Memorial Day Weekend

First Up
The Wild Animal Park

Donald and I decided after a week of eating out in Vegas that we could use a good walk up to Condor Ridge. Dinosaurs Mountain is back at the park but after years of working for the Zoo and thinking how extremely lame it was, we just didn't see a point of dragging Emma through. She didn't mind passing it up at all so it was up to the condors! Emma sat for some time talking to a condor that was sitting close to the fence. When you think of how extremely endangered these animal have been it was quite a rare opportunity and one that hasn't been available until just about 5 years ago.



We walked down the hiking trail to the water play area and let Emma have her fun. I was grateful for thinking of bringing extra clothes!
After some tears, a wardrobe change, some fruit, veggies and cheese it was off to pet the animals with daddy.

Trader Joe's

We had to do a bit of errand running, but gratefully Emma is a pro at it since she goes with mommy all the time. We went to our favorite store, Trader Joe's. They love Emma there so much, we always leave with loads of stickers and sometimes a balloon too!


I just love seeing Emma and Donald holding hands and talking. It is so special to me!


Emma loved her balloon and her bright orange stickers that ended up all over her, mommy and daddy! I think she could do ads for TJ's

Finally
The Children's Museum

We also made time for the Children's museum. I can't say enough how glad I am that we got the membership. Emma loves going and it is such a great place to have fun!

Donald and Emma discovered the pillow room this time and had a blast. As usual I didn't have my camera on me so not many of the photos I took with my iPhone came out. But here are a few to share.

Donald and Emma also discovered the climbing wall that weekend and had a blast trying it out

Morning Kisses

Emma and I were having a laugh. I was trying to take pictures of me getting my morning kisses. We both love our morning time. It's very relaxed and snuggle time with books and warm milk in bed. Then it's downstairs for breakfast before we head out for coffee and our adventurous day.

Emma likes to include different stuffed friends and this day it was elephant and her highland cow. Of course I just love her in her Paul Frank PJ's I have a couple different ones, as well as a cute purse for her by Paul Frank!
I love that Emma wakes up so happy and is such a cuddle bug! On the weekends Donald gets in on the action too. It's just the way everyone should start their day.

Vegas

Daddy had to go to Vegas in the middle of May for an important show for work and took Emma and me along for some Vegas fun. We had a wonderful 2 bedroom suite! Complete with living room and dining area, two large bedrooms with two large bathrooms that had jacuzzi style tubs and fantastic showers. We got to stay at the Mandalay Bay were Daddy's show was being held.

Our room had a view of the strip and the Mandalay Bay sign.

Emma's Room had a view of the pool area which she loved!

And out our dinning area and living room area we had a view of the airport. Emma would spend her time awake in the room watching the planes take off and land and loving every minute of it!

Of course there was the joy of her first experience getting to sleep in a "big girl" bed! She loved it and slept through every night only getting up to wake Donald and I up in the mornings around 7 am. It was so cute to watch her walk in all smiles wanting to snuggle.

Daddy had to spend most of his time here at the Eset booth. It was 2 stories with a conference room on the second floor. Daddy had a great time and the show was a HUGE success for the company.

Emma and I spent most of our time at the pool. I got Emma some wonderful water wings and a big pink inner tube. The Mandalay Bay has 4 different pools. A beach complete with sand and waves, 2 regular pools and a lazy pool that moves you around on your inner tube. Emma and I spent all our time at the lazy pool!

The cute swim suit is from Jannie and Jack a wonderful store in La Jolla and I got her sunglasses at Nordstorm. Both were worth every penny as she looked so amazing in both! Donald got me a new suit too!! It was from Nordstrom and is super cute! Emma and I felt so glamours at the pool!

Emma loved the water wings as it gave her so much freedom in the pool to swim around and be push through the water. She was all smiles the whole time!

I was so worried about her getting dehydrated that I made sure we got out often for drinks and snacks.

It was such a wonderful and relaxing time for both of us. I felt bad that Daddy had to work while we were having such a good time. But Donald was thrilled that he brought us along as we got to eat breakfast together every morning and have dinner together every night.



I was so happy that Donald had a few opportunities to get away and do some fun things with us too. He and Emma enjoyed a morning at the pool and then lunch by the pool too!!

He also got another morning off and got to go the Aquarium with us.

Donald loves the sea and Emma is following quickly in her daddy's love for it too. Before out trip to Vegas, I got Emma a book about the life of Jacques Cousteau at a really great kids store called Peak at Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego. Emma loves the book and going to the Aquarium was like bringing it all to life.

The highlight at the aquarium was when two divers entered the large shark tank. Emma started shouting "There's Jacques Cousteau!" It couldn't have been better!


She also loved the hand held speaker that told her about each fish and aquarium. At first she treated it like a phone and tried to talk back to the voice, but soon got the hang of it just being a recording.
We went to some wonderful restaurants shopped all over at Caesars Palace and got toys at FAO Schwartz, Fashion Show Mall, and Down the strip. We went and saw the lions at MGM and visited the M&M factory. All of this wore our little princess out. She was such a trouper but needed her naps every day and was fast asleep early every night. It was great having such a wonderful suite so that I could enjoy TV, my design magazines, and Internet with a glass of wine, with out disturbing Emma.
I took the above photos of her sleeping our last day there. We were leaving Vegas at 4pm and I wanted to make sure Emma got in a nap before the trip home. And before we got back into the car I sweetened her up with some lovely chocolate ice cream, which of course she didn't mind at all.

Mothers Day

For mothers day Donald and Emma surprised me with a trip up to South Coast Plaza! It's one of the best malls in Southern California and has all the top designer shops. Donald first took me to this mall when we were first dating and it is one of my favorite places to go. Above is a picture of Emma running around the fountain outside the Burberry Store one of my all time favorite shops!!

When I got in the car to go the the mall there was a big Burberry bag all wrapped up and waiting for me to open. Inside was a gorgeous new wallet to match the purse Donald and Emma got me for Christmas. Donald also knows how proud I am to have my graphic design degree from the Art Institute and got me an alumni license plate frame for the car.

When we go to South Coast Plaza our favorite place to eat is Via La France. Donald got in some kissing time while we were waiting for our food.


Even though Donald insisted that I stay away from children's boutiques and toy stores (because he really wanted the day to be all about me), we still couldn't resist the carousel and balloons in the middle of the mall. I happily took Emma for a ride. It had been so long since I had shopped at South Coast and I didn't want to leave. The fashion and people and design was so wonderful. Donald put some money in my wallet so I could enjoy taking it out to use while we were at the mall and I got a wonderful new book called Pattern Palette that I can't wait to crack open! Emma and Donald spent the day spoiling me and taking me into dreaming shops like Burberry, Gucci, and Dior. I had the best mothers day ever!! I couldn't have asked for a more fitting way to celebrate mothers day for me.

Emma and the Lion

This was such a magical moment. We had the lions to ourselves this morning, and one of the male lions was right up next to the window. I have got to start remembering to bring my camera when we are out on our adventures. These pictures were taken with my iPhone so the quality isn't fantastic, but I did manage to capture the moment.
While I was taking photos with my phone the lion woke up and that just made Emma's day. What a wonderful way to start our Wednesday morning.


After a train ride around Africa, we were off the the playground .

The Train

Every time we go to UTC Emma really wants to ride the train. I always say we have to wait when Daddy is with us. That way one of us can ride with her while the other gets happy photos of our little love. With my vertigo acting up lately I was glad that Donald agreed to ride with Emma. And she loved every minute.

Shopping in La Jolla at UTC

I asked Emma where she wanted to go for the morning, The Wild Animal Park or the Mall. She said the mall. So I asked, North County Fair or UTC. She said UTC. So off we went. We got Emma some cute Paul Frank PJ's and sunglasses at Nordstrom. She was so great modeling the sunglasses once we got outside.


Then Emma spotted this fabulous black poodle that was really friendly. The gentleman that owned the dog said Emma was fine to pet it.

Emma loved the doggie kisses!!