Egg-Stravaganza! - Apr 7

According to Facebook, we have taken a lot of trips in April around my birthday and the obvious place that we typically go, DISNEYLAND!

Turning 38 is not a big deal. It's weird to think that I am going to be 40 in a few years but they say you are only as old as you feel and lucky for me, I don't feel anywhere near my age. Well, after driving in the car all day my knee does hurt a little, but other than that I feel fine. =P
Unfortunately for us, once again this week happens to fall in what is known to some as "spring break" and Disneyland was once again, very busy. We drove down Sunday and ended up basically getting on as many rides in a few hours on Sunday as we did the entire day Monday. That has always been the appeal of having the annual passes, we can roll in for half a day and actually get a lot of stuff accomplished. If we only had 2 day tickets for Monday and Tuesday, we certainly would have been much harder pressed to wait in a few more long lines to get some of our favorite rides in. We have been enough times now and Chloe is both old enough and tall enough to go on everything, so we definitely have a short list of "must haves". This time, we had to skip a few in part due to fast pass limitations and certain rides just not being open. Either way, the weather was amazing and now as I am at home writing this I am listening to 40mph winds and rain against the window so I would say we lucked out in that department for sure.

Our last few trips we have tried to make a point to seek out things we have not seen or done before so this trip would be no exception. It's fun to actually take the time to do see a show or visit a shop that we have not seen. Generally I would say there is nothing in Disneyland not worth seeing at least once and don't get caught up just trying to go on the big rides. On Monday, we noticed some people walking around with a little map of some sort and I finally asked someone what it was. Apparently, they do an Easter egg hunt(of sorts) in both parks where you (of course) have to buy a little map with stickers and try to find the hidden giant eggs throughout the park(s). We decided to take on the one inside of Disneyland(not California Adventure) and at the end you can return your completed map for a souvenir egg. A plastic, souvenir Disney themed egg. LOL. Whatever, it was fun for Chloe and again it sort of helped us walk to areas of the park we might not have otherwise gone.

So it was certainly crowded like I said but we did manage to do most of what have become our "staple" Disneyland stops. Ice cream, churros, tossing pennies into the wells, collecting souvenir smashed pennies, just to name a few. One of my favorite things about this trip was that Chloe decided she wanted to "journal" by writing down everything that we did. Another neat(and free) keepsake from the trip. =)


Just a random collection of photos from the trip. It's always really fun to go back through these with Chloe so much of it is just random stuff from the trip.
Have a great weekend, folks~

-B

Goodbye, Thirty Seven! - Mar 31

Today is Friday, the last day of yours truly being 37. Tomorrow, MEGA OLD.

This week yet again has been a whirlwind of nothing mixed with everything. Don't ask me how it's Friday again because I don't know. LOL. I did get to work in Chloe's classroom again on Wednesday and I have to say that is really one of my favorite days. Sometimes as a Dad/parent you just feel like your kid already doesn't want anything to do with you. Everything is "I KNOW DAD!" "YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME DAD!" but thankfully there is still one thing that makes me forget all of that and that is working in Chloe's classroom. When I get there, Chloe runs over and gives me a big hug..as if she is showing me off "look guys!! It's my dad!! My dad's here!!" then when it's time to leave the kid comes up again and gives me giant hugs and just really does seem happy that I was there. It's fun because some of the kids seem to like me too since I have seen them a handful of times. It's just a nice feeling like I said that maybe as a parent you don't always feel that appreciated for your efforts and then suddenly you do. =)

Just a couple of random snaps from this week, nothing much new or exciting to report as I said so perhaps next week being spring break we will have better luck finding something fun to do....

Have a great weekend, folks~

-B

National Penny (puppy) Day! - Mar 24

Apparently March 23rd is "National Puppy Day" which I can't actually remember if I had ever heard of before. Penny has been such an awesome addition to our family I literally don't think we could have a better dog. She is super smart, fairly obedient and well trained, and just all around the most gentile dog that just loves EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING. Yes, she sheds a little bit which we wish she didn't but I know from other friends with different dogs that it could be SO MUCH WORSE. SO MUCH. LOL. She is perfectly in sync with our speed of life and will play or cuddle with you whenever the opportunity presents itself. Chloe, adores her and Penny, adores Chloe. Every morning when I go in and wake up Chloe for school, Penny is the first one through the door and up on the bed with her. It's cute. Chloe, well she's 7 now but she was like 4 when we got her and I think it was the perfect age to have her learn about how to treat animals and taking care of them and such. She really does help out(when you ask her) and hardly ever complains. =) It all just works together very well and I could not be happier thus far with the decision to add Penny to our family.

That said, I just decided to snap a few photos of Chloe playing with Penny and her favorite toy. She has 2 or 3 favorites, actually, but I would say this one is her "go-to". It has these stretchy parts that you can play tug with her, but she also loves to retrieve it when someone throws it and then she will like whip it back and forth in her mouth. She hasn't fixated on chewing it apart or ripping out the stuffing so..that's a plus!

Have a great weekend, folks~

-B

I'm Going To Catch A Leprechaun! - Mar 17

Today is actually Saint Patrick's Day and Chloe is pretty excited. A few weeks back she apparently was given the idea that she could catch a Leprechaun if only she were to make a "trap" for them. She tells me her friend at school, Leah, has caught one before and she is certain she will too. Chloe started with a cardboard box which she then filled with trinkets, toys, and a place to sleep for said Leprechauns then we glued the lid shut. Why? Because she installed a front door complete with a welcome mat. One of the most creative things I have seen her come up with 100% absolutely on her own. I love it. Hopefully she is not to disappointed if she does not actually trap a leprechaun, but she is for darn sure going to try.

And in other news, our beloved "cherry trees" have completely come and gone but I do have a few more photos we took a week or two ago with our favorite tree within our complex. It has been really warm but that particular day was cold and overcast but we knew we were going to be hit with another storm and it would probably be our last chance before the rain and wind messed it all up. Got some cute stuff despite all that and now Chloe and I will anxiously await for the trees to bear fruit. I think its so cute that Chloe is so into it so..I'm sure there will be pictures in the coming months when that happens. =)

Just a few pics to share, have a great weekend folks~

-B

















And to conclude the story about McQueen, we went and delivered him last weekend to his new owner. Reid's reaction was basically the funniest thing I have seen in a long time, lol. We brought the car into the back yard to surprise him with it and when he came around the corner he just did a complete double-back and kept on running back into the house! He apparently got a little embarrassed that we were all there and he took a little while to warm up to the idea of riding in McQueen. Once he got in and stared going, we could not get him out! Crashing into fences and everything in sight but having a blast all while smiling ear to ear. =)