It's Christmas time in the Garden

 We had a great night last night.  We went to the SD Botanic Garden's Celebration of Lights.  We didn't see many lights, but the girls got to roast marshmallows, decorate treat bags, play in the snow and go sledding of course.  ;)  Noe's face was fantastic!

 Finny decided that Santa could keep his candy cane.

 

Noe as a gingerbread cookie.

 

I had to add this one.  We went to our nephew t-bone's surf contest in December and it was GORGEOUS outside.  I just loved this moment with Patty and Fin.

Finny's quote of the day

Me (about 12 times) ~ "Finny...sit at the table please!"
Fin ~ "Oh fine."

Say what?!  She's not even two!  Little stinker.

hanging and crocheting

 It's that time of year...my Mom's shopping trip.  We are always lucky to get to see her and add some chaos to the shopping crew.  Here's Fin right before her knock down and drag her out tantrum.  What's wrong Finny?  Five hours of Christmas shopping isn't fun?  The girls were troupers and LOVED hanging with Grammy and her friends.

The whole time shopping, all Noe wanted to do was to get home and learn how to crotchet.  I can remember when my Grandma D would come to visit.  She would always bring her yarn and after a couple of instructions she would turn us loose. We would then makes chains that could wrap around the room.  So glad I get to pass on that little bit of happiness.

Aloha DT

 Last weekend we went to a paddleout for Donald Takayama (a surfer and shaper).  It was such a beautiful moment to celebrate his life.  His presence in our lives is one of those total "small world" moments.  I had heard stories of DT from my Mom.  She was friends with his wife and used to babysit his kids way back in the day in Hermosa Beach.  Patrick used to hang out at his shop and then ended up doing his website and some design work for him a couple years back.  So when we heard of his passing, it hit us a little harder than we thought it would.  For me, because I wasn't close to him, it was the end of an era.  Like a little piece of history had passed.  For Patrick, DT represented a lot of what he holds close to his heart.  He reminded Pat a lot of his parents (love of casinos, Dad's love of food, Mom's sense of humor, he looked like his Dad), his love of surfing and of goodtimes when he/we would hangout at his shop and talk story.  Aloha DT you will be missed.

And just to remind us that there's fun to be had at any occasion...Noe and Sardi going crazy with some tea leaves.

Fall Festival

 Orca and the clown.

 Little pumpkins at the Fall Festival.

 Noe fishing for some loot.

Checking out the web, but the best part is the little Fin bug behind them!!

Halloween at a glance

 

 Pumpkin patch time.

 Bumble Fin at my workout's Halloween party.

 The girls on Halloween morning.  Thanks Grammy for the cute outfit for Fin!

 Fin was so excited that we didn't have to run errands or go straight home to clean after we dropped off Noe.  Instead we were able to help set up for their Fall Festival.  She was such a good helper.  She had free reign on the playground and loved helping with the streamers.  My little buddy.

The infamous Orca costume.  She finally got to wear it and she was so proud.  Every door we went to she made sure they knew she was an Orca, NOT a shark!!  ;)

Finny bug in the heirloom clown costume.  For a costume from about 1974-ish, it wow'd every single passerby and every house.  "ohhhhh...look at the little clown".  Fin caught on and would just stand at the door listening to them coo while continuing to dump candy in her pumpkin.  She made out!  I finally would have to drag her away.  Little smarty pants.

And because I am a HUGE Halloween nerd, I had to get in on the action. 

 Our carvings this year.  A sun, 5 for Cinco, and Noe's pumpkin face.

 Noe invited her little friend Brock from school to come and trick-or-treat with us.  They had so much fun.  Some houses were much too scary, but Noe would recruit Fin and head up to the door together.  When it comes to candy, those two don't mess around!! 

Stitches in time

Fin bug helping Mommy sew.

With 6 new babies coming into this world in the next month or two, my sewing machine has been on fire.  I've been trying to make blankets for all the new bambinos, because some of my favorite gifts were the ones made with love.  In my case however, it's been a little blood, sweat, tears and lots of love.  Oh and a prayer or two.  I didn't realize that as soon as I break out my sewing machine, or lay out a piece of fabric on the floor, the girls are instantly on it.  So, my sewing has been reserved for late nights.  Which doesn't always make for great eyesight or patience, but it's so much fun and I can't wait to see all those babies all snuggly wuggly.

 

This was one of those moments that you just want to bottle up.  Noe has been drawing with Patrick since she was Fin's age and now to see little Finny joining in makes me so happy.  She would scribble all over the page and then lift it up to show Noe.  "O-e...O-e!!"  Just to get big sister's approval.  And any time I see Patty with the girls, it just melts my heart.  There's nothing cuter than a Dad and his daughters.

Fresh Breath

Noe rockin' out at the dentist.  No cavaties for the 2nd time!  Woo hoo!  But........that's because Mom's a little bit of a brushing crazy person.  Her teeth look great though, so this crazy mama is going to continue her reign of terror.  ;)

Beachy kind of fall

Our friends came down a couple weekends back and we all had a blast at the beach.  I think that's my favorite time of year...warm, uncrowded, and beautiful beach days.  Surfing was blackballed, so I took out a boogie board.  Ha ha ha ha!  It was so fun!  Patrick put his handplane (picture a mini surfboard for your hand) to good use.  We were there from 9-4, then came back and BBQ'd.  Ahh...

Surf Art

The family that surfs together, stays together!  Noe day dreaming about our upcoming Kauai vacation.  I love Fin's little wave.  :)

Back to school

We love our little bug and can't believe how big she is.

Our hambone.

Happy Birthday Sis

Happy Birthday to my big Sis!  Love ya Sister!!!

And...........

We're back!  Man, more than a month has passed since our last entry and all I can say is where has the time gone????? 

In that time, my Grandma turned 90!

My parents threw her such a beautiful party.  It was so great to get to spend time with her.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

And my brother turned 40!

 

 With his boys.

 

 

We decided to mix things up for him.  He had to challenge everyone in our fam to get to his presents.  I don't know who had more fun...myself and Jana or Marsh.

 Challenging his big sister.

Challenging the boys to a popsicle eating contest.

There's nothing better than having fun with family, watching everyone giggle through their challenges, and celebrating this big day with my big brother.  Love ya brother...Happy Birthday!

Garden expansion

 Our little garden is expanding!  We now have mini pumkins, gourds, basil, flat leaf parsley, chives and snap peas growing.  The girls are such good helpers.  Princess Planter and her side kick Princess Pigtails are not afraid to get in and get dirty.  They even decided to give the old gourd seeds a taste.  Hmmm...

 

Can't wait to make some pesto!!

 

 Our biggest cucumber.  We have 7 more on their way.  I think we were a little premature in picking it, but the excitement was killing us!

Princess Planter is so happy to FINALLY eat the cucumber.

Whirlwind Weekend ~ Part 3

We left Friday afternoon to head to Patrick's brother Richie's house.  We got there and the girls went swimming.  They love the water and would have stayed in the water for hours if we let them, but we had to get dinner.  Everyone knows how Mama gets when she's hungry.  It's not pretty.  :)  We got some super yummy grub and then called it a night.

The next morning we headed out to Long Beach for Patrick's outrigger race.  There was such a fun vibe there and he did great!  They got 2nd overall!!  Yay Patty!  We stayed at the beach for most of the day and got to cheer on the other boats and watch their club play some seriously funny volleyball.  Goodtimes.  Then we went by and picked up our niece to come over and swim with Noe.  From there it was dinner with Richie and Lolo (P's Dad).  We then packed up and headed over to Patrick's sister's house to invade and hangout.  Phew!!!!

Lots of miles traveled, no showers (don't ask...so gross!), one pool, 2 beaches, lots of tasty eats, good friends, happy times, lots of love and of course lots of laughs.

Whirlwind weekend ~ Part 2

Before heading to our friends' baby shower, we met up with Patrick's brother Rich and our friends Jim & Andrea at Bolsa Chica for some beach time.  We've had the strangest weather recently and although the forecast said sunny, it was overcast and cooooold until we were packing up to leave.  But we did enjoy a little paddle out on a short board (go Patty!) and catching up with good friends!

 The Cinconettes hangin' together.

 

Finny's "cheese" face.  It comes out whenever she spots Daddy's camera.

 

 

 The girls decided that Uncle Jim's nice, warm RV was looking pretty good.  "Race ya Fin".

 Tj and Trenton enjoying some sand.  Or by the looks of Trenton's face, TJ was enjoying the sand.

 Trenton's GQ pose.

 Brothers.  

The beach and friends is a great combo.