Take Off

~ Girlmom ~ 4 Comments

This last week has been rough. Kaili started kindergarten the past Monday and as the week went on, the harder the days got. I prepared her her as much as I could for our trip, maybe too much. There were days leading up to our departure that I wish someone would have told me how I was supposed to act and feel because I was doubting everything. She was very sad and I was very sad.

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When we said our goodbyes, there were some tears but I know we all will be just fine. Kaili walked to school with grandma and Averi and with a last wave goodbye,
we headed to the airport.

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I’m not going to lie and say how tough it was waiting for our flight. I watched other moms entertaining their kids while I sat back with a glass of wine.

We had three legs to our trip, San Diego to Atlanta, Atlanta to Sao Paulo and then on to Rio.

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We didn’t get enough sleep on our red eye so we had a hard time keeping our eyes open on our layover in Sao Paulo.

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Luckily that last flight was quick because I was “stick a fork in me” done.

Our luggage made it off the plane promptly and while Shane grabbed the last of our bags I had already paid for a taxi. We were on our way. It took about an hour to get to our condo, there was a lot of traffic and the main road was closed due to the games. The not so friendly police officer didn’t care if we were staying on that street so our driver was forced to take a longer detour.

I have had an exceptional time corresponding with our AirBNB host. We were greeted at our resort condo with all the information we needed.

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Our view is pretty nice and although you can’t see it in this picture, the olympic stadium is to the right. We are literally across the street, it’s actually closer in person than I thought it was. After we got our access passes for the resort pool, we strolled over to the supermarket. Picking up a few of the necessities like coffee, beer, water and flip flops.

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We are so wiped, hoping to make it until at least 7:00 before we call it a day. Tomorrow David plays fourth on after 11:00 am. Probably 4:ish here and noonish in  California.

As I write this I am looking out the window. There are some men playing soccer and beyond that there is a shopping center. I think that is what we will do in the morning. I will report back with the goodies I find.

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The Best of What’s Around

~ Girlmom ~ 1 Comment

It’s been years since I have seen Dave Matthews in concert, the young kids really throw a damper on late night concerts. He (Dave) didn’t even come to SD last year, side eye to you DM. So when I heard they were coming back I wanted, no, needed to go. I mentioned it to Shane, and then a few weeks later I  told Shane about it…and then I reminded Shane and so on and so forth. He, of course got us tickets…not without telling me how I ruined his “surprise”  and then I was beside myself with excitement for this day to come. It’s been about 6 or 7 years since we have seen them live and 21 years since I first heard them…woah, that ages me.

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I had more fun than Shane did. He hasn’t loved them like I have but we had a good time. We enjoyed  VIP access and box seats. In reality the VIP area isn’t really necessary for the price. It gives you a place to drink and free food to eat while a DJ plays top 40 music. But the seats, those are great. Nothing better than having waited service so you don’t have miss any songs.

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When I  was 18 years old  I went to Vegas to see the Grateful Dead. I was roaming through a hotel, not yet old enough to gamble or drink  but I tossed some quarters into a pull machine and I won, of course…and then I got the hell out of there. Funny the way it is.

When we arrived at the concert venue I was worried about getting sprayed with LSD water. I know, it sounds crazy but it was hot and I had heard that some concert “goers” would dose spray bottles and squirt random people. I was SO paranoid about that, I couldn’t enjoy myself. In reality nothing happened and I don’t know if that ever happened but I must have heard it somewhere. Then the opening band started, some new band called The Dave Matthews Band. They were so good and I instantly fell in love, bought their music and haven’t stopped to this day.

 

 

 

A Day by the Sea

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We have been keeping busy the past few weekends. The Chula Vista Harbor fest is the one thing we do each year. It’s the perfect mix for kids and adults. Most of the time you find these festivals have it all, food, booze and a kids zone. But in the city of San Diego, the booze has to be kept in a 21 and over “beer garden.” In Chula Vista, they don’t give a shit and we like that kind of thinking. We can grab a drink and walk around with our kids or sip our wine while our kids bounce in the jumpers. I mean it really is common sense, happy parents + happy life?

The girls had so much fun. From the bouncers to the ice cream…they were kept busy.

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Kaili did a little bungee jumping.

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Ave’s had fun on the playground.

 

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There was hula hooping. I just realized I don’t know how to spell that…is it hula or hoola? Oh, man.

It’s all fun and games outside of SD limits.

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After the festival we headed to Coronado for a late lunch. A day out in San Diego really does feel like a mini stay cation.. What’s not to love?

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Seahawks and Questions

~ Girlmom ~ 3 Comments

Shane is watching the Seattle game so I thought I should blog. Minutes passed and I couldn’t think of anything to write. I have some festival pictures to share with you soon but for now, this is what I am doing..a survey blog post. Pull up a chair.

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1.What are your favorite smells? 

Coffee, ocean air and anything coconut.

2.Can you go a whole day without caffeine?

Well I did it for two trimesters so I guess I can.

3.Who knows more about you than anyone else?

Shane

4.What song did you last listen to?

Say Goodbye DMB

5.Who is your celebrity crush?

I have more than one. Dave Matthews, Michael Vartan, Ben Affleck and David Beckham

6. Most romantic moment?

Marriage proposal in the Caribbean

7.If you could choose one color to wear for a whole year, what color would you choose?
Black

8.Do you cook often?

You know I do

9.What was the last film you watched? Did you like it?

Eye in the Sky, yes very good

10. Can you sew?
I can put a button back on if you need it.

11.What is your favorite fruit?

Fresh papaya with fresh lime juice

12. When was the last time you had a pint of beer?

Hmm, a few months ago? But I just tried horchata beer and it was really good.

13. Is there a certain food you often crave for no reason?

Chicken wings

14.Where was your last vacation?

Real vacation? Europe four years ago. Gah, that is sad.

15.How do you like your eggs? 

Preferably poached on top of a fluffy english muffin with fresh tomato, crispy bacon and smothered in hollandaise sauce.

16.What was your last argument about and who with?

Probably the 5 year old about eating.

17. Are you satisfied with the way your life is right now?

Absolutely

18.Do you drink enough water?

Everyday

19. When was the last time you ate at Burger King?

Before I had kids, who knows.

20.Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?

Always the beach

21.When was the last time you wore high heeled shoes?

Girls night

22. Vodka or wine?

Wine

23 Have you met more than ten celebrities?

No, but sign me up

24.Do you sleep naked?

Nope

25.What was the best music gig you’ve attended?

One of the DMB concerts, too hard to choose.

26. Do you think Benedict Cumberbatch is hot?

No

27.Favorite Disney princess?

Ariel, the little mermaid

28. Favorite city?

Paris

29.What do you fear most about death?

Leaving my girls

30. Introvert or Extrovert?

Extrovert

31. Favorite TV shows?

Homeland, Life in Pieces, Animal Kingdom and SATC, ok, throw Girls in there too.

32. Are you scared of anything?

Losing my girls and clowns

33. Any Phobias?

No but if running into a clown in a dark alley is a phobia, I have that.

34. Do you like to play board games?
LOVE THEM.
35.Would you eat a live spider for one million dollars?

Yes, wouldn’t anyone?

36.What is one thing you wish had zero calories?

WINE!!

A Reason to Cook

~ Girlmom ~ 3 Comments

I gazpacho you a recipe. I’ve been holding out of you. I found the best recipe for gazpacho, seriously. It’s from Food and Wine and it’s called Gazpacho on Fire. Basically you throw all the veg on a roasting pan and once it’s nice and charred you peel, seed and throw it in a food processor with a few other goodies.

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It really is one of the best I have had and perfect for these hot days.

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We’ve been beating the heat by heading to the bay early in the morning. The playground has sand and the sprinklers are on providing perfect sand castle material.

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We had a low key weekend which was really nice but Kaili is getting stir crazy. I thought that since her first day of school was before Labor day that she was starting early, but  compared to other kids in CA she is one of the last…and I’m jealous. I’m ready, she’s ready and I think even Averi’s ready.

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Long Time No See

~ Girlmom ~ 1 Comment

It’s been forever since I blogged huh? I just don’t seem to have the time now that Kaili is out of school, or should I say my free time at night is spent watching trashy reality shows? I mean, how good is Bachelor in Paradise? And it just started.

Last I left off Averi had turned two years old. She had her doctor visit and she is perfect, a little small in the weight department but this girl eats so I am not concerned. We’ve been through this with Kaili already, it’s so much easier on the mind the second time around. About four days after that doctor visit Averi came down with a fever that lasted three days followed by a rash. Turns out she had Roseola and I am sure she caught it at the office.

I had been having a hell of time with her at night. She would cry and cry for hours before finally giving in and going to sleep. I was all set to move Kaili out of the room and go big, letting her cry it out without going in there at all, per her Pediatrician’s advice. But after her bout with that nasty virus, she went back to her old self and no more crying at night. Who knows what that was about, hopefully we are good now, because I was about to lose my mind.

We’ve been busy spending time at my parents house in OC. The girls have been swimming, to the petting zoo, playing at the parks and splashgrounds.

Our good friends came out for a visit from Arizona and of course the first stop was breakfast at World Famous on the beach.

Averi doesn’t dig the beach, just like Kaili wasn’t fond of it. Luckily Kristi and I got a chance to head to the beach sans kids and it was magical. We  laid in the sun and played in the water without any worries.

We also had our sitter come and watch the girls while we spent the day in Ramona wine tasting! The girls had fun, we had fun, everyone wins.

Kaili has another month until Kinder starts and soon after that we head to Rio. I will try to be better about writing but I promise I will be blogging the Paralympics and our trip to Brazil!

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BAE is TWO

~ Girlmom ~ 2 Comments

I can not believe that Averi just turned TWO years old,  I also can not believe that it’s been two years since she came home. It’s hard to imagine life without her and it’s hard to believe I haven’t spent a night away from her.

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We didn’t have a big party and  I haven’t finished going through all the photos, so this will be a short post.

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But a bragging post about how much this child is loved. My heart is full and I hope she understands one day how my heart aches for her.

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She is a perfect half girly girl and a perfect half dare devil!

She is TWO!

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Keeping Busy

~ Girlmom ~ 1 Comment

Kaili has two more weeks at her school and then she is out for summer. I finished her Kinder paperwork which I have been procrastinating on. She is up to date with her school vaccinations but she still needs to have a doctor fill out a medical record and apparently they want the same done with her dentist.Two things that are easy to want to push aside, but I finally made appointments to get it done.

We have been watching a lot of soccer with the Copa America going on. Kaili picked out a new shirt to wear for our viewing pleasure.

How do you like that garden back there? We have been eating a lot of sweet tomatoes, plenty of  zucchini and we have six baby artichokes on the way.

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I have been taking Averi to the park in the mornings without K so I can focus on playing one on one with her. She is not as adventurous as her sister was but slowly she is starting to test her fear.

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Can you believe she is going to be two in less than a month? Ya, me either. She looks up to her sister, has to do whatever it is Kaili is doing, eating, watching you name it. It’s what I always wanted with siblings but it’s also very draining.

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The girls were  invited to a birthday party out in Ramona last weekend. The land you can have out there is attractive to me but then again you are out in Ramona which isn’t attractive at all, to me.

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We try to stop at a winery or two when we are out there. This time we tried one that had recently opened. It had a great outside area, live music and luckily some decent wine. The girls  spent most of their time chasing the dog around. The little winery Chihuahua was the hit until she stole Averi’s chocolate chip cookie and booked it across the lot. Averi was more stunned than upset and I was more worried about the tiny dog eating a whole cookie, but the owners weren’t phased. Must happen often.

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TK Graduation

~ Girlmom ~ 2 Comments

Kaili is officially out of transitional kindergarten and on her way to elementary school.

She has always enjoyed school and most of her teachers. Last week she “graduated” from TK and it brought all of the emotions.

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Saying thank you and goodbye to her 3 year old teacher, Mrs. Borck is moving back East.

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They handed out little diplomas, omg y’all SO CUTE!IMG_9029

Then they sang.

I was in the minority for only recording ONE of their songs, you’re welcome.

Kaili singing at graduation

She was the best, come on, you know I am right.

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Today was her Kindergarten orientation at our neighborhood elementary school.  It seems   most people aren’t attending  their neighborhood schools anymore. They are  lotto-ing into the local immersion programs, the “better” schools down the way, or they are coughing up the big bucks for the best private schools.

Now, don’t think we didn’t play around with the same thoughts, we did. But in the end we agreed on her attending our neighborhood school.

It’s diverse, ethnically, racially and monetary. She will meet friends that live near our streets and it’s walking distance. For me, those are all important factors I want her to know as “normal”.

Wandering around her soon to be Kinder campus I had mixed emotions. From holy shit, she is going to be in elementary school ! To holy shit, she is going to be in elementary school!

Call me biased but these are some of the best of the childhood years. We get to watch them become more independent, we get to watch them learn to read, most amazing thing ever AND we watch our littles become big- kids. They are full of confidence, accept everyone, want to help, thrive on positive reinforcement and still totally love the sh*t out of their mommy and daddy.

 

Congratulations baby girl, you’re moving on up!