FAMILY

Monday, June 29, 2009

San Diego Vacation!

We headed over to San Diego last Wednesday for a little getaway to some cooler weather. We stayed with some good friends at their home. We had a lot of fun visiting our friends and enjoying all the fun things to do in San Diego. It was so hard to come home yesterday. WARNING: This is a long post - many great memories were made and are about to be shared!
On Thursday, we took Lexi to her first amusement park, Legoland. It was right up her alley and all the rides are geared towards toddler and preschool age children.High in the sky on the helicopter.Almost everything is made out of legos - even this shark.In the airplane with daddy - he's the backseat driver.The airplane was Lexi's favorite ride. It is so much fun just to stand on the side and watch your little one's facial expressions.Watching the presidential inauguration of the first black president (at Legoland). There is a really cool section in the park with different cities and famous buildings (New York City, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., etc.).Taking a safari ride in the jeep.That evening the kids played outside in the backyard with sidewalk chalk. Klarissa and Lexi working on their masterpieces!
On Friday, we went to a few of our favorite places in San Diego - the beach on Coronado Island and a marketplace along the harbor.Getting her toes wet in the Pacific Ocean for the first time.Taking a walk on the beach with Mommy.A tired beach baby.At the harbor marketplace Lexi found a "mice" balloon caricature. And Mickey came everywhere with us the rest of our trip.
On Saturday, our friends took us to the La Jolla beach so that we could all play in the sand and catch a few waves.Corain and Klarissa were Lexi's best friends the whole time. Lexi had so much fun playing with the big girls and playing outdoors on their swing set.I don't think I like getting my feet dirty in the sand!Catching some waves with daddy.
Sunday morning we took Reinet, Corain, and Klarissa out to breakfast for Reinet's birthday. Before we left town we visited the Sea Life aquarium.
One last ride on the swing before we leave .Corain, Lexi, and Klarissa - three cutie pies all dressed up for breakfast!Family photo at the aquarium.Touching a live starfish.Contributing to the building of the largest Lego sandcastle.
And then is was the 6 hour car drive home. We all had a blast and a huge thank you to Reinet, Cobus, and the girls for inviting us to stay with them. Can't wait to go back!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

We are headed to the Beach

. . . be back soon!Lexi doesn't want us to forgot to take her along with.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Father's Day - Part 2

Today, was a celebration of Daddy at our house. If you ask Rick, it began yesterday. He thinks it is a whole weekend celebration but the real spoiling began today. We showered him with some small gifts and a few homemade ones (they were the best gifts) and then we took him out for a nice steak dinner at his favorite steakhouse.Lexi decorated a chocolate cake for daddy with mommy's help. She is so proud and excited to eat "cake".She also picked out a "Top Pop" ba-oon for her #1 Daddy!Daddy and his little girl in the park after our early dinner.

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to all the great dads! It's a day to recognize you for all your hard work, love, and devotion. A huge THANK YOU to my daddy, my grandpa, and my papa for all that you do for me and my family!

Lots of Hugs and Kisses from Lexi

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Wednesdays at Wildflower

On Wednesday afternoons, Wildflower Bread Co. has crafts and cookies for children. We try to go and get out of the house, it's a nice break in the afternoon. Lexi, of course, is more interested in the milk and cookie than the craft. I am more interested in the adult conversation. After the craft and cookie we hang out so that the kids can get caught up on what is going on in the world.

Friday, June 5, 2009

An endless love for horses

This girl still loves her horses.

Big, small, moving, stationary - she loves them all!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

How old is she???

20 months old . . . I don't know why it always takes me so long to answer that question when people ask. I think I am still in shock at how fast she has grown up. Nineteen months wasn't hard to say, but man, twenty I have struggled with. I can't believe that I am already starting to brainstorm about what to do for her 2nd birthday party. She is such a big girl. Here are some things she has been up to. The biggest and newest topic of conversation (Lexi's, not ours) is every time she goes to the bathroom she let's us know. No matter, where we are (for example, today at the insurance agent's office all she kept saying was pee-pee and of course, the agent says to me does she need to use the restroom. I was like, no it's too late, but thank you). She was letting everyone know she went pee-pee. It's a start in the right direction, I guess. We still have to work on telling mommy & daddy before we go. And if she goes poo-pee, she points to her bottom and then takes me to her room to have her diaper changed. We haven't had any luck on the actual potty, but I do find it interesting that when we do sit on the potty, we must have all of our clothes off.

Just chillin' with her milk and her feet up. She is such a ham.

It's already warm, or should I say HOT here, so we have been frequenting the local splash pads lately and trying to enjoy the parks in the early morning or early evening.

Splashin' in the fountain at dusk (we can do that here because it is still 90+ degrees at 7 pm).

Mommy taught me how to eat corn on the cob and I love it!

I guess I must have a little Iowa in me.

Pretending to drive the jeep at a new indoor play area that we will be frequenting more often during the summer months.

Just bouncing and having fun in the balls at the elementary carnival last week.
Lexi took swim lessons for the month of May. To no surprise, she loved the water and the "pool". The things she learned and can now do are: crawling along the wall of the pool by herself, kick her feet and move her arms like she is swimming, and roll from her back to her front and vice versa.

When asked to smile, Lexi came running at the camera with a big smile!

The best picture I could get of the super, cute swimsuit Lexi received in the mail from her Aunt Robin, Uncle Russ, and Molly B. Thanks a bunch! We got a lot of compliments that day at the pool.