Labor Day BBQ

These pictures are not the best quality since they were taken at dusk (I am ready for my new iphone!) but we had a nice neighborhood BBQ for Labor day.  Many neighborhood gatherings are what I loved about growing up in  a cul-de-sac and it is so great to be able to enjoy it again- but it makes house hunting way more challenging!!!

The kids riding their scooter around the cul-de-sac

Our neighbors have a pool and all the "big" kids started to disappear and we all realized they had gone swimming.  Abby and Zack are the littlest kids on the block by about 10 years but they are all so cute with them.  A & Z really look up to the big kids and I am always amazed how much they like to play with them.  We get knocks on the door to see if they can come play!!! 

Abby jumped off the diving board with the big kids and still talk about getting a diving board.  Sounds fun but I think we'll focus on the house first!

Santee Lakes

One Saturday, about a month ago, I went to a writing conference and my dad and Matt took the kids to Santee Lakes.  I had never even heard of it but after their adventure it seems like a great place for kids. It was a sweltering 100+ day out.  We definitely had a hot moth of September- and we constantly heard, it is never this hot in San Diego!

They went paddle boating

 and played on the humongous slide

cooled off in some water

They had a really fun day and were worn out when they got home which means it was a pretty good way to spend a Saturday morning.

Midland Railway

It feels like a million years ago that I took the kids to the railroad in Poway to ride the train but it was actually just in teh end of August.  They loved riding the train and it was  fun way to spend an afternoon when dady was busy prepping his class before the kids started.

 

Miramar Lake

Miramar lake is a few miles from our house and I have been meeting my mom there on Tuesdays when Matt has his "new teacher" classes.  It is 5 miles around and we have had fun walking while the kids do a pretty good job of hanging out in the stroller while my mom and get to walk and catch up.  Every so often they run around and then hop back in.  We bring plenty of food to occupy them too:).

There are some geese in the lake that the kiddos and grandma like to check out.

 Not quite a Hawaii sunset but still beautiful:)

According to Abby at almost 4

It has been so fun to watch our toddler blossom and see glimpses of the little girl that she is becoming.  She is quite the go getter and is a very verbal little one.  Her teacher always remarks how happy Abby is to participate in circle time.  Translation: Abby is the one who talks a lot and we have to remind her to let others share too - at least this is what I imagine since at home we have to remind her constantly to let her brother talk:).  She is always happy to share about her day and talk about anything.  We have a lot of conversations at night.  Matt and I usually go in separately and she ropes us in to long games of rhyming or conversations about animals or whatever she finds interesting at the moment.  If you are lucky you get an Abby song which is a stream of consciousness put to a melody.  I LOVE these! It is so fun to talk with my "baby" girl and  learn about the world.



She is not quite as clumsy as she once was but she just charges life without hesitation;  running, and climbing and usually falling quite often too.  She told me they call her "boo-boo girl"  at school.  The first 3 days of school she got an ouch notice and I think they just gave up on writing the notes when they realized how often it happens.

I snuck in to preschool one day without Abby noticing me and saw her just playing with one of her friends.  I love seeing her develop relationships and know that she is adjusting well!

Abby is very proud of her plethora of art work that comes home daily.  There are some great projects and she is learning a ton but I cannot figure out what to do with all of it!  She is paying attention to coloring in the lines and really good at writing her name and working on the other letters and sounds also.  She is getting pretty good at copying letters and knows the sounds.  It is amazing watching the process of learning about reading and writing unfold in front of our eyes!  She loves trying new tricks and swimming and doing flips was one I never expected!  Check out the video:)

Rooting for the Home Teams

I finally downloaded all my camera pictures and there is lots to catch up in in the last 2 months.  Lots more to catch up on!

We have had fun cheering on both the Padres and the Chargers since we have been in San Diego.  We took the kids to a game and they had fun sitting in the grass area and then we moved into some seats to get a new perspective for just a minute:).  

 Go Padres!

 

Worn out in the way home!

My cousin Pat came to visit and my dad got us tickets to the Chargers game.  We had great seats but the game itself was not their best.

 

At the end of the Padres' season my dad got us tickets so Matt and I could go see the Padres for a date night.  We met in Old Town and had dinner and then took the trolley downtown.  It was a great game and a fun night out!  We even stopped for night cap at Lou and Mickey's, where we had our rehearsal dinner.

Apples, Apples, and More Apples

One of the reasons that we were excited for the move to "the mainland" was being able to take trips long and short to see new scenery and explore different areas.  Yesterday, we headed about an hour away into the country to the quaint town of Julian that is famous for its apples.  We started off with some fresh apple cider and walked around sightseeing.  We had some lunch and of course some famous apple pie and then went to pick apples!

Cheers to apple cider

The kids were excited to pick apples but not so pleased when they found out we only got one bag and they had to share.  Luckily, they recovered enjoyed the afternoon eating and picking apples simultaneously.

 

Time for apple pie!  The were lines Matsumoto's to get shave ice on the north shore and it was worth it!

Fun family day in Julian!