Lola's 5th Birthday Party Schmurthday schmarty

Lola in her unicorn outfit

Eden and best friend Rose

Audrey and Lola enjoying their candy

roller coaster ride with big sis Eden

Pinata time!

Best friends

Eden with Rose, Ziada and Samia (our neighbors and ballet friends)


Enchanted Unicorns, friends, rides, cake, pinata, and family...what more can a girl ask for for her birthday party A.k.a. schmurthday schmarty (from the upside down show). Lola had her party July 24, a couple of weeks before her actual birthday (because mom mom is due any week now!) at Pixieland in Concord. We had 18 kids attend and loads of parents and Abuelita and Nana. Lola was so very happy to spend the day with her friends, especially Audrey, her bestest friend ever! They rode the roller coaster 8 times in a row among other rides. Eden had a friend, Rose, her best friend attend and together they went wild along with our neighbor friends.

Even I had a blast! Even with my huge 36 week belly! It was a perfect day...not too hot and we had a lovely shady area,too. After rides, pizza, unicorn cake, presents and more rides, off we went to the adjacent park where the kids hit the Unicorn pinata and dove into all the candy and toys. The whole party was a major success! It was so wonderful seeing the happy look on Lola's face! She couldn't wait for this day to arrive. Oh, I must add that it's so wonderful having an 8 year old helping out. Eden was such a great help the whole day and so were her friends. And to Nana, thank you again for helping to make it such a successful day! The girls are so lucky to have you as a Nana...

Happy Unbirthday Lola...August 10 is the big big 5 year old birthday! Can't wait.

Camp Update Eden at Galileo

So Miss Eden had a fantastic week of science camp at Galileo. This camp is absolutely mind blowing! My kids come home with so many interesting facts and they are so excited about learning. Eden went to Galileo and got to learn all sorts of things about ocean life and she made projects like sea anemone's and sting rays. They also did things like simulating an oil spill (how very relevant, right?) and how they could clean their simulated oceans. It was quite ingenious. She filled my week with so many interesting facts like if you step in a coral it could actually grow on your body. I had no clue about that. The best part about this camp, aside from all that they learn in a fun and crazy way, is that each day of camp is a theme day so they really look forward to each and every day. It was such a wonderful experience Eden and Lola will be going for a couple of weeks next year.

The science teacher was so impressed with Eden. She said that Eden was such a pleasure to work with at camp. She wanted to know our secret to having such an intelligent and good natured child. I felt so proud of her. Then we went to the art teacher's room and she also had some wonderful things to say about Eden. She gave her a hug, sneaked some materials in Eden's bag for summer fun, and said she hoped to see her next year.

Camps, Camps, and More Camps

Eden and Molly at Zoo camp

Lola after zoo camp sticking her tongue out at Dad
Lola and camp leader Chip

Cave Man and cave woman day at camp

Lola after camp at the playground

Lola at Camp Galileo Science camp

Lola sporting her new zoo tee

Lola at Galileo camp closing ceremony

Lola at kinder prep camp

The girls have been so incredibly busy this summer with camps. This year it was even more exciting because Lola got to attend camp, too! Lola first went to Kinder Prep camp at Eden's old preschool in Concord. It gave me a chance to spend some much needed and rare one on one time with Eden. We explored our old surroundings...parks, our old home and restaurants. We ate breakfast every morning. We were so spoiled. I really enjoyed talking with her and listening to all she has to say. And it was fun going down memory lane with her. Especially because she remembers all of it. She also loved seeing her old preschool teacher. Her teacher couldn't believe how tall she had gotten.

Lola did so very well at this camp...it was more a kinder readiness type of camp. More work than fun, but necessary because she is starting kindergarten in August. She's so young! But she is so very ready! The teacher assured me that she has all the necessary concepts and she always had wonderful things to say about her progress.

Next was Galileo Science camp for Lola and GirlScout camp for Eden. This was so lovely not only for the girls but for me, too. Lola insisted on going full time (7 hours!) and she loved every minute of this camp. She had so much to show me and teach me. She made friends with another girl and called her an instant friend.

Eden had such a fantastic time at Girl Scout camp, again this year. She loved the archery, the cooking of their own meals each day and the hikes and swimming. It's such a great thing picking your kids up from camp and they talk your ears off about their day.

The next camp for both was the Oakland zoo camp. This was such a fun experience for both! They both came home singing the camp songs for us (and still are) and they can't wait to go back again next year. My mom took the time off to help drive the girls (including Eden's friend, Molly) to camp. She treated me to a few days of breakfast and baby shopping. It was so nice getting a chance to spend time with my mom, too without the kids. Then it was fun after camp with the kids, too. We were treated to treats and dinner and the girls spent most of their afternoons and evenings that week at Nana's house. It was a wonderful time for me to get some time to myself. Thanks mom!

Next week (july 19) Eden will be attending Galileo camp, while I get some one on one with Lola. She is looking forward to this camp. She wants to go all summer next year. And so does Lola. Next weekend is Lola's 5th birthday party...a little early but I will be 36 weeks along. I can have the baby anytime between 37-39 weeks. My c-section is scheduled for 39 1/2 weeks. We'll see how it all plays out. I will try to update photos of Eden's camp and Lola's birthday party before the Big Birthday of the baby.

Dad's Day and the Fourth of July

Father Daughter Day at Lola's preschool

Father Daughter Dance at Eden's school

The girls bake Dad a special cake

Presents time...tons of grilling things...his favorite
Then fun in the pool

Eden at the Alameda 4th of July Parade
Eden and Lola at Nana's house on the 4th
The girls with Nana in her back yard
Waterfront park at the Embarcadero near Alameda

Eden makes special festive treats...All on her own!

Father's Day couldn't be any more eventful than it was this year for Enrique and the girls. Both girls had a special Father Daughter Day at their schools and to be honest, though it was hectic and busy, Enrique really loved every moment of it and so did the girls.

Lola's school had a special Father Daughter Saturday. They ate yummy treats like donuts and cookies, brownies and cakes, then they did arts and crafts and got a chance to play in obstacle courses specially set up that day. Lola really enjoyed spending special one on one time with her dad. Something that happens very rarely.

Eden's school had a Father Daughter Dance with a Hawaiin theme. They were just beaming when they got back home. They learned a few new dance moves and lost their voices from all the laughter that evening. They played limbo and got a chance to visit with other friends. Eden loved every minute of being with her dad alone, too.

Father's day began with the girls making a huge giant breakfast for their dad. All his favorites adorned the "You are Special" plate. After breakfast Enrique openned presents from us mostly grilling tools and grilling cookbooks from Williams-Sonoma. And Eden found a collection of basketball trading cards to give to her dad. He loved all of his presents. After that we went for a swim. They played in the pool with other dads and their kids. After about 2 hours of water play, we took Enrique to his most favorite restaurant in Hayward, La Pinata. He was overjoyed! They make the biggest and best burritos we've ever tasted. The girls loved making their dad so very happy on his special day and they kept reminding him of how much they loved him. It was very sweet...

The fourth of July was such a fun exhausting time. We decided to head towards Nana's direction and watch the Alameda parade. It was huge and super long! The girls enjoyed snow cones, cotton candy and other candy treats thrown from the parade's people. After, we went to Everett and Jones in Downtown Oakland for what is probably the best bbq around! We laughed and had such a good time. It's become our tradition in a way to go there...a tasty tradition I should say. Afterward we went back to Nana's house for a few legal poppers...the girls love them every year. And then Eden treated us to some strawberry shortcake treats. She made them all her own with her own twist on the strawberry filling. It was extra sweet and delicious. She them made some strawberries covered in chocolate. She's quite the host.

On the way home the girls were out before we barely exited Alameda! It was such a fun and memorable day. Can't wait for next year. We'd like to see fireworks next year.