Our Home

I've been meaning to do this post forever.  We moved into a house last July and before we move I thought I would take some pictures so we can remember it.  It has been so nice having space and 1 story so the kids can run around everywhere.

The dining room is a work in progress, but I'm giving up until we have a more permanent residence.

The best part of this house is the kitchen, so fabulous.

This is Alex's room and soon to be Cole's too when I make the transition from crib to bed.

Our bedroom which is also a work in progress.  I debated forever about painting our room this dark and I ended up loving it.

Master bathroom

and the amazing backyard complete with a orange, lemon and clementine tree.  I'm really going to miss these lemons.  I've been giving them to everyone since we have so many, so amazing.   I also grew my  very first winter garden and it did so well.  The only thing that didn't grow was my beans but we had tons of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, chard and spinach.

 It was a short 8 months, but it was a fun house to live in with beautiful scencery.

The Starcatcher

Kim and I went to see Peter and the Starcatcher which is the prequel to Peter Pan.  The acting was amazing and I loved all the humor in it.

Jump n Jammin 2 times in one week and they loved it.  It's not too busy on weekday mornings so Cole could wander around in the main area where all the balls are.  He just stated walking this week which was right when he turned 14 months.

That night we went on a family date to Roscoes.  We went to the one in Hollywood when we first moved to LA and there is one in Pasadena about 5 minutes from where we live.  Al ordered his Eclipse drink which is lemonade, fruit punch, and oj.

I'm still not sure about the combination so I ate my waffle first and than doused my chicken in hot sauce.

On Saturday we took a little trip out to Simi Valley to the Reagan Museum.  Everything has been remodeled since we went 4 years ago, so it was fun to see what they added.

Al impersonating OBAMA

Air Force One

Cole was freaking out because he wanted to walk everywhere.  We only lasted 2 hours at the museum which was a bummer since there was a special spy exhibit at the end that we would have like to seen.  

The Berlin wall!!  We took this same picture almost 4 years ago, but just the 2 of us.

That night we had dinner at Water Grill in downtown LA.

Al and I both love Oysters and are trying to learn all the different kinds and which ones we like.

Afterwards we went to the LA Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall.  I don't know why we haven't done this since we've lived in LA.  The music was beautiful and it was interesting to try and figure out who had a higher status.

A few years ago we were with some friends walking around the grounds of the concert hall and we found these amazing trees.  We went outside during intermission and found them again.  Everyone was smelling them including me, yum.  I don't know if they grow in Texas, but I want one in my yard someday.

Bucket List Countdown

Al was officially offered the Manager position with Integra.  I am so proud of Al and all of his hard work.  We are planning on moving to Texas in March or April and will hopefully have a better idea in a couple weeks when we go to visit.  I have mixed feelings about moving away and starting over, but we think it will be best for our family in the long run.  In the meantime I've been checking things off my bucket list like crazy.  It's impossible to do everything in LA, but I'm going to try before we move:)  Our first stop this week was the California Science Center where they have the Endeavour.   We've already been, but that was to only see the Endeavour and it was on a weekend which is pure craziness. We went on a Monday morning and got to play in the kids rooms on each level.  Al and I saw the movie Gravity a few months ago and it freaked me out so I hope our kids never want to be astronauts.  

The giant fish tank was our favorite.

A great day with Justine and we got food from Chanos on the way home.  That was our Mexican for the week.  Alex and Cole love Quesadillas and I love hearing Alex say it.

That night Al and his boss went to the National Championship game at the Rose Bowl.  They got in for $70 which is amazing.

Activity time at our house is a little rough since Cole is at an age where he wants to put everything in his mouth.  Coloring time didn't last too long since Cole ate the crayons and then fell off the chair.  

Our next stop that week was the La Brea Tarpits.   We met my friend Chelsea and her daughter and had a fun morning.

Alex thought he saw a fish in the water, but I think it was tar. 

Luckily google maps took me all the way around the tarpits so I spotted all the food trucks.  We walked over afterwards and had an amazing lunch from Arroy.

Everyday after nap time the first thing Cole say is "I wa ju"=I want juice.  Here we are drinking our ju:)

The Griddle

One of our weekly musts or should I say my weekly musts is eating Mexican food.  After all Alex should be half Mexican after how much I ate the food when I was pregnant. Chiquita Bonita is one of our favorite hole in the wall restaurants.  They have the best Diet Coke.

Al and I were laughing about how Alex drives around in his car.  He puts his arms out the front so he can stand up and run.  

Cole being a big boy.  I can't believe how much he has changed over the last couple months.

We hadn't been to Descanso Gardens since Alex was a baby so we took a trip with some friends.

They loved the train ride

Wooo Hoo

Friday night bowling!! Cole was obsessed

We've been going to a lot of places on my to do list since Al applied to be a manager with Integra.  I told him when he first applied in October that I knew he would get it.  Call it intuition or just knowing Al is good at everything he does.  We have already been to the Griddle once, but once just isn't enough.    We got the cookies and cream pancake which I swear has an entire package of oreos in it, so sweet.  I got the breakfast tacos to even it out.

Worst picture of me but maybe in 10 years we can come back and retake this picture.  People were staring at us with 2 kids so I can only imagine if we have 4.

After our breakfast we took the boys to Jump n Jammin.  Cole wasn't in to the toddler area so Al took him up with the big kids and let him crawl around.

Alex runs the entire time he's at these places and I wonder how long he could actually stay if I didn't make him leave.  

Last Days of 2013

It was so nice to sleep in our beds when we got back from Florida and I think both our kids even slept in until 8.  That morning we went on a hike in Franklin Canyon that was more of a walk around the lake.  I got the idea from one of the Housewives of Beverly Hills on Instagram.  Al and I laughed that she was making it seem like she was really hiking.

We watched a turtle and some fish.

Family picture with Alex and Cole wrestling.

Fun in the backyard

 On New Years Eve we went to the Rose Bowl to walk around and see the floats.  There were big boxes of left over roses that people were going crazy over.  Alex walked over and took 1 :)

 Lots of memories at the Rose Bowl, we love it there.

 Al went to the Rose Bowl for the 3rd year in a row and got in for $50.  He ended up sitting next to a bunch of friends and family members of one of the players.  They asked him how they knew him and Al was like uh I don't I just bought a scalped ticket outside.  Ha

 We had an amazing NYE dinner at Houstons.  Alex and now Cole love to do cheers.

 This was our 4th time going to the Rose Bowl parade and our 3rd time sitting with Laura and her family.  Her sister camps out for 2 nights for this spot and it's amazing because it's at the beginning of the parade. The further you sit the longer it takes especially since floats get backed up.

 It was so warm this year compared to last and I could actually wear clothes I fit in.

 When the Sea World float came out people held up their signs and sat in front of the float like they were going to stop the parade.  A lot of young kids got arrested and the float went on surrounded with security.