July 14-15, 2012 - Weekends Were Made For Fun

It is summer vacation, so technically every day is the weekend. This official one started with the usual of Anthony's karate class.  The remaining musketeers strolled over to Starbucks for a java and frapuccino jolt.

The boys expressed that they wanted to go to ride their bikes in the park and go to the movies.  Obliging parents that we are, we did just that except in reverse.  The movie gods were shining down on us because a chick flick and a pirate movie were starting at the dollar theatre within 10 minutes of each other.  Daddy saw the pirate movie with the boys, and Mommy saw a chick flick across the hall :)  Afterward, we headed to the park for some bike riding practice :)

After church on Sunday, Lowes was our destination for the kids' workshop.  The Kung Fu Panda spinner was a hit with the boys :) I need to iron on their completion patches.

July 12, 2012 - The Circus is in Town!

I read on a mommy site I visit frequently that the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus was going to be at the Staples Center this week. I immediately found myself on the phone with Ticketmaster.  Using the promo code "Mom," I scored some great seats 10 rows from the front.  We went to the pre-show which afforded us the opportunity to interact with the performers and see a few acts up close and personal.  Minus the lady in the wrong seat, it was a good time.

July 6 & 7, 2012 - Play Dates

Play date - n. an appointment made by parents for their children to play together. 
This is a relatively new concept to me. In the past, my outings were usually just with Leah and her kiddies. However, our buddies have enrolled in sports, so our excursions have dwindled significantly. The socialization, though, brought on by pre-school and karate has caused this word to now become part of my mommy vocabulary. These glorious days of summer and Splash memberships lend themselves to convenient opportunities for the boys to have such dates with the children of my gal pals and also their new friends.  This week we met up with my pal Liz and Baby Andrea for Starbucks and yummy yogurt at Yogurtland.  Saturday we met with Arthur, Anthony's karate friend, and his mom at Splash.


Anthony and Arthur



The Buzz LightYear pose



Funnel cake is fingerlickin' good! :)



July 4, 2012 - Happy Birthday America!

The Uptown theatre was playing Rio, so we took off to see the famous macaws Jewel and Blu on the big screen.  Yes, we own the movie (a gift from Auntie Leah) but there is something about the movie experience.  You have the huge screen, surround sound, and of course, POPCORN!  I have to say, though, that I just caught that the movie uses the word "idiots."  Needless to say, the boys have used it since this recent viewing, and Mama is not too thrilled :/

Post movie cupcake making and decorating with Anthony

Happy Birthday, America!!!

July 3, 2012 - Playdate with Miss Cora

Splash was the location for these kidddos to have their playdate today. Kids are so simple...sun, water, and friends. What else do they need?

Friends like their mommies!

June 30, 2012 - Mets Shutout of the Dodgers

Every year we make it to see the Mets play a game or two against the Dodgers.  Most of the times we've seen them, they lose. We go, nonetheless, and enjoy the simple pleasures of taking in a live game of the "home team," munching on baseball snacks, and creating memories with our boys. This afternoon game was an especially sweet one because the Mets won 5-0!  This celebrating family carried the party on to Universal Studios.  We'd been considering getting annual passes, and since we were only a few exits away, we thought we would get them and perhaps get on a couple of rides.  Our plan did not include Saturday night LA traffic; however, the night played out with us getting the passes and enjoying The Simpsons ride and Shred 4 D. 

Elvis is alive!  LOL.  The famous Blue Elvis and me.

June 29, 2012 - VBS Carnival

The boys had a great week at their preschool's VBS.  I felt a bit like a taxi cab driver this week running them all over town.  I was dropping them off at VBS by 8:45, picking them up by 12:15, getting them to swim class at 5 p.m., and Anthony to karate at 6 p.m.  It was a little hectic, especially on karate days, but worth it to see them happy, learning, and socializing.  On Friday, the VBS staff held a mini-carnival that involved bounce house fun, games, food, and fellowship.  The children performed the songs they'd learned during the week, and they did such a great job.  Seeing Anthony up front singing and dancing in such an animated fashion clearly shows that this apple did not fall far from the tree. :)