More Celebrating

Today we celebrated more!  It was Bella's real birthday (AND Craig's first day at his new teaching job.) What a landmark day. We drove out to Grandma Ginny's in Hermosa Beach.  We went to dinner at the Kettle in Manhattan Beach.  Bella had a huge adult-sized plate of cheese ravioli! We sang to Bella twice, once at the restaurant and once at Grandma's. (I know this seems decadent, but I had completely forgotten they would give her something at the restaurant!) I had to get her this Florentine because she LOVES them! She opened her wonderful presents, which were this from Grandma, and this from us, and we watched the video of her birth.  That was my favorite part!  As I said before, her birth was the greatest event of my life. She was the most perfect, beautiful baby.

My Bella

Tonight my little first born will turn seven.  Have seven years really gone by that fast?  I just have to say the day she was born was and still is THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE.  It was the day I became a Mother.  I was changed forever.  I love my Bella.  She is such a wonderful dream child. So smart, so rational, so wise.  So PRETTY!  She's our little peacemaker.  Thank you for coming to our family Bella!

If you click on the picture of her standing  you'll see all the bubbles blowing around her!!

Celebrating Bella's Birthday

Tomorrow is Bella's 7th birthday.  Because her birthday falls on Craig's first day at his new teaching job, we got to spread out her birthday by having a fun family day yesterday.  (I know, we have a lot of those!) We started by having breakfast at Heirloom Bakery & Cafe in So. Pasadena.  Wow!  What a yummy place! (Thanks Susan for showing it to us!)  Craig and I split an omelette, potatoes, toast, and then some yummy savory egg bread pudding thing.  I let the girls pick whatever they wanted which ended up being some DELICIOUS blueberry cake and some crazy chocolate thing.  All I can say is YUM!!  Why haven't we come here sooner?

After Heirloom, we went to Santa Monica to the Farmer's Market.  Ceci fell asleep on the way so I wandered with the two big girls while Craig and Ceci both napped in the car.  We got walnuts (in their shell,) strawberries, and some sweet peas!  When Bella was born, Grandma Ginny got us some sweet peas.  They will always remind me of my little Bella.

After Ceci woke up, we played at the park a while and ate our strawberries.

We then went to the Santa Monica Pier.  What a gorgeous, sunny day!   There is a man who sets up a machine that constantly blows bubbles next to the pier.  The girls first played in the bubbles for a while, chasing and popping.  We then went up and got some cotton candy. PURE SUGAR--but it's Bella's birthday! Then we rode the carousel. Fun!

We then went to ride the Ferris Wheel.  This is the most wonderful Ferris Wheel there is.  It goes super-high and is at least 10 minutes long.  The views are gorgeous and you can see for miles.  Oh, it was SO MUCH FUN!! Windy, snuggly, exhilarating, beautiful.

After the Ferris Wheel, we let the girls ride a couple more kiddy rides.  Then they played in the bubbles more, chased birds, and played in the sand.  It was pretty dreamy!

We finished our day by making delicious pizza on pre-made cornbread crust (from Whole Foods--soooooo yummy!) while the girls had a bath.  We ate the pizza and had petit fours while watching "Kiki's Delivery Service" on our bed.  (Ceci went night-night!)  I've ALWAYS wanted a reason to buy these petit fours at Whole Foods.  Bella's birthday was the perfect excuse!!  We each picked the one we wanted and then shared a few more.  YUM!

Please take note :)

I have been adding a lot of post-posts the past couple of days!!  (I hate to post something with a different date than it actually happened--so many times I post things days later with the date it happened!)  If you don't want to miss something--please click on "older posts!"  There are new posts on the second (and maybe third) page. Thanks for reading! :) 

The girls got their ears pierced!

So while we were at this mall, I decided that today was the day to get my two bigger girls' ears pierced! We've been meaning to do it for a few months now, but life is sooooooo busy. Today was the day!! Being half Mexican, I had always thought that I would pierce my future baby girl's ears in her infancy-- like ASAP.  But when Bella was born, the white girl came out in me and I realized I didn't want to do anything to her perfect ears.  Every time I thought about it, my heart would start pounding really hard.  I got my ears pierced by my Mexican grandma with a needle and thread when I was seven.  I told Bella about a year ago that she could get hers pierced whenever she was ready.  A few months ago she said she was ready!

So as we were on our way to Claire's to do it, we got roped in by some guys selling some fancy ceramic hair straighteners and curling irons.  As one put the hard sell on me, one curled Bella's hair and then straightened Lala's hair.  (That's how long it took me to get away from them!!  I was not about to buy a $350 straightening iron)  Anyways, it was fun to see Bella's hair curly and Lala's hair straight.  Its what they both wish for!  (Don't we always wish for what we don't have?)

So on we went to Claire's.  They both chose the pink flower earrings.  I was nervous!!  And so scared the lady wouldn't do it where I wanted it!  The girls were so brave.  They cried a bit but they were happy.  I LOVE their smiles through the tears.  They love having pierced ears!

A fun day

Today Craig had to do a job in Simi Valley and a job in Ventura and invited us to come along.  The first job was at a beautiful outdoor (like the Gateway) mall.  There was a koi pond, fountains, gardens, and more fountains with a little pool to wade in.  We had way more fun than we ever expected to!  After running around a bit, we stumbled upon a kids activity where the girls got to do a craft (made a turtle) and helped make lemonade. The activity was sponsored by "Hot dog on a stick."  They gave them punching balloons and bags with stickers, pencils, notepads and little hats.  It was pretty fun!

Easter Dinner

Craig and Grandma Ginny made a delicious dinner.  I was lucky enough to only have to set the table!!!  Here is what our candle/egg centerpiece looked like!  Cute, huh? After dinner, we watched a beautiful animated movie of the Easter story.  No surprise I fell asleep!

My favorite moment of the day!

This was my favorite moment of the day.  My girls were happy and snuggling me and everything was OVER!!  I didn't have any more dresses to sew, eggs to color, baskets to prepare, chicks to felt, eggs to fill or lessons to prepare.  Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!! (huge sigh of relief) I could finally rest and I knew I'd done all I needed to do!!  These are truly the moments I live for.  While Craig and his mom made dinner, I laid on a blanket staring up at the sky and our beautiful camphor tree with Ceci laying on me and Bella and Lala swinging on the swings for maybe an hour!  Aaaahhhhhh!!!!!!

Easter Egg Hunt!

Our hunt was really short but really fun! The girls got bunny grahams, cheese duckies, raspberry pretzels, stickers, organic jelly beans and See's chocolate eggs.  YUM! They literally sat and ate nearly every last thing!

A Wonderful Easter lesson

After we had some lunch and took a little rest, I gave an Easter lesson to the girls (while the Easter bunny hid eggs!)  I really wanted to share this lesson with you all--because it really ties Easter eggs in with the Savior's death and resurrection.  I DID NOT create this-- my friend gave it to me and I don't know who to give the credit to.  I just think it's wonderful!  My girls really enjoyed it and I just love the fact that the last egg is empty!!  I am so grateful for our Savior and his willingness to give his life for us!!  I am so grateful for the resurrection!!

Easter Egg Lesson

Need:

12 plastic eggs 

sacrament cup

3 dimes

small piece of knotted twine

small chunk of hand soap

small square of red velvet

small cross made from toothpicks

2 nails

small pair of dice

tiny bag of crushed rocks

small square of white fabric

a stone

a few bay leaves or other herbs

(Optional-- Pictures of scenes from the Easter story)

Numbered Eggs:

1. Matthew 26:39 (sacrament cup)

2. Matthew 26:14-15 (3 dimes)

3. Matthew 27:1-2 (knotted twine)

4. Matthew 27:24-26 (chunk of soap)

5. Matthew 27:28-30 (square of red velvet)

6. Matthew 27:31-32 (cross made out of toothpicks and 2 nails)

7. Matthew 27:35-36 (small pair of dice)

8. Matthew 27:50-51, 54 (tiny bag of crushed rocks)

9. Matthew 27:58-60 (small square of white fabric)

10. Matthew 27:60, 65-66 (a stone)

11. Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:2, 5 (bay leaf or herbs)

12. Matthew 28:6 (empty)

Instructions:

1. Label 12 eggs with the numbers 1-12.

2. Put each of the items into the corresponding numbered egg.

3. Put each scripture reference into each corresponding egg.

4. Share as a lesson by opening each egg and showing each item while reading the corresponding scripture.  Use pictures if you have some.

More Pictures!!

After church, I had to get a family picture and some more pics of the girls in their dresses!