Let’s Watch the Goonies!

October 25, 2010 at 2:05 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions)

My earliest memory of watching The Goonies goes as follows: I’m sitting in the dark, red-curtained Ruston movie theater, turned backwards in my seat, because watching the tiny version of the movie showing in the projector was less scary than seeing a chained Sloth trying to get out of his chair, showing on the big screen!

For days, or perhaps even weeks, after watching this movie in the theater, I was afraid that I would wake up during the night and see Sloth standing at the foot of my bed. I was seven years old when this movie was released in 1985, and I was really disturbed by Sloth and a couple other things about it. So then, imagine how surprised I was when my two year old’s first favorite movie wasn’t Cars or Toy Story, or a Disney animated movie. No, Benjamin’s first joy over a movie-watching experience was The Goonies.

A few weeks ago, Brad started watching this classic adventure movie while Benjamin was in the room. Before long, Benjamin was snuggled up next to him saying, “Let’s see what happens next!” A few viewing installments later, Benjamin had officially watched his first feature length film. I kept expecting him to cover his eyes, say he was afraid, or wake up during the night crying about Sloth. Instead, every time Brad turned on the tv, Benjamin enthusiastically shouted, “Let’s watch Goonies!”

What a fun first movie for a little boy to enjoy: an epic adventure featuring secret passageways, hidden treasure, booby traps, pirates, and yes, even a disfigured but good-hearted hero. And despite all my worrying about it giving him nightmares, so far the only part that has disturbed Benjamin is when the Goonies’ antics cause the water pressure at the country club to go haywire, resulting in some guy sitting on a toilet getting thrown off by a geyser of water. Before this scene resurfaced (he and Brad have watched the movie a few times now), he kept repeating something about them “putting him in the potty,” and we couldn’t figure out what he was talking about. I guess that scene may set us back a bit with potty training!

Since Benjamin has enjoyed watching this movie with Brad so much, I have scheduled a couple more children’s movies to record on our Tivo: Ratatouille and Aladdin. The key seems to be watching in 20 minute increments, and making it a family event. I have a feeling that by the time Benjamin gets tired of this movie (if he ever does!), Brad and I will be able to quote every line! (So far, my favorite moments are when Sean Astin says, “Out there, it’s their time. In here, it’s our time!” and “Goonies never say die!”) I look forward to giving Benjamin more happy movie-watching memories. I know I have a lot from my childhood – Indiana Jones, Hoosiers, The Care Bears, etc. What were your favorite movies growing up – the ones you watched over and over again?

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Escape to Las Vegas

April 5, 2010 at 5:28 pm (Brad, Diversions, Emily)

Brad and I returned a few days ago from a fun-filled, relaxing, child-free vacation to Las Vegas. Mama C sacrificed most of her spring break from school to keep Benjamin while we were gone, and we certainly appreciated it! While she and Benjamin had fun hanging out at our house (aside from the reemergence of his ear infection, a trip to the pediatrician, and one vomiting incident…), we made the most of our time away. This trip marked the first time that we’ve been away from Benjamin overnight at the same time. (Brad has taken numerous work trips, and I had a weekend trip to Los Angeles last summer to visit a friend.) We were happy that Benjamin didn’t seem to mind our absence. He did ask about us occasionally, but when Mama C would tell him we were on a trip and would be home in a few days he would just say “okay” and continue what he was doing.

Here’s a rundown of our “escape” to Vegas:

Day One:

  • We woke up around 5:30 to get ready and left home on time for our 7:55 a.m. flight. I discovered that flying and pregnancy don’t mix well for me this time around. With all the pressure changes and bouncing around, I was rather uncomfortable and couldn’t really enjoy the flight, so I was happy when we landed early in Vegas. By 9:00 a.m. we already had our luggage and our rental car, so we had a full day ahead of us to enjoy.
  • When we left the airport, we headed east to Hoover Dam. It was a beautiful day – blue skies, temperature in the low 70s – and the Dam was, indeed, a marvelous sight to behold as we rounded the curve of the highway and found ourselves surrounded by rocky mountain terrain on one side, and a steep drop off to the dam on the other.
    • After a quick lunch at the Hoover Dam Cafe, we headed to the visitor’s center for a tour of the power plant. I never really knew that the dam serves as a power plant that supplies power to over a million residents in the southeast U.S., so it was interesting to learn how all that works.
    • Large signs at the tour entrance warned that people with claustrophobia shouldn’t take the tour. They were referring more to the tunnels that the tour takes you through (which I didn’t mind since they were big enough to drive a car through – it’s not like we were crawling on our hands and knees…) What did make me uncomfortable was the 1+ minute elevator ride that took us below ground to the power plant and inner workings of the dam. They packed 80 of us into the elevator like sardines! We had to ride the elevator like that about four times as they took us to different levels.
    • The tour consisted of a ten minute video on the building of the dam, a look at the huge pipes that carry the water of the Colorado River around the dam, and some time on an observation deck that overlooks the enormous generators in the power plant. Our tour guide provided some interesting trivia and history, as well as plenty of “dam” jokes.
    • After the official tour ended we went out on the observation deck that overlooks the dam and took some pictures. We also walked across the highway to an area that had lots of interesting art deco touches, and a memorial to the workers who died while constructing the dam.
    • It was neat to see such a famous landmark in person – after all, how often will we just be passing through that part of Nevada? But we were also glad that we took that detour at the start of our trip, so that the rest of the time we could relax and enjoy Las Vegas itself.
  • We arrived at the Wynn early afternoon. My initial impressions of the hotel: big, colorful, extravagant, pretty, and cheerful. We walked through the lobby doors to discover a beautiful indoor garden, and Coldplay was reverberating through the area (by way of discreet but plentiful speakers hidden among the foliage). I immediately knew that this was a place I would be able to kick back and relax – I guess the hotel planners did their job well.
  • We checked into our room, and then went in search of an afternoon snack. We ended up at Terrace Pointe Cafe, one of several restaurants at the Wynn. We shared some delicious hummus and creamed feta with warm pita bread. It was just the protein-rich snack I needed to hold me over until dinner. Afterwards we looked around the hotel – taking in all the shops, restaurants, and casino area. It’s easy to get lost in a Vegas hotel, but all paths somehow lead back through the casino, which unfortunately is full of cigarette smoke. I guess the smoking bans haven’t hit Vegas yet. Too bad. I enjoyed seeing the Wynn’s whimsical decor, from the elaborate chandaliers that line the corridors, to the colorful flower murals and butterfly mosaics.
  • We had dinner at Sinatra, a comfortable place whose theme centers around Frank Sinatra. I had a citrus and beet salad, scallops with a tasty sauce, and a vanilla and pistachio custard served with fresh berries and a cherry sauce. Brad had lobsert bisque, osso bucco with mushroom risotto, and tiramisu. All the food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
  • We went on an after-dinner walk outside – my introduction to the famous Strip. We made it as far as the Venetian (a few long blocks away) before the heavy meal and long day got the best of me and my pregnant belly, and we turned around to come back. I discovered on the walk that Vegas is just as over the top outside the hotels as it is inside them. Everywhere we turned there were huge screens advertising this and that hotel’s signature shows (Blue Man Group, Garth Brooks, and Cirque du Soleil, to name a few). Most of the hotels also have elaborate themes on their exterior, whether its the Venetian’s recreation of the Venice canals, or Treasure Island’s large (and rather tacky) pirate ship. The interior of the Venetian was very impressive, with its high vaulted ceilings and imitations of sacred ceiling art. I commented more than once that it seemed very wrong for these Biblical images to be ushering tourists into the temptations of the casino. Definitely bizarre.

Day Two:

  • When we woke up we ordered breakfast from room service. It arrived 30 minutes later. The server laid out a table cloth, and set out all the food and poured our coffee. It was so nice to have a leisurely breakfast in the comfort of our room, rather than going downstairs to the hectic, loud, busy buffet. And it was quite a feast: eggs, hashbrowns, toast, muffins, sliced tomatoes, coffee, and orange juice.
  • Our low key morning continued when we arrived at the hotel spa for our massages. I was pleased to learn that they offer an “expectant mother” massage. This was my first ever professional massage, and it was amazing – especially after all the walking and sightseeing we did the day before. Brad enjoyed his, too. The spa area was really nice, and we had access for the rest of the day. The robes, the soothing music, the citrus water, the fresh fruit, the jacuzzi, the steam room… I can see the appeal of spa weekends!
  • Once we were sufficiently relaxed from our spa experience, we floated down to the lobby for lunch at the Encore Casino Cafe. The Encore and Wynn are attached since they are sister hotels. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere – lots of bright red and gold touches. We each ordered from the “choose 3″ menu, and our lunch was served on elaborate trees (see picture below). I had an arugula/baby portobello/cherry tomato salad, blackened beef skewers with a chipotle sauce, and a ham/swiss panini. Brad also had the salad, plus grilled shrimp with an avocado cream sauce, and something else that I can’t recall. Everything was delicious.
  • After lunch we returned to the Venetian to spend some time in its famous shopping area, the Shops on Grand Canal. It was very crowded, and we quickly discovered that the wait time for a gondola ride was longer than we cared to deal with. Instead, we snapped a few pictures of other people enjoying the ride through the canals, and even heard one gondolier serenading his passengers. We also did a little shopping, taking care of our Christmas ornament souvenir, and buying Brad a pair of shoes. The Shops are basically a mall, but with the elaborate setting of the Venice canals, and with an occasional indoor piazza designed to look like it’s outdoors – the ceiling appears to be a cloudy, blue sky, and there are fountains and a feeling of open air. The atmosphere was unique, but we didn’t stay long because it was quite crowded, and we also didn’t appreciate the Venetian’s apparent strategy of sending employees after you at every turn to offer you free tickets to shows and museums. We didn’t stick around long enough to find out what the catch was, but my guess is that it involved long, boring time share presentations…
  • We survived the gale force winds that nearly literally carried us back to the Wynn (seriously, there were wind gusts as high as 40 mph, and the rest of the time they held steady at 25-30 mph!), and happily sat down at Terrace Pointe Cafe for afternoon coffee. We even requested a table with “sofa seating,” so I could relax on some comfy cushions. We savored our lattes (served in sturdy, bright yellow mugs) and chocolate croissant, and noted the contrast between this tranquil setting and our usual frantic coffee time at home, when we spend more time worrying about Benjamin knocking over our drink than we do actually drinking it.
  • Later in the afternoon we returned to the spa. Brad worked out, then hit the steam room and jacuzzi, while I settled in for a manicure at the salon. I never get manicures – I usually go the pedicure route, so this was a nice change of pace (although I still prefer pedicures).
  • We had dinner at another Encore restaurant – Switch. Switch is called such because every 15 or 20 minutes the restaurant transforms in front of your eyes. A series of flashing lights and grandiose music announce the impending “switch.” The walls move upward and disappear, and a brand new wall and set of decor moves in to take its place. I know, it sounds kind of gimmicky and cheesy, but one nice touch is that the style of music changes to match the changing setting. I recall listening to Spanish, French, and jazz music at different times during our meal. As for the food, it was good, but not as good as at Sinatra. I had potato soup, NY strip steak, and creme brulee.
  • At 8:00, the night was young. We took a cab to the Bellagio and picked up our tickets to “O,” then had over an hour to explore the hotel before seating for the show began.
    • First we visited the Conservatory, an indoor exhibit of flowers, plants, and trees that changes seasonally. To celebrate spring time, there was a colorful array of flowers, as well as various whimsical, larger than life-size garden items, such as watering cans, flower pots, ants, bees, and snails. Many of these items were made out of plants and flowers, although some, like the ants and giant mushrooms, looked like something borrowed from the set of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. While it can’t compare to the Dallas Arboretum, it was a pleasant and entertaining diversion, and a breath of fresh air after walking through the smoke-filled casino.
    • Next we made our way to the famous Bellagio fountains. I had no idea how huge this pool was! The pool that houses the fountains must be the size of one or two football fields – it’s difficult to judge dimensions in Vegas since everything is so big. The fountains put on a show every 15 minutes, apparently with a rotation of different songs. Unfortunately, the song when we watched was Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, probably the most over the top, ridiculous song ever made. But the power and beauty of the water more than made up for the unpleasant soundtrack. Well, I could have done without the water forming heart shapes at the end, but the rest of it was pretty amazing. As we left the hotel after “O” ended, we noticed that some classical music was accompanying the later water show. We wish we could have enjoyed that version. Oh, well. We certainly got the idea, and I’d recommend paying a visit to the fountains if you ever find yourself in Vegas.
    • The view from the Bellagio is also impressive. Directly across the street is Paris Hotel and Casino, a sprawling complex fronted by replicas of various Paris landmarks – most notably the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Next door to Paris is the Flamingo Hotel, which I just had to mention because of the frighteningly large image of Donnie and Marie Osmond that not so gracefully graces an entire side of the hotel. While we didn’t walk the Strip end to end, I think I saw enough to experience the best and worst it has to offer.
  • After the fresh outdoor air, I felt surprisingly refreshed as “O” began. Before commenting on the show itself, I have one complaint to offer. Continuing the Vegas tradition of milking every penny out of you, the staff at “O” was eager to take your picture (and no doubt charge you an exorbitant amount for a copy) as you entered the theater, and they were also selling “souvenir programs” for $15! When you pay more than $100 per ticket, shouldn’t you be entitled to a complimentary program? Just saying… As for the show itself, I’m glad to say that it was well worth the money. Some of the highlights:
    • We had great seats – about halfway up in the main seating area, almost exactly at center stage. We had a great view of everything – and there was a whole lot to see.
    • The sets were colorful, imaginative, and often bizarre. I’d love to see a “making of” special, because it’s hard to understand how the stage can transform from a deep lagoon that divers are jumping into from the ceiling one moment to solid ground the next. And where do the performers disappear to? They would go underwater and never come back up, and at other times the water would be empty, and then suddenly 20 scuba divers would be laying on the stage next to the water.
    • While the sets were impressive, the performers are the real reason to go see Cirque du Soleil O. There were two female trapeze artists who showed tremendous strength and trust in one another, such as when one of them would hang below the trapeze, supported only by her partner’s leg. A few scenes featured divers who must have trained for the Olympics before joining this show – they were that technically impressive. Perhaps the strangest part of the show featured the contortionists – a group of about four women who got so turned around that it became difficult to tell what we were looking at. Sometimes they would form a human pyramid that seemed to be all legs and arms! There were also the strange men in white wigs who pranced around on fake horses, the women dressed in bridal gowns, and the clowns who entertained us between scenes.
    • I appreciated that this show features a live band and singers, since recorded soundtracks always dampen my enjoyment of a show. The band and performers were housed in some screened in rooms up and to either side of the stage, and the spotlight would turn to them at key moments to remind us that they were there.
    • The most impressive performer was probably the final trapeze artist, who emerged from the top of the theater, dangling on the trapeze. She proceeded to turn upside down, balancing her entire body on her head, which in turn was balancing on a tiny “stand” on the trapeze bar. It’s one thing to do a head stand, but quite another to do one while suspended high above the ground, and to do various splits and leg/arm movements at the same time. Wow! That required some serious strength and concentration.
    • As I watched O, I was reminded of The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, a movie that I saw recently. That movie is more about visual splendor and imagination than it is about plot, and the same is true of O. There’s a loose story to be found, one involving an “audience member” who gets swept up into the world of these circus performers, but you shouldn’t spend too much time worrying about how all the characters relate. It’s best to just sit back and enjoy the amazing show, and that’s what we did.

Day Three

  • If you are still reading, I commend you! And don’t worry, I don’t have much to say about our third and final day. We slept in and once again had breakfast in our room. We also decided that since we had already seen and done everything we set out to do in Vegas, that we would get on an earlier flight home. Our original flight didn’t leave Vegas until nearly 5 p.m., which would put us home after 10. We were happy when we found seats on a 1:45 flight, which landed at DFW just after 6 p.m. We enjoyed our last couple of child-free hours on the flight home, by reading and listening to music and talking to each other. The trip rejuvenated us and was a nice change of pace, but we were happy to be home again and to be welcomed by Benjamin’s ear to ear smile and big bear hugs.

Pictures from the Trip:


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2009: Year in Review

January 9, 2010 at 4:33 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions, Emily, Family)

In 2009 we saw our laid back baby grow into an energetic toddler, and while he was busy growing and exploring, we managed to take a few trips but mostly stayed close to home. Here’s a look back at 2009:

  • January – At ten months old, Benjamin’s favorite book was Good Night Moon, he was a speed crawler, and he finally started climbing out of the bouncy seat that had been his chill out zone since birth. We stayed home this month, recovering from the holiday travels, and I started a new semester at Brookhaven College.

Benjamin celebrates his newfound freedom, now that he can climb out of the bouncy seat.

  • February – In February we celebrated the births of two nephews: Lisa and Jeff welcomed Corbin to the world, and Chris and Karen welcomed Jude just a few days later. We met them both in one Louisiana road trip, visiting Lake Charles and Ruston early in the month, when these baby boys were just a few days old. In looking back at my February posts, I was amused by one titled “Diary of a Mad White Momma.” Brad spent six straight days away from home, in sunny L.A. and beautiful San Diego, while I struggled to keep things going at home in his absence. In the post I contrasted his carefree, fun days with my tiring, poopy diaper filled days. :)

Corbin at one week old. Look at that double chin and pot belly!

Jude Larsen, five days old

  • March – We kicked off the month by celebrating Benjamin’s first birthday on his birthday (March 1), with a family gathering at home. We ate burgers, cake, and ice cream, and gave Benjamin his very own cupcake. We also showed home videos from his first year, so we could remember how much he had grown over 12 months. We had a fun time keeping things low key, and were happy to have Mama C and Grandad, and many of Benjamin’s aunts, uncles, and cousins with us. Also in March I transitioned Benjamin from breast milk to cow’s milk. It was initially difficult for me to give up nursing him, but I soon appreciated all the freedom that doing so granted me.

Benjamin overlooks what remains of his cupcake. Apparently it was finger lickin' good!

  • April - Spring was in the air, so we got out of the house more for walks and time at the park. The Texas bluebonnets were beautiful, and I captured some nice pictures with them. Benjamin took his first steps on Good Friday, but it was about a month later when he left crawling completely behind. We also dealt with what seemed like a never ending ear infection, with one round of antibiotic after another not getting rid of it. (His doctor finally declared him ear infection-free in May or June, so talk of tubes in his ears was put on the back burner.)

Sweet Benjamin in a field of blue bonnets

  • May – I wrapped up my semester of teaching early in the month, which left me time to plan a fun Spanish-themed patio party for my girlfriends, with homemade sangria, tapas, good music, and good conversation. Benjamin and I also joined Brad for a few days in Los Angeles. We stayed around the hotel during the day while he was at work (staying at Embassy Suites was fantastic with a toddler!), and enjoyed lots of delicious food and a trip to the beach. At the end of the month Brad went to Toronto for a conference, and he enjoyed experiencing Canada for the first time.

Brad shares a special moment with Benjamin, as he experiences ocean waves for the first time.

  • June – The beginning of the summer was a month for visiting family and friends. We made a trip to Ruston, and then Nana came to visit us for a few days. The highlight for me, though, was when I flew out to L.A. by myself for a long weekend with my friend Lindsay. I had a great time taking a break from my mommy duties. I was able to read two books and start another one on the flight there and back, and while in L.A. I got a pedicure, toured WB studios, hung out at the beach, spotted a celebrity (Quincy Jones), and ate lots of delicious food. Michael Jackson died the day I flew out there, so I stepped off of the plane to discover his face all over the news, and his music everywhere I went. So far, this trip marks the only time I’ve been away from Benjamin over night. Brad and I are currently plotting a weekend getaway for some time in the next few months.

Lindsay and I at Pane e Vino, where we had dessert and coffee, and spotted Quincy Jones

  • July -This hot and humid month found us doing more traveling. We spent some time with Brad’s family in Lake Charles, and kept cool in Nana’s apartment swimming pool. When we left there we drove to Leesville, LA, which was home base for a reunion of my dad’s extended family. We had a nice time catching up with some aunts, uncles, and cousins we hadn’t seen in a long time, and spent the 4th of July at my cousin Steve’s camphouse on Toledo Bend. We ate tons of delicious food and had a great time, despite the heat of the day. Later in the month, Brad went on a team-building trip to Austin with some co-workers – the highlight of their trip was going tubing on a river.

Nana was happy to have both her grandsons in one place.

Hot but happy at Toledo Bend on Independence Day

  • August – We stayed home during August, and didn’t venture outside much unless it was to let Benjamin play in his baby pool. He also started saying some more words – his favorites were “no” and “bye bye.” Mama C came to Dallas for a visit before she started back to school, and Benjamin and I hung out with friends a good bit. I also continued meeting with my book club, which we started in June. During the summer we read three great books: Same Kind of Different As Me, Water for Elephants, and Undomestic Goddess. It was nice to have this outlet of adult conversation since my days were mostly filled with toddler talk while I was on summer break from teaching.

Benjamin loves splashing around in his baby pool.

  • September – I started a new semester at Brookhaven, and taught two classes instead of one for the first time since becoming a mom. Since Benjamin was still taking two naps, the paper grading and lesson planning were still very manageable. I also served as the adjunct faculty representative, which means that I attended faculty meetings a few times a month. Benjamin reached the landmark age of 18 months, and with the slightly cooler temperatures, he discovered the joy of exploring the great outdoors. He also started to feed himself, which freed us up to eat our own dinners, or get other things done in the kitchen! Benjamin and I started going to MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) this month. He played in the nursery while I hung out with other moms. We also made a trip to Lake Charles to see Brad’s family, and to attend a family luncheon with all my dad’s siblings, and some of my cousins. It was nice to be in south Louisiana during the fall, when it wasn’t so miserably hot!

Snuggling with Nana in Lake Charles

We had a nice time catching up with all these relatives in Lake Charles.

  • October – We introduced Benjamin to the joys of the State Fair of Texas, including the dog shows, petting zoo, and lots of fried food! We wrapped up the month by dressing Benjamin up in a monkey costume and going trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. He had a great time, and we enjoyed eating his candy for the next couple of weeks. ;-)

Our first family portrait with Big Tex (and yes, he is kind of creepy).

Benjamin quickly figured out how this Halloween thing works, and he had a blast!

  • November – We made a trip to Ruston mainly to attend a Tech football game. Benjamin had fun watching the band and shouting “Go Dawgs!” Brad’s mom came to visit us the week of Thanksgiving, and we kept things simple by picking up Boston Market’s Thanksgiving feast. We had planned to go eat at Luby’s Cafeteria, but Benjamin had a virus, so we ate in instead. During Nana’s visit we enjoyed going outside in the backyard, and playing with Benjamin’s new Legos, which were a gift from her.

Mama C and Benjamin share a sweet moment at the Tech game.

Nana gave Benjamin his first set of Legos as an early Christmas gift. He loved them immediately!

  • December – As usual, this was a month of decorating the house, attending parties, and visiting family for Christmas. But Brad kicked off the month with a work trip to Las Vegas (what a rough job he has, but someone has to do it…). We simplified our Christmas decorations, opting for a smaller tree, and no lights on the front of the house. I was relieved when my fall semester ended, as I was ready for a break. As the year came to a close, we visited Ruston for Christmas, and Lake Charles for New Years. We were happy to close out another fun-filled year with our families. I’ll leave you with this image of a happy Benjamin with his Christmas gifts. If you look back at the first picture in this post, you’ll see that he grew a lot this year, and is now very much a little boy instead of a baby. I hope that 2009 treated you and your family well, and that 2010 will be even better!

We kept things simple for Benjamin this year. He received a cool sports car, a basketball, a step stool (he loves climbing up to reach up high things), some bubble bath, some new toddler utensils, some flash cards, and some snack food.


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Christmas 2009 at Home

December 29, 2009 at 4:21 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Emily, Family)

Since we were going to be in Ruston from December 23 until after Christmas, we decided to have our family gift opening time the night before we left, December 22, which also happened to be our eight year anniversary. We took turns opening gifts, and then discovered what was in our stockings. Benjamin had as much fun opening his presents as he did playing with them afterwards.

We learned an important rule of parenting during this process, too: always remove toys from the packaging before wrapping them. We left Benjamin’s toy sports car in the box when we wrapped it, and unfortunately it was screwed in with several screws (apparently twist ties aren’t enough any more). Brad had to go to the garage and find his electric drill to get the treasured car out of the packaging! Poor Benjamin was jumping up and down in anticipation of playing with it. So anyway, lesson learned.

One Christmas tradition that Brad and I started the year we got married is to take a picture of each other holding our gifts. It was fun to see Benjamin play along for this super posed picture this year. Santa didn’t make a very big deal about bringing his gifts this year, since Benjamin wasn’t quite old enough to appreciate a fat man in a red suit coming into our house through the chimney. However, I’m sure that next year we’ll talk up Santa’s visit, leave milk and cookies for him, etc. :)

Here are some pictures from our Christmas gift time:

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Father and Son Bonding at the Park

October 19, 2009 at 3:26 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions)

We’ve been going to the park more often since the weather cooled down, and one day I tagged along with the camera while Brad and Benjamin explored the park together. I captured some sweet moments of Benjamin following Brad around, imitating him, and listening to him explain various sights and sounds. These two are going to have so much fun together in a few years, and probably get into a lot of trouble! :)

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July 2009 Update

July 21, 2009 at 1:46 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions, Emily)

This picture was taken right after we introduced Benjamin to this play house. It is a hand-me-down from his cousin Anna.

This picture was taken right after we introduced Benjamin to this play house. It is a hand-me-down from his cousin Anna.

You may have noticed that I haven’t had much to say on the blog this month. That’s because we’ve slowed down after a busy month of traveling in June, and are enjoying being back in the daily routine at home. That being said, I thought I’d let you know what it is that we’ve been doing.

Brad

  • Brad has been traveling a good bit for work this month. He is involved in some clinical trials for his company, so some of his trips have been related to collecting data for that. This week he’ll be in Minneapolis, where he looks forward to observing his first animal testing. Last week he was in L.A., and the week before that he was in Austin. While in Austin, he did some work, but it was also a “team building” trip – he and some co-workers went tubing on a river.
  • We were able to catch up with a high school friend of Brad’s this weekend who is in town for work. Brad and he went out for dinner, while I stayed home with Benjamin so they could chat without toddler interruptions. :)
  • He has also completed at least two home projects lately. One was the half-finished (until now) process of moving a cable that connects the Tivo to the home network into the attic. Brad had to create a new outlet in the living room and the office in order to run the cable through the walls and attic, and now that it’s done, there’s no longer a cable running across the living room floor into the office! Most recently, he replaced the lawnmower blade when the old one got bent after a run-in with our garden bed metal liner. We agree that it’s more likely that a task will be finished if we do it right away instead of putting it off for days or weeks. I was proud of him for checking these items off his to-do list.

Emily

  • I’ve had a good bit of free time on my hands this summer, since I’m not teaching any classes or doing in writing for Mattel. While Benjamin naps, I do a lot of blogging and Facebooking, but I also find time to read. I have more motivation to do so since I am in a summer book club. Last month we read Same Kind of Different As Me, which was excellent. We met at Olive Garden for dessert one night and had a nice time chatting and discussing the book. This month’s book is Water for Elephants, which tells the story of a man who worked as an animal caretaker for a traveling circus during the Great Depression. I’m about a third of the way through it and have been enjoying it.
  • I’ve also been making my way through some tv shows. I had been making good progress with my re-watching of Lost, starting at season one, but about half way through season three, I got interested in Twin Peaks, that strange murder mystery/drama from the early ’90s. I discovered that it is currently airing on a couple of cable networks. I have watched about half of the series so far and am enjoying it. (I watched the show when it originally aired, but it is fun to watch it again.) And finally, after seeing the set of True Blood during our Warner Bros. studio tour in L.A., I decided to give this vampire show another shot. I’ve been enjoying it more this time, and I find it more interesting because it is set in North Louisiana, an area that (as far as I know) has never been the spotlight of a tv series. It’s been fun to hear my hometown and the surrounding area referenced during the episodes. The setting makes up for the horrible southern accents and the cheap looking vampire fangs.
  • Pretty soon I need to get busy planning my fall courses, as well as decluttering the house. If the weather ever cools off, Benjamin and I will venture out more to the park. For now, we are content to stay inside most of the day, and to venture out once or twice a day to run errands or to visit a friend.
  • My friend Leah was in town last weekend, and Mandy, she, and I had fun going to see a great movie called 500 Days of Summer followed by a leisurely dinner at Mi Cocina.

Benjamin

  • Last week I took Benjamin to the doctor after he had been feverish, fussy, and not napping well for a couple of days. I was afraid he had yet another ear infection, but it turns out his ears were totally clear! All his pediatrician could find was that he had an irritated throat. She tested for strep, and it was negative, so she suggested just giving him Tylenol for the fever, give him plenty of liquids, and just wait for it to pass. Thankfully, his mystery illness was over a couple of days later, and he’s back to his happy self again now.
  • Benjamin has finally ventured into the world of solid foods. He has a few back teeth coming in, which are helping him to chew little bites of veggies, pasta, fruit, and cheese. We’ve experimented with some of the Graduates Lil’ Entrees, which come with a main dish and a veggie. I learned today that he really likes green beans! This is funny, since early on, green beans were the only pureed baby food he didn’t like.
  • He’s also starting to drink more milk. (Ever since we transitioned from bottle to sippy cup, he hasn’t been very interested in drinking a lot of it.) Last night, for the first time, he finished his after dinner/bedtime sippy cup of milk. It’s no surprise that he loves apple juice, and we’ve been keeping him hydrated with water during the summer heat wave.
  • Speaking of the heat wave, we purchased a ten dollar inflatable baby pool, and Benjamin has already enjoyed it a few times. He loves to splash around in the water, and giggles in surprise when it splashes onto his face.
  • We’ve visited with friends a good bit this summer. A week doesn’t go by that we don’t drop in to see Natalee and her two boys, Simeon and Caleb and we’ve also started a weekly visit with Veronica and her son Van, who is only about five months younger than Benjamin. And we see Cara and Benjamin’s cousins a couple of times a week. Benjamin loves playing with other kids.
  • At home, he loves snuggling with us, his stuffed animals, and Chloe. We have yet to capture it on video, but we love the cute “ahhhh” sound he makes when he gives hugs and snuggles.
  • I’ve stayed in shape this summer trying to keep up with Benjamin as he explores the house. If there’s a door or cabinet open, he sees it as an invitation to investigate.
  • We’ve gone to storytime at the library a couple of times this summer. Benjamin is very shy during the songs, huddling down with his face buried in my shoulder, but he loosens up and his eyes get bright and alert when actual story time arrives. Apparently he doesn’t like the felt board stories, because this morning when the librarian put Humpty Dumpty up on a wall of felt, he did his signing for “all done.” He was ready to get back to the books!
  • He prefers to be where I am, rather than isolated in his playroom, but he still plays in there a few times a day. He becomes a little more “hands-off” everyday, as he learns how to entertain himself where I am, which makes it easier for me to cook dinner, wash dishes, fold laundry, etc.

I could say more, but as you can see, I don’t have much exciting to talk about. Instead, I’ll leave you with some pictures that haven’t made their way on here yet.

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On the Patio

May 22, 2009 at 12:02 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions, Emily)

I love the color that these lanterns and flowers add to the patio.

I love the color that these lanterns and flowers add to the patio.

Spring is in the air, and we’ve been wanting to get out of the house and enjoy it. Unfortunately, until recently our patio wasn’t a very inviting place to experience the great outdoors. The plants were wilting from neglect, the patio surface was covered with grime and dead leaves from the winter, and the mosquitoes were laying claim to it as their territory. A couple of months, though, I got the idea to throw a patio party, so after the token procrastination, I got busy planning it a few weeks ago. Brad jumped right in to help me prepare. We transformed our patio from a cluttered mess to an inviting escape. Here’s how:

  • The biggest transformation was due to Brad renting a pressure washer and cleaning off the patio and vinyl siding. I wish we had before and after pictures, because the difference was amazing!
  • We also purchased a bug zapper, and although the sounds of bugs being killed instantly by an electric forcefield isn’t an ideal summer soundtrack, it sure beats swatting mosquitoes away every few seconds .
  • I have become more diligent about watering the flowers, so that they are colorful and vibrant.
  • We also did some simple decorating for the party by hanging some paper flowers and a string of lighted paper lanterns, both of which we have left up to enjoy for ourselves. They lend a festive air to the patio.

Since making our patio a more inviting place, we have spent a lot of time out there. My party was a success, and a few nights later we had Patrick and Lindsi over for dinner and ate at our patio table. We’ve also sat out there to have coffee a few times, and Benjamin has enjoyed exploring the patio perimeter.

The Patio Party:

  • The decor: I decided to go with a Spanish theme, so I bought a Spanish-style table cloth, and plates and napkins with the same design. I also created a “Spanish” radio station on Pandora, with a blend of classical guitar, salsa, Gloria Estefan, Miami Sound Machine, etc. By the way, if you’ve never checked out Pandora, you really should. It’s a free Internet radio website, where you can create and customize your own stations. It’s fun to discover new songs and artists, and to hear other songs that you had forgotten about.
  • The food: In keeping with the Spanish theme, I used some tapas recipes. I made Spanish deviled eggs, which had tuna and tomato sauce mixed in with the filling, and created a tray with various items to eat together – sliced tomatoes, green and black olives, imported Manchego cheese, and cubed garlic bread. Also on the menu were shrimp cocktail, taqitoes, chips with olive and cheese salsa (courtesy of Mandy), cheesecake with cherry topping (also courtesy of Mandy), brownies (Keeley brought these), and cookies (Christie brought these).
  • The beverages: Brad and I mixed up some fresh sangria, and it turned out to be quite a stout recipe! The ingredients were freshly sliced lemons, limes, and oranges, sugar, orange juice, red wine, and rum. It was quite tasty, but I think everyone diluted it a bit with some club soda. I also provided ginger ale and raspberry white tea.
  • The atmosphere: It rained all day Saturday, so we had to wait until an hour before the party to set everything up. The rain also brought a cold front, so it was actually in the low 60s during the party! We borrowed Patrick’s fire pit, and I brought out a pile of jackets and sweaters for everyone to stay warm. Who knew we’d need jackets in mid May?! The air was clean and fresh from the rain, and it was so nice to just sit outside, sipping sangria and chatting with friends. Benjamin went to bed about 8:45, but until then Brad was in charge of him. The last guests didn’t leave until after midnight! I felt young again, staying “out” so late. :)   Thanks to everyone who came – I had a great time!

Beyond the Party:

  • When Patrick and Lindsi came over for dinner, we recreated the party atmosphere with the hanging flowers, the lantern lights, the Spanish music, etc. We served grilled steak with a topping of tomatoes and scallions, along with fresh corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, and yeast rolls. Eating outside on a beautiful night made everything taste even better. And Benjamin was mostly content to wander loose on the patio while we ate and chatted.
  • I’ve also discovered that Benjamin enjoys going outside (I guess all kids do), so when he started getting cabin fever, we’ve been going on the patio. He likes to pick up leaves, point out ants and other bugs crawling around, make “music” by hitting his sippy cup against metallic objects like the grill or firepit, and touch the flower petals.
  • I also enjoy sitting outside drinking coffee and breathing in fresh air, while looking up at blue sky. We’ve had beautiful weather all this week, and I’ve made a point to get outside and enjoy it before the oppressive summer heat arrives and sets up camp for four months.

Enjoy these pictures of our recent time on the patio:

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Trip to (and from) L.A.: Day Five

May 11, 2009 at 7:36 am (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions, Emily)

As I write this post, I am happy to be back in the comfort of my own home. Specifically, I’m sitting at my desk with a cup of strong coffee (no more weak hotel coffee for me, thank you), listening to the whir of Benjamin’s sound machine over the monitor as he continues to sleep peacefully. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, but it’s always nice to return to the familiar. Now, on to the rundown of the final day of our trip, which mostly involved the journey home.

Day Five:

  • 7:30-11:00 – We all “slept in” until 7:30, then got up to start our morning of packing and staying close to the room. Our original plan was to celebrate Mother’s Day with breakfast at Corner Bakery, but to encourage Benjamin to fit in a good nap before our flight, we instead ate the hotel breakfast, like we did every morning. Only today, instead of an omelet we had a waffle. Afterwards, Benjamin slept for an hour while Brad watched tv, I played on the Internet, and we started packing.
  • 11:00-12:00 – We loaded up the car, Brad drove us to the Burbank airport, and he helped me get checked in. We said our goodbyes at the entrance to security check-in. He will be in L.A. until Thursday, so we are really glad that we were able to spend this time with him (otherwise we wouldn’t have seen him for over a week!).
  • 12:00-12:45 – I let Benjamin walk around a bit at our gate, and I fed him his lunch. He was slightly disturbed by a rather large replica of a WWII plane hanging from the ceiling, but he worked it out by waving at it. I wish I had a picture of me carrying around all our stuff. I had it down to a science: backpack on my back, diaper bag diagonal across my shoulder, pushing Benjamin in his stroller. It really wasn’t too bad. I checked the stroller when I boarded, so from that point I held Benjamin for the next three or so hours.
  • 1:00-1:15 – Once everyone had boarded, it was clear that the seat next to us (in our row of three) was empty. Good news! The guy sitting by the window was in his 20s, and quickly put his earphones on, indicating he didn’t want to deal with a one year old ( I don’t blame him). I was hoping for a friendly grandmother type to sit next to me, but instead we were sitting right across from the flight attendant station – you know, where they keep all the drinks and snacks in the back of the plane. So that was more good news. There would be no passengers sitting directly across from us to be bothered by Benjamin. The flight attendant who sat in the fold out seat across from us was a friendly lady from Reno (she actually turned out to be a grandmother type – she has six year old and six week old grandkids). When she wasn’t on attending duties, she chatted with us about her garden, and how her only pets are wild animals like quail and rabbits, and she complimented Benjamin on his expressive eyes and sweet curls. So I guess I got my wish after all – a friendly grandmother – just not the old gray haired kind.
  • 3:15-4:30 (skipping ahead to Central time)- The first part of the flight went by fast. Benjamin did fine with the pressure changes on takeoff – he drank his milk then. And it seemed like he was going to settle down and go to sleep. He sweetly listened to music with me (I had one ear bud, he had the other) – as we listened to Gabe Dixon Band and Simon and Garfunkel he bobbed to the music, and started to drift off. But about the time the flight attendants started prepping their drink cart, he snapped out of his reverie, never to return.
  • 4:30-5:20 – This part of the flight wasn’t so fun. Benjamin was exhausted, but refused to sleep. So every ten minutes or so he would arch his back and get all upset, which would lead to screaming and crying. Just to have something to do (and because I needed to go), I took him to the bathroom with me. He was a little freaked out by the tiny bathroom and the loud noises of the plane. It just so happens that this is when we hit our one patch of turbulence (isn’t that always the way?), so I got back to my seat as quickly as possible. Thankfully, the turbulence was short-lived. During this hour I also exhausted all the forms of entertainment I had on hand – all his toys, the calculator, my wallet, my keys…
  • 5:20-5:50 – By this point Benjamin was rejecting anything I gave him except corn puffs. So for the last half hour of the flight, as we made our descent toward DFW, I handed him his favorite snack one piece at a time. He finished off nearly the whole little container I had brought on board. It was convenient that this helped regular the pressure in his ears, and it also kept the screaming and crying at bay.
  • 5:50-6:15 – It takes forever to taxi to the gate at DFW! Thankfully, the friendly Reno flight attendant and a Sky Mall magazine were there to pass the time. In the time it took to go from the runway to our gate, Benjamin ripped an entire Sky Mall into pieces, page by page, and he handed each tattered piece to Grandma Reno. She was so patient! When I was in college, I used to rip paper into strips as a form of stress relief (yes, more proof that I’m weird). Like mother, like son.
  • 6:15-6:45 – I am so thankful for friends like Mandy and Will. They sacrificed their Sunday evening to meet us at the airport and help us get to our car. (Remember my day one post, in which I explained that we were parked on the top level of a parking lot with no ramps or elevators?) To further complicate the parking garage problem, my flight arrived at Terminal A, so if they hadn’t met us, Benjamin and I would have had to pick up our luggage at baggage claim, then take an airport shuttle to Terminal C, and then figure out how to get up three flights of stairs with all our stuff. Because they met us, we didn’t have to worry about that. We grabbed my suitcase, and all hopped into their car for the short trip to Terminal C – can’t beat carside service!
  • 6:45-8:00 – As soon as I pulled out of my airport parking space, Benjamin fell asleep. How funny that he fought sleep for a three hour flight, but the minute he felt the familiar comfort of his car seat, he zonked out. I was glad he got a short nap after the tiring trip. Mandy, Will, and I picked up burgers and shakes at Braums for dinner and took them back to my house to eat. That was one tasty burger and chocolate malt! Benjamin seemed relieved to be back home (even though he had lots of fun in L.A.). A smile creeped onto his face when Mandy took him into his playroom, and he was more than happy to sit down in his high chair to eat his dinner. As usual, Chloe had opened every cabinet in the house as a sign of her displeasure at us leaving her alone for so many days (do you know any other cats who do this?!). I was most amused by her handiwork in Benjamin’s room: she somehow managed to knock over a whole stack of quilts and a big box of diapers, and made the contents spill out of the closet and onto the nursery floor (see picture below).
  • 8:00-9:00 – We said goodbye to Mandy and Will, and then I bathed Benjamin and put him to bed around 9. I was surprised that he was ready for bed at his regular time, after being on Pacific time for five days. He has slept well all night. After he went to bed, I stayed up a couple of hours, watching Lost, checking Facebook, and just enjoying being home.

Our trip to L.A. was a welcome respite from the daily routine, and now that I’m back home, after five days of sun, the ocean, the pool, good food, and the manager’s reception, I feel rejuvenated to face “normal” again. Thanks for following along on our journey!

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Trip to L.A.: Day Four

May 10, 2009 at 12:09 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions, Emily)

Brad shares a special moment with Benjamin, as he experiences ocean waves for the first time.

Brad shares a special moment with Benjamin, as he experiences ocean waves for the first time.

Saturday. Our day to sightsee, relax, explore, whatever we wanted. So we had decisions to make when we woke up. Our original plan was to go to the Dodgers vs. Giants early afternoon game, and then to drive over to the beach to introduce Benjamin to the ocean. However, we decided to be flexible and ended up going with a more low key day.

Day Four:

  • 7:00-11:00 a.m. – Waking up, breakfast, and hanging out in the room while Benjamin napped. We decided to leave for the Dodger game as soon as Benjamin had had an early lunch, and then to drive over to Santa Monica after the game. But, Benjamin surprised us by only sleeping 45 minutes, so we shifted gears and decided to “stop by” the beach before going to the game. So then we made preparations for our day out.
  • 11:00-12:10 – As usual, Google maps was not very useful in predicting how long i would take to get from Valencia to Santa Monica. 40 minutes turned into 70 minutes, which actually wasn’t too bad, considering how slow moving the traffic was on the congested 405. I began to grow skeptical that we would actually make it to the ballgame, which started at 12:40.
  • 12:10 – We miraculously found a metered parking space on Ocean Ave., which as you might expect, is right next to the beach. As we stepped out of the car, we both knew immediately that this is where we wanted to stay all day. It was a perfect day: blue sky, light breeze, temperature in the low 70s. Plus, the beach and the pier were not super crowded, but were bustling enough to give a sense of the energy of Santa Monica. (The last time Brad and I visited the area, we went to the pier on a weekday, and it was like a ghost town!) So, we dropped our plans to rush off to the Dodger game, and switched into relax mode.
  • 12:10-2:00 – After we tracked down some change for our parking meter, we made our way down to the boardwalk and headed toward the pier. It was nice to see families, couples, surfers, bikers, musicians, hippies, and all other sorts of people enjoying the day. Since it was lunch time, we headed to the end of the pier, to Marisol Mexican restaurant. We sat inside for a break from the sun, and enjoyed a tasty, leisurely paced lunch of fish tacos and tropical drinks. Benjamin had fun coloring the kids’ menu, when he wasn’t trying to eat the crayons. :)
  • 2:00-3:15 – Beach time! Unfortunately, we didn’t prepare very well since we had only planned to stay a few minutes. With no towels, folding chairs, or swimsuits, we just had to wing it. We must have been a comical sight trudging through the thick sand, Brad carrying the stroller and our extra layers of clothing (which we didn’t need), and me carrying Benjamin and his diaper bag. That was quite a work out! And it was well worth the trouble. Once we made it closer to the ocean, we had a great time. Benjamin was intrigued by the sand, and had no qualms about sitting down in it, getting his hands and feet dirty, and knocking over Brad’s sand towers. (I wasn’t too thrilled about him getting sand in his diaper and everywhere else, but, after all, he is a boy.) Benjamin was a little less confident when Brad took him down to the water. He was starting to get tired, and the sounds of the crashing waves overwhelmed him. He also didn’t like the feeling of sinking down in the wet sand when the cold water came over his feet. But overall, I think he enjoyed his first experience of the beach and ocean. I love the pictures we captured of these moments. They are precious and priceless!
  • 3:15-3:30 – When we realized that our parking meter was about to expire, we trudged back through the sand and up to Ocean Ave. to our car. Somewhere along the way, Benjamin fell asleep in his stroller, but we had to wake him up soon after to change his sandy diaper before we drove home. We also came across a group of guys playing street hockey in an empty section of the beach parking lot. Watching them reminded Brad of his street hockey playing days as a child in Ohio. For me, though, this was the first time I had seen anyone playing the sport in person.
  • 3:30-5:00 – We had less traffic to deal with on the drive back to Valencia, and we were happy when Benjamin fell asleep for about 45 minutes. We also stopped by Walmart so I could pick up some cold medicine. (I’ve developed some sniffles the past couple of days.)
  • 5:00-6:00 – Pool time! Benjamin was groggy when he woke up from his nap, but he quickly cheered up when we got in the pool, which was comfortably warm from the sunny day. The longer we stayed in the water, the more confident he became. By the end of our pool time, he was letting Brad make him “swim” over the top of the water, and he was paddling his arms and legs. It was relaxing to take a dip in the pool as we wound down the day.
  • 6:00-8:00 – After rinsing off and changing, we went to the hotel atrium for the managers’ reception, and since Benjamin was content in his stroller, we decided to stay there for dinner. A couple of drinks later, and full of grilled salmon and filet mignon, we headed back to the room.
  • 8:30-10:30 – Benjamin went to sleep almost immediately after we got back to the room, and Brad crashed on the sofa. I stayed up awhile longer to catch up on my blog posts. As I finish this one up, it is 10 a.m., and we’ll leave for the airport in less than an hour. I’d better start packing! Enjoy the pictures below.

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Trip to L.A.: Day Three

May 9, 2009 at 11:22 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions, Emily)

I’ve had less time to sit around blogging since yesterday, which is a good thing. It means the trip is getting more interesting!

Day Three:

  • 6:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – The first half of the day was uneventful. Similarly to Day Two, it involved us eating breakfast at the hotel, Brad going to work, and me sitting around the room during Benjamin’s morning and afternoon nap. I did at least manage to blog about this week’s episode of Lost. I also took a short nap, and learned via a phone call that we’d have to cancel our plans to visit friends in Santa Barbara on Saturday. In case you haven’t heard, there are terrible wildfires burning out of control there, destroying homes, and filling the sky with smoke and ash. Our friends evacuated to a safer area, and obviously these are not circumstances appropriate for a casual visit, so we shifted gears to figure out something else to do this weekend. Hopefully firefighters will be able to control the wildfires soon.
  • 3:30-4:30 p.m. – I was shocked when I checked the weather online, and learned that it was 96 degrees outside! I thought L.A. was supposed to be sunny and warm, but not ridiculously hot, especially in early May! But, at least the high temp wasn’t accompanied by oppressive humidity. Given the hot nature of the day, I decided to risk sun exposure to cool off in the pool with Benjamin. I did my best to cover our fair skin with a high S.P.F. sunscreen, and we ventured out of the shade of our room. Ah, it was so worth it. The water felt great, and Benjamin enjoyed it. He even cooperated by not throwing his sun hat into the water. He realized that the hat was keeping the sun out of his eyes. He would get nervous if I walked too far out into the pool – he preferred sitting a couple of steps in, with me holding him close. But as long as I kept a firm grip on him, he loved kicking his legs, moving his hands around in the water, and splashing water into our faces. We also met two friendly international employees in training for Brad’s company – two women who were missing their young children back home in Italy and Spain. We enjoyed talking with them (well, Benjamin enjoyed waving at them and nodding his head repeatedly), and one of them, upon my request, took a few pictures of me and Benjamin in the pool. Getting out of the room and into the refreshing water was just what I needed!
  • 4:30-6:30 – After getting rinsed off and changed, we picked up Brad from work and returned to the hotel for the Manager’s Reception. This is a service that the hotel provides every evening, during which time you can get free drinks from the bar as well as refreshments. It was very relaxing to sit in the lobby sipping a mai tai, and Benjamin was cooperative, being content to hang out in his stroller playing with a calculator (that’s his favorite “toy” these days).
  • 6:30-8:30 – After our unwinding time, we ventured out to dinner at Valencia Town Center. This is a great, pedestrian friendly shopping and dining area, where we ate sushi on Thursday night. This time we chose Sisley Italian Kitchen, and had a pleasant meal of pizza and salad on the patio.
  • 8:30-10:30 – Same old, same old. We put Benjamin to bed and relaxed a bit before going to sleep. Being out in the sun wore me out!

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