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Sunday, January 25, 2009

Ashlyn's Bedroom

So, since I posted Gabe's room, I thought I better give Ashlyn's a little face time. So first are the "before" pictures. They are pretty bad. The walls were horrible!

A hole in the wall. I can only imagine how this happened!
The closet before. The walls were really marked up.

And a view from the doorway into her room.
So here's the after. Let me just warn you... it is very PINK! Ashlyn picked the colors herself and she really loves her room. I feel like I've walked into the middle of a Pepto Bismol bottle every time I go in there, but if she's happy, then it works!


Here's an after. This one is from the doorway.



This is the view to her door. All of her trim is painted
in a Raspberry color. You'll notice a big square of raspberry to the left.
This is an unfinished project of mine that I plan to finish
soon. This is where that big hole was. Brian patched it up
and I decided to make it into a magnetic wall in that area.
The raspberry paint took so many layers to cover the black
magnetic paint that it's not magnetic anymore! So, I've got to
go back over it in the magnet paint, then I'll paint with the Pepto
color. Then I'm making a frame and I'll paint the frame in raspberry.




This girl is set... look at the size of her closet!
It's huge, perfect for a girl growing into a teenager!!







Thursday, January 22, 2009

Gabe's Big Boy Bed

Gabriel is now the proud owner of his very own big boy bed! He picked it out himself. (I showed him the bed I wanted and he could choose blue or red). He slept in it for the first time last night and as you can see in his picture, he is quite happy about it. I'm sure the Cars bedding helped. (Not MY favorite, but it is HIS bed).

We also painted his room on Tuesday and I love the color!! But his room is very blue now. I'm sure it will be better when I put some pictures up on the wall but that won't be for a little while. I want to let the paint fully "cure" before I hang anything. I think maybe some red curtains will help too!





Ashlyn went to SeaWorld yesterday for a class field trip! Wow, this is why I love living in Southern California!! Where else do you get exciting field trips like that? Sure blows the Hansen Planetarium out of the water. (For those of you that actually remember the planetarium way back in the day). I guess they go to DisneyLand when they're in high school too. I wonder if these kids even realize how good they've got it?

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Just Beachy

Yesterday Gabe & I headed to Pacific Beach with some playgroup friends to spend some time in the sunshine. I cannot believe how warm it was! We got there at about 10:30am and I immediately regretted that I had worn jeans! We played for a couple of hours and really enjoyed the fabulous beach weather. Gabe even put his toes in the water but ended up with wet shorts when a wave rolled in while he was standing there.










One of the dads was there and dug
holes for Gabe and his friends. They all
jumped in and asked to be covered!
Gabe stayed in there for 20 min!!









Monday, January 12, 2009

Playing at the Clubhouse

Last Saturday while Cassandra was here, it was so rainy and we really needed to get out and do something with the kids. We thought about Chuck E. Cheese for like 2 seconds and quickly decided no way on CEC. Then I remembered this kid's indoor play place in Escondido and sent a quick text to my friend who lived down that way. We found out that it closed for good at the end of December. Bummer. So we decided to make the drive and go to My Kid's Clubhouse, where Gabe & I frequent about once a month. They have an area for babies, a pretend play area and a giant indoor play structure. We spent a couple hours there (and another 20 min in the car waiting for AAA when I realized I left my headlights on and the battery was dead!) and then discovered a great thai restaurant for dinner. The kids had a great time and slept really well that night!



Alexis & Devin
Ashlyn & Gabe going down the fast slides.
Look close... they are actually holding hands!!!

My kids play so well together when we're away from home.
Gabe loaded up his groceries while Ashlyn ran the register.


Devin is at that cute age where he's just discovering
so many new things. He had a blast with this
play construction helmet.



Peek-a-boo!






Finally, a new post!

Yes, I am back! It has been a looong 3 weeks but we're still here! It all started on Dec 18 (my birthday) when my Dad and his wife, Jennie came to visit over the Christmas holiday. They were planning on getting here on the 17th but had to stay overnight in Las Vegas because there was so much snow, I15 was shut down!!! Snow! In Vegas! They finally made it to San Diego and babysat the kids so that Brian and I could attend his work Christmas party. Since he just began working for this company in August, this was the first company party we were attending. It was SO NICE!! It was downtown at a hotel (the Sheraton, I think?) and the company paid for rooms for any employees that wanted to stay overnight. A whole night without the responsibilities of parenthood?? Sign me up! The dinner was delicious, filet mignon and chicken, a yummy salad, and all the sides... let's not forget dessert... oh and open bar! We had a great time.

This is the view from our room. You can see
Point Loma jutting out in the background.
Brian wants to print this photo into a jigsaw puzzle.
Can you imagine with all those boats??

And then of course came Christmas morning. The kids were up pretty early, around 6:30, which is normal in our house. They couldn't wait to open their gifts. They pretty much got everything they asked for (thanks to grandparents!!) Ashlyn specifically asked for a siamese kitten Webkinz and Spa Factory. We've already made some perfume and lip gloss! She also got her own digital video camera from Santa so she can record her performances. She's writing lots of secrets in her password journal while listening to her iCarly boombox!


Gabe had a lot of fun opening presents this year. He didn't try to stop at every one to play with them like he has in years past. He LOVES his Leapster 2 (if you get one, go for the recharging station!) and he is really good at the games. He also got a remote control airplane and remote control truck. Oh, and don't let me forget about the Indiana Jones lego playset or the Screamin' Banshee. I still have to go through all of his "baby" toys and clear some things out to make room to put some of these things away!

Brian and I didn't exchange gifts this year... well we kind of did... we're living in it! My mom Don got us a beautiful pub height dining table that seats 8! They brought it out at Thanksgiving and I was in total shock. The table we had been using is one that my mom handed down to us like 6 or 7 years ago! We moved that one into the kitchen and put the new one in the formal dining area where it totally makes the room. My Dad & Jennie bought us (much needed) paint! Dad bought a 5 gallon bucket while they were here and get this... actually started painting my house himself! I just finished all of the areas planned for that paint and the house looks 10 times better already!

Dad & Jennie went home in the late afternoon on Christmas Day and Brian's parents came in the very next day! See, I told you... company! It was great to see them during the holidays though. They stayed a little longer than usual and we were able to go to the Wild Animal Park to see the Festival of Lights. It's the last year they are doing it at the WAP, next year it's moving to the Zoo and it will be a little different. Bob & Sylvia left early in the morning on New Year's Eve and then... did you guess it? Cassandra and her two kids came (from Utah) to visit on New Year's Day. We seriously had guests every single day from Dec 18 to Jan 4!! We love having company though so it's all good!