Out with the Old

So its been a great year here in sweetpea land. We manage to survive a cross country move and are thriving here in Southern California. Scott and I could not be more proud of our daughters as they continue to grow and get funnier every day.

Caroline is doing so well in preschool. She takes learning very seriously and her teachers say that she adjusted very well to all the changes of the last six months. At age four she is very busy setting up elaborate imaginative play scenarios for all her stuffies, ponies and dolls.

Lauren, our little daredevil, continues to surprise us. She started taking some steps, but since her crawling is faster than her walking, she defaults to crawling most of the time. Lauren has a voracious sweet tooth and will climb just about anything to get to a treat. Baby dolls and animals are her main focus with play, she is a very nurturing little soul.

Scott and I are both well. We've taken to the more active CA lifestyle. For Christmas we got each other bikes. Scott is planning to compete in his first triathlon in mid-february, I say first because he has many more planned. I am continuing to try new sports (being the non sporty gal that I am) and hope to take up surfing this summer.

We do miss our friends and family, you are never far from our thoughts.

So on this new year's eve, we wish everyone health and happiness in the new year and hope to see everyone in 2009! Happy New Year! the peas

Baby Steps

Talking Turkey

Well, the holiday season is upon us, and I didn't even have time to catch the blog up with our November activities. So here they are in fast forward, before another icicle light gets hung.

CPea and I kicked off the Christmas season early, with a Nutcracker Ballet Sugar Plum Fairy Tea.
LilPea has discovered her inner artist. She is particularly fond of decorating herself, which somewhat explains why she is so flirty with the Trader Joe's checkout guys, the more tattoos they have, the more flirty she gets.

CPea finished her ballet class with a great recital and certificate. She really seemed to enjoy herself with ballet, so we'll start again in January.

LilPea has also taken a great liking to Little People playsets, especially the farm!

CPea's Preschool class visited an actual farm, but the highlight for her was sitting in a box with her friend. Afterwards the whole class went to Wendy's for lunch. As a note for the future, Wendy's + a preschool class does not = fun.

Scott got another year older and celebrated his old age with 'the funnest ipod ever.'

For Veteran's Day, we were invited to Knott's Berry Farm. CPea LOVED it, especially the Woodstock ride.

Scott enjoyed driving a car smaller than he is. Next up-clown school.

And, riding the Woodstock ride again.

Last, but not least. Rounding out the harvest month is Thanksgiving. This year as part of our healthy lifestyle agenda, we began the day by running in the Long Beach Turkey Trot 5K. Below is the Sweetpea Double Stroller Team that finished the race in a very respectable time. The girls really "stepped up" to help with the cooking.

Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday. We've hung our Christmas lights, in shorts and flip flops no less, and are ready for a festive month!

When I Grow Up!

We recently took a family trip to Sea World in San Diego with Grandma and Grandpa, and Aunt Robin and Uncle Dave. Of course, we took in the Shamu Show, during which LilPea sang and clapped for the entire performance. She was so taken by Shamu that Scott and I think she may be Killer Whale trainer one day.

Rock the vote

Well today's the day. Not only is it election day, but it is also the 10th anniversary of my first election night as a lowly intern on Bob Etheridge's congressional campaign.

The girls and I headed to the polls today here in sunny, conservative southern california to vote.

It was an exciting campaign season and I am hopeful that our country will be headed in a new a postive direction. Or at least a more positive outcome than the miserable election night I spent in central Florida in 2000.

Please take the time to cast your vote. Otherwise, I will send this child to your house!
Trust me, you don't want to anger her!

Under the Sea

It was a happy halloween here in Huntington Beach. Princess Ariel and her beloved companion Sebastian took in truckloads of candy and had a marvelous time. This is Sebastian before she knew candy was involved.

Supermodel mermaid

The girls celebrating Halloweentime at Disneyland.

Cuddled up with Dad on the couch.

We did a little neighborhood pumpkin painting party at our house, this is Caroline and Lily, waiting for the fun to begin.

Trick or treating by the witch

Scott's parents were kind enough to stay at our house and pass out candy so we could all trick or treat together.
CPea in her Halloween jammies.

Some of the neighborhood gang roaming the streets in search of candy.

LilPea loved the whole experience. She would not let go of her trick or treat pumpkin for anything, even when it got heavy. Also, she figured out how to unwrap and eat a lollipop, while driving, pretty smart for a crab. I fear trips around the block will never be the same for her.

After the candy.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween!

Please vote tomorrow!

A Day in the Life

Well to be honest, I don't know what I have been doing with my time. Not updating the blog, obviously. Here are a few snaps of life in CA. Halloween should provide a more concrete structure and theme to my next post! Pulling her sister's hair is LilPea's FAVORITE pasttime.

That is, when she is not eating at Wahoo's Fish Tacos.

Or, making funny faces while waiting to CPea to finish with her ballet class.

And actually, her most favorite thing of all time is spending time in the tub, or any body of water she can fling herself into.

CPea, ready for Cap Day at Preschool. She looks excited, no?

Fantastic Four

CPea turned four yesterday. And, as tradition dictates, it was a multi-part celebration. For me, I just can't believe she's four, If you had told me four years ago as I was lying in the hospital room wondering what life with a baby would be like, I would never have guess that I'd be taking her around Disneyland and talking princess dresses and mickey hats. These are things they don't tell you, probably just as well since its hard to see past the age they are. One day, I'm sure CPea will look very young in these pictures, but to me, today, she looks so grown up.

This year CPea selected Cinderella as her theme and since we knew we would probably still be getting settled, we opted for a family Disneyland trip rather than a party.

My FOUR year old!
LilPea will go along with just about anything if there is a juice box involved

CPea's birthday celebration began on Friday when we brought a special snack to preschool. Since they are learning the letter "B" we brought blueberry muffins, bubbles and bubble gum.

She had a great time with her little class and came home with the first of many birthday crowns.
Next up, Saturday afternoon picnic at the park with her favorite treat, "Sub-A-Way"
We surprised CPea with her big birthday present, a bike! She was thrilled and did pretty well riding it.

After dinner at the resturant of her choosing (Red Robin) we came home for presents and cake.
And the next day, her ACTUAL birthday (in all caps because she emphasized that word all day) we headed to Disneyland, about 15 minutes from our house.

Disneyland for birthday kids is awesome, CPea had a button on her dress with her name and all day, everyone wished her a happy birthday. And when you are four, that just seems magical.
Here we all are.
First up, CPea's favorite ride, the teacups!
From there, the Dumbo Ride, where CPea spent some line waiting time to work on her curtsey

After Dumbo, we went on the Zoo train and CPea picked the monkey cage to sit in.
True to form and her love of enclosed spaces, LilPea loved being behind bars. Of course if she someday goes to jail, this will no longer be funny.
The Disney staff then escorted the birthday girl to the ride of her choice without waiting in line. CPea chose the Merry go Round and she got to ride on "Jingles" the very special horse that was recently dedicated to Julie Andrews and is decorated to look like the horse in Mary Poppins.
LilPea's horse was not as famous, be she just loved it anyway.

The birthday princess spent some time at storytelling with Snow White and then headed straight to Mickey's house, to have a chat with the mouse himself.
LilPea wasted no time making herself comforatable in the mouse house.
The dorky family photo with Mickey.
After Mickey's house, we headed to the California Adventure Park and to another Carousel. King Triton picked CPea to the Princess of the Swim, complete with crown and they annouced her on the loudspeaker and everyone clapped, I don't think she could have been more pleased.

Then there was dinner with the princesses

Including her favorite, Cinderella
After all that celebrating, she was ready for break and just sat down on the sidewalk.
At last the tram ride to the car, always a highlight.
So the royal celebration is over. I know now why so few princesses have mothers, its exhausting!