36

I am so lucky! Today was:

Exercise

Jamba Juice with girlfriends

Quiet time at home
Lots of well wishes

Surprise goodies from friends and family
No cooking
No cleaning

Family party
Dinner out!

Bake You Happy

The Great Gatsby movie night with Adam.

Thank you to everyone who made me feel really special today (and this whole week for that matter). Kickin' off 36 feeling blessed and immensely grateful, and that is all, and everything.

Two of my party planners.

Hair

No more grays! Just in time for (gulp) 36. Thanks to my wonderful Kelly for the great company, and fixin' me up. Spending the morning with her was a little birthday present to myself.

Typical Day Stuff

This is the cutie-pie I spend my days with. Today he was my buddy for exercise class and groceries. One of our favorite things to do though, is read.

And these are the crazies I pick up from school. Usually Nathan up front, and my two, but today Kaleb came along. Lucky to have good friends and neighbors at school.

Two kids at the same school, same pick up and drop off, is proving quite nice.

A Little More Birthday

Yesterday Adam's mom had the day off and came to hang with the kids while we went out. We had this big ol' day planned (driving to Santa Barbara, renting bikes). Sadly we were brought back to our apartment manager days when a pipe under our sink broke and water was everywhere - kitchen and living room. Sigh. Luckily it got taken care of in time for Adam and I to still fit in some fun, stayed local instead. Shopped for furniture (redoing our bedroom), a jogging stroller (in the market now that it's me and Cole home alone), and make-up. Dinner at Wokano (had never been before and it was deeeelish), followed by more shopping, me coveting everything in this store. Adam takes pretty good care of me (I'd say we do to each other). Happy for an afternoon spent just the two of us.

Girls + Beach

Birthday week kick-off with the Encino Girls - some of my favorite women on the planet! I'm so lucky to have known them for eight years! (Eight years ago this month Adam and I moved to Encino - crazy!) Spent the day at Zuma, just us, no kids. Talking and eating (Jackie even brought ingredients for a full-on salad to share). Dinner after sunset at The Habit.

Amber, Jackie, Emily, Brooke, and me. Only missing Renee.

When was the last time you sat on the beach and watched the sunset with your girlfriends?! Perfect.

Catch Up

I think I've kind of hermited myself away adjusting to "life after summer vacation". Anyone else's kids a little extra crazy this week? Over here we are slightly more emotional and sensitive - adjusting to change, and the new year. Good news is the kids come home raving about school, teachers, and friends. Telling me all sorts of stories. We are getting used to everyone out the door by 7:50am. I know in another week it will be old hat again. Wonderful and strange to have Tyler and Audrey both in school all day. Lots of time with my little guy. Brings up so many thoughts and emotions - time going way too quickly, but happy for more freedom than I've had in five years.

I will have more to blog about soon enough, my birthday is right around the corner - I think I've got some good stuff planned. And back to school night, Labor Day Weekend. Fun ahead!

A few photos from our week. Went to the Aquatic Center after school. Always great to go once school is back - empty!

Brother love.

Had the older McCoy kids over one afternoon while Brooke was out of town. How cute are Audrey and Baylie?!

Cole and Carter hangin' at Amber's pool with their snacks. These adorable little guys are home with their mamas all week. Lucky us!

First Day

We made it! Finally together at the same school. First day Kindergarten and Second Grade:

Tyler found his friends on the playground, waved goodbye and we barely saw him walk to class when the bell rang. They were all so happy to see each other.

Audrey on the Kindergarten playground. Didn't seem one bit nervous, and walked right in to class. I might've shed a couple tears (Adam, too.)

Poor Cole bedhead and pjs. Dragged out of bed for the morning festivities.

After drop off Adam, Cole and I hit Panera Bread for celebratory breakfast. Best part for Cole - Adam's sandwich came with potato chips. Kid was in heaven with his little bag of chips, and we got him OJ in a big kid cup.

Here's to a good first day!

*After school update - They both had a great day. Talked non-stop about their class, friends, and teachers over these delicious chocolate chip cookies. Success!

Last Day Summer Vacation

Spent the morning in pjs hangin' around the house and playing in the yard, enjoying our last lazy day. One benefit of Adam's hiatus - we were able to take the kids out for some one-on-one time. The boys at In-N-Out:

Audrey and I hit Menchie's for a fro-yo date. Perfect time to give her a little gift for the first day of Kindergarten, from Mommy and Daddy.

Backpacks and lunch boxes ready. First day outfits picked out. Bring on the new school year!

Almost Back to School

We found their classrooms and met the teachers. Ate ice-cream with our friends. Everything looks in place for a great year - fingers crossed! Sure do love their school.

Audrey's Kindergarten class with Mrs. Williams.

 Tyler's 2nd/3rd grade combo class with Ms. Caskey.

They are both very excited. We're ready to enjoy the last day of summer vacation tomorrow.

Bunch of Stuff

Have you seen the Baby Bachelor?! I think there are five episodes. Amazing.

Adam and I have been watching The Kennedys on line. Very good and super interesting. Pretty good acting too.

Went on a big ol' Costco shopping trip - time to pack school lunch again. Two this time! Bought new water bottles hoping to save juice boxes for the occasional treat this year - they add up!

This book is the best back to school book for us this year. Big Brother. Sister going to Kindergarten. Perfect! And I must've had it when I was little - I remember so many of the pictures.

Audrey's showing her first sign of Kindergarten nerves. I've already cried once. Ha! Even when you know your kid is ready it still gets ya. My baby girl is growing up. I got her a little charm bracelet to wear on her first day - will give it to her tomorrow night.

If you haven't yet, please vote for Ladybug Music for Best Music Class in LA! Voting ends Thursday.

Picked tomatoes, peaches, and apples at Grandma and Grandpa's this weekend. Got back-to-school haircuts from Grandma.

Cole is in constant motion. Always! Sword in one hand, purse in the other - what else does a toddler need?! (Can you tell he has a big brother and sister?)

We're off to meet teachers this afternoon at school orientation and ice cream social. Hurrah!

Week Round Up

This morning's reading time, me and my early riser. Shouldn't be a problem for Tyler to get up on time for school - I don't think he's slept past 7:15am all summer. But I'm sure gonna miss lazy mornings.

Looking over our summer I notice I post a lot about outings, but we've spent quite a bit of time at home, too. I think we hit a good balance. My kids love their toys, and we love spending time in the yard, so we're happy to be homebodies some days.

We finally had Tyler's buddy Noah over to play this week. These boys have been waiting for this since the last day of school, and we managed to make it happen with one week left of summer! Kept themselves busy with lots and lots and lots of Legos.

 While the boys played Audrey and I brushed tons of Barbie and My Little Pony hair.

A little dress up. Remember when she looked like this?!

Today's "fancy" lunch for three:

And Anne and baby Charlotte came for a visit. How cute is she?!

Back yard picnic pizza night!

Thanks to a groupon about to expire, Adam took the big kids to the Wildlife Learning Center this afternoon. We sure have seen a lot of animals this past week.

Swam a bunch this week, too. Hit Alli's pool and hot tub with some of our old Studio City friends. So great to see them! All these kids were once babies together.

And new lunch boxes from Aunt Lauren (nice to have an aunt who works for pbk). Gearin' up for the big first day over here.

Train!

Yesterday's Travel Town outing started with Cole's first bee sting. On his cheek - if you can see it's kinda red. So sad! Nothing like a little sugar to make you feel better - juice and fruit snacks.

Train ride perked him up. Wish I took video - Cole was clapping, so excited saying "train, train, train!" Makes me look forward to the time I'll have with him when school starts next week.

I also forgot wipes and Cole pooped - it was one of those kind of outings.

Penny and Audrey. Seriously can't get over how gorgeous these two are. I'm sorry - I just can't. Emily and I are hoping for college roommates.

All our awesome friends who joined us for the morning. Love spending time with Michelle and Emily, too. Such great friends!

Summer Trip, Day Two

We woke up nice and early thanks to kids. Breakfast at the hotel, hit the pool and hot tub again, then off to La Jolla Cove. Best find of the trip - gorgeous! Places to swim, picnic, snorkel, kayak, caves to explore, tons of sea lions swimming and sun bathing, pelicans, tide pools with shells, little fish, anemone, and tiny crabs. Cutest little beach town, too. I'm already planning a trip back (or can I just move there?) We loved it.

Look how clear the water is:

If you can tell there are sea lions laying all over these rocks. They would bark when people got too close, or dive in the ocean. So cool!

Exploring caves.

Cole spent most of his time with sand toys on the beach.

 La Jolla was probably our favorite stop.

Next - Cafe Rio. My girlfriends, Adam's mom, and pretty much anyone who's eaten here raves about it. There are copycat recipes all over pinterest. It was a must-stop for me on our drive back. Food was deeelish (got the salad with chicken - Amber's suggestion), and they have mint limeade. Yum!

Finally Balboa Island. Quaint little beach town, and pier with ferris wheel and rides.

Cherrie and her kids were visiting grandparents in Orange County and met us on the island. We were in the Studio City ward together, and they moved to Illinois a couple years ago. Great to spend the evening with them and catch up.

Cherrie and baby Dolly. Love them!

Joaquin, Tyler, Kai, Monica, Audrey.

We bought some pretty shells. Visited this candy shop to bring home salt water taffy and other cool candy finds. Got ice-cream - Balboa bars and frozen bananas are a big deal.

Took the ferry to the pier at sunset. Walked around a bit chatting with our friends, kids running around - staying up waaay late. Summer fun.

A wonderful trip! Tyler came home and wrote all about it in his journal - so cute. We had fussy moments here and there (just like any day), but a lovely time - talking, laughing, spending time just the five of us away from the distractions of home and to-do's. Will be planning another for sure.