Making Cookies

Blogging has gone to the wind in the new busyness in our life. Thankfully for the handy iPhone and its fantastic camera, documenting life has still happened. 

Yesterday, despite feeling sick, we made cookies. During Andrew's nap, Dave and I cranked out butter cookies and sugar cookie dough. As he woke up, we made the gingerbread dough to sit in the frig. Daddy showed Andrew how to lick the beaters.

Andrew seemed to know exactly how to make sugar cookies (even if he didn't want to wait for mommy to finish rolling out the dough).

His favorite part was decorating with sprinkles. He loved paying attention to 'details' for the most part.

Mommy stopped paying attention for just a second and the tree above resulted from that. Andrew also really wanted to add eyes to many cookies with the red hots.

Happy cookie eating!

4th of July From iPhone

I have so many cute photos from 4th of July that I have to share. I've banned myself from the laptop tonight (leads to working, staying up too late, and sleeping poorly because of stess) so you get an iPhone post again!

We started the morning with grandma and papa coming over and bring presents (Donald Duck and stickers for Andrew and trellis for mama).

We were pretty much immediately in the pool. Andrew was a happy camper with his toys on the step.

Dad assembled the trellis while Dave worked on the pool fence (and they helped each other too).

After lunch at Islands, we all went swimming together while Andrew slept.

After nap, we got in again (see the trend?!?).

And he got in again...

After showers, we headed over to the Key' for their annual 4th of July party.

We missed the Websters!

Andrew enjoyed playing the the kids and being a monkey on their beds.  Elijah and Andrew got each other pretty wet (but oh so cute).

Rachel made yummy home made Popsicles that the kids and adults enjoyed.

We played with sparklers (Andrew wasn't too into it this year).

At 9, we enjoyed the Mt. Rubidoux fireworks. The show actually went off without a wind delay, fire, or any other issue. Andrew was exhausted and sat curled up on my lap the whole time. He enjoyed them in a very low key fashion. There were small 'boom' and 'oohs' in almost a whisper so I knew he was watching :)

School is out for the summer!!

I already feel more relaxed and calm!  Although I'll technically be working all next week, the kids are gone and that makes everything so much easier.  I can actually get my stuff done for 8 hours instead of juggling teaching and the eight hours of administrative work that needs to be done.

I know that I've totally neglected the blog and if you're not a Instagram or Facebook friend you've seen nothing for months.  I promise to get you up to date with all the pictures I've been taking!

Life as we know it via Mommy's new iPhone.

Mommy has had her phone for 25 days and has already taken over 500 photos. Here are some of my favorites.

Andrew now wakes up instantly hungry.

Pretend City with grandma

Lego train, his favorite things together

Lincoln logs with daddy

Painting for Mother's Day 

Swimming with papa on Mother's Day 

Lunch with auntie

Nightly snuggles as a family

Potty training is working

Sea World

As part of Andrew's on-going birthday celebration and thanks to Sea World's generous teacher's thank you (a free year FunPass!) we visited Shamu and his friends.

 We planned our visit pretty well around the times of the shows. 

We got there about 11 am and went straight to the Shamu show; even before the show started, he could see the killer whales in the warm-up with there trainers and the pointing started.  Like when we visited the LA Zoo and Safari Park last summer, he was immediately involved with the action.

 After the show, we watched the whales play with their trainers in the back part of the show. 

Andrew did not want to leave the whales!

 After finally getting the stroller back, we headed to the dolphin show.

 At this point the sun came out and it was HOT and Andrew was hungry, but he was still pretty into it.  He enjoyed the flying/diving people too.

 We ate lunch and attempted to get Andrew to nap by walking around for a full hour (no luck).  We watched the otters, saw a few other animals and Travis joined us.

 It was a bit too cold to play in the water in Elmo's area, but we did have fun meeting Elmo.

 Andrew didn't like the pink guy.

 Dave, Travis, and Andrew decided to climb up the rope course. Andrew loved it, but it was hard work for the boys!

 Our last show of the day was the Pet Rescue show, which was mommy and Andrew's favorite.  He loved pointing out the doggies, kitties, pig, ducks, and oohh over their silly tricks.

The last thing Andrew saw before crashing was the giant sharks in the tunnel.

 

Andrew finally fell asleep on Dave's shoulder (at 5 pm) and we visited the penguins and baby belugas when he slept in the stroller. 

 

Overall it was a fantastic day and I can't wait to go back (which we get to as many days as we want until 2014!)