Spending Fall in California

Max in his pre-school class. He really enjoyed making friends and his teacher Ms. Selynda.

Its not a trip to California without going to the beach. This is Laguna Beach also the place where Blair proposed to me. I took my 98 yr. old grandma along with us and she really enjoyed it.

In October we had a chance to go to a pumpkin patch. I also took the kids to Trunk or Treat in my old ward.

We had a chance to visit a model train museum in Newport Beach where they offer free rides once a month. Also spent more time at the kids' favorite place: the beach!

I'm so glad to be back home but I can't wait to move onto the next stage of Blair's medical career. I'm excited for snow and cold days and our first Christmas together without extended family. I'm feeling really good and hopeful. Cross your fingers we end up on the west coast!

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm

This place is so much fun. I only wish we would have gotten there earlier to do more things. This farm is located in Lancaster, about 1 1/2 hrs away but it is well worth it. The kids had a blast. There were slides, bounce pillows, jewel mining, mini tunnel maz for kids, play area for toddlers, a seriously GIANT maze that took us about 2 hours to get out of!

The maze had some fun things to do inside. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the zipline, rope climbing, and wolf cave.

Every year the farm has a new theme. This year it was Boy scouts so the corn field was carved into a a scene of a wolf howling at the moon and a man climbing a mountain.
Earlier in the day we visited the petting zoo. There was a sign over the pig area that said Three little pigs but the three was crossed out and was replaced by 2. Then under it was written the big bad wolf was here. I told Max about it. so when we entered the maze he was staying too far behind so I told him that the wolf was around and we needed to stick together in case he came to get us. At first he didn't believe me but coincidentally the maze had a wolf cave, and at one of the dead ends there was a trunk with feet sticking out. This started to scare Max that he didn't leave our sides. At the very end there was a big box with a sign that said to howl for the wolf to come out. Max was crying and I was laughing but I finally got him to howl with me and this little mechanical wolf rolled out. Max was so relieved!
We got to take a hay ride. The whole time Isela was pulling on my shirt letting me know that she wanted to nurse. I need to wean this girl soon!
The kids were able to hold and pet baby chicks. So cute!


Every 40 minutes or so this train would come by the farm. Max loved it!
An obstacle course to wear out the kids.






These sort of things I will miss about Pennsylvania. It makes me a little sad to leave.

Well I am flying back to California on Saturday and will be staying there for about 2 months. Then its back to Philly to pack up and move out by the end of January! I can't believe we will be moving out in the middle of winter. I hope it won't turn out to be a nightmare.
Well we have kept busy doing fun activities with the kids which includes PARKS! Philly has some pretty awesome parks. That is something I will miss. Although, I wonder if Oregon has parks like here??

We took Max to meet his hero Thomas the Tank Engine. He was so happy it was so cute. He was really good too. When he met Sir Topham Hatt he couldn't believe it. He kept saying "Whoa" and would caress his face. It was actually pretty funny. Isela had a good time too.

Max's reaction when he sees Thomas.

Taking a ride on a small steam engine.
Max smiling at the photographer. As soon as Isela realized they were taking pictures she immediately sat down.
Saying good bye to Thomas.

Max y futbol

Max is no longer my baby or my chiquito. He tells me every day that he is a big kid. Sometimes he'll tell me about he used to be a baby but that now he is past that. Since we've been back home in Philly, Max has noticed some crayon markings on the wall and other things he's done and he will ask about them. So I explain to him that he did those things when he was a younger and he frowns and says" Mami I was a baby and I didn't know. I'm a big kid now." I love this kid to pieces!

I enrolled Max in three classes over the summer to keep him busy. He took swimming lessons which he loved. He was one of few who braved to go down the slide and jump off the diving board. Once he got to the edge he started to have second thoughts but before he could say no the lifeguard pushed him off. I thought it was funny but Max quickly stated that he would not be doing that again. Thats his swim instructor Miss Marilyn.

I also put Max into soccer because I would love it if he was a soccer fanatic like me but unfortunatly for me he has no interest in the sport. He plays well and gets the concept but I'm not sure if it was heat, time of day or what but he never was thrilled about going to soccer class even though he enjoyed himself while he was there. The good thing was that it really helped Max learn to follow directions though he had a little trouble with the teamwork aspect of it.

I know these are terrible pictures but I was having a hard time figuring out the settings on my camera. Lastly Max took a Smarty Pants class where he was able to learn all abut leters, numbers, and colors. He liked that class too. Next time I'm in Cali he'll be going to pre-school type class all by himself. I'm a bit nervous about that.

Isela turns 1!

So my baby girl turned 1 on July 14th! I can't believe how fast she is growing. I decided to throw her a Tea Party with all our family and friends. Max enjoyed the tea party so much that he is now having tea parties all the time! Well at least he's getting good use out of her tea party set.

Some shots of the birthday girl. I'm just contemplating the beauty of nature.


I just had cake for the first time and I loved it!

Everyone got a chance to hit the pinata.

This is the best part after breaking the pinata.
Happy birthday to my Chiquita!

Hmmm what am I supposed to do with this?

Yay for presents! One of many dolls to come

I love being a mom to this sweet and feisty little one. She brings happiness into my life everyday.