Zoo Fun with Grandma

When my mom came to visit in Aug, we took a trip to the zoo. We hadn't been in awhile and I had been wanting to go to see the newly improved Polar Bear Exhibit. And...things are always a little easier when Grandma is around, so a big morning out at the zoo was the perfect thing to do with some extra hands.

The night before the zoo, my mom and I had a Ladies Night Out...martinis (lots) and Eat Pray Love.

This little girl wanted to be Molly's friend so bad, but Molly only wanted to watch the tram cars come and go.

The things my mom will do for her grandkids...she's scared of heights, but she got on that tram and rode all the way across the zoo. Scared to death.

Sweetest thing ever! Molly letting Grandma know, "it's okay, I'm right here, Grandma." I want to frame this picture.

Huge books for the kiddo's to read, so fun to turn the pages. All about Polar Bears.

Beautiful smile.

okay, I think this is gross. See that fridge...that's full of ONE meal for a polar bear. ONE!

This is the size of a newborn polar bear, and in the picture before this, with the fridge, that's a 3 month old.

This is the size of a full grown polar bear.

Well hi there, can't you see I'm eating?

Watching the polar bears swim was so amazing, I could have watched them all day. They played and teased each other, it was so cute.

Look at his head above water and feet below water, these animals are huge.

This is made completely of sand.

Oh my, hello hippo.

My mom spoiled the kiddo's with these monkeys, they are soooo cute.

Molly did not want me to take her picture with her monkey.

Watermelon Wednesday

Father's Day

 Yeah, so I'm just getting to a Father's Day post here...I have some catching up to do, huh? It was a fun day, started out with a friendly battle of the light sabers between father and son. Yes, I talked myself in to buying Jeremy a father's day present "from Will," two light sabers, one blue, one red. I figured I've been so adamant about no guns or swords for so long and Will and Jeremy love Star Wars so much, I decided, oh screw it...here have some light sabers. Of course they come with some strict rules and are stashed away on top of the fridge when not in use. :-) You all have to realize this is of the utmost importance in order to keep Molly from being beheaded. After having a rare extravagent breakfast cooked by me and a fun, crazy light saber match, we headed to Pacific Beach for a walk on the boardwalk and lunch.

Jeremy opened his card from Will, it talked, Darth Vader saying, "I'm your Faaaather." then said "that's why."

Yes! Light Sabers! (Will didn't know that's what the present was either, so he was just as surprised.)

Look at Molly, "I want to play, let me have it. My turn!"

I told Jeremy it was only fair, he should play on his knees.

I LOVE this picture, look closely at Molly's face...she looks like she's sayin, "HI-YAH, look out brother!"

Molly, "this is so fun!" Will, "seriously, boring, I don't want to be NICE, with my light saber."

Mr. Cool Guy at Pacific Beach, he's obsessed with these tank top undershirts.

Happy Girl

Look at that tongue...she's a thinker! Check out the WSU iphone case, that was my gift to J for Fathers Day.

Out for some yummy lunch and a beer...or two...no not for you Molly..not yet. :-)

LaCosta Mom's Firestation Tour

The president of our LaCosta Moms group arranged a tour of Fire Station #5 in Carlsbad. Will was very excited about this, as were a lot of other kids in the group...I think it was the biggest turnout for an event yet...those firetrucks sure are something...or maybe its the FIREFIGHTERS that drew the big crowd...I mean the kids have to be brought to the station somehow...and I noticed a lot of very willing moms. The firetrucks weren't the only thing getting "wows" and googley eyes. :-)
Will has 3 uncles that are firefighters, Uncle Jon, Uncle Todd and Uncle Mark...so Will has always known a lot about this profession and has admired it so...but this was his first tour. (Other than the time Uncle Jon took him to his station when he was about 9 months old, back then Will would sit in the truck and "drive." This time I couldn't even bribe Will to get in the driver's seat.)

Buddies, Will and Harrison

Getting lined up to go see the trucks

This is called the "safe zone," if the station gets a call and has to take the trucks out while we are there, we all go to this spot.

According to Will's book, this is called a tiller truck. It has a driver in front and back.

Look at Mr. Joe Cool, give me a break.

Them trucks have some BIG bumpers.

One of the men showed the kids how he gets all his gear on...this is important b/c a lot of kids are scared of firefighters when they have all their "turnout" gear on. So they want kids to see that it's just a person with protective clothing on. The firefighter is handing out high 5's.

She's got a little more growing to do. (Notice the word "Paramedic" on the truck. Carlsbad firefighters elected to make all firefighters paramedics. Usually this is extra training and most districts have a select few who are also paramedics. Not Carlsbad, they all are.)

Important things to talk about with your kids: What to do if the house is smokey (crawl on the floor to an exit). Touch doors to see if they are hot, if so, don't open them. Decide on a safe spot outside away from the house where the whole family will meet if there is a fire (mailbox, tree, etc). Stop Drop and Roll. Take your kids to a station so they can see a firefighter get dressed. So many kids hide b/c in a dark smokey house a firefighter who is much larger than a person b/c of gear and talks like darth vador b/c of the oxygen tank is very very scary. Teach them to never ever run or hide from a firefighter. And of course, teach them 911.

Our Miss Lady Lou

Our blog is always about the kiddo's and their happenings...but my first baby is definitely my sweet, cozy Cocker Spaniel, Lady. After reading "The Art of Racing in the Rain" I've realized how much I love my girl, how important to me she is, and how much she is a part of this family. She's getting a tad older, turning 7 in July (our 49 yrs) so when I took her to her vet for a check up and they said she has the beginning stages of Cataracts, I became very sad...I've always thought of this "eye disease" as an "old dog" ailment. And I do not think of Lady as old, many people don't...most people ask me if she's still a puppy, 2 or 3 years old. Even the vet said she does seem much younger than her 7 years...but "old dog" things are still beginning to happen. Thankfully, it's not really that big a deal and I'm loving every single minute of her puppiness...so here's to my Lady and all her cuddliness.