Disney's California Adventure w/Mommy

Today may have been the last trip to Disneyland before our summer blockout begins so we took advantage of our free day and headed to California Adventure to see the new Ariel ride. We had so much fun! This was Taylor's first time back to Ca. Adv. since she went with her cousin 1 year ago. We, of course, headed to ARiel's ride first, then went on the Golden Zephyr, then watched the Bug's Life 3D movie (wow, that was a loud, somewhat scary but fun experience!), then last, Taylor had a blast in the water area in the Bug's Life. We finished our day watching a Mr. Incredible parade and eating Taylor's favorite, a soft pretzel with cheese dip. Mmmm.

On the tram


Finally, after an hour wait, we arrive at the Ariel ride!


Climbing in line for the Zephyr


On the Zephyr


One of my favorite pictures of Taylor...on the carousel


Getting ready for our crazy 3D Bug's Life experience!


In the water area...still somewhat dry


Not dry anymore!


So cute (this woke her up a bit and obviated the need for a nap)!


Yay! Pretzel time!


An unexpected parade by Mr. Incredible


Snacking at the picnic area (letting mommy rest her feet) before heading to the car for the drive home

Angel's Game with Daddy

Taylor and daddy went to an Angel's game tonight with Noah and Rawley. After the game they saw fireworks at Disneyland from the parking lot! That's all Taylor can keep talking about, well, in addition to the hot dog, nachos, and pretzel that daddy let her eat at the game. Haha! A fun (late) night with the boys.

Happy Girl


Rawley and Noah


Doesn't every kid have a picture like this?!


Goofy picture smile in front of the fire works


Cute


Finally, Taylor and Daddy, oh so cute!

High fever and Coordinating Dance Recital

Last night Taylor was up throughout the night with a 105 degree fever. She recently go ta cough/runny nose from kids at school but this fever was out of the blue. This seems to be a common occurence with her though; she gets high, high fevers when she gets sick. Her body goes into over drive trying to get rid of whatever virus is growing. AFter the cold rags and one round of medicine was not lowering her fever, we put her in a bath (she agreed) but once she felt how cold it was we had a very sad, tried, angry girl. AFter lots of screaming and crying (by both Taylor and mommy, the crying that is), I took her out and we put her in our bed so we could monitor her throughout the night. Daddy got on the computer and did some research to see if we had to take her in to the ER. Apparantly the height of the fever (under 106/107) is not a sign of how sever the sickness is. Basically we got the idea that we didn't have to worry; what you should look at more is the child's sick symptoms (lethargy, vomitting, coughing, etc.). The good thing was that Taylor was happy as can be when we'd wake her up to take her temperature...weird! Whenever I'd give her the cold rags she say "Oh, thanks mommy." It was so cute! So, are worries were alleviated and we all slept.

Taylor woke up with no fever at all but still had the cough/runny nose. I kept her home just to monitor her and let her rest before her Coordinating Rehearsal for her Dance Recital in two weeks. Woo hoo!

The Rehearsal was a success and we even went to Fro-Yo with her friends from school after. Below are some pics of the fun times.

Rachel and Taylor in awe watching the older dancers


The girls ready up on stage


Being silly out front of a nail salon, which they called the "nail doctor"


So interested in what's inside!

Hair cut

Today was quite the exciting day. As I was cleaning up Taylor's room last night I noticed a huge chunck of hair laying right by her garbage can. I picked it up and took it to her and asked her what it was. She put her head down and said "nothing" in a very guilty and afraid manner. Not wanting her to learn to lie to avoid punishment I told her she wasn't in trouble and to tell me what happened. I finally got it out of her that she cut her hair. We had a long talk about why that is not okay, what drawer in her room is all for cutting, and now we have to cut her hair even shorter to make it even. I think she got the point. :)

So...today we got her hair professionally cut for the first time. She wanted her hair long "like Rapunzel" so we compromised, she had to have it short in the front and she could keep it long in the back. We found a fun place to get it cut in El Segundo and made a fun day out of it. We're hoping that the fun event of cutting her hair professionally will show her that if she wants her hair cut, the fun times are at the salon, not with her own scissors in her room.

Here is the original "Taylor cut"


Waiting patiently


Here we go!


Beautiful

A beautiful evening at the beach

To end the weekend we headed to the beach to let Taylor get some energy out in the water. She is loving the ocean now-a-days and getting braver and braver. Hence, the life vest "just-in-case"!

From 2011_0605 beach evening

Our beauty!

From 2011_0605 beach evening

This is her new pose...where did she learn this?!


Bye-bye beach

Denver

BJ and I headed to Denver over Memorial Day weekend for my annual ABA conference. Taylor had a week full of fun with Nanny B and Papa Al in Sunol while BJ and I had such a fun time roaming the city of Denver and having fun just the two of us. We were able to stay out late, enjoy the night life on 16th street in Downtown Denver, ride pay-and-ride bikes around the town, and sample the many different amazingly good restaurants. Our favorite was the Mellow Mushroom. Mmmmm.

Below are pics to tell the story of our fun weekend.

Here is BJ on the pay-and-ride bikes. This was on our way to Cherry Creek in Denver to have lunch and visit the Botanical Gardens and other parks in the city.


Beautiful big parks all over the city


All the pics below are at the botanical gardens.

I LOVE the rocks that make up this walk...I want to do this for stepping stones around our house!


The Chinese Garden


The Victoran Secret Garden (BJ's favorite!)


So pretty...notice the rain clouds coming in!


This was in a tropical enclosure that was so amazingly humid and hot!


My favorite at a park right after we hid under a bus stop to get out of a thunder/hail storm!


Bye-Bye Denver. We'll miss you!!

Yosemite 2011

This weekend we took our annual trip to Yosemite and unlike our previous few years, we had beautiful weather!!! The day before we got there the snow plows were going through the campgrounds so people could drive out...not for us! Beautiful weather in the mid 70's.

pics to come

Disneyland with mommy

Today Taylor and I went to Disneyland, just the two of us. It was a hot, crowded day but of course, very fun! Taylor once again loved It's a Small World, Autopia, Dumbo, the Buzz ride, the Space Ship Needle thing that goes round and round, the Carousel, and for our first time, Nemo.

This is Taylor being shy so I jumped in the picture with her. This is what happens when Taylor is not with any of her friends at Disneyland.

Disneyland with Rachel

Today we went to Disneyland with Taylor's best friend from school, Rachel. The girls had so much fun, rode in their own seat on It's a Small World, loved taking pictures with all the characters, and Taylor even went on the roller coaster in Toon Town and loved it (well, she asked to be all done as we were approaching the peak at the beginning of the ride right before the big drop and then at the end she said she loved it). Fun day and can't wait to go again on a Tuesday on mommy's day off when it's no so crowded!

Tea Cups!


It's a Small World


The Girls (Audrey, Hannah, Rachel, Taylor)


With Tianna (Princess and the Frog)


With Jasmine


It's getting a bit too hot...rest in a Toon Town trolly


Pluto!!!


Taylor and Rachel


The Girls with Minnie Mouse


Checking out the fridge in Minnie's house


and the dishwasher


Goofy!!!


The Girls at Autopia


Taylor and me in our car