More Photos from Santa Monica

Here are some photos taken by our friend and wonderful photographer, Angie.  

Here's her site in case you want to check it out: angelagraves.com

Video Clip

Chloë's Weekend   <----click on this link

Heather put together a bunch of little video clips on her iPhone for Chloë.  Thought I'd share...

Girls' Trip to Santa Monica!

Chloë and I jumped in the car and headed north this past weekend to visit friends up in the L.A. area.  It was fun to get to go on a mini-mother-daughter adventure together!  We stayed at our friend Heather's house in Santa Monica.  She's Chloë's godmother and she is so good to Chloë!  She has been a big part of her life from the start which is so special.  We had a busy weekend: Chloë and Heather exchanged Christmas presents and Chloë got A BIKE!!!  And not only a bike, but A CARS BIKE!!  Then, we had a one-year-old birthday party to attend.  It was someone Heather knew and Chloë and I were tag-alongs.  Chloë is big on the birthday party circuit here in San Diego so she really worked the party up there in L.A.  She made herself right at home at the party: blowing bubbles, playing with the little boy's toys, eating the Elmo cake, having a near tantrum because she couldn't open his presents, etc.  Good times.  She even was sent home with a goody bag.  After the party we let her ride her bike around the neighborhood and she just took off like she had been riding bikes for years!  She absolutely LOVES the bike and rode and rode and rode.  We were jogging to keep up with her and I had about 30 near-heart-attacks as she zoomed around corners, kept looking back at us and nearly going off the sidewalk, etc.  We also went to a football playoff get- together later that afternoon.  The get-together was at a home where a 5 year old boy lives so Chloë was in hog heaven with all of his toys.  She played with trains, legos, spaceship stuff, rubber snakes and insects, etc.  She was on cloud nine.  The next day we hit up the Santa Monica farmer's market.  Heather lives close to it so we walked and Chloë rode her bike.  We headed back to San Diego later that afternoon.

Anyways, we are back in home now.  We missed Myke, Owen & Eli but we definitely enjoyed our road trip!  Some photos:

Ready for our road-trip!  

Strapping on the hat and ready to work the party!

little piano at the birthday party

bike time!

Chloë & Heather

How did my baby get so big?!

She found a friend to play with at the football gathering.

snakes!!

I wear my sunglasses at night..

Chloë & Angie

Checking her bike at the bike valet at the Santa Monica farmer's market

Giant pancakes and balloon animals!  This is great!

Chloë & the Heathers

Chloë and James

Heather rode back to San Diego with us on Sunday afternoon to spend time with the boys, too

(and to see some San Diego friends)

Heather & Elijah

Breakfast on Monday morning in Pacific Beach

Heather & Owen 

Our Manny Has Left the Building...

A farewell trip to Tower 23 on "Pop's" last night with us

We took the kids with us for this portion of the night but then had a babysitter come so we could go to dinner afterwards

Myke & I out on a Friday night!  Woo!

Thom getting the run-down on his flight of beers at Local Habit

We have had family in town for just a few days shy of 4 straight weeks so we have been quite spoiled with all the extra helping hands around here.  Myke's father was our final visitor and he left yesterday morning to head back to the 12 degree weather in Philly...brrr!  We/He got a lot of things done while he was here - a pantry put into the laundry room, Chloë got her big girl bed, he cleaned out the piping that goes from the dryer to the outside (He pulled out a 1/2 bucket full of wet gunk was in there!! no wonder our clothes weren't drying properly...gross!), I cleaned out the boys' dresser (everything size 9 months and smaller is history already!), we got the Christmas tree and decorations all taken down and put away, Myke and I got a new mattress etc.  It was good to take care of all of these things and feels good to start the new year off fresh.  

Eli & Owen on the swing

The Joovy Big Caboose's final stroll - sold it on Craigslist later this day! 

Good riddance!  

Chloë & Eli in the big-girl bed

Owen is getting into EVERYTHING now that he is crawling...

luckily I had just put a clean liner in this trashcan a few moments before

A January Hike

All three kids are napping, Myke is out running some errands, and I'm having a few minutes of peace and quiet...ahhhh...so I thought I would share some pics from our hike earlier today.  

We woke up this morning and decided that the weather looked ideal for being outdoors (surprise, surprise, right?) so we decided to pile the crew in the car and head out for a hike out east.  I chose Hollenbeck Canyon in Jamul, mainly because it's one of my favorite hiking trails that I've found here in San Diego, and also because it has wide trails and easy terrain- more ideal for a jogging stroller.  

Being out there always conjures up some crazy memories, as this is where I went into labor when I was pregnant with Chloë (almost 3 years ago!).  I think they started about a mile in from the trailhead when we were on the return portion of the hike. 

 WHY did I go hiking the day after my due date, you ask??  On a trail out in Jamul, which is a good 45 minute drive from our home and our hospital?  I have NO clue!  I must have been nuts.  However, my parents and Myke were there, too, so we were all nuts.  Not just me.  In hindsight the whole idea was absolutely insane.  At the time (in our defense), I had not had any signs of impending labor, no contractions, and was scheduled to be induced 6 days later, so I felt that I was in the clear.  Obviously not.  Anyways, going on this hike always brings back memories of that day.  I told Chloë, "You were almost born on this trail..." and then we passed a Subway store on the way home where I had stopped to use the restroom back on that fateful day, as the labor pressure had become enormous and I didn't think I could make it home at that point.  I told her, "There is the Subway where I almost gave birth to you in the bathroom.".  Myke and I laugh at this now but at the time it was pretty scary!  

Anyways, today was a beautiful day for a hike.  The scenery out there is a so gorgeous, the air was clear and refreshing, and it was peaceful and quiet, unlike where we live in the hustle bustle of San Diego.  

Hollenbeck Canyon...where it all began!

The start of the trail

The January sun peaking through the branches

Eli riding in the Bjorn

Kyla & Chloë

The "Bob Duallie" stroller

Heading back to the car

Happy January!

We're having (what I think is) record warm weather this week here in San Diego.  The temps are reaching the high 70's to low 80's.  I say that that "I think" it's record temps because I actually have no clue.  I never get a chance to watch the news/weather/etc these days.  All I know is that it's January and it's warm and beautiful out!   On top of that, the other fabulous piece to the puzzle is that I we have our very own live -in "manny" staying with us this week!  Yes!  Thom Hines (Myke's father) stayed on an extra 5 days after Myke's mom left to help us out.  It has been great- I've gotten to run quite a few errands on my own - sans kids!  It's so much faster and more relaxed that way.  On top of that, Myke and I have had doctor or dentist appointments almost every day this week.  You gotta fit 'em in while you have the help!  Otherwise it's a big ordeal just to get your teeth cleaned (finding a sitter who can com sporadically during the weekdays for an hour or two, paying a sitter, etc...or Myke has to take off work..and as a contract worker that is no bueno.  No paid time off there!)  

I've also been able to give the kids a bit more one-on-one time with the extra set of hands around.  On Monday I took Chloë to a nearby pool for a few hours.  It has been months (or longer) since we had been in the water and it was a blast!   Great mother-daughter time.  I miss that time with her....

Is this January?!

Lounging with her juice box treat.  Sporting her ("Cars") floaties! 

And we topped it off with ice cream!  What a day!

MEANWHILE....(While we're off having fun in the sun....):

Our manny hard at work with a tandem feed!

The boys playing with one of their Christmas gifts.

One of the only ways to keep these guys contained!