Making Mommy a birthday cake

Lola's girlfriends came over to play and we made their mommy a birthday cake for a surprise. It was looking pretty amazing until they added all the sprinkles and candy= then it looked like the kids did it. Fondant is so cool.

Making some mango

After we had some dehydrated mangos recently we decided to try to make some ourselves. Even though it took most of a day to dehydrate them, they were incredibly tasty.

Parachute play

Her dance class is half dance and half gym time. Sometimes the teacher takes out this fun parachute and the kids have so much fun with it.

Hot day @ six flags

Dolphins are amazing! With that said, we sure did enjoy the new show they had this year with the dolphins at six flags... Lola was even brave enough to ride a big gorilla roller coaster.. After wards she said, " my belly feels sick " Can we go again!

Bouncing Birthday

A two story bouncy slide and tons of other bounce houses is a great way to entertain a bunch of 3 year olds for a birthday. Lola's girlfriend had her birthday this really fun place. Lola didn't want to go. She even played air hockey for the first time. See her game face.

Girls being curious

How often do you get to pet a bearded dragon? Well, if you make it to the animal talks at the museum then you might just get to pet one... The girls also smelled what a skunk smells like- yeah we have city girls.....they were curious..... Then after watching the river otter eat some fish for lunch we had a nice picnic at the park. The girls loved running around.

Sunshiney Day

Taking a dip in the pool in the afternoons is nice when it's just the two of us. She can be as loud and as splashy as she wants. It's nice fall weather we've had.. (90* on this afternoon) But we do miss the aspen changes and other fall weather.

Lola's first Matman

As Lola is getting more interested in using crayons and markers, we've started doing some workbooks to practice holding her crayons. I've also started doing some of the handwriting without tears program that I used to use for my preschool class. ( www.hwtears.com ) One of the activities is to make a 'matman' (it's called matman because his body is the mat) Well, she's practiced with the manipulates for about 2weeks and I thought I'd let her use her crayon and try to draw one for herself. Well, she did a great job! It's clear to see the face and ears and hair and the arms and legs and feet. (the extra scribbles on the paper were from after she drew the matman.)

Dancing books

She is enjoying dancing so much that after this dance class we were at the library checking out books and she wanted to see if there were any dancing books. So we picked up some and a dvd on ballet dancing. Later she wanted to see if they have any tap books too. Next week we'll have to pick up some tap books. She's in the green tutu.

Hot day @ the zoo

Needing to get out of the house for a change we headed over to oakland to go see what the animals had been up to. Well, it was soooo hot we cheated partially by riding the sky ride to see the elephants, lions, camels and buffalos. It was so warm we couldn't enjoy walking around. We did make it down to pet the goats and watch the flying foxes(a bat variety) fight over the spraying sprinklers. :) We learned that this giraffe had broken it's leg when it was one. So it had to spend alot of time indoors to rehabilitate. Well, now he won't socialize with the other giraffes properly and he's picky about how he's fed. Notice the bucket. He only eats out of a bucket and because he spends so much time with his nose in a bucket he has a lighter face then the rest of the giraffes. (Ps. this is one of the dresses I made Lola and she really loves wearing it. big smile)

Dancing Girl

This girl sure loves to dance. At her little dance school they sit in a circle first to talk about the rules every class. Then they practice in front of the mirror. It's just so cute. If I'm watching all the time from the glass she becomes a little distracted with the waving. So I have to sit a little ways back so that she thinks I'm busy. She's wearing the yellow tutu.

Swimming Date with Boyfriends

What fun it was seeing Lola's boyfriends, they came down to come swim. We played hungry hippos and ate homemade pizza while having a 'tea party'. Then we went to the pool. Baby Sarah even had a fun time watching the kids splash.

Family Picture

For school Lola needed a family picture to do a project. Well, the last family picture we took was last Christmas, and Lola barely looks like that little two year old so we snapped this one night for her to have a picture.

Welcome home Grandpa

On his way home from China, Grandpa snuck out of the airport for a couple of hours to see us. He had so many stories to tell about his adventure. And he brought us some cool China loot. Lola loved all of her dresses. We had a fashion show the next day to show how well they fit. Welcome home Grandpa!

Off to school

Off to school we go...Lola is bringing home quite a bit of original art, so if anyone would like some....

Six Flags

Growing 3 inches since the last time we went to six flags really increased the Doll's ride options. She even rode her first water roller coaster where we all were soaked. She was very excited to see all of the costumed characters too. After she made her picture with the tiger then it was on to hunt for the next one. All day she kept wondering who she would see. Funny thing is that she doesn't really know who bugs bunny is - she just liked taking her picture with a big rabbit :) And of course seeing Shouka was nice. They had made a new tiger show that was fun to watch. They show how a tiger can swim by throwing chunks of meat into the water and having the tiger go get it. For a treat they fed the tiger milk.

Camping

Playing with flashlights, roasting some marshmallows and sleeping in tents... yep her first camping trip.. She loved it. (Now we have a whole list of things to ask for at Christmas.... :)

She picked out her princess sleeping bag and flashlight. She's been sleeping in at home too. Lola and mommy tagged along with some friends who were going for the weekend. We only stayed Friday night because Daddy was coming home Saturday from India. We sure enjoyed ourselves.

Traveling Daddy

While Daddy was traveling for work he shared some pictures of his trip. Here's one of him getting ready to have a tailored suit made in Singapore. And here are some views of the city. And here's one of him at the place where he did the 'rain dance' in India. And here are some cows..... :)

First Day of Nursery School

Breakfast in bed! What a treat... She was so excited to go to her new school and make some friends. She looked so grown up. Mommy almost cried, but she didn't. Then when we picked her up she was soo happy. What fun

feeling better off to do something fun

Well, staying home from school is a great way to fully recover.... So on Wednesday we were both so tired of being at home for 5 days that we headed down to Monterrey to see our favorite aquarium. We packed a picnic lunch that we had to fend off the seagulls to eat. She enjoyed the water squirter thing that pushed the fish through the water. We had to renew our season passes and they gave Lola a new stuffed seahorse for thanks. She loved it. Mommy loved seeing the seahorse exhibit.

too sick for fist day of school

Normally we don't take photos of the Doll while she sick or upset... but this was how poor thing was feeling on the morning of her first day of Nursery School. She stayed home and fought of the last of the terrible flu she caught the week before at the museum..