The Corn Feast

Today Ryan had her big "Corn Feast" at preschool. To set the scene, all the children have been learning Thanksgiving songs all month, making crafts, and preparing for this big day. All the parents show up with their camcorders and cameras and "oo" and "ah" as the children parade around in their costumes, sing songs, and then indulge into the corn feast. The actually corn feast was explained to the parents in a flyer last week as " the children will try different food made from corn." So, I figured they would have things like cornbread, creamed corn, corn tortillas, etc. I was very impressed that they were going to get all of these toddlers to eat all of these "new" foods (because I for one know that MY toddler doesn't like to try new foods). Well, I assumed wrong... the "corn feast" was actually a cute bag filled with corn snacks: popcorn, corn chips, corn pops, candy corn, corn chex, etc. Very CREATIVE I thought. Now I understand how they were going to get all those toddlers to eat "corn" food. Well done Teddy Bear School! Here are some pics from the event...

Charlie got in on the fun too. I could only hold her back for so long! (p.s. Erin, check out Charlie's outfit! It looks so darn cute on her. I wish I had gotten a better pic of it!)

A Visit to the Desert

Last weekend, the girls and I went to visit my Nonna and Grandpa out at their house in the desert. We all had a great time except that we had to leave early because Ryan was sick. But in the 24 hours that we were there, we managed to fit in alot of fun activities. We went swimming, we went out to eat, we BBQ'd, and we went to the mall to play in the playground there and the rides. But with all that I think the girls had the most fun with the big green ball (an exercise ball) and the foam blocks. But a 103 degree temperature and 2 cooling down baths kept our trip shorter than we had planned for. Thanks for having us Nonna and Grandpa and sorry it was so short...

Pictures from Gigi's and Papa's House

This afternoon we headed up to Pasadena for the afternoon. We were so grateful to be able to drop the girls off at Aunt Casey and Uncle Jim's house while Steve and I went to a very important "meeting" with our friends. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! Casey and Jim took the girls to the school nearby to play, they had a picnic in the backyard and they played with all their toys. When we came back to pick up the girls, we stayed a while to chat and watch the girls play a little longer. After we left their house, we cruised by Gigi and Papa's house to say hello. We assumed the girls would be asleep by the time we drove the half mile it took to get from Casey and Jim's to Gigi and Papa's (seriously we thought they would be from being pooped from all the playing) but they weren't so we got out and played a little longer. We continued our fun day playing on the front lawn of Gigi and Papa's house. (I apologize to you Casey and Jim but I didn't think to get out my camera when we were at your house but remembered to get it out later) Anyway, here are a few pics of the girls just "hangin' out" with their grandparents...

A Day at Play

On Saturday Steve joined Ryan Smith for the USC game so it was just me and the girls hanging out at home. It was a little cool outside so we put our sweatshirts on and ventured out into the backyard to have a some afternoon fun. Here are some pics from our play time...

Ryan is teaching Charlie how to work the "Sit-n-Spin." Besides making sure she didn't fall off and knock her head onto the concrete, I'd say she did a pretty good job.

Charlie trying to be like her big sister. If Ryan got on a toy or played with a toy, Charlie was right behind her ready to try it too.

Charlie going to get some groceries from Ryan's "Shopping Store." She picked up some much needed items for the household: a leaf, a lemon, a rock, and a ball.

Ryan focused on her tricycle "bling." All she needs now are some spinning rims and she good to go.

Friday Playdate

Friday we had a playdate with Colleen and Aidan and Michelle and Carson. We haven't had a playdate for about a month or so and it's amazing how much they are changing and growing up. It was truly obvious how independent they are all getting. They really played well together (and separately). Each one found a favorite toy and played quite contently on his or her own and then would transition nicely to playing with the others. It was a nice relaxing afternoon.