Spring is Here!

The girls are so happy it's warming up! They've spent everyday outside on their scooters (now that we finally have cement poured) and with most of our new patio cover up I don't have to worry about sunscreen-ing them to death 20 times a day! This is such a short window we get so I hope they enjoy it because in a month from now they're going to be complaining about how hot it is!

This kid has a fit every time we buy new undies because she likes the boy ones and they just don't fit her skinny frame. I got a wild hair and made some dinosaur ones myself! I've literally never used a sewing machine and hadn't even opened the one I bought back on Black Friday. I grew up around my mom and her machine but actually doing it myself...I'm still a little shocked I managed!

Toddler yoga!

I started saving all my veggie scraps and pieces that would go bad before I could use them. Just kept a bag going in the freezer and when it was full I cooked myself some veggie stock!  Froze two big containers and a bunch of 2oz disks. I love the 2oz sizes, so easy to use when I cook!

Using our stock to make carrot orzo. 

I found this potato-head mouth in my make-up drawer!

Chocolate peanut butter avocado pudding we made, compliments of the Borden's we visited in February!

So happy it's warming up! Much easier to dress my skinny-minnies!

The girls made such a big deal about seeing the Easter Bunny this year--we had to do it right this second, in their dirty dance tights and with their lunches all over their faces.  

On a really windy night Emma was very upset. At bedtime I heard Lu tell her she would "protect her." When I did my final bedtime checks I found this!

Quick Disneyland trip with Auntie. 

Beach day with dad. 

Uppercase-Lowercase matching experts!

They are the reason my grey hairs are multiplying. 

Making a window cover from the girls' old crib sheets! So happy to finally cover that ugly foam we stuck in their window!

Our Easter morning guests that decided above our sliding glass door would be a good nest spot!

Easter Sunday egg hunt

San Diego Trip

We made a special trip down to San Diego in order to see my close friend Matty's new baby boy. It was a very special trip because he and his wife Danielle are raising baby Milo in the house he grew up in and the house I spent a ton of my childhood in as well. It was surreal sitting in the family room he and I crawled around in as babies with OUR babies. It was also incredibly bittersweet because Mary Anne wasn't there to witness this amazing moment. Matty's mom (and my mom's best friend) sadly passed away last year. Even though the occasion was tinged with some sadness I'm so appreciative that we were able to make the trip happen.

Since Pauma Valley isn't exactly a quick trip we decided to also plan a trip to the Safari Park and stay the night at Pala. The last time I was there was with Matty and we were probably 12 years old? So, over 15 years ago? Crazy. We set up a special VIP tour so that we could make the most of our short time there and it ended up being the most amazing adventure we've ever had with the girls. We also got in a quick trip to Bates Nut Farm which I probably hadn't visited since I was 18. Overall it was such an awesome trip and I'm so thankful for the special bond I've always had with Matty and I hope that continues with our kids!

Lions

Wild horses 

Who can say they've fed a rhino?? 

Endangered Sumatran Tiger (grandma)

Despite how they look, Meerkats are quite angry little things!

We also got to feed the red river hogs!

We also learned Emma has quite the wind up!

Feeding ducks

Probably the cutest and sweetest animals we got to see, feed, and touch. Sadly, I can't remember their name for the life of me!

This was such a special treat. This is a 1 month old endangered Okapi named Amaranta. The girls had been so sweet and gentle up to this point so we got permission to visit and touch this rather large 1 month old baby. Honestly, I'm still in awe that the girls got to meet and touch an endangered baby! I'm so proud of how kind they treated all the animals!

We got to feed Amaranta's mommy Makini who, even though was huge, was so kind and gentle for a new mommy that just let us near her baby. I can't say enough what an incredible experience this was. 

Anteater!

Lu loved this girl!

When we filled out our suggestion card last week for our tour Olivia chose birds of prey. We really tried to talk her out of that choice but she wouldn't budge! She definitely keeps us on our toes but it was worth it to see her so excited over this guy!

Yellow mouth to trick prey to fly right into its mouth because it looks like a flower when open!

I think this armadillo was the girls' favorite!

Emma was a little hesitant because as soon as she held her she started to open up!

Bates Nut Farm

Baby Milo!

The perks of being friends with avocado ranchers!