It seems as though Friday was just to get us going. First it was Disneyland without the kids which would have been enough for me for months! But then it just got better.
Saturday, we braved the crowds and did our Birthday for Ian and a little bit of Christmas shoping. Willie and I wanted to get the kids a kitchen, but then became realistic when we realized our apartment is tiny and it wouldn't really fit. I didn't give up though and one day while browsing online, I found the perfect present. A Crabby Patty kitchen. (spongebob). Its just the grills and it comes with crabby patties. I knew this was perfect because he carries a frisbee around with an assortment of other toys and tells me its a crabby pattie lol. We also got him a cash register because he loves to pretend he has money.
The grandparents got him a super cool Harley Davidson Hot Wheels bike. They also got him a VTech Smile, but thats for Christmas. And they also purchased Lexi's Bike that she'll get for Xmas. The only thing left on our Christmas list for Ian is a Fisher Price Super Tuff Digital Camera for Ian. He loves taking pictures lately, and before he breaks our Nikon D50 (700$) I figured I'd get him his own for the sake of our walet as the fisher price one is only $60. lol On the way to the toy stores I called Ralphs got the number for the "correct" Ralphs (the store closest to Chuck E. Cheese), and ordered Ian's Buzz Lightyear cake that was to be finished at noon.
Then we went back to the grandparents hotel. It was happy hour, something I guess Embassy Suites does every single night, and you get a really nice spread of appetizer type stuff, and then free drinks for 2 hours! We just had a few, and then went to dinner at El Torito. I just really enjoyed their visit this time. Sometimes its hit and miss, but really loved having them here this weekend.
Then Sunday came. It started out rather bumpy. I wanted to get the house all cleaned BEFORE Ians birthday, cause I knew I wouldn't want to do it afterwards. So I spent the whole morning from 8-11 just getting everything cleaned up. Willie woke up and took care of the kitchen around 10, and then got the kids in the shower. However my driven desire to want to have the house cleaned, I didn't feed the kids ANYTHING. oops. Their moods were crumbling quickly lol Not to mention noon is close to naptime. And Noon is when we were meeting the Carsons at Chuck E. Cheese for Ians party.
So Willie made Mickey sandwiches and had them eating while I got dressed. Then we were out the door. We had to make a stop though at Ralphs to get the cake, and wrapping paper and candels etc. I told Willie I had a nagging suspicion that our cake wans't going to be ready, or that it wasn't going to be the correct store they referred me to on Saturday. Sure enough, both of those statements were true. It was not the correct store, and when I called the correct store, it was 11:50, and they hadn't even started it. Ian was going to freak out, because he KNEW he was getting a Buzz Lightyear cake,...
So we went back into the wrong Ralphs, and I explained to the woman who I probably irritated earlier when I told her I was supposed to pick up a cake here, and we almost got into it . . just kidding, we didn't. I figured this was going to happen. But she went back into her stock of cake decorating supplies and had ONE Buzz Lightyear to put on the cake. So she wrote Ian, and stuck a chocolate happy birthday thing on it, and gave me Buzz. Yeah, Ian had a Buzz cake of some sorts lol.
Then I purchased the "wrapping paper". It was a really pretty silver color. The only kind I could find that wasn't christmasy. I walk out to the car. CRAP I forgot candels. Had to go back in. I was hoping to maybe find some Buzz Lightyear paper plates or something, but no such luck. everything christmas. So we left. We get to Chuck E Cheese and Theresa starts to wrap the presents. My nice Silver wrapping paper is totally see through and its for use in gift baskets.....figures. So Willie went to Wal-Mart and got some paper.
The coolest thing was, we get to Chuck E. Cheese, Ian had only had a 20 minute nap, but we set him down at Chuck E Cheese, and OMG, he went hysterical and started screaming and took off lol. He had such a good time. He was on a total sugar high as Uncle Tim gave him some of his huge lollipop, then the cake, because there was just simply no time for Pizza lol. He just had a really great time!
Then the presents, he opened his bike first and got pretty excited about it. I think if it had been put together he would have "gotten" it a little better. I dont think he quite knew what it was in the box. Then ...the coolest present that got the coolest reaction. The crabby pattie grill. He first opened it and just said "spongebob" then went to grab his other toy. I made him turn it over, and he started jumping up and down and yelling and oh it was sooo cute. We got it on video and i'm trying to figure out a way to put it in my blog...it was so much fun.
It was really nice having Rocky and Jen there as well. Their daughter Jasmine is so beautiful! And gosh little Christian is getting so big..9 months old already! He's so cute, and the spitting image of Rocky!!! Both their kids have Jennifers amazing complexion...that natural tan look lol
Then it was time to go home. Ian was so exhausted, when Willie told him it was time to leave he just said "sigh..okay".. lol No fighting even! We got home and everyone took their naps. I started dinner and we all ate. It was a nice spread. Chicken sauteed in Sun Dried Tomatoes, fresh green beans and Linguine with pesto. Thats my favorite meal. Chances are if you're coming over for dinner thats what we're having! The green beans are a super simple easy recipe but soooooo delicious.
Its just Onion, sauteed in EVOO (extra virgin olive oil - evoo coined from Rachael Ray), (choose how much onion, i happen to like a lot of onion in this it gives it a little something, but if you dont just use half or whatever), and then add chicken broth. Enough to cover how ever much green beans you are cooking, bring it to a boil, and add your green beans. I start this at the very beginning of the cooking process because I like for it to really absorb the broth and onion taste. I add about a tablespoon of butter, and let it just simmer. It simmered last night for probably half an hour.
Anyway..Then the grandparents left. And again, it was really hard on me. lol. I hate it when I see Lexi and Ian get so upset when they leave. It just brings back really awful memories of me leaving my grandparents house when I was a kid. I always hated leaving . . . mostly cause I knew the conditions I was going back to, and wanted to stay with them forever. I'm fortunate though to say that Ian and Lexi's feelings for them leaving are totally different. They get to get upset and cry because they just miss them, and always have a great time with them. Not because they dont really want to be home lol.
an amazing weekend!
some pictures:
Lexi on the Carousel at ChuckE Cheese
Lexi on the little Sun thing a ma bob lol
Taking buzz of the crappy cake lol
Ian ingesting more sugar!
The Birthday boy! he knows he's now tree!
Ian in the tunnels stuff..
gesh..so sad the day is overlol Had a blast this weekend!
Jackie