Dinner with the Sides

We has been trying to get together with our friend's Amber, Jason and Evan for a while, and we finally found a beautiful evening to have dinner together down at the Ruby's on Balboa pier. I didn't get any pictures from dinner, but the weather was beautiful, though a little windy, and dinner at Ruby's is always yummy!

After dinner the boys enjoyed some park time, while the mommies caught up. Amber is also having another baby and is due at the end of August. They are waiting to find out the sex of this baby until he or she is born, which they did with Evan also. We can't wait to find out what the siblings of both of these boys will be!

31 Cent Scoop Night

A couple of weeks ago, Wes and I headed to the Baskin Robbins by Mike's fire station where it was 31 cent scoop night! The fire department was there doing a little PR, so we figured it was the perfect time to get in some "Daddy on Duty" time!

(It's hard to see in this picture, but Grammy made Wes this fire department shirt similar to Daddy's, it even has his last name embroidered on it, just like Daddy!)

All little kids love climbing on a fire truck so since there was a huge line to get ice cream there were lots of children climbing and exploring with the fire fighters. Luckily I got there before the line was around the block and picked my favorite flavors. But Wes was way to busy climbing and hanging out with Daddy, so guess who had to eat a whopping 62 cents worth of Chocolate and Peanut Butter and Cookies and Cream?!

Wes and Dylan and Mike.

These two are so funny! They didn't quite understand why they had to share "their" fire truck or their daddies with the other kids. Sharing is tough for 2 and 3 year-olds especially when it's something as cool as a real fire truck!

Picasso?

I hate to admit it, but this is the first time Wes has painted! I know, I know, deprived child!! We've had the easel, the paint and the paintbrushes for a very long time, I've just never taken them out. So finally on a beautiful afternoon I decided to let Wes express his artistic side.

I think he was a little unsure of what all this preparation was for.

But here we go!

I told him he needed to wear this shirt and that it was ok if he got paint on it. Well, he decided that was an offer he couldn't pass up and gave his painting shirt a little more color!

Unfortunately, the painting only lasted about 10 minutes then he decided stacking the little bottles of paint would be much more fun.

But here is his first completed masterpiece. Could be worth a lot of money someday!

Date Night

On May 13th, Mike and I joined our good friends Ryan and Tanya and Adam and Shannon for a Date Night Cooking class at Tspoons in Ladera Ranch. I was a little skeptical at first, since I generally consider cooking my own meal on a date a no-no and knowing these three firemen, there wasn't much they could be taught about cooking since they seem to know it all, so I was sure there wasn't going to be any learning going on. But we ended up having a wonderful night, cooking our own meal and all, and had lots of fun with our friends! (and I think the boys might have even taken away a tip or two!)

This section of Ladera Ranch is pretty neat, it's called the Front Street Business district and all the homes have a small business space which line the street, hence Front Street.

On the menu for the evening was:

Corn Chowder with homemade Crusty Herb Bread

Fresh Spring Salad Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops with Creamy Pea Puree

Warm Baked Apple Caramel Tart

Here's Ryan with his finished Spring Rolls.

We prepared everything then it was cooked for us and brought back for us to plate. When our main course arrived for plating, Chef T, our head chef, told us to loving plate our partner's meal. Here is what Michael created for me. Personally I think it looks like a smashed cockroach, but love takes all forms, and it tasted delicious, so I was ok with it.

Michael had his own ideas for his plate, so I let him go for it, plus the pregnant lady had to eat!

Chef T told us about several plating techniques which make a plated meal attractive and height was one of the key factors. So here's Michael making the tallest plate in the room.

And this is dessert, which was probably my favorite :) Everything was delicious, and we really enjoyed doing something a little different for date night! Bon Appetit!

Chino Air Show

On May 14th, Wesley, Michael, Grandpa Al and Grandpa Robin went to the Planes of Fame Air Show in Chino. Michael didn't take too many pictures, but the boys had a fun day of touring the "aa-aa's", watching the air show, and just being guys checking out the vintage WWII airplanes.

And Daddy ran into a friend from the Chino fire department, so Wes got a chance to sit in a yellow fire truck!

Wesley Says: Mickey Edition

Our trip to Florida must have made a huge impact on Wes, because he still talks about Mickey all the time. If we're going to someone's house and I ask him "who's house are we going to?" he always replies "Mickey's house." But here's a few things he's said recently that made me smile.

Before Wes goes to bed, we always say prayers together, and each night we pray for someone in our family or one of our friends or acquaintances. I think it's important that Wes learn what a gift it is to pray for others and to lift their needs up to God, rather than just our own. So here's how our conversations have been going recently:

Mama: "Ok buddy, time to say prayers. Who should we pray for tonight?"

Wes (and guaranteed this is his response every night): "Mickey"

Mama: "Ok, we'll pray for Mickey, but let's pray for someone we know too" :)

I have to say, coming up with a way to pray for the world's most famous mouse is a little difficult night after night!

And Wes said this one this morning:

We were playing and being silly, which always riles up a toddler and Wes got a little too animated and hit me on the shoulder.

Mama: "Ouch buddy, that hurt! Please don't hit"

Wes: "Sorry mama. Sorry hitting"

(and we've been working on saying 'sorry' when he does something wrong, spontaneously rather than being prompted. And I've also been trying to teach him to say sorry along with what he's sorry for, hopefully helping him realize what behavior is not ok. This was the first time I've heard him say both without prompting.

Mama: "Good job Wes!!! Good job saying sorry and and for saying sorry for hitting! That makes mama so happy. And you know what else, it makes Jesus happy too, because you did the right thing. Good job!"

Wes: "Make Mickey happy"

Mama (Laughing): "Yes, buddy. I'm sure Mickey is happy too"

I know someday Wes won't consider Jesus and Mickey equals, but right now I'm kind of getting a kick out of it.

Shipley Nature Center

This was a while ago, but I'm just getting to post the pictures. We visited the Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach with our good friends the Orliczky girls, and enjoyed the outdoors, the visitor center and some park time! I was newly pregnant when we went, so I was pretty much nauseous and hungry the whole time :) But it was a fun afternoon, especially visiting a neat place that I've driven by a dozen time, but never knew was there!

Having a pow wow.

Playing with Sylvie and Nora in the kids area of the visitor center.

Thanks for inviting us friends, we had a great day!