Friday 26 July 2013

American Girl



We like to take the girls to their favourite overpriced American Girl store at least once or twice a year... usually for birthdays or special occasions.  This time it was to celebrate Kaia's birthday and Amber's recent First Communion.

This store is a pretty neat concept for little girls... you can purchase one of their staple dolls from a different era, a doll of the year or there's also the option to buy a doll to match your child's features.

Kaia has Julie... she's an era doll from the 1970's (the best era if you ask me).  Amber has McKenna... she was the doll of 2012.  We chose her because she shares the same features of Amber, blond hair blue eyes.  Who wouldn't want a doll that looks exactly like them?  

The store is a lot of fun for the girls.  The have a variety of clothing to match with the dolls, a beauty salon, an ear piercing station and even a restaurant to take your doll out to.


Julie 1970

Mckenna 2012

Era Dolls

Just Like You Dolls

Beauty Salon

Kaia with Girl of 2013

Amber with Girl of 2013

Noah with Girl of 2013

This is what Jace thinks of the American Girl store lol

Amber insisted I take a pic of this... she says the girl on the right looks like her friend Daphne and I said the girl on the left looks like her... cute coincidence :)


The girls walked out with some goodies from Nanny... she loves to spoil her girls :) Thank you Nanny!!

Amber chose a guitar kit for her doll and Kaia chose a get well cast kit for her doll.  They also took home surprise bags that had a swimsuit outfit, a cap, the new Saige movie,  and matching American Girl t's to wear.




Northridge Farmers Market

Spent an afternoon at Northridge Farmers Market.  

Between the rock climbing exhibit, balloon animals and snow cones the kids had a blast!










Thursday 25 July 2013

Angeles National Forest

We like to take the kids camping at least once a year... This year we chose the mountains for our quick weekend get away.

California camping always proves to be a challenge when it comes to choosing a 'perfect' campground, especially if you have not booked in advance.  With so many people trying to make last minute arrangements (us included) we always have to do a bit of research before we hit the road.

Our first thought -beach camping turned out to be a fail.  Perhaps next year we book online for that venture.  (I've heard you have to book at least a year in advance for some sites - crazy).

So after packing for the beach and just leaving too late to assure a walk in site... we turned the car around and headed for the mountains...


Camping July, 2013


Jace rocking his pink car seat... lol


Noah


Kaia


     


Amber's selfie
So many trees burned down after the fires last year... sad to see half the forest gone :(





It took us about 40 minutes to climb that steep curvy canyon road... only to have to come back down for gas and supplies.  I think next time we plan ahead in more ways than one lol!

Our campsite...




The view was amazing!!


Even in Cali my Uggs are a must!!

After we set up, the kids rode their Razors around the site collecting giant pine cones for our fire... When I say giant, I don't mean our small Canadian version of the pine cone... I mean GIANT California pine cones on steroids.  These things were the size of my head!!


Giant Pine Cones

It was such a beautiful spot.  The kids loved the rock climbing the most... these huge boulders were everywhere!


Rock climbing...


Say cheese!!


More rock climbing!


Site seeing :)
...and more rock climbing :)


Jace and Daddy


Too cute!


Washing hands... a very important part of camping ;)


Next up is my favourite part... the campfire!



Jace


Noah


Amber and Kaia


Some extra seating from the car... lol


More cuteness!



The fire!


Me under an almost full moon




Time to go...

Poor little dude (aka Jace) did not make it down the mountain without his breakfast coming up... good thing Daddy was there to clean him up.  We all know how well I do with that :(


Ranz and I

Jace looking very green from all the turns along the way :(

Poor little sick dude :(


Jace feeling much better and giving the thumbs up after a bumby ride down :)

It was great to get away with the kids... I love camping!   Funny thing is, we always say we should come back to the same spots.  But really with this big planet we live on, isn't it more fun to see what else is out there... something new?! 

Stay tuned for our next trip... perhaps next time we will have more luck with beach camping!!



Thursday 18 July 2013

Venice Beach

Venice Beach



Venice Beach has always been one of my favourite spots in Cali.  Mainly because I love to people watch... and Venice Beach most definitely has a lot of different types of people to watch!

We started off our day walking on the boardwalk checking out the local booths and beach shops along the way.  Amber, Kaia and Noah enjoyed riding their Razors.  Jace is a professional people watcher like his Mama so he was quite happy just chilling in his stroller.


The kidos

Ranz... trying to keep up with the kidos

And off they go...

Can you spot us?

Freakshow... reality tv show on AMC



Muscle Beach... a fun people watching moment ;)


After a long walk we headed for the beach...


Collecting crabs... last time we came out here the kids snuck some home and the closet smelled like a dead body!!

Me sporting my USA shades that I later lost in the ocean :(  Bad wave bad!!
Snack break

Say cheese!

Nanny reading a book... she's read more books on this vacation than I have in my entire life lol

Ranz and I


The kids loved the beach.  The water was a bit cold as always, but once you're in it's nice.  The weather was great, the waves were fun, the crabs stayed at the beach this time and I got a bit of colour on my white pasty skin.  All in all it was a good day!