Hello Kitty Highlights

I love Hello Kitty as much as the next little white suburban girl who fell in love with Sanrio at the mall, but I honestly had been putting more effort in getting Sophie into Sailor Moon, so when she recognized Hello Kitty at Target and got excited about it, *I* got excited about it and went overboard.

I figured she could finally appreciate the Hello Kitty Cafe at the Spectrum, which feels so normal because it's literally around the corner from us, but it's a huge deal because it started as a pop-up and became permanent and was the first permament cafe globally I think (but definitely in the US) and to date the other other one that exists is in Vegas and then a roaming truck across the country.

They were efficient, and the line wasn't that long, but it still took FOR-EV-ER but Sophie hung in there and we enjoyed our treats (lavender milk tea, pineapple Dole whip, Hello Kitty cookie). Kathleen was with us and we went out to eat afterwards which was pretty much a cluster, but Summer had a good moment or two...

Otherwise, here are some updates on us:

Last month we met with Tio Rafael and Zio Rob in Carlsbad and got pizza, ice cream, and walked around on the beach. We plan to do it again although we'd like to make it more of an adventure and take the train next time.

We celebrated Bryce's 7th birthday with a pool party on what turned out to be a pretty chilly day cause global warming has totally reversed our seasons. Sophie didn't seem to mind, and it was so fun to see her and Scarlett together again after the Big Bear trip - they were two peas in a pod! And Sophie was doing some great golfing putting under the tutelage of Uncle Chris.

And then of course, the usual life - battling bedtimes, Summer can crawl now but is still mastering it, Sophie gave up bobos to the Bobo Fairy who brought her a Gabby's Dollhouse, and Auntie Iris gifted us a play kitchen and patisserie set,

...and Kiwi is still the bane of our existences

Hoppy Easter

Hoppy Easter to everyone! Another early one this year, in March. I always prefer it in April, mais c'est la vie.

We've been trucking along over here, keeping warm and dry, and the rainy days don't bother me so much as how cold it just keeps being. Speaking of rainy days, we kinda lucked out with the very rainy weekend and Easter Sunday that we had. Sophie and Summer had an Easter party on Friday at daycare, and when I picked them up, Sophie asked if we could bring their art project home with us. It was a giant drawing of a basket on posterboard, and lots of paper eggs that the kids decorated (could've done without them being decorated in pastels but oh well) because she wanted to keep coloring them at home. I figured if she had something to occupy her it would be worthwhile so I agreed.

Well, with the super rainy day we couldn't have an outdoor egg hunt, and I suppose I could have hidden her plastic eggs around the house, but instead I taped up the paper eggs around the house and had her find them and take them to the basket that I taped on the door. It just seemed more tedious and like it would wear her out faster, and she really enjoyed it.

Easter probably started the day before with the celebrating of the March Shaffer sisters. My mom brought way too much chocolate to the tables and because I've been on a journey lately, I decided to stop counting calories for the weekend and went overboard #worthit

We were able to keep up our usual tradition of Easter in San Diego at the Gale's - Debbie owns Easter and she owns it just right. We come out of there with way more than we bargain for every time! I should've anticipated the huge Easter baskets that both of the girls would get and not done some for them, because now we are stuffed to the gills with Easter treats. (Notice I didn't just say chocolate - we also have peeps and jelly beans and cookies and chocolate-covered marshmallows and more stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting) plus the girls's baskets also included snacks, clothes and some toys! Sophie and Charlie had a blast bowling together, and Summer was her usual chill self for her first Easter.

Ana was in town for a hot second a few weeks ago and we were able to meet up with her for a dinner in Long Beach. Sophie's at the age where the months inbetween seeing her must feel very long, and I'm always curious how much she will remember/how comfortable she will feel with Ana, but she jumped right in with her and continued to tell me how much fun she had with Auntie Ana, totally unprompted, for the next few days.

Other than that we've visited French class, continue our weekly walk to the local library, try to connect with family on FaceTime (Sophie is obsessed with talking to Enzo every day) and Summer is getting closer and closer to crawling (she's at the phase where she gets up on her knees and rocks back and forth).

Silly babays

Enzo's bday party

After Enzo's bday party

French class

My two babies

Sophie decorating Easter eggs

Typical Sophie loving her sister a little too hard

This month is looking pretty light activity-wise for now. We'll see what crops up. I know AJ wants to take Sophie to a baseball game now that baseball's back in season. I am less enthused as I sorta go for the Angels for AJ's sake, but mah first boy was Cameron Maybin after he came over from the Padres, but he left, and then I got totally stoked on Ohtani and had patches and shirts and then he just deserted us for the Dodgers of all teams (traitor!) and now I'm just sad! Maybe I should just go to the Padres. Or throw a dart at the map and see which team I should go for now.

Birthdaysss

Hello from me, another year older! I'm actually at the point in my life where I have to start doing the math to figure out how old I am because I can't remember anymore, but I don't really care. I just love my birthday and enjoying my special day (I can't believe it's already over, bah humbug).

I had my first real special Mom Birthday - which means that I didn't work, I turned down AJ's offer to take the day off to spend with me, and spent the day alone, in peace and quiet. I got birthday donuts, took a nap with Kiwi, and then AJ did come home early so we got to watch Barbie (finally!). AJ and I went to pick up the girls together and got my Starbucks birthday drink, then did presents and my ice cream cake together with the girls before AJ took me out to dinner.

Before we started singing, I told Sophie
in no uncertain terms that she was NOT
allowed to blow out my candles lololol

A beautiful flower delivery from Jessica

In the meantime since I've last updated, Summer has hit 7 months, Sophie got her own library card and is getting much better about going into dance class without a fuss, Summer has started eating solids, and Sophie got to join the family to celebrate Enzo's birthday (today!) at Disneyland.

Next up is Auntie Ana and then Gangy's birthday. March is more jampacked than I realized...