4th of July Celebrations

We did something different this year and went to check out the Fallbrook Fair for 4th of July. 

This was after the mini-parade that we had in the neighborhood, as well as a family party we stopped by at. 

This was probably the first time that we did something just the 4 of us, usually we always end up making plans with other friends or family, but this time nothing came up, so we decided to do something different and had a really great time. 

We enjoyed the games, and crafts and all sorts of really fun things that they had organized for the kids, but most of all I think we really enjoyed cuddling up on the blankets and laying back to watch the fireworks which were happening right above our heads. 

Even though we also watched fireworks at Westvew HS the night before, these were by far most impressive fireworks we have ever seen. 

We did have a little scare while being in such a crowded place with two kids to want to do their own thing. While daddy went with both kiddos to get food, Cameron decided to walk off into a crowd of people and for about 4 minutes we had lost him. This was a pretty scary thing, I am pretty sure my heart was pounding out of my chest, while all 3 of us were in panic mode looking for our little guy. Luckily I saw someone noticed that he was lost and they had picked him up about to start looking for his parents. I happen to be running past the booth and heard someone say "lost", and turned around and saw someone holding him... what a relief that we found him. Those 4 minutes seemed like 20 minutes. and how scary it was to see a complete stranger holding your baby. Needless to say we didn't let him out of our sight the rest of the night and celebrated our independence with some fabulous fireworks!

Sascha starts Softball (T-Ball)

We actually missed the registration for Softball this year, not realizing that it happens in the month of December, but our neighbor Nicole was able to put us in touch with the right people in PQ little league and we were able to still sign you up. You only missed the very 1st practice, but were able to jump right in.

As with most things you were very timid and even a bit scared to go, but in just a matter of one or two practices you felt comfortable and actually really loved it. You were definitely one of the youngest girls on the team, so you had a lot of girls to look up to, like Coach Todd's daughter Emmy. She was very sweet to you when you joined, so you immediately felt very comfortable around her. 

It was really awesome to watch you get more and more confident and have such a great time playing. After a few weeks of practicing you received your uniform and we started to have 2 games per week. You really started to look forward to going to your games and even got to play some key positions like pitcher. Coach Todd even asked if you watched to play catcher, but you got really scared once we tried to put on the catcher's uniform, at one point you had eyes full of tears, so we didn't push it too much, but hopefully next year you'll feel comfortable enough to try it out. 

Cameron came to almost every practice and game, and was so eager to play as well, we had to keep him occupied by playing catch with him off the field. He also developed such an interest in the game.

We got a really awesome T-stand for you guys to practice on, and you both love hitting the ball and it keeps you guys busy for 30 minutes or longer.

You were super proud after having a great hit or a great catch at the games. Of course there were a few times where we had to tell you to pay attention. Lets face it we forget that you are only 5! Some days weren't your best for one reason or another, just like adults, you had a few off days, but overall you had a great time, and learned and grew so much. Baba and Deda came and watched just about every game and loved seeing you try hard and have fun with it.

Of course Daddy loved the fact that you both had such an interest in playing baseball. Given that it's his favorite sport that he played as a young boy and still as an adult, he is happy that it's something special that he can share with the kids by teaching them.

At the end of the season you received your first ever trophy. You were beyond excited and wanted to bring the trophy with you everywhere including to bed. Eventually we had to put it up high where you couldn't reach so that you could at least keep it in one piece and not loose it.

It was a great first experience at T-ball. Even though we signed up so late, and daddy was not able to coach, we all learned so much, but most importantly you had fun and really enjoyed yourself.

Little Soccer Shots - Cameron's 1st Soccer experience

Cameron got to start soccer practices at a local park ran by a few soccer coaches. Deda insisted that we enroll him for a session because he seems to really love balls and kicking and throwing, so it gave us a great excuse to get out early on the weekends and take you to this little activity just for him which started in January and went on for 6 -8 weeks.

Cameron was our little Soccer star. He was in a group of 5-6 kids, and right away he had no problems listening or following the coaches directions. Every Saturday morning he really looked forward to going to soccer, and coming back he would proudly declare "I Play Soccer!" He especially liked the lady coaches... such a boy! Of course a sticker at the end of the session was just a bonus.

It was nice to do something that he really looked forward to. I have a feeling he'll love playing sports just like his daddy. 

End of Summer Fun & Play Dates

Where had the summer gone?

Well besides the weekend fun, just about every Friday we attempted to do something fun! We hosted a playgroup at home... sadly I have no pictures from it, I guess we were having way too much fun or I was way too busy to take any. We went to Kidding Around, The Zoo, The Wild Animal Park which they are now calling Safari Park, we went to friends houses for play dates, RB Swim & Tennis Club, Moonlight Beach and Sea World. Saturday mornings were spent going to Little Kickers soccer, followed by a trip to the 7-11 for a special treat. An ICE that had to be a specific color, whatever color favorite of the day - a request from Sascha. One weekend, we planned a play date with her good friend Sadie from preschool. We went to a pond to feed the ducks. Another weekend, while daddy stayed home with Cameron and had his football draft, Sascha and I had a date at Sea World. I have not been there for Summer nights where they have special night shows and fireworks. We had such a great time together! It was nice to have great company too since we met up with Marjeri and Kingston there. We tried to frequent the pool as well, and for some reason every single time Sascha wasn't thrilled about going, it would take her forever to finally get in (unless we just forced her in) and then finally after 20 minutes in the water she would actually swim and have fun. Of course by then she is usually shivering cold and we have to get out. This was pretty much the trend every time we went swimming. However when she gets a lesson at Floaties from Mr. Josh, she has no issues with the pool. Go figure!

We had a bunch of birthday parties to attend as well. Sascha is now very much aware of what "party" means. When I told her that we are going to stop by a work party before going to Sea World, she quickly posed the question : "Will there be a jumpie there?" I had to break the news to her and tell her that there was no jumpie at this party. :)

We have really been enjoying our back yard! Sascha is getting really good at swinging, she has masted the leg pumping, and gets up pretty high (almost dangerously high ... especially if Baba is watching). She loves her playground, water table, and all the different ways of transportation out there. She is starting to get much better on her princess bike, she's super fast on the plasma car. We often have races around the "track" - the small paved road that goes around the back yard! It started to get dark earlier, which is too bad, we got pretty used to playing out there after dinner till 8pm.

Sounds like a pretty fun summer doesn't it? Oh what I would do to be a kid again... why is it that I remember how badly I wanted to grow up when I was a child. I dreaded nap time, and now I would give anything for a quiet 20 minutes where I could put my head down and rest.

And that sums up our summer. Sure we both had to work. Sascha enjoyed going to preschool and having splash days every week, while Cameron was at home with the Nanny. But we really tried to make the most out of our time together. I only wish I would make a separate blog entry out of each outing we had, and if I had all the time in the world I certainly would. Instead it's going to be crammed into this one blog post. I also wish that I had more pictures with me in them. I am usually the one taking them, so pics of me with the kids are rare, and I feel like I should have more.

Saturday mornings - playing soccer

Our Beach outing - we only went a few times, but Cameron loved the sand. Sascha refused to go near the water, and played in the sand the whole time as well.

Zoo, Safari Park with Ethan, and a date with my baby girl to Sea World

Hanging out in the back yard. Sascha really enjoys pushing Cameron in the swing

On a train ride at Old Poway Park for Cillian's 3rd Birthday

Playing Dress up at home - this is a dress she wanted to wear ...something that you may see a Flamenco dancer wear, it was brought to you from Spain by Baba & Deda