Family Game Time

The girls love their board games! Memory is a favorite!!

First Day of Preschool

Maddy started preschool today!!

She was SOOOO excited and talked about it nonstop all weekend in anticipation.

Her school is right across the street from our house. She will go Mon/Wed/Fri 8:30-11:30

Can't wait to hear how her 1st day was when she comes home!!

Ballet Time

This BIG girl started ballet this week.

She was very excited,but a bit out to lunch during the class.

All she wanted to do was hang on the bars and be silly!! Typical Maddy

Hopefully the teacher gets on track and makes it interesting enough for her to take part.

Nonetheless she was SUPER CUTE in her ballet outfit.

Look who started Kindergarten!!!!

Abby started Kindergarten this past Wednesday August 7th 2013

She was SUPER excited to start this new chapter (and so were we!!!)

Her and dad all dressed and both ready for their school day!!

She goes full days 8am-2:25pm (Wednesdays are early release at 12:50pm)

 First day....waiting on her number to enter the class

 In front of her classroom

Watsonville Strawberry Festival

Last weekend we visited the Strawberry Festival

Face painting....and every type of strawberry filled food you could imagine!

 Strawberry Popcorn!!

Garbage Truck Excitment

Maddy is starting to become fascinated by the silliest things.

Lucky for her the trash is picked up weekly!!

She loves watching the trash truck come through our alley now.

Wine Tasting Afternoon

Last Friday Mike's sister Bonnie was in town for a day/night, so she took Abby to the aquarium.

Mike, Maddy and myself headed down the street to our local wine tasting room where we are members and did our first tasting. Family style!! Even with a kid in tow it was surprisingly enjoyable!!

And you couldn't beat the view of the bay!

We saw whale spouts, otters, birds and more!

Monterey Visitors!!

Week before last my Aunt Arlene and her boyfriend Mark were here to visit and explore Monterey.

This was us after a night out to a great Mexican restaurant. The owner came around and gave the girls these great glasses!!

LA Trip

Last week the kids and I escaped for a week to LA to visit family. 

We had to squeeze it in before Abby starts school August 7th, so it was the perfect time.

Its a "quick" drive down, only took us 5 hours and we never stopped!! Kids did great.

Day 1-- Met Aunt Sarah and Brenda and Sheila for a stroll around the Manhattan Beach Farmers Market. Abby had her face painted and they rode a cute train through the outdoor mall.

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 Then we headed to Uncle Craig's firehouse in San Pedro. He is the boat house captain, and gave us the full tour. The kids LOVED every single second and probably would have chose to stay all day if they could. Brings back many fond memories, as we did this often when my sisters and I were kids, visiting the station. Very fun to share it with my own kids.....good thing he isn't retired yet :)

 

 After the firehouse tour we went for a visit at my Grandpa Jerry's house (the kids Great-Grandpa!!)

They loved playing with his cat Miss Daisy!!

 Our next big outing, my mom and I took the girls to Long Beach where we rented a covered pedal bicycle thing!! Not sure the real name, but it was fun and exercise all in one!!

 The kids spent all their free time playing with Aunt Sarah's dog at the house. Not sure who enjoyed it more....but he was exhausted each night!!

We spent a few days with my Grandparents, out and about.

Maddy and her Great-Grandpa Bob!!

 We visited the Marine Mammal Rescue Center in San Pedro where they take in all the sick/injured seals and more for rehabilitation before release. This day there were 30-40 sea lions to see, and 1 young elephant seal. The seals were very active and entertained the girls.

On our last day in town, my mom took us to her Elks Lodge for Sunday brunch!

It was an amazing spread of food, and also had a beautiful view looking down upon San Pedro and the harbor. THANKS MOM!!!

California State Fair

Two weeks ago we took a day trip up to Sacramento to attend the State Fair.

It was a nice hot day, so we got some sun, enjoyed the exhibits, and of course some fair food!!

We will definitely be back again next year!!

 FIRST deep fried Twinkie!!!

Miss Attitude

If you've EVER met Maddy, you know she has a personality like no other.....

And an attitude to match!

Luckily between her ugly moments she is the sweetest, and most fun kid to be around!!

Friends that travel

Our OLDEST Navy friends from back in our Pensacola days, just moved to Monterey as well!

One of the perks of Navy life, your friends follow you around sometimes!!

We have known them for 10 years and both have two kids. The girls are thrilled to have a close friend here now. They live in the neighborhood here as well.

Lawn Movie Night

Our military housing is hosting movie nights every Friday for the July/August!

A few weeks ago we let Abby attend the first one, and it is on the lawn in front of our house!!

PERFECT!!

She LOVED sitting out there with her friends enjoying the show on a big blow up screen; eating popcorn....but it is COLD here at night, so she bundled up!!

Monterey Kids Museum

Grandma Donna got the kids an early birthday present.....a membership to the kids museum here in Monterey!!! The kids beg and love going there. Its a fun interactive environment.

A put put golf area, a craft zone, hospital, stage for dress-up performance, restaurant, etc.