Week 2

Week 2 was a busy week but the kids had a great time. Swimming lessons were going and the kids loved playing in the back yard but we added some adventures as well.

Amaya, their cousin, invited them to the park for a fun play date. The kids had a great time swinging, going down slides and running around while I had fun chatting with my Great Aunt Kathy and Amaya's Mom, Dee.

 Every year growing up we always went to the Alameda County Fair. I have fond memories of having dance recitals there, watching the horse races, going to concerts, riding the rides and eating all the gross but yummy fair food. This year they were celebrating their 100 year anniversary so my Dad and I decided to go. We ate curly fries, pizza and fresh squeezed lemonade. We even had shaved ice which Elizabeth ended up giving her face a shaved ice facial. Her face, belly, arms and legs were dyed red with streaks from the flavorings. The kids got to ride some rides and after a couple of hours in the heat, everyone was tuckered out.

This is what happens when I let my kids play unattended in my parents backyard; they decide to make a mud pit and get mud on EVERYTHING! I thought it was funny but I think my Dad was a bit less amused.

One of the great things that I enjoy doing when I come home for a visit is to see old friends. I was able to have dinner with some of the gals that I was a cheerleader with in high school. We try to get together at least once a year to catch up. (2 fine ladies were missing.) I was also able to hang with Ashly and Susan who were my neighbors down the street growing up. They are extended family to me. We ALWAYS have a great time together no matter what we end up doing but in this case, we went to Jack London Square for lunch, saw Rock of Ages and then had a photo shoot sporting our sexy 'staches.

Elizabeth was so excited to get a bike while she was here. I bought a bike off of Craigslist for Isaac but my Aunt Jaci gave us her daughter, Emily's old bike. Back at home Elizabeth was still having a hard time with the peddles but she got the hang of it here and has enjoyed going on bike rides.

Week 1 with the Wuehler's

Not only have we been hanging with the Gordillo's, but we have been hanging with the Wuehler's too. The kids love coming to Grandma and Grandpa's house because they get to play with different toys and play with Uncle Paul and Auntie Jennifer.

Paul had fun playing baseball with the kids out in the front yard

Jeanne set out a pool in the yard for the kids to play with. Daniel tried to keep up with the kids but Isaac and Elizabeth were a bit much for him at times. All the kids had fun in the water. Poor William just wished he could play with everyone too.

The kids also went to the park with Jeanne, Paul, Melanie and Jennifer while William slept and I had some time to "read." I ended up reading a book and the inside of my eyelids. I guess whenever I get a "free, quiet" moment, my body realizes how sleep deprived it really is.

Week 1 with the Gordillo's

As we are coming to a close of week 1 of 8 that we have been in CA, I figured that I should update our happenings. We have had a busy week. The kids have gotten to see the garden that they will be attending to at their Choo Choo Papa and Choo Choo Grandma's home.(Great-grandparents) They like to go over not only to visit, but they know where all the well stocked candy dishs are.

Becoming a nightly ritual, the kids like to go in the hot tub with Papa and Nana. William even goes in, sans swimsuit. He LOVES it; splashing his arms and kicking his legs endlessly.

I am enjoying having a backyard with a fence. At home the kids just can't go play in the back yard because it isn't fenced in. Here they can go out and play in the dirt, blow bubbles, play chalk and steal their Papa's golf balls. We even got them each a bike and Isaac also has a scooter to play with.

On of the outings that we went on was to Tilden park by Berkeley. The kids had a great time riding the steam train and the merry-go-round. They were treated to hot dogs, lemonade, ice cream and cotton candy. I was doing everything I could to hope that the kids don't barf it up on the way home.

On Father's day we went to my Uncle Bill's home to hang with the whole Gordillo clan minus Nico, Jim, Michael, Cierra and Mikey. It was nice to eat and hang out with everyone that I haven't seen in a while. The kids had fun too vying for everyone's attention.

We also had a treat from my Auntie Jaci and cousin Emily, a trip to Chabot theatre to watch Madagascar 3. The kids loved it and enjoyed being able to eat candy and popcorn and drink soda.

The kids also started swimming lessons this week. I was really excited for them since they have been in lessons back home since February. Elizabeth cried through her first lesson but was fine during her second. She normally swims on her tummy by herself, dives for rings in the 4 ft of water and goes under with no problems. Here, she is content just playing with a toy and blowing bubbles. I think it is because she is used to a 90* pool and this one is 82*.

Getting ready to Leave

During the last few days before we headed to CA for 8 weeks, we had some eventful times. Isaac graduated from 4k which made him super excited for kindergarten in the fall and an even more "big boy. He loved his teacher, Miss Angel, and I am sure will miss seeing his friends this summer.

In between graduation and packing, I ended up severely straining my lower back and got a staph infection in my leg. No Bueno. After one of the 3 doctor's visits I had in a week, I walked in the door to hear Elizabeth in the bath. Before I had walked 2 steps inside, Jim told me before I get mad, to go and look at my camera. This is what I came home to...........

Yes, once again Elizabeth has succeeded in getting into my make-up. Lucky for me she sis not use my tube of MAC lipstick. After a long bath and a thick, red ring in the bathtub, she was finally cleaned. Well, that is her body was clean. She ended up using a TON of my eyebrow wax pencil, I use it to keep my eyebrows in place, all in her hair. How do you get wax out of hair that can't be burned out? Vaseline and A LOT of dish soap to help cut the grease.

Memorial Day

 On Memorial day, we took a bike ride and watched the parade that our little town does. The kids enjoyed watching all the "soldiers" come by, the marching band, tractors, firetrucks, race cars and more. They also enjoyed receiving free ice cream, otter pops and TONS of candy! It seemed like anyone who went by threw candy our way. After the parade we went to Legion Park in our town for a big town BBQ. They had a great memorial service for all who gave their lives for this country, a DJ and a chicken bbq lunch. Isaac had fun playing frisbee with Jim. During the picnic, there was a sudden downpour of rain and all 5 of us tried to roll up in a sheet together to stay dry. It was pretty comical.

 Later on in the day, we hosted 21 people for a bbq if our own. Everyone had a great time, especially all the kids. They didn't even wait to put on their swim suits. They just went in the pool with all their clothes on. They also had a great time playing at the park and playing in the driveway with all of our toys. Isaac told me it was such an awesome day because he got to go on a bike ride, see a parade, eat candy, play at the park, have tons of friends over and get wet. It put a smile on my face and I can't wait to do it all over again.