Shannon's cute baby (and shower)

My sweet friend Shannon and her Husband just added this handsome bundle of radness to their family and now they are Three.

They are just the cutest and this shower was lots of fun! I was originally going to go alone and when HeaBug saw me dressed up to go, she asks if it's a grown up party. I told her there would be mostly ladies but it was for Baby Mason and his mom. She says, "I LOVE lady parties! Wait for me! I'll put on a dress!" 

She is just too fun! 

All of the LoVELy and DEElicious desserts (including white cake with lemon filling, frosted Texas sheet cake, chocolate covered pretzels and adorable elephant sugar cookies that said "thanks a ton") were done by my amazingly talented friend and cake ninja, Cakestina.

HeaBug turns 4!

The time is going by faster than I'd like it too. But I feel like we are getting to enjoy our children at every age and really savor them.
Our Hea Bug is truly sunshine. The is sass, she is sweetness, she is opinionated and she calls it exactly how it is.
We are so happy to be her family. We couldn't have asked for better icing on our cake. Love you girl bug. To the moon.

HeaBug LOVES going to gymnastics, she had a party at her gym. Lots of friends, lots of fun! And thank goodness for the wonderful Coaches, Ms. Whitney and Ms. Taylor for handling our 18 little ones for two hours! (And the few big ones that jumped in on the fun near the end).

Seriously, they should have gymnastics parties for adults. This would be fun.

Games and exercise and fun. That's what I'm talking about. After hosting JT's birthday with every imaginable sweet, tasty, tummy aching indulgence... We decided to go the opposite for HeaBug's party. We had two giant trays of fruit (Strawberries, Mangos and Pineapple in one and Strawberries, Pineapple, Oranges and Watermelon in the other). We had bionico toppings, crema de leche, granola, coconut and raisins -eh on the raisins. (If you've never had one, I have just the place for you to go.)
Two trays of veggies (Broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and peas) dip, hummus and this amazing herb popcorn from Trader Joes. Seriously, it's the bomb. We had only waters and then the best part was the 108 mini cupcakes from Sweet Embellishments! Tasty, tiny and adorable. They were perfect!

Always a fan of the birthday song, it was extra special that we were singing to her.

On the morning of her actual birthday, she woke up to a decorated hallway and breakfast table! The balloons had qualities that we love about her written on them. Intelligent, Clever, Sweet, Witty... Brother was awesome in helping read them to her.

I picked girfren up from school to a Surprise Car Party. Thank you dollar tree and being 10 minutes early. I popped in there for some balloons, party hats, blow horns and necklaces. Pack all that in our mini cooper and we had a downright shindig goin' on. She was so surprised and just loved it!

Kids get to choose birthday dinner. She picked Sashimi from Tokyo Hibachi. It's our favorite sushi spot. Very traditional and not jazzed up with too many sauces. Mr. B has been going there since he was smaller than HeaBug. He took me for the first time when I was 15 years old! And Yuki still makes the very best spicy tuna salad!
For the kids, we generally go to Fusion Sushi. It's close to the house, they have happy hour specials and  they're cheaper lol. Which matters when they eat sushi like grown folks! But she wanted to go to the Buddah Place. I knew exactly what she meant and we were happy to oblige. They were excited to see her in her crown and with her balloons so Auntie Meg and the ladies were sure to bring her out a candle and some ice cream. They sang to her in English and Japanese and our HeaBug was beaming ear to ear!

We sure are blessed to have this girl in our lives. She makes me laugh out loud, literally, many times a day. She also makes me want to pull my hair out at times, as  a daughter should. We love her more than she'll know and we will embrace each day of her being 4 years old the same way we did when she was three and two and one... With patience, gratitude and adoration.

Meeting Baby Abby

My cousin Chandipants, just had her first baby, Ms Abbypants. She's too cute for words and we were so thrilled when they came down to California for the weekend so that we could meet her!

HeaBug was especially in love with little Abby. She sang her songs and wanted to hold her and wanted on of her own. She clarified that she can one day... after college.

Breezer, my little sister, and Chandipants have been best soul mate/cousins/friends for their entire lives. It's so special to have someone like that in your life.

Congratulations Chanda and John. Abby is just adorable and we are so thrilled for you and your family <3 p="p">

Open Houses, woot for school!

JT had open house at his school. The evening was kicked off as our Awesome Charter School celebrated being named a California Distinguished School again. There was a Super Mex truck, an ice cream man, Milikan's drum line and cub scouts raising the flags. The energy and sense of community overwhelms me sometimes. Crazy awesome!

We wandered through JT's classroom looking at the various projects that they've been working on. We sneaked a peak in each of the 2nd grade classes and know that we're definitely in for dinosaurs.

We are in the process of adjusting to a new teacher. JT's teacher that had been with the class since the first day of school was actually a substitute. We grew to love her very much throughout the year and were very, very sad to see her leave the school when the other teacher returned. We miss Mrs. G lots and  lots but are super lucky to live just a bike ride away from them!

JT was excited to play on the playground even though he'd just been there hours before and was going to be back the next day. Kiddos are so silly. Love him to bits!

HeaBug showed us around her preschool at her own open house the following week. She was so excited for us to come see her school just like we'd seen JT's. We enjoyed face painting, snacks, cotton candy (YUM) and watching our little butterfly girl socialize. She is writing her name on her own, recognizes letters and numbers, holds conversations like a tiny little woman. It actually freaks me out a little... Just a little. haha

Lillo Girfren is getting bigger

Hea Bug has always been our baby but lately it seems like she's growing up. Not necessarily getting bigger, she's still our little shrimp but now she's not asking for as much help, she's expressing herself all the time whether it's through her words or drawing or singing at the top of her lungs or movin' and groovin' to the music of her life!

"Sewing" her build a bear

Pajama Day at School

Chalk Fun with Auntie Nini

a full month after her birthday, she got a special little cake from Uncle Chris and Auntie Yana. we had to turn out the lights and sing because the cake WAS for her birthday.

even this whiny girl. love her to bits.

she's the BEST helper. love my lillo girfren <3