NeverLand

On the way home from vacation we had planned to stop at Mitch's parents' house in Nipomo to drop Savannah off for a fun-filled week with Pommy & Papa. Since we were driving right by it anyway, we decided to make a quick stop at NeverLand.... really not very exciting, but at least we can say we saw it and the 100+ other people that were camped there that just needed to "BEAT-IT".

Summer Vacation

We recently took the kids down to Southern California and spent 10 fun-filled days! We spent the first few days in Hermosa Beach with Karin & Coco. Kevin was working in Mexico unfortunately, but we had a great time with Karin and Savannah LOVED playing big sister to Coco. Dylan on the other hand wanted to beat Coco up--- we are hoping that is just a passing phase :) We also got to see the rest of my family which is always nice. Savannah and Dylan spent the 4th of July with my parents, while Mitch and I went to a wedding in San Diego. Then on Sunday we picked the kids up and headed out to the Lawrence Welk Resort for the week. We went to the Wild Animal Park & Lego Land, then spent the rest of the time by the pool. We had lots of visitors (Gigi, Papa, Kody, Karin, Coco, Amber and the Forrest Family) throughout the week and we enjoyed our time with everyone. We all had a great time and can't wait for the next vacation!!!

Savannah's Dance Recital

Savannah had her dance recital today. She has been in a tap/ballet combo since last August and today was their big chance to show their stuff. The whole class did a great job and were just adorable. See for yourself...

Here is the 1st part of the dance...

And the 2nd half...

After the show Savannah said, "Mommy, I am really proud of myself" :) Can't you tell by looking at her?!

My New Screen door!

I have been wanting a screen door since we moved in to our house almost 5 years ago.... I finally got Mitch to install one today & I LOVE it!!!!

Dylan on the other hand is EXTREMELY frustrated by the new apparatus that is keeping him from getting out front--- he doesn't quite understand why he can see the front yard, but can't get out there :)

LET ME OUT!!!!

Playing in the Vineyards

On Saturday we went to a release party at one of the wineries that Mitch works on. The kids had a great time running around and listening to the music, while Mommy & Daddy enjoyed some wine :) Of course the scenery was beautiful & I couldn't miss the opportunity to snap some pics of the kids in the vineyards.

Dylan really wanted to enjoy some wine too... or at least pretend too!

So sweet when they are playing and laughing together!

I love this picture

My sweet girl!

He was determined to play in the dirt!

What??? Oh, I forgot I am not allowed to play on your computer...

Train Town

We took the kids to Train Town on Sunday morning. Dylan was beside himself with all the animals & the "choo-choos". Like most little boys, Dylan is definitely discovering his love for trains! Savannah had fun going on the rides & showing her little brother all Train Town has to offer.

Dylan feeding the goats-- he also tried to kiss them multiple times! I know yuck, but what do you do?? Lots of hand sanitizer!!!

Savannah riding the carousel

Dylan was completely focused on taking in everything while we rode the train.

The whole family getting ready for a train ride

Lots of Updates....

We have had a busy week.... lots of fun pics & other things to share-- or maybe I am just in blogging mood?! Either way, lots of updates below-- enjoy!

Dylan in the Shark Tank...

The sharks were the first "attraction" we went to see at Discovery Kingdom. Dylan was pretty excited to see some real "feesh"...

Dylan & the Walrus'

This was the 1st time we have been to Discovery Kingdom with Dylan that he has really been big enough to take part in the activities.... and let me tell you, he LOVED it! All of it- the rides, the water, the food & ESPECIALLY the walrus'. I think he would have hung out all day checking them out.... pretty darn cute!

Discovery Kingdom

We took the kids to Discovery Kingdom for the first time this year. We went with our friends, the DeNatales, and everyone had a really good time with just a few meltdowns :)

Savannah & Joey petting the stingrays

The Daddies did a good job throwing darts & won

Dora & Diego for Savannah & Joey

Getting ready to ride Thomas the Train

Checking out the Walrus'

Dylan & Mommy getting ready to go on a ride

Some more pics from the weekend...

Dylan & Gianna-- Buddies :)

Dylan being a boy-- I guess?!

Savannah's very 1st Smores--YUMMY! She finished it and said, 

"Mom, can I have like six more?"

Running around at Oody & Great-Grandad's

Dylan & Papa having fun

Proof!

So Mitch & I are quite competitive with each other when it comes to games--- like REALLY competitive. So much so, that sometimes my normally very trustworthy & honest husband resorts to cheating! We often have heated debates over this because he vehemently denies any such notion... but his weekend his dear grandmother (we love you Poppy!) confirmed that he does indeed have a LONG history of cheating. See for yourself...

A visit to Nipomo

We spent Memorial Day down in Nipomo at Pommy & Papa's house. Great-Grandma Poppy & Great-Grandpa Jack came from Yuma to visit, so all the troops piled into Pommy & Papa's house for the weekend. We had a great weekend spending time with everyone & the kids had a blast running all over...

Dylan playing with Poppy & Jack--they haven't seen him since July 2008, so they were quite surprised to see the little boy he has turned into

Dylan LOVES the dogs & even tried to go for a ride on both of them a couple of times

Savannah playing with Poppy

Savannah & Gianna

Dylan cruisin' on the ride home

Dancing Queen

This pretty much speaks for itself...

Birthday Girl

Savannah's actual 4th Birthday was on May 7.  Savannah had a whole day of special activities planned to spend her special day.We went and had her her braided at Pig Tails n' Crewcuts, went to lunch at one of her favorite restaurants here in Napa, got her toe nails & finger nails painted AND made & decorated her very own birthday cake...

YUMMY!!

We finished off the day with a birthday dinner of chinese food (yep, Savannah's favorite!) with Pommy & Papa (Mitch's parents- who came to watch the kids while Mitch & I escaped to Vegas on Friday morning for 2 nights to see Dave Matthews).  And of course, birthday cake...

Happy Birthday Peanut! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Mother's Day Tea

Today Savannah's preschool class had a Mother's Day Tea! They greeted us in their class room & presented us all with an array of handmade gifts, including a beautiful heart broach (which I have been instructed to ALWAYS wear--don't worry I only took it off to take a picture!), a lovely frame & a bag of hershey kisses :)

We were then escorted into the other room where the kids entertained us with their vocal stylings-- with the exception of my daughter who apparently decided the singing was too loud for her...

After the entertainment we sat and enjoyed some cookies & punch. The whole program was very cute & all the kids were so visibly proud of themselves...

Knock-Knock

Savannah's 4th Birthday Party

Savannah celebrated her 4th birthday party on Sunday with a Miami Dolphins football party... YES it was all her idea, not Daddy's (although Mitch was beyond thrilled!!) We had originally planned to have the party at the park-- but it was raining, so we moved it to the house & transformed the garage into what Mitch referred to as "a poorly decorated frat party" :) All the kids had fun, but poor Savannah started feeling a little under the weather in the middle of the party & tossed her cookies before it was over :( Thankfully enough she made it to the bathroom & didn't turn the garage into a real frat party!!! The pictures are all right below in a slideshow...

"Feesh!!!"

Dylan LOVES goldfish!! Whenever he walks in the kitchen he immediately starts asking for "Feesh". Heaven help us if the pantry is left open-- this is what we find!

Artichokes!!!

We planted two artichoke plants 2 years ago-- yet have not had a single artichoke from these plants. I don't have the greenest of thumbs & figured I had probably killed them or something. But then... one morning I walked by & noticed a little green bud. Now one plant FINALLY has 4 artichokes & the other has one. The kids seriously LOVE artichokes & Savannah thinks it is so cool that there are now some growing in the backyard. Hopefully they taste good!

1st Trip to the Dentist

Savannah had her visit to the dentist today. She was a little nervous and shy in the beginning, but warmed up and did a great job! She didn't have any cavities & the dentist gave her props for taking good care of her teeth. Then she got to pick a toy out of their treasure chest-- her favorite part of course! She is getting so big...

Flip-Flops

Like most of California-- it has been unseasonably warm in Napa! Savannah LOVES the warm weather-- mostly because she can wear sundresses & flip-flops. Dylan is super into shoes & when he saw Savannah's new flip-flops he kept trying to steal them-- can you blame him? They are pretty fabulous! But we couldn't have our sweet little BOY running around in hot pink, bedazzled flip-flops... so we got him his own.There is something so cute about little feet in flip-flops...

Praying for Stellan

I stumbled upon this a blog a while ago (www.mycharmingkids.net). It belongs to a mother of four, whose youngest (Stellan)  is suffering from a serious heart condition. The blog has quite a following & has touched so many people, including me. Today Stellan is having a very risky surgery to help correct his heart condition & the mother has asked everyone to wear orange in support. Here is our show of support for Stellan & his family!