Mom's first trip to CALI!!

My Mom came out to visit for 10 days...it was WONDERFUL!! We didn't get to do everything we wanted because there is just way too much to do in this place! These pictures are from Santa Barbara. We had so much fun shopping, eating and showing Mom how California is a little different than any other place...(hence the picture she took of the Scientology center:))










Our other adventure was to Santa Monica Boulevard (where Private Practice is filmed and the spot known for Sheryl Crow's video "All I Wanna Do." Anyway, we had so much fun shopping on 3rd Street Promenade and taking the girls to the beach. My Mom really enjoyed seeing the west coast beaches for the first time. It is amazing to see an entire carnival on the beach...COOL!!

The rest of the time we hung out with the girls and shopped till we dropped. My Mom literally filled up her guest room at my house with new stuff and presents for my family...its just what happens in CA!!

Bye Bye LONG HAIR!!

Well...I went through with it! I have been debating chopping off my hair for a while, and I kept chickening out plus, K.C. loves my hair long, so I hated to cut it...but, my Mom came in town and cut hers and I got the boost I needed!!

It feels so weird to have it short but I LOVE IT! It is so much less to deal with getting ready. Anyone who is comtemplating going short...GO FOR IT! IT WILL GROW BACK!! I had to have a new style in CALIFORNIA!!

Olivia's the Karate Kid!

We started Olivia in Taekwondo at this amazing facility right down from our gym. I mean, these people are serious. They have these little kids using swords and num-chucks and stuff...its wild! Anyway, Olivia is the youngest one and she is only doing the non-weapons training. She LOVES it! She asks us everyday if she can go to karate. They even send her home with homework. This week she has been working on Focus. She has to look us in the eye, repeat what we say, and say "Yes Ma'am" or "Yes Sir."



She really has already started listening better and using better manners. Plus, that girl is learning so many athletic moves...its amazing how they challenge a child even as young as 3!! We are happy she loves it and how adorable is her little outfit?? SO CUTE!

Gabi update!

So, about a week ago, Gabi started taking a couple of steps here and there by herself. As of yesterday, she is full on wanting to walk everywhere. She isn't all that great yet, but everytime she falls, she just stands back up and tries again. IT IS SO DANG CUTE! I can't wait for her to walk everywhere! This is a picture Dad took after "styling" her hair after her bath. I was in Chicago...I'm happy the only place she was going is to BED!



Gabi is also starting to say some words pretty clearly..."DaDee", "Tank you", "O-ya ya" and "MaMa" and she nods yes or no when you ask her questions..."Gabi, do you want to go eat breakfast?" She nods yes..."Gabi, do you want to go downstairs?" She shakes her head no. Women just know what they want...ha, ha!! Its amazing how much they understand...I just can't wait for the pointing and grunting turn into ALL words!

Disneyland Baby!

Okay, so we decided at 11am on Friday to go to Disneyland! Lucky for us, we live an hour away:) Gotta love Southern Cali! Olivia was estatic...she sat for the first hour with her mouth and eyes wide open. I never understood why people cried at Disneyland, but seeing Olivia and Gabi there made me tear up at least 5 times!

We got Olivia some Bell gloves...she is obsessed with them and was determined to show them to Bell in the parade. She has a new favorite princess!




We waited in line forever to see the princesses and take pictures. It was TOTALLY worth it! Ariel and Jasmin were there and the girls liked them, but Bell was the first princess we saw and the first words out Olivia's mouth were, "Bell is my favorite princess." Gotta love children's honesty!



Bell was the first princess we saw and I'm telling you, she was the sweetest person! Olivia ran up and just hugged her for about 2 minutes straight!! Olivia talked to her like they were just best friends. I am telling you..the tears were just welling up in my eyes.

There was an arena area where all the princesses came and taught the children how to dance and kurtzie and use manners like they were royalty.








As soon as we walked in, the Christmas Parade started. It was amazing...we happened to show up on the first day of the Christmas celebration!! We found a great spot!

The mean Stepmother and stepsisters...Olivia loved it. She said, "Mom, there they are...we need to teach them to be nice!"

The girls had so much fun and so did we! We rode the horses, danced to all the music, took tours of all the castles and had a total blast! Season passes for Christmas for sure!!

MY FAVORITE "OLIVIA" QUOTE POST DISNEYLAND: "Mommy, I had no idea those princesses were REAL people!"

Tagged by Breklyn!

8 TV Shows I Watch:
1. Grey’s Anatomy
2. Brothers & Sisters
3. Lipstick Jungle
4. Young & the Restless (Thanks, MOM!!)
5. Desperate Housewives
6. TLC...Love it, especially What Not to Wear...hey I want a 5K shopping spree!
7. Private Practice
8. Sprout TV...(Thanks, Olivia:)

8 of My Favorite Restaurants:
1. Costa Vida
2. Porcupine Grill
3. Poquito Mas
4. Trio Cafe
5. California Pizza Kitchen
6. Michaelangelo's (Thanks to you Brek!)
7. Macaroni Grill (LOVE THE BREAD!)
8. Nordstrom Cafe...can't beat it!

8 Things that Happened Yesterday:
1. Church
2. studying
3. Packed for Chicago
4. Organized life for K.C. home with the girls ALONE! HE's SO BRAVE!
5. Changed diaper after diaper after diaper...seriously, when will they go poop on the potty??
6. K.C. and I both got new callings at church...that gravy train didn't last long!
7. Made dinner for everyone.
8. Jumped on the trampoline and did a little yoga...felt good!

8 Things I am Looking Forward to:
1. December...lots of family coming to visit!
2. Christmas
3. March...going to SC for my good friend's wedding
4. Gabi walking...she is so close! I love it!
5. Getting back to normal with my job...I hate starting all over!
6. Spa Getaway with my 2 dear friends..I NEED A MASSAGE!
7. Feeling rested...I don't think that every comes!
8. My kids both being potty trained!

8 Things on my Wishlist:
1. Be able to slow down more
2. Health in my entire family
3. A fabulous girls weekend
4. A Beach Vacation...I really want to go to Hawaii
5. Living near my Mom
6. Family trip to Italy
7. More money to play (DIDO Brek!)
8. More time to play (DIDO Brek!)

8 Things I love:
1. Being with my family
2. exercise
3. shopping without guilt!
4. vacations or at least fun spontaneous activities
5. chocolate
6. Going to lunch with friends
7. Massages
8. snuggling with my girls and K.C. THE BEST!

8 Things I Can't Stand:
1. TRAFFIC...Welcome to LA!
2. this cycle: Clean up, Messy (30 seconds later), Clean up...it is a vicious cycle
3. cellulite
4. ignorance
5. dishonesty
6. being lost...I just ordered a Garmin online!
7. Dry skin
8. smelling like the restaurant where I ate...YUCK!

Tagging: Nicole S, Jene, Gina, Destiny, Misty B, Katie B!!

Biking on the beach!

My friend Charlotte who played soccer with me at South Carolina came into town for an interview and visit. We drove down to Redondo Beach, rented bikes and biked to Venice Beach and back. It was SO much fun! The bike ride was gorgeous...you almost forgot you were getting a workout...now that is what I'm talking about!

We got to see the basketball courts where they filmed White Men Can't Jump and needless to say, Venice beach had some very "interesting" people. There are some amazing houses right on the beach. It is funny to see playgrounds right on the beach. I can't wait to take K.C. and the girls!!