Busy Busy

We have been having so much fun lately, but oh my goodness life is crazy busy!! This last year I have spent it taking Brynna to the park, Sea World, play dates and shopping. Not anymore. Now I have started college going three nights a week, Brynna is in a co-op preschool (All the parents teach different weeks), Brynna is in gymnastics and we moved about a month ago. Needless to say we are still not completely unpacked. But, Brynna is loving our new house. Previously we lived in La Jolla in an apartment on the 2nd floor, and our downstairs neighbor complained constantly if she so much as jumped out of bed, so we decided to pack it up. We found a duplex right down the freeway that has a huge front and backyard and a little girl next door who loves to play with Bryn. It's smaller than what we had, but also cheaper so I can deal with it for awhile. 

Not a whole lot coming up to get too excited about. Right now I am just trying to keep up with life. But I love taking time out to hang out with friends and my parents are coming for Christmas for 2 weeks which I am super excited about! We still love it when we hang out with my brothers, or even if we just get to hang with their little ones (as shown below)

 I really dislike summer, which I know to most people makes me a freak, but I do. I hate heat (would rather be cold), I hate crowds and I am not outdoorsy so it really doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me. However, there are 2 things summer has that gets me through those months relatively happy. Watermelon and Summer Nights at Sea World. I cannot count the number of times I went to Summer Nights this year. It was magical. I still cannot explain it, but I totally cry at the Shamu show. Literally have no idea why, and Shawn just sits there and laughs at me. I really can't blame him. I laugh at myself when I feel the emotions coming. But there you have it. My dirty little secret. Feel free to mock me.

 Brady, Brynna and Mallory. They felt so awesome being so close to Shamu

 Brynna in her new pink sparkly leotard for gymnastics. She put a necklace in her hair and thought it made her look like a princess. Who am I to argue with her?

 All gross and sweaty from packing, but we never take pictures of us so now I have one documented for my future self

 Brynna on her first day of preschool. I was a little bit of a wreck. I cry at Shamu, so this was not a good day for me :)

 She put the bumbo on her head and thought they were goggles.

 Mallory and Brynna's new play area. Otherwise known as the linen closet. Why do I buy toys?

This week was my first week hosting co-op preschool (on top of all my homework and two separate tests. Awesome). But it went really well, especially the second day, and all the girls are so well behaved it's kind of shocking. We had fun and I am learning the best way to structure things. This is her little class and they are all awesome girls! And I am so grateful to the other moms for letting me stay in the preschool, even though I moved farther away.

Vacation

In mid-July we went on an awesome vacation with both of my brother's families and two of my nieces that flew out from Nebraska to experience the awesomeness with us.

 First we drove up Higway 1, which was absolutely amazing. I had only done it one other time and Shawn had never. He thought I was exaggerating. Nope! It was so incredibly beautiful. Gorgeaous beaches and mountains.

 Driving through Big Sur was incredible. If I liked windy roads I would move there

 I willingly went camping. Shawn has always wanted to go, I am more a Marriott girl. But I figured if I had to go camping, I may as well do it with two practically professional camping families. My brothers made up for our lack and we had so much fun with them! And unfortunately for me, Brynna loved it. I mean LOVED it. I, however, took exception to the raccoons fighting outside our tent in the middle of the night. We brought a second tent for my two nieces to sleep in and they refused because of the coons. It was interesting.

 Tay posing in a tree

 These were the huge trees we were camping under. They were so tall and gorgeous!

 In a hollowed out tree that was struck by lightning. Brynna thought they were awesome!

 Taylor and Ashley being rebels. They weren't suppose to go off the perch. Troublemakers :o)

 Brynna loved hiking

 Of course she spent most of the time like this

After a couple of days camping we drove to San Francisco which I was the most excited about. I love San Francisco. It's just so weird and has so many weird, cool, fun, interesting, odd things. I was in heaven. This is what Shawn got the most excited about to take pictures of. The Federal Reserve in San Francisco. I love him

 We went on a Catamarran (I have no idea if I spelled that right) and went around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate bridge. It was so much fun, but we sat on the nets at the front and got soaked! Mostly Jon, Cheryl, Brady and Mallory, so it was fun to see them take off. It was pretty cold on the water so we spent some time underneath and would come up for pictures.

 Then we went to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 which is my favorite part of San Francisco! We went into a bunch of shops, ate lunch and walked down the Wharf.

 And met the Bushman!!! I was so excited when Jason found him for us- I remember him from coming here as a kid and it never gets old! I could watch him for hours. We also saw a bunch of tinmen which Bryn loved.

 The next day we walked across the Golden Gate bridge there and back, which was way more fun than I thought it was going to be.

 Apparently Brynna didn't feel the same, she fell asleep about halfway across.

 But woke up for our walk back and was a little too adventurous for my comfort level.

 This was such a cool picture. This is one of the main pillars and the fog was so thick you couldn't see to the top, standing right under it or from a certain disctance. It was crazy.
We had so much fun and I'm so glad I was able to go with so much family. Shawn and I definitely want to go back just us, but we love living so close to them and being able to do things like this with them. It definitely made it more fun!

Why Sickness? Why?

I know this is going to sound obvious, but I really hate being sick. It's a weird concept to me because I used to love getting sick. It sounds perverse I know, but being sick growing up meant staying home from school, and being sick as an adult meant staying home from work. I always chose to see that as a good thing. But, now that I am a stay at home mom and there is nowhere I absolutely have to be, it really stinks. And on top of that, it is not just my sickness. I have to deal with baby girl sickness, which, I think we can all agree, is the most pitiful thing in the world. Now my house is a disaster, my energetic, loves to be outside baby is lethargic watching Dora all morning and I feel ridiculously lazy. I really hate that feeling.
Shawn and I are pretty excited, we went and bought some new running shoes (and those that have seen Shawn's old running shoes will know why this excites me :o) and I have actually gone running! I've even shocked myself. I want to sign up for a 5k this fall, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I think the last time I ran was 2001. So, once again, not getting ahead of myself, but cautiously optimistic!
Here are some pictures of our recent outings.


We go to the beach a lot, but we just got her new beach toys and she was enthralled! She loves that there is a hose for the water

I love this face!! This is her coming out of the water. I think when she grows up, she is going to be a beach bum. And be perfectly happy
Papa and Grandma Robbins took Brynna and Maddy to Disney on Ice when we visited Nebraska. They had such a blast! This is them posing in their Flounder hats (Do you love how Brynna's is backwards?) with their Ariel light up wands (that plays the same three notes. Over and over. And over. And over) and their matching outfits.
Brynna was absolutely in awe
She kept trying to convince Papa he had it on wrong. (That's a nice look for you Dad)

I think this is the longest Brynna has ever sat still (with the exception of being sick). Her and Maddy had so much fun at Disney on Ice. But our whole trip was day after day of matching outfits, matching squinkies (thanks Aunt Ging!I now have little plastic balls all over my house that I trip on) and lollipops handed out by everyone.

Lately....

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to do more blogging. I love looking back at it sometimes and seeing how much my Brynna has grown. So I am going to do better so there is more for me to look back on and enjoy.

We completed our move to San Diego in September and have been loving it for the most part. I never thought I would come back, but it has been so much fun to do things with Brynna that I did growing up. She absolutely loves going to the beach. She asks me if we can go everyday. (Second New Year's Resolution- take pictures of Brynna at the beach). But I think her favorite thing about San Diego is Disneyland. She is in awe that she actually gets to go see the Princess Castle and meet all the Princesses.

We have passes to Sea World and go about once a week. It is so funny to see her watch all the animals! But she thinks everything is a whale. She knows the difference, but loves Shamu the best so calls everything a whale.

I cannot believe how much she has grown up. No matter how badly I want her to be my baby, I can't deny any longer that she is her own little person- and a force to be reckoned with. While I love the fact that she doesn't let anyone push her around and she sticks to her guns, her stubbornness can make for some very interesting arguments. With a 2 year old. Yes, that is my life. But she is so compassionate and loving, and can find fun in anything!! Whenever I am sad or crying, she always tells me it's okay, gives me a big hug and kiss and gets me a band-aid to make me feel all better. Everyday I am amazed by how smart, beautiful and funny she is. Even more amazed that she came from me. (Definitely gets the brains from her Dad)

Most of my pictures are on my other computer, but here are some pictures from Christmas. She loved decorating the Christmas tree and baking cookies for Santa. Christmas is so much more fun now that we get to watch her experience it. The only flaw in our plan to get her excited about Christmas was, when we woke her up that morning, she thought Santa was going to be there and was pretty sad that he wasn't.

Disneyland October 2011

Yesterday we went to Disneyland for Brynna's very first trip. She had so much fun and when she first saw the castle she let out a load "Wow!" It was so cute. We met her three favorite Disney characters Mickey, Minnie and Tinkerbell. Most mornings are spent with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while she eats breakfast and mommy gets ready for the day so she was so excited to meet Mickey, she ran in and gave him a big hug! And me and Shawn deserve Mom and Dad of the year awards since we waited in line an hour and a half to meet him




She woke up this morning and told me she gave Mickey a big hug- so at least it was memorable for her too!
We also got to go through Minnie's house and she absolutely loved the kitchen- we couldn't get her out.
She loves to spin so was loving the teacups
Pixie hollow. Absolutely worth the wait! She was talking away to Tinkerbell all about how she is her (Tinkerbell) for Halloween and got a wand and shoes and a hairpiece. It was so stinkin' cute


Her telling Tinkerbell and Iradesca all about it
Buzz Light Year Ride. She thought she was all that was cool with that gun.

And Tarzan's tree house. She has never seen Tarzan but anything that lets her run around and climb is right up her alley.
It was such a great day and I loved being able to show her around one of my favorite places. Next up: Halloween!

Three Years

A couple weeks ago Shawn and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary. In some ways it feels like it has flown by, but in others it seems weird that I ever had a life without him. The last three years have been more amazing than I ever thought possible, and it just gets better everyday. Through all the ups and downs there is no one I would rather spend it with.
Since we were married on leap year, our deal was that every four years when it was our actual anniversary we would go on a big trip. The plan is to go to Italy next year and I could not be more excited!
3 years ago I made the best decision of my life, and I can't wait to see what the rest of our life brings!