My Summer Vacation

I love summer. I take a week off each summer and try to do as much as I can, even if it's local. It helps me to recharge, and "fill my cup" as Rick says (smart guy, that man of mine!). This past week was no exception.

I decided to take a week off from blogging as well, but now I'm back and ready to share some of our adventures. I spent a lot of time loving on this guy:

Waiting in line for Midway Mania at Disney's California Adventure

We spent a few days down in San Diego at Seaport Village and Sea World.

We forgot our Sea World tickets in the hotel room (oops), but we were able to get them reprinted (thankfully) at the Guest Services window, since they had been purchased online and were under our names.

We also spent a couple of days enjoying our Disneyland Resort Annual Passes. We spent time at both parks, and Cooper got to do several NEW things - like Pirates of the Caribbean, and Midway Mania!

All through the rides, he kept saying "Mommy, this is fun!" with a huge smile on his face. Melted my heart, and I was so grateful to be able to take the time off to spend with him. He is talking like a "kid" now, not just like a toddler, and before I know it he will be off to Kindergarten. Is it just me, or do the days go by faster when you have kids?

We ate lunch on the Seal Beach Pier, had a few playdates and had some 3rd birthday photos done. I'll post some of those soon. I've been spending some time getting things together for the big birthday party. I'm so excited and can't wait to share the whole party with you!

What did you do on your summer vacation?

Posts coming up: Birthday photos, Allergies, and Adoption Fears...

Days of Summer - Day 8

Ok, so I'm not even a third of the way through this project that I decided to take on...I need to get out more!! Thank goodness I've got some vacation coming up - San Diego here we come!!

Another great thing about summer is all the cold things to eat and drink. We love making smoothies; it's Cooper's (and my) favorite breakfast treat. Pretty much our smoothies consist of: Fruit, Juice, Yogurt, Ice. I pretty much just use whatever flavors I have on hand.

This one is a Banana Orange Smoothie. The taste is reminiscent of Orange Julius (yummy!).

The recipe (amounts are approximate; I usually eyeball it):
1 cup of ice*
1/2 cup of OJ
1 Bananas
1/2 cup Vanilla Yogurt


 *If you use frozen fruit, you don't need the ice.

Put all ingredients in a blender and Blend and enjoy!

Jamba Juice and McDonald's have nothin' on Mama's homemade smoothies!!

What keeps you cool in the summer?

Days of Summer - Day 7

The best part of summer, is spending lots of time outdoors. I've become more of a homebody in my old age, so a backyard kiddie pool is right up my ally. Coop spent hours in it over the course of two days, soaking up the sun and splashing in the water. I spent hours watching him, and getting drenched in the process. What better way to cool off on a HOT summer day!

Submitting these photos to Simplicity's Photo Challenge: Summer

 

And I couldn't leave out our new friends, now could I?

 

What's your favorite thing to do in the summer?

Days of Summer - Day 6

We had a summer storm the other night.

We were visiting my mom in Yorba Linda (near the inland empire) to go to her pool with hopes of cooling off from this near 100 degree heat wave we've been having. We were not in the pool two minutes before the thunder started rumbling and the lightning crashing. Out of the pool we came, trying to explain to my almost three year old "why?" we had to get out of the pool.

He hasn't stopped talking about the thunder since!

Apparently the lightning caused some fires in the area, and the storm brought rain in some areas, even near the beaches (not too common here in So Cal for the summertime).

My favorite part, was that it brought a beautiful sunset with it.

I snapped this one real quick when we got home that night.

Days of Summer - Day 5

Summertime is swim lesson time! Coop loves swimming and is becoming quite the fish. I never wanted him to have to wear floaties or a vest in the pool, rather to learn early on so he could take care of himself in the water. The lessons are definitely paying off!

Here's a few shots I took at his swim lessons the other day.

Kick, kick, kick!

Swimming to the step on his own.

Arms up for a dive.

And down we go!

I can't tell you how much I love this shot!!!

Days of Summer Day 4

Summer is the perfect time to be outdoors, learning something new. For my little one, it was how to ride a tricycle.

He's had this tricycle since his second birthday. He loves to ride it and is so proud to wear his helmet, but he would get so frustrated every time he tried to use the pedals that he would give up quickly, and just push with his feet. The other day something clicked...and...HE. DID. IT!

Linking up to I Should Be Folding Laundry's You Capture "Vehicles" Photo Challenge.

"Baby Got Back" - Days of Summer, Day 3

Here's the third installment in my personal Days of Summer photo challenge. How could I not share this one?

I'm also linking up to Simplicity, because, as you can see, the photo is full of

COLOR!

Days of Summer - Day 2

Summertime is...

a time to splash in fountains...

See his little feet not even reaching the ground?

The water helped him cool off in this Southern California heat 

(78 degrees and sunny).

"Take my picture Mommy!"

Days of Summer - Day 1

I'm a copycat, and a follower. I'm taking a page out of Alysha's book and starting our own "30 Days of Summer" personal photo project.

Thirty days, thirty photos, documenting the summer of 2010. I tried Project 365, where you take a photo every day for a year, but it just didn't work for me, because like Alysha, the commitment was difficult. But capturing 30 days of our summer, 30 days of outdoor fun, lazy summer evenings, popsicle stained faces, water splashes, ocean waves, bug watching and BBQs, this I can do. Feel free to follow me on the journey.

Tonight was a lazy summer evening sort of night visiting the duck pond and looking for the babies.

Let's go find us some ducks!

Are they down there?

Maybe if I stick my head all the way through...

Let's go down for a closer look, shall we?

Closer...

Closer, but still no ducks...

Where could they be?

Here they are!

One thing I love about raising my son in the city where I grew up is being able to take him to do the things I loved to do as a child. Like going to this very duck pond.