Accessories

Our children have recently become attached to a few objects. Objects it is now hard to sleep and/or leave the house without. They are simple objects, fortunately, and we haven't lost anything yet!

Lucy arranges her friends "Bear" and "Doll Doll"


L to R - "Bear" and "Sam" (property of Tommy) got their own Bear Chair when we went out for pizza. (This photo will also likely serve as the "missing" poster we will someday have to make). Bear is easily recognizable having the Stamp of Finn on him (one eye missing).

Lucy offers Sam a cracker during Tommy's swim lesson

I got Lucy the purse at Great America (says Lucy and has a picture of the other Lucy). The phone is Burger King (Polly Pocket, doubles as a brush so super practical!). The jewels are courtesy of the dentist after Lu's first checkup (spoiler alert: she'll need braces).

This is hands down the most coordinated outfit the girl has ever worn. Ladybugs from head to hem and sparkly red shoes (thanks Aunt Barbara) to finish the look.

On multiple recent occasions, we have got out of the house with everyone's stuff only to realize we didn't bring a single diaper.

Bye bye Roar

Lucy visits the dinosaurs at the Lawrence Hall of Science. It roared every minute or so and she waved and said "Bye bye Roar!"

3rd Generation Twinkle Toes

Last Saturday, Miss Lucy started her dance career and her mommy bought something pink! (first and last time) Since there's only one acceptable time for the wearing of pink in his house, that means Lucy went to ballet class! It was a trial class at Tutu School. Shockingly (ha!), nearly every girl in the class was wearing exactly the same outfit! I was very conflicted, wishing I'd opted for some sassy legwarmers or something but there's time! If we hadn't gone traditional (hair is pulled back as far as it will go) I wouldn't have these awesome pictures to show when she's a contestant on Season 27 of So You Think You Can Dance.




Obviously it was a parent participation class, but I tried not to give away my secret identity as a dance teacher. So what better to disguise myself than a Wildcat Baseball Alumni shirt?

She had a good time at class, but we won't go back again for a few more months. She liked watching everyone dance around, but wasn't ready to be put on the spot and asked what color she liked. Good news was: there were no tears, I don't think she was scarred by me trying too early, and she really liked her pretty dress and shoes.

A Midsummer Update

In early July we attended cousin Christian's birthday party at Pump It Up. This was, believe it or not, our first visit to Pump It Up. Tommy had great fun, Lucy didn't have too much to do. But there was an amazing Captain America cake made by Christian's dad (who happens to be a professional pastry chef).
(this looks more impressive than it was, he was very close to the ground, notice the outlet, and we'd lifted him there. What is impressive is that he was game to do it in the first place!)



Fourth of July Block Party. Playing with the big boys on the street. We live on a soccer block with a ton of boys who all seem to play club/high school/college soccer plus the owner of a soccer supply store. Tommy starts soccer in September, so he'll be well-versed.



Grandma, Papa, Tommy, Lucy, and I went to Gilroy Gardens when I had a day off. It was Lucy's first trip (well since the time she went in the rain... when she was 5 days old)

On the train

Papa and Tommy floating



Papa and Tommy go for a drive


Grandma and Lucy take in a show. Singing vegetables, as a matter of fact, rewriting classics to be vegetable-related (I Wish They All Could Be California Grown). The garlic cloves were pretty stereotypically Italian too... the script needed a rewrite, but the kids liked it.

They had a very small dinosaur exhibit for a few days.
Just riding an artichoke




The next weekend I took the kids to the Discovery Museum, which has an awesome Curious George exhibit this month.

These three monkeys approve!


At the Exploratorium with Grandma and Papa

Mommy & Tommy Day

On Sunday, Tommy and I had a special day with just the two of us at Great America. We got a season pass to Great America/Gilroy Gardens but this was the first time we were going to Great America. Last year when we went to Knotts Berry Farm, Tommy enjoyed some rides but was still a little hesitant when it came to small roller coasters or rides that went up very high. So I wasn't sure how much he'd be into at Great America. By traveling alone (without a stroller or a baby sister!) we were able to take our time, and look at the place in a relaxing, no pressure trip. We also knew we could always come back, since we had the pass.

Well, he loved everything and had no qualms about going up high. The only thing that held him back this year was the height requirement on several of the kiddie rides, but he still had plenty to do and lots of fun. All pictures taken were by me of him, by him of me, or by me of the both of us so they all kind of look the same. I also still refer to rides by their old names... things have changed at Great America but only on the surface. New paint job and new name, but same ride!

We started with the Sky Tower (aka the big elevator) to get a view of the park and, as is tradition, find our car in the parking lot.


Next was the big carousel. Twice. First on the bottom level then on the top.


Driving the old fashioned cars (apparently not tall enough to drive, he was content to let me take the wheel). This was after the half hour wait for this ride (he really wanted to drive the cars). As we were third in line he began screaming/crying that he had to go to the bathroom RIGHT AWAY. Now, I was going to let him go if he wanted to, but I wanted to make sure he realized that we'd lose our place in line and that we weren't going to wait another half hour. There were an awful couple of minutes here as he was torn! We got to the front of the line and he was splotchy, crying, and clutching himself for dear life to not pee his pants. The very nice ride operator "Cody" looked at me. I said, "we have desperately go to go to the bathroom." He said to go ahead and to come back in the exit and he'd let us to the front. Thank you Cody!!!! Disaster averted!

On the Great Pumpkin ride (on the ground)

... and above the treetops!

Driving Sally's Love Bug

On the Taxi roller coaster (before Mommy tried not to freak out as the thing went fast and jostled side to side a lot and Mommy doesn't like roller coasters - but don't tell Tommy that)

Bumper Cars! (video below)


After we rode the Delta Flyer (Mommy was too freaked out on this one to take pictures in the air, again don't tell Tommy but when I wanted him to hold my hand it was for me, not for him!)


Slides

When we were kids this ride was painted like bees and a beehive. Slap on a coat of paint and now they are ghosts! Never mind the stingers on the back of those ghosts!

We had such a nice day and can't wait to go back with Daddy and some cousins!