2012 Summer Fun in the Warm California Sun!

We have spent this summer, our first as a family in Southern California, having a lot of fun and exploring all the awesome, fun, places nearby. A lot of these are new experiences for all of us, but especially Ellie. I mean, did we count the number of lizards that we saw while hiking in a canyon in Boston? Umm...no. But between the hiking, playgrounds, pool fun, and so many experiences available to us, we are taking advantage of everything.

Like I mentioned...hiking, and lizards...Eaton Canyon is a local nature preserve. While Nick and I have both ventured on longer hikes up to the waterfall, we have stuck close to even, non-rocky areas with Ellie. It really is fun to watch her look for lizards, even along sidewalks around here. Definitely a new experience for her.

Picnics. As we don't have our little backyard with a grill and table, we have done some picnicing around Pasadena. Sometimes we sit at tables and othertimes we just find a spot on the ground.

Festivals...we have gone to a couple festivals around Pasadena. One of the most interesting was the Pasadena Chalk Festival, which featured local artists drawing masterpieces on the sidewalk. There were even some animators there drawing cartoons. One thing that was fun, was they had a kids area where kids could draw on paper with chalk. There was also some live music.

We have spent many mornings and late evnings at the apartment complex pool. We are very strict with the pool rules: 1) Mommy or Daddy gets in the pool first and stays in with Ellie 2) No running and 3) No tantrums when Mommy or Daddy says its time to go. For the most part she is doing really well. She seems happy and comfortable in the water. However, I'd like to get her into some formal swimming lessons sometime soon...for now, its just a lot of fun!

The selection of playgrounds in Charlestown near our house was great. However, the playgrounds here are outstanding. There is a nice playground next door to the apartment complex, however, a very short drive away there is an AMAZING playground near the Rose Bowl. We have become playground connouisseurs, and we think this is the best playground we have seen or been to. Its a pirate ship! A PIRATE SHIP! Ellie really enjoys this park, as do we.

Free concerts. The park next to the apartment complex hosts 50 free concerts during the summer. That's free music from Wednesday-Sunday evenings. This past Friday, we were so fortunate to be treated to the music of Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds. Not only was it a terrific and amazing concert, but the trumpet player is one of my closest friends from Santa Barbara whom I have known since junior high. His family was at the concert and it was so great to get to reconnect with them, and introduce them to Ellie. We let Ellie stay up late (sometimes we only go for the sound checks when it isn't too crowded and still before bedtime) and stayed for the WHOLE concert. She was a trooper and danced along the whole time. I think she picked up some new dance moves. Towards the end of the concert, she was trying to drag us to the front of the stage to dance with everyone. It was pretty hilarious.

Our summer days have also been filled with trips to the zoo, the library, the farmer's market, shopping on Colorado Blvd., and all other fun California things.

Boston Chapter Closed

Today we closed on our house in Boston. I guess that means that our adventure in Boston has come to an end and it truly is the beginning of our adventure in Los Angeles. Although we have been here for a couple months, it really feels like this is home now...as we don't have a home anymore in Boston. The almost 7 1/2 years that Nick and I were there together was amazing and a blast. We really love the city and are going to miss it. However, I am happy that we have this opportunity here in Los Angeles and so far, as a family, we have really gotten excited about this new chapter as we are exploring more and more of this area.

A couple weeks ago, I went to Boston and packed up and moved our stuff from the house in ancitipation of the closing. Well, I didn't actually lift a finger other than getting coffee for the guys that packed up our house and loaded the truck.

It took 4 men, one day to pack up all our belongings. Each packer/mover took one floor and packed everything up. It was amazingly efficient and interesting to watch them work. At the end of the day, there were just boxes...lots of boxes...

The next day, 5 guys and two trucks showed up and immediately started loading up. It took half a day to get pack miscellaneous things in the basement and load everything on the trucks. Ellie has been especially concerned that all her toys made it on the truck. She constantly asks, "did my kitchen go on the big truck?" or "did my monkey and shopping cart and all the food go on the big truck?". I tried to take a picture of her kitchen getting loaded on the truck.

And then the house was empty...I even cleaned up all the dust bunnies...

Ellie is almost 3 1/2 years old. She has lived in three places already and has moved twice already. Currently we are in a temporary apartment in Pasadena, but we are on the search for a new house. We're going to miss our house in Charlestown...as well as the neighborhood...

Thanks for all the memories!

Ellie's first "official" haircut!

Yesterday, Ellie and I went for Ellie's first OFFICIAL haircut. Earlier this year, Ellie used scissors at school and gave herself a little trim, that was her first unofficial haircut. But yesterday, we decided her hair was long enough that it needed a trim. Just a little trim, to clean up the edges a little bit. Ellie still wanted long, pretty hair. We went to a local business that is an indoor playground, children's hair salon, and even a kids boutique all rolled into one, Amys Playground located in South Pasadena.

BEFORE:

And once her hair had been brushed out in the salon...

 DURING:

Okay, so Ellie wasn't so excited once the time came for the actual haircut. We had played "haircut" at home and pretended to sit in the chair and each get a haircut. But actually, sitting in the chair and having someone new (although nice and friendly with Ellie) touch her hair...well, Ellie wasn't into that. So, Ellie insisted on sitting on my lap.

AFTER:

Ellie got the special treatment after getting her hair cut. She got a pretty braid in her hair and even some sparkles (sorry Aunt Susu). Ellie really like how her hair looked and said she felt like a "princess".

 

She did such a good job, we went out for ice cream at an old fashioned soda fountain down the street. Apparently they get their ice cream from McConnell's ice cream up in Santa Barbara which was nice. It was a lot of fun. Ellie got vanilla with rainbow sprinkles.

Her hair looks really good. Nice and even, although with the curls you wouldn't really notice anyway. She's happy. The ends look good and healthy. I think a total of like 3/4" was taken off. The stylist saved several curls for me. All in all, it was a fun experience for Ellie and I think she'll be a little more brave the next time and sit in the chair by herself.



Happy 70th Wedding Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa Van!

Happy 4th of July!

We headed down to South Pasadena for the parade. It was very "small town" with lots of politicians, scout troops and other small, random entries. Ellie enjoyed it. She got lots of candy and even a water balloon. She brought her flag that she got at school yesterday and waved it the whole time. Even Uncle Sam (the Grand Marshall dressed up) came and shook Ellie's hand and thanked her in advance for being a tax payer. I, unfortunately, didn't get the camera together fast enough for a photo. We had hot dogs and ice cream for dinner. Such a good day!

We hope that everyone had a happy and safe Independence Day. Happy 4th of July everyone!