Fabulous February

Slow to post but I'm getting these on here eventually. Besides still recovering from that nasty January flu, we had a wonderful month filled with lots of events.

On one of our hot February days we went to the beach.

Surfer girl Ashlyn looking like a natural.
My valentine sweeties enjoying sticky but yummy suckers.
Kaden's smiling during swim lessons. We start Ashlyn in March so we'll see how that goes!
A visit from the Lechuga Grandparents landed Grandpa in the ball house.

Rainy days make great puddles. Where else could you possibly live where you can drive to the snow, the beach & play in the rain all within a 4 week period? We've got all the best right here in So Cal.
Ashlyn's newest hobby. Do I see future makeup artist?Benihana's for Grandpa Stephen's Birthday. Kaden loved watching them cook the food.
He actually got the hang of the chopsticks too with a little help from some rubber bands.
For career day at school Kaden wanted to wear a work shirt like Daddy. I must say this was his 2nd choice since I wouldn't let him go dressed up as Spiderman. Ashlyn heard "let me take a picture" & insisted on being part of the backdrop.
Another half birthday. One thing I've learned is you can't do something for one kid and not for the other...at least when you have a 3 1/2 year old around. They catch you on everything. Ashlyn tried so hard to blow out her 1 1/2 candles but she had to get help from big brother.

Not Another Birthday

So you're probably thinking...how many birthdays can they have in a row? Today Kaden turned 3 1/2 which really doesn't mark much except he was so freakin excited. For about a month now Kaden's been talking about how he's going to be 3 1/2 and then he'll be 4. So on that note we let him have a little fun today with dinner at Rubys on the pier & a cake with 3 and a half candles...we called it "3 1/2 day".

Kaden insisted that there were 4 candles and not 3 1/2...apparently he's got his mom's personality and didn't see the humor in it.
Past their bedtime we let him blow out candles but we didn't sing because it's not his birthday!
In case you're ever wondering these are called Kaden's "Handsome Pajamas". We told him one time that he looked handsome in them & ever since he won't call them anything else. Sometimes they are in the wash & it takes a lot of work to get him into other Pj's.
Such a ham!!!
They have matching Pj's and they are so cute. If one's wearing them the other has to too. Isn't it funny what kids find important? If the only thing I had to worry about is what I wear to bed.

Alice's 30th Birthday

So I joined the 30's club. I can only imagine what the next decade has in store for me. The 20's flew by so fast and were filled with so many BIG events. To celebrate we went to Big Bear for a weekend with our family, my mom, my sister & her fiancé, my soon to be nephew (at least officially), & my uncle (who was really raised more like a brother to me). And besides the kids and I recovering from a terrible flu, we had a blast.

My real birthday (Tuesday) followed with Vaughn leaving town at 6:45am that morning for 4 days; going to Crystal Court at South Coast Plaza with Patience & all her girls; my son throwing a tantrum in Ruby's; Ashlyn getting lost in H&M; and then my sister coming down that night for a take out dinner at one of my favorite restaurants Basilico's.

The following day (Wednesday) we had a playdate at my friend's house where my car battery died. Later that night Ashlyn got her finger crushed in the hinge side of a door.

So by the time Thursday came around I was happy to send Kaden off to school only to take Ashlyn to have x-rays done on her finger. Fortunately Uncle Dan came down to help with the chaos (he's really good at bringing candy for bribery). Nothing's broken just a nasty looking nail. That night I went out to dinner with Vaughn's parents for my birthday only to have Kaden throw another tantrum on the bathroom floor of Souplantation & in the restaurant (he hasn't been quite right since the flu).

Friday I took Kaden to swim & he kept complaining that he was cold and had water in his eyes. After washing his swim trunks I realized that they were completely bleached from the chlorine in the water. Poor guy just didn't use the right words to tell me that he was stinging. I made him go all the way through Costco on fire.

Vaughn came home that night and boy were we glad to see him. The kids are now back to "normal" & life is great. While Vaughn was bathing the kids Kaden out of the blue said that he wanted to be a good boy & that he's not going to cry anymore...Thank God!!! So far he's keeping his side of the bargain as much as can be expected.

So after my long sob story of my birthday week (which really wasn't as bad as it sounded), here's some pictures to lighten things up a bit...


Up the mountain (2 hours from the beach)












Yes folks, there was this much snow in Big Bear













Our little snow bunny


















Our rockstar sledding boy



















The Girls












The Boys












Auntie & Ashlyn...so much alike it's scary












Partners in crime, sharing a moment while eating snow












Ashlyn sat in one spot for well over an hour eating snow...her lips were blue

















Kaden being silly while eating a snow ball

















Mommy and Ashlyn sledding


















Vaughn & Kaden ready to fall off the sled













Our Fam












Group shot (notice Kaden throwing a fit)












My real birthday. Cannoli or tiramisu anyone?













My sis was so sweet to drive from LA, pick up food, and bring me flowers & balloons.