Beach Days

We had a nice weekend.  Saturday we went to the beach after picking up Jack some new Thomas the Train toys for his Thomas table.  I am sure he is too spoiled, but they were having a one day buy one set get another set half off.  That wooden railway thomas stuff is expensive.  We had to take advantage of the deal.  Plus it is the one thing that Jack is really interested in, and it keeps him busy.

We had a really nice time at the beach.  This was the first time we broke out the old board shorts with the chances of maybe getting into the water.  We went to La Jolla Shores, and it was a bit overcast and not very busy.  We grabbed some sand toys while we were shopping so Zach and Jack got busy building and smashing sand castles.  Jack was having so much fun running and running.  He even went into the water, and it was really cold.  He was having a blast, and got totally soaked.  We had our typical Sunday, and I had a nice lunch with our friends while Zach and Jackson stayed home to rest.  We took Jack out to get his haircut for preschool pictures in a few weeks.  Barbara cut it so cute.  She did a great job since his hair has natural curl, and now it goes in nice waves.  Jack sat so still, and he was so good.  He loves Barbara though so I knew he would be good.

We really haven't been doing much this week so far.  Just going outside to play at the park a few times.  Anything to get out of the house for a bit.  I think Jack and I need to start taking walks, or heading to the beach ourselves during the week for a bit more to do.  We did finally get our computer fixed today.  The guy they had working on it was the most professional guy.  He was so nice, and he just kept trying and trying.  This was his third day out, and I guess the third time is the charm.  It is a couple year old desktop.  We lost the hard drive, but he replaced everything, and even installed a wireless card in it.  So, it is pretty much a new computer.  Now, we just need to get a little desk so we can put it upstairs.

I did really well posting last week, and I was hoping to do well this week too, but here it is Thursday before I have posted anything.  To be honest though this post has been written since Tuesday I just haven't had time to get my pictures ready to put on it.

Parade of Lights

For the first time since we have lived here we went to the parade of lights on the bay. We weren’t sure if we were going to get a parking spot, but we got lucky enough to find one. We had our blankets, chairs, and hot chocolate. We were all set. They had a nice fireworks display before the show began. It is a contest that the harbor boats can enter where they decorate their boats with lights, and Christmas decorations. This year the theme was zoo. I got a few pictures, but most came out blurry since I don’t have a tripod.

First Day of Preschool

Jack had his first day of preschool today. He was so excited to go. Yesterday I had to go to the school building to pay for the week, and he had a fit that he couldn’t go to preschool that day. We had an interesting morning. He woke up very argumentative. I think he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. No matter what I said up was down, and the sky was green. We managed to get ready, and I even finagled a couple of pictures out of him. Not great pictures, but we captured the moment.



I was really nervous for him, and I know that is just silly. I was just worried about how he would do, and if he might have an accident while he was there. Not only was it his first day, but today was library day and they ride a bus over to the library for story time. We got there and I just watched the other moms following along. They have to wash their hands when they first get there, and while he was standing in the line he turned around with a worried look on his face and asked, “Are you going to leave?” Uh, oh. Then he saw one of the teachers he knows from the program, and he latched onto her. I explained about it being his first day, and that he’d probably stick by her side. By the time he was drying his hands off he was giving me a kiss, and running off for circle time with no problems. What a relief that was. I am glad he doesn’t have separation anxiety.


I picked him up later that afternoon, and I did a little happy dance in my head when I saw he was in the same clothes I had dropped him off in. He was all smiles, and bouncing off the walls. I quizzed him when he got home about his day. He told me the letter of the day was letter K and what sound it makes. He told me he went to the lifrary (library) where there were lots of books. So adorable. So far day one was great. I can’t believe my little boy is old enough for preschool.

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Later that night I let Jack decorate a Christmas tree for his room. He’s the third generation to be doing this tradition. I’ve had a hard time finding a little tree that would be just right, but I spotted one at Target today. He even got a new Hallmark Thomas ornament to put on it. He loved decorating it, and kept telling everyone Merry Christmas all night. I got a few more pictures out of him, but only with the promise of a piece of Aunt Terri’s fudge.




He likes to put the same colors together


He looks pretty silly in this picture. It is a really bad picture too with flash and everything. When I look at it I can't help but laugh. I was trying to get him to look at the camera and smile. This is where the fudge bribe came in. How I ended up with a kid that hates the camera and having his picture taken I will never know.

The Beach/Friday Five

We went to the beach the other day late in the afternoon, and kind of impromptu. We just haven’t been very much, and our weekends are always packed with things to do, or we are super tired from the week. I didn’t gather up much a few snacks, something to sit on, and Jack’s beach toys. Of course the sunscreen, we have to slather that stuff on.

It was really crowded when we got there, and I couldn’t figure out why so many people were there in the middle of the week in the afternoon. Zach, reminded me it is vacation time. Duh! I forget we live in a vacation destination spot. It was super crowded, but we found ourselves a little piece of beach and claimed as our own. Jack had a fantastic time running, and playing in the water. The water was warm and felt great. You never know how he is going to react sometimes he hates the water, and other times you can’t get him out of it. Zach took Jack deeper into the ocean. Jack didn’t like that very much, but he was brave and didn’t cry.

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He was soaked when they came back in. Jack said the water is salty, and tastes good.

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I snapped some pictures, and relaxed in the sand. Jack came back to our spot to build a sandcastle, and we had forgotten his buckets and things in the car. Poor kid only had a ¼ cup measuring cup to use as a scoop because I couldn’t find the shovel before we left the house. He made do and got busy digging holes, and burying his pigs in the sand. We are hoping to head back this weekend, and really make a day of it. Take our beach umbrella, chairs, and all the supplies.

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It was the first time he was brave enough to chase the gulls.

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Jack is really flourishing on our new routine. I hope it keeps up, but two year olds change on a dime. I’m letting him wake up whenever he wants to, and the other day he slept in until 9. He loves his sleep. I’ve put a time schedule on his two snacks, quiet time, and nap. I was having problems with him going to the pantry, and opening it begging for something to eat. He’d snack on different things at random times, or fill up on things like chocolate milk, and he wasn’t eating as well. His naps were getting shorter and shorter. So I just scheduled everything into my phone, and a little reminder goes off throughout our day. He’s figured out he has to eat at his snack time, or he won’t get to eat until the next meal. Knock on wood he’s even napping an hour longer. It was stressful the first few days. Lots of whining for food and such, but he’s over it now.


A Jack Funny: The other night we were eating smoked sausage, macaroni, broccoli, and salad for dinner. Jack turned to me and asked, “Mommy can I have some more ostwich (ostrich) please?” We had to bite our tongues to keep from laughing. He really just wanted more sausage. I had no idea I was making wild bird for dinner, ha-ha!


Friday Five
1. Who is making a positive difference in your life?
2. Where would like to be right now?
3. What is the first thing you would do with a $5,000 gift?
4. What super power would you really like to have?
5. What’s your favorite sound?