La Jolla Shores

To beat the heat on Saturday Donald, Emma and I decided it would be fun to go to the beach. No swimsuits just comfy clothes. We headed to La Jolla shores for a nice walk along the coast. We were so happy that it was super foggy, still warm and muggy, but at least we didn't have to deal with the sun beating down on us.

Emma and I looked for shells and rocks in the sand, but really Emma was most interested in collecting muddy sand and pieces of kelp.

She loved the walk and enjoyed holding on to our hands when we weren't running in and out of the waves.

We walked all the way down to the pier and back. It was so beautiful in the fog.

But daddy and Emma got caught in a big wave and got a bit wet, all in good fun.
I think Emma ran most of the way back with daddy chasing with tickles and kisses.

Then Daddy had to stop and with Emma's help write in the sand.
We almost made it back out of the sand, and then Emma tripped on one leg. So it was off to showers for a bit of a rinse.
Of course that was all too much fun.
It was a lovely 2 hours of walking and playing. When we got back home it was hot! So on went the air-conditioning and Emma off to nap, oh and Daddy too.

Dancer Girl

Emma loves being fancy and loves being dancer girl. She always chooses what she wants to dress up as when dress up time comes. Sometimes it's just her butterfly wings, other times she wants her fairy outfit on, but this was the first time she got to be dancer girl and she loved it!

Complete with her little ballet shoes she hopped around the house for the next 2 hours and even made her dinner looking so fancy!

Mommy's Birthday!

Suzanne's birthday was on Saturday and that means she got to decide what to do with the day. We started our day at Emma's favorite coffee shop, The Brickyard. Apparently, that was the one thing that Suzanne didn't get a choice on. I asked Emma to go ask her Mommy where she wanted to go for breakfast and promptly heard Emma run in to the other room and announce in a loud, excited voice, "Mommy, we're going to the Brickyard for breakfast!"

After sitting and enjoying our coffee and watching the trolleys, a huge freight train and a passenger train go by, Suzanne and I headed back to the apartment for our camera and it was off to Scripps Aquarium.

After the aquarium, Suzanne decided that it was hot and what better way to spend a super hot day, than in air conditioning. So off we went to California Pizza Kitchen for some Waldorf salads, then sat in a nice cool theater watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The book was recently introduced to us by one of my co-workers as it was his favorite when he was a child, so we picked it up for Emma and she loves having it read to her. The movie is... loosely based on the book. But it is still fun nonetheless and I recommend it as family fun. Emma absolutely loved watching the movie and by half way through was happily snuggled in to her mommy.

After the movie, it was time to drop Mommy off at home for some Mommy time while Emma and I ran some errands. We picked up all the ingredients we needed to make curry, some chocolate ice cream cake with chocolate ice cream, chocolate frosting, chocolate cake and some extra added chocolate with chocolate flavoring (Suzanne's favorite), and some naan from KC Tandoor in Mission Valley. We went home, fired up the stove, prepared some fabulous curry (if I do say so myself) and sat down to eat with my family, Suzanne, and Emma.

After dinner, I had to go run out to get candles as they never made it in to the bag on the errand run. Can't have birthday cake without candles! And all 24 fit too. :)

Sunday, we decided to continue the fun, so we took Suzanne to her very own toy store. (Anthropologie). She got a couple of dresses and by the time we got home, had decided she needed to wear one of them later that day. After Emma's non-nap, we went to go for an afternoon coffee at the Brickyard only to discover that it is closed at 2pm on Sundays. We decided to walk over to Seaport village and walk around like tourists for a bit. Suzanne and Emma had to go for a ride on the carousel and I managed to grab a couple of quick pics.

Afterwards it was out to the point for some leisure time as Emma ran herself ragged.She, of course, made a couple of quick stops to give Mommy and Daddy cuddles.


And a passerby decided we needed a picture as a whole family. He was sure to tell us more than once that he was from Clairemont. I don't think he believed we were San Diego residents.


Just a glimpse of what happens behind mommy's back!

Taking these pictures was very hard due to laughter. Emma kept running back and forth as each picture was snapped. Scroll really fast to get an idea of what I am talking about.

The Emmy"ist"

just after nap eating her banana

A few mornings back Emma announced that I was the Mommyist! and that daddy was the Daddyist! and that she was the Emmyist! I just love her so much and all the Emmyist ways of who she is!

Dining out!

Once a week Donald and I like to take Emma out to eat. But lately it's been more alfresco! Emma and I pack a yummy picnic dinner and get daddy from work and head to Balboa Park. I know the sun is setting earlier and earlier so we are making the most of the last of the summer sun
The first time we did this I took bubbles to blow, but that turned into a problem, because the airplane wand I got her required batteries so we were out of luck. So Emma just ran and ran.

But the second time we did it I took Emma's soccer ball. That made the running around a bit more fun for all of us.

Emma working on her kicking skills
Donald giving Emma a helping hand at kicking the ball to mommy

Daddy kicking the ball right past our little girl.

Daddy's Birthday!

Daddy's birthday was on Saturday. We started the day with going to the Brick Yard for coffee and breakfast. It was a gorgeous morning, quiet and breezy with the lovely sounds of the saxophone playing in the background. We knew it was going to get hot so we decided to head over to Balboa Park and the Ruben H. Fleet Science Museum.
We parked behind the organ pavilion so we could get some iced tea from the Japanese Tea House on the way to the museum. Emma and Donald bring out the teas.
While enjoying the last remains of a morning coolness we heard bagpipes practicing over at the organ pavilion so we walked over to get a glimpse before heading through the park.
We made the right choice for such a hot day which I think got up into the 100's. We enjoyed an Imax film on the ocean and then headed into science area try out all the cool science experiments. They also have a new area called Kid City for 5 and under and Emma had a blast!

There was lots to do and experiment with! I ended up taking Emma back to the Science Museum on Tuesday to beat the heat once more and we spent an hour and a half just in Kid City!
Daddy and Emma made wonderful music and Emma proudly sang "happy birthday Daddy" as she played.

We cant escape that end of the park with out taking a walk around the big fountain. Emma loves the water and enjoys getting to walk up high with Daddy. I dressed Emma in orange that day specifically for Daddy since he loves that color so much. The two made quite a pair!

They were all to happy to stop and pose for me in the shade on our way back to the car.

But someone started getting a bit sleepy and hungry so it was Daddy arms that carried her the rest of the way.
We had made no plans for the day so everything we did just randomly happened. On our way out of the park we decided to head to Little Italy because I still needed to pick up Donald's cake I ordered for him at Extraordinary Deserts...so we thought we could grab something to eat there. We ended up at the Burger Lounge. Another wonderful choice. Very tasty! Simple menu with amazing flavor! A must for anyone visiting Little Italy. Then it was off to pick up Daddy's cake. Below is Emma and Daddy grabbing their waters, it was so hot and nothing tastes better than cool water.
Emma was getting sleepy and it was past her nap time so when we finally went home that afternoon we all snuggled in bed and Emma got to watch the "Rescuers" for the first time and Daddy and Mommy got to rest.

After our much needed rest, we headed out to meet up with Aunt Andra, Uncle Kevin, Grandma and Grandpa at the Fish House in Mission Valley. It was yummy as usual and Daddy got his favorite...sushi!We then all headed back to our place for a happy birthday song, cake, and presents. I forgot ice cream so Aunt Andra and Uncle Kevin got us some on their way over! I think the cake was just about on fire with all the candles I had to put on it. Extraordinary Deserts does such a wonderful job decorating the cake with flowers and ribbon, but I forgot to tell them the cake was for a Daddy so we ended up with pink and purple flowers and ribbon. Donald didn't mind at all because the cake was a yummy tiramisu cake!
Of course Emma helped Daddy blow them all out, though I think by Grandpa's expression, we weren't sure the two of them would get them all out.
Donald and I had decided this year for our birthdays that we would by new furniture for the living room so only small gifts were given from Emma and me. We framed up a map of London and gave daddy a Charges luggage tag.
Grandma and Grandpa spoiled their little boy with a blue ray disc player!
And Aunt Andra and Uncle Kevin came through with Madden 10. Emma and I also surprised Daddy with 3 blue ray movies with two of them already his favorites 5th Element and Sean of the Dead.
We had such a blast for Daddy's birthday! The whole day was full of fun and excitement. That on Sunday we just relaxed and did a bit of shopping. Emma still says happy birthday every night to daddy before she goes to sleep.