behavior and did such good listening. When it was over I asked him what he liked best about going to the dentist, and he said it was the fun chair.

Here are a few pictures of his big adventure.

Watching his x-rays of his teeth

Getting his teeth polished

I am so proud of my little guy. He did so great!

Vacation at Cienaga Creek Ranch

Thanks to my sister, Vickie, we were able to have a wonderful vacation to Big Bear. This is such a busy time of year for her, but she kindly opened up one of her cottages to us for three nights. When we arrived she had a special treat waiting for my Mom’s birthday and she was so tickled by such a sweet surprise.

And what a beautiful cottage it is. Here is a pictures of the bed room before we arrived and then one with Zachary in a rare moment that he was asleep. And then of the view from the living room. She put us in this cottage since it had a wonderful place to make a snow man and go sledding just steps from our door. It was just all so perfect!!

One our first day, Zachary and I went out and made a snowman. He had told me on the way up the mountain that he wanted to make a mommy snowman and a baby snowman. I was prepared to make one snowman, so for the second one I just improvised. Once we got two made, he just wanted to keep on going, but sorry to say, that didn’t happen

He took to the sledding right away. By the end of the first day, he bringing the sled up the hill on his own. He wasn’t too happy when I couldn’t make him go faster or farther than the time before. Kaitlyn wasn’t too fond of the snow, or maybe it was just her snowsuit she wasn’t too fond of. She always ended up face down in the snow. I finally did get to her out sledding for a moment and she had a delightful time.

Every night we had a tub party. Kaitlyn wasn’t too crazy about it, but I think it got to be one of Zachary’s favorite times of the day. Each night there seemed to be more and more bubbles in the tub.

making bubble hats

A bathing beauty

And here are just a few miscellaneous pictures....

Mommy and her girl

Swinging with her Grandma on the porch swing

Vickie had a special birthday gift for Zachary that made is day!!

And a very huge thank you to my sister, Vickie, who made this all possible!!!