Our Third Anniversary

Matt and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary on September 30Th. We decided to bite the bullet and go away together without the kids. This was our first time to leave Benjamin for any length of time. We were thrilled to get the chance to spend some uninterrupted time together, but I have to admit that unlike our previous trips this particular ride to the airport was filled with more apprehension than excitement. No worries though...I knew Benjamin was in good hands and by the time we landed in San Diego I was plenty excited. After we arrived in San Diego, we made our way to the cruise terminal, checked our luggage, and checked ourselves in. We had a few hours before the boat was taking off so we decided to take a cab over to Coronado Island for lunch.

We had been to Hotel Del Coronado a few years before during a work conference. We remembered that we had enjoyed a fantastic lunch there and took off to see if the scenery was as pretty as we remembered it to be.

Hotel Del Coronado is a beautiful historic hotel where the Marilyn Monroe movie "Some Like it Hot" was filmed. We had a really nice lunch and overall, it was a pretty great way to spend the afternoon I must say.

So eventually we made our way to the cruise ship and we were on our way to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. And this is what we saw when we got there! Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? The weather was perfect and the views were even better!

When we got off the ship we took a small boat for a cruise around the harbor and the bay. We saw Lover's Beach & Land's End, then we had a water taxi drop us off at a local beach.

Once on the beach we rented a jet ski and tootled around the bay for a while. It was the most fun! We were both impressed with Cabo and hope to visit there again.

In fact we had a very serious discussion about our future vacations there over a fruity drink as we pulled away and headed back to San Diego that evening :)

We had two days at sea to relax and have fun. We ate lots of yummy food, drank some good wine, and just hung out. I have to say I was feeling very relaxed and spoiled after a couple of lengthy and luxurious spa appointments! Yea me!

It was so great to spend some time as a couple and focus on one another. It was romantic, fun, and something I hope we make time to do as the years go by. While we were gone, Mr. Ben and Ava stayed with Gigi and later with Aunt Amy and Uncle Shane. Gigi posted pictures on Facebook so I could keep tabs from the cruise ship. I was really grateful that I could see how much fun they were having whenever I was missing the little munchkins! We were so happy to see them when we got home and I think they were happy to see us too. Now we have to get busy planning our next adventure....I wonder what it will be?

Another Haircut Post

So I call this his first big boy haircut. Gigi trimmed above his ears a little while ago, but it was definitely time for the real deal. He was shaggy and I needed a professional. I tried to wait until he was a year old, but we are all about being clean cut in our house so it was time...

Ben doesn't really look like he is buying this whole car story...he is too smart for all our tricks :)

Now he is looking at Ms. Maria like what in the h-e-double hockey sticks do you think you are going to do with that thing???

Now, my big man is just plain traumatized. But, for some bizarre reason I LOVE this picture. Obviously after it was all said and done Benjamin and Mommy are all smiles. Having your own baby is so cool.

Naughty Naughty

I promise I only looked away for a second. Benjamin is all over the place and into everything he can get his little hands on....and he is a quick little guy!

And then he looks over at me with this face. Who can resist this face?? It is a cute little face and at this point I could really care less about the mess.

But as soon as he sees me, he flashes that smile to distract me so he can flee the scene of the crime. Scary!

Happy Birthday Ava

Still playing catch up...hang in there :) OK, so just a few days after Ava started back to school we celebrated her 7th birthday. Yes, I said she turned 7. Sigh.

It was a Thursday so we decided to have an impromptu birthday party after school with two of the little girls that live on our street and who she now goes to school with.

I made a cake. It was shaped like a heart and it tasted good. It also looked like a second grader made it, fitting I think.

We all had a great time that evening. Ava went on to celebrate her birthday throughout that week and into the next with more parties and more cake. I can't wait for #8! (Well, really I want her to stay a little girl forever so I guess that is a lie.)

Better Late than Never

OK, OK, so I am a little behind in posting. But I am determined to catch up, starting with Second Grade. The second grade....really?? I honestly can't believe how time is flying by. Ava was all ready to start school this year, or at least go school clothes shopping anyway :)Please take special note of the very mature messenger bag in place of the traditional backpack. She is ahead of her time. What can I say??

Big time second graders tie their own shoes and apparently have LOTS of homework. Welcome to the real world my Love!

And like many of her peers, all Ava wants for Christmas this year is her two front teeth. She has the lisp & everything, it is pretty priceless.

Wonder Ava & Super Ben

This picture just makes my heart melt. They play so well together. Ave is a fantastic big sister and he just oohs and awwwws over her. Ava decided it would be fun to put a cape on "Super Ben" while they were playing over the weekend. See his beach towel "cape" tucked in his shirt pictured below?

Is this priceless or what?

Then Ava helped Super Ben crawl through a tunnel o' toys that she built for him. Thanks to his trusty cape, he zoomed right through! They are such a joy :)

Baby Jail

Well, the time has come for the baby gates to come out! Ben is all over the place, into EVERYTHING and must be contained. Since we do not have a game room or dedicated play room- some creative thinking has come in to play. So, Daddy installed extra wide baby gates on each end of the smaller living room and turned it in to a dedicated play space. So far so good.

Super Ben has had an exciting week exploring his new space. Now I know why the term "testing limits" exists!

Hi Mommy! Somebody put up Ben sized walls so I can pull up on them :)

This is typical Ben right here....trying to figure out how this whole baby gate thing works. And trying to figure out his escape plan I am sure!

Hopefully this is the only time he is ever behind bars! (I shudder to think! Oh Lordy!)

Cutest little jailbird I've ever seen. That is for sure! He is such the charmer.