Bucket List Countdown

Things have been busy in Pasadena.  I've been trying to do something fun or new everyday since our days our numbered.  So grateful for these 3 boys, my heart is so full.

One of my favorite things to do is meet Laura for lunch at our favorite Mexican place in Duarte.  They have the best fish tacos and roasted peppers that I'm holding in my hand.  

I talked Al into going to the Grand Central Market to have breakfast one Saturday morning.

We ate at the eggslut and had a fresh pressed juice which was lemon, pineapple, apple, and mint, yum.

We made our way to The Grove to buy over priced candy at Dylan's Candy Bar which by the way is 20 times cooler in NYC.

 I don't remember Utah doing this, but all the malls have really cool decorations up for Chinese New Year.

We tried a new Indian restaurant that had crazy yelp reviews and ended up being in a grocery store.

It was good, but I wouldn't go back especially since the prices were the same as a nice Indian restaurant.  I miss Bombay House.

and Cole in his adorable pants with suspenders and Chambray shirt.

Magical Day

Cole got his very first haricut.  He had one long piece that would flip up in the back so Paige trimmed it up for us and wa la his very first hair cut.

We had one of the most magical Disney days ever.  The weather was perfect and the lines were short.  We got there right when it opened which was 10 am and hit all the rides in Fantasyland that usually have long lines.

Alex trying to take the sword out of the stone.

We got to see so many characters including Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Peter Pan, Buzz.  So Magical

We were standing by the carousel deciding which ride to go on when Peter Pan walked up to Saige and Alex.  Both of them were kind of caught off guard, but in the end they took a picture with him.

These two love each other so much.  It is so cute to watch them together.

We discovered a petting zoo in Disneyland and Woody happened to be right by it.

Our new favorite meal in California Adventure, lobster nachos and they have Diet Coke on tap.

WInning big in Toy Story.  I think this is my highest score yet, it's the little things.

Hugs at one of our favorite ride monsters.  Mostly because there is never a line, it has yummy smells in it, and the librarian in the movie says random things to you everytime you pass her in the ride and it always relates to something you're doing.  Ash and I think someone is in it, but none of the workers will tell us.

Beach Bliss

We got another perfect beach day in Newport and could have stayed all day.  Cole was so sandy and he was eating his snacks out of the sand, yuck.

My mom built a huge sand castle and Alex was loving it.

Cole and Alex love to hug each other and then Al taught them to say ohhhhhhhh when they do it.

A walk down Newport Pier

and some ice cream and Balboa Bars for the road.

Alex was in heaven.

Our last day together we drove to Malibu and walked on the pier.

We went to lunch in Santa Monica at a Thai restaurant that we ate at when I was 40 weeks pregnant with Alex.  My mom has been talking about it ever since and we found it!!

A walk around the Venice canals and Venice Beach which was stressful because Cole was crying the entire time.  That's what happens when they miss naps a few days in a row, yikes.  Getting my mom and Liz home was a little crazy to say the least.  My mom got the flu Friday night and then they didn't get on their stand by flight on Saturday.  I went back to the airport to get them that afternoon and then they luckily both got home on Sunday, but my mom had to fly to SF first.  Lesson learned, don't fly standy by on Sundance weekend.

On Sunday we spent the day at our friends beach house in Dana point.  I made Al stop at the Rainbow outlet in San Clemente and picked up some flip flops for Cole and I.

The view and pool at this house was stunning.  I felt like I was on vacation for the day.

Later that day we walked down to the beach and thanked the Ballards for an amazing day.

Surprise Visitors

My mom recently got a new job and we found out we were for sure moving so my mom talked Liz in to coming for a visit. We couldn't have asked for better January weather and went straight to the beach from the airport.  The beaches in the winter are so much better.  The sand is combed, there is barely anyone there, and there is no fog.

Brother juice break

We lasted for a couple of hours before they wanted to go in the ocean and freeze to death.

Cole is starting to get a sense of humor and he's hilarious.  

On our way home I drove Liz through Forest Lawn to see Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jacksons graves.  I found out that the largest canvas painting in the world is at Forest Lawn at the very top of the cemetery.  We went to see it and were amazed with it's beauty. It's 45ft high and 195 feet wide

Quick stop for some spicy fruit.  Everyone has to try it once!!

That night Al and I had plans for a date night to paint our own canvas

Everyone was painting A Starry night.  I was actually really surprised at how good they turned out and really tired because it took 3 hours!!

One morning my mom watched the boys and Liz and I went to hike the Hollywood sign.  I've always hiked up to the tower behind it so it was cool to see it from a different angle.

It just happened to be a few days full of art because that afternoon my mom and I went to the Norton Simon Museum.  We couldn't believe all the Picassos, Van Gogh, and Rembrandts we were seeing.  Who knew an amazing art museum was 10 minutes from my house.  That's the beauty of living in Los Angeles.

The color is stunning in this Picasso painting, so amazing.

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.