Last Friday's Field Trip to Monterey

Last Friday, my class and two others went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and then to Mission San Juan Bautista. It is always fun and definitely the highlight of the year for the kids. I have gone several times now and always marvel at the ocean life, so I wanted to post just a few of the many pictures I took. There are more of the aquarium and mission, and lots of kids enjoying it that I didn't want to include, but these were just a handful of my aquarium favorites! March 12th, it's off to Fresno State University for the Peach Blossom Oral Interpretation Festival...

Spoiled Divas

Okay, so here is how our afternoon/evening went on Tuesday, March 3rd:

Kim is greeted by the girls- "tonight is the Dr. Seuss celebration at school. Can we go, pleeaase?"
Kim says- "Yes, let's get home and wait for Daddy. We'll eat something real quick and go"

Kris says-"grrrr, I'm tired"

Girls say-"Come on Daddy, let's go!"

Kim then says-"Hang on, you look scary, let's fix your hair and change your clothes"

end result- we end up missing the Dr. Seuss Day Celebration. We felt really guilty, so we took them to Baskin Robbins to make it up to them. Rebecca has a new favorite flavor, peppermint (what can I say, she is my girl, that is one of my favorites too!!!) and Mallory loves rainbow sherbet. So even though we have been mindful of he recession like everyone else, we have had a couple spoiled moments lately! Did we mention the Claire's boutique mini shopping spree they went on for Valentine's Day? Well, Claire's was having a major blowout sale, so that was the only reason, and they had fun, since that is usually just a "look around but don't buy" store when we are walking around the mall. The first picture in this entry is a sampling of what they got. Well, they got lip gloss (couldn't find it for the picture), cotton candy scented perfume, black cat jewelry ("We have to get them because our cat Seuss is black!"), earrings, Hello Kitty press on nails, and new diva tiaras. Such girly girls!

It's Cammi's Fault!

I saw Cammi's great Target finds and had to check it out for myself at our store. Once again, I too was a slave to the Target girl's section! Cute stuff! Way low prices! Gotta love it! Cammi, I agree, there are worse vices out there. This is how I spent my day off today- that, and several other things:

1) Went to see my doctor, Dr. Wu. My blood sugar is 100, so that is on the high end of the normal range. My cholesterol is up again, so I have to watch my diet and start exercising more again (no more excuses!!!).

2) Met Kris at home during his lunch break and ate lunch together

3) Picked the girls up from school early and we all 3 went to Dr. Henrikson for our dental checkups. No one had cavities, Mallory lost a tooth while the hygenist was cleaning it, and Becca may end up needing braces in the not so far off future. I wish I had thought to take my phone out and get some pictures!

4) Dropped Becca off at school again for track practice. She says she and another girl are "the fastest 3rd graders on the team"

5) Mallory and I went shopping for her baptism dress and it is BEAUTIFUL! I want to post a picture but I don't know...I know, it's not her wedding, but still...(let me know if you think I should)

6)Went to Target and got the stuff pictured above

All in all, it was nice to break the monotony and have a day off. It didn't really feel that relaxing and it went by fast, but it was still good. Now I realize how "stay at home" moms can also feel like they are always on the go. I didn't go to work, but I wasn't really home much either!

Super Bowl Mania!

Okay, so we aren't sports fanatics, but when it comes to things like the World Series and the Superbowl, we like to get into the spirit a little. We probably would have watched it. But when Kris won a drawing for a superbowl basket full of lots of goodies, well, we had to use them. It came with chips, dips, nuts, m&m's, soda, plates, napkins, decorations, a shirt, and even Steelers and Cardinals hats!

our "head to head" display- I put the Steelers hat on after I took the picture, Kris wore the shirt, so it's not pictured, and Doug and Becky's son Dylan wanted to wear the Cardinal Hat, so he and Mallory took turns wearing it throughout the game...

We added a Port O' Subs sandwich tray, a veggie tray, and more chocolate and soda, and it was a feast!

Balloons and Cardinals poster- came out dark!

Sweet pictures of Becky and their newest family member, Kylie

Bill, Liam (one of Bill's boys), Doug, and Kris talking and watching the game

and Keilana in the foreground- hi sweetie!

None of these pictures came out great, especially the ones of Dylan. He doesn't pose long for pictures, but he is a cutie too!

Keilana with her balloon- don't know if this is the first one, that popped, or the second one we gave her!

Bill's boys in our room playing Guitar Hero. They are really, really good!!!

You may have noticed some card-looking things in one or two of the pictures. That was a game where on one side, you had to match the helmets with the years they played, and on the other side, you rated the commercials. I thought that was fun! We absolutely loved the game, it was a very close and good one! The last minute when the Steelers got that touchdown was the best!

All in all, it was a great party, and we felt thankful to have our friends come over and have some fun with us.

A Birthday for a Diva: Becca Turns 9!

When we asked Rebecca what she wanted to do this year for her birthday, she said, "I want to have friends over to play video games, eat pizza and red velvet cake, and do make-overs." So, we accomodated the diva's party demands, and had a slightly chaotic but fun time. She invited 8 friends from school and church. Amber and I did the hair and make-up, while girls played Guitar Hero and Wii (Wii Sports, Disney/Pixar Cars, High School Musical Sing It!- thanks to Cammi back when we got the Wii), dolls, and played with Gretchen, our dog. In fact, the girls wanted to take thier pizza to the patio table outside, and next thing we knew, the dog had enjoyed a couple of slices too. Needless to say, she was happy!

Princesses Ryan and Mallory!

Time for cake!

Let's cut into the delicious red velvet!

Ryan, Sami, Becca, Grant and Ashley

Aracely, Grant, Becca, Danica and Ashley

Mallory and Ryan playing Wii

The birthday girl with all her fabulous loot! She still needs to be a gracious host and write thank-yous...

Grant, Aracely and Becca playing the Disney/Pixar Cars game

The preparations- Hair basket, makeup basket, and goody bags. We had three different hair glitters, lots of hairpins, face and body glitters, and plenty of q-tips to apply all of it! I was pleased to find plates and napkins at Target that matched my homemade goody bags very well!

Each goody bag was hand sponged and glittered, hole-punched, and tied with raffia. Inside, they got their own hairbrush and ties, lip smackers, lotion or body wash, stickers, gel pens, jolly ranchers and note pads. The girls and I had fun going to the dollar store and putting them together.

make-up and polish basket

and the very pretty and delicious red velvet cake from Bothof's Bakery. We almost got the cup cakes instead, but I just couldn't do it-I wanted her to have a cake!
A simple party, yet still fit for a diva! We all had fun celebrating with her!

January 17th- Grandpa Stohl Came to Visit!

SO, Grandpa Stohl came for a really quick visit. On Saturday afternoon, he got here and we went to Sizzler. This was Becca's choice, in honor of her birthday! We went to church on Sunday, and forgot to take pictures of the girls with Grandpa, although we had a great time. Sunday night, we went on a walk with Grandpa. He and Kris got tired and cheated on the cul-de-sacs, cutting across after I came around the curves with the dog. The girls kept going back and forth on their scooters talking to all of us. The main event though, seemed to be the Wii Fit which Grandpa bought, and the girls missed it so bad when he left that all three of us begged Kris to give it to me for a "belated anniversary gift" so we all could enjoy it. Here are some pictures of Mallory doing Wii Fit while grandpa was here, and Becca taking a break...

Mallory was a crazy girl, going so fast that she would make her Wii self fall down, then she learned that all she had to do was move her hand and it would go fast. Cheater! I tried to load a video, but couldn't get it to upload. I will try to do it again later! Thanks Grandpa Stohl for a fun weekend!

Up next...

Becca's birthday party and the Superbowl party!

What Grandma Judy Got Us!

Okay, so this first picture of Becca tells it all- they are starting to love clothes, and since we were all made up already from playing Rockstars, they didn't mind posing in the clothes they got with the money Grandma Judy sent them. I had a great time bargain hunting, and got a lot! Here they are in their new jeans and sweaters. Becca's grey sweater has some silver threading around the middle, and its really pretty (you may be able to see it if you click on the photo and enlarge it)...

yes, she said she felt like a princess today, and had to wear her tiara...

They each got their own pair of these Mudd brand boots and Champion tennies, RIDICULOUSLY marked down...

Mal wanted to make sure you knew that she still has and loves "Pinky the Birthday Poodle" very much!

Her sweater has little rhinestones around the top of it...

I love my jeans and sweater!

And now for the Camp Rock jammies and slippers (they decided they had to wear the wannabe Ray-Bans at this point, since they had forgotten about them earlier)....

Thank you so much for all this great stuff! We had lots of fun modeling our presents from you, and we will think of you when we wear them!