La Jolla Shores

To beat the heat on Saturday Donald, Emma and I decided it would be fun to go to the beach. No swimsuits just comfy clothes. We headed to La Jolla shores for a nice walk along the coast. We were so happy that it was super foggy, still warm and muggy, but at least we didn't have to deal with the sun beating down on us.

Emma and I looked for shells and rocks in the sand, but really Emma was most interested in collecting muddy sand and pieces of kelp.

She loved the walk and enjoyed holding on to our hands when we weren't running in and out of the waves.

We walked all the way down to the pier and back. It was so beautiful in the fog.

But daddy and Emma got caught in a big wave and got a bit wet, all in good fun.
I think Emma ran most of the way back with daddy chasing with tickles and kisses.

Then Daddy had to stop and with Emma's help write in the sand.
We almost made it back out of the sand, and then Emma tripped on one leg. So it was off to showers for a bit of a rinse.
Of course that was all too much fun.
It was a lovely 2 hours of walking and playing. When we got back home it was hot! So on went the air-conditioning and Emma off to nap, oh and Daddy too.

Dancer Girl

Emma loves being fancy and loves being dancer girl. She always chooses what she wants to dress up as when dress up time comes. Sometimes it's just her butterfly wings, other times she wants her fairy outfit on, but this was the first time she got to be dancer girl and she loved it!

Complete with her little ballet shoes she hopped around the house for the next 2 hours and even made her dinner looking so fancy!

Mommy's Birthday!

Suzanne's birthday was on Saturday and that means she got to decide what to do with the day. We started our day at Emma's favorite coffee shop, The Brickyard. Apparently, that was the one thing that Suzanne didn't get a choice on. I asked Emma to go ask her Mommy where she wanted to go for breakfast and promptly heard Emma run in to the other room and announce in a loud, excited voice, "Mommy, we're going to the Brickyard for breakfast!"

After sitting and enjoying our coffee and watching the trolleys, a huge freight train and a passenger train go by, Suzanne and I headed back to the apartment for our camera and it was off to Scripps Aquarium.

After the aquarium, Suzanne decided that it was hot and what better way to spend a super hot day, than in air conditioning. So off we went to California Pizza Kitchen for some Waldorf salads, then sat in a nice cool theater watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The book was recently introduced to us by one of my co-workers as it was his favorite when he was a child, so we picked it up for Emma and she loves having it read to her. The movie is... loosely based on the book. But it is still fun nonetheless and I recommend it as family fun. Emma absolutely loved watching the movie and by half way through was happily snuggled in to her mommy.

After the movie, it was time to drop Mommy off at home for some Mommy time while Emma and I ran some errands. We picked up all the ingredients we needed to make curry, some chocolate ice cream cake with chocolate ice cream, chocolate frosting, chocolate cake and some extra added chocolate with chocolate flavoring (Suzanne's favorite), and some naan from KC Tandoor in Mission Valley. We went home, fired up the stove, prepared some fabulous curry (if I do say so myself) and sat down to eat with my family, Suzanne, and Emma.

After dinner, I had to go run out to get candles as they never made it in to the bag on the errand run. Can't have birthday cake without candles! And all 24 fit too. :)

Sunday, we decided to continue the fun, so we took Suzanne to her very own toy store. (Anthropologie). She got a couple of dresses and by the time we got home, had decided she needed to wear one of them later that day. After Emma's non-nap, we went to go for an afternoon coffee at the Brickyard only to discover that it is closed at 2pm on Sundays. We decided to walk over to Seaport village and walk around like tourists for a bit. Suzanne and Emma had to go for a ride on the carousel and I managed to grab a couple of quick pics.

Afterwards it was out to the point for some leisure time as Emma ran herself ragged.She, of course, made a couple of quick stops to give Mommy and Daddy cuddles.


And a passerby decided we needed a picture as a whole family. He was sure to tell us more than once that he was from Clairemont. I don't think he believed we were San Diego residents.


Just a glimpse of what happens behind mommy's back!

Taking these pictures was very hard due to laughter. Emma kept running back and forth as each picture was snapped. Scroll really fast to get an idea of what I am talking about.

The Emmy"ist"

just after nap eating her banana

A few mornings back Emma announced that I was the Mommyist! and that daddy was the Daddyist! and that she was the Emmyist! I just love her so much and all the Emmyist ways of who she is!

Dining out!

Once a week Donald and I like to take Emma out to eat. But lately it's been more alfresco! Emma and I pack a yummy picnic dinner and get daddy from work and head to Balboa Park. I know the sun is setting earlier and earlier so we are making the most of the last of the summer sun
The first time we did this I took bubbles to blow, but that turned into a problem, because the airplane wand I got her required batteries so we were out of luck. So Emma just ran and ran.

But the second time we did it I took Emma's soccer ball. That made the running around a bit more fun for all of us.

Emma working on her kicking skills
Donald giving Emma a helping hand at kicking the ball to mommy

Daddy kicking the ball right past our little girl.

Daddy's Birthday!

Daddy's birthday was on Saturday. We started the day with going to the Brick Yard for coffee and breakfast. It was a gorgeous morning, quiet and breezy with the lovely sounds of the saxophone playing in the background. We knew it was going to get hot so we decided to head over to Balboa Park and the Ruben H. Fleet Science Museum.
We parked behind the organ pavilion so we could get some iced tea from the Japanese Tea House on the way to the museum. Emma and Donald bring out the teas.
While enjoying the last remains of a morning coolness we heard bagpipes practicing over at the organ pavilion so we walked over to get a glimpse before heading through the park.
We made the right choice for such a hot day which I think got up into the 100's. We enjoyed an Imax film on the ocean and then headed into science area try out all the cool science experiments. They also have a new area called Kid City for 5 and under and Emma had a blast!

There was lots to do and experiment with! I ended up taking Emma back to the Science Museum on Tuesday to beat the heat once more and we spent an hour and a half just in Kid City!
Daddy and Emma made wonderful music and Emma proudly sang "happy birthday Daddy" as she played.

We cant escape that end of the park with out taking a walk around the big fountain. Emma loves the water and enjoys getting to walk up high with Daddy. I dressed Emma in orange that day specifically for Daddy since he loves that color so much. The two made quite a pair!

They were all to happy to stop and pose for me in the shade on our way back to the car.

But someone started getting a bit sleepy and hungry so it was Daddy arms that carried her the rest of the way.
We had made no plans for the day so everything we did just randomly happened. On our way out of the park we decided to head to Little Italy because I still needed to pick up Donald's cake I ordered for him at Extraordinary Deserts...so we thought we could grab something to eat there. We ended up at the Burger Lounge. Another wonderful choice. Very tasty! Simple menu with amazing flavor! A must for anyone visiting Little Italy. Then it was off to pick up Daddy's cake. Below is Emma and Daddy grabbing their waters, it was so hot and nothing tastes better than cool water.
Emma was getting sleepy and it was past her nap time so when we finally went home that afternoon we all snuggled in bed and Emma got to watch the "Rescuers" for the first time and Daddy and Mommy got to rest.

After our much needed rest, we headed out to meet up with Aunt Andra, Uncle Kevin, Grandma and Grandpa at the Fish House in Mission Valley. It was yummy as usual and Daddy got his favorite...sushi!We then all headed back to our place for a happy birthday song, cake, and presents. I forgot ice cream so Aunt Andra and Uncle Kevin got us some on their way over! I think the cake was just about on fire with all the candles I had to put on it. Extraordinary Deserts does such a wonderful job decorating the cake with flowers and ribbon, but I forgot to tell them the cake was for a Daddy so we ended up with pink and purple flowers and ribbon. Donald didn't mind at all because the cake was a yummy tiramisu cake!
Of course Emma helped Daddy blow them all out, though I think by Grandpa's expression, we weren't sure the two of them would get them all out.
Donald and I had decided this year for our birthdays that we would by new furniture for the living room so only small gifts were given from Emma and me. We framed up a map of London and gave daddy a Charges luggage tag.
Grandma and Grandpa spoiled their little boy with a blue ray disc player!
And Aunt Andra and Uncle Kevin came through with Madden 10. Emma and I also surprised Daddy with 3 blue ray movies with two of them already his favorites 5th Element and Sean of the Dead.
We had such a blast for Daddy's birthday! The whole day was full of fun and excitement. That on Sunday we just relaxed and did a bit of shopping. Emma still says happy birthday every night to daddy before she goes to sleep.

La Jolla Cove Picnic Dinner

A week ago Sunday (before it got hot) Donald Emma and I all went and had a picnic dinner at La Jolla Cove. Emma had been bugging us about going on a picnic ever since Donald's work party. She had enjoyed herself so much that every time we drove by a park or beach she asked if we could picnic. So Donald and I longing to do what we call our "cheep date" headed out with Emma to La Jolla. For years when we were dating and even after we were married we go on our "cheep date". This consisted of us driving down Mira Mar Road and stopping off at the KFC then taking our meal "to go" would head to La Jolla Cove and picnic on a blanket and lay and relax as the sun set. We haven't done this since Emma was born and thought she would love to do it with us so we headed out, stopping at the KFC first (which Emma had never had either) and then headed for the Cove.
Emma thought the food was really fun and yummy and so was getting to sit by the ocean. She loved chasing the sea gulls away and got all kinds of silly when they stole her cookie
Of course getting to lay on the blanket with mommy and daddy was really fun too.
Emma gave us all kinds of hugs, kisses and cuddles.

And no one can resist the Emma tummy for tickles and kisses.



Then we took our trash to the bin and raced back. Emma wants to run every where now and it's super fun and helps us get to where we need to go so much faster.
Emma and I tried out piggy back rides and had quite a laugh at keeping her on.

Emma really enjoyed being at the ocean, the tide was low and the water was very calm, not at all like the noisy winter water Donald and I are use to since it's about the only time we go to the beach.
We took Emma out to the end of the wall at what use to be Children's Cove when we were dating and for some reason over the years has turned into Seal Beach. That's me in the bright pink shirt holding Emma up for a wave to daddy.

Daddy joined us on the wall and we watched the waves until the sun set.Got in one last great shot of the sun shinning through the clouds onto the water before heading home.

Assorted iPhone Pictures

Over the last couple of months I have taken random shots of Emma with my iPhone and thought that some of them were so cute that they were worth sharing.(Above) Emma napping with Grandpa...well sort of :)

A bit of park fun with Grandpa during his visit from Colorado

Looking out the window during the train ride in Poway.
After a fun ride on the train with Grandma and Grandpa, and mommy and daddy.

Ridding the escalator with Grandpa at North County Fair Mall

Playing a bit of pool with Daniel at Uncle Gabe's mom and dad's house in Ramona

Sitting at dinner with her cousin Sarah and Uncle Gabe at Mi Ranchito in Ramona before they headed back home to Colorado. If you haven't been to Mi Ranchito I highly recommend it the next time your near Ramona, it is so yumm!

Emma taking her Bitty Baby out for an afternoon stroll.
Complete with purse and sunglasses.

Reading a book at Starbucks in 4S Ranch
A big smile outside the Starbucks in Carmel Mt.

Our fancy girl with her helmet and bike. Every time we take her out with her bike she gets better and better at it.


Asleep on mommy as we land in San Diego Airport after our trip to Illinois.

Our new favorite coffee/tea place The Brick Yard. Emma loves it because she gets to sit outside and watch the trolleys and trains go by and we get a wonderful breakfast of yogurt, fruit and granola.


Emma loves to visit the orangutans at the Zoo
We have been shopping for new living room furniture for over 3 months now. Emma always gravitates to the white furniture when we are out shopping but loved this modern chair in Lawrence. We finally ended up with retro modern from Macy's home store. It's so comfy!!

Complements of Aunt Andra's iPhone we got this lovely shot of Emma playing at Erick's first birthday (Donald and I couldn't attend because we were at a wedding)

Evening in Balboa Park playing.
Donald was getting his hair cut in Hillcrest so Emma and I ate alfresco and played in the park until daddy was done. We love taking advantage of living so close to the park now.


Enjoying a few moments on Grandpa's Yacht after a day of racing in the bay

Watching the koi in Balboa Park
Emma sitting in the Japanese Gardens in Balboa park after mommy got some wonderful tea from the Tea Pavilion.

We finally took Emma to her first movie!! We went to see Ponyo the new Hayao Miyazaki film. I have been enjoying his films for over 20 years now if you can believe that!! My brother Tim was a HUGE fan of Japanese Animation and introduced me to his films while I was still in high school. I am so happy this was Emma's first movie it would have made my brother proud.

Emma and I have been taking advantage of Free Museum Tuesdays in Balboa Park. It's great fun and it's exposing Emma to all kinds of wonderful art and culture. When we were waiting for the San Diego Museum of Art to open I got these great shots of Emma making friends with a turtle


Going swimming for the first time since May when we were in Vegas. We have been so busy despite always having a wonderful pool to go to every day that I just haven't made time for the water sports this summer. Now I feel rushed to get in as much time as possible before the weather turns cold.