Grandma with Kyle, Emily & Aaron

While Jeff and I went to Maui, my mom watched the kids. They had a fabulous time with her while we had an amazing time in Maui. 

Grandma & Aaron taking a selfie. In Grandma's words, "If Barack Obama can take one, so can we!"

Meatloaf night. I didn't like meatloaf that much growing up, but my kids go absolutely nuts for meatloaf!! Go figure! And Grandma's meatloaf did not disappoint. 

Aaron still got to see his friend Alice while we were away. They had some park time and zoo time together. Here they are driving the park. 

Park time with Grandma & Alice. 

Making / playing with flubber that Grandma, Kyle & Emily made. Simon joined in on the fun. 

Aaron checking out his 'momo"

When we returned, we seemed to have brought the warmer weather with us. We went to Cabrillo together with Mike & Mom and it was empty. People in San Diego don't know what to do when the temps are above our normal 75 degrees. We went to Cabrillo and the tide pools. Aaron had a great time throwing rocks into the water. 

Easter Egg Hunt (2014)

Easter Egg Hunt

Kyle, Emmie, Bear-Bear

Happy Easter to you three.

A special treat we have in store,

so excited you should be.

Again on Easter Egg Hunt

do we now send you on,

but challenges you have not seen

await to give you fun.  

This third of Easter Egg Hunts

your expertise does show.

Too easy to repeat it:

at this you are now pro.

New hints, more challenging,

in eggs await you now,

and what is more a special trick,

so attention you’ll allow:

Each egg you find a number has

as secrets for the final clue

so keep good track and write them down

to see the egg hunt through.

A space you see for each egg here

18 eggs there are for you.

In order write the numbers down

to keep the answer true.

To figure out the cipher,

think Air-Bear’s ordered test:

His ABC’s, his 123’s,

will be needed if you’re blessed.

Do not fret our children now.

We do believe in you.

To figure out the answer

think of all B’s as 2.

New rules as well, we do insist,

shall guide your egg hunt’s stroll:

Switch off each egg as “reader”

and as “number-writer” role.

What’s more: your little brother,

To be like you he’ll beg.

Some clues have bolded guidance:

Let Bear Bear find that egg!

And at the end a special prize

for each of you does wait.

If you can solve them all and more

stand up and seize your fate.

For intellect and thinking hard

are now the tools to use.

Be off, enjoy the hunt,

and Mommy’s / Daddy’s ruse.

The Easter Eggs are near now,

On this I'd like to bet.

The first place that one’s hiding in

He’s bound to get quite wet.

1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
4. ____________________
5. ____________________
6. ____________________
7. ____________________
8. ____________________
9. ____________________
10. ____________________
11. ____________________
12. ____________________
13. ____________________
14. ____________________
15. ____________________
16. ____________________
17. ____________________
18. ____________________

EGGS:

(1 - Shower)

Roses are red

violets are blue

look in the place

where we keep your shoes

(2 - shoe box in garage)

To check the mail you'll need a key,

Hiding in your mailbox is clue #3

(3 - mailbox)

Pink Pens and Pencils

Books and lunch

you’ll find me here

I have a hunch.

(4 - Emily’s backback)

Buttons here for Bear to push

to make your food get warm.

And timers ring as cooking’s guide

does tell in its alarm.

(5 - microwave)

I have four legs but cannot walk;

each night at this we all do talk.

(6 - dining table)

Seek Bear-Bear’s Mo-Mo for this egg,

but where on here to look?

Look for the source of magic

that lets this baby cook!

(7 - MoMo battery compartment)

You've been at this for some time

Now you're getting the rhythm

your next egg/clue is hidden

upon the Rayman system!

(8 - Playstation)

THIS CLUE IS FOR BEAR.  READ IT OUT LOUD FOR HIM.

You've been searching for a while;

a noble troupe your crew.

Be careful: this one’s smelly:

It's hidden in Bear's shoe!!!

(9 - Bear’s shoe)

It spins around

It makes me dizzy

But when it’s done

my clothes feel frizzy

(10 - Dryer)

What do you need to have to get the cereal from the bowl to your mouth?

(11 - spoon spot in the drawer)

Come find me before `the mouse’ eats me!

(12 - Computer)

At beach or patio, in it I play and bustle

but for this clue there is no need

for you to build a castle.

(13 - In the sandbox)

THIS CLUE IS FOR BEAR.  READ IT OUT LOUD FOR HIM.

To always be clean is what 14 wishes,

This clue can be found in the washer of dishes.

(hint:  not Mommy)

(14 - Dishwasher)

Next to a popsicle, which is really quite silly,

Is egg number 15, in a place dark and chilly.

(15 - Freezer)

Buckled in baby, safe and ready for a drive,

Clue number 16 should be easy to find.

(16 - Bear’ car seat)

YOU CAN HELP LEAD BEAR TO THIS PLACE. PLEASE LET HIM FIND THE EGG.  TELL HIM HOW.

You sit on me at day

Sometimes you even lay

To watch a show: a George or Chopped

Or oft for games to play.  

(hint: Ostrich)

(17 - Couch)

2X - 5 = 11

make a rhyme with the answer,

and go to the……

(18 - Gate)

The egg hunt is done,

but no prizes yet won.

To the numbers now ponder,

But if your guesses do wander

and help you do seek

for the answers to peek.

Look back at the start

at the blue instruction part.

1. M    13
2. O     15
3. M    13
4. A     1
5. N     14
6. D     4
7. D     4
8. A     1
9. D     4
10. T     20
11. P     16
12. H     8
13. O     15
14. L     12
15. D     4
16. E     5
17. R     18

TP Holder has Map.

Map leads to Prizes.

Boys...

We totally have boys... :-) I can totally picture my dad laughing along with these two.

In case it's hard to make out what's happening in the video, they are making the cat in the ipad video game fart. And laughing.

Kyle tennis tourney

Kyle played in a tennis tournament this weekend. He had a fun time and learned more about some of the competition and how to handle different styles of play. He came out the winner of the 10 year old boys. His friend from tennis class and same coach also won, the the girls 10 year old division. They are both 7 years old (though she may now be 8). Nice work Kyle! 

Aaron's words

Aaron showing off the words that he knows with Spike. I love how he calls her "Spice".

Spike Aaron read Pete the Cat

Spike & Aaron read Pete the Cat together. This is the longest Bear has sat down for a story. He's a boy of action and not so much sitting so this was quite the feat. Then again, this is a fantastic book.

Cute Bear

Just some awesome pictures of Aaron being the cute boy that he is.

Zoo with Alice

Aaron went to the zoo today with his best buddy Alice. Her brother, AJ, also came along. These three little monkeys had a great time running all over the place and seeing the animals. 

Spring Break Day 9: Irvine and home

We woke up this morning, had breakfast and went for another swim. We were in a hotel after all. Around lunch time, we headed over to my friend Wendy's house. Wendy and I both studied abroad together in England in college. We have seen each other a few times since we left England. Last time was in Boston a few years ago when Kyle & Emily were very young and before she had her kids. So it was fun to meet her sweet kids, a 4 year old and a 4 month old. We had a great barbeque together, the kids all got to run around together and we enjoyed catching up. We spent most of our time together in England so it was fun to reflect back on that time and see just how different our lives are now than 15 years ago! 

The kids, minus the baby

After a fun afternoon, we headed back down to San Diego and the end of our spring break, coastal road trip. It was a fantastic trip and was very reminiscent of my childhood road trips with my family. It was fun giving our kids memories of family vacations together. 

Spring Break Day 8: Modesto to Irvine

We stayed with our friends in Modesto for the evening and had the morning to play. The kids went for a nice swim before we headed the 5.5 hours south to Irvine. 

Aaron passed out

All the kids together

The drive was a bit of a challenge once we got to LA and the traffic that goes along with that area. Aaron did not like sitting in traffic. And neither did we. He had a pretty horrible scream fest for 45 minutes while we crawled along. Thankfully, we started to move eventually and made our way down to our hotel in Irvine. 

Happy Hour at Embassy Suites. Nothing like Shirley Temples, cherries in your juice and fake cheese nachos for a pre-dinner dinner. 

Nothing like going for a swim after a long drive

We pretty much arrived at 6pm, went to happy hour, went swimming and then returned to our hotel room to order pizza for a very late dinner. Oh and we got to watch the end of one of the Final Four games. Yes, bedtime was late. The kids were very happy though and we had a lot of fun. 

Spring Break Day 7: Golden Gate Park and Modesto

On our last day in San Francisco, the kids and I visited Golden Gate Park for the morning before leaving for Modesto. Jeff was with Nick and Brian for the start of their festivities. We checked out the botanic gardens to start (after taking the trolley there first, of course, and much to Aaron's delight). Then we headed over to the children's playground and carousel to burn off some energy. Unfortunately, I didn't know just how far apart these two places were within the same "park". About .5 - .75 miles later with a sleeping Aaron on me, we made it to the park. Kyle and Emily spent an hour just climbing on a pretty awesome climbing structure while Aaron continued to sleep. 

We had to have some ice cream since it was lunch time and we needed something to eat (and to make sure the kids would mostly happily walk over to the trolley station which was a few blocks away and up a small hill). This is the San Francisco ice cream treat, It's It. 

Riding the trolley

Around 3pm, we left San Francisco to drive to Modesto to see our friends who used to live in San Diego. Our 1.5 - 2 hour drive according to Google Maps turned out to be 3+. Apparently getting out of downtown San Francisco on a Friday afternoon is particularly slow. After the first hour going about 1 mile to get to the bridge, we were on our way. 

We had a great time visiting with Tricia, Scott, Dax, Rowan and their new little sister, Zara.