LA Zoo!

Backtracking here on the blog, but my sister-in-law, Sarah and I took the four kiddos to the LA Zoo a few weeks ago. We had a really great day with relatively few meltdowns. Walking around all day definitely reminded me that I am in the 3rd trimester...it was doable but a lot more tiring than usual! (the zoo was another "summer list" item in case you are keeping track =)




I love this shot of Sarah, Grace and Max!






Some of the animals we saw...







This is such a random shot, but Aidric is in love with having pockets right now and he found a penny on the ground. He walked around with his hand in his pocket to keep track of his penny the whole day. I just thought it was too cute!

Name that tune..

choco bananas!

This recipe was one I ran across in my search for items to put on our "summer list" and we checked it off yesterday. Though, when I say "checked it off", I should note that we will be making these again. Sooo yummy!! I found the recipe on epicurious here:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Frozen-Chocolate-Bananas-240064

I used granaola to cover Chris's and mine and the kids chose to douse theirs with sprinkles. No pictures of the actual "making" of them b/c it definitely took both hands to help contain the mess.




She was a little leery at first. Fruit as a "special treat"?? Hmmmm....


One taste of sweet chocolate though and she was all in =)


Aidric loves fruit of any kind and he loves chocolate, so it was an EASY sell for him.


And if we don't get another 52 week project picture this week, we'll use this one!

Summer "to do" list

A few weeks ago, I started brainstorming a list of things we'd do to fill up the days this summer. It was helpful to me to feel like we had some things planned instead of just winging it each day. I signed the kids up for some lessons, researched some local free activities and scoured blogs and the web for craft/recipe ideas. I came up with this list and turned it into subway art to frame and hang in the playroom.



Then, I saw this cute picture idea on pinterest (LOOOVE this website, not sure if this link will work, but you can try clicking here if you want to "follow" my boards... http://pinterest.com/staciz/ ), so I made one for both kids:





Here's how they look hanging up in the playroom. (I had all of these frames already and even had the primer and paint from past projects, so total cost of adding this "artwork" to the playroom was under $10 for the prints!)







(The playroom is a work in progress...either need to put a door or curtain or some kind on that closet!)

52 weeks project- weeks 18-24!

They are not all great pictures, but so far, we haven't missed a week! I can't wait to make my "52 week" book!!

Week 18..Mother's Day Brunch at preschool.



Week 19..pancakes for breakfast- family fave!




Week 20..at the beach for "beach day" with Aidric's class. I am always FREEZING at the beach unless it's over 70, so note my sweatshirt and jeans while the kids are running around in bathing suits!



Week 21...at the aquarium- I did mention the pictures weren't all that great, didn't I? =)



Week 22...Aidric's 4th birthday party! (yes, I am sporting a dinosaur tatoo on my bicep)


Week 23...Aidric's preschool graduation- impossible moment for picture cooperation, but oh well!



Week 24..at the Zoo just a few days ago - Sarah and I spent 5 hours there with a 1, 2, 3 and 4 year old! (Grace will be 4 this month, but it's kind of fun to list their ages like that =)
(side note..I'm 27 weeks in this picture- can't believe the third trimester has already arrived!!)

First year of preschool has come to an end!!

I can't believe Aidric has finished a whole year of preschool!! He really loved his school, his teacher and all of the great friends he made. He had a ceremony last week to honor the kids moving on to Kindergarten and just celebrate the year. Before we left, I talked him into a super quick photo session. I just love all his cute little expressions.









Here he is during the ceremony:




And our really bad attempt at the 52 weeks project.

Tee Ball!

Aidric started tee ball in February and he loves it. Chris takes him to all his practices and is generally on the field during all the games. In addition to Aidric loving tee ball, it's been a great bonding activity for them!

Aidric really takes it seriously....he constantly asks us to pitch to him at home so he can practice and when he's on the field, he is in the "fielding stance" 100% of the time. He is a great listener and quick to improve. Although it is "tee" ball, they get about 3-4 pitches from the coach during each at bat. If they don't get a hit after those pitches, they use the tee. At the beginning of the season, Aidric was hitting about 1 ball off the pitch during a game (3 at bats). Now, he rarely uses the tee!! We are sooo proud of him!!





he goes by "AJ" in tee ball. he's been pretty firm on being called Aidric, not AJ, whenever we've asked him for a preference, but for some reason, he OK'd AJ for his tee ball team/coaches. apparently it's his sports name!


the stance =)

that's him fielding the ball

that's his friend jack...he likes to have a good time =)

here's jack trying to "block" aidric's throw from getting to first- you've got to love 4 year olds playing ball!