Birthday Vote

It's my birthday tomorrow! Still on the east coast and for those wondering, Hurricane Irene didn't hit us too hard - just some wind and rain, and a brief black out. Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering what you can do for me for my birthday, right? How about this - vote for Ladybug Music! We've been nominated for the Totally Awesome Awards on Red Tricycle. Click here to vote for Ladybug in the "Music-Artists-CDs" category. Then click here to vote one more time in the "Music Class" category. Please, and thank you. The perfect long-distance birthday gift. Go Ladybug Music!

See Ya on the East Coast

Heading east for a much needed trip to see family. Kids have been counting down for days, and we're looking forward to a nice break before school starts, work resumes, and eventual baby prep begins. Here's to safe travels, no trips to the emergency room, no earthquakes!, and quality time with family we miss sooo much. I also get to celebrate turning 34 in my home state. Woo hoo!

Family Dinner

I love it when family comes to town. Tonight we had dinner with my Aunt Wendy and Uncle Bill, cousins Morganne and Hannah. Hannah (holding Audrey) is moving here for college. Going to LMU. We are so happy to have her nearby, and my kids love her - so she might get roped into occasional babysitting. It was great to spend the evening with them, and makes me happy have a little more family here on the west coast.

Goings On

This has been a big week. Audrey graduated from the orthopedic hospital, and Tyler filled his last cavity. Thank goodness! I'm hoping we don't have to visit a doctor's office anytime soon, except for maybe flu shots, or for Adam to get the whooping cough vaccine since baby boy is coming, or to check on baby boy. But that's it! We are doctored out. Here's a little more of what we've been up to this week:

Play date with buddies Mason and Charlie. Tyler and Mason kept busy in train land.

I walked in the room and this was Charlie and Audrey. Could they look more girlie? Charlie applying lip gloss, Audrey brushing Charlie's hair all decked out like a princess.

Every once in a while you do something in LA that makes you feel like you live in Small Town, USA. There was a little carnival set up down the street. We checked it out. No crowds, old school rides. It was a blast, and we felt like we lived in Dillon, Texas for a couple hours (Friday Night Lights fans).

Hands down my favorite part - Audrey riding this caterpillar roller coaster. All by herself (Tyler just wanted to watch), laughing, joyous. It was truly adorable.

A few other things:
This is the last week of Ladybug Music's summer session. Looking forward to an end-of-summer break.
Tyler loves basketball class, and we always play at the park afterward.
Adam took the kids for haircuts, then to The Playroom.
Date night for me and Adam. Dinner at Hugo's, then an outdoor movie with friends.
The very last drive to downtown LA for Audrey's arm check, while Tyler played with his best girl, Josie.
Visited my good friend Kelly for a much needed haircut and color. Got rid of those grays!
Met Saskia's baby boy. Just two weeks old. So sweet.
Can't believe Adam and I have almost finished all five seasons of Friday Night Lights! We've been obsessed. Is it sad that two of my summer goals were to watch the entire seasons of this show and Mad Men? Done and done. Who needs summer reading?
Lots of errands.
Pedicure!
Figuring out fall classes for the kids. Swim class at the Y? Gotta get Audrey back in dance class.
This week I hit 7 months pregnant! Getting bigger and a tiny bit more uncomfortable with baby boy. Harder to bend over, still sick (ugh), have to sleep with the body pillow now. I've had a bunch of people tell me that I'm either "glowing" (probably just too much bronzer), or I "popped" this week. We still need boy names!
Less than ONE WEEK until we board a plane for the east coast to visit family! Can't wait.
Two and a half weeks 'til school starts. So exciting, although not looking forward to our early morning wake-ups.

School Lunch

It's coming. School! I am going to have a full-day Kindergartner. I have been thinking about packing lunch lately. Maybe because Tyler is one of those kids who ignores hunger until he throws a nice ol' tantrum. So far not on a teacher, he likes to save the tantrum until I pick him up. Good times. Then I look at his snack and see that he barely ate a thing. Trying to slowly gather good ideas for lunch packing. I found this site. This Lunch Rox. And while I won't necessarily be cutting all my kids' sandwiches into crazy shapes or writing their name in string cheese, it has some great ideas.This post on packing school lunch is great, too, and I love lots of Trainer Momma's ideas and recipes - very practical. Of course I know Tyler's favorites, and I'm gonna have him shop with me occasionally, (or at least help me with my grocery list), so he's involved in packing his lunch. One of our favorites is of course PB&J, and Audrey's school has a no peanut policy - so we'll need to think up something new, as she also packs lunch two days a week. Some ideas are cucumber cream cheese sandwiches (they love these), homemade energy bars, all sorts of muffins a-la Trainer Momma, a "dip" lunch full of fruit, veggies, pita bread, pretzels, hummus, maybe some ranch. Mamas of school-aged kids - what are your favorite (or your kids' favorites) school lunch foods, tips, tricks? Maybe I'm a major mom-dork for thinking about this a lot lately, but hey - it's on my mind, and who doesn't like getting ready for "back to school"? Gotta pick up some new lunch boxes, too.

A Little Baking

I am attempting to bake more. Something I don't really love, but my kids like to help, and who doesn't want a little dessert? I'm trying out some "healthier" recipes, a la Weelicious, Skinny Taste, or Trainer Momma. Tonight, these raisin-oatmeal cookies, (we made craisin oatmeal). Next up, Trainer Momma's favorite healthy cookies, which contain chocolate chips so my kids are a little more excited about these. (Trainer Momma has a ton of recipes I wanna try). Also wanna try this rice pudding. Hoping some of these healthier cookies and mini-muffins will make good snacks during the week. One big batch on Sunday maybe? I'm sure there will be some hits and misses - it's kind of an experiment. Have any favorite healthier baking or dessert recipes? Please pass along!

Friday's Skirball Adventure

We spent last Friday at Noah's Ark at The Skirball Museum. It was a blast and totally worth paying the price for tickets that day. The free days are pretty packed. I forgot my camera so I stole this photo off Amber's blog, (more Noah's Ark photos if you click the link). We've seen a lot of Amber and her kids this summer, which makes me really, really happy. Who knows, maybe we will see more of them if we move up to their area soon. (It's looking like a definite possibility). Audrey and Tyler just love these kids.

Pony Rides and More

This week is full of busy and fun. The busy part is the apartment building. Also the kids both got cavities filled (the grown-up way, so no getting crazy drugged, or tied down to dentist chairs - thank goodness!). They both did great with Dr. Lee which is such a relief. Adam is officially on hiatus from iCarly so while I taught Ladybug he took Tyler and Audrey to Travel Town, Audrey to dance class. As grateful as I am to all our babysitters, I love knowing Adam is home with the kids when I work... that they're out doing fun things, running around town. So nice. We swam at the pool, had an awesome pizza night at Miceli's. How have I never been there before? It's just down the street, great atmosphere, great food. Kid friendly. The waiters sing, too, and after dinner Audrey said, "Someday I'm going to be a waiter and sing songs". She wanted the microphone sooo bad. Can you throw a three year old karaoke party? I might have to find out. Speaking of things (kinda) right down the street that I've never done before - pony rides at Griffith Park. Adam and I took the kids this morning and it was so, so fun. I can't believe this is the first time we've gone (been on my to-do list forever). It's nearby, relatively inexpensive. The weather was gorgeous. Besides the ponies, there's a wagon ride, train ride, and little food stand for snacks. We'll be back for sure. Here are some photos from today's adventure:

Brother and sister love on the train. Me and Adam.

Next stop the covered wagon ride. Tyler was psyched for this one.

Audrey riding her first pony. Both she and Tyler rode the "slow" ponies.

They also took a ride on the pony sweep. They loved every minute. Tyler kept calling out, "I'm a cowboy".

Such a fun morning. Tomorrow we meet Amber and kids at The Skirball Museum for Noah's Ark. Let us know if you wanna come along?

August Begins

Can you believe it? August?! This summer has flown by. So much going on, mostly fun. This week was full of to dos, but Friday Adam had the day off work so we took the kids to Santa Monica, did a little shopping on the promenade, Barney's Beanery for lunch. Here we are on the pier:

Taking a ride on the carousel. It's a must every time we hit Santa Monica.

Audrey has Adam's eyes in this shot.

A walk out on the pier to check out the beach and waves. It was a gorgeous day, I could've sat out there forever.

Enjoying a morning out with daddy.

We've had nice week, albeit busy - especially with the apartment building. A few more things we've been up to:
Library trip.
Music class with Audrey while Tyler played with his best girl, Josie.
Water aerobics and swimming.
Impromptu post-basketball class park date with a bunch of friends.
Adam and I went to the iCarly wrap party. Another season done. It was very swanky, on the roof of the W Hotel in Hollywood. It's always fun to meet the people Adam spends his days with, and of course there were a ton of tween stars in attendance. If I were 16 I would have been especially psyched.
Totally and completely not getting enough sleep because of our obsession with Friday Night Lights. Almost to season 3. Great show!
Celebrated the birthdays of my two best girls, Jen and Adriana, from afar. Chatted with Miles and Aly. Miles passed along some good boy names.
Started back-to-school shopping for the kids. Tyler picked out his back pack. Both got a new pair of shoes. Audrey is all signed up for preschool. One more month!
Working toward 26 weeks pregnant and feeling pretty good. Sickness isn't quite as intense, although this week was so busy I am completely wiped out. My heart is broken for a dear friend who recently lost her baby boy. Born early, and fought a good fight for two weeks. Puts every. single. thing in perspective. Life is precious - strong and fragile at the same time. Inspired by the strength of those around me, and the opportunities that exist for us all.

Here's to enjoying every moment of this next week ahead.

Tonight's Easy Dinner

It's not really a recipe recipe, but these quesadillas are making me, Tyler, and Audrey happy tonight. We made them with the turkey pepperoni, and added onions and peppers, too. Apple slices or baby carrots on the side. Adam has been working late all week and I've needed easy meals that everyone will actually eat, and I don't mind cooking (usual default is Trader Joe's or Fresh & Easy). Tyler said we could make a cheeseburger-dilla next time, also a great idea! Feel free to pass along any favorite, easy, kid-friendly meals (that you, yourself, enjoy eating, too).

Laker in Training

Tyler is taking a basketball class this summer. He's playing great! The first week he sat on the bench and watched. He and Adam practiced all week (Adam is a huge basketball fan), and this week Tyler jumped right in. I had prepared myself for more nerves, but he wasn't the tiniest bit nervous.
Tyler and his coach.

How cute are these kids watching their teammate?My date, from the sideline.

Basket! Seriously, this kid impressed me today.

So proud of our little athlete.