Sea World

The highlight for this trip (although there are many wonderful memories) is sure to be the day we spent as Sea World. The weather was nice, the people were few, and the smiles were many. We arrived very early and walked right in - way different experience than Legoland. We were greeted by some very friendly animals....



After enjoying some photo ops, we meandered our way through the park. It was so enjoyable and fun. We had plenty of time before our first show started, so we leisurely made our way around the exhibits.



Can you sense the excitement in the air?





First stop - the Blue Horizons Dolphin show. Definitely a great experience. The girls enjoyed watching the dolphins swim, jump, dance. It was a good show. We made sure to stay away from the "soak zone." Those dolphins can produce a pretty big splash.





A nice visit with some of our special friends from Sesame Street. Paloma made sure she got a personal hug from every last one of them.



It wasn't long until we were able to head over to the big stadium for the show that the girls had been waiting for. They wanted to see Shamu. They had been watching him on the 24 hour camera that Sea World's website has set up. Both girls giggled as this massive animal came swimming out (along with some friends) for an absolutely amazing performance. This show was incredible to say the least.



We were amazed and dumbfounded. Again, good thing we stayed out of the "soak zone." Shamu has one big tail which produced some pretty big splashes.



We had a wonderful day as a family and would definitely recommend Sea World to anyone headed out to San Diego. I'm sure the girls would go back in a heartbeat.

This Girl Can Rock It

No Words Needed

California Christmas Vacation - Day 1

What an adventitious day our family had yesterday. After an uneventful flight over to California, we settled into Dave's company condo for the night, only to awaken bright and early (darn time change) and make our way down to Legoland. The kids were excited and so it didn't take much to get them fed, dressed, and loaded into the car for the drive down. We arrived at our destination in good time but found ourselves waiting in the car for over an hour and a half just to get into the park. We were lucky that nobody had to go to the bathroom and nobody had a temper tantrum. Once we were finally parked and able to exit the vehicle, things quickly became apparent of what we were getting ourselves into. We would later learn from another woman who had visited the park over 50 times that yesterday was the busiest she had ever seen it.

Hmmmm, good planning on our part? Oh well, we didn't let the ginormous crowds of people get to us. Although we were not able to ride hardly any rides, the girls had fun walking around, touching everything, staring at people, and of course enjoying some good food.

If this photo doesn't just scream FUN!!!



I love this picture. Paloma's face is priceless.





As you can see by the photos, there were smiles all around. As closing time quickly neared, we were able to make our way over to the aquarium. The girls enjoyed that as well until one of the sharks swam right up to Paloma's face and scared the living daylights out of her. I truly think she had believed she had seen JAWS. Poor baby, I thought she was going to wet her pants. We quickly made our way to the exit, piled into the car and headed home. The girls were exhausted. The parents were exhausted but man was it a good time.

I love seeing the smiles on my girls' faces. They are so excited to be here. We are having a nice vacation and can't wait for the upcoming days. Today is Christmas Eve. We are laying low for now, sitting back and resting. We will be heading out to Christmas Eve service tonight to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus.

Wordless Wednesday

Lesson #1

"We paint on the paper honey, not on our faces...."

She's Got Talent (or not)

Mattea is definitely taking this cheerleading thing seriously. She is already practicing her moves.

Wordless Wednesday

(take notice of what exactly is stuck in her and then ask yourself how in the world she got it stuck there?)

Date Night With Daddy

A few weeks back, David had suggested taking the girls for an overnight outing to one of the local hotels and spending some concentrated time with our daughters.
-He had some points saved up from travel and was able to book a night for free. The girls were ecstatic to pack an overnight bag and head off for dinner and swimming with their daddy - no mommies allowed.

After work, David picked up his two anxious daughters and headed off to dinner. Then he checked into their room and headed - of course - to the pool. I received text and picture updates through it all. And then after being away from the girls for about 2 hours, I headed over to the hotel to check out the fun. They were swimming, enjoying home baked cookies, and loving all over their daddy.

I consider myself one lucky lady to have such an amazing husband and father who is willing to invest his daughter's lives. I try hard not to take him or his commitment to our family for granted. I know our girls will remember this night for many years to come.

Who Says I'm Not A Fun Mom

When the weather outside is frightful.......

Yes frightful.....

The temperature is frigid, the snow flurries are everywhere, and the sweet children are going stir crazy. What is a mommy to do?

I'm not sure about you, but this mommy invested in some window crayons and said "Enjoy!"

Sunday Morning Worship

Paloma's Plug

I looked over the lunch table today to find my sweet little 3 year old with her finger up her nose. This would be our conversation...

Me: Paloma, why is your finger up your nose?

Paloma: I got some macaroni in my nose.

Me: How did that happen sweetie. Did you stick a noodle up your nose?

Paloma: It went up my froat (throat) and into my nose.

Apparently nobody told her that her mother is a nurse and therefore has taken A & P. Really sister, the things you come up with.

Wordless Wednesday

Boring Old Post That Would Interest Nobody Unless You Are Family

Here are just a few random pictures from the girls' Fall Harvest Parties on Friday.

It was a little challenging this year since they decided to have them on the same day. I was definitely torn between whose class party to attend, and where I should help. I have never been in this situation before.

Paloma sporting a good smile the morning of. I made sure to snap a few pics before the party for I knew once all the treats started coming out, my girls would inevitably wind up messy.

I chose to focus in on Paloma's class since I had assisted with Mattea's parties for the last two years. I did sneak away and head upstairs to see what was happening in the kindergarten class. Mattea looked like she was doing fine. Here Paloma is enjoying some wonderfully sugary snacks - and some carrots and cheese stick too.

Like I said, she seemed to be doing just fine. Next up Thanksgiving Feast. And then the fun really begins.....

Fall Frolic

It's Fall ~ and we are embracing the change.

What a glorious time of year......

Although the pile of leaves was small, the laughs and giggles were not.

Big News!

I am so proud to say.....Mattea has finally mastered the 2 wheeler!!!












A huge shout of congratulations to my little Matty. This has been a huge accomplishment that we have been working towards for quite some time. This past week it finally clicked. She has got it. She no longer needs us to start or stop her. She puts on her helmet and rides.

For anyone who knows Matty, concentration has been a big problem. Her little head wanders and that makes it hard to grasp the concept of balance. In fact, she has run into mailboxes before on her bike with training wheels. Now, this problem is not solved. Just this past Saturday, Matty was cruising along feeling like a big girl - turned to watch some activity in the park - and rode right into our light post in the front lawn sending her flying over her handlebars. Luckily, no major injuries occurred. But, I'm a mommy who believes in learning the hard ways. Too many spills and she'll realize she needs to pay attention.

But nonetheless - we are proud of you sweet pea!

Innocence

Oh what a sweet word. Innocence. I remember bringing my girls home from the hospital, looking intently into their eyes and wondering how on earth anything good be so innocent and precious. Unjaded by this world, naive to bitterness and evil around them. Completely and one hundred percent innocent - that is until they turned 2.



Tonight as I bathed the girls, I had one of those AHA moments. You know, the ones where you catch a glimpse of a totally spontaneous moment and it triggers a bigger, more abstract thought process. That was me - tonight - as I gave my two tired little girls a bath.

There were running around completely naked, carefree, as I filled the bathtub. Mattea, at one point, picked up a book and began reading to her sister - in the buff. And then I catch Paloma come streaking through the bathroom, butt naked herself, carrying a purse and wearing high heels. They were so nonchalant, so not aware of their surroundings. They were caught in the moment and didn't care about much else than that. How awesome to have that kind of freedom. How often do we just run around the house naked - carefree - unashamed of ourselves, our bodies, our flaws. And how often do we come streaking through the bathroom naked in high heels?

My kids had no concept of shame. They just simply were being themselves. I'm sure they would have felt slightly different if it were dad instead of me - but not too different. They are pretty comfortable with themselves. They have no reason not to be. They are still innocent. Sure they have their moments of "privacy" but for the most part they are just coasting through life with that short lived sense of innocence. As I stopped for a moment to take the scene in, I was brought back to the innocence that Adam and Eve enjoyed before the Fall. How beautiful to live life carefree and at peace . These days we run through life ashamed, humiliated by either past/present sin or secret lies that we hide away hoping to never have uncovered. We have lost our sense of innocence. But as we are reminded in the Bible, Jesus commands us to be like children. We are to see life through the eyes of a child - which is so hard to do on some days. But when I see my kids laughing and giggling while running through my house naked, talking and reading without a care in the world, I am in a brief instance reminded of their innocence and how quickly it will fade.

It will not be long before the evil of this world sets in and takes hold of my children's minds and of their hearts. Their innocence will be lost - I dread the day when that comes - when they hear inappropriate talk, see inappropriate scenes on TV, or speak inappropriately. My prayer is that God will protect them for as long as possible and keep them innocent for many days to come.

Stanley, Lanley

I have gotten a little behind but definitely wanted to take a minute to share a few photos of our "girls only getaway" to Stanley a couple of weeks ago.

We didn't do anything all that spectacular - but to the kids it was an amazing weekend. We stayed in this really old cabin - but to the girls it was a castle. I was a bit unimpressed but they thought it was a hoot. Who was I to rain on their parade.

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Daddy was a few miles away hunting and so the girls and I packed up after school and made the drive to the mountains.

The weather was amazing and so cooperative. We played by the water - skipping rocks and swinging in the swing - which was Mattea's favorite.

We drove in to Hailey on Saturday and played in their park, got some coffee, and drove back to Stanley to meet daddy - who took a hiatus from hunting to come visit.

Overall, it was a good getaway. I was away from all the pressures of cooking, housework, yard work, and laundry and could simply enjoy my kids for who and what they were. Although sleep was minimal that weekend - fun was not!