San Diego Trip- Post 1

When I heard that Gina(Mike's sister) was going to get married in San Diego, I thought why not make a longer trip out of it and go the weekend before the wedding and stay all week. So off on another adventure Giada and I went! We left 2 weekends ago and headed to San Diego. This wasn't Giada's first flight but it was the first flight since she has been so mobile. I wasn't sure exactly how it would go- but all was well, she played, ate, and slept! Great start to the trip.

We spent the weekend with Gina and Scott. When she wasn't tormenting their dog Annie, we were collecting shells at the bay, going on walks, eating and visiting the zoo. Neither Gina nor Scott had been so we decided to go on Sunday. World famous it is! Great zoo, feeding the giraffes was the best, and worth the wait. It was quite an adventure to find Giada her favorite Gorilla but worth the trip! Her new souvenir "fingo" is a new favorite. Her other favorite thing to do for the rest of the trip was call every guy she saw "Scooc" (aka Scott)

We thought it would be fun for Giada to sit on the Gorilla, since she loves monkeys. The volunteer that told us to quickly take our photo and GET OFF - they are not for riding....didn't think it was so cute.

Thanks Gina and Scott for having us!

Fingo

Swinging at the Bay

Then Monday it was off to visit Hager and Chad. They graciously opened their home to us for 4 days. And Giada was thrilled there was another dog for her to torment there. Julie took us on quite the adventure. Beaches, pumpkin patches, seal watching, play dates with college friends. Not only that but to have a professional photographer take photos of our trip was awesome!! I asked her if she'd like to move to Lodi and just photograph our life but she declined :)

Thanks Gar! (Check out Thrive Photography!)

The first day we got together will all our college friends and their babies. Fun day. The weather was super rainy so we were stuck indoors, but with the Bells playroom the kids were entertained for hours. Thanks for having us Jess! Then everyone came over to Hagers for dinner the next night. It was great to catch up with the boys too! Hard to get 5 mobile kids to all look and smile for the pic!

One night we went to Ramona to visit the Filices! Great to see their place, they have done so much work to it - it's beautiful. We had a great visit. The girls had so much fun playing. Tate is so calm and just did his own thing, but he missed out on the pictures!

Bailey suggested we stay for a bath - how could we say no to that sweet face in the middle!?

Del Mar had such a fun pumpkin patch with bounce houses, all kinds of rides, slides, wagons and much more! We did a little of everything.

Funny faces while pumpkin ("punkin" as Giada says) hunting!

Heavy!

Loves to ride horses

Riding the horse she would say "choo choo" each time she heard the train and cover her ears

Every time the merry go round came around to where we were standing we did something different. High 5, clapping, kiss, hug etc.

Typically Giada doesn't enjoy bounce houses. But this one had a little practice area outside and that's all it took. We practically had to bribe her to get her out! She loved the slide too!

Of course when I decide to video tape she bails coming down!

I wasn't even sure she would like it but she climbed right up and did it time after time.

The 2nd video the landing is a little more graceful.

Loves driving! Scary!

Then we were off to the beach. We went 2 days in a row to the beach because we had so much fun! One day we stopped to check out all the seals too. I love these pictures and as you could see I couldn't choose just one or two. She was having a blast and these totally capture the moment. I chased her up and down that beach, jumping on the wave "bubbles", popping the seaweed "balls" and chasing birds. She didn't love the waves and would run from them as they came up Too much fun can't wait to go back.

We did lots of drawing in the sand and digging for water.

She followed whoever came in her path....

Loved dragging around seaweed.

These poor birds never stood a chance...

Crazy week...even for me (& Giada 20 mon update.)

As you all well know I'm typically very busy. But this week takes the cake, I wasn't sure I'd make it through! In addition to the regular gymnastics class, music class, olive oil stuff etc... we managed to fit in our slow pitch softball game(still undefeated!), kids play-date, Carrie Underwood concert, Baby shower at our house for Kerns baby #2, and Giants game!! All fun events and too hard to pass any of them up but made for a QUICK week!

About once a month a few of my college friends and I get together to let the kids play, and we get to catch up. This month they came to Lodi! We checked out Micke Grove zoo then back to our house for lunch, and water play. The kids played in the kiddie pool and water table for hours, they had to be dragged away. Good times girls, thanks for making the drive!

Giada napped through half the zoo and just woke up when we wanted to take a group photo. And with four people snapping photos it's no wonder the kids look like they don't know what's going on!

Glad Jackie got the Lorakeet experience since it was their last day in Lodi!

Nico wanted to give them a kiss.

Carrie Underwood was awesome as was Billy Currington before her - and so fun that the Stockton Arena is getting great talent! Carrie's songs are a little slower so it was a different vibe then Billy- he has the "beer drinking" country songs everyone is most accustomed to, but Carrie has a beautiful voice that's for sure and a fun night out with the Kernals!

Kernals have baby #2 "Petunia" on the way, so we showered that new baby with love Thursday night as she will be here in November! As you can see we went with the pink/orange harvest theme. That little girl got some darling clothes. Welcome to the pink club Cole!

Thanks Melummer!

Giants game Friday night. Tried to see them clinch it.....didnt quite happen Friday but either way we made playoffs. Humm baby!!!

Giada's 20 months was a couple weeks ago

Here's what she has been up to.....

-Very funny, when she thinks she has done something well, she requests a high-five

-Seems to enjoy both her music class and gymnastics classes, can do much more in them each week and follows the teacher better every time. She is always asking for her friend "Coop" from class.

- She has made it clear that she is aware when she is going, or has gone pee or poop. So we bought a little seat and just try to offer it to her when she brings it up. Honestly I'm not ready to go there yet with the potty training!! But she has gone in it a handful of times, usually once a day, so we'll see how that goes.

-Loves snakes, bugs etc. She thinks a worm is a snake and collects them all over the backyard and hold onto them for a LONG time! She is quick to point out ants, flys etc.

-Eye lashes still two different colors, I love it, it's most noticeable when she is sleeping.

-Hair is getting long and still curly, especially at the bottom

-Two more teeth working there way in on the bottom.

-Last couple weeks, waking up again at night - darn!

-Very good at saying "Tank too" and loves giving hugs and kisses

-If she burbs she says burb, if she farts she says burb. I'd rather her say that, so we don't correct her. :)

- She has started taking her shirt off all the time, dresses too....luckily only at home so far.

-When she hears something she points to her ear and says "bird" "train" whatever it may be.

-The voice is definitely ONE volume and its LOUD!

-And most importantly she says "Go Giants!!"

Gino's Wedding & Giada Body Parts Lesson

Another weekend, another wedding for us. Weddings are so much fun because they are always so unique and no two weddings are alike. And the best part is you get to catch up with family and friends! This weekend we were off to Santa Rosa to celebrate with Gino and Erica.

Good times had by all and I had a great time catching up with the girls.

The boys at rehearsal night

(Of course Gino was representing with a Bengals hat on- we should have known!)

Mike looking good in his tux- doing his groomsmen duties

Here comes the bride

Mr. and Mrs. Barbera

The girls

The boys

The whole gang

Giada and Syd, this is her new favorite position to sit with Sydney- who stays ever so tolerant!

And if you wanted to know where your body parts are.....Giada will help out!