The end of an era......literally!

Pics from today’s graduation and lunch celebration with friends.

Gladney night at Six Flags

Each year we try and make it to the Gladney night at Six Flags.  The event benefits the Gladney Center for Adoption. We always have fun with my sisters family and my long time friend and her daughter.

Painting with a Twist

Alice's good friend Ali had her birthday party at Painting with a Twist. Alice really loved the party and wants to go back sometime.  Here are pics of my little artist!

Trip to LA

Alice and I went to LA to visit my cousin and her family. 

We had a packed agenda for a short 4 day trip.

Alice absolutely loved our trip to Universal Orlando a few years ago, so of course, we had to go to Universal in LA.  We did all our favorites....The Hippogryph, the Main Castle ride (of which I can't remember the name), The Mummy (MANY times) and a few new things such as the back lot tour and the Waterworld stunt show.

Funny story....we actually got STUCK on the Harry Potter castle ride for over an HOUR.  

Luckily the kids stayed calm and entertained themselves.

Since Alice saw the movie Wonder and saw the Santa Monica Pier in the background of one of the scenes, she has wanted to visit it.  The weather in February is pretty cold, so we are all wearing coats.

One night my cousins family took us to Gladstones for dinner. It was also a birthday celebration for my cousin.  We were happy to be there and able to celebrate with them. After dinner we stopped by the Beverly Hills Hotel for drinks and the kids were hopeful to see a celebrity....they were sadly disappointed, but it was fun anyways.

Alice and I also wanted to visit the Holleywood Walk of Fame.  We found many stars we liked, but I've selected one of our favorites each to share.

We saved a few dollars to get Michael Jackson to dance for us and pose for a picture, and I got a photo with Chewbacca.

Of course we visited the Sanrio store and purchased a cute Hello Kitty hoodie.

Alice had a blast in LA and can't wait to come back..... maybe next time we'll bring Dad.

Horseback Riding Lessons

It seems a rite of passage for a little girl to want a horse.  We really can't afford a horse, but we could give her a few riding lessons to give her a better understanding of what it takes to ride and take care of a horse.

Before and after each lesson, Alice had to brush the horse and clean out their hoofs.  It is a lot more work that you would think. Her instructor was very good but also patient, showing her how to get the horse to give you its hoof for cleaning.

We had to stop lessons when soccer season started, but she did a great job and now knows a lot more about horses and how to ride.

Christmas fun with Snapchat

Just a few fun pictures from Christmas

Bouldering with friends

Alice has been in Girl Scouts since she was in kindergarten. One patch a few of the girls decided to earn was for rock climbing.  The place we took them to is actually a bouldering gym because there are no harnesses. You climb up, you climb down.....or you fall onto the 3' thick mats. 

No girls were harmed in the earning of this patch.