Sierra Madre Fire

Here is a short video fromSaturday night of the fire in Sierra Madre.  I filmed it as we were driving home from Pasadena.

Excited about our Metro ride

All

Emma and Friends ride the Metro into LA

Emma and a few of her friends (their mommies too!) all rode the Metro from Pasadena into downtown LA:)  Once we arrived we walked over to the 1st Fire Station in LA and then wandered around Olvera Street where we had lunch, took some pictures and then headed home.

Play date at Travel Town

Travel Town is where we held Emma's 2nd birthday party and she LOVES it there. So, when I found out I was in charge of setting up  a play date for one of our groups I knew TT would be the perfect place to go:) We had a great time playing with our friend.  Coleton and Nicol came over to ride the choo-choo's too.

Close, but no cigar!

Emma's friend Will tried to teach her how to hit the ball with the bat. The only problem is they both hold the bat the wrong way:)

Missing gene

I think that some how I missed the "relaxation" gene. Am I the only one out there who has a hard time relaxing?  I see people do it all the time and I just can't do it. I feel like I am always in a rush...in a rush to get somewhere, in a rush to get home, making dinner, cleaning up, playing with Emma, doing laundry, running errands, spending time with Nick, it is like a never ending list. So, I ask myself why can't I just sit down an do nothing?  Perfect example...tonight at dinner Nick said, "when we get home I will watch Emma and you go rest." How sweet was that? Except I can't do it!!! Instead I took out the trash, did laundry and tried to pick up some of the mess created by Hurricane Emma.  I feel like a slacker if I take anytime for myself. Okay, before you say I need therapy I already know that;) I am just curious if anyone else is in the same boat or is just me??? Is it a missing gene? Was I absent the day they taught relaxation in school? Or is that I am afraid people will think less of me if I take time for myself ? 

Okay, I feel better now that I have that off my chest and I am going to attempt to relax.  Wish me luck:)

Disneyland with Oma

Head must touch the pillow!!! I am SOOOO tired:(  I am all about getting to Disneyland early to beat the crowds, but BOY did 6AM come to fast for me!!! Nick, Emma, Elisabeth and I wanted to be at the park by 8AM and we only missed out mark by 15 minutes. Not bad if I do say so myself:)  So, I might be tired, but it was worth it because we waited in NO lines this morning and we were able to ride 8 rides (including the train and the monorail) in 5 hours! That also included Elisabeth watching Emma so Nick an I could ride Space Mountain.  I think Nick enjoyed it...I thought I was going to toss my cookies. Oh, how I have aged!!! What happened to the days when I could ride roller coaster after roller coaster?!?! We are going to be in BIG trouble when Emma gets older.  I think Nick and I will have to flip a coin to see who has to ride with her:)  

Back to our day...I had a great time and it was really fun listening to Nick and Elisabeth talk about what Disney was like when they would come when Nick was little and how much it has changed.

Happy Birthday Oma!!!

Yesterday was Elisabeth's birthday and I think it was a pretty good day (if I do say so myself!).  Emma and I took Elisabeth to Descanso Gardens where we spent a few hours walking around and had lunch at their cafe.  Then that evening Elisabeth came over for her Fosselman's ice cream birthday cake (YUMMY!!!) and opened presents. I hope Elisabeth enjoyed her day as much as I did:):):)

1973

Nick found this picture of me with my mom and tried to fix it since the colors had gotten a little funky over the past ...gulp...35 years!!!! 

Building a bird house

Last night I decided to trim back our rosemary bush (bad idea for a girl with a black thumb) and Emma thought she would use the rosemary branches to build a bird house:) What a creative little girl we have on our hands!

Pizza!Pizza!

Emma LOVES to help mommy in the kitchen.  The other night she helped me make a pizza for her daddy. I think we might have America's next Top Chef living in our house:)

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin....

Emma met her friend, Keeran, at the park today and even though the parents were melting in the 80+ degree weather (I think the high ended up around 95!!) the kids had a BLAST rolling around in the grass. 

I would also like to say a BIG THANKS to Adam and Aman for playing with Emma so I could have a break:) It sure made the rest of the day easier to get through. Only 15 more hours until Nick comes home...but who is counting;)

Emma's Garden

Emma and mommy bought fruits, vegetables, and herbs today to plant in our backyard:)  We are very excited about our new endeavor, but mommy is a little worried about her lack of a green thumb.  I am hoping that Emma inherited her Oma's gardening skills...guess we will have to wait and see:)

Wild Wild West

Emma and I joined Kimberly, Joe and Will at the Monrovia Farmer's Market tonight and this is a quick video of the kids riding the ponies:) They are SOOOO cute!!! Nick is still in Vancouver:( 3 days down 2 more to go...YIKES!!!! 

I've been tagged:)

The ABCs of Me

Favorite cousin Amy "tagged" me for this in her blog so I thought I would give a whirl:) Here we go...
A- Attached or Single: Very attached to my wonderful husband Nick
B- Best Friend(s):Goodness...I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends and for that I am very grateful:)
C- Cake or Pie: Pie-pecan, eggnog pumpkin...just no fruit in my pie please!
D-Day of Choice: Friday, because Nick usually only works a half day and Emma and I get spend the other half with him
E-Essential Item(s): HELLOOOO my cell phone of course!
F-Favorite Type of Music: Country
G-Gummy bears or worms: Yuck!!! That would be neither, but my favorite candies are...raisinettes, walnut whips and circus peanuts(no, I am not kidding)
H-Hometown: Collinsville, IL
I-Indulgences: Okay, no laughing, but I really like combination Pizza Rolls washed down with a Mr.Pibb
J-January or July: Do I have to pick one???
K-Kids: My stinkin' cute Miss Emma. Does Chip count? He is part of our family;)
L-Last movie: The Other Bolyen Girl
M-Marriage Date: November 16, 2002
N-Number of Siblings: Tyler (22 and yes, we are 15 years apart!)
O-Oranges or Apples: I guess I will go with Apples
P-Phobias or Fears: Oh, where do I begin!!! Is it that I will fall and knock out all of my teeth? Oh, wait or is it that I have a MAJOR meltdown right before I get on a plane? No, maybe it's that...let's just say that I worry about everything. I worry about friends, family, it is so bad that I worry about homeless people and animals. I think I need therapy;)
Q-Quotes: God loves a trier
R-Reasons to Smile: Emma and Nick. Oh, heck if I am being TOTALLY honest I must admit that my Tivo makes me smile too
S-Season: I live in LA...I am pretty sure we only have 1 season:)
T-Tag: Gosh, I don't think I have anyone to tag.  The only person I know that blogs is Amy and she sent me this in the 1st place!
U-Unknown Fact About Me: What's left?!?! I have already fessed up to Circus peanuts, Pizza Rolls, and the fact that I probably need therapy over my intense worrying
V-Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: Meat eater ALL THE WAY!!!
W-Worst Habit: What...me have a bad habit?!?! Never!!!
X-X-rays or Ultrasounds: What a STRANGE question! Let's go with....Ultrasound. Reminds me of all of wonderful times looking at Baby Zoom Lenz (a/k/a Emma)
Y-Your Favorite Food: Watermelon Salad from Red, White and Bluezz, Clam Chowder from almost anywhere and Beef Carpaccio from Gale's 
Z-Zodiac: Cancer

Emma's 1st cone

Yes, she has had ice cream before, but tonight she realized that she could eat the cone! Life will never be the same for her;)

HELP!!! We are becoming Disnoids!!!

I hate to admit it, but we went to Disneyland AGAIN today.  Yes, that would make twice in one week. We are turning into Disnoids.  Do you think we need therapy?!?! Nick and I really wanted to take Emma on the Nemo ride, but the wait is always SOOO long that we thought we would try to get to the park when they opened at 8AM.  We actually arrived at Nemo at 8:20 and waited about 20 minutes and must say that if we had waited any longer we would have been disappointed.  The ride is ok, but not great and SOOO not worth the usual 90 minute wait.  I think Emma's new favorite ride is Dumbo, she LOVED it:)

Our little pirate

Thanks to her daddy Emma has a new fascination with pirates:) So, Nick took the day off and we headed back to Disneyland so Emma could ride Pirates of the Caribbean.  Not a huge hit, but she did like it (even if she thought it was a little scary). Her favorite part of our return trip to Disneyland was the Mickey Mouse Club House Live Action show:) She did not move for 20 minutes!

Inspired by FC Amy

I read Favorite Cousin Amy's blog and she had uploaded a video of her cute girls skiing. This inspired me to try and upload one of my favorite videos of Emma:)  We recorded this the day before Easter and I think it is pretty darn cute!