Scientopia Discovery Center

Last Monday...the kids didn't have school because it was a teacher development day (which they have many of...too bad we didn't get those while I was going to school). So my friend Kara and I took the kids down to Napa to this Scientopia Discovery Center. It was a small center but we basically had the whole place to ourselves. The kids played and played. They loved playing with the play money...even though most of the time it was playing stealing/robbing the money away. Kids will be kids. We had a fabulous picnic lunch outside and then played more inside. The kids loved playing dress up, running around and doing art projects.

Digging for worms...gross!

We thought the kids had a great time...but as soon as we got to the car they said they had "NO Fun"...it sure looked like they were having fun to us. They were becoming little stinkers at this point. We decided to go to a cupcake shop and treat the kids to a cupcake (even though they probably didn't deserve it). It was a yummy expensive cupcake but it was a special occasion so it was worth it.

I had a great time spending the day with Kara and her sister-in-laws. We did have a nice time visiting even though the kids were stinkers. Maybe someday the kids will realize if they act nice and respectful we would do more fun things with them...oh well a mom can wish, right?

Grandma Jo and Grandpa Rod's Visit!

We were SOOO excited to have Grandma Jo and Grandpa Rod come visit us. The kids were beyond excited to see them. We made a welcome sign to greet them. Brooklyn and Easton spent hours putting stickers on it. Grandma loved it! We had a great weekend of playing, doing Easter Egg Hunts, Bike Riding, talking, celebrating the kids early birthdays, cooking, and had a fun adventure to Santa Rosa (Except for some car sickness). We had a fabulous weekend and can't wait for them to come visit us again!

Grandma always brings lots of treats for the kids. They loved the whipping cream bottles.

Easter Egg Hunt Fun!

Birthday Time...Brooklyn got an Mini Cake decorating kit and make up. She loved it! Easton got a ship that shoots bullets and a soccer set. Perfect for him.

Saturday we went up to Daddy's work and rode bikes, Brooklyn gave Grandma a fabulous tour of the grounds (Chickens and all), and we went on a few fun hiking/driving adventures.

By the way...this is Bailey our new dog. She coat is really pretty.

Brooklyn was so excited to make and decorate her first cake. This one was for Grandpa!

Painting nails with Grandma!

Setting up the soccer goal.

Brooklyn and Easton had such a wonderful weekend with Grandma and Grandpa. They were very sad to see them leave. Brooklyn had tears in her eyes for hours after. We loved having them visit and can't wait for their next visit!

PS...Thanks Grandma for all the candy! The kids were on a sugar high for a week after...but it was so worth it. The kids loved it! Love you!!!! Thanks for spoiling your grandkids!

Easton's quote of the day!

Our little Easton says the funniest things. Some things good... some not so good! Where he learns them...I don't know! Not from ME! There are some shows he is not allowed to watch at home like Spongebob or Transformers the movie.

So yesterday I was shopping with him in Santa Rosa and we just had gotten into the car (thank goodness) and he said this..."I didn't know this world had fat ladies!" I was in shock when he said it and looked outside the van to see what he had saw. I was so thankful we weren't outside when he said it. I am sad to say that I laughed. The way he said it was just so funny...but I know bad!

On Sunday I was playing Mario Bros with him and he said to me "You're SICK!" In a good way of course. I haven't heard that in a long time.

He is quite the BOY!

The perfect day...with just the two of us!

Saturday was the perfect day with just Eric and I....a long time waiting...we finally arranged for free babysitter so we could spend the day together going to the temple. It was a beautiful cool day. The best time to visit the Oakland temple is right now...Tulip Season! The flowers were so beautiful! I love the temple grounds. You can walk around the top of the temple and see the amazing view of the Bay area.

Our temple season was really wonderful. We did family names and they were siblings which was special. We were asked to be the witness couple. (First time we have ever sat by each other...so neat) This was our first session in the Oakland temple. (I know it is sad that it took us almost 4 yrs to do a session here...we have gone to the Sacramento temple and I have gone to Oakland with the Youth 3 times...we will go more often!) The Oakland Temple is so beautiful inside. We had a wonderful time at the temple!

I love these pictures of us...
I had to post both because I couldn't decide which one I liked more!




After our wonderful time at the temple...we headed to eat some delicious food at "Cattlemans Steakhouse." We had Lots of delicious food...the steak was really good. We then topped it off with dessert at our friends yogurt shop. Nothing like frozen yogurt covered with fresh fruit, yummy! Eric's favorite is blueberry frozen yogurt. And it's healthy, right?
It was a much needed day with my hubby!
We loved every moment together and can't wait to do it again!

Special thanks to Chris, Michelle and Peggy for helping us with the kiddos!

Girls Weekend in LA Day 1

Last Spring Julie, Kara and I became really close friends. Our kids were in the same kindergarten class. We spent the spring/summer going to the park, pool, lake, 4th of July Pool party & girl night outs! We had so much fun together...and then Julie moved back home to Southern California. It was hard to loose such a close friend...so Kara and I decided we would go down to Southern California and spend a weekend with Julie and make it a "Girly" Fun Weekend!

So we started planning our trip back in November...we picked a weekend when the Daddy's could stay home on Monday and watch the kiddos. We really tried to get tickets to see the "Ellen" Show but they are impossible to get. I checked their website 2 times a day and when the tickets came available I requested them within an hour...and we waited for a call for weeks...no call...we were sooo sad! No such Luck! As backups we got tickets to Dr Phil and the Bonnie Hunt Show. Sadly we couldn't do both shows...so we picked the Bonnie Hunt. It was a lot of fun!

We spent the weekend talking, laughing, shopping, walking, EATING, touring, smiling, sleeping, & pampering ourselves! The trip went perfect...everything worked out in our favor! The weather showed rain on 2 out of 3 days there. We were worried because we knew we would be outside most of the trip. I am happy to report that the only time we felt rain was walking to the car at 10:30pm after our day of shopping! It rained during the night but never during the day...we were so Lucky!

Warning: Picture over load...and it was hard to pick some to post. We took so many fun pictures! We documented everything! Enjoy!!!

Day 1: Shopping and Pampering!

Kara and I arrived at 11:30am. The flight was on time and relaxing. We headed straight over to a beautiful outdoor shopping center called "Victoria Gardens." It was so nice and had every store we liked. We shopped and shopped! We took a lunch break at PF Changs. And then did more shopping. Then Pedicures and crepes for dessert! We stayed up late planning for our Hollywood day and talking. It was a great start to our fun weekend!

We all picked crazy outfits to try on...it was fun! These were at H&M.

After hours of shopping...it felt so good to relax and get a pedicure! Loved it!!!

Our new shiny toes!

After our pedicure...we went next door and had crepes for dessert! So yummy!!!!!!

Girls Trip Day 2- Hollywood

I was so excited for this day....

I have always wanted to see "Hollywood."

I love movie stars...probably too much!

Day 2: Hollywood

We had a nice drive into downtown LA/Hollywood. We arranged for our "Hollywood Home Tour".. while we waited for our departure we had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. It was really delicious. For our tour, we rode in a van with an open top. It was really fun. We drove around for two hours. We went down sunset strip, Rodeo drive, Beverly Hills, Hollywood sign lookout, and through most of the stars neighborhoods. I was excited to see Jennifer Aniston's new home...even though we could only see the roof. We saw the house that Brad and Jennifer lived in before their divorce, Michael Jackson's house he died in, Elvis, Dr Phil (Beautiful house with greenery all over it), Beckham's, Tom Cruise, Tori Spelling's HUGE house, Cortney Cox (Her nanny drives a nice Lexus), Johnny Deps new house (He has a party that night so his house was hopping with people prepping for the party), Orlando Blooms (he had cops, helicopters at his house earlier that day), Jay Leno, National Security Offices in Beverly Hills, (they are too good for a normal office..they have to have a mansion), I know I am missing memorable ones..we saw over 70 houses. It was an awesome tour! Did you know that most of the stars drive Black or white Range Rovers around town. We stopped at the "Hollywood" lookout and took pictures. Did you know it originally said "Hollywoodland?"

After our tour, we walked around the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Did you know the stars have to pay $25,000 to get a star? Crazy...no wonder we couldn't find Jennifer Aniston's. We then walked around the famous hand & foot prints and signatures of stars infront of the Chinese theatre. In order to get a spot you have to have 5 blockbusters and been in the business 10 yrs. We walked around for awhile and then we asked if Brad Pitt had one and they told us his was by George Clooney and we realized we missed his because he just signed it with a "BP." No one was taking pictures by his because they didn't know it was his...but we DID!

When we bought our tour they gave us free tickets to see "Madame Tussauds" wax museum. We were so excited. It saved us $25. Gotta love that. It was fun walking around and taking photos with the celebrities. They were so life-like. We had fun! Right outside of the museum they had a special red carpet event going on...so we stood outside and watched the action. They had Disney channel stars. It was fun to see a red carpet event.

Finally we ended the fun-filled day with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. It was so yummy! The cheesecake was amazing too. Kara and I fell asleep in the car riding home and we slept sooooo well that night. We were exhausted!

Hollywood was awesome!

Brad Pitt's Block!

We aren't single but we had fun singing!

Gotta kiss Brad!