Friends

Being back in San Diego was wonderful. We all got to see our friends and spend some quality time with them. We were gloriously stuck there due to our flights being cancelled all week (it was snowing / winter storming everywhere) so we got even more time to spend back in our old stomping grounds with our friends. 

Kyle got to have a tennis lesson with Nic. Nic has known Kyle and Emily since they were just 4 years old during preschool. Then Nic became Kyle's coach. Kyle still keeps in touch with him about things tennis. 

Aaron and Alice together, just like old times. These two spent the first 2.5 years of their lives together and just adore one another. Sure, they have spats like any old couple.... errr 3 year olds... but they love spending time together. Betsy and I have already arranged their marriage. :-) 

A little "Happy Birthday" song during bath time

Kyle, Emily & Simon. They have so much fun together.

Emily & Haiden. Just like we never left. These two are the best of friends and it's so sweet to see them together because they just click. 

Goodbye San Diego

Today was the day we bid farewell to San Diego. Talk about emotional. We have loved San Diego and were so happy to call it home. We miss it so. 

Our last night in San Diego, we stayed with our friends a few doors down. Simon just loves Aaron and Aaron loves Simon. I love this sweet picture of these two. 

Betsy's kids and my kids all before we left. Emily, Eric, Ian, Aaron, Kyle, AJ & Alice. What a fun crew! Great memories with this bunch and more still to be made! 

Goodbye hugs and kisses at the airport

Farewell San Diego, Point Loma & Coronado. We will (and do) miss you! For when I can't remember, this is obviously a view from the plane, but you can see Point Loma. You can also see Coronado Beach, where we spent a lot of our summer. 

Robo-Bear

Aaron was out playing with Simon and put on Simon's robo-mask. It was pretty hilarious to see our little baby with this robo mask on speaking robo.

Ice skating, part 2

We went ice skating again today. My crew and Simon. It was a blast again as the kids continue to improve on their skates. Kyle was hot to keep up with Simon (remember, he plays ice hockey so he is a fantastic skater). It was about 100 degrees outside so it was refreshing to cool down on the ice. We had a few more spills today than previous, but all were fine and still smiling. 

Birthday part 2: Ice skating

Today we continued birthday celebrations with a trip to the ice skating rink. Since we aren't doing a n official birthday party per se, we are having even more fun celebrations with Kyle and Emily's buddies. This morning we hit up the ice skating rink. Emily has been asking to go ice skating for some time. Since yesterday was go-karting and more Kyle-centric of an activity (don't be fooled though, Emily & Haiden had a blast), today we went ice skating. (It was today also because this was something that Aaron could participate in, unlike go-karting). 

With all their practice on rollerblades (kids got upgraded rollerblades for their birthday) and having the buffer of their knee, elbow and wrist guards, Kyle, Emily and Simon were ready to roll. (Haiden wasn't available to join us today.) Aaron even used Simon's knee pads and one wrist guard (the other was in our garage) and his bike helmet. 

This was absolutely so much fun with the kids. Simon plays hockey so he is a fabulous skater. He was a great influence for Kyle and Emily who have ice skated a few times before, but trying to keep up with him was a great motivator to keep moving. And they did great! And they didn't fall very much at all. They were cruising way faster than they ever had been. 

The biggest surprise was Aaron. He was great on skates. He was super excited to get them on and wear them and get out on the ice. He almost just knew what to do. He held on to me very nicely and even did some steps on his own with decent grace. He did want to run on his skates, but lucky for him I was holding on to him. It was wonderful. 

Super cute Aaron on ice skates for the first time

The ice skating gang. Simon LOVES Aaron. 

Selfie with Aaron from the penalty box (my back was hurting from having to hunch down with Aaron so I needed a break)

Watching the zambonie resurface the ice

Go Emmie, go!!
Look at the kids go!!

I know there are several videos of Aaron ice skating, but I was super impressed with his willingness and two year old ability. 

Aaron skating with the girl ice helpers.

You'd think the kid was wearing regular shoes. Just walking / running around in ice skates

Fabulous day 2 of birthday celebrations. Great to be eight!

USA!

We've been loving watching the World Cup this year. It's hard to believe it's been another 4 years. World Cup got us through the 3 weeks of hospital bed rest while I was pregnant with Kyle and Emily 8 years ago so there is a certain nostalgia that we have with this event. From Spike, Kristin and Mom visiting and keeping us - okay me - sane during that time, World Cup games are what I woke up for during the days. I remember sleeping about 20 hours a day, or it seemed. I doubt it could have been that much, but I certainly remember a physical therapist always coming when I was sleeping and wondering how it was possible to sleep that much. And I remember the morning that Spike came in well before visiting hours started, but rightfully came in on the family 'card', smuggling her and Jeff some beer in coffee cups to enjoy while watching the soccer game, despite the 6 or 7am kickoff time. I also remember Jeff befriending Max, the Italian coffee man whose coffee stand was right in front of the hospital, and bringing me some non-coffee treats (non-coffee not because of being pregnant and liquid restricted, but because I don't drink coffee). See, a lot of memories associated with the World Cup. But I digress. 

Now to the point of this post... Here are Kyle, Emily and their buddy Simon posing in their awesome USA shirts. Papa & Kari send the kids their USA soccer jerseys and Simon is wearing his USA hockey jersey since he is an awesome hockey player. How cute are they?!!

I love how Emily and Simon are eyeing each other. 

And the sillies with Simon and Emily. 

Sleepover weekend

This weekend, our neighbor Simon came over to play. Kyle, Emily & Aaron all love playing with Simon. One of the nights, Simon stayed over at our house for a slumber party - not so much a party because we still enforced a 8pm bedtime. The next night the kids had a sleepover at Simon's house. We put Aaron down to sleep over there with the kids so we (the adults) could hang out and play games and cards together and then we were just going to bring Aaron home when we went home. Aaron was sleeping so nicely with the other 3 kids that he got to stay the night at the sleepover. It was strange to wake up in our house without any kids waking us up. He relished getting to be just like the big kids and participate in a sleep over! 

Aaron loves Simon

Simon gave Aaron an Aaron sized hockey stick

Knock knock

Science museum

Today we ventured back to the science museum because it had rained last night so the ground was too wet for outside activities, the kids didn't get enough of the place last week when we went, and we needed to get out. So it worked. And we had Simon with us so it was even more fun for the kids to run around and explore together. 

Destructo human takes on destructo nature

Aaron discovered his shadow a few weeks ago and it was cool to see him see his rainbow colored shadow here. 

A bicycle built for 3

Goldilocks giant chair for 3