Cali Trip 2014

The girls and I had a fun-filled spring break vacation to California to visit our family! It was Gigi's 74th birthday, and we were so happy to get to spend it with her and see Grammie, Nonna and Grandpa to boot! Here are a few highlights of our visit:

"Higher Higher!"

Auntie Annie hung out with us during our visit and the girls just couldn't get enough of her attention ;) We had lovely chats and caught up on some sister time!

 Picked an orange off the tree in Grammie's backyard. Girls ate it and said, "Kinda sweet, but really sour!"

We ate dinner one night at Bill Lee's in Bakersfield, a Chinese restaurant that is practically a family tradition. Both sides of our family (J's and ours) would go to either Rice Bowl or Bill Lee's, which are strangely on the same street and climb into a big, cozy, dark booth and eat the best Chow Mein or Pork Fried Rice ever. As a little girl, one of the fondest memories I had was eating out with my grandparents and drinking the tea they served in little tea cups. Tea party... how cool! We cooled it down with ice cubes and of course, it was drowned with sugar. We got to share the memory this trip with my little girls...

 They loved it ;)

We had a lovely dinner at Black Angus for Gigi's birthday, and feasted on Champagne Cake (her favorite) and strawberry ice cream at her house afterwards. Madison and Lindsay got to meet Gigi's newest baby, a tiny white poodle named "Baby". Madison adored her!

Happy Birthday Gigi!! 

Madison decided Grandpa Joe was her best buddy, and she stuck to him like glue ;)

Lindsay colored a card for Gigi, and gave her a full explanation of her artwork...

Present time! We got Gigi a garden themed gift this year, and it had lots of fun things for puttering in the garden like a hat, knee pad and garden flags!

We love you Gigi!! So happy we got to spend your birthday with you!

The girls swam in the little pool in Grammie's backyard, which was a big change from the 40 degree weather we left back in NJ.

Someone thought bathing suits were optional... Skinny Dipping!

Movie Star! Lulu picked out these sun glasses and said, "These glasses have sparkles like Nonna's!!"

My little fairy princess... Aren't those roses fabulous?!

The second half of the trip we spent with Carol aka Nonna and Grandpa Jerry! The girls remembered from last year that Grandpa liked Frosted Flakes. One a couple of months ago in the grocery store, they saw them and had to get them. When we found out we were going to Bakersfield , Lindsay said, "When we see Grandpa, let's eat Frosted Flakes together!!"

Madison's cracking herself up. 

The girls got to spend some quality time with cousin Katarina playing in the backyard at Nonna's. The girls ate Popsicles and had a bath! 

Playing outside... hooray for no mosquitoes!

Having a snack outside on the porch at Nonna's...

Nonna took the girls to CALM (California Animal Living Museum) a small zoo with animals indigenous to Kern County. They had a choo choo train the girl rode, a park (see Lulu below) and tons of animals like snakes, bears and mountain lions.

We had dinner at Benji's with Nonna and Grandpa, and it was super delicious! The girls loved Basque food, especially the french bread and soup with beans. The girls were sad to leave California, and told me as soon as we were back in NJ that they wanted to go back, except they wanted Daddy to come with them. They sure did missed their Daddy, and I missed him too! It was a wonderful trip with the most beautiful weather, and we are so, so grateful to spend time with our family :) Love you!!

Swim Lessons!

This past Saturday morning was Lindsay and Madison's very first swim lesson at the YWCA! We did a combined class on Saturday mornings at 8:30 am (yep, we are already awake) where a parent and Madison get in the pool, and Lindsay is at the other end with the instructors. Jarrett came to watch and take pictures (it's his turn next week in the pool!)... I hope to get a video too!

Lindsay was a little nervous at first, and sat on the edge with the other kids. Thankfully, her instructors were super friendly and coaxed her out into the water. I let her swim in the hotel pool a few weeks back when we crashed J's conference in Baltimore, so she felt more confident than last summer ;)

Madison is our little water bug. She could not wait to get into the water. All the other kids were clinging to their parents and crying when so much as a toe touched the water... not our Maddie! Our little daredevil would have dived in if I let her ;)

Lindsay did so well listening to the instructor (I didn't catch her name, but next week I will!) and following directions.

Madison "Reach and Pull and Kick, Kick, Kick!"

Lindsay was so excited to wear her bathing suit that Papa got her at Target for her birthday. I am such a Mom... I was so delighted that she picked out the most modest one ;)

Lulu practicing kicking

Floating on her back

They had these really cool floating blocks that they tied onto the kid backs to help them float and practice kicking. Lindsay said afterwards in a very matter-of-fact voice, "Mama, they were our sugar cubes."

Madison practiced pool safety (which she desperately needs!) of getting in and out of the pool by swimming to the side. They sang songs and practiced climbing in the water and out.

Lindsay just hammin' it up, playing with her suit. The little girl behind her was like, "Cool!"

"Look at me Daddy! I swimmin'!!"

The goofy look on her face says it all.. Go Lulu Go!

LOVING Swim lessons.. it is such a confidence booster for her!

The girls wrapped up in their cozy monogrammed towels they got at Christmas. Thank you Miss Paula, they will get used every week!!

I love seeing how they progress each week as their confidence grows and their skills improve. Most importantly, they are moving and having a blast! I am so proud of you girls!

St. Patty Day Parade 2014

Our family went to the Hamilton St. Patrick's day parade again this year. It is so much fun to see all the bag pipers, mummer bands and kilts! Lindsay of course, remembered the important stuff: that they throw out candy from the floats...lol. Happy St. Patty's!

Sassy Girl: Posing for the camera. I can't get over how grown up she looks. I had a vision of her in 10 years...oh my!

Madison smiling her cute little grin, mouth full of goldfish.

It was above 50 degrees, so the girls were thrilled to not to have to wear their winter coats over their St. Patrick's shirts. Thanks Nonna for the parade chairs!

Our Lucky Charms :)

On Tuesday we had our friends over for a St. Patrick's Day play date...

Eating a "fruit rainbow". The blackberries were the first to get eaten.

Played a dice game called, "Roll Your Luck". Colors, counting and sight words...the teacher in me did a happy dance ;)

 And of course, we had Green Smoothies with crazy straws! Shhh... don't tell the kids what made it green was kale ;)

We had someone comment before the parade, "St. Patty's is totally different when you have kids." I would agree... in my opinion, all the holidays are more fun to celebrate when you can experience it with your children. Here's a quick little blast from some St. Patty's days past:

2006 ? 

Baby Lindsay 2010

Baby Maddie 2013

Spring Teaser

We had a few teaser days of spring last week, and the temps were in the 50's!! The snow that covered the backyard finally, FINALLY melted, and our girl got to run around.. watch out for mud Lulu!

My daffodils and tulips are beginning to pop out of the ground... I am hoping to have enough blooms for a vase on our Easter table this year ;)  In the fall Lindsay and Madison had a blast helping me plant them, and it is their favorite thing to do before we get into the car; they run around to the side of the house and yell... "We're checking on our flowers, Mama!"

Here is the pile of leftover snow that melted a couple days after I took this picture. I think all my plants I planted last spring survived the snow...whew! Jarrett and the girls were picking up the twigs and branches the many storms knocked off into our yard. We only lost one large branch on the side yard, and thankfully it didn't do any damage.

We even busted out our GRILL and cooked some hot dogs one night, and chicken another! The girls love playing in the yard while Jarrett grills, and Lindsay told us "Take my picture in our tree!!" She is still quite a few years from being able to climb it by herself. We knew it was a special house because of that big old tree, and we envisioned our girls playing in and under it when we moved in. On another note, we are ready for all the leaves to come back. Our backyard was feeling rather exposed...LOL. Come'on spring, bring on the green and warm temps!!

What we've been up to lately...

Madison got her "big girl" bedding on her crib. Before she just slept with a blanket, so getting a pillow and covers like Big Sister was kind of a big deal in her little world ;) We haven't converted her crib to a toddler bed yet... maybe this summer after she is potty trained? She still sleeps on her tummy..lol.

Pretending to be sleeping...

Hooray for Covers! How did she get the bruise on her forehead? Madison decided to head-butt Daddy.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!! 

I won't say how old J is now, but he is officially mid-thirties!! We celebrated the Best Daddy/Husband/Son/Friend in the world's birthday by eating some BBQ! Instead of cake this year he wanted me to make a Chocolate Tiramisu, and it was simply decadent. We opened gifts and cards at home and feasted on first and second dessert ;)

Getting some birthday love from his little ladies.

Some BUNNY is excited about Easter...

Other news... RITA'S IS OPEN AGAIN!! Let the warm weather commence!!

Fisher's Visit the Capitol & NYC

The Capitol at night... so pretty!

Jarrett and I had lovely night out in Washington DC for an alumni event for California State University, Bakersfield. It was held in Congressman Kevin McCarthy's office inside the Capitol, who was also a CSUB alumni and Bakersfield native. Anyone who knows Jarrett knows he loves anything about the Presidency, or government, so we were excited to see the Majority House Whip (McCarthy) office, which was featured in the show House of Cards and the position of Majority Whip played Kevin Spacey. Although the TV show has all kinds of crazy things happen, the Congressman assured us no such things went on in real life out of his office ;) 

I fretted about this bold jacket from White House Black Market for weeks. Too bold? I felt comfortable and it was just right for the occasion.  lol.

Check out that handsome guy!! I can't believe I'm the lucky girl married to him ;) 

We enjoyed a nice visit with other alumni living in the DC area, and met the Chancellor of the Cal State University System. Later in the same week we had another alumni event in NYC at the University Club. It was on 5th avenue, and I had no problem killing time shopping while Jarrett had a meeting!!

University Club NYC

Inside the building was absolutely stunning, and I loved warming up by the roaring fireplace and looking at the original works of art. It was such a nice evening, and we wished we could have stayed in the city longer, but the girlie's were waiting for us at home with a babysitter.  It was so much fun to get dressed up and meet so many interesting people!

CSUB alumni, University President and VP of Advancement

It is great to meet fellow Californian's on the east coast, and I am grateful that the Cal State University system puts on events to help alumni connect so far from our home state!!