2018 was AMAZING, and now we're really excited for the new year ahead!!! Happy 2019!
The Fenwicks, Rogers and Greg & Elizabeth stayed the night on NYE, and we spent New Years Day riding around the cul de sac and cleaning up.
The Rogers' gave Landon and Brooklyn the cutest sleeping bags, and they LOVE them! Brooklyn slept in hers (on top of her bed) for the first couple of nights and Landon in his for a whole week.
They've been helping prep dinner with their new (kids) chef knives.
The annual cousin sleepover was at Peter and Amber's house this year. They had a blast decorating cupcakes for Luke's half birthday, watching a movie with popcorn and making forts!
We took Jacob (with Landon) to Mulligan's for his birthday date with us. The kids loved playing laser tag, at the arcade and mini golf. Landon got a hole in 1 on the first hole (and I won...by a LOT!)!
Daniel was really productive over his winter break from work. He transformed our family room TV wall (which was terribly dull to start) by installing shiplap and a special shelf. The shelf is an old plank from the Pismo Beach Pier that is suspended from the ceiling with turnbuckles. He even etched D+Z into the side of the plank, just like he did on the Pismo Beach Pier when he proposed. We love it!
Date night at the blues club
Landon was on a bit of a reading spree over the break from school. Brooklyn has taken up reading as well, and Landon seems to like passing down his beginner learning to read books to her.
Landon started gymnastics camp, and is LOVING it! After the first day of gymnastics he told Daniel that he wanted to "practice the splits so I can be better at it next week!" By the second week he was better at jumping forward rolls and really good at cartwheels. It's really cute to watch him because after every other "trick" he does he looks over at me, so proud, with a huge smile (as if he was saying, "Did you see what I just did?!").
Brooklyn continued with MyGym. She struggled a few times getting into the class, but once she could forget that she was scared she had a great time.
Uncle Matt Matt was a good sport in reading the same few books over and over. He and Grammie also joined us for "Mary Poppins Returns" in the theater with Auntie Amber, Jacob and Zoe too. Brooklyn took a big step by wandering over to Amber (not me, Uncle Matt Matt or Grammie!) to sit on her lap (with Zoe too). It was really cute! That night we celebrated Uncle Matt Matt's birthday (a month early) with grasshopper pie!
Before he left to go back to Germany, we showed Uncle Matt Matt and Grammie Legoland, our last time with our annual passes. This time the kids weren't too into the rides but had a better time building with Legos and playing on the playgrounds.
The original plan was to go to Legoland the day before, but Landon woke up with a fever that morning so we postponed. When I informed him that we would possibly go the next day he was sad "because I had big plans for tomorrow." It was news to me that he had planned Chuck E Cheese's and Luv 2 Play for the next day.
I'll be sad when Landon's spelling is accurate. I love deciphering his notes and cards!
Landon's first report card was great! We're so proud of him!!
Rancho Elementary held a family dance at the middle school. At first, neither of the kids were dancing, not unexpectedly, as they don't like other people to see them dance. But halfway through Landon let loose and had a great time. He was even upset when we had to leave.
Landon and Daniel had a fun boys' day at the Fleet Science Museum (for a few hours), Balboa Park magic show & tram ride with Mason & Tio and Monster Jam with the Fenwick boys, the Lavaglios and the Nordeens.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn and I spent some quality girl time. We made waffles (and chocolate milk!), went to a playground and on a nature walk, to the library to read, borrow books and play a computer game, then to the Temecula Duck Pond to eat breadsticks while reading our library books. We finished the afternoon with a few errands before heading home for dinner, homemade M&M pizzookies and 2 movies ("Monsters, Inc." and "Homeward Bound").
One week at Giggles & Gluesticks they focused on healthy eating and got to juice their own juice to drink!
The next week was about weather, and they made kites to run around with in the cul de sac where the preschool is.
Family fun night!
We started our Ant Farm, which is so cool to watch!
Brooklyn's first birthday celebration was at the Rogers' house, where Auntie Erin, Haven and Brooklyn each had birthday cupcakes (while celebrating Friends' Christmas).
Grammie and Papa gave us all SeaWorld annual passes, so we stayed that night at the Rogers' and headed to SeaWorld with the Fenwicks. Brooklyn liked the fish that "tickled" her fingers and the tea cup ride, and Landon liked the little kid rides in the Sesame Street area. The penguins, walrus, polar bear cave play area and sharks were also really fun for them. Both kids were excited to feed fish to the sea lions (yuck!). We cut the day short before the Shamu Show, as it was quite hot during the Dolphin Show and the kids were done.
Landon celebrated his 100th day of school with this crazy hat.
The morning of Brooklyn's 4th birthday, Daddy took her for donuts (2 of them!)!
She and I headed to Baron's for her annual birthday lunch salad. Extra croutons!! With a candle on the side!
She celebrated at school with cookie bars, balloons and having her "special day." After school Brooklyn Landon, Daddy, Grammie, Papa, Tyson, Uncle Peter, Auntie Amber, Jacob, Zoe, Lucas, Auntie Gail, Uncle Fred and I had a little party! And she got her orange cake with blue frosting, sprinkles and choo-choo train on top. :)
The next day Grammie and I accompanied Brooklyn to get her first full mani/pedi. She really enjoyed it!!
Then Peter and Amber took Brooklyn out for her birthday date with them (and Zoe). Brooklyn wanted to go to Get Air trapoline park and In N Out. It looks like they had a great time!
The Fenwicks, Rogers and Greg & Elizabeth stayed the night on NYE, and we spent New Years Day riding around the cul de sac and cleaning up.
The Rogers' gave Landon and Brooklyn the cutest sleeping bags, and they LOVE them! Brooklyn slept in hers (on top of her bed) for the first couple of nights and Landon in his for a whole week.
They've been helping prep dinner with their new (kids) chef knives.
The annual cousin sleepover was at Peter and Amber's house this year. They had a blast decorating cupcakes for Luke's half birthday, watching a movie with popcorn and making forts!
We took Jacob (with Landon) to Mulligan's for his birthday date with us. The kids loved playing laser tag, at the arcade and mini golf. Landon got a hole in 1 on the first hole (and I won...by a LOT!)!
Daniel was really productive over his winter break from work. He transformed our family room TV wall (which was terribly dull to start) by installing shiplap and a special shelf. The shelf is an old plank from the Pismo Beach Pier that is suspended from the ceiling with turnbuckles. He even etched D+Z into the side of the plank, just like he did on the Pismo Beach Pier when he proposed. We love it!
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Date night at the blues club
Landon was on a bit of a reading spree over the break from school. Brooklyn has taken up reading as well, and Landon seems to like passing down his beginner learning to read books to her.
Landon started gymnastics camp, and is LOVING it! After the first day of gymnastics he told Daniel that he wanted to "practice the splits so I can be better at it next week!" By the second week he was better at jumping forward rolls and really good at cartwheels. It's really cute to watch him because after every other "trick" he does he looks over at me, so proud, with a huge smile (as if he was saying, "Did you see what I just did?!").
Brooklyn continued with MyGym. She struggled a few times getting into the class, but once she could forget that she was scared she had a great time.
We've also been playing a bunch of backyard basketball, some pre-bedtime soccer in the upstairs hallway, playing Heads Up 7-Up (to practice for rainy day schedule at school) and King of the Bed, silly string fights and individually racing from the couch to the front door and back for time. We busted out the Wii for the first time since before Landon was born and played Wii Resort with Landon (Brooklyn wanted to color instead).
Landon's buddies, Jack & Nate, came over to play one afternoon, and Brooklyn shut herself in her room, crying, "I want Jack and Nate to go home! I want Landon to play with just me!" (even though she really likes them!) because she's used to having him all to herself.
At-home spa pedicure rewards (Landon for reading 7 days in a row and Brooklyn for not having any potty accidents for 7 days in a row)! When I asked Landon what his favorite color polish (of the 5 on his toes) was he said, "Gold because it's glittery, so it's fabulous." Brooklyn's was also gold (without further explanation).
Landon's buddies, Jack & Nate, came over to play one afternoon, and Brooklyn shut herself in her room, crying, "I want Jack and Nate to go home! I want Landon to play with just me!" (even though she really likes them!) because she's used to having him all to herself.
At-home spa pedicure rewards (Landon for reading 7 days in a row and Brooklyn for not having any potty accidents for 7 days in a row)! When I asked Landon what his favorite color polish (of the 5 on his toes) was he said, "Gold because it's glittery, so it's fabulous." Brooklyn's was also gold (without further explanation).
Uncle Matt Matt was a good sport in reading the same few books over and over. He and Grammie also joined us for "Mary Poppins Returns" in the theater with Auntie Amber, Jacob and Zoe too. Brooklyn took a big step by wandering over to Amber (not me, Uncle Matt Matt or Grammie!) to sit on her lap (with Zoe too). It was really cute! That night we celebrated Uncle Matt Matt's birthday (a month early) with grasshopper pie!
Before he left to go back to Germany, we showed Uncle Matt Matt and Grammie Legoland, our last time with our annual passes. This time the kids weren't too into the rides but had a better time building with Legos and playing on the playgrounds.
The original plan was to go to Legoland the day before, but Landon woke up with a fever that morning so we postponed. When I informed him that we would possibly go the next day he was sad "because I had big plans for tomorrow." It was news to me that he had planned Chuck E Cheese's and Luv 2 Play for the next day.
I'll be sad when Landon's spelling is accurate. I love deciphering his notes and cards!
Landon's first report card was great! We're so proud of him!!
Rancho Elementary held a family dance at the middle school. At first, neither of the kids were dancing, not unexpectedly, as they don't like other people to see them dance. But halfway through Landon let loose and had a great time. He was even upset when we had to leave.
Landon and Daniel had a fun boys' day at the Fleet Science Museum (for a few hours), Balboa Park magic show & tram ride with Mason & Tio and Monster Jam with the Fenwick boys, the Lavaglios and the Nordeens.
(The science museum was perfect timing, right before Landon, Jacob and Tristan started STEAM Club at the library. He really liked it and wishes it was more than just once a month.)
One week at Giggles & Gluesticks they focused on healthy eating and got to juice their own juice to drink!
The next week was about weather, and they made kites to run around with in the cul de sac where the preschool is.
Mommy's old sweater is a new favorite of Brooklyn's. Recently she's been having a tough time figuring out her feelings. She has days where she cries for seemingly no reason and keeps getting set off by the littlest things. She seems to be preparing us for teenage years, but we're not ready to handle it yet!
We started our Ant Farm, which is so cool to watch!
Brooklyn's first birthday celebration was at the Rogers' house, where Auntie Erin, Haven and Brooklyn each had birthday cupcakes (while celebrating Friends' Christmas).
Grammie and Papa gave us all SeaWorld annual passes, so we stayed that night at the Rogers' and headed to SeaWorld with the Fenwicks. Brooklyn liked the fish that "tickled" her fingers and the tea cup ride, and Landon liked the little kid rides in the Sesame Street area. The penguins, walrus, polar bear cave play area and sharks were also really fun for them. Both kids were excited to feed fish to the sea lions (yuck!). We cut the day short before the Shamu Show, as it was quite hot during the Dolphin Show and the kids were done.
Landon celebrated his 100th day of school with this crazy hat.
The morning of Brooklyn's 4th birthday, Daddy took her for donuts (2 of them!)!
She and I headed to Baron's for her annual birthday lunch salad. Extra croutons!! With a candle on the side!
She celebrated at school with cookie bars, balloons and having her "special day." After school Brooklyn Landon, Daddy, Grammie, Papa, Tyson, Uncle Peter, Auntie Amber, Jacob, Zoe, Lucas, Auntie Gail, Uncle Fred and I had a little party! And she got her orange cake with blue frosting, sprinkles and choo-choo train on top. :)
Then Peter and Amber took Brooklyn out for her birthday date with them (and Zoe). Brooklyn wanted to go to Get Air trapoline park and In N Out. It looks like they had a great time!
