Happy 4th Birthday Lola, Fun at Pixieland and Memories

Lola gets a bike from Abuelita

The big 4th Birthday finally arrived! The night before I decorated the house with balloons, happy birthday signs, streamers and I go all out. It's a tradition to have my kids wake up to a festive, fun birthday surprise.

Lola was surprised and thrilled. We started the day with a plate of pancakes (her request for her birthday) and the plate says "Today you are special!" This is our special birthday and accomplishment's plate. It's no ordinary plate. When it's used, it's taken very seriously. So this was a big deal for Lola.

She openned a few presents and then it was off to Pixieland for a bbq, cake, pinata breaking and unlimited rides! Lola had such a good time! We fed ducks, flew our mini kite and the girls got on rides. They got on the Dragon roller coaster at least 8 times. It was their favorite to say the least. Lola also got a chance to open more presents. We had such a great time. It was very relaxed and pleasant.

Afterward we met Nana at Toys R Us, our birthday tradition, where Lola got a birthday announcement made over the intercom and she got a balloon and queen for the day hat. Nana spoiled her with a gift card and shopping spree. Both girls had such a great time! Then it was off to McDonald's for dinner (Nana's birthday treat)and playtime at the play area.
We had so much fun. We stayed for at least 2 hours.

I can't believe Lola is already four! Where did the time go? Here's a little look back at baby Lola...
Lola at 3 days old
Lola at 2 months old

Lola at 4 months old

Lola at 7 months old
Lola at 9 months old

One year old

Lola at 16 months old

HAPPY 4th Birthday Lola!!!!

The Big Day...Lola's Party at Children's Fairyland

Lola outside of Fairyland...the famous shoe.

Eden baked and decorated this cake for Lola. It was a hit!

Lola looking for her cake

Lola and Eden blowing out the candles.

Nana, Alice and Giovahna...the jokesters!

Tickle time!

Lola announces her birthday, or unbirthday as you will read...

Hugs for Auntie Alice

Mama steals a camera moment with Lolie

Birthday girl and Nana

Abuelita, Daddy and Lola say cheese

Lola the Princess Pirate...Argh!

The Big Birthday Party finally arrived the Saturday before Lola's birthday. Lola could not wait for this moment. Really! For at least 4 months I heard about this party. She knew where it would be, who she wanted to invite and what cake she wanted. She couldn't wait because all of her friends at Preschool had all their birthdays during the school year. She was the youngest one in class being that her birthday is in August. It was so hard for her to see everyone else turn four and have a party.

Well, it was a very fun and exciting day! Originally I planned on having a Cinderella character show up since Lola sent her an invite and all. Well, right before the party I get a call from good old Cindy telling me she had a flat tire and wouldn't be there. The good thing is, it was supposed to be a surprise for Lolie, so she didn't know and didn't miss anything. The bad thing is it was a special surprise and appropriate for the venue and occasion. I'm over it, really I am. I can hear my family snickering right now because I just couldn't get over it, being the perfectionist I am. Anyway, the kids had a fantastic time to say the least. Lola had friends from her preschool, some of Eden's friends and their siblings who are also Lola's friends, and family: Auntie Alice and Giovahna and cousin Joey were there. Abuelita and Nana, Lola's teacher, Tara and her two girls were there and lots of parents. There were about 25 to thirty people. It was so much fun and boy did it fly by! It was everything she wanted and more, okay. minus Cinderella, but who's even thinking about that anymore.

At the end of the party there is a birthday announcement and a puppet show done in the birthday kids' honor. The lady asked Lola how old she was on that day and Lola said "3 1/2" and the lady laughed but didn't get that she was totally right. Her birthday wasn't for two whole days! That was so charming and so totally Lola!!!!

Can I just say our friends and family rock! Especially the family! It's always a blast seeing them and talking with and joking with them. We laugh so hard. I love it!

Nana was such a sweetie buying everyone coffees and drinks and ice creams for the kids. All the parents kept talking about how great "Toni" (Nana) was. She helped big time with this party. Thank you, Nana!

Oh, I must mention the sweetest part. Lola was having the hardest time getting the candles to blow out on her cake so she asked for her Eden, but Eden had walked out to help greet Alice and family. She refused to blow those candles out without Eden's help. It was such a sweet moment when Eden reappeared after we had to go get her, per her little sis' request.

By the way, Eden made that cute Bunny Cake for her sister. It was the most delicious cake ever! It was a hit with the kids and adults, too. I couldn't get enough of it.

The day ended with Lola and her little friend Aidan playing pirates and getting on slides and rides. Eden had her good friend, Aidan's sister Lili as her buddy that day. They both had a great time, too. Can't wait for the next party which Lola has already planned, by the way. Look for the invite in a year. Or should I say save the date now??

Lola's birthday announcement

Cousin Joey's talent

Lola's 4th Birthday Part 1 Uncle Usi and Carolina visit

The Friday before Lola's birthday party, I took the girls for a surprise trip to the nail salon where they got their toes and finger nails painted. They were so pampered and it was such a fun girlie thing to do. Lola was all smiles and she kept telling everyone her party was going to be at Children's Fairyland and that they were invited even though they didn't get an invitation. The girls looked so adorable in their dresses and purses. Lola decided on a coral pink that matched her outfit for the party and Eden decided on turquoise. I got candy apple red, my new favorite nail color. The girls were just thrilled to get a few floral designs on their toes and finger nails. It was a fabulous time.

Later Uncle Usiel (a.k.a uncle Usi) and Auntie Carolina dropped by with cupcakes that Uncle Usi baked and Auntie Carolina helped decorate. The girls were so excited to see them .

After cupcakes (which were delicious!) Lola openned her present. It was a Hungry Hippo game! Something she had wanted for a long time. The girls played with their aunt and uncle for a long time. It was a really great visit. It's always fun spending time with them.

Later that evening, Daddy shared a spot of tea with Lola. They had real blueberry tea and crumpets (or Oreo cookies, to be exact). It was such a sweet image, I had to sneak a shot.

Camping Trips Big Sur and Yosemite

Yosemite El Capitan mountain

Eden with El Capitan in the background.

Our Yosemite cabin.

Lola at Pfeiffer Beach at Big Sur, CA.

The girls dancing above the ocean. It's our secret spot with beautiful coves and tons of jelly fish and an underground tunnel.

Lola dancing up a storm there.

Eden at Pfeiffer Falls. So cute!

Our water baby in the cold cold Big Sur river. It's the first thing she did when we set up camp...well while we set up camp.

Enrique and kids at Pfeiffer Falls.

Pic time at Pfeiffer Big Sur Park.

We had so much fun on our trip to Big Sur, California and Yosemite. We had a river site at Big Sur Campground and cabins which was great because the girls played in the river the whole time. We did so much on this trip. We hiked up to Pfeiffer Falls at Big Sur Park, which was nice because last year due to the fire, we didn't get to do this hike. They are still rebuilding, of course, but so much of the park was destroyed in the fire. What was so incredible though was all the new growth. There are little trees growing all over and new leaves. It was beautiful and makes you realize why nature has those natural fires. For regrowth and to preserve the life of the forest. Seems bizarre, but makes sense after witnessing that.

The weather was just perfect so we got a chance to enjoy Pfeiffer Beach which is usually too windy and too cold. There are pics of the girls in a small tide pool at the beach. I have been really afraid of them going into the tides especially because so many people are losing their lives in the ocean. We just had this happen to some locals here, so I am extra cautious especially at beaches notorious for undertoe and ones that have caution signs all over. The girls were quite happy in the tidepool and I got a chance to read my book.

The next part of our trip took place at Yosemite, Ca. I had never been there before and it was probably the most beautiful place I've ever seen. The trees are beautiful, the scenery, nature all of it was breathtaking. And to think this natural beauty is so close to home. We will definitely be there again.

I was really afraid of bears and so I was beyond cautious and made sure we stayed with the crowds. Luckily we never saw a bear. The girls really enjoyed this place. The mountains were enormous and intimidating! There's a picture of the girls with El Capitan behind them and you can barely see them compared to the mountain! One of our favorite hikes was the Yosemite Falls. At the end of this short hike, you can get in the water at the base of the waterfall. The water was so incredibly cold! I've never felt water that cold. That's because it's water that comes direct from the mountain. It's melted snow! It was freezing, but because it was such a hot day, the girls loved it. Afterward we went to the Happy Isles. They had a kids nature center. the different Isles were absolutely beautiful and the rivers were raging and rushing by. It was really thrilling. It was so picturesque. The trees were so majestic.

We ended our trip with a bit of fishing in the Merced River. I caught 3 nice sized Trout and about 10 small ones that we threw back. They sure were tasty.

We've moved up the block

Here's the view of our new 9 ft pool! It's huge! The girls wanted to move here because of it and Enrique and I love the jacuzzi and sauna here! It's a smaller apartment, but sufficient. The girls have made so many friends here. There's nothing but families here. It's really great!