Fun with Pops & BeBe

We just returned from visiting my Dad and Stepmom in Corona Del Mar, California. We spent several mornings and afternoons at their beautiful home on the harbor watching the boats sail by, eating yummy meals, swimming in the pool, riding on the ferry, taking the kids for their first "Bal Bar" (Balboa Bar), and basically just spending time together. It was a wonderful visit and we loved sharing the kids with them....though I think they were relieved when we finally left because nothing managed to get broken during our visit!!!

Riding the Balboa Island Ferry

Ryan & Pops!

Ryan eating his first Balboa Bar

Randi eating her first Bal Bar

Pops passing on the family tradition of eating ice cream right out of the container!

Mmmm, that's good!

Randi, Pops, Kristin & Ryan

Three Generations

Our visit with Uncle Bret & Aunt Mar Mar

While in California, we also spent some time with my brother Bret, Aunt Marcia and their two kitties, Maui and Thai. Bret and Mar Mar came up and played with us for a day at Disneyland and then we went and had lunch with them in San Clemente. It was a beautiful day, so we put the kids in bathing suits and let them run on the beach. The looks on their faces when they felt the ice cold water was priceless.

Uncle Bret, Aunt Mar Mar, Randi & Ryan

Riding on the storybook boats at Disneyland

Riding on the carousel at Disneyland

Ryan & Maui

Randi & Ryan giving Maui a little lovin'

Where did the other kitty, Thai, go????

Ryan & Michael at San Clemente beach

Ohhh, that water sure is cold!

Ryan eating an ice cream sundae on the pier

San Clemente Pier

Our Little Surfer Dude!

Disneyland

After witnessing way too many toddler melt downs during a trip to Disneyworld many years ago, Michael and I swore if we ever had kids, we wouldn't take them to theme park before they were at least 10 years old ! Now here we are with a 2 and a 4 year old, and what do we do? We pack up and head out to Disneyland! Well, we were going to visit the folks and needed something to do in between our visits with them right!!! That was our excuse at first, but, in all reality, Randi is in the midst of Princess madness, so how could we deprive her of an opportunity to meet Aurora, Cinderella and Snow White! Despite a few rough moments here and there, we had a GREAT time! The kids loved it, and we loved watching them experience the joy and magic of Disney. I don't think I'll ever forget the look of pure joy on Randi's face as she rode a yellow caterpillar through the Hundred Acre Woods looking for Winnie the Pooh! It was priceless and worth every little meltdown we had along the way!

There are lots of pictures of our trip on our smugmug site, but, in the meantime, here are a few of my favorites:

Randi at the ticket booth getting her Disneyland pass.

All aboard the Disney train

Randi riding her first roller coaster

Randi & Tigger

Randi & Ryan with the Big Cheese!

Ryan had a big time crush on Ms. Minnie!

Randi & her fav Disney character, Tink!

Ryan smoozing with Princess Aurora

Two Princesses!

Dreams really do come true at Disneyland!

Amy & Ken tie the knot

Our step-sister and Auntie Amy tied the knot yesterday with her Beau of exactly one year. The wedding was held in downtown San Antonio and it was an absolutely beautiful event! Ryan wore his first suit, and looked quite handsome in it! And Randi loved going to the salon to have her hair done by a stylist since I had no idea how to get curls into uncurly hair! She looked like a fairy princess and said her favorite part of the wedding was dancing with her daddy and cousin Hunter!

Did my daughter make this???

When I picked Randi up from school today, this was in her box. I looked at it and thought to myself, did MY daughter make this? When I asked Randi if she did, she looked at me like I was nuts and said "yes mom, I made it all by myself!"

Cousin Kylie's 5th Birthday Party

We went to Chuck E Cheese's tonight to celebrate Kylie's 5th birthday. The kids had a ball dancing with Chuck E, going on rides, and playing all kinds of fun games. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET KYLIE!

Meeting Shamu

To celebrate the last day of the year, we took the kids to Seaworld to meet Shamu. Randi had gone before but it was Ryan's first experience, and an experience it was! When Shamu came out and started jumping in the air, Ryan was mesmerized. Check out the piece of popcorn he's clutching in his hands...he held that popcorn just like that for over 20 minutes without squishing or dropping it! Both kids won toys at the arcade, and we all enjoyed watching the Polar Express in 4D...check out Ryan in his funny glasses! It was a great day...now on to Disneyland in 2009!

Ryan catching air just like Shamu!!!
(Neither of his feet are on the ground!)