Rapunzel for Halloween

In my flurry of blog posting last week, I forgot to post about Halloween.  I knew I was forgetting something...

Anyway--Brody's dad and stepmom bought Madeleine her Rapunzel costume when we went to Disneyland last month.  I couldn't decide which princess she should be since she didn't really care.  Her favorite seems to be purple lately so I went with the purple princess dress, Rapunzel.  

We did a few fun Halloween things, like trunk-or-treat at our ward's awesome Halloween party, trick-or-treating at Santana Row (a shopping center nearby) and a Halloween party and trick-or-treating on the actual night of Halloween.  Madeleine really loved Halloween decorations, especially witches and ghosts.  She got really into it and loved seeing them everywhere.  She didn't really get the whole trick-or-treat concept, but that's ok because I got to eat all of her candy :) 

some bad lighting--last minute pictures before trick-or-treating

Grandma and Cache Come to Visit

Brody's mom and brother decided to make a trip out to visit the weekend before Madeleine's birthday.  We were excited to host our first visitors, especially since neither of them had ever visited San Francisco or the surrounding area.  I planned tons of activities and we actually took more pictures then I ever do--so the weekend was fully documented.  Madeleine had a hard time with all the sight seeing--there were tantrums in almost ever place we visited, but we survived (it helped to have a couple extra people to help chase M around) and hopefully my in-laws were able to enjoy the trip.

They arrived early Thursday morning and we started things off right away.  We visited some beautiful gardens in Palo Alto and showed them around downtown (we were supposed to meet Brody for lunch but he ended up working instead).  

She adores her Uncle Cache--she would ask for him first thing every morning and every time she woke up from her naps

After naps we celebrated Madeleine's birthday since Brody was able to make it home for an hour or so--(he had to work a lot the weekend his family was in town so I did a lot of the hostessing on my own)  then afterwards we made the short trip over to Stanford Campus--which is a tourist attraction in of itself.  The campus is amazingly beautiful.  

massive tantrum in the Cathedral on campus...this was the first of many on this adventure--needless to say I won't be taking her back to Stanford anytime soon

The next day we spent the morning at a pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay (which Julie was very impressed with).  Later we drove over to the Ritz Carlton and walked along their grounds overlooking the ocean, we even made it down to the private beach and played in the sand and chased the tide for a bit.  

Saturday was spent in San Francisco-where we tried to hit up as many of the tourist attractions as we could.  We visited Pier 39, the Ferry Building, Golden Gate Bridge and the Fine Art theater. We also had them eat at the Boudin bakery so they could have a little authentic taste of San Fran.  I forgot my camera that day-but his mom did take a few pictures that I am stealing from Facebook.  We tried to cram that all in before Madeleine's nap--which didn't actually work, but it all turned out ok and we were all too exhausted to sight see much more that day.

Using my child restraint leash for Madeleine--trust me, we need it!

Sunday, Brody took his mom and brother to see some fancy open houses in Palo Alto and Atherton.  We love looking at things that we can't afford ;) 

On Monday, we visited Santana Row (a shopping center in San Jose) so Cache could go to the Tesla store.  Brody is obsessed with Telsas and I guess convinced Cache to do the same.  

I took Cache and Julie to the airport later that night.  Madeleine was so sad to see her Grandma and Cache go! We loved having our visitors! 

First Time at Disneyland

Brody's step-mom turned 50 this October and for some reason the only place she wanted to spend her birthday was at Disneyland. All of the kids came so we decided to make a quick weekend out of it and drive down.  I had never been before, sad I know, so that was extra motivation for us to make the trip.  Madeleine was not quite ready for all the stimulation and craziness, but she did enjoy some of the rides and music.  She had the time of her life running and running and having her aunt, uncle and grandparents to chase after her.  Of course we didn't take many pictures, but I tried to capture a few moments of the 'magical' weekend.

Attempted a selfie on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride 

Loves her Uncle Jay-Jay and Aunt Krissa

First carousal ride

We drove down after Brody finished work on Friday...which probably wasn't the best idea since we hit a lot of traffic on the way down.  (complete with Madeleine throwing up all over herself and some of me in Morgan Hill during bumper to bumper traffic.) The drive from northern to southern California is absolutely terrible! Most of the trip in on a 4 lane road with traffic the whole way! Oh well- we got into our hotel late and woke up early to meet the family.  We spent the day split between California Adventure and Disneyland.  We were able to ride quite a few rides (considering we had a toddler and I am pregnant) and the experience was overall an enjoyable one.  Tons and tons of walking and too many people, but other than that it really is a special place.  Too bad I never experienced it as a child.  After it was all said and done, we decided that we would not return until our children are much, much older so we can all enjoy the experience.  (Poor Madeleine was a bit over stimulated the whole time)  My only other complaint was that we never saw many characters.  I wanted Madeleine to be able to meet or at least see Pocohontas (her current favorite) and Elsa or Anna---we saw none of those.  I think the only characters we saw at the park were Goofy and Donald Duck.  I was disappointed!

selfie with a chipmunk at breakfast in the morning

Loving spending time with grandma and grandpa!

Madeleine Turns Two!

This year, because of the move, family visiting and pure laziness, I decided to not have a huge party for her second birthday.  Brody's mom and brother came into town the weekend before her birthday so I thought it would be enough to have a small, family party.  She doesn't really understand birthdays yet anyway so I took the free pass.  But of course I could not let the day pass without doing something a little extra special.

A friend came over and helped (neither of us had used fondant before) so we experimented and I think it turned out quite well.  She enjoys Frozen and since her grandparents had just purchased her a beloved Olaf doll, I decided to do an Olaf cake...(and well a snowman is the easiest Frozen character to shape) I also bought blue balloons to help decorate. I felt kind of bad that I did so little but she was happy, loved opening her presents and thought her cake was the best!  

Brody came home from work for a quick party (before leaving again for an event) and helped blow out candles and sing.  Madeleine either got really embarrassed or was scared of the flames on the candles so she hid her face in her dad's shoulder though out the singing and Brody had to blow out the candles for her.  We did get some cute pictures though.  

I didn't manage to put make up on that day--but I had to get a picture with my 2 year old!

At 2 Madeleine is very growing fast.  She is learning new words everyday and speaks her own unique language at times too.  She can name her ABCs and numbers and knows her colors.  She never stops running or climbing (much to her mother's distress sometimes) and has lots of energy.  She is still very social and loves boys--yelling "boy!" every time she sees one.  We are having some major issues with tantrums, but we are working on improving and hopefully I'll have the patience to help her get through the stage!  We love her though and find her more enjoyable (on her good days) to be around and keeps me company better during the day.  

Baby Number Two

Most of you few readers already know that I'm expecting, but for my poor second child's sake, I need to devote a whole post to her! (since Madeleine had so many during my pregnancy with her)

Anyway, we found out in Utah that baby number 2 was on their way!  I was lucky that I finished most of the summer before morning sickness kicked in.  (so it was easier to hide from the family--even though both mother-in-laws figured it out)

The beginning of pregnancy wasn't too horrible.  It was really similar to how I felt with Madeleine, just with some more heart burn.  I was crazy exhausted again..so that made enjoying San Francisco hard, but it could have been much, much worse.  By the time we made our last and final move to Menlo Park, I was feeling much better and just awaiting finding out the gender.  

Brody couldn't come to the anatomy scan so I had the ultrasound technician write down the gender and I  sealed it in an envelope.  My friend Aline, who was nice enough to babysit for me, then made me a cake and dyed the batter according to the gender.  Later that night we cut the cake while Brody's parents Facetimed with us .  It was a fun little reveal! 

We were excited to see pink (even though Brody was hoping for a boy)! It will be fun for Madeleine to have a sister and I won't have to buy anything new! 

Now to just enjoy (if I can) the next 20 weeks of the pregnancy :) 

Life in San Francisco

We have been in our apartment in Menlo Park now for about a month and a half.  I was not a huge fan of living in downtown San Francisco (and I was in my first trimester the whole time while there) so I was very happy to finally to in a two bedroom apartment and to be able walk and drive to many destinations with much more ease.

I was lame and didn't explore much during our 5 week stay in San Fran.  I tried to do at least one outing a day so that Madeleine wouldn't go too stir crazy, but I wasn't in the best of spirits most days so our trips weren't always that exciting.  We did visit quite a few places in and around the city though. It was pretty cold most days...it is so weird that it is coldest in the summer there.  I had to go shopping because I had no sweaters or pants to wear (since everything was still in storage).

I got to spend lots of time with Pam since she was mostly done working for the summer and about to move down to southern California, so that definitely helped make my stay in the city better.

Here are a few pictures of our adventures...

In front of the painted ladies

Ferry building, off the grid (food trucks), parks and dinners out

with M at the Ferry Building for the Farmer's Market

The park across the street from our house...where we spent almost every morning.  I got to be friends with the nannies that frequented here

Jumping on our bed in our little one bedroom apt.  (I would never live in this small of a place again if I can help it!)

Napa Valley winery visits and dinner with Eric and Jillian

Only beach day--It was actually quite cold!!

Celebrated Brody's 30th!! He was quite depressed about the milestone so I had to rub it in.  We ate out at a very high-end and fancy restaurant to celebrate as well.  Brody said it was top 1 or 2 dinner of his life.  Sadly I have no pictures to document that occasion.