Huntington Beach at Sunset

I must admit that Huntington Beach at sunset is truly a beautiful thing.  We were lucky enough to have a great dinner at Dukes right on the beach next to the Huntington pier.  After a great meal we walked back to our hotel at sunset.  On Huntington they have over 500 fire pits so people can just come and have beach fires.  On a Friday night, there were lots of them.  The amount of public parking (for free) is also amazing.  The vibe around Huntington is definitely one of a surfers paradise.  Little kids with bicycles outfitted to carry their surf boards.  Pretty cool.  

After returning to our hotel, we also got to enjoy smores over the open fire pits they had at the hotel.  What a great place.  If you ever need a recommendation for an excellent beach resort... this is it.

Disneyland

On Friday of our quick California trip we made it to Disneyland.  The weather was very pleasant and the lines were unseasonably short.  No complaints from me since we were at Disney World earlier this year on the busiest day of the year.  This time, we got straight on some rides.  What a novelty that was. Lily had a great time and insisted on wearing her new minnie ears every day since then.

Huntington Beach, California...

This last weekend (ok extended weekend) Lily and I had a chance to join Chris in California.  Unfortunately Chris had to work, so Lily and I took full advantage of the awesome hotel he was staying in (complete with about a dozen pools and spas, including water slides).  Lily was in heaven.  On our first day, Thursday, we hit the beach, toured around downtown Huntington, watched the volleyball players (who all looked like professionals), hit the beach again, made some friends, joined the friends at the kids pool at the hotel for an afternoon of fun.  Then once Chris returned we started all over again, back to the pool, back to the beach, back to Huntington pier and finally to bed.  Yes, I think we were in bed at 6:30 pm.  What a full day.

Fountains in front of our hotel looking out to Huntington Beach

One long line of life guard stands

Never knew they had pelicans on the West Coast

Huntington Beach - surfing capital of the U.S.

Lily enjoying digging holes on the beach

And making friends

Water slides with Dad

Palm trees... and more palm trees

Weekend excitement

Last weekend was filled with much excitement.  On Saturday, we got to attend Lily's friend Sasha's fifth birthday party at "Bounce U".  Fun was had by all as you can see from the pictures below.  Then Sunday Lily got to enjoy having a play date with Gianna and then a big impromptu dinner party with our friends the Kangs and Gianna's parents.  Good thing we made extra food.  And then of course Sunday night we got hit with another 8 inches of snow and got to enjoy another snow day on Monday. This snow things has really gotten out of hand this winter.  I guess it is the first time we really put the snow shovel to good use.  Only because the fine us if we don't clear our sidewalks...

Lily's Field Trip to the National Gallery of Art

This last Friday I had the chance to tag along with Lily's Field Trip to the National Gallery of Art.  What a day this was.  I'd like to say it was joyously relaxing, but nothing but. Trying to keep the kids to follow the rules in an art museum is a challenge to say the least.  But they seemed to really appreciate the art work (definitely liked more modern art) and I had a great time (sans the 80 minute bus ride each way).

Lily and Gianna

Lily, Chance, Jonas, Gianna and Logan

Snow Days

Over the last 2 days we have gotten over 22 inches of snow.  It was amazing, beautiful and was perfect snow for snow man building and snow ball fights.  Lily had two days off school and even had to miss her Valentine's party, but we had a great Valentine's filled with heart shaped french toast that Lily helped me make.  Now, time to leave for the beach for a three day weekend.

Exciting Weekend with Lluc, Gianna and a Cookie Exchange Party

Last weekend we finally stayed home for the first weekend in a long time.  I thought we were in for a relaxing weekend, but it turned out busier than ever.  Friday night, Lily got invited to a play date with Lluc and Sofia at Lluc's house.  It meant the first night out for Chris and I in I don't know how long.  We had a nice dinner date before going back to pick up Lily.  Saturday we were back at Lluc's to celebrate his dad, Peter's, birthday.  We had a great day and enjoyed traditional raclette for dinner.  On Sunday we were starting to make valentine's cookies when we got a call from Gianna who wanted a play date so we had a cookie play date.  After that, it was off to a cookie exchange party filled full of lots of cookie bearing families.  Lily even won an ant farm at the cookie exchange raffle.  Then the snow came...