A Flower A Day...

Everyday Dylan somehow picks me a flower. Sometimes he does it in our courtyard. Other times it's at the gardens, the zoo, preschool, church, grandma's house, or even at Disneyland. I've come to love that daily moment when he reaches out to hand it to me, with that proud, warm smile, saying "here mama!"
Some things you have to enjoy for the moment, because it's only a phase and your child will stop doing it almost as suddenly as they first started. But this flower picking routine has been going steady for a while now.
Perhaps it began when he and I started our weekly routine of going to the local flower shop together on Saturdays to buy flowers. Perhaps it started with our walks at the gardens, where I pointed out all the flowers I know the names of and like. Perhaps it stems from his own love of nature.
But whatever the genesis of this routine, I'm glad to be an integral part of it.

A special relationship

There is a special relationship between Addie and our cat, Thaddeus. Everywhere that Addie seems to be, Thaddeus seems to follow and plop himself right beside her. She pets him with one hand sometimes while she nurses and he lays on the other side of her. She pulls his tail, yet he doesn't move away. She even tries to pull up into a partial standing position across his back, and he doesn't seem to care. I think they are the perfect size for eachother. And while he still puts up with her, I'm going to try to catch a few pictures of their little friendship.

All smiles for the camera. Miss Easy-going despite teething, allergic rash to antibiotics, ear infection, diarrhea, and thrush. I've truly been blessed.
(note: all of the above is cleared up now, thankfully.)



Snuggle time with mama before bed. I love that moment right before she goes to bed, when she lays her head on my chest as we walk into the kids' room.

Hoppy Easter

Took the kids to the Americana to meet the Easter Bunny. Dylan was all smiles and Addie was terrified of the big.bad.bunny.
It was pretty funny actually.







Addie on Easter morning before church. She got a special purse from the bunny and she loved it. But I think she still wouldn't be too keen on the bunny if she saw him just yet. Maybe next year.

Disneyland Birthday

For my birthday this year, we went to Disneyland. Sure it's a fun place to visit, but the real treat was being together with my sister, her family, and my parents for a couple days. The kids LOVED being with their cousins and I soaked up the time with my family.

In Toontown, waiting for everyone on the rollercoaster behind us (see the red rollercoaster? It's made for kids and it's pretty sweet.)

In Mickey Mouse's House, with some balloons to mark Andrew's birthday. (My nephew and I have the same birthday. Happy 4th Birthday, Drew!)

On Small World. Somehow it's even more special when you go on it with your parents and sister, remembering the first time you went on it as a kid.



Pixar Parade. Waiting for Lightening McQueen!
I love that parade. So much in fact, that the day before I dreamt that I was trying out for a spot as a dancer in the parade.

Little Minnie Mouse, asleep after a long day... along with her brother.

Dylan asleep in my dad's arms on the tram back to my car.
I didn't get home that night until after midnight. Thankfully I had my new GPS (thanks Mom and Dad for the awesome birthday gift!) to help me home (otherwise with the poorly marked detour on the 5, I'd have gotten lost for certain. Not good with two sleeping kids alone in LA!)