Our BIG night out!!

Call me crazy, but I have had a harder time leaving my second-born child than I did with my first. Please don't misunderstand me, I love both of my daughters the same. I just mean that when it comes to babysitters, Ellie had been left more often , than Maddy at her age. Because our girls are "fairly" well-behaved, we always just end up planning activities that our whole family can enjoy together.

So, when grandma and grandpa suggested coming down to San Diego last weekend to watch the girls for my belated birthday treat so that Mark and I could go out, it was like unleashing a wild beast inside me. Of course we jumped on the offer! (Mark can always read Priesthood session in the Ensign later, right??) SO where to go??

Mark asked around work for suggestions and kept hearing that the "Triple Espresso" comedy act in the Gaslamp District (downtown San Diego) was a fun date night. So we decided to check it out for ourselves. First, we grabbed a bite to eat at this trendy little restaurant called Red Pearl Kitchen, where we sat on a couch and ate off this little barrel which served as our table. The food was good, the atmosphere exciting, and the company entertaining, but the appetizer was the best part of dinner--Strawberry cinnamon ribs. Those who know me well, know that I don't much care for ribs, but let me tell you this, I WILL be going back for more... After dinner, we then headed over to the comedy club. The act started out a little slowly, but picked up quickly and we were laughing hysterically all night long! The show was really clean --We had a great time!

We finally drug our feet homeward bound, to find out all was well at home--grandma and grandpa had survived the evening with our two little "wild things." They had even bought the girls pumpkins to carve, but the girls had fallen asleep before they were even able to carve them!!

AHHHH! It's nice to get away sometimes and remember that you do have a life outside of your children and that you and your husband can still have fun together! Thanks grandma and grandpa!!

WE'RE BACK!!!

Thanks for all the concern, we are all doing well. Sorry about the brief absence, but I think we have gotten things worked out on here and we are now back up and running! Even though we have been down for a week, I have still being keeping my "online journal" up to date, SO...Enjoy catching up!!

It's a sweet trip to the candy shop...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cupcakes from Sprinkles. One word--Yummy!! My new favorite temptation! They are definitely worth the wait...(and the $3.25!)

The difference between boys and girls

Last night, as I was putting Ellie to sleep, we were discussing the day's events. It sounded something like this....

Mom: So, you really like playing with Pineapple the turtle from preschool?

Ellie: Yes he is so fun and cute.

Mom: I thought your teacher said Pineapple was a girl.

Ellie: No--it is a BOY!

Mom: Pretty sure she said girl.

Ellie: BOY

Mom: Girl

Ellie : BOY

Mom: Ok. Why are you so certain Pineapple the turtle is a boy?

Ellie: Because Pineapple doesn't have a bow on his head!

So, according to Ellie, the way to tell boys and girls apart, is to look for the presence of a bow on their heads. If you find one with a bow, it's a girl--either that or a very disturbed little boy...

Why OH WHY must it be this way?!...

Why OH WHY?!... Why does your neighbor just HAVE to ring the doorbell when you are mopping the kitchen floor in nothing but your underwear?? And why does your 3 year old INSIST on answering the door, even though you are hissing at her through clenched teeth to wait while you rummage through the dirty clothes basket to throw on something decent to wear so that your aforementioned neighbor does not know that- even though it is 10:45 in the morning- you still have not showered, dressed, or taken any other personal hygiene steps for the day??

Why OH WHY?!... Why is it that when you are foolish enough to stay up until 2 am, that your 3 year old-- who is normally the poster child for Serta mattresses-- decides to wake up at 3:15 am AND then again at 3:45 am?? And why does my 10 month old have to wake up at 5:45 am the same morning???? And every morning for that matter???!

Why OH WHY?!... Why do I waste the precious and way too short--45 minutes I get while Maddy naps surfing the internet instead of finishing the mopping that my neighbor so rudely interrupted earlier?? Better go--I have 15 minutes left to finish up!! (This time I will be sure to "bundle up!")

If you like pina coladas...

ALOHA!!

Guess who that adorable little island cutie is?! None other than-- yours truly! My mom has spent numerous hours scanning in all our old photos from our old albums ("alblums" as mom says!), and I found this picture that I didn't even know existed! What a find--Thanks mom!

And I just had to include this little gem too...

Me and my two older sisters! Ahhh--so cute!

Mahalo!

Safety Patrol

Ellie loves watching a show called Danger Rangers on PBS kids. I guess Maddy looked a little unsafe rocking back and forth on her toy one day, so Ellie went and plonked this little helmet on her sister's head-- just for precautions. Way to look out for your little sis, Ellie!

Happy Birthday!

I'm a day behind in posting this, but yesterday was so full of birthday festivities that I didn't get a chance to put up my Happy Birthday post. So.....

Happy Birthday Alicia!!!!

Alicia will have to comment on the specifics of her birthday and if she really enjoyed it, but I know she appreciated all the calls or messages! A few highlights of the day included breakfast in bed, a shower without screaming kids, visiting teaching, pre-school, a nice steak dinner, and desert with friends.

We love you!

Mark, Ellie, and Maddy

I'm going to Disneyland!!

Mark's parents, older brother and family came to California last week. We met up with them at Disneyland one day and had such a great time. The park was all decked out for Halloween and everything looked so great! Ellie was a little wary to ride some of the rides though, after we tricked her into riding Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. (Hey--let's be honest, I was a little bit nervous too, so for being fooled into riding it and not ever having been on a roller coaster before, I think she did great!) All in all though, we had a fabulous time!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!!! (and Minnie too!!)

(Ellie with some of her cousins. Unfortunately, Maddy had a "little accident" and couldn't be in the picture!!)

Ellie wanted to see Minnie Mouse the most!

The gang leaving the park after a fun-filled day!!