Trip to the Shore

It happened to coincide that the week that we moved was also the week that Cyrus’s mom and stepdad were coming to visit.  Prior to going into escrow we had planned a trip to Tahoe, but after going into escrow we scrapped that and decided to stay more local.  They visited for 7 days and requested that they help get us on our feet that week- that they did.  They watched the kids, unpacked boxes, climbed through the attic to move wires, painted the girls fort, etc.  They were amazing.  But, knowing that this week was going to be exhausting and what grandparents really want to do is enjoy their grandchildren, we planned a 3 day trip to Monterey and surrounding areas. 

We left on Tuesday and made the short trip to Moss Landing, where we had rented a beautiful townhouse on the beach.  We explored the area a little- the 1 road town and got some lunch.  Then we went for a long walk on the beach to find shells and play in the frigid water. That evening Bennett, Cyrus and I found a local fish place with live music.

On Wednesday we got up early and went to breakfast at a local place known for great everything.  The fresh artichoke omelet was delicious.  After breakfast we headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we spent most of the day.  The kids, especially Sophia, were in heaven.  She is still talking about the trip and the fun new jellyfish exhibit.  After a stop at the gift shop for plastic sea animals we headed down the street to Ghirardelli for an ice cream the size of our heads.  


Needing a slight rest & a nap for Isabella, we piled into the car and went for a drive- a 17 mile drive to be exact.  I am sorry to say I have not done this drive before- it was gorgeous.  At the end we stopped in Carmel for an early dinner before heading back to the house exhausted.  Thursday we packed up and headed home, but not without a pile of artichokes to enjoy! 

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Trip to the Shore

It happened to coincide that the week that we moved was also the week that Cyrus’s mom and stepdad were coming to visit.  Prior to going into escrow we had planned a trip to Tahoe, but after going into escrow we scrapped that and decided to stay more local.  They visited for 7 days and requested that they help get us on our feet that week- that they did.  They watched the kids, unpacked boxes, climbed through the attic to move wires, painted the girls fort, etc.  They were amazing.  But, knowing that this week was going to be exhausting and what grandparents really want to do is enjoy their grandchildren, we planned a 3 day trip to Monterey and surrounding areas. 

We left on Tuesday and made the short trip to Moss Landing, where we had rented a beautiful townhouse on the beach.  We explored the area a little- the 1 road town and got some lunch.  Then we went for a long walk on the beach to find shells and play in the frigid water. That evening Bennett, Cyrus and I found a local fish place with live music.

On Wednesday we got up early and went to breakfast at a local place known for great everything.  The fresh artichoke omelet was delicious.  After breakfast we headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we spent most of the day.  The kids, especially Sophia, were in heaven.  She is still talking about the trip and the fun new jellyfish exhibit.  After a stop at the gift shop for plastic sea animals we headed down the street to Ghirardelli for an ice cream the size of our heads.  


Needing a slight rest & a nap for Isabella, we piled into the car and went for a drive- a 17 mile drive to be exact.  I am sorry to say I have not done this drive before- it was gorgeous.  At the end we stopped in Carmel for an early dinner before heading back to the house exhausted.  Thursday we packed up and headed home, but not without a pile of artichokes to enjoy! 

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Welcoming 2012 (a little late)

We spent New Year’s Eve in Tahoe.  Renting a house with friends is the best way to celebrate milestones like a new year.   Of course this year was not the year for snow- there was only a few little patches around.  Turns out that was enough for the kids and for us.  We had a blast playing princesses, dancing, eating, drinking, and sledding (on the tiny bit of snow we found).  It was a great adventure with great friends. 

Cheers two months late to 2012. It has been a bit rocky starting, but I have faith this year will be a great one! 

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Welcoming 2012 (a little late)

We spent New Year’s Eve in Tahoe.  Renting a house with friends is the best way to celebrate milestones like a new year.   Of course this year was not the year for snow- there was only a few little patches around.  Turns out that was enough for the kids and for us.  We had a blast playing princesses, dancing, eating, drinking, and sledding (on the tiny bit of snow we found).  It was a great adventure with great friends. 

Cheers two months late to 2012. It has been a bit rocky starting, but I have faith this year will be a great one! 

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Christmas 2011

I was so excited about Christmas this year. Sophia is at the age to really enjoy it and Isabella was starting to enter the human phase of reacting to the twinkle lights, eating wrapping paper and the like.  Then the flu hit- I got it the week before Christmas and Sophia got it on Christmas Eve dinner.  She turned white & asked to go home.  On Christmas morning, after opening some presents and talking to the on-call doctor, we took her to urgent care near my parent’s house.  Luckily they were fast and efficient; she was diagnosed with bronchitis.  Not how we had planned Christmas, but fun still.  Sophia was a trooper and my parents got to spend more quality time with Isabella while we were at urgent care.  


Sophia was thrilled with her new princesses and computer (Leap Pad), which came in quite handy in urgent care.  

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Christmas 2011

I was so excited about Christmas this year. Sophia is at the age to really enjoy it and Isabella was starting to enter the human phase of reacting to the twinkle lights, eating wrapping paper and the like.  Then the flu hit- I got it the week before Christmas and Sophia got it on Christmas Eve dinner.  She turned white & asked to go home.  On Christmas morning, after opening some presents and talking to the on-call doctor, we took her to urgent care near my parent’s house.  Luckily they were fast and efficient; she was diagnosed with bronchitis.  Not how we had planned Christmas, but fun still.  Sophia was a trooper and my parents got to spend more quality time with Isabella while we were at urgent care.  


Sophia was thrilled with her new princesses and computer (Leap Pad), which came in quite handy in urgent care.  

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Tahoe

Turns out that now that I have kids summer is my favorite season to be in Tahoe.  I have talked about renting a house for years with some of our friends, but it always seemed that we could never pull a trip together with all our families in the summer- until this July.  We rented a house in July in North Shore, near King's Beach with 2 other families.  In case you are keeping track that is 6 adults and 6 kids!

It was quite the adventure- beach trips, taking turns cooking, cards, adult beverages & lots of playing with the kids!  The memories are firmly planted.





Driving the Fire Truck:



The Girls' Bunk Room:

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Tahoe

Turns out that now that I have kids summer is my favorite season to be in Tahoe.  I have talked about renting a house for years with some of our friends, but it always seemed that we could never pull a trip together with all our families in the summer- until this July.  We rented a house in July in North Shore, near King's Beach with 2 other families.  In case you are keeping track that is 6 adults and 6 kids!

It was quite the adventure- beach trips, taking turns cooking, cards, adult beverages & lots of playing with the kids!  The memories are firmly planted.





Driving the Fire Truck:



The Girls' Bunk Room:

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Sophia's 1st Disneyland Trip!

We totally rocked Disneyland. Sophia had a blast for her first trip. That is the short of it.  The longer version is we arrived around 10 am, sans Isabella who stayed with Corina (thank god!), and met up with various other parts of our 8 person group.

We had Sophia ,3, 2 10 year olds, 1 newlywed, Cyrus, me & my mom- we spanned a lot of ages and interests.  I managed to get everyone to write down their top 2 rides & miraculously we managed to cover all the lists with smiles and no tears!  It was like an aria- everyone picked up their instruments at the proper time & played them perfectly!

A huge thank you to my mom, husband and my brother (the newlywed) for managing to get fast passes & standing in too many lines for the kids.

What we rode: 
Carousel
Peter Pan
Casey Jr. Train
Tea Cups
Tom Sawyer island
Winnie the Pooh
Indiana Jones
The Jungle Cruise
Splash Mountain
Astroblasters
It’s a Small World
Autopia
Symphony Swings
Ariel's Grotto
Ferris Wheel
Toystory Mania
California Screaming
California Screaming (yeah, we went twice in a row with the extra fastpasses we had)

      

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Sophia's 1st Disneyland Trip!

We totally rocked Disneyland. Sophia had a blast for her first trip. That is the short of it.  The longer version is we arrived around 10 am, sans Isabella who stayed with Corina (thank god!), and met up with various other parts of our 8 person group.

We had Sophia ,3, 2 10 year olds, 1 newlywed, Cyrus, me & my mom- we spanned a lot of ages and interests.  I managed to get everyone to write down their top 2 rides & miraculously we managed to cover all the lists with smiles and no tears!  It was like an aria- everyone picked up their instruments at the proper time & played them perfectly!

A huge thank you to my mom, husband and my brother (the newlywed) for managing to get fast passes & standing in too many lines for the kids.

What we rode: 
Carousel
Peter Pan
Casey Jr. Train
Tea Cups
Tom Sawyer island
Winnie the Pooh
Indiana Jones
The Jungle Cruise
Splash Mountain
Astroblasters
It’s a Small World
Autopia
Symphony Swings
Ariel's Grotto
Ferris Wheel
Toystory Mania
California Screaming
California Screaming (yeah, we went twice in a row with the extra fastpasses we had)

      

Read more...