Pre-California Rapid Recap!

Welcome to my Rapid Recap!  We're leaving for California tomorrow afternoon (one more sleep!!  one more sleep!!), and that means that there's laundry to fold, bathrooms to clean, suitcases to pack, emails to send, and about a bamillion other things to do.  Hence, this very rapid recap of recent events!  Wheeeeee!

Can you guess what's been in my mind a bit lately??  CALIFORNIA!!!  Friends!!  More friends!!  Santa Barbara wedding!!  Dots Cupcakes!!  Tarantino's!!  I've spent the last few weeks coming up with an itinerary, a packing list, and a to-do list, in addition to all the other pre-trip planning.  We spent a LONG time debating where to eat at Disneyland and where to stay in Anaheim... because you can probably imagine that we're a teensy bit excited to visit Disneyland again.  Which strollers should we bring?  Should we buy a toy or two for Weston?  Should we pay up for a World of Color picnic?  Should we bring a backpack in addition to the diaper bag??  (Oh, I love worrying about an upcoming Disney vacation!!)  We also spent a LONG time lamenting the fact that Pirates of the Caribbean is going to be closed - yes, CLOSED - during our visit.  But it's okay.  We've accepted that reality and transcended the trauma.  Seriously, it's okay.  It'll still be fun.  It'll still be fun. :-)

We're considering rearranging our whole house when we get back.  Yep, the kitchen will be Weston's room, the bathroom will be the master bedroom, etc.  (Okay, maybe not that drastic.)  But the bottom line is that we have to get Cole the H-E-double-hockey-sticks OUT OF OUR ROOM.  That kid does not sleep.  God love 'im, he's so precious.  BUT WE WANT TO SLEEP AGAIN.

I think that I'm switching my #1 Most Favorite Thing at Cafe Rio from the chicken salad to the pork salad.  I was recently enlightened to the exquisite deliciousness of the pork, and I'm pretty sure that... yes, I'm gonna say it... I'm pork salad all the way now. :-)  (Tim is still holding strong to his pork burrito, enchilada style.  Oh yes.)

I got to help out at Weston's preschool a week ago, and as you can imagine, it was a cornucopia of cuteness.  I almost exploded with motherly adoration upon seeing Weston carry his backpack and hang it up  on the hook with his name, along with all the other kids, without even being asked.  I'm pretty sure I did actually explode when he was selected to be the Calendar Helper.  Sure, he was kind of tired and cranky by the end of the afternoon, but I was so darn proud to see my little preschooler doing his li'l preschool thang.

And now for pictures!!!

Shock and awe, baby... shock and awe.

 Family half-day-trip to Cornbelly's!!  (It's Thanksgiving Point's big, festive, fall fun thing.  I sure love me some festive fall fun.) 

Behold the Jack-O-Lantern mountain:

What can possibly be more fun for little kids (and their moms) than Happy Meals at the playground...?  I challenge you to come up with something more fun.  Consider yourself challenged.

 And there's Heather of the famed Petersons!!!  LOVE her!!!  And look at sweet Adelaide... oh my gosh.  SO CUTE.

We went to WitchFest at Gardner Village and ogled at lots and lots of witches: 

Ogling at witches is way more fun with Dawson and Katelyn (as is everything, of course).  And with balloons: 

And with chocolate chip cookies: 

We attended a super fantastic birthday party (Costco pizza and a Thomas cake...?  Heaven.), and I couldn't resist this photo of the dads with their little guys: 

Two months older than Ben?  Correct.  Twice as big?  Check.  Hehehe...