San Diego Zoo

Our yearly passes to the two zoo's in San Diego were used twice.  Zackary you really loved learning about all the animals, finding them, watching them at 6 and Emeline you were not as into it at 4.  You both did enjoy sitting on the stone replicas though!

The flamingos put on a show for us and we spent a lot of time watching their pink long bodies interact with each other and laughing at their group meetings they seemed to be having.  Emme you kept saying "Oh Flamingos."  Really funny. 

The gorillas were by far my favorite part at the zoo.  Only a glass wall was separating us from the big dad as he slept soundly.  Mom gorilla was carrying her newborn around and joined dad at the glass wall by us to breastfeed.  Wow what a cool experience that was.  Their was another male (maybe a brother) and it was interesting to see his interaction with the dad as he followed the mom around.  He wasn't allowed to get to close or dad would go after him.  Having this experience right in front of us was I presume one thats close to the African experience, only we have protection. 

See the hippos butt and the fish.  Dwarf hippos made us laugh too.  They swam around as we followed them next to another glass wall. 

Mammoth

We had a wonderful experience in our quaint Mammoth home surrounded by snow.  Our almost 6 hour drive went surprisingly quickly as we were so excited to get to our week away home!  Finally I was able to put you two in all your snow gear that I have had for a couple of years.  Going to Big Bear is sadly never cold enough.  We arrived our first day around 4 and checked into our 3 bedroom home.  It was beautiful and perfect, perhaps best I have booked yet on VRBO.  We quickly unpacked and headed out to dinner at a local mexican restaurant, yummy!  The following day we went to the mountain and arranged our skiing for the following day.  We then went to the grocery store and spent the rest of the day waiting for our peeps (The Girards) to show up.  We had a wonderful day on the mountain skiing the next day (wow did Zackary and Dad do good for their first times).  Emme and Zackary were signed up for separate classes, no other kids showed, so they had private lessons.  Unfortunately, Emme cried the whole morning and was babysat as she wouldn't ski.  That made me sad, but maybe in a couple years she will enjoy it.  Zackary loved that his instructor set up a game for him and he advanced to another level every time he completed the course set up.  I took a workshop and loved it by the end of the day Dad joined me and skied faster and better than me.  Apparently skis are made different now and you learn different compared to back in the day when I learned.  I basically have to relearn.  The following day was spent going to the Village, and in the afternoon finding a hidden, untouched, deep snow area where we sled, built snowmen and had snowball fights!  A definite highlight of the week.  We celebrated Dad's birthday that night and enjoyed a dinner with our friends.  The trip was a new favorite, hard to top I am sure!

Sledding with Daddy.

Emme's 4!

I can't believe you are 4.  Where did the time go?  You were just a little baby.  We were suppose to go to Disneyland for your birthday but we had to reschedule for March.  Luckily we did too because you were getting over the flu and I was apparently getting it and would have had it at Disneyland.  I felt bad we had to reschedule and your Aunt Sara had a good idea to invite Anna from Frozen over and a couple close friends to share your birthday evening with. 

I didn't tell you.  It was all a surprise.  So each friend that showed up (3) you opened the door to a surprise and then Anna.  The look in your eyes...you were trying to figure out what was going on.  Like how can Anna be at my house?  It was so precious.  

You had some good conversations with her but mostly you were just smitten by her being next to you.  She said she wished Elsa could have come but that she had to stay back in Arendelle and take care of the kingdom.

First you guys read the Frozen book (you sat next to her the whole time) and she sang you all the Frozen songs.

Look Amanda came to spend the special evening with you.  She was there from the moment you were about 3-4 months old helping take care of you and all of us.  

Look at all your friends that were there and Grandma.  All from your preschool (Chloe and her sister Siena, Penelope and Zackary).  All the girls loved it.

Next you got your face painted.  You got swirls on the side of your face and Zackary got a dragon going around his face.

Next came posing for pictures.  She taught you the poses from Frozen.

Then we sang Happy Birthday and Anna helped you blow the candles out.  I tried to copy the same blue on the cake as the Frozen theme but it didn't turn out as I wanted but it tasted good.

After everyone left we opened your presents.  You immediately put on your Frozen hat that your Aunt Maggie gave you.  You got a lot of nice presents.  It was a lot of fun.  Happy Birthday honey!  We Love you so much. 

MMR Vaccine

Mommy finally decided to have you get your MMR vaccine.  Due to your speech delay I delayed this vaccine on purpose.  But look at how you took this potentially most painful and temperature inducing vaccine, like a champ!  You are bent over limping cause your leg hurts where the shot was given but you forgot about it later.  You promptly got the flu after getting this shot and a cold, and had a hard time fighting off the cold.  I do love this picture so much.  The heart glasses are so you!  You look like you are a student in college.

My Pleasure

I can't begin to tell you what a pleasure it is to be your mom and spend every day with you both.  Watching you both grow up, explore new hobbies and interests and develop friendships has been really fun.  I miss you two being my babies.  Now 6 and 4 wow, it was yesterday that I was nursing you and cradling you in my arms.  There is so much to tell you, to teach you, to watch develop with you two.  Zackary watching you play the drums and bongos and use your imagination with your dragons, collect and love all your crystals and stones has been really neat.  You are such a happy child and full of warmth and love.  You love school and all your classmates and two teachers.  Emeline it is fun watching you do girl stuff like coloring, playing with your dolls and kitchen and playing with your pretend money.  You have so many friends already from both your schools and you love having playdates with them. Your hair has these really tight curls in it, it's beautiful and I am secretly jealous as my hair would and will never do that!  Thanks for all your love and cuddles, tight hugs and making me see life in a whole new refreshed way.  You both are my sunshine, are my life and my everything. 

Story Time with Daddy

You two were having such a cute moment here together.  You were petting Daddy's hair and listening so closely to the story.  You sure do love your Daddy.  So sweet.

Jenga Stand Off

Daddy and Zackary were playing a great game of Jenga that actually lasted a really long time.  And guess who won???  Zackary you did!  That was a fun night.