the sweetpeas

Fright Night

2009-11-01T22:21:00.004-05:00

Oh how we love fall in California...sunscreen, shorts, running through the sprinklers...seriously. It is so hot here, I don't know how one can have a credible fall party. If we bobbed for apples the kids would get their swimsuits on. But you do what you can-in our case we threw a mashed potato martini halloween party with a bunch of our neighbors. CPea declared this was the year of the Tooth Fairy, since she's lost three teeth, I think she had teeth on the brain. At any rate, it called for some of my much mocked crafting skills to create her costume. It may interest you to know as well that the Tooth Fairy traditionally wears purple-according to CPea.

LilPea was a Buzz Buzz Bumblebee. She took great delight in wishing all a Happy Halloween, I think she can sense candy even when its behind closed doors.

LilPea's preschool had a trunk or treat party. Parents decorated their car trunks and passed out treats.

The Bumblebee shoes.

The kids trying to convince the adults to put down their drinks and go out trick or treating already-to go cups to the rescue!

Who could resist?

CPea's Preppie K class got to parade around the school

CPea's class...yes my child is almost as tall as the teacher.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween!

Sweetpea Summer Fun

2009-08-28T18:06:00.002-04:00

This end of summer feels like an uphill sprint to me these days. We are leaving for DC on Sunday so its been a whirlwind of preparing for back to school when we return and planning and packing for our trip and Amy's wedding.

Still, we managed some summer fun. We went up to Ventura to see Scott compete in the Strawberry Hills Triathalon. This is us in a peddle car.
Both girls went to Vacation Bible School which they really enjoyed.

CPea lost her second (!) tooth.

And LilPea is obsessed with pulling people in the wagon. It rarely gets very far.

And as LilPea gets older, she is getting to be more and more girly. She likes to travel with a purse.

I'll get LilPea's birthday pictures up when we return!

A Camping we will go....

2009-07-26T22:01:00.004-04:00

Being the military family that we are, we move around. Scott and I do our best to try new adventures in our new enviroment. Here in Huntington Beach, we have a lovely state park with a campground. Even though its a mile from our house, for the 4th of July, we rented an RV and got a camping spot right next to our friends to help our new town celebrate their bicentennial.

Little did we know that the HB parade is the biggest 4th of July parade west of the Mississippi. Because of that, my neighbor and I woke up very early on the 3rd of July to stake out the perfect parade viewing spot.
CPea and LilPea and their friend Macy, all in matching dresses to watch the parade.

The edgier side to 4th of July...

Ahhhhh s'mores, the world's most perfect food!

Lauren, demostrating the greatness of the "princess bed!"

Very happy, very dirty campers!

We also were lucky enough to have the wandering seals wander our way while we were camping. Unfortunately, we were all a little out of sorts having arrived at camping late the night before, but we loved our visit with the seal pups!

A Tisket, A Tasket

2009-07-07T02:01:00.003-04:00

CPea's first ballet recital was last week. The Tales of Mother Goose, and her class performed to 'A Tisket, A Tasket.' Needless to say, it was a big production, and that was just in our house. LilPea got her chance to be center stage before the show began. How darling are these costumes? All of the dancers had to have their hair in a 'ballet bun' and wear make up.

A good luck kiss from Daddy who was first in line and got us front row seats!

Since we left that night for our camping trip, we opted for a stuffy instead of flowers for our beautiful girl.

CPea's ballet class.

The diva emerges

I am just so proud of her in her first performance!

All the Single Ladies, All the Single Ladies

2009-06-06T22:54:00.006-04:00

So my plan while Scott is across the country at training is to keep the girls as busy as possible. The plan is working so far but it is becoming more and more clear that they will outlast me. Here are a few snaps of our weekend adventures. This is a game called "Couch, Fly, Dive" invented by CPea. As you see, they mostly just fall off the couch all the while being angels and mermaid. If you need more details, CPea will be happy to draw a treasure map to explain it all.

I thought it would be a great surprise to take the girls to see Sesame Street Live, LilPea is very much in love with Elmo at the moment and CPea is still young enough to not be totally annoyed by oversized monsters singing and dancing to a potted fake plant named 'Sunny.'

During Elmopaloozza, Elmo left the stage a few times. LilPea was not happy at all.

Luckily during the intermission, we lifted her spirits with spun blue sugar. Wholesome, no? I am confident the sugar was organic, it is Sesame Street afterall.

Lest you think it all fun and games, CPea is still in summer school. Last week, they celebrated sports week. The grand finale of the week was a big bouncy waterslide (hey, if driving around in circles is a sport-surely sliding down an inflatable slide is too) CPea was so excited about this special day at school, it required a brand new swimsuit-and sunglasses.

Ever helpful, LilPea did not shirk her Little Assistant Responsibilities. She packed and carried the swim bag very carefully and after hearing me remind Caroline we needed to bring money for her lunch, LilPea headed straight for the change jar and emptied quite a few coins into her pockets and the swim bag. Holding up her little hands full of change she said "Nine, Nine, money!" And then proceeded to hand out pennies and nickles all day to CPea.

Spending time in the clubhouse. I think this day CPea and LilPea battled Rocket the Pirate Dog. Occasionally he is also cast as a mermaid sister, evil stepdog or someone in the circus.

Finally, LilPea and I went to a thank you party for the volunteers that help with childcare for our MOPS group at church. These wonderful ladies give the mothers two blissful hours to meet and talk every other week. In the beginning, LilPea really didn't like getting dropped off, but they were so patient with her and so loving now she is happy to go. Here she is scaling the new and huge playground set!

The Graduate

2009-06-05T00:30:00.003-04:00

CPea is finished with preschool! We celebrated this happy event with a lunch at her school followed by playground time.

Scott made a heroic effort to make to school for the lunch on his last day of work before jetting off to the east coast for training.CPea and some her classmates. They look like an ambitious bunch, no?

Our happy little girl! She is going to stay at school for summertime day camps and we'll be doing some kindergarten prep work at home in between trips to the beach!

At this point in time, I feel like her going to kindergarten in the fall is the biggest milestone in her life. But I'm sure this going to be the first of many happy heartbreaks for me as she continues to grow, learn and challenge herself.

For now, I am coping by deciding to keep LilPea in her crib until she's 10-that's right, I said 10. She seems to have agreed to that, provided I let her pursue her dream of being a fashion forward firefighter.

Say my name, say my name...

2009-06-01T18:17:00.002-04:00

LilPea is talking all the time these days but I was having a hard time getting her to say her name, until five hours after her dad left town for a month.

Spring Singing

2009-05-24T21:14:00.002-04:00

The birds aren't the only ones bursting into song this spring. CPea's preschool hosted their annual Spring Sing. As you will see, CPea takes singing VERY seriously and often composes her own tunes that sound something like Alanis Morrisette in her nursery school days.

The theme this year for her class was "Fishers of Men." Evidently in the biblical interpretation, visors and tie dye shirts played a big part in fishing industry. The whole class loved performing and CPea is very much looking forward to her next stage appearance.

LilPea is teaching Rocket to use a crayon.

CPea's class saying grace before the dinner.

Discovering Science

2009-04-14T14:07:00.002-04:00

I am by all counts, the least sciencey person I know. However, CPea had Good Friday off from school and it was a cloudy day so the girls and I headed off to the Discovery Science Museum in Santa Ana. It was a pretty good time due in no small part to the Bubblefest show that ended with the audience being bombarded with bubbles. LilPea took no time to add 'bubble' to her ever expanding vocabulary.

CPea and LilPea posing in the cube.

And despite the economic state of the nation, CPea found to hire a personal assistant. LilPea takes her duties very seriously, always carrying the lunchbox, handing CPea her toothbrush and making sure all the door in the house are closed at all time. For her part, CPea is trying to make Snow White's headband a little more hip.

We also took a neighborhood trip to Disneyland. Here are the neighborhood girls on a break from A Bugs Life.

Spring Fling

2009-03-29T12:22:00.002-04:00

The sweetpea extended family got a great addition in February, a boy! So we'll have to think of a manly little nickname for him. But in the meantime, the girls were so glad to finally meet him after a series of winter colds kept them home for a few weeks. He is, as CPea says, "So cute!" Here are the girls and the Uncle with him in San Diego. CPea had her ballet recital for the winter session. She really has learned so much over the year, it was such change from her fall recital.

LilPea embarked on the very frusterating "I can do it myself" phase of toddlering. She is remarkably capable of doing quite a bit, like gettting childproof caps off, and serving herself pirate booty by the bag.

With the arrival of the new cousin came Grandma and Grandpa. The girls had such a great time with them. CPea in particular loved having a new audience and trapped them into many 'projects.'

LilPea was happy to take Grandpa to her favorite burger spot, In N Out!

From Balls to Bugs

2009-03-22T17:14:00.002-04:00

I suppose if I thought about it, I would have realized that the Oscars are on in the late afternoon here on the west coast. But once we did figure it out, it seemed only natural to have an Oscar dress up party for the girls and their friends. It was quite the glamourous event.
LilPea could hardly believe her good luck at being allowed to wear the coveted Cinderella gown to the ball. The down side to the party for the adults was not really being able to watch the actual show, but being the parent of two little princess, I only saw one of the five films nominated. Oh well.Changing gears from movie stars, we heralded the arrival of spring with a renewed interest in bugs. Armed with bug catchers and a very patient Dee Dee and dog, we headed to the nature center to see what we could 'dig up.' Rolly Pollies became CPea's newest pets and she shed many tears letting them go. Rocket practiced being supportive, but I think he was secretly relieved no more pets came home. He has a hard enough time with just the cat.

LilPea prefers roaming to digging with her trusty poodle. The two of them just ran and ran, until they could run no more.

All Heart

2009-03-19T16:36:00.005-04:00

In February, Scott competed in his first triathalon in Los Alamitos, CA. He did just great and is planning on doing several more this year. Doesn't he look so sporty? I got to do the 5K that day, so I wasn't completely out of the swim. But Scott ruled the day! Next up for us, a 10 K and then celebrating our five year anniversary in May with a half marathon. Yes, I know it would make more sense just to go out to dinner, but we like to live on the edge :)

Here are a couple of snaps of the little peas on their valentine's day scavenger hunt!

The New Old Testament

2009-02-25T02:33:00.003-05:00

CPea's preschool is attached to a church and part of the curriculum is religion. Now, believe it or not, I attended an Episcopal school for seven years of my life and went to chapel every morning. I also taught CCD while in college. So I like to think I know a thing or two about religious education and children.

Not so, evidently. They moved past coloring Joseph's coat and singing "This little light of mine." The following are just a few of the questions and comments that our four year old comes home with. Religion is no joke, but we just can't help but laugh.

Standing on the couch talking to LilPea on the floor. "I am God and you, baby Moses, will obey me!"

"How many minutes did God put Adam and Eve in time out for?

"How did Jesus call the disciples? Did he have a cell phone?"

"Well, when Jesus goes from dark white to bright white, that's called transfiguration. Didn't you know that?"

Blast Off

2009-02-02T22:37:00.003-05:00

Last weekend, we added one more sweetpea to the mix. Our new dog, Rocket. We got him from a rescue group in Long Beach, CA. He is about 3 years old and is some kind of poodle mix. Scott would prefer I say he is part German Shepard, its a more manly sounding dog. But, as you can plainly see, he's pretty much poodle. We're still pretty surprised we have a dog. After all, neither Scott nor I have ever had a dog and CPea is deathly afraid of them. Nonetheless, little Rocket is an unexpected delight. He is so loving a patient, we all love him.

The girls are taking very good care of Rocket, he is getting walked about as much as his little legs can take. LilPea cries when we have to leave him at home. As you may recall, I promised her a dog when she started walking.

She's really putting those walking skills to the test. Rocket (named for LilPea's love of Little Einsteins) is very patient with all the hugs and kisses from the girls.

Who knew a dog could be so much fun?

Knock Knock

2009-01-13T15:21:00.003-05:00

Well, we've been celebrating the end of winter with 80 degree temperatures this week. And what better way to celebrate than with a new (to us) playhouse? We were able to find this house for free and it has quickly become LilPea's favorite pastime. She loves to come in and out of the house, fitting since her favorite words are 'hi' and 'bye'

CPea decided to host her first "slumber party" We invited two little girls from the neighborhood to come over in their jammies and bring sleeping bags for dinner and to watch a movie, CPea's pick? "Alvin and the Chipmunks" It was quite a production, CPea was very excited to have her 'guests' over and was quite the hostess.

We made tutus for the girls and their stuffies. Lots of fun, who knew I could be crafty?

This is a random shot showing off LilPea's new talent, taking her clothes off, she likes to do that at the completion of dinner at night.

CPea begged to get her hair cut, much to my dismay. But I gave in and to our delight, the little kids salon gave her a princess hairdo, she loved her curls!

Out with the Old

2008-12-31T18:34:00.003-05:00

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

2008-12-19T17:24:00.002-05:00

Talking Turkey

2008-11-28T20:18:00.005-05:00

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!

2008-11-06T12:57:00.003-05:00

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

2008-11-04T16:47:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-02T21:38:00.006-05:00

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

2008-10-29T16:38:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-29T13:32:00.008-04:00

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

2008-09-13T20:17:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-02T14:32:00.003-04:00

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.