Fun with Cousins

 Elena and I are here in Illinois on a girls trip!  She was a great flier again, though I credit the kindle this time.  After all the trips we've made, I finally had enough to redeem a free ticket for us both one way.  I was actually able to upgrade us to priority seats--for American I think that would be business or coach plus, maybe.  We didn't have to pay extra for our bag, we were directed down the 1st class security line and our seats had extra leg room--all for $5.  Amazing!!

 Elena was happy to see everyone and was excited to play with her cousins. 

The first night they played with remote control cars.

 Then together made a crash pad. It was full of pillows and blankets.
All three took turns diving and flipping on the pile.

It's so cute to see cousins playing so well together!

Elena's 3rd Birthday!

Happy birthday, sweet Elena!

We had a simple family-style party, just a relaxing play date for the kids.  Pop & Lorraine came over and Elena invited her friends Claire and Mallory and their families.  The weather was perfect, Carl grilled out on the bbq and of course we had cake. 

We played outside....
with balls, checking out lady bugs and other bugs and climbing on the play toy

and inside.

 The Moms relaxed and the Dads played croquet out back.

 Elena had such fun and enjoyed her birthday song...
(to the left is Mallory, 5, and to the right is Claire, 4)

though she did get a little bashful :)

 (Daddy blew out the candles)

Lots of love to all of our family and friends from our home to yours!

Mission Trail Park

I guess I'm making up for lost time, as I have another entry today :)  This morning we went to Mission Trails Park, it is a nature preserve near our neighborhood.  Cooper loves to go, though it is a leash only park.  Elena loves to go running along the trail.  When we drive by the coastal mountains in the park, she tells me she wants to hike to the top.  She's in training and learning to scale everything including the scroll work our security door.

 With all the rain recently, the flowers are still in bloom.

 Off and running.  Elena loves running on the trail.

 

Checking for baby tadpoles in the pond.  It only has water during the rainy season.  Though April starts our dry season, it just rained Friday.

My hiking crew!

Play date :)

For nearly every day of the past month, Elena has been asking for a play date.  Sometimes she wants to have friends over or go to their home or have a picnic.  She has a few friends from school and daughters of my friends that she always asks to see.  Today, Claire came over with her little sister Norah and in Elena speak "Ms. Geet" (aka as Galit).

 All three girls had a great time.  I forgot to take pictures while they were playing...so I took a few before they left.  Below they are busy tickling each other with toes.  Norah was giggling as the big girls were gentle.

Garden Inspection

 Look at these two mischievous faces....what are they are up to?

Checking out the garden...

and picking lettuce to munch!  Yummy!

School Pictures {Tease}

The Children's Center has student photos every year in March.  I was surprised when Elena's teacher said she was a ham in front of the camera.  She usually won't take a nice picture for me or her teacher but you can see she was super happy to take pictures.  These photos are copywrite protected, so please do not attempt printing.  We have to order more pictures but I couldn't resist sharing with you until then.

The pictures printed from the studio look much better than my version...but this just a tease after all ;)

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

Dominoes and blueberry scones with Pop-Pop and Grandma Lorraine!

 Easter egg hunt!  The first one.  I think she's had a dozen hunts--this was a big hit last year too.

 This is the first time I have seen this "cheese" smile.  What a character!

 Elena was so excited for her jellybeans!

A caterpillar was trapped in a pot dish.  He was rescued and Elena just wanted to hold him.  She was so excited.  Elena and Daddy placed him in the shade with lots of weeds to munch.

Butterfly Jungle

We have had a wonderful 3 day weekend.  Friday and Saturday were relaxing/reading days (I started and finished 2 books!).  Today we went to the Butterfly Jungle at the San Diego Safari Park.  I love being a member and able to just pop up there for a few hours.

 Here we are waiting in line.  This is how excited Elena is for the butterflies!

The butterflies fly all around you and they are everywhere.

 

One landed on Carl's shirt, I had one on my bare arm (it felt a bit itchy).  When this one opened it's wings, it was bright blue, so awesome!  Elena was sad no butterflies were landing on her.  She kept holding her arm out as we walked through the exhibit.

She watched some big kids put their fingers near the butterflies and watched as butterflies walked on.  Of course seeing they were successful, she was determined to try too.  I was careful Elena only put her fingers near the butterfly and not actually touch them (you are not supposed to touch them).  You can see she's a bit sad but she did have a nice time in the exhibit.

Outside of the butterfly jungle, we had two other exciting highlights today.  The lions were out and walking around--2 females and 1 male.  It was quite exciting.  Usually the lions are laying down with heads up or sleeping.  Our other excitement was at the warthog area.  They are pinned in with the bat eared fox; the warthogs like to give the foxes a hard time.  It was quite funny to watch the warthog walk over and disturb where the foxes were trying to sneak a nap.  The warthogs and Elena have something in common ;)