Today is my first day back to work after having the month of July off. I go back to work with mixed emotions. Part of me is so happy to get back and do busy work, see my friends, and meet the new students – but the other part of me will be missing the lazy days of summer.
The late nights and sleeping in. The carefree days of nothing planned and then ending up at a park. Oh, and the infamous late night trips to get a frozen yogurt before they close. The not wearing makeup – now that part I will really miss! However, I have grown to like myself with less makeup and may just keep it that way.
Either way, getting back to a routine will take a few days. We always have the weekends to look forward to right?
Cookies, cake, ice cream, candy … sure these all make wonderful treats for a birthday party, but are they ordinary? Dylan’s birthday is coming up in July and once again, I have the daunting task pleasure of planning a party. Something that will wow my child and make him feel like the most special kid in the world. That’s what we do right? As parents we tend to spend obscene amounts of time and money to make a child’s birthday party better than the one we threw the year before. Right? You know this sounds familiar to you.
Last month I attended a Birthday Party Bootcamp – How to Plan and Host the Perfect Birthday Party at the OC Mart Mix and was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered. Pink, fluffy, sugary cotton candy –
Yes, that’s what I remembered from my childhood. What child wouldn’t love cotton candy at their birthday party? So although my son is still undecided on where his party will take place, I have finalized the sweet sugary goodness that will fill the kids tummies.
Dolly’s Sweet Dreams Cotton Candy is the cutest concept for any party or special event when you want to make people smile. The owner, Krista Thompson, is as sweet as can be and just look at the pink cart – adorable!
Dolly’s Sweet Dreams Cotton Candy offers nine classic cotton candy flavors and seven organic flavors, surely I can find a color/flavor to match the theme of Dylan’s party. Plus, Krista will create custom labels for my event if I choose to have to-go tubs.
There is something about cotton candy that simply makes me giddy – like a kid again. I think I need to come up with a reason to have a party before my son’s birthday in July just so I can have more of Dolly’s Sweet Dream Cotton Candy!
Be sure to visit DollysCottonCandy.com for more details on how you can book an event and “like” Dolly’s on Facebook to see the latest pictures from parties where fluffy cotton candy has created smiles on the faces of children (and adults too).
After a long work week, I was ready to do anything but go home and make dinner. The weather has been beautiful and thanks to my friend Wendy (over at Wendy Will Blog) I was craving a frozen banana from Sugar and Spice on Balboa Island.
So last Friday I was on a mission. Pick up kid. Drive to Balboa Island. Have some fun!
Who says you can’t have a frozen banana before dinner? It’s fruit right?
OK, so our next stop may have spoiled dinner a little, but you can’t go to the island without a stop at Balboa Candy. Seriously – you just cant!
Could this evening get any better? Was it possible to have more fun?
Oh yeah, it was possible. What kid doesn’t love a new pair of Vans slip-on shoes?
Ever feel like all you do is work, and then more work? Do you watch your children playing and laughing, longing to have the days of childhood back?
I had what seems like the longest week and realized that summer is almost over. I need to laugh and play with my son like I did when I was a child. Who says you can’t be silly when your 41 years old?
Today we played in the sprinklers at the Post Office.
Not planned, just a totally random thing. We went to check the P.O. Box and he noticed that the sprinkler was broken and shooting water all over. I looked at him and said, “You’re already in your swimsuit …”
Today my son and I laughed.
Today we rocked out in the car to Taylor Swift on Radio Disney. Music blasting, windows down, singing our hearts out. She wears high heels, I wear sneakers, she’s cheer captain, and I’m on the bleachers …
Today we played.
Today I was a child.
And I loved every minute of it.
When was the last time you played in the sprinklers?
A few weeks ago Dylan and I packed our bags for a fun-filled vacation in San Diego. The goal was to leave all computers and work at home and just have fun! Three parks in three days – World Famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World San Diego, and Legoland California – can we do it? Of course we can, we have annual passes to all three! Nothing was going to stand in our way.
We left home early on a Tuesday morning and drove straight to the San Diego Zoo. Yes, we were just there last month, but this time we were on a mission … to see the baby tiger cubs!
We walked right to the Lost Forest, but sadly, the tiger cubs were not out on exhibit this morning. However, there is always something to learn when you are at the San Diego Zoo!
Did you know that you can find parts of the Rain Forest in your Cupboard? All of the products in this display come from some sort of plant found in the Amazon Rain Forest.
From Tiger Trail, we headed to Hippo Trail and we got to watch the Momma and Baby Hippo play for about 20 minutes!
We even managed to get his cute video of the Momma Hippo teaching the Baby a thing or two.
Dylan loves the area by the Hippo exhibit. He always wants to climb in the tree and pose for pictures on the bronze hippo sculpture. I think I have about 20 pictures on this hippo (spanning over 6 years) Yes, I guess you can say we go to the zoo often … but it’s always worth it to see the look on Dylan’s face when he is near animals.
Now as much as Dylan loves our next stop, I normally choose to wait outside … but he begged me to come inside the Insect House. The least I could do was take some pictures for him.
And if this wasn’t enough to show how much I love my child, we headed over to the Reptile House next! However, this time I stayed on the outer edge and handed the camera over to Dylan. These are a few of the pictures he took.
There was one little guy that I thought was kinda cool though … well, maybe not so little.
Green Tree Frog
Feeling a little hungry after the long drive and walking around the zoo for 3 hours we stopped at the Safari Kitchen for lunch. They have the best burgers! Not to mention some brightly colored neighbors.
Dylan was so excited about staying in a hotel (it’s the little things you know) that we decided to drive over to the hotel and check-in, give our feet a rest, and maybe hit Sea World for some night time fireworks!
But we were just there. Oh wait, that was 6 weeks ago.
Yes, it must be time for another visit. Besides, this time was different because our friend Paul was coming down from Big Bear and going with us. Boy, if I had only known what I was in for with these two goofballs!
Anything and everything from insulting Mom, to water-spitting fights, to jumping out and scary each other, to attempting to ‘read’ the map and get us around the zoo with the least amount of back tracking, while still seeing everything!
So much for a relaxing day at the zoo … geesh!
As usual, we started at the reptiles and insects. Only this time Dylan got to have a first hand look at a stick bug. Thankfully it was only a stick bug and not one of the many other creatures they could have pulled out like the Hissing Madagascar Cockroach or the giant Bird-eating Tarantula!
Well, now that we’ve seen the creepy crawlies it’s time for a trek to see all the other animals.
Time to stop for some lunch at Dylan’s favorite spot high above the trees and monkeys. This is where the two decided to plan out our route … scary. Little did I know this was going to be a full 8 hour day walk through the zoo!
Although Dylan doesn’t remember, these bronze gorilla sculptures were another one of his favorite places to stop and play when he was a toddler. This is where his love of animals all started.
Now on to some other primates. Paul and Dylan seemed to enjoy these furry friends the most.
Getting up close and personal. Male bonding at its best …
This orangutan was hilarious. At the bottom of the glass was a piece of black rubber, like a piece of weather stripping or something. A small piece was missing and this big guy proceeded to pick up a leaf of some sort and start digging away.
His hands and fingers were so human-like. Especially the way he used his fingernails (if that’s what you call them) to pick the piece of rubber out and break it off. After all this work, he put the rubber strip in his mouth and decided it didn’t taste too good.
And what would a trip to the zoo be without Rhinos and Giraffes?
My personal favorite … the reason I go to the San Diego Zoo … Koalas!
Now, the last few times Dylan and I have gone to the zoo he has begged me to let him go on the bungee bounce contraptions they have recently added. Just another way to get you to spend money right? This area use to be a nice grass resting spot where Dylan would run around and play, but now it is where he wants to bungee … and this trip I let him! Thankfully Paul was there to help get him going higher and higher.
Just as I stopped recording, Dylan actually did a back flip. The look on his face was priceless. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. I think it surprised him as much as it surprised us!
We had a great day and made more memories of Dylan’s favorite place to spend the day. His home away from home with all of the animals that he loves so much … and his ‘rock’
What better way to kick off summer vacation than with an impromptu visit to the Magical Kingdom … The Happiest Place on Earth … well, minus the long lines and the 87 degree heat. Although Dylan finished school last week, I still work until the end of the month. He was so excited to be on summer vacation that I decided to surprise him with a late afternoon visit to Disneyland. Dylan has been watching all the commercials about the new Star Tours ride and just about jumped out of his shoes when I told him we were going.
Surprisingly, the lines were only 15-30 minute waits. However, this is beacuse everyone was standing in line for Star Tours! The wait went from 115 minutes down to 90 … no more fast passes … ugh … the things we do for our children.
As much as he wanted to go on this ride, the heat and the idea of standing in line did not make Dylan happy. He did everything he could to sit in the shade alongside the building while I stood in line.
As we got closer to entering the building his frown began to fade and the excitement was hard to contain.
After 80 long minutes of standing we finally make it inside. The happiness on Dylan’s face made all the numbness in my feet disappear and I quickly remembered what it was like to be a child at Disneyland.
Our destination was Hoth, which was the first choice of Dylan’s … coming in close second place was Endor. The flight was smoother than before they renovated the ride, but the best part was Dylan’s reaction when the ride was over.
“Seriously, that was it? Seriously? So not worth the wait”
Classic.
Now that we had accomplished the mission of riding the new Star Tours it was off to all the other fun rides. Pirates of the Caribbean, Matterhorn, Tarzan’s Treehouse, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, and a few spins on the Gadget Coaster (all by himself)
All in all, it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and evening. Next visit we hit California Adventure and Mom gets to ride the new Little Mermaid …
We love our children before they are even born. When a child asks, “How much do you love me?” the answers can be endless.
This much …
To the moon and back …
To the ends of the earth …
To infinity and beyond …
More than anything in the whole wide world …
These are just a few of the answers I have given Dylan when he asks me how much I love him. Can a parent really put into words how much love they have for their child? I can honestly answer No, I can’t. I would do just about anything for my son. I would step in front of a moving vehicle and die for my son if it meant he lived.
Now reverse the question and the answer can drastically change. You’re mean. You’re not being fair. How come you never let me do that. As children, we never fully understand why our parents do the things they do; however, as parents we have that ah-ha moment.
Recently, Dylan decided that he and I would start a new tradition. Each night we say something nice about each other and finish with a hug and I love you. So far I have been told …
Your eyes are as green as emerald gems.
If I could have any mom in the world, I would chose you.
Your hair is as soft as silk.
I’m proud of you.
You’re one “hot momma”
Regardless of what he says, he melts my heart. The love a child has for his or her mother is also something that is not easily put into words. I cherish each minute, each day, and each year I have with Dylan and my world would be empty without him.
Sometimes it is not simply saying “I love you” … but putting that love into words of expression.
When I asked Dylan what he wanted to do he excitedly said, San Diego Zoo! Life has been so crazy with work and school that we haven’t had time to visit the animals he loves so much. So it was up early and off to San Diego for the day.
Dylan has been going to the San Diego Zoo since he was only 9 months old and he can tell you every nook and cranny of this place. If you get lost, he will tell you where to go. If you have a question about an animal, he will give you the answer.
After walking through the entrance it was business as usual … first stop, the Reptile House. We have seen this Komodo Dragon at least 25 times, but he begged me to take a picture because it was “close up” and the Galapagos Turtles were just too cute. Mommy and baby … but that baby was HUGE!
Next, he wanted to see the Polar Bears. Now, for those of you who have been to the San Diego Zoo, you know what a hike it is to get to those darn animals … and if you are lucky, you will actually get to see them doing something other than sleeping. I have been begging Dylan to ride the Skyfari for years now and he keeps saying he is afraid because it is so high. Well, this time he decided to take a chance. Maybe it was the bribery that he would have to walk all the way up there, or maybe the thought of getting off right at the Polar Bear exhibit. Whatever it was, I was just happy I didn’t have to walk there!
Guess what? He loved it!
…and the Polar Bear wasn’t sleeping!
Ok, so Dylan is almost 8 years old … but when you are at the San Diego Zoo it is tradition to climb on every statue and take a picture. The life-size book about how the Polar Bears came to live at the zoo was pretty cool too and Dylan stood there turning the pages and reading every word.
Now it was time to make our way down through the other exhibits. So many animals to see and so little time. Well, we had all day … it was really a matter of how long our feet could walk.
There is a rock next to the River Otter exhibit that Dylan has been climbing on since he was 2 years old and he always insists on taking a picture here. He climbs up and strikes a pose. Such a goofball! One of these days I should line up all the pictures to see how much he has grown, but if I do that I will realize my little boy is growing up too fast!
Mommy and Baby Hippo
Yes, that orange blur is a Tiger!
They had just fed the Lions and now they are resting.
Today was an amazing day. I got to spend real quality time with Dylan with no agenda, no place to be, and tons of laughs. I watched him run and play, absorb more information about animals (if that’s even possible), and best of all … I got to hold his hand. It has been so long since Dylan has even wanted to hold my hand when I try to take his hand in mine. But today, today Dylan kept reaching for my hand. Best feeling ever!
My little chunky monkey is all grown up. Now he plays with the big boys. However, he will still hold my hand, at least for a little while.
This year we decided to not only get away for Spring Break, but to take our first road trip together. It was better than I thought, considering the furthest Dylan has driven is San Diego (2 hours), and this was going to be a 6-7 hour drive. The Are we there yet? didn’t start until Santa Barbara, and then it was How much longer? about every 40 minutes. I tried to get him to enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery, but it didn’t last too long.
At last, he sleeps and the drive is peaceful.
It’s just not a road trip without a stop at McDonald’s!
Dylan’s picture from the road. (only 1 hour to go)
We arrived in Monterey about 4 pm and I immediately felt relaxed. Something about hotels and being away from home, not to mention the fresh coastal air, was just what we both needed. Our agenda included The Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, and anything else we saw along the way to our destinations.
The aquarium was amazing and we spent almost all day there. Took over 150 pictures! Definitely worth the drive to see this place.
Dylan even got a little education on Steinbeck with some historical landmarks…
And in true Dylan style had a little impromptu photo shoot …
A little stroll through the Cannery for some lunch.
Lunch at Bubba Gumps
A Kid in a Candy Store … Classic!
Day 2 – The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History (like he needs any more animal/nature facts to add to his ever-growing encyclopedia of a brain)
Who cares if it’s only 60 degrees outside … we’re going in the water! Well, Dylan went in the water. For about 2 minutes and then he decided his feet were freezing so we put our shoes back on and went for walk along the rocks to see marinelife up close. We spent almost 2 hours here along the shore in Pacific Grove.
Just a few of the seals we saw
Come on Mom, let’s go!
The kelp beds from above
This sign was great … Tsunami in California?
After a long day of sight-seeing, we decided to have an early dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf. Dylan love the fact that seals were right outside the window of the restaurant. he thoroughly enjoyed his calamari and pasta!
We had an amazing time together and will always treasure the bond that we share.
Life with Dylan 