Santa Barbara Part 2

I wanted to dedicate a post of our trip to our little munchkins.
These two have such a special relationship and I pray that it will only grow stronger as they get older. That they continue to love each other, to protect each other. Just as they do now.
As a mom I feel sometimes inadequate, that these two precious lives deserve so much more than what I have to offer. But them I am reminded by the grace of God that they are exactly right where they need to be. They complete me and I complete them.
This weekend Sam and I received nothing but praise about our children. How well behaved they are. How polite they are. How cool they are. How beautiful they both are.
Every one telling us these things overwhelmed my heart with joy that we are doing the best we can and that our best is good enough, more than good enough.

They had such a blast being at the wedding. Eating. Playing. Dancing. And the next day might have been even better in their eyes. We were beyond grateful that the bride's father offered an invitation to us for a catamaran boat ride. The kids mostly hung out right on the nets to look down at the ocean beneath them and to feel that fresh ocean air.
Looking for sharks. Not spotting any sharks ;)
Looking for dolphins. Nope, no dolphins.
But Looking for seals. YES! SEALS!! and cute seals too ;)
Their sense of wonder amazes me.

Our kids rock.

Santa Barbara Part 1

This weekend couldn't have been any better! We took a weekend trip to Santa Barbara to celebrate our dear friends Molly & J.C. exchange their wedding vows. Abby was their flower girl so she basically got us in to all the cool extras ;) From their rehearsal dinner to the catamaran boat ride the day after the wedding, we all had a blast celebrating this union!
The weather was beautiful.
The company was fun.
The wedding was absolutely breath taking.

Between Sam and I, I think we took somewhere around like 500 pictures. wow! These are just some of my favorites. I will be sharing more from our trip, there was just waaaaaaayy to much to squeeze into on little post.

I really think I left my heart in Santa Barbara. That town has my name written ALL over it ;)

Cars Land

Finally! We got to visit the newest addition to California Adventure!
And oh my, oh my! was it awesome.
exactly like the movie.
cars roaming around the land.
fun rides.
cute little pit stops.
and detail, detail, detail.

 in line for Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

 it was a packed day in radiator springs

 i have to say the Cozy Cone Motel might be my favorite part of Cars Land

 Mater was making a pit stop at the Cozy Cone

 do see these flowers! the lights mimic tail lights! genius!

 we ate at Flo's, and I have to say... it passed my expectations :)

 Luigi's Flying Tires... looks like a fun ride right?

nope. maybe if you have toddlers they would enjoy this ride, but not worth the wait in my opinion

 with car who started it all!! Stanley!

saved the best for last. Radiator Springs Racers.

all 4 of us had a blast racing through Radiator Springs!

Even Sam said he would go on it again, and again, and again.

next time!

summer tidbits

ah! it's forever since i have shared anything.
we have just been enjoying our summer over here
nothing too special going on
beach trips. splash pad trips. and oh, disneyland was put back on the agenda :)

i've been instagram-ing our way through the summer and have left the poor old blog out. boo! hopefully i'll get some motivation not to leave it out so much ;)

stay tuned! especially all you fellow disney fans out there.

school's out for summer!

i am way late on posting about the kids last day of school...
but it is official... summer is here

before all i have to share is beach trips and swim days (because that is exactly what we will be doing) i wanted to give ya a peek at their last day as a kindergartner and a first grader :)

so proud of my baby girl

who by the way is growing up. way. to. fast.

 

last day of school 

all set with their gifts for their teachers

{my poor kids had the sun blasting in their eyeballs and this mama right here insisted on getting a picture, sorry kids}

Sammy with his teacher

she will be missed but she is moving up to a higher grade level

so maybe in a couple years he'll get her again!

so happy school is over
that means:
sleeping in
no rush in the morning
lazy afternoons with no homework
beach and pool adventures
outside play til the sun goes down
more hugs and cuddles
and did i mention sleeping in? ;)

under the sea adventure

so we were on our way home from the last family bbq before my grandparents left and sam suggested that we take a little detour home and go to the aquarium of the pacific

what a fun treat it was, and the kids had a great time looking at all the cool sea creatures.

looking at the jellies

looking at the sea lions

teeny tiny starfish

moon jellies

sea horses

the kiddos with their souvenirs