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!

First Days

Lots of new experiences for out here in the wild west, and some have been captured on film. Take a look... LilPea has been crawling for a little more than a month now, but now she is gaining speed. Clearly, she is on her way to mischief here.

CPea's first encounter with an antelope at San Diego's Wild Animal Park.
The highlight of the visit for LilPea, getting as wet as possible at the water park there.
CPea, post water park, pre ice-cream.
And then on to the Merry-Go-Round, its really all we do here, go round and round at various locations. This is LilPea willing her horse to go faster.
And our very patriotic daughter riding the 'American Eagle' her choice.

CPea on her first day of preschool, so far she likes it. They moved her into the pre-k room after a few days so she basically started twice, but is adjusting well.After the first day, oh what a difference a crayon crown can make.
CPea's first trip to play at the pond at Fashion Island, I have very fond memories of playing here as a kid and CPea just loved it too!

Sometimes LilPea's insistance on feeding herself makes her too messy to even get to the bathtub, so we drop her in the kitchen sink. She couldn't love it more, my little water baby!
LilPea has also taken to trapping herself under furniture. I hope this is not a precursor to a career as a creepy magician.

CPea, all dolled up for preschool picture day!

And last, the first day of ballet lessons!

Back to Reality

In many ways, I feel like that CEO who decided he just had too many emails in his account and shut the whole thing down and started over. Its been a busy few weeks, complicated by our ongoing camera drama. We just can't seem to get one that works. So here are a few pics of what we have been doing and then tomorrow I start fresh. New camera, new resolve to update more often. Scott and CP at the Coast Guard Day picnic. As you can gather from CP's mouth, it was a very patriotic cake they were serving!
This is what we do here in SOCAL, chill in the driveway. CPea has taken to it very well.
LilPea enjoys it as long as there are things to put her mouth and messes to make.
We've also been taking some trips down memory lane. I grew up in Mission Viejo which is about 40 minutes south of here. So I've taken the girls to see some of my old haunts. LilPea especially enjoys the ones with water.
And a delightful discovery. There are many many carousels in SOCAL and as CPea puts it, "I just LOVE merry-go-rounds." So here she is in full delighted mode, and practicing her pageant wave.