IKEA Trip (again...)

Its not secret that I LOVE IKEA!  Abuela and I both needed to grab some stuff so we ventured down on a Monday.  Abuela watches the kids on Mondays so I can volunteer at the kids school.  This particular day Neve was playing with Milli down stairs and she was able to tag a long with us. 

It was fun to hang out and shop and the kids were SO good, we might just do it again :)

This little man MELTS MY HEART!!!!!!!!! Look at what a cutie pie he is!!!!!!!! I can't get over it. I kiss those cheeks all.day.long and don't ever get tired of it, he does, however :'(

Spring Break: La Jolla

We took a drive to La Jolla to check it out, since we wanted to get family pictures taken there.  It was later in the day and it was cool and beautiful!  

Abuela and Milli stayed in the car, since Milli was zonked!  

Leah and Mylo raced the waves. Dave played with his camera for a while and Otis and I just watched and enjoyed the scenery.  It was beautiful!!!!

Leah trying to look 'natural'.... love her :)

After this little excursion we took the kiddos back home with abuela.  Got them some pizza and we got to go out to dinner, a little container store shopping and desert when we got home.  It was a chill, but fun and yummy day :) 

side note:  after further inspection, this was after the zoo, hence the same clothes :)  it was busy busy day... not so chill, still fun and yummy :) 

Spring Break: San Diego Zoo

It was a beautiful day to go to the zoo.  Dave stayed home, since he had TONS of work.  So Abuela, the kids and I all headed to the zoo and met Alyssa and her cuties there.  The zoo is only two miles from the house, but we still managed to be late :)

We spent almost the whole day there.  We saw a lot of the zoo, but not all.  That place is huge!  The animals seemed to be very active and that is always fun for everyone.

Good times were had and fun memories made.  Alyssa's kids are darling and were quick to make friends with my kids.  Thats always nice, right?  Leah was a little too mature to hang with the boys, but she was very fond of Alyssa (who wouldn't be?!?! She is smart, beautiful, fun.....!)

We went to the Petting Zoo area and that was fun for the kids.  I thought they would have been more timid getting close to the animals, but they were very friendly with them and they had a fun time in there.

Right before the petting are, Alyssa and I were talking about our two and three year olds and their potty training and how it was going.  I told Alyssa that Milli was really good about not having accidents and that poop was usually something we had to push her to do (no pun intended).  Right AFTER the petting are there is a little park where we let the kids play.  Well, Milli had a HUUUUGE poop accident, HUGE!  Seriously, I should just bite my tongue.  I didn't have change of unders for her so she had to wear a diapers, she was not happy about that. But I was not happy about what she had done.... i guess she was just having to much fun to stop and go potty... Good time? maybe not.  Good memories... I can laugh about it now :)

Abuela and Otis.  Not sure how I would be able to have had as much fun with the other kids if Abuela hadn't come.  She is SO helpful, always.  Plus it helps that the kids like her so much.  I really enjoyed my time with my mom.  She is an amazing woman and I have much to learn from her.

Milli gave me a pretty flower for my hair.... I love her!!!!  I had done her hair in french braid, since that is what she wanted.  One side stayed in the other did not.  Her hair is one of the toughest things I have to deal with daily.

SO fun to see Alyssa!!!!  She recently moved to San Diego from Utah, so it was fun to get together.  It was a GREAT day!

I let Leah take the camera towards the end of the day and this is my favorite picture she took.  She told Mylo what to do and she had a vision for it... I think it turned out pretty good!  She is a creative child, I love that about her.

The zoo wasn't all pleasant, however.  We lost Milli's shoe, she scraped her knee pretty bad, she followed someone else and we panicked for what seemed to be an eternity!  Of course the poop accident was not pleasant, in the least... I guess next time I should Milli at home... or maybe not!  :)

Spring Break: Beach Day

We planned our beach day to be the warmest day of the week.  It was beautiful!  We went to Coronado Island.  The kids loved playing on the sad and making a sand castle with Dave.

I love some action shot of the kids... check out Milli's leg muscles.  I tell you she takes after her mom :)

I caught Mylo mid jump.  There is also a sequence of Mylo doing some sort of cart wheel that must be recorded for future reference.

Milli was playing in the sad when Dave joined her.  Then one bucket of sand at a time they created their master piece.... best $10 I have spent at Costco in the last few months, this beach set was perfect!

If you look closely you can see that they added a water pouring thing that went right into the big "castle."  We later added some tunnels and they were pretty cool.  Again, the kids were in heaven!!!! 

Otis slept most of the time there but once he was up we were excited to introduce him to the sand and beach.... I think he really enjoyed it.

   

The TWO HEADED monster, compliment of Otis and Mylo

Milli even made some sand-angels :) Truth is she is MY angel ;) 

SUCH a fun day!  I wish we would have had more days like this.  However, Three of us got a little more sun than we bargained for.  Leah's lower back got fried, Mylo's entire back and shoulders got fried as well, due to a negligent mother, and my back also got fried.  I guess the sun is still strong with all that wind :)

Spring Break: Seaport Village

Sunday we tried to watch conference, since last year we were able to.  But they were in the middle of changing the cable service so we missed it.  Still we were not going to let the day go to waste.  While they were fixing the cable (yes on a sunday.  I guess they work on Sundays there... sad) Abuela and the girls got their toesies all pretty and ready for the beach.  No picture of that, but trust me, they were cute!  :)

Then we headed to Seaport Village.  Its a marina where there are a bunch shops and lots of vendors and some hand-reading psychics (interesting).  There was also a "silver robot" guy.  He was really good and the kids had a fun time watching him, from afar :)

Even though there are not pics of Otis, he was also there and he was the reason we didn't stay long... well, it was really my fault.  I prepared his bottle stuff, but then forgot the formula on the counter at home.

Still we did have some fun.  There was a guy that was letting people hold parrots and other birds and the kids loved that!  Check out these faces....

We also saw a magician and a band playing some fun Beach Boys type music... it was nice.  Plus, the day was GORGEOUS!!!!  Although our day was cut some what short we really did enjoy it.  It beats staying home :)

Later, we picked Dave up from the airport, since he was on a business trip.   I cannot remember what we did that night to save my life!

Tomorrow- BEACH!!!

Spring Break: The Drive Down

Spring Break could not come fast enough for us and it went by way to fast..... 

@ The Aria.  We were so happy to be out of the car!

(Abuela took this picture.  She got better at focusing as the trip went on :))

Friday, April 1st (aka April Fools) we left at a reasonable hour.  It was 10:30am.  We had to run two errands before heading out and that put us on the freeway by 11:00am.  I was happy with that. 

Abuela, the kids and I all headed down to Las Vegas, our first stop.  It was a very enjoyable ride down.  Abuela and I laughed a lot and chit chatted the whole way down.  We didn't even have music playing... it was very nice. 

The kids watched Tangled a couple of times and loved every minute!  They snacked on goodies and loved our stops at the gas stations where they loaded up with sugar :)  Its all good, they were not super hyper from a sugar high... they are used to it ;)

@ THE Dairy Queen- Before the "storm"

The best/funnies part about this day was our stop at a Dairy Queen.  We never eat there while at home and the kids needed lunch.  To make a long story short, Abuela didn't know the difference between a shake and a blizzard.  The kids wanted blizzards and she was a sweet abuela and got what she thought were blizzards.  When the blizzards arrived the kids were disappointed because they were shakes.  So, she went to tell them she messed up and wanted blizzards (the story has more detail than this, but really its not worth mentioning).  So the manager says, "oooooookkkk we can fix that for you."  Perfect, or so we thought.  While my mom was waiting for the blizzards the owner comes up to her and tells her that if she doesn't like the service to no bother them again!  WOW!!!! Slow Down Buddy!!!  She never once complained about the food or the service.  It was simply a misunderstanding.  At this point it was just awkward for everyone involved.  We ate our blizzards, the kids had two bites!  Then the owners wife comes over by us and was cleaning and we start telling her that it was just a misunderstanding and that there was no need to be rude and tell us to not bother them again.  (We felt that was a little harsh and very rude!)  She said they were wasting money because we hadn't consumed the shakes and that if every person that went in did that, they would never make a profit.  OK, we understand her point.  BUUUUT, we told her we would be happy to for the shakes so she doesn't feel ripped off and so she wouldn't be upset.  She then tells us that she is not upset, but that she is agitated because we have no idea what they have to deal with every day.  Sorry, lady, not our fault. 

While all of this is going on, Mylo whispers in my ear, "this is our spring break.  We don't have time for this!!!"  LOL, tears in my eyes (just a little) cause he melts my heart... big time.  Then, a few seconds later Leah whispers in my ear, "they are arguing about nothing!"  LOL... I love my kids. 

Milli and Abulea, so cute! 

Back to Abuela and the Owner Lady: She said that that morning they had been very stressed out and that the registers had been down and this little "problem" was the straw that broke the camels back.  Well, Abuela and I laughed the rest of the trip about the woman not being "upset" rather "agitated" :D It became the "word" of the trip.... Good times! 

Otapotomus, he was a little angel on the way down

We left and continued on to Las Vegas.  We stayed at the Aria, compliments of Al.  THX AL!  It was perfect for us.  The kids jumped on the beds and then took a SUPER long bath on the HUGE bath tub. 

 @ the Aria taking a much needed bath and relaxin'

Otis was SO happy to be out of his seat and to be crawling around and exploring everything that was in his reach.  We looked over at him ad he was some what 'stuck' in this position.  If you look closely you can see him laughing.  

We were all laughing, it was cute... loo, at those knees!

Then the last part of the drive, Vegas to San Diego.  It was long, but still fun.  The kids watched movies and Abuela and I talked.  The last hour was VERY hard.  Our exit couldn't come soon enough. I was getting VERY tired of driving.  We arrived at "home" and settled in. 

We visited Theresa, Pete and the girls and had some delicious tostadas.  All I can say is that I love Theresa and her cooking :)  It was fun to see them!  We also did our groceries that night and that was all we could do... we were done for the day! 

side note:  As it was April Fool's my mom and I tricked the kids and told them that we weren't going on the trip any more, cause she had to work.  Leah TOTALLY believed us and started to cry, hehheeee.  Then I thought we were done with all the jokes... I was wrong!  Abuela kept on foolin' me all day long.  We laughed a lot!  Good Times!!!!!

Big Al Turns 71!!! (picture overload)

Al turned 71yrs young last Sunday.  On Saturday they, Diane and Al, had a VERY fun party planned at a "bowling alley."  It was a blast!!!!!  Most of Al's kids were there and most of Diane's family as well.  The kids bowled like there was not tomorrow and so did some of the adults, which resulted in some very sore arms the following day :)

Al and Diane.... 

 Most of the grandkids.  Note Milli, not wanting to be in the picture, at all! 

Bowling pics form the rear... the best "form" goes to Dave Pearce, seen bottom left. 

left to right: Me, Bob, Dave T., Jake, Abuela, Sean and Dave P.  

Bowling pics from the front.  

Again, I think best bowling face goes to Dave Pearce or Al.  LOVE IT!!!

left to right: Sean & Alex, Dave T., Sarah, Todd (Diane's son, he is just awesome! and a new grandpa!!!), Todd and Mackay, Sean M. & Chole, Karalee & Alex, Gary, Me, Gary (again), Birthday Boy and Dave P.

Cutie Pies.  I just love these two!!!

Max, Megs and Jake.  Max was so funny this evening.  He was singing Beiber (sp? don't even care to look it up) and was actually pretty good and was cute to take our jokes.  These "older" cousins are super cute with the younger ones.  I love Jake's crazy face in this picture too.  

Maddie and Leah.  Later in the evening they were playing bar tenders with Jake.  

Lots of opened soda cans, ooooops!  But they had fun.  :) 

Emily with her chubbers, Riley.  He is a cute "little" tank! 

My cutie pie, Otapotamous and Abuela.

Milli was so good all night.  She was just pleased as could be playing with balloons and "coloring" on the bowling score sheet.  Plus, she was just so happy.  LOVE HER!!!!! 

This was such a fun party!  We all really enjoyed it!!! But of course, the best part was celebrating Al.  It was his b-day after all and we love him.  :)  He is a sweet grandpa.... Happy Day to Al!!!!

Day After Christmas (picture overload)

We have had an Uboldi Day After Christmas Party for a while now.  Its always fun and really mellow.  This year was no exception.   

It was super fun to have the shindig at Abuela's new place.  It so spacious and open, plus she loves it!  You can't beat that.  We had Tortas Fritas (Argentine scones), Pasta Frola, Ham and Cheese Empanadas, Artichoke Dip, Fruit Salad and Mate Cocido.  Everything was DELICIOUS! 

 Lots of picture taking took place......

 Cute cousins played together perfectly!  So fun to see them all.  We don't always get to see Dylan and he is getting so big!  (Maria, Preston and Marissa have been sick, so they didn't come :( ) 

 Abuela and Otis.  Oti was freaking out and we didn't hear him.... poor baby!  

Abuela was feeling bad for him.  She's a softy when it comes to her grandkids ;)

 The big girls playing and being too cool for pictures.  

 Handsome Dylan

 Gabi making Otis laugh.  Gabi is like her mom, they both love the babies in the family.

This little sassy pants is beautiful!!! Her and Milli are either best of friends making mischief or little stinkers to each other.  I'm sure they will be good friends when they grow up. 

 Otis getting lots of love from Aunt Amy

 More pics....

 Marcos feeding Otis and being a cute uncle.  He is always so sweet and has a very big heart!

 How cute is she?!?  Time for presents!  Abuela spoiled us.  Abuela chipped in for our Cherry Hill passes this summer... summer can't come soon enough! 

Awwww!  Precious!  :) 

 The tradition of Christmas jammies.  The kids love the cozy jams and that is always the first thing they open and immediately put it on.  Three grand kids missing in this picture. 

Then, the group hug. 

There was also some intense wrestling with all the kids against Esteban and later Amy.  I didn't get any pics of that but it was fun to watch.  Esteban won't admit it, but the kids gave him a run for his money ;) 

It was a very nice evening.  Relaxing, fun, loving, yummy, entertaining and always a good time! 

ps.  Dave was there but apparently camera shy :)