And then they were THREE!!!

Holy Cow....those two, two year olds are now THREE!  Those kids (and Auntie N & Uncle Joe) really know how to P*A*R*T*Y. Check out the highlights.

We Made it (so far)...

The Pacific Experience

Alas, I had high hopes of blogging all the March activity BEFORE Summer hit. But like so many things, it just didn't happen. But the pictures and memories are so great that I just have to post the rest of the Birthday Extravaganza!!

On March 12th my fabulous Aunt Jenny & her equally fabulous husband Steve,

(aren't they such a handsome couple??)

invited us to enjoy their home on the Venice Canal's and put our toes in the Pacific Ocean.

The first stop was a wonderful breakfast in their garden. The scent of lemons and flowers was delightful.

Yummy!

Cookie enjoyed the spread, but Kiss was much more interested in the Canal - and DUCKS!

Let's GO!!!

To the Ocean!

Sand!

Nothing like wiggling your toes in the cool sand.

Relaxing

Let's put sand in our shoes!

Great Idea!

Sand toys

I'll make a castle

Their home is lovely,the garden fantastic, the Ocean filled with adventure - 

but the kids really loved that toy cow!!

MOO!!!

How does this work?

Thanks Aunt Jenny & Uncle Steve for a wonderful Pacific Experience (it was their first). We really enjoyed visiting your home and your wonderful hospitality. See ya next year.

Venice, CA
March 12, 2011

Mickey THE Mouse

March 11, 2011 - Day 2

The Big Birthday Trip would just not be complete without a trip to DisneyLand, so to DisneyLand we went! The best thing about going to Disney (save it being FREE thanks to my very cool Cousins) was spending time with my favorite cousin, her super cute son (see what I mean?), my best friend, my amazing children and Papa Bear.

Cousin R - The Super Cute :)

So we had been prepping the kids about Disney.  We let them watch the Mickey Mouse Club and everything - and they were pretty excited!  The big attraction this go round was the characters - and it was pretty awesome that almost as soon as we got off the Train (yes, Master Cookie was in heaven!) we ran into Pluto!

The Disney Train. Cookie LOVES trains..this was a great way to begin the day!

He loves Pluto too!  The characters were AMAZING! 

Disney was wonderful.  It was really interesting for me because I had just spent the previous week at the Disney Academy learning about what makes Disney  "magical". Not so surprisingly, it's a lot of behind the scenes hard work and dedication to perfection.... I had never noticed the "little things" before, but this time they really made me take notice.  It was a good metaphor for parenting!  It's the behind the scenes hard work and dedication (but maybe not to perfection..) that makes it magical!

Speaking of magical!  It was a great trip.  The kids had an awesome time playing...

 Checking out the attractions....

 See that?!  See that?!  See that!?

 Being amazed (It's a Small World was a BIG hit! and really brought back memories)

 Sharing (including with Auntie N....Cookie left some of his chocolate bar in her purse...)

 Riding around, and around, and around, and around...

 with Daddy

 and Mommy

 We got to meet Mini and compare "matching" dresses

 and give Mickey a big hug!

 Mostly, we got to splash and play and have fun with Auntie N & E and Cousin R.  It was a GREAT day....

And then it was time to LEAVE!!! Whew!  What a fun & exhausting day!

See ya next year Mini the Mouse......

After all.  It IS a Small World.


For your FULL viewing pleasure see the post, "Disneyland. The Complete Collection." There are some great photos, complements of Auntie N.

Ps. Mickey, Mini, Pluto, Auntie N, Cousin R and Auntie/Cousin E - thanks for a wonderful time. We had a blast!!