The First Leg of Our Ultimate Vacation

Ok, maybe not ultimate (it seems like another continent should be involved if you use the word ultimate) - but VERY close. We left NC behind on June 12th. Our trip started with a two hour flight to Newark where we changed planes and took a 6 HOUR flight to Orange County. Talia was a total nightmare on the plane. She threw playdough at the people in front of us, tried to defect to the row behind us while continually yelling "Hi!" to its poor inhabitants, and to top it all off, her diaper leaked all over my pants. I've never been so happy to get off a plane in all my life.


We spent the next three days in Anneheim at Disneyland with Mike's parents and his sister, Lisa (Siena's mostest favorite person in the whole world). I'm pretty sure we should have been written up by Child Protective Services for scaring Siena on all the big rides right at the beginning. There was no "working up" to her first roller coaster ride - we stuck her on the Matterhorn as soon as we got into the park. The worst was Splash Mountain. When we got off the ride we could hear people commenting on our picture, "Look at that little girl's face!" The look on her face was pure terror. I should have bought it but was feeling cheap and thoroughly ashamed. She didn't speak, make eye contact, or smile for about an hour afterwards. I think she was trying to figure out why we were trying to kill her and how she could MacGyver her way out of this horrid, painfully colorful, place. Once we decided to let her choose the rides she had a lot more fun. Her favorite ride was the Buzz Lightyear ride and she loved the princess area (three months later and I can't remember what it's proper name is) where she met all the princesses, learned a dance, and got her face painted. Talia's favorite part was playing in Little Bear's Adventure. She loved climbing the bear shaped rocks and going down the slide. None of this mechanical madness for my crazy girl!

Many thanks to Aunt Lisa and Mike's parents for watching the girls while Mike and I enjoyed the big kid rides at California Adventure. I forgot how much I love being thrust into the air several hundred feet (slight exaggeration) and jolted back down again. All in all Disneyland was a blast. Siena's already talking about our next trip to the Magic Kingdom.

Next we headed to San Diego to spend a few days with the Springs. When Christian and Jana lived in Berkeley we were all carefree and childless. We would spend oodles of time together eating, hiking, and playing games. It was very fun to catch up (i.e. eating, playing games - but sadly no hiking) and let our kids torture each other. Jana showed us around Sea World with her three beautiful children (4 years old and under - she's amazing). Thank you for hosting us. We had a great time and want to see you again SOON.




Talia loved Sea World. She especially enjoyed the orca tank and would get very excited every time they'd swim past her. She liked all the shows and being drenched by us every chance we'd get.

Next up, leg two - The Beautiful Bay Area

Early June . . .

Siena had her first dance performance on June 7th. She looked adorable in her sassy red leotard and white tutu. Getting her hair into a bun was quite a feat. I let her go without a bath for more days than I care to mention (even after swimming), used gel and hairspray, and a multitude of bobby pins (did you know they now make blond bobby pins?). Not to mention a hair net. She performed in typical 5 year old manner - cute and confused. Mike endured all the numbers before hers, watched her proudly, and then, a little too willingly, offered to take Talia out to wander the lobby. There are many more of these to come buddy!

This is me with the tutu on my head. Siena was the giggling photographer.

Next, we performed my pre-vacation ritual of getting our hair cut. Siena enjoyed it so much she decided she wanted to play cosmotologist too. Talia was a willing customer.

Extreme Neglect

THREE MONTHS! It's been 3 months since I last posted. Growing up, I started a gazillion diaries and would faithfully write down every excrutiating detail of my life. For example, "Mitch is so hot. He wore this rad pink and turquoise Quicksilver shirt to school today." And then, like other projects I've attempted in my life (i.e. crocheting a blanket for then-boyfriend-now-husband, etc.), I'd get busy/lazy and neglect said diary. Then I'd feel like too much time had gone by (I'd moved on to Ryan, or Jason, or Mike being the hot ones. What am I saying? Mitch was always hot.) to start it up again. But I'm older now. Three months is not too long to repent and return to writing down every excrutiating detail of my life - or just the highlights. So I'm back. I'm ready to chronicle our summer and hopefully some of you out there haven't given up on us. If you have, I completely understand.

All her talents in one take

My dad requested some new video of Talia so I broke out the camera for an afternoon performance. The "baby" she keeps talking about is a picture of her on my phone. Speaking of the phone, I have no idea who she could be mimicking.

For those poor souls in the pacific and mountain time zones that have gotten early phonecalls from Talia this video should clue you in to how that could possibly happen. Maybe she even called you while I was shooting. I think I'll go check . . .

Ummmmmm . . . .

The other day, sort of out of the blue, Siena asked me what flying insects do or where they go during a strong wind storm. I didn't have an answer for her. Do you?

Season Ends for the Victorious Butterflies!

Siena had her last soccer game on Saturday. She really liked the practices and seemed to have fun at the games even though she only actually touched the ball a few times (and still got 3 goals!). I think the blob-strategy of 5 year old soccer kind of freaked her out.




At the end-of-season pizza party she got her trophy and the award for Most Improved. The highlight of the party for her was when the ice cream man showed up (hired by the coach's wife) and the girls were able to pick out whatever treat they wanted.




She wants to sign up for the fall season so look for more soccer news from us in a few months!

Amusing things about Charlotte . . .

Here are some things about the Queen City that I've found amusing lately . . .

There are A LOT of parochial schools in Charlotte. Of course these schools need mascots and I guess not everyone can be the saints, padres, etc. but I found this one kind of funny considering the name of the school (sticker on some random person's car). Crazy I know, but bulldogs and the Holy Trinity don't really go together in my mind.

My favorite hood in Charlotte is called Plaza-Midwood. It reminds me a lot of Berkeley with it's eclectic shops, down-to-earth citizens, and funky restaurants. One of my favorites is an edgy consignment shop called

(Think Rocky and Bullwinkle)

It's still got it's religious element too. Right around the corner from Boris and Natasha is a beauty salon whose name cracks me up.